I just realized I hadn’t followed up on the post where I showed all the white blocks and asked if anyone knew what they were for. (The bowls made painting easier.)
Well, here is your answer.
Steve had the idea of attaching the painted blocks to the walls in a variety of patterns to decorate our newly remodeled kids’ area. He spent a good bit of time drawing out designs and laying out patterns, something I could not do in a million years. He just has a gift for visualizing things and then, more importantly, making those visualizations a reality.
This has been part of a large remodeling job of our second floor which we were just finishing as the virus hit so we haven’t yet had a chance to enjoy using it. Looking forward to the day we can!
it has been absolutely gorgeous around here–pristine southern spring weather. And since we are allowed to go outside for exercise, Sarah and I decided to take ourselves over to the ocean, about fifteen minutes away.
As we stood and looked at the blue gloriousness, we discussed the fact that the only other time the beach is ever that empty is when a hurricane is on the way. Of course, that also means that the weather is gray, gloomy and windy.
But to stand on a beach on a pristine spring day and see the emptiness in both directions was a rare experience.
Photo by Sarah
When we first arrived, there was a whole gang of gulls on the sand. I told Sarah, “I wish they were flying; it would make a pretty picture.”
Before I knew it, Sarah had taken off running. And when she took off running, the gulls took off flying!
Photo by Sarah
Photo by Sarah
I will always treasure the memory of that moment . . . the pure exuberance of a wide-open space filled by the glory of my girl.
The shadows and the gull.
Loved sharing those moments with her.
I couldn’t help but think that the day will come when she and I will go back to that same beach and it will be filled with people.
And we will look at each other and smile over the memories we made on that deserted beach. And then we will smile over the joy of knowing that having a crowd of people around us means that they, along with us, made it through a very difficult season and came out on the other side.
What about you? What have you done lately to break up your routine a little? What are some things you’re doing to fill up the time?
How are you doing emotionally through all of this? If you want to talk, we want to listen!
Dear Becky, This is one of your best blogs ever! (I know… I always say that.) I especially enjoyed the photos. And I think it’s time to acknowledge that you and Pastor Steve (and your offspring) are gifted creative geniuses. Steve’s “block art” is brilliant! While the “lockdown” is a pain, I’m sure that having Sarah at home makes it a wonderful time for your family. You chose the perfect time of day to take your beach photos… I loved the shadows and soft lighting. Wishing continued blessings to all. Love, Fred & Lucy
Fred and Lucy,
Well, as a photographer yourself, you know all about that lovely golden light at the end of the day. It is truly magical.
I don’t that we are creative geniuses, exactly, but we do love doing creative and artsy things!
I hope you guys are finding happy things to do while hunkered down.
Becky,
The blocks look great! I never would have guessed that as there purpose when I saw them in the table. I applaud Steve’s creativity.
A quiet walk on the beach “alone together” with Sarah sounds wonderful! I am sure you both enjoyed it immensely. Quiet, peaceful time spent together amid all the turmoil surrounding us all. The photos are great, I especially liked Sarah’s soaring gull.
To occupy my time, I am crocheting afghans for fosters. I have a friend who works for CYS and I give them to her to distribute to foster children so they have something of their own. I enclose a note saying, “specially hand made with love and prayers just for you” and put each one in an extra large resealable plastic bag with a handle. I am also working on a counted cross stitch piece as a Christmas gift for a friend. I also try to get in a walk in the neighborhood at least once or twice a day. I am fortunate enough to live in a quiet, safe neighborhood where people walk, but follow social distancing, I have also done some closet cleaning, and have set aside bags to donate to goodwill, the library, etc.
For anyone looking for something to do (individually or as a family) here’s an idea. Make cards and send them to senior living centers, nursing homes, etc. Simple cards saying, hello or thinking of you, etc will cheer the seniors and let them know they aren’t forgotten. And, if children are involved, the recipients will love their drawings. ?
Keep safe and healthy.
Prayers and hugs,
Linda in Pittsburgh
Linda,
What a fabulous project to make afghans and put in that wonderful note with them, to make the kids feel special and valued. Thank you for not only having a giving heart, but putting that giving heart into action.
And I love your idea of making cards for senior living centers. They must feel so very isolated, away from their families and friends–a card would be a huge day-brightener.
Thank you for thinking of so many wonderful things to do for others!
Love, love, LOVE the block designs! Colors (the brighter the better) just make me happy. SO thankful God didn’t make our world in black and white.
Also love the pics of Sarah running on the beach… and the gulls flying… and the pic of the two of you.
