A Birthday Party?

Yep! My friend Beverly at How Sweet the Sound is having a birthday Party tomorrow for Pink Saturday! It's sure to be a blast, so don't be late!



Aren't these vintage linens beautiful?




They were a surprise from another blogger friend - Cathi from Shakerwood Primitives.


Cathi and I have the same love of Christmas, and met through our blogging comments a little over a year ago through a Christmas blog.


Since then, we realized that she grew-up not far from where I live, and while she was visiting a life-long friend who lives nearby we actually met in person!




She and I were fast friends. Cathi is sooo talented, remember this sweet bag? She' s the seamstress!


She and her husband, Walt started their own business a few months ago - Shakerwood Woolens. Please stop by and tell her that I sent you!

Don't forget to visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday birthday fun!

Generosity of Others

One day while visiting one of my favorite blogs Vintage Sue, I screamed to DH that she had the hand I'd been searching for. I first saw a hand similar to this one on Andrea Singarella's blog "Everyday Beauty" a little over a year ago. It was so sweet, and it called to me. And, so the search began, flea markets, e-bay and everywhere in between. But nothing reminded me of the one that Andrea had shown, until I saw Sue's. I was very over zealous and ranted about how I'd been searching for some time for a hand like this one. When I asked her if she knew who made it or had any other information about it so that I could search for one, she insisted that she would give me hers.

Well, let's just say I screamed again!! Sometimes it's really hard to believe the generosity of others out here in blogland. And just like that, Sue packaged it up and sent it to me!

Well, a few more screams happened while opening the package of course and it's perfect. Look at the detail of the flower, the colors are really vibrant, but it's a little hard to tell in the photo. I have it resting on a small pile of books that are on the piano in the dining room, but I think this hand will travel often. It may visit the bathroom, the bedroom and probably my studio too.

I received some other wonderful treasures from another great blogging friend that I will share later this week.


BTW - Happy Rudolph Day! What are you doing to prepare for Christmas? It's only 7 months away! I think I might watch one of my Christmas movies tonight after DH goes to bed.

"We cannot do great things on this earth, only small things with great love." ~ Mother Teresa

A Pink Welcome

I love our home! Did I tell you that I bought it at the school bus stop? Well kinda'. DH and I have always (well except when he was in the AF and the 1st year after we got married) lived on our street. We grew up down the street from one and other. We moved to the next town when we got married, but a year later we rented the other half of my parents duplex from them.

One day at the school bus stop our neighbor said they were going to sell their house. I'd always loved the house, but had never been inside. Well, after the kids got on the bus, she invited me in. The next night we had dinner with them and made them an offer. Three months later, we moved in. Easy Peasy!

(I still need something for my pretzel can)

That was 15 years ago. My Mil lives 2 doors down from us and my parents are 4 houses up on the other side of the street. And, no there have never been any problems with our parents living soo close. They have been a blessing, especially my parents.

When the guys were smaller, and I started back to work full time, they went to my parents after school 'til we got home. The boys are so close to their grandparents it's wonderful!

Don't forget to visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for more Pink Saturday fun!

TGIF

... and I mean it! Just a few more hours of work and it's officially the weekend! I'm really looking forward to staying home and getting some work done. It seems like we've been running around every weekend this month. I want to change the living room around and do some more planting in the gardens. I have pots just begging to be filled.



Summer decorating always finds me using red, white and blue on the porches. I love using flags and other patriotic "found" items. How are you decorating for summer?

It feels good to be back

It feels so good to be back for Pink Saturday. I've missed sharing in this fun day with all of you and especially Beverly our wonderful hostess.



May brings a ton of birthdays to our family. One of them is my niece Sabrina - today is her birthday - 13, a teenager! How can this be possible? Instead of making her a card, I thought that she might like a banner to hang in her room. It's purple and pink (her 2 most favorite colors). I've since added flowers and ribbon streamers to the ends for a little pizazz. We're also giving her a journal and a lot of colored pens, markers and other fun stuff. My SIL (the smiley flowers) says she's a lot like me and loves to dream and create.

Happy Birthday Sabrina! Wishing you all the joy the world has to offer!

Time at The Old Parsonage

Mum and Pam

Time goes by so fast, the evenings and weekends especially. Last weekend I spent the entire day Saturday with some of the wonderful women in my life (my Mum, 2 cousins -Pam and Roberta and My Jade, a daughter in love).



Every few months a bunch of us - the numbers vary - head to Lancaster County to eat, shop and catch-up. We always have a blast! We really don't go to the tourist attractions, they get too crowded and things are so over priced.



I take the girls on back roads to quaint country stores that the Amish and Mennonite shop at. We stop at farms where the Amish are selling flowers, baked goods and fresh veggies from their front yard. Although at this time of year, there weren't any fresh veggies, everything was canned.


One year, we all bought the best handmade brooms from an old Amish gentleman selling them from his front porch. I still have mine!

My Jade and Roberta

And the food? We eat at the supermarkets! Yes, they have great restaurants everywhere, but again, we don't like to fight the tourists. We love to eat at the local IGA cafeteria in the morning - $1.89 for 2 eggs, home fries, coffee and toast.



However, this last time they added on to the restaurant and we thought the food wasn't as good. Lunch usually finds us at Yoder's for the buffet. I think it was $14.99 for all you can eat. Now we don't usually eat supper, so we eat our fill at lunch. Starting with soup and salad, then on to wonderful main courses and veggies and of course no meal is complete without dessert. This is what My Jade had...do you think she likes a little ice cream with her pie?

And, I get to see them all again tonight...we're headed to Basket B-I-N-G-O. The prizes are Longaberger baskets filled with all kinds of great things. Can't wait!

Thanks

Thanks so much to each and everyone of you for your prayers and well wishes for DH and me. It's sometimes hard to remember to take care of yourself when you are caring for others. And yes, we as women usually put ourselves last, but it's even harder when you become a caregiver to think about yourself.




I'm happy to report that DH is feeling much better, he's been taking walks and is getting back to his old self - he's taken to calling me "Nurse Ratched!" So I know that he's on the mend:)


Isn't this flower arrangement great?! My SIL and BIL sent it to the hospital, and every nurse and doctor on the floor came by to see it.



And me? Well, I went back to work this week and have been making cards for this month's b-days, getting things ready for Mother's day and trying to figure out what to get DH for his b-day (this month too). In between, I've been doing yard work and working on the bathroom (while DH was in the hospital, I decided it was a good time to rip the wallpaper off - why not add to the stress). I'll share photo's later

Wishing you all a wonderful day!