Broken Hearts at Heart and Home

Hello my friends.

Due to the death of my dear Father,

who passed away suddenly on September 25,

I will be out of touch for the next several weeks.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Until next time,

XO

Heidi

Life is eternal and love is immortal.

And death is only a horizon

and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our spirit.

Rossiter Worthington Raymond -1840 - 1918

Carmel, and Wednesday Gratitude #26 at Heart and Home

Hi everyone.

"No one is as capable of gratitude as one who has emerged from the kingdom of night." -Elie Wiesel
I'm back with my new attitude, and just in time for Wednesday Gratitude! Thanks all you lovely lovelies, for the kind words and the support.

I am amazed your willingness to offer insight and guidance, and by your wisdom and humor.
I am grateful for the great fortune of your friendship.
I am taking all your advice to heart.
Thank you!

Yesterday I took my girls for a short drive down the highway, for lunch,  window shopping and a meander down the rustic roads of Carmel.

 I picked out two of my favorite homes, just a block from the beach.

I could have shown you at least 100 more that I'd move into in a heartbeat.
There are so many cozy cottages, and gorgeous haciendas, California ranch style, and modern seaside homes that it's hard to pick a favorite.

We're guessing these two are in the $2.5 - 3 million price range.
At least.

I will take them both.

This park in the middle of town is quiet and green, surrounded by manicured trees and bouganvilla.
It's a sort of escape and a dose of reality compared to the extravagances of the shops in town.

Strolling through the pretty boutiques can take the better part of a day.

And let me tell you, these places are pricey!

Who is spending that kind of money nowadays?

Not me.

It is fun to look, and get ideas, and daydream.

This shop rekindled my dream to get back to my painting one of these days.

One year ago I pulled out my watercolors.

They are still sitting right where I put them.

Because I started Heart and Home that very same week.

And since then I've been spending a lot of time with you ladies!

But I think I should take some time for other pursuits, too.

I used to have dreams about my paintings, when I was painting every day.

I really enjoyed messing around with the colors and compositions, and looking at things in a different way.

Anyway, I also love spending time on the beach on a foggy, hazy day.

We ended our visit to Carmel doing just that.
The beach is right at the end of main street.

This is the Pacific Ocean, and the waves crash on world-famous Pebble Beach.
In the distance you can see more of those multi-million dollar homes that crowd the cliffs along the shore.
Those green patches are the Pebble Beach golf course.
La-dee-dah.

And what do you think of this powdery white sand?
It's totally different from the sand on our beaches on the bay.

Let me tell you, although it doesn't look like much in this picture, it's a good work-out climbing that hill!
Especially after eating Thai noodles and curry for lunch.
Which we did, with gusto.

I'm contemplating my future!
Which looks bright by the way.
I'm getting cheerier every day.

See?
I'm squinty, and almost happy.
I guess a day shopping and walking on the beach was just what I needed.
I'm grateful for the time I spent with my daughters, enjoying a little escape from the everyday routine.
I love taking the time to drive somewhere special with them.
I'm grateful we get along so well, and have fun together, sharing conversations, eating, laughing, and window shopping.

I'm grateful they still want to spend the day with their mom!
And that they think I'm cool, and they will share their shoes and lattes and advice and humor and good natures with me.
I'm very grateful I'm such a lucky girl.

Until next time,
XO
Heidi

Linking to Outdoor Wednesday, at A Southern Daydreamer. Thanks  Susan!

Lisa Leonard, Parties, and Special Celebrations at Heart and Home

Hey there everyone! Is it Tuesday already?

It's been one crazy, exciting, fun weekend around here! Thanks for stopping by today.

There was a special celebration at our house on Saturday.

My first-born, my only child for seven years, turned 21 on July 24th.

In three weeks she's moving away to finish college.

We celebrated her big day in style, and gave her quite a send-off!

There were hand-made streamers and banners, and flowers, and piles of gifts covered in ribbons and bows.

Bright colors, vintage linens, birds and fresh flowers set the theme.

A big jar collected the notes written by all the guests.

There are notes to inspire, encourage, support, cheer and advise.

Our dearest friends and family gathered at this table and wrote and wrote.

I would love to read what each one says, but they're not for me.

I know there are many wise and wonderful things on those little cards, for her eyes only.

We have really great friends, and they've been a terrific influence on both my girls over the years.

Caring and kind, they've always been wonderful role models, and tons of fun.

On a day when she might not be feeling confident or happy,

 when she's down and feeling lonely,

notes written to her by the people who love her most

 might be just what she needs to help pick up her spirits.

Little boxes held candy for all the guests, just the thing to pick up their spirits as they headed home.

Not that anyone left here feeling less than jovial.

The day was filled with laughter, and story telling, reminiscing, and talking about the future together.

Of course, there was food. Lots of food!

 And, most important, several desserts.

 We had a good time eating!

There was laughing, hugging and joking, 

singing, embracing and a whole bunch of love in this house this weekend!

And, after the last guest left, a warm and comfortable feeling

 settled over me as I picked up and put the house back in order.

You know that deep and satisfying exhaustion

that comes after a job well done?

That's how I felt when I finally crawled into bed.

There was a little bit of sadness, too thinking about my girl moving away,

 (and some regret over a missed opportunity to give the perfect toast -

when I only managed an OK one).

But mostly I just felt proud.

Proud of her for who she is.

And proud of me for being her mom, for a party well done,

and a child well-raised!

I

I left the banners up, and the flowers are still fresh and brightening our rooms.

They are nice reminders of

a fun day, and

the love and laughter of our friends and family.

and, speaking of love and laughter...

 remember the giveaway??

To celebrate Heart and Home's One Year Anniversary

 I'm giving away:

A Lisa Leonard $40 gift certificate.

 A specially chosen necklace from my collection.

Vintage linens.

Lovely and wonderful items collected just for you.

All you need to do is comment, be a follower or subscriber, or refer a friend.

Each earns you a new entry.

Go ahead, you know you want to win!

Even if you don't, go ahead and leave a comment, it'll make my day.

Until next time,

XO

Heidi

linking today to 3 or More Tuesday,

 and Tabletop Tuesday  Thanks Ladies!

Wednesday Gratitude #19 at Heart and Home

                        

"Reflect Each Day On All You Have To Be Grateful For And You Will Receive More To Be Grateful For." -Chuck Danes

Howdy to you my blogging friends! I'm late getting this post up, because I've been running around like a maniac all day!!

If you're here for Wednesday Gratitude, Linky is below. Welcome, and please be sure to link back to Heart and Home in your Gratitude post.

Right now I'm feeling grateful for the nice cup of hot tea I had about an hour ago, sitting outside under the redwoods at a neighborhood coffee shop with daughter #1.

I've been to the dentist and need to schedule an appointment for a root canal.

You can imagine how this thrills me.

After the dentist we went shopping for dorm necessities for the fall.

We like to get a head start on things like that.

But, I will not lie, it was exhausting!

Making the right choices, and filling our cart with stuff she might or might not need starting making my head hurt!

I'm thankful for the 90 day return policy at Tar-jay.

Shopping is one of my favorite pastimes, but for some reason today, after starting out early running to art lessons for daughter #2, and Costco, and home, and one hour back and forth to the dentist, and then shopping, all the while fitting in phone calls, and filling out forms on the computer, and getting stuck in traffic.....

I'm feeling particularly grateful for the prospect of a calm morning tomorrow (and maybe even part of the afternoon!)  spent out here, on the deck. Enjoying the Summer break.

You'll find me in my favorite spot, with another cup of tea and a stack of magazines and my new book "San Francisco Style", which was published some time ago and I was lucky to find on sale for $5 at the book store.

That aforementioned cup of tea, that one I had an hour ago, revived me just enough to get us home and the car unloaded.

Now, I can take a deep breath, and enjoy the warm late afternoon sun and the lovely view from the wicker settee.

Because this morning at Costco I picked up a delicious looking Margherita pizza, and all I have to do tonight is pop it into the oven and make a salad - ta-da - dinner.

I'm really feeling grateful for that pizza, and for having planned ahead.

Clever me!!

Some days are like this, there's no way around it.

I'm grateful for being able to see a dentist when I need one, and to shop for stuff, and for a family that will not mind one bit that dinner tonight is not the usual home-cooked affair.

I'm grateful that we'll all sit down together and enjoy our pizza with tomatoes and basil and mozzarella and pine nuts, and that tomorrow is another day, and I get to do it all over again.

Thanks for stopping by! Let me know you were here - leave a comment!

And come back again soon.

Until next time,

XO

Heidi

Linking up to Outdoor Wednesday, at Susan's A Southern Daydreamer!  And Works for Me Wednesday, at We are that Family.

Heart and Home and Father's Day

Surprise! How do you like the new look at Heart and Home?

I wanted to make a change in time to celebrate my one year blogging anniversary.

It's coming up pretty soon, so I got a head start with a new layout! 

Stay tuned for some surprises in the next few weeks.

Today we're going to take a long walk along the beach.

It's very breezy and I expect the waves will be pretty impressive!

Although there are always moments of calm along the shore.

Happy Father's Day to our girls' favorite guy.

He's the one who makes their hearts soar.

The one to whom all other men will be compared.

He's my girls' first love!

And my true love.

Thanks for stopping by! Let me know what you think of the new look.

And remember to come back again, soon!

Until next time,

XO

Heidi

Wednesday Gratitude #17 at Heart and Home: Lemons and Another Step Forward

Greetings one and all!
Hi to you new readers, and a big welcome back to followers of Heart and Home.


                        

Today is Wednesday Gratitude, if you're here to join, the link will be up by 5:30 PM PST. Add the direct link for your Wednesday Gratitude post, and please link back to Heart and Home in that post. Remember to leave a comment, and visit the other participants, too!

Thanks to all of you who have become regular participants. I'm always inspired after reading your posts!

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is

 not to utter words, but to live by them." - John F. Kennedy

You might be wondering what these lemons have to do with anything today.

Wondering if I'm going to be waxing poetic about my gratitude for lemons.

Well, yes, I do love a nice looking lemon!

And these are especially lemony looking, piled in a bowl on my dining room table.

But no, that's not what this post is about! However, they do figure in, in a way.

Daughter #2 is completing middle school today.

It looks like she's on her way! Next year she'll start high school, and after that, who knows?!!

Knowing this girl the way I do, I'd say the sky's the limit.

I'm feeling particularly sentimental about all of this, because #2 is the last one, my baby. She's growing up, and fast.

She's proven herself to be a pretty terrific kid.

I'm  grateful for my daughter, and for her unceasing hard work over the past three years.

She's devoted herself to doing her absolute best at every opportunity.

She's rarely let us, or herself, down in any way. And even then, they've been only small infractions of the parental expectations.

I'm grateful that, for the most part, she's made it easy for me and her dad.

Given the opportunity, she makes the right choices.

Which is a good thing, because she doesn't like being told what to do!

Spirited and strong-willed are two ways to describe her.

Plus a million other characteristics I'm grateful for.  If I wrote them all down, this would be a very long post indeed.

But, I can tell you this much:

She's been a shining star since the day she was born, and from here her future looks really bright.

Along the way she's had some help.

I'm grateful for my daughter's teachers, for their skills, their patience and kindness, and for their devotion to their chosen profession.

I'm grateful for their encouragement and support, for their eagerness, and for their abilities and talents.

I'm grateful for way they can reach young people, and inspire them to try their hardest, to work without giving up, to persevere and achieve their goals, and to be the best they can be.

Which is what we, as parents, are trying to do every day, too.

But often, and anyone who has kids knows this, our little gems of wisdom aren't accepted the same way they are when they come from a respected and well-liked teacher.

As in, they aren't accepted!  At all.

But I have to say, for the most part it's been a breeze with our girl.

She's done really well, and made us proud.

She deserves some recognition, and a party, and treats to eat.

Which is what I will be doing tomorrow, preparing for a small party celebrating #2's achievements.

And baking lemon bars. Therefore, the lemons!
I told you they figured in!

Thanks for dropping by today! It might get a little crazy around here in the next day or two, but I'll try to visit every one of you as soon as I can.
If you are new to Heart and Home I hope you'll be back again soon! And if you like what you saw today, why not become a follower, or subscribe for e-mail updates? You'll be glad you did!

Until next time,
XO
Heidi

A Giveaway and Pink Saturday at Heart and Home

Happy Pink Saturday! I'm glad you're back and hope you're having a great day. There is exciting information about my giveaway at the end of this post so stick around!

Flowers bursting out all around us:

The garden beginning to bloom:

Streamers streaming in the dining room:

Gifts piled high on the sideboard:

 Fruity desserts ready to be served:

That can only mean one thing around here: it's Spring, and  birthday season at our house.  My husband's, mine and my daughter's, all in quick succession.

There's been a lot of partying and celebrating in this house!

Now it's time to slow down and enjoy the tulips,

 and stop to smell the lavender!

And now, about my giveaway:

Two of my lucky readers

will win a full year's subscription

to Traditional Home Magazine.

You read it, you love it, now win it for one full year!

For an entry do one or all of the following:

Become a follower,

Leave a comment,

Link to Heart and Home in a post!

You get an entry for each.

Of course you can enter more than once!

Let me know which you've done.

A winner will be chosen by

random drawing Friday May 7.

Good luck!

(Filoli Gardens Spring 2010)

Until next time,
XO
Heidi
 
Thank you Beverly, at How Sweet the Sound, for Pink Saturday!