I guess I just love EVERYTHING about this post. Thank you!
Jenny Jo,
I’m like you. I love, love, LOVE color.
And yes, that experience of blue skies and an empty beach will be one of my treasured memories!
Unfortunately I have been “glued” to the news about Covid-19. I have enjoyed walking the pups in the yard. I even did some counted cross stitch Sunday night for the first time since Christmas. Have two “old” New for me Beverly Lewis books I want to read but have not started yet. Love the beach pictures and Steve’s blocks are so colorful. Take care, stay well and God bless.
Ann,
Yeah, that news just seems to draw us in, doesn’t it? I have to give it a break sometimes or it gets overwhelming.
Glad you have some time to do some cross stitch and hopefully start to read those books you’ve been holding on to. I know this is quite a change for you since you are always so busy! Hugs.
I love the block designs! What a great surprise that will be for the children when we’re all allowed back in our church buildings. The beach photos are extraordinary. Precious memories!
I’ve been working full-time still though have approached the boss about letting me just take the computers home and work from there. He’s resistant to that as then I wouldn’t be in the office to constantly be bombarded with his questions that most often have nothing to do with work. Still working on him!
Once home, my grandson who is very social, wants to chat my ear off, always presenting new ideas for fun things to do (slime making, learn to cook something/anything, etc.) and by the time I engage in that I just want to go to bed…silently! Have finally set up my sewing machine to make some face masks for family and friends. Grateful to be in Eastern CT and not the other half of the state which is a major hotspot. We can take rides to the beach, but still pretty chilly to hang out there for long.
Stay well, Smithies! You are loved!
Guerrina,
Yeah, I think you need to keep working on your boss. Maybe after you work from home for a while, he will doubly/triply appreciate you!
I can imagine the energy it takes for you to have a precious grandson in the house coming up with all sorts of “grand ideas.” I hope you can find (or make) some “me time,” so that you can be alone to think your own thoughts and do your own stuff. So important to keep our sanity. (And sanity is always a helpful thing to keep.)
Grateful you are not in the hotspot; bless you for making masks! Love right back to you.
The painted block designs look amazing! I, too, wish I could envision projects like that and bring them to completion.
The pictures you and Sarah took at the beach are beyond spectacular! The brought back memories of the beach during the winter when it’s almost deserted; the bright sun bringing out the vivid blues makes me miss the Carolina coast so very much.
Stay safe and take care…
Sue Ellen,
“Vivid blues” is the perfect way to describe the coastland. So glad God decided to make water/sky blue and not purple, or something. Such a perfect color. Talk about great Artistry!
Hope you can get back to the coast very soon.
Love the photo Sarah did of a seagull on the left side, lit in the sun; and another gull to the far right, slightly shadowed. Striking, yet peaceful… something serene in it. Ruth
Ruth,
I hadn’t noticed all that until you pointed it out. You definitely have the artistic eye.
Those blocks are sooo creative and impactful–great idea, Steve!
So glad you two could get out on the beach. Such nice pictures.
Love to you all.
Deb
Deb,
Blocks and the beach. THAT should have been my post title. Hugs to you and your fella.
Those brick designs are so cool! I hope everyone gets to see them and use the new area soon! I’m surprised your beaches aren’t closed. All of the AL and FL beaches are closed, and if anyone is caught on the beach it will result in heavy fines and jail time! They are serious! Glad you’re enjoying time with Sarah. It’s so nice that she gets to be home with you during this awful time.
Gayle,
Wow. I didn’t know there were fines and jail time in those states! We are allowed to go outside and exercise here and since they didn’t say where the outside area needed to be (or not to be) we chose the beach. We were certainly a LONG way from having contact with anyone!
Yes, I am thrilled to have Sarah home. She has cooked and cleaned and gotten groceries and spoiled me rotten. It is poignant to see the seasons of the generations change and the roles reverse.
What a great idea with the blocks. Just beautiful. How wonderful it is that you can spend some time with Sarah and on an empty beach. It really is hard to imagine no one around. Sometimes, when it is so peaceful and seems so empty, I can imagine that that i how it will be when we as believers are gone – don’t know how peaceful it will be – but empty. Tell Steve he is one creative man. It was probably cheaper than buying paintings to cover the walls.
Sharyn,
Those blocks turned out to be a lot more work than he was expecting but at least he has the satisfaction of knowing he designed it and saw it through to completion! It definitely cheers up the whole area!
Yes, that was a special time for Sarah and me on that beach. And as far as social distancing goes–we had just a tad more than 6 feet between us and another person! 🙂
First of all, those blocks are so awesome! You’re right, I wouldn’t of been able to do something like that. What a talent…and great decor!
