Monday, August 13, 2018

Keep Your Sunny Side Up

My sweet mother used to send us off to school saying,
"Remember, keep your sunny side up!"

It's a thought that has stayed with me for a lifetime!
If we go through the day with a happy attitude,
those around us are likely to feel the same.

 I've noticed that the Texas sunflowers are beginning
to show up in the flower markets.

Their sunny faces make me think of 
my mother and her wise words.

I've a fondness for pretty accent pillows,
especially those done in needlepoint.
When I spied this pretty pillow at a consignment store on a
 trip to Dallas, I knew it would have to go home with me.
Just look at the detail and those scalloped edges!

It's been moving around a bit, but for now 
it has landed on the chase that is on the upstairs porch.

It's just a small little porch, only room for a rocker and a chase
with a small side table by each.  What makes it special is that it 
looks down on our back garden, so one feels as if in a tree house.

It's a pefect spot to relax with a cup of coffee, a good book, or a needlepoint canvas that is a work in progress.

Tell me, do you have any wise words from your mother?
Do sunflowers grow where you live?
Joining 
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Sarah
Sarah

The summer we married, my husband was in graduate school, and I was employed as a teacher. We took a portion of our savings that summer and purchased a sailboat. We christened our Catalina 22, “Hyacinths For The Soul” after Saadi’s poem. Our "Hyacinths" provided years of pleasure.

25 comments:

  1. MaryAugust 14, 2018 at 4:13 AM

    I can rarely resist bringing sunflowers home when I see them Sarah, they is something so inherently cheery and sunny about them! I would have fought you over that beautiful pillow! I love your pretty nook in your 'tree house' with your CCheck where you can stitch or read. Your scissors are something to crow about too! '-)

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  2. Pam RichardsonAugust 14, 2018 at 6:19 AM

    Sarah, I love your mom’s saying. Sunflowers grow in a couple of rows behind our garden. High winds last week pretty much wrecked them. But fortunately I had already made several bouquets to enjoy. The needlepoint pillow is stunning. Have a wonderful Tuesday!

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  3. NanaDianaAugust 14, 2018 at 6:35 AM

    What a beautiful post, Sarah! I love that pillow. I don't think I have ever seen a needlepoint one with scalloped edges before.
    Have a wonderful Tuesday- xo Diana

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  4. La Table De NanaAugust 14, 2018 at 7:29 AM

    Love this post as that back garden is a delight! Love the sunflowers and pillow too!

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  5. StaceyAugust 14, 2018 at 7:55 AM

    Your sunflower pillow is lovely and the quote is too. I always love seeing your beautiful terraced areas.

    A few years ago my dad was doing chemo and I would drive from Dallas to the Austin area almost weekly. Those field and fields of sunflowers made me smile.

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  6. kitty@ Kitty's Kozy KitchenAugust 14, 2018 at 8:52 AM

    What a perfect quote, Sarah! How can we not love sunflowers? Your newly acquired pillow is wonderful, and I love it with your CC.

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  7. The French HutchAugust 14, 2018 at 9:06 AM

    Sarah, such words of inspiration from your mom. Sunflowers are to me”summer” I just love their happy sunny faces. Love the pretty scalloped pillow. We have a field not far from us that I drive past. Of course with the camera in the car I had to drive there and photograph. Such fun to stand among those towering sunflowers. Lovely porch overlooking your beautiful garden, so lush and green. I would never want to leave and what a perfect place to relax at the end of the day. When mom and dad dropped us off they always said “be sweet.”

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  8. ellen b.August 14, 2018 at 10:21 AM

    What a lovely back garden to look onto. Love your mom's saying!

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  9. Rita C at PanoplyAugust 14, 2018 at 12:07 PM

    Oh, I love that needlepoint pillow, Sarah! Your work in progress looks interesting too.
    Yes, my mother had a few phrases which, at any time, can now be heard rolling off the tongue of me or one of my sisters. Our moms probably smile when they hear us. 😊🌻

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  10. cloches and lavenderAugust 14, 2018 at 12:41 PM

    So pretty Sarah and the needlepoint you are working on is pretty.

    Don't you find sunflowers to be a happy flower?

    Super find with the pillow.

    Enjoy the rest of your week

    Cindy

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  11. SnapAugust 14, 2018 at 3:29 PM

    Sarah, beautiful post. I love sunflowers. They are such a happy flower. I smile when I see them.

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  12. Susan FreemanAugust 14, 2018 at 10:23 PM

    I love sunflowers too. Such happiness! Remember those seeds I planted last spring and how excited I was that they developed little sprouts? Well, the birds were pleased with the sprouts too, and ate the sunflowers down to the ground, and some they pulled up. It's off to the flower mart for me ;-)

    Big Texas Hugs,
    Susan and Bentley

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  13. Blondie's JournalAugust 15, 2018 at 12:27 AM

    Oh...sunflowers! Love! They are happiness. I love your garden, and your chaises are a perfect spot for a huge iced tea and a newspaper (or magazine).

    Enjoy the rest of your summer, Sarah!

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  14. Linda @ A La CarteAugust 15, 2018 at 11:38 AM

    Everything is so pretty! I love sunflowers they are such a happy flower.

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  15. JeanieAugust 15, 2018 at 7:32 PM

    I do love sunflowers and yes, I have some growing in my yard. Of course, I am at the cottage and the yard is at home so I presume they are still growing. I'll find out soon enough. This is so lovely, Sarah.

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  16. Alycia NicholsAugust 16, 2018 at 8:50 AM

    Sunflowers are huge here! The helianthus/Sunflower is the state flower of Kansas which is just a stone’s throw across the state line where we live!🌻🌻🌻 If driving across Kansas into Missouri, the landscape is covered in them around this time of year and into September! We love them for decorating here, too! They’re just gorgeous!!!🌻🌻🌻 My Mother had lots of wise words for me as I grew into adulthood. She was a full time career woman, so her interests differed from mine. I was the creative type. She fought it at first, but soon relinquished with the words, “Whatever you do in this life, be the best, but never step on anyone else to get there.” Boy, have those words resonated throughout my years!!!!!!!!!!

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  17. Jennifer WiseAugust 16, 2018 at 9:50 AM

    So gorgeous! I love the sunflowers and your stunning garden! My mom used to always remind me, "This, too, shall pass." It was something her father said to her. And, yes, we have wild sunflowers here in Colorado. I love them! Happy summer.
    #SYClinky

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  18. Sandi MagleAugust 16, 2018 at 11:07 AM

    Lovely space to ruminate, life in a tree house...your garden/yard looks amazing! Coming from Vintage Charm!

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  19. Judy at GoldCountryCottageAugust 16, 2018 at 4:37 PM

    Hi Sarah. Everytime I see your back yard, I just have to rush to tell you how beautiful it is. I love the sunflowers too and my grandmother used to tell me, "Pretty is as Pretty Does". Every time we got out of line and a wee bit boisterous, she would utter this phrase. Of course, there was always a "remember" in front of it..Happy Thursday..xxoJudy

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  20. R's RueAugust 17, 2018 at 9:16 AM

    Have a good day.

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  21. Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. OlsonAugust 18, 2018 at 11:18 PM

    Sarah, I love that sweet saying your mother said! One that I always remember my mom saying is, "patience is a virtue". I love sunflowers and they definitely make me happy! Love your displays and that fabulous pillow. I would have nabbed it in a hurry. Always love your beautiful back yard as well. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  22. Our Hopeful HomeAugust 19, 2018 at 10:06 PM

    What a wonderful saying! Your mother sounds like a great lady. I've been seeing a lot of sunflowers lately, too. Always makes me smile:) Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm! xo Kathleen

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  23. UnknownAugust 21, 2018 at 7:34 AM

    Sarah, your needlepoint pillow is such a treasure! I also do needlepoint and have done pieces from Elizabeth Bradley and Ehrman. Can you let me know where your work in progress came from? Why thank you!

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  24. PondsideAugust 27, 2018 at 5:56 PM

    Oh Sarah, wise words from my Mum could fill a book. I do remember her telling to 'Never say never'....and that has stood me in good stead!
    The Texas sunflowers, and the one on your chaise are all beautiful and..........sunny!

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  25. Sallie (FullTime-Life)August 29, 2018 at 3:13 PM

    I love sunflowers and your cushion is great -- but the "treehouse" where it's hanging out is even better! What a fabulous place for a deck.

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