Blooms ~ Hummingbird ~ Box from Aunt ~ Conversations on the Porch

I took some time to "smell the roses" yesterday.  I walked my flower beds after lunch.

While out taking photographs of new blooms in the flower beds, a butterfly came to visit me.

Then along came a humming bird (on the same exact flowers) for a visit.  Look directly above the "P" in Pioneer.  It's the only photo I got of him/her.


A box arrived in the mail yesterday.  It was from my Aunt who had recently passed away.  She had it packed and ready to go, but had not shipped it yet.  My wonderful Uncle sent it to me.

Inside, she had returned the jelly jars from the jelly I gifted her, and they did not come back empty.  With her generous heart (and her creative soul), she filled each jar - buttons, popcorn, tea bags, and orange candy slices.

Not only that, but she sent two magazines and a letter.  Inside the letter, she passed down two of my Grandma's recipes (her mother's).  In the magazines, there are fun creative ideas for using mason jars, along with canning recipes. 

She also sent me mini mason jar salt and pepper shakers, and she filled them both.   My old one's badly needed replaced, and these are prefect.  I love them!

I will really miss reading her handwritten letters, having conversations through those letters, surprises, and her positive, jovial spirit. 

 

Last night, while dinner was baking in the oven, I spent some time on the porch.  The humidity lifted and there was a nice breeze out.  

Timmy wanted in my lap so badly, and he was at one point, playing with my yarn.  

I opened my letter from my Aunt and read it.  The butterfly was back around the porch again too.

 

I'm really going to miss my Aunt.  Have I said that already?   Hubby was home from work, and joined me on the porch where we ate our dinner.   I told him about my Aunt and her about her personality and how Mom and I were discussing three words to describe her.  

I'll miss her tips and advice.  In this last letter to me, she told me . . .

"I know you have been having a lot to deal with, but one day at a time gets it all done!  I like to picture myself in an inner tube, floating down the river with the current, when I get to feeling overwhelmed.  Seems to keep me calm and grounded!"

Hubby and I spent the remainder of the evening talking together on the porch.   It was nice to relax on the porch, and without the humidity.  It was nice to have time after canning and dinner to relax and reflect.  I finished this dishcloth, made using scraps of leftover yarn (from other projects).

I'm following my Aunt's advice every starting yesterday. . .

"Take care and find 5 minutes every day for just you!"