I long to be at a beach! Here in Grand Forks, ND, we had 10 inches of snow last Thursday =( It’s melting and has been sunny, but still, it’s there. I wish it were nicer here! We can get out to go for walks, but it’s a muddy, puddley mess!
My wonderful boss gave me the last 2 weeks off, paid, so I just hung out at home. My son’s day care (The Y) is still open, so he enjoys going there. I think he likes the routine. Plus,he sees his friends and gets to play outside!
Blessings for a great week.
Krista,
How wonderful that you got to have some me-time at home with your son in daycare and paid leave! There are few things I love more than being home alone.
Ten inches of snow in April? Oh my. I feel a little guilty about looking out my window and seeing blossoming trees. But yours will be along soon!
Love the blocks on the wall. The designs remind me of quilts. Maybe he could start to design some quilts! Love the beach shots too. I really miss being near the beach. We are about an hour from Lake Michigan, but it is a bit too cold to venture out there yet and some beaches are closed or washed away from the high waters. I am sewing and quilting to pass the quarantine time. I have plenty of fabric to keep me busy. I have made a few masks also to share with others. Emotionally it hasn’t hit me yet, but I do worry some as my husband has low immunities and chemo induced lung issues that could cause problems if he gets the virus. We are staying put and enjoying each other. Prayers for you all.
Patti,
Well, Steve has quilting in his blood; we have several beautiful quilts made by his grandma.
I can only imagine your concern for your husband’s health with all that he has going on, physically. I loved reading your words “staying put; enjoying each other.” That is great to hear you aren’t driving each other crazy! (Although I think every couple has at least a FEW crazy-making
moments. 🙂
Love the bricks on the walls. Steve did a great job. My church did something similar only the blocks were bigger and were pictures of church activities – mission trips, etc.
I’m working on a 1500 piece jigsaw puzzle. I’ve got pieces on my desk and a card table. I did have them on two cookies sheets but I’ve gotten rid of those as I’ve added pieces to the puzzle. Also, trying to get out and walk most days. I didn’t Friday as the high here was 30!
Emotionally I have good times and bad times. I live alone so no one here to talk to. I do talk to my parents at least once a day. The street that runs through my small neighborhood is right in front of my living room windows so when I see people walking by, I try to go out and at least talk to them for a few minutes.
The beach pictures are beautiful. I especially like the one where the pier is reflected in the water. I took a picture of a bridge on my trip to Florida last winter. It was reflected also, one of my favorite pictures of the trip.
Phyllis,
I was just thinking it would be fun to do a crossword puzzle; haven’t done one in a long time. Have you seen the rollout pads you can put the puzzle on and then roll it up and put it away until the next time you work? They are pretty cool.
So glad you are getting out for some exercise (when the weather cooperates) and are being intentional about finding people to chat with. TWo really important things.
I Hope spring arrives quickly!
WOW… the blocks look fantastic!!!!
I used to love feeding the seagulls when I was in Florida.
I’ve been busy painting Easter watercolor pictures ala Grandma Moses style, and hanging them on the outside and inside of my hall door. One of my Goddaughters sent me a HUGE bag of wrapped candy. I am sewing 16 eggs (about 7″x5″) and filling them with candy and a poem to be delivered to Brookdale friends (on the shelves outside their doors) for Easter morning.
“Easter Bunny comes at night
on gentle tip-toe feet.
She holds a basket safe and tight
of candy good to eat.
She hops around the Brookdale floors
on very quiet legs.
And in the morning by the doors
are eggs, eggs, eggs!”
Mrs. Pam,
I LOVE your way of spending your time getting ready to brighten the day of sixteen other people. And you wrote the poem? It is fabulous!
I can only imagine the Easter morning smiles–on THEIR faces, and yours, too.
I love the block idea!!! Nice work, Steve! Really nice!!
The beach pictures are spectacular and peaceful looking but also a bit eerie looking since it is so deserted. Great shots!
So far, I am still working so I am not having to be cooped up in the house, thankfully. If I did have to be though, I would be cleaning out my china hutch and making everything sparkle again, and doing some sewing. I am making some doll clothes for my granddaughters.
Still well here. Take care!!
Lee Anne,
How fun is that to make doll clothes! I am amazed by people who are gifted at sewing. It’s just completely beyond my realm of understanding.
Glad you don’t have to be cooped up yet, though. I am thankful, also, to get to go to work every day. Certainly makes the days go by faster.