Today has been a day of ups and downs - quite literally.
I guess the good thing is that the ups outweighed the downs in number, if not quite in severity.
We popped into town first thing to get my car tax. OK there was also the ulterior Frap reason.
I went to pop to a different shop and was to meet nij in Starbucks but between that time I fell - HARD
I was walking along minding my own business and I know I have a terrible reputation as a tripper but this really wasn't my fault.
It was quite windy and the sort of banner barricade thing round MacDonalds, you know that defines the outside seating area - had come lose from one of the uprights and a gust of wind caught it, it blew out, snagged my leg and so my one leg stayed where it was and the other naievely thought it could keep on walking and splat - down I went like a sack of spuds.
I have really hurt my knee which is now an interesting colour and quite swollen and I have twisted my back too. I guess I ought to have gone in to MacDonalds and told them - maybe snagged a few million in compensation LOL - but you are just so embarassed that you want to get away from the scene as quickly as possible. A nice lady helped me up and I kept saying I was fine and hurried off (to find a quiet little corner in a shop and shed the odd tear, probably more of humiliation than pain!)
So there was the down.
The UPs are doll house related as we have been doing doll house decor. Not much looks different yet - but it will.
I have gravelled the basement ourside which is kind of hard to photograph. The basement has been a labour of love. Each brick slip was laid by hand individually and then grouted and each paving flag stone was cut and placed and grouted and I did it all by myself. I was so chuffed with it. The last step - today - was the gravel.
The whole picture shows the basement in situ
and this shows the gravel and the flag stones
I also laid the new entrance hall flooring
I took a photo lit and unlit as neither seemed to be quite right
I must point out the mirror on the right hand wall as it is very very special. It was made by a man who specialises in unsual wood with provenance. It is made from genuine wood from HMS Victory. A few years ago when they were doing restoration work they sold some of the old timber and apparently there are people who specialise buying up such things. The mirror, which was expensive for a little mirror, came with a certificate proving where the wood was sources from. I just thought that was kind of cute as it would be just the right period for my house.
I also hung the new curtains in the Green bedroom
and in the Music Room bay window
Nigel had bought paint and we have both made a start on distressing the other units we have for the kitchen.
And I also did dome scrapping.
This page is a photo of Elfin, Nigel's Mom, when she was a little girl, and I recoloured it and used a new collection called An Old Lady Remembers by Feli Designs at Pickleberrypop
Today I am thankful for
- a productive day
- things just working
- a fall that wasn't as bad as it could have been
And Anne, thank you for posting about the Cafe on the Green. My husband took his Mom there a few weeks ago and they were terribly touched by the wonderful atmosphere created by such special young people. It makes the following even more important.
And finally an e mail from Cousin Joyce that is very seasonal and very lovely.
Jeremy was born with a twisted body and a slow mind. At the age of 12 he was still in second grade, seemingly unable to learn. His teacher, Doris Miller, often became
exasperated with him. He would squirm in his seat, drool, and make grunting noises. At other times, he spoke clearly and distinctly, as if a spot of light had penetrated
the darkness of his brain.
Most of the time, however, Jeremy just irritated his teacher.
One day she called his parents and asked them to come in for a consultation. As the Forresters entered the empty classroom, Doris said to them, "Jeremy eally belongs in a special school. It isn't fair to him to be with younger children who don't have learning problems. Why, there is a five year gap between his age and that of the other students."
Mrs. Forrester cried softly into a tissue, while her husband spoke. "Miss Miller," he said, "there is no school of that kind nearby. It would be a terrible shock for Jeremy if we had to take him out of this school. We know he really likes it here."
Doris sat for a long time after they had left, staring at the snow outside the window. Its
coldness seemed to seep into her soul. She wanted to sympathize with the Forresters. After all, their only child had a terminal illness. But it wasn't fair to keep him in her class. She had 18 other youngsters to teach, and Jeremy was a distraction. Furthermore, he would never learn to read and write. Why waste any
mre time trying?
As she pondered the situation, guilt washed over her. Here I am complaining when my problems are nothing compared to that poor family, she thought. Lord, please help me to be more patient with Jeremy.
From that day on, she tried hard to ignorJeremy's noises
and his blank stares. Then one day, he limped to her desk, dragging his bad leg behind him."I love you, Miss Miller," he exclaimed, loud enough for the whole class t hear. The other students snickered, and Doris' face turned red.
She stammered, "Wh-why that's very nice, Jeremy. N-now please, take your seat."
Spring came, and the children talked excitedly about the coming of Easter. Doris told them the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic egg. "Now," she said to them, "I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Miss Miller," the children responded enthusiastically--all except for Jeremy. He listened intently; his eyes never left her face. He didnot even make his usual noises. Had he understood what she said about Jesus' death and resurrection? Did he
understand the assignment? Perhaps she should call his parents and explain the project to them.
That evening, Doris' kitchen sink stopped up. She called the landlord and waited an hour for him to come by and unclog it.
After that, she still had to shop for groceries, iron a blouse, and prepare a vocabulary test for the next day. She completely forgot about phoning Jeremy's parents.
The next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking as they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller's desk. After they completed their math lesson, it was time to open the eggs. In the first egg, Doris found a flower. "Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life," she said. "When plants peek through the
ground, we know that spring is here." A small girl in the first row waved her arm.
"That's my egg, Miss Miller," she called out. The next egg contained a plastic butterfly, which looked very real. Doris held it up. "We all know that a caterpillar changes and grows into a beautiful butterfly. Yes, that's new life, too."
Little Judy smiled proudly and said, "Miss Miller, that one is mine."
Next, Doris found a rock with moss on it. She explained that moss, too, showed
life. Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom, "My daddy helped me," he beamed.
Then Doris opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty. Surely it must be Jeremy's she thought, and of course, he did not understand her instructions. If only she had not forgotten to phone his parents.
Because she did not want to embarrass him, she quietly set the egg aside and reached for another.
Suddenly, Jeremy spoke up. "Miss Miller, aren't you going to talk about my egg?"
Flustered, Doris replied, "But Jeremy, your egg is empty."
He looked into her eyes and said softly, "Yes, but Jesus' tomb was empty, too."
Time stopped. When she could speak again, Doris asked him, "Do you know why the tomb was empty?" "Oh, yes," Jeremy said, "Jesus was killed and put in there. Then His Father raised Him up."
The recess bell rang. While the children excitedly ran out to the school yard, Doris cried. The cold inside her melted completely away.
Three months later, Jeremy died. Those who paid their respects at the mortuary were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of his casket, all of them empty.
Lord, give me the sharpness of eye and width of heart to spy Your grace and humor in what seem to be the smallest and most insignificant corners of my days. Yea, even unto the finding and folding of socks hot from the dryer.
