Appreciation and Compliments

Even though it's been a difficult summer for all of us and we've had more than our share of things to be worried about, it's also been a time to show our appreciation. There are so many people in our lives that do so much good. But this post is about the appreciation I've been shown lately.

Most of you know that I volunteer for Hospice of Marion County. I'm a patient visitor at Legacy House and have worked there for over 2 years. We have not been able to do visits this summer because of the virus but I volunteered in other ways and received this certificate in the mail a few days ago. I was surprised...to say the least!

And compliments go a long way. When our roof leaked and damaged a piece of furniture and the carpet by the wall, a young man from our insurance company came to inspect the damage. I made sure my bedroom was tidy (and made my bed as I always do) and he arrived right on time. But guess what! He had a camera and wanted to photograph EVERY room in the house. At one point, I told him I would have done a little more had I known he was going to do that. And do you know what he said? He said, This is one of the cleanest houses I've ever been inside. Just that. But you know....I took that as a compliment and wrote it down in my journal.

It's been an interesting week. I met a Wildlife Photographer on a hike on the Florida Trails and talked to him while he rode his bike really really slow and I walked as fast as I could! And then another day I hiked at Pruitt and met an artist and talked to him about the beauty of that area. (all safely social distancing!)

I also wrote to the Florida Native Plant Society to let them know I had written a post about them HERE . They've featured me on their twitter feed HERE and Facebook page HERE. How nice is that!

Showing a few of the Wildflowers I've seen this week on my hikes. 

WOW! This is more than I usually write! But I am so thankful to be appreciated AND to have so many compliments! I'm especially thankful for all of YOU! When I wrote to the Native Plant Society I told them to be sure and read the comments! Thanks for making my blog a happy place to visit!

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too!

Books and Butterflies!

I think I'm seeing butterflies in my sleep! I've seen so many real butterflies lately and then I spent some time making cards for the hospice patients that I visit each week.

I'm still using the pretty butterflies that my blog buddy Ann sent me. 

And I wanted to share a butterfly card my son, D sent me awhile back. It's opened in the photo above. The other card is from my youngest son, D. I love having pretty things around me when I create, don't you?

I've discovered a 'new to me' author that writes amazing books!

The first one I read was Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center and I gave it 5 stars on goodreads. That's the very highest rating and I give it to only my very favorite books.

I read How to Walk Away by Katherine Center too and gave it 4 stars. Both books are worth putting on your 'to read' list!

I finally got to check out the latest Louise Penny book, A Better Man. I've been on the waiting list to get it from my library and now I have it in my greedy little hands! Oh, I CAN NOT wait to read it. This is one of my VERY favorite series and I know it is for many of you. I think Armand Gamache is REAL and don't anyone tell me he's not!

Have you read something good this week that you think I might enjoy? 

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays  and

Katherine's Thursday Favorite things HERE.

Giving and Receiving..updated!

I have been so blessed by the volunteer work I do visiting the patients at Legacy Hospice House.

I've met some wonderful people, both patients and their families and friends. And I admire the professionals that take care of the patients. The nurses and aids are all amazing! Rock Star Amazing!

And I've enjoyed doing a few extra things when I visit, like take handmade cards to give to the patients. I know there are stores that sell all kinds of card making supplies and embellishments but since I make so many cards, I try to use what I have. 

I was so surprised to have my blog buddy Ann from Ann's Snap, Edit, Scrap write to tell me she had cut out some butterflies for me to use on my cards. That's my favorite embellishment. Butterflies are used in decoration throughout the Legacy House so these are perfect. Thank you SO much Ann!

So I got busy and made some new cards. I tried to change up my design just a bit by rounding the corners at the top. 

I'm blessed in giving AND receiving this week!

I decided to come back and talk about what I do in a Hospice house as a patient visitor. I know a lot of you have had experience with hospice in your home and in hospitals. The Legacy House has rooms that don't really look like a hospital room, with nice furniture and personal touches. The patients all have a handmade quilt on their bed and handmade pillowcases (made by volunteers). Everything is beautiful. 
I had extensive training to become a volunteer. So when I enter the room I introduce myself (and if the family wants privacy, they close the door and I do not knock or enter). I don't disturb someone if they are sleeping either.

The first thing I do is ask the patient or visitor if they need anything. I bring water, cups of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, juice or snacks if that's what they want. I help them with the tv stations (there are music stations that many prefer), adjust the blinds, lights, pillows....all of the things that can make a person more comfortable. And then if they want to talk, I stand there and listen. I hold their hand, pray with them...whatever they want to do. I'm in no hurry. I have time. I pull up a chair and sit with people that don't want to talk but just want company. I take young people (visitors) to the family room. I even colored a page in a coloring book with a little girl one time. I've taken one child outside to walk around. I've stood in the hall after someone has passed and had someone cry on my shoulder....more than once. I've sat in the lobby with a lady that was wondering if Hospice was right for her situation. I've read to people, looked through their photo albums, come back when it wasn't my day to visit because someone asked me to...many times. It's really a comfort to have a volunteer at a Hospice house. Not everyone has family close by here in Florida where they've retired. 

I hope this explains a little better what I do when I spend an afternoon once a week at Hospice. And I hope it will encourage others to seek out hospice treatment if it's needed or volunteer if you have time. It makes a difference. It's a blessing to everyone. 

Thanks for all the wonderful comments.

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays .

Thrift Store Sharing

I am still decluttering and trying to donate more than I buy but I needed a diversion this week! So I went to the old thrift store, Divine Providence. Some people call it the nickle store because all of the clothing there costs a nickle! ALL of the prices are super low so you have to be careful not to bring too much home when you visit! lol

I was happy to find some things to share with others though! The Legacy Hospice house has a beautiful family room filled with toys, books, videos and comfortable chairs to relax in. I found the cutest little house filled with art supplies to take. It has little drawers with crayons and colored pencils. (I took out the markers for obvious reasons and will buy a new pack of crayons to fill that drawer) It was 25 cents!!! Can you believe that!!!

I also found some stuffed animals to take to a lady in another facility that I visit. She'll love the soft pink bunny.

I think I'll keep the coloring book. (cost a dime) I am still learning about colors and could use some of these tips. I'm doing some art every day and would love to encourage you to do that too. There are so many great benefits to being artistic and creative.

Oh, but if you still need things to entertain you this summer....

 you can always watch the water drip from your faucet!

hahahaha  Do you see that BIG BUBBLE?

(we filter our water, I was filling a water pitcher)

And yes I see that my Kitchen Lemon is half full! 

What's new at your house? 

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays .

Making Ribbon Roses

This is something fun to do on a rainy afternoon! Let's make ribbon roses!

Every one comes out different!

And there's no perfect way to make them. I looked for a tutorial on you tube but there are SO many of them and most are SO complicated! I kept it simple and easy!

Just get a length of silk ribbon and make a long running stitch near the edge...not too near!

And then pull the thread to gather it. Tuck and twist until you like it and then go on the underside and put some stitches in to hold it together. Some of these I've even sewed a little circle of felt under them. They could be a brooch then! 

You can sew them on a bag or purse or apron!

 Or glue them on a card or book!

Use your imagination and HAVE FUN!

I bought my silk ribbon from Victorian Gypsy Girl. Her shop is HERE on Etsy. She has the MOST beautiful silk ribbon and fabulous prices!

 I gave a card to a sweet lady at the Legacy Hospice house and it had a lavender rose on it. I forgot to take a photo of the card but she really loved it....and that was worth it all!

Are you crafting or sewing this summer? 

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays .

 

What to do....what to do!!!

What have I been doing lately? NOT hiking! I sure miss my hikes in the woods and along the Rainbow River but it's just been too hot to hike! High 90s during the day and it doesn't cool off a whole lot at night....mid to high 70s! I'm sure I'll find a cool morning soon and hit the trails but in the meantime...there's lots to do inside!

Reading....

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

If you only have time to read ONE book this summer! Read this one! It is amazing! You'll never forget it!

And I saw Eileen's review on Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben on Goodreads and just had to read it. 

And it was GOOD! Can't put it down, want to stay up late at night reading....GOOD!!!

Card making...

I made several quick and easy cards to give to the Hospice patients at the Legacy House. Always feels good to have something to give and put on their bulletin boards. Cheers the room up!

Watercolors and sketching...

Not sure I'm getting any better but I'm still loving it.

And Cleaning... Time to clean out the big walk-in closet.

Wait!!! no photo? I forgot to take a pic? Or did I forget to clean! hahahaha! Like to venture a guess?!!!

Have a wonderful week! If it ever cools down or rains, I'll HIKE but for now, I'll enjoy being at home!

 

What have you been up to this week?

I’m joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE .

 

 

"Happy Memorial Day"

I have lots of photos from recent hikes so I put together a couple of mosaics to share what I've seen on the last two!

(Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly)

Hike #71

I hope everyone is having a beautiful Memorial day and taking time to be thankful for the sacrifices made to keep us free! I'll be spending time visiting the patients at the Legacy Hospice House today. I always feel humbled when I spend the day with those that are at the end of their lives. Let's all be compassionate and pray for one another.

Hike #72

*God Bless America*

I’m joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE .

 

 

Cards 'A little how to'!

I make cards for the patients at the Legacy Hospice House. I have been volunteering for over a year now. I spend one afternoon there every week (and sometimes stop in at other times). I am a patient visitor so I spend time with the patients and their families and friends. 

Each room has a bulletin board so I make cards to put there. 

The cards I make are really a big tag. (they don't open) I take cardstock and cut it into 4 'tags'. Then I put a colorful piece of paper on top and embellish.

 Let's 'get real' and spread everything out on the table so that we can WORK!!! 

It's not easy finding the words to put on these labels, so I usually just put 'love' or 'you are loved' and then I write a little something on the back of the tag and sign my name. It adds some color and cheer to their rooms.

I know I could probably buy butterflies but I have a chip board butterfly that I trace onto pretty paper and I cut them out....4 or more at the same time. 

 I take my ruler and bend the wings up so that I'm gluing just the body to the card. 

 And look at what I'm doing with the little pearl stick-ons Gina! Don't they add the perfect touch to the butterfly! 

Gina at With Twigs and Branches makes beautiful cards and she sent me a box filled with craft supplies to use for my cards. It's fun to get creative with new supplies!

I want to mention the beautiful silk ribbon I use to add the finishing touch. It's from the Etsy shop Victorian Gypsy Girl HERE and her prices are reasonable and the ribbon is DIVINE!!! (I need to order MORE!)

 So that's what I do in my spare time. I have lots of projects I want to do but making these cards is easy and fun! And I love having a folder filled with them when I visit the hospice patients.

Are you crafting this week? I have some new watercolor markers I can't wait to try out! Stay tuned!!!

I'm thankful for friends and crafting and my volunteer work AND my BLOG!!!

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays

and Cooking and Crafting with J&J HERE.