The Queen Bee

Flowers on Telegraph Hill in San Fransisco. Bees may be a theme here on my blog as August rolls in! I'm preparing to teach one of my favorite classes - "Becoming the Queen Bee". I've given this presentation several times before to groups of women who are in the thick of mothering and teaching and home keeping. I personally have always loved home keeping. Even during the times that I can't control the mess (we're in construction zone right now!), I love the idea of it. The thought of having nothing else to do but put away, polish, and putter in my home seems like heaven. When I was young I'd spend hours organizing and decorating my bedroom. My Mom was the best Queen Bee - we often made cleaning into a fun game by playing the parts of English house maids! Even those who really dislike the work of home keeping can make it more enjoyable, and feel the lovely calm that comes after the chores are done.

"The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one has to do."

-James M. Barrie

As I snapped these photos, I thought of the work that people put into their gardens - especially these on Telegraph Hill! They're gorgeous!

Here are some favorite quotes from my class outline:

"With each sunrise, we start anew."

-Anonymous

"I believe we all have this instinct to create beauty, distinction, meaning in our lives. Your daily and lifetime rituals can define you, and they can keep your spirits up: they are important for you, for your family, and friends. Look for natural beauty in all things. Beauty encourages us; it gives us joy and energy to care more and not settle for less."

-Alexandra Stoddard

"What a great blessing it is to struggle to teach a child the correct principles of life, and to make the home a great medium to do so. What we teach our children, how we mold their characters to try to make them responsible family members, loyal citizens, and noble children of God, affects not only us and them but also their children and their children's children - an awesome and exciting challenge!"

-Lynda J. Eyre

"There are women who make things better simply by showing up. There are women who make things happen. There are women who make their way. There are women who make a difference. And women who make us smile. There are women who do not make excuses...women who cannot be replaced. There are women of wit and wisdom who, with strength and courage, make it through. There are women who change the world every day."

-Ashley Rice

Blooming

The roses are finally blooming at my house. We have 18 rose bushes along our back wall - many colors and types, but they all smell really good! I had to try some photos.

My husband planted the roses- 18 bushes for the 18 years that we were apart, learning the life lessons that we needed. Now we've been married for 4 years. It's a beautiful thing.

So, I was taking the pictures and I realized that there was some sweet music playing - my little troubador on the sunning chair! He plays the harmonica quite well..

Speaking of roses, below is a picture of one of the beautiful ceramic boxes that my Grandmother, Julia Rollins, made.

Don't you love the colors - so vintage!

Her mother, Harriet Webb, was a prolific crafter and an amazing ceramic artist who passed on the talent and desire to her children. My Grandma and her sisters all had their own ceramic shops - I grew up running around my Grandma's shop while my Mother worked there. I never learned how to make these beautiful roses, but I did learn so many crafing and sewing and candy making skills fom my Grandmother and Great Aunts. Of course, my Mother taught me the most - by her creative example, by patiently letting me be a part of every project, and keeping supplies always on hand...
It is a legacy of homekeeping, beauty, and love that I treasure!

Here is my Great Grandmother posing for a news photo and article about her and her art and crafts. Everything - paintings, embroidery, crochet, ceramics, wall art, even curtains, lamps and rugs made by her. Wow... and she lived to 102 years old!

Hope we all find ways to bloom this spring