Finding and Creating Beauty

And so after that long morning at the auto mechanics, and after hunting around the Pueblo Kmart for shoes for my littlest son who has had holes in the toes of his shoes for a long time,

we went on to Aunt Iva's to do something besides the usual.

We went to find and create beauty.

And so here is what we found---no, not the frazzled hair of two little kids, or a dirty shirt--

but the beaming faces

and the bright, wild sunflowers,

and the startling, amazing creativity of little children who think to stuff flowers into the loops of a dress waist.

 It's amazing what you find when you focus on finding beauty instead of--well, weeds, for example.

Weeds grow anywhere and everywhere, but it took thought and effort to make this little garden along the garage wall. Some of the plants were meant to be there, and some had sprouted up from the compost they used. Either way, many edible plants and even a couple nasturtiums were thriving here. Loved this little garden at the side of the house.

 For some back east, gardening is practically a non-issue. You don't think a whole lot about rain or soil. 

But in Pueblo West, Colorado, when there has been little but brown and dirt and hard-packed soil, 

it means something to gain a bit of fruit from your labor. 

Here is a zucchini that they are allowing to grow large, to save the seeds.

 And a yellow squash thriving in the little brick raised bed.

 And pots of flowers by the door put a smile on my face. Iva had either grown the flowers from seed or transplanted some that had cost only a little. The pink petunia pot also had a lovely tomato plant and lettuce plant growing accidentally behind it. I loved the combination!

And doesn't God love variety, too?

 And the children kept watching the baby swallows in the nest right above--yes, the front door, and begging me to take pictures of them peeking over the edge of the nest with their little mouths open wide...

 and of the mama and papa swallows who kept close watch and would bring insects whenever it seemed safe.

 Inside I was so proud of the beautiful job of new, wooden floors that Kenn had recently finished. The bedroom was so neat and simple, with the bearskin rug that Kenn had skinned from his own bear in hunting season. He had salted it down and had it preserved. Perhaps just for today, they had laid it out--

just for beauty.

 It deserved a photo of its own. And the children loved looking at the very real head, and feeling the soft, velvety fur.

 While Sam and Kenny worked hard in the hot sun on the fence, I crashed for a few moments on the couch. I was embarrassed to be so done in, but had spent hours on my feet that morning and really wasn't up to the trip, but hadn't wanted to disappoint the boys whose sisters had spent quite a number of days with friends, helping with two VBS's, and having lots of fun. 

So we got there! When I could pull back together, we began to "create beauty." 

"You can work with just what you have," I encouraged my sister, who has a heart for beauty, but struggles with the heavy load she carries.Out of just things we found in the kitchen, or on that very same catch-all bar that had been cluttered with a mess of papers and umpteen whatevers,  we managed

 something beautiful.

No, it didn't look like the latest fashion magazine, but it was what she had at hand:

a little vegetable stand filled with homegrown zucchini, a basket which she filled with crisp, sweet, red apples,

and a vase for which we asked the little children to cut wild sunflowers. 

We could not get over the change in the atmosphere!

Then out of the pile of dusty things stuck back in this little corner, we simply hung the pictures on the wall, set the little book Love in Every Room in the corner, washed the little pottery or ceramic mugs and used them for book ends for the same Bible and hymnal that had been sitting there....

 and that is what we created! 

We did not have to go to the craft store or the furniture store or Hobby Lobby or Joann Fabrics. 

We simply cleared the clutter,  took what was already there, dusted, washed, arranged, and created a spot of beauty!

We really went to town, so to speak. We found another corner to clear the big waste basket out of, wash down the wall and woodwork, and found a wicker shelf to fill with something pretty. 

Then I had to snap a photo of Elisa choosing trims for fabric she is using to make crafts which she is trying to sell. The little blue bag at the bottom of the photo is a beautiful little bag she made.

 And I have to say that Krissy, the sweet girl in the red top above, did a fabulous job of washing all the dishes and cleaning up the counter. Krissy reminds me a whole lot of Iva when Iva was young. 

Below, the boys finally finished the job of putting up the electric fence and getting it working, 

so they rewarded themselves with a long game of chess while we ladies went to work to clean and reorganize the pantry.

The time I spend with Iva is becoming more and more rewarding

as we talk together and work together to create beauty

out of the common struggles in our lives of being mothers of a large family. 

Perhaps we only beautified a few spots in those few hours, 

but doing it fed our tired spirits.