the emotional life of sølje

long time, no posts! It’s been busy, my head full, and very little seems to even connect to quilting or art type stuff I normally write about. I am homeschooling again, so our days are full… but I am happy to say, the change out of public school has been a blessing. I fought it, but knew it was going to happen, and am pleasantly surprised with how it is going!

Anyway…

Every year when I polish my mom’s tea set, I wonder what the makers mark means. This comes from a bread basket dish/piece/whatever that belonged to one of my great great grandmothers. So, I google every year to see if a maker’s mark comes up that is similar, but haven’t found a match yet.

Any silver types that have an idea? I am also wondering if it really is silver, but maybe pewter. it doesn’t oxidize like the silver tea set, which makes me wonder. I think I have rubbed off the old patina that it may have come with… or maybe the silver content is so small it doesn’t oxidize? I don’t know.

Thoughts?

Tags: A Family Affair, Folesesliv av Solje, Uncategorized by Solje
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Yummy!!

Tags: Folesesliv av Solje by Solje
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I was trying to think back to when Mom had given me this lilac bush. Either 2000 or 2001. After 6+ years, I FINALLY have three clumps of flowers (it’s still a very small bush)! They smell so yummy… another memory of being a kid at home.

Because Mom and Dad have both passed away, my discovery of the lilacs today was a very special event. I think she may have helped it bloom for me

Tags: Folesesliv av Solje by Solje
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The last scent of childhood memory for the season. Some scents can really take you back. You may not realize it until you get a whiff. For me, it’s the large bearded irises that I dug from my mom’s garden. The smell isn’t necessarily my favorite, but it’s a comforting scent that takes me back to playing in the backyard, chasing snakes, and just generally being a kid. My last iris was in bloom this morning, so I cut it off to bring inside to prolong the fond memories of childhood. Good memories.

Tags: Folesesliv av Solje by Solje
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Tags: Folesesliv av Solje by Solje
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Oh yeah!!!!! Stevens Pass is opening on Thursday (limited lifts, of course, but it’s opening!!!!). Kev better get prepared because we are going this weekend Gonna call on Wednesday about getting Daniel into the Kid’s Club. Wahooooo!!!!

Tags: Folesesliv av Solje by Solje
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It’s Never Been Missing
Melissa Devin

When I grow up
I want to be a princess
golden hair flowing
beautiful tiara glistening

But here I am
all grown up…
grey hairs are glistening
and no tiara adorning

When I grow up
I want to be loved
kisses in the doorway
I love you in the evening

But here I am
all grown up…
I have been loved all my life
I don’t know what the love was, I thought I was missing
But I have been loved by those that I have been
surrounded in my life

My love and my son
have filled empty spaces
in the times that all I felt was
alone.

But I had forgotten
my mom and my dad
were always there listening and filling my soul
with precious love
and when they were gone
it all felt so lost
why did I feel so empty and wanting to be loved….
They were filling me up when I wasn’t looking

But why do we want more?

Now that I am grown up
I don’t need to keep looking
I have all I’ve ever needed
surrounding me now

No riches, no boxes
will ever replace
the gift of love and laughter that fills me today

and if my loves need to leave me
before it’s my time
I know I am still loved
by the Greatest Love of All

Tags: Folesesliv av Solje by Solje
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Guess what we will be working on tomorrow (Sunday)? Kev tore up half of the deck boards last Sunday, and so this Sunday we’ll be trying to get as much of that stump out, along with filling in holes that the dogs have dug over the past seven years. Hopefully next weekend we’ll be able to get some boards and lattice up, but I am not counting on it. I have a feeling this will be a month-long project. Which is ok.

I will be focusing on getting a retaining wall built, and fence up. We want to reclaim 22′ feet beyond our current fenceline that is our property. After the house behind us was built, we lost our privacy… we want it back! Plus, I am tired of our dogs barking everytime they see someone behind us. Up until about a year ago, all we had was greenery and trees behind us, so we chose chainlink. This time we are going for a nice wooden fence. Anyway, this will be done by someone I contract out! Kev has too many pots in the fire right now!

We also finished getting our windows installed Friday. I love them! We have a new slider too, and they all look so nice. Our old windows didn’t seem so bad until we started having new ones installed. All these projects finishing up make me look forward to getting the rest of the house done, especially my kitchen! And the other finished project this week was in getting a big spruce in our front yard taken down. So now we are getting closer to getting our front porch/roof, and new lawn in

Tags: Folesesliv av Solje by Solje
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Our house is slowly turning into a real home! Incredible. We have been here for seven years, and after doing some remodeling along with doing some much needed repairs and updates, the house is starting to really feel much more inviting. This weekend Kevin and I boxed up eight boxes full of things to donate and send back out into the universe. I know I could sell the stuff on eBay and turn a few dollars, and have done that in the past. But I feel good about “setting it free” The clutter (minus all of Daniel’s toys… ugh) is being depleted, and it feels great!

After everyone leaves following Justin’s HS graduation, I am planning to take pictures of my new studio and awesome closet. My in-laws will be staying in there since they won’t have to use the stairs, and we have a new full bath adjoining my studio.

I am so looking forward to starting on the kitchen next! LOL! Kev, are you reading this? How does July and August sound to you? I can’t wait to get my new kitchen cabinets out of the garage and into the kitchen!! they’ve only been in the garage for a year and a half now! hehee! Perhaps Kev could convince Brian to come help and blow it out in a weekend?

Tags: Folesesliv av Solje by Solje
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Happy anniversary to Kevin and myself Eight years down, at least 50 more to go!

Tags: Folesesliv av Solje by Solje
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