family – Page 11 – Karla's Cottage

Simple Treasures and Dealing with Grief at the Holidays

collections, cottage, dogs, family, holiday decor

By Karla Nathan / December 25, 2021

2020 was such a wreck I almost didn’t decorate for the holidays. But with a grand fairy around, one whose year was as bad as mine, I needed to.

And the twinkle of lights during a dark winter is very uplifting.

So I did some holiday foofing, and was glad that I did. But when I found the bag of pinecones that Ryan and I gathered on a walk, the recollections of that day wrenched my soul.

We’d had Sugar with us, and we were in an area we called The Danger Zone, because there were so many squirrels. Balancing a squirrel crazed dog on a leash while trying to fill our pockets with pinecones, and having them fall out every time we bent over made us laugh til I cried.

And I cry now, just thinking about it.

But it was a fun memory, one to hold on to. So, last year, I put out just the trees with lights and pinecones in honor of him and how much we laughed that day while picking those up.

I will always have a tree decorated with pinecones for Ryan now, and use them throughout the house.

Every day is hard when you lose a child. But little things, like a pinecone, that can bring back flashes of a very happy day, are treasures that can help.

I have added his picture to one of the pinecone trees, and I love this one because it shows his caring and kindness.

I have used a bit more red around the house too. It was his favorite color.

And I have done mosaic glass on vases that flowers were delivered in after he died. They have flickering candles inside and make me think of how many ways he lit up my life.

This is our second Christmas without him. Sometimes I am shocked that so much time has gone by.

Other days, it feels like he has been gone forever.

I look at Molly, watching her grow from a wriggly little pup into a lovely dog, and realize that Ryan never even met her. She is a living symbol of my time without him.

I can just hear his voice if he knew we kept this pup from the litter. He’d probably say just what his brother did- are you crazy!? You do not need another dog!

But he’d have loved her to pieces.

She and I go for long walks on the sidewalks Ryan and I followed and some days we stop at the Danger Zone where all the pinecones fall and I tell her about him. She is a good listener.

There are so many happy stories to share. And so many pinecones covering the ground. Each is a reminder that nature renews itself, life goes on. That the little, simple things are what is important.

Thankful

celebrations, family

By Karla Nathan / November 26, 2021

Our Thanksgiving day was chilly, but we got to get outside the day before.

And I was very thankful for a pretty day in November.

In Kansas, you just never know what the day’s weather will bring.

So when you get a good one, you should celebrate it!

Especially if you are surrounded by loved ones (and dogs) who love to be outdoors too.

A mosaic seashell fairy

fairies, family, sea shell fairies, Travel

By Karla Nathan / October 25, 2021

We tried a new beach this year, Indian Shores. While it was relaxing and beautiful, it wasn’t the best location for picking up shells. But there were tons of teensy ones that I gathered by the scoop full and sorted into dark and light to make a mosaic fairy portrait.

While the Sprite was crafted in a new way, the same heartfelt gratitude for my beach visit went into it. I loved my short visit at Indian Shores with long walks each morning at the beach’s edge, and laughing with family as we sat in the sand.
This beach deserved a thank you fairy, no matter how hard it was to find shells. I was determined.

I wasn’t there long, but was able to divide up my limited time between my sissies and nieces so that I got some one on one with each.

And we gathered together to watch as many sunsets as we could.

The perfect end to the peaceful days.

A loopy and winding road trip

antiques/junking, family, Travel

By Karla Nathan / September 26, 2021

My trip to Indiana had many different loops woven into it, a craft day with buddies and a junkin trip across country, an afternoon at a rock and mineral show, sister sleepovers, family time, a night at a state park lodge, then a meet up with VERY old friends- my 45th high school reunion, ending with a day of sightseeing in downtown Indy.

Whew. That is a lot in 7 days including the 8-1/2 hour drive each way.

A bit like this cool spiral in Sissy’s yard!

On the way to Brown Co. park, we had some junking time and stopped at a mega antique mall.

It had some oddities…

But it also had decently priced millinery. Not so cheap that I bought it all, just reasonable enough to make me pick out a few faves.

