Secret Anniversaries

 June is a month of many things, including anniversaries, especially for those lovely June brides.  But among wedding anniversaries there are other kinds as well.  We all have other kinds of anniversaries as well.   For me, I have a few secret anniversaries of my own.  Not in June, but that doesn't change anything, they're just as important to me.  

For example, one boyfriend that didn't work out way back in 1979 ..... *sigh* ... well, one secret anniversary that I celebrate is his birthday, October 4th.  I usually raise a glass to the good memories, wish him good health and good cheer, even though he probably doesn't even know I do this.  I remember the details of where we went, things we spoke of.  Once I even met his parents and we all watched The Charles Manson Story.  Sometimes that makes me laugh out loud because my own parents wouldn't have watched that!!   I remember after about a month of dating, I came over to find him replacing the kitchen tiles to make the place look better.  And the only time I've ever drank coffee was at an all night diner with him.  We sat there for hours talking about everything, sipping coffee,  and not wanting it to end.   These are my memories, my way of acknowledging our relationship and what we once had.  No matter what my future was like, he was an important part of that time of my life, and I appreciated all our moments together.

Other obvious anniversaries are the ones for the people we've lost.  My Dad in December, my son and my sister in July, even my best dog, Sadie, in November.  I like to think of Dad the way I remember him when I was a girl.  He was always fixing things, he could fix anything we brought to him.  My son was my handyman, willing to do whatever was needed - or worse, whatever wild hair I got when it came to doing things to the house.  I'll never repaint my back fence- it's full of different colored stripes because that was my wish, and he helped make it happen!   It's important to remember those people who touched our lives, to remember the good times and what they meant to us. 

Secret anniversaries of the heart aren't restricted by the passage of time.  Thomas Wolfe said "I am a part of all that I have touched and that has touched me."  I've always believed that, and taken it to heart.  When family comes for a visit, I always have some kind of project to do.  Having them be a part of my life here is important to me.  

There is never enough time to commemorate what we cherish, unless we pause to observe the secret anniversary of our heart.  So take those moments, those secret anniversaries, to remember, to reflect, and if there's still an opportunity, to jot a note or a text letting those people know you're thinking of them.

 

A Summer House

 Elsie King Moreland wrote in American Home in 1934, "Changing the furniture around is to a woman what taking a vacation is to a man..."     Have you ever thought about changing your house with the season?   We all seem to do it naturally when the Holidays roll around.  Soon there are cozy blankets or pillows about the living room because when it's chilly outdoors we tend to want to hunker down and get cozy.  But what can you do with your summer transformation?

Most of us naturally put away the extra cozy blankets and pillows, the holiday stuffs are back in their boxes, but we can go a step further for those summer months.  Put away things that are bulky.  Leave the floors bare.  Knick knacks that need to be dusted often, or worse, need to be polished (like silver or brass) can be tucked away as well.  

What about putting a cover over the couch?  Fabric remnants can be picked up for less than usual price, or you could shop a local thrift store for a white bedspread or table covering to throw over a couch or chair.  Drape an end table with a piece of bleached muslin.  Put a basket of dried flowers on the fireplace hearth.  This will give a summery feel to your room with little money invested in the look.  

Seashells you've collected, some driftwood or twigs are natural and can lend the look of summer as well.  And of course red, white and blue are always traditional summer colors.  What about tossing a few towels in these colors over your outdoor furniture for a festive look?  Beach towels are often the perfect size and relatively inexpensive to create that new summery look.

Not all of us can afford a vacation in the country, or a lengthy stay at a beach house, but that doesn't mean we can't give our homes a little bit of that vacation feel on a budget.  Creating a "summer house" starts with a state of mind.   Just one or two things can make a big difference!