1/13/10

Mr. Smith and the Wall


Wednesday was a heavy day due to the awareness of so much tragedy going on in Haiti. Brett's family has good friends that have lived and worked as missionaries in a deaf orphanage there for over twenty years and his sister, mother, and grandma have all spent time there during summer breaks so it feels a little less like some far off news story. And Haiti never gets a break from tragedy, it seems.

In our little corner of the world, I made enough venison stew tonight to feed my neighborhood. Which is exactly what I plan on doing! I've got some of the kindest neighbors on all sides and appreciate how generous they've been to our family since we moved here a year and a half ago. The single guy across the street that drives the loud truck came over and hooked up the garden hose to our washing machine hook up while I was in labor so Brett could get the birthing tub filled with warm water. He's handy with anything mechanical and has a great stash of DVD's for us to borrow.

The older next door neighbor couple are always bringing Sebastian treats and leave us the paper every day after they're done with it. This week they brought us a potted Poinsettia left over from their church fund raiser and said they thought Ruby might enjoy it. Ruby's mama does! We ran into them at the downtown YMCA this morning and Sebastian asked where his treat was but they told him they weren't expecting to see him at the Y. We hadn't been home more than five minutes when Dan brought over a sack full of snack packs and told Sebastian it should last him at least a month. Such sweet people.

Then there is our other next door neighbor who lets us borrow his lawn mower and Worcestershire sauce and texts us to see if his music is too loud on Friday nights. He appreciates vintage pottery and we both have too many garden snakes in our backyards.

I bake them all brownies and muffins every few weeks to let them know we appreciate them. This week they're getting venison stew.

xoxo,
Rachel

p.s. Photos procured from my latest TtV adventure.


34 comments:

suzy said...

I was just watching the Haiti tragedy on the news. It is so sad. I think you found a beautiful link between Haiti and your neighbours.
If we did something kind and went out of our way for just a few moments, imagine what you do for the people receiving this kindness.
I love your post and I think you a gorgeous. If I lived next door I would bring you my lemon cake (it's my number one specialty) and Ben would make you his lasagna.
x

RachelDenbow said...

Thank you, Toni. And I'd love to be the recipient of your lemon cake and lasagna!

Gussy Sews said...

that totally rocks you have such great neighbors :) I loved your stories about them ♥

Holly said...

I just think you're the sweetest.
Wish we were neighbours.

and i feel sooo helpless to what's happened to Haiti... we worked in a village of haitian refugees last year in the Dominican, so it feels like I know the people affected (even though I don't).. wish I could fly there tomorrow and help.

Jenn said...

that is awesome about the neighbor who texts you about his music. very kind of him =)

Tea Kristin said...

Sounds like a great neighbourhood! :) I think it's really sweet of you to bring them homecooked food and cakes

Julie said...

You are an inspiration!

Anonymous said...

You sound like you have the best neighbours! I wish every neighbourhood had that kind of community spirit, including my own.

Sarah M said...

your neighbors sound so sweet!
Our church is very connected down in Haiti as well ; we have a sister church down there and an orphanage we are very tied to and we (our church family) have people go there every few months for medical trips,etc. or just for support. We've all been in total shock, too. I agree with you--the poorest of the poor seem to never get relief from tragedy.
Sarah M

Charis said...

Wow sounds like you have amazing neighbours! xoxox

Anonymous said...

my husband has spent a lot of time in haiti, too...and you're right, it does seem a little less "far off". it's heartbreaking to see a country that already has so little be destroyed even further.

tiny twig

Laurenbythesea said...

Wow i wish my neighbours were like that!! What a nice story for me to read whilst eating my tomato and basil soup lunch! I have recently found and fell in love with your blog it is very inspiring so i just wanted to smile and wave at you :) *wave* Lauren <3

emma said...

Gosh, it really sounds like you have been very blessed with amazing neighbors!! And they are blessed to have you guys, and your stew!

margot said...

i would adore to be your neighbor. fyi.

sassypackrat said...

How amazing to have such neighbors! I have no idea what that's like. You are so very lucky!

sarahjane said...

What a lovely ode to your neighbors. Some days I feel like my neighborly ode would be to the "guy who parks his truck right at the end of our driveway so we can barely pull out" and the other guy "who always calls animal control on our dogs." It's good to remember the loving neighbors as well. :)

Anonymous said...

such sweet neighbors you have! my neighbors royally suck. they think that we are "good for nothing" twenty somethings, when really we're the best neighbors someone could ask for! they've just never given us a chance.

consider yourself lucky!
& feel free to send some stew my way in san francisco! :)

Little Monarch said...

oh wow you must live in the most loving and friendliest neighbourhood. you are a treasure.

If im ever on your side of the world ill be sure to pop round with one of my carrot cakes XO

Anonymous said...

aww that's the sweetest.:) i love good neighbors...hope i'm that blessed when I have a place of my own someday.

Holly S said...

I am praying for the people in Haiti, the rescuers and relief workers-I am so sad for those in Haiti-they really need a break from all the tragedies happening there.

You are so lucky to have wonderful and considerate neighbors-we do also!

Big Yellow Dog said...

What a sweet neighbor you are! I love that idea of real community. It seems like it's getting rarer and rarer. I LOVE your photos. My husband has a rad vintage camera collection and has been playing around with his brownie and his Cannon alot lately. I'll have to post some of his pics!

Kara said...

Such a cute post. My parents always had great neighbors when we were young and it's something I've never taken for granted.

Just another reminder how lucky we are.

Andrea said...

Lovely post! We were planning to go to Haiti next month and are still waiting to hear if the missionary we were working with is ok. The whole thing is just terrible. We just pray and wait.

On an unrelated note, do you have a specific venison stew recipe that you love? I have some venison roasts eyeing me from the freezer but I'm too intimidated to cook them.

Amber Filkins said...

Oh how sweet! That's so nice of your neighbors, and so nice of you too! Gotta love when neighbors get along so nicely, b/c I've definitely seen so many that don't.

Heather @ Life Made Lovely said...

I loved reading this. It reminds me how important it is, especially in this day, to have real contact and show people that we care. This post made me really happy!

Amber said...

Rachel...This post brought a huge smile to my face. How wonderful to have neighbors like that! It is always nice to feel surrounded by lovely people! And they are lucky to have your family as neighbors too!!

KaiLeigh said...

My boyfriend has neighbors like that! I adore them all. They are always checking in on each other and inviting each other over for dinner!

Lovely Kasey said...

Rachel I cannot wait to see what your creative beautiful mind comes up with with your progess with ttv pictures!

and i'll keep your family and family friends in my prayers as you deal with the situation in Haiti.

Anonymous said...

I'm certain you hear this quite often. However, I will reiterate the compliments in writing. I love, LOVE, and find you blog so inspiring. I'm a young mama myself, and find your blog a breath of fresh air.

Enchanted Droppings said...

Wow! That is really sweet of you. I wish we were neighbors My neighbors have barely said more than a couple of words to me When I see them in the morning its like they try not to make eye contact so they don't have to say hello. But I live in the NYC tri-state area, so that is a common thing. there are exceptions. Growing up always knew my neighbors and even where my mom lives no, I know the people that lives next to her on both sides.

Janae Hardy Photography said...

I think I need to move to your neighborhood. Good neighbors are gold.

Karina said...

That's so cute to hear about your neighbors. Sounds like a great place to live!!

Leigh-Ann said...

awe, your neighbors are so sweet!! :) the guy texting on Friday nights was extra cute!

BuenoBueno said...

how did you do those ttv's
im curious? my friend sarah made her camera but how do you fake the images?
B