I also snapped up a $10 rosey vase/pot, a $16 rosey tablecloth, and a vintage Hawaiian shirt to wear to the Hawaii themed reunion I was attending.

We had perfect weather everywhere we went, and so many laughs, I needed to start using my asthma inhaler again.

The state park had a contest to visit each scenic overlook and take a photo to win a sticker. I agreed to do it with trepidation, thinking it was going to be miles of walking.

Turns out, you drive to the sites (sights?) so my sissies came too. And everyone agreed to model some of my pretty purchases.

My nieces and I took off on a hiking adventure after our scenic quest to win stickers.

That was pretty dang scenic too.

The lodge has been newly redecorated, there is an indoor water park and a country style restaurant too. We were the only ones using the water slide and lazy river. Which is good because I screamed like a banshee all the way down the curly slide and the lazy river wasn’t so lazy. It was a crazy river, and we knocked into each other as we bopped along like we were bumper boats at a carnival.

And yes, it was so much fun, the inhaler had to be used.

My hometown is a charmer. A one block, yet vibrant downtown and an adorable park that I have always loved.

Since I moved away, lots of trails have been added, you can walk for miles out there.

This is from behind the lighthouse. Don’t ask me why a small pond in central Indiana even has a lighthouse, but there it is, glorious as it was 60 years ago.

And I wonder if these ducks are from the same lineage of the ones I used to take my kiddos to go feed?

The trip went much too quickly. But was as full as my heart was.

Tiny, Baby Ryan

family, Ryan

By Karla Nathan / September 23, 2021

My pal, Sandy, brought some old photos to our high school reunion. One was of little, baby Ryan (and little, baby me).

Not long ago, I had found something I wanted to add to the special album I had made with Ryan’s photos. It was ideal to glue a picture to and hang from the book. I thought to myself that I’d add one later when I got another, because I’d used all the pics I had.

Then it hit me.

I would never have another new picture of my son.

Those are the moments that hit the hardest. When I forget. When I think to myself that I have to tell him something funny, or that a new season of one of our shows is starting, or show him the dog’s new haircut. To simply share joys or jokes with him.

That is when I tearfully write him a letter and fold it up with a kiss and tuck it safely into the urn. And miss him all anew, with a fresh pain. At first, it is pleasant to forget and to think of him like he is still here, but then, the ache that slams into my heart when I remember that he is not, just about knocks me to my knees.

I was thrilled to get this new photo. And to see how my baby was looking at me with love.

I miss seeing that expression, he was a loving guy.

Into the Sunflower Fields

family, photography, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / September 16, 2021

Sugarwings’ mama has graduated from her midwifery school! After about 16 years of of working full time and continuing her education, (while getting excellent grades throughout), she has her degrees.

She needed some photos in her cap and gown, and the sunflower fields were just hitting their peak.

Perfect timing!

Not only do sunflowers make a beautiful backdrop for pictures, the huge expanse of yellow blooms that rolls off into the distance is magical.

When you first arrive and see the other cars parked, The number of people already there is deceptive.

I usually feel like I’ll have to go way out into the blooms to find a private area for photos.

But no. Once you step inside, you are surrounded and it can feel like you are in your own private, yellow world.

All of the other families who are visiting just disappear. Unless they brought a flying, super baby with them, who can skim across the top of the flowers.

Some years, the weather doesn’t comply and the farmer isn’t as successful. Others, like now, the flowers are massive and the fields are full.

It’s free to visit, but tips are appreciated, and if you pick flowers, you should leave a dollar for each.

I have only taken Sugarwings twice, and what a big difference seven years makes!

Why have I only been a handful of times, when I get so much joy out of going? Well, weather, timing, many things get in the way, durn it.

This time, the weather was beyond perfect. We headed out at about 6pm, on the Thursday before Labor Day. The lighting was ideal, the mystical “golden hour” was adding a soft glow to the air, and best of all, there were no bugs or mud.

Our timing was ideal.

And what a lovely place for a graduate from Kansas to have a photo shoot. We are the “Sunflower State.”

Plus, it just plain, old makes me happy to be there.

Farewell, Summer

dogs, family, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / August 31, 2021

It has been hot around here, more than usual for a KS summer, but also, green and vibrant. It has been a wet summer too, without the typical blowing dust that the heat usually brings. Our garden and flowers are still thriving.

More so than I have, even though I try to not let the extra hot days get to me, because I know I will miss summer and wish for some extreme heat when the seasons change and the cold creeps back.

The dogs and I have spent as much time outside as we can. Molly has spent the summer learning to perfect the art of digging.

She has some impressive skills.

We have been attending adolescent puppy classes and she did well there too. I enjoyed the classes so much that I hope to sign up for the next step in classes.

I’d love to master some dog training skills myself and am considering keeping litters an extra month for further training. I’ve also contacted the local shelter to offer myself as a foster home for litters (no answer so far).

This probably makes me sound like a crotch edgy, old lady, but why the heck does school start so early? “Dagnabbit, back in my day” schools began after Labor Day. Sugarwings’ school starts up mid August, and I’m never quite ready to lose her company so soon.

But there they go, off to high school! (With a grown up, hairstyle!)

My hair got a makeover too.

Although, between the humidity and my lack of hot iron skills, it only looks good the day I get it done at the beauty shop. Maybe with Autumn arriving, it will cooperate more, most of the summer, I’ve sported a frizzy mass of messy, limp curls.

Or just lake hair. Which might not look great, but feels pretty good.

The prettiest rock, ever

celebrations, cottage, family, Hearts

By Karla Nathan / August 19, 2021

My last post was about this lazy Susan crafted from sliced geodes, that I felt was an extravagant, but happy purchase. Well, my husband topped that gift that I gave to myself, with a beautiful surprise for our anniversary.

It is the ultimate in heart shaped rocks! A blue crystal geode that seems to have a natural shape that has been enhanced with polishing.

That makes my own heart pitter.

I promptly displayed it with some other special rocks and think it is an ideal addition to my lazy Susan.

This is a quartz crystal heart that I have had for years, but had never noticed the shape until the puppies flipped it over in a flower pot. When they showed me that it was a heart, I brought it in the house where it belongs.

One edge is a little sharp, not softly rounded as it should be, but since it was pointed out to me by dogs, you have to give it some leeway, right? It might not be perfect, but I thanked them for it and forgave them for decimating my flower pot.

And do you see the broken heart outlined with a dark vein in the tall geode? Top right. That one is from an estate sale earlier this summer.

I only gave Rich an Apple Watch for our anniversary and he gave me the prettiest rock I have ever seen. Poor guy, he didn’t get nearly the personal gift that I did.

Catabwa Falls, Asheville

Corona virus, dogs, family, Hearts, sea shell fairies, Travel

By Karla Nathan / August 13, 2021

We took both dogs up the trail to Catawba Falls to see the waterfall.

Along the way, my son watched for edible treats the woods had to offer.

While my eyes scan for heart shaped rocks or stones to craft a riverbank fairy, he is on the lookout for mushrooms and berries.

While he found very few on this walk, he marks the spots where they were to check back later.

Molly was a perfect trail dog. Dorothy needed a lift for a great deal of the way.

Although she did enjoy the trip, even if her tiny legs needed a break. I am going to get a sling/carrier for her for future trips. Since her littermate and mama died, she can’t be left behind, the poor girl needs to have us around.

I see more hiking in her future.

While we found the scenery scrumptious, we were far from the only viewers. This place was packed as you got up toward the higher spots. The trails that led upward weren’t bad, but once you hit the start of the falls, it gets crowded as everyone stops to enjoy them.

Because of the Covid upticks, we wanted to avoid being in a mass of humanity, so we settled into a little rocky pool, not too high up where we had a private place to enjoy the river and still see the falls up in the distance.

I applaud people for wanting to be in outdoor locations now, but man. That was a lot of them! Still, we had many peaceful moments. You can skirt crowds if you make an effort.

And if there are going to be multitudes of hikers passing by, I probably should consider wearing makeup. Oh well.