Back to the end of Act 1…Thursday night. Shirley came to my house to spend the night…with plans to pick up Tina in the AM. However, as usual, we came up with a better plan. Tina went and got her things together, and came back to spend the night at my house. A spend the night party…does that sound fun, or what??? Never mind how old you are…just go for the fun times–any time you can! Right? We even ordered pizza!

I began thinking of what would be the best way to entertain my friends and quickly had a wonderful idea. Help me finish my decorating!!! Isn’t that a great idea? I thought so…and since we were at MY house, I got to be the boss, so that is what we did!

First, here are the wonderful candle holders I got at Pieces in PCB. They aren’t old, just made to look old, but I like how chunky and distressed they are.

Then we moved this great old mirror whose tin pieces date back to the olden days. They came from the ceiling of an old hotel in Atlanta. Don bought it for me before we moved to the Creek House, and it is one of my most favorite pieces. But, it has been sitting in the garage, and I could not move it because it is soooo heavy, and I could not decide just where I wanted to put it. But, when we three put our heads together…we can figure anything out. We moved the other mirror to the foyer and put this one in its place and it looks wonderful!

Here is a close up of the tin…such wonderful age and patina!

Then we worked the top of the half wall behind my china cabinet and over my kitchen island. The mantle cloth is one I bought several years ago, and have never had just the right place to use it.

Then, the girls decided that the top of my TV cabinet was just too bare…and off they went to the garage storage room to scavenge for pieces to add there. This was a bag of discarded pieces left over from other fall arrangements, along with some other flower arrangements made in years past. I could never make myself throw them away because they were such great remnants…and I’m so glad I didn’t. Pays to be a pack rat!!!:)

On to the old Chinese table I got in Savannah. It is also in the den. This is a bittersweet arrangement. Several years ago, Tina, Shirley and I were in Moultrie (where Shirley lives) and I found this wonderful cornucopia. I knew Mom would love it and so I bought it for her. I don’t remember what occasion I gave it to her for, but it became one of her favorite things. She loved to fix it up every year when she decorated for fall and Thanksgiving. I am reminded of how thankful I am to have had her for my Mom every time I look at it.

Well, it was after midnight, and since we planned to pull out at 6 AM, we made ourselves go to bed. Then up and out early…a quick stop to get a biscuit and then on to Columbus, Georgia. We have our fav shopping areas here, and we always find treasures. This time was no exception. First stop, Wal M*rt to buy Shirl a camera.

We bought rugs, looked for lamps, did some Christmas shopping, and then headed on to Warm Springs, GA. We always love to go to the antique and gift shops here. Even though the little town is nothing like it once was, we still manage to find some great things just waiting for us to come along. This is outside one of the shops and restaurant. Everything was decorated really nice for the fall season.

While shopping around, I made a great discovery! A new diet pill! Here is a picture of it. Did I buy some? Well, of course I did! It said …’TAKE ONE THREE TIMES A DAY’…I can most certainly follow directions. Funny thing, though–it tasted suspiciously like milk chocolate….HMMMMM! You don’t think someone is trying to play a mean trick now do you? Well, I’ll take it for a few weeks and let you know!!! 🙂

When the shops closed, we went and checked into our hotel. Made our way to our room…which happened to be the absolute furthermost room from the lobby it could possibly be. Once we got our stuff inside, we all realized we were just too tired to go back out and eat. And, the only thing we had between us was a fourth of a pound cake, a few pieces of dark chocolate, and a small bag of chips! This was not what any of us envisioned…but it would have to do. Tina and Shirl went in search of a vending machine and managed to find some crackers and cold drinks. We had ourselves a feast right there. Even vending machine fare, shared with dear friends, is a feast! And, drifted off to dreamland. thinking of the fun we’d have tomorrow at the Cotton Pickin’ Fair. Alarm set…5 AM!

Thanks so much to my friend, Debby, for passing on this award to me. It is for fellow bloggers who show LOYALTY in the form of comments. Thanks, Debby, you are always a loyal commenter to me and I appreciate you and the other bloggers who kindly comment when I post. So, if you are listed on my side bar, under A Gathering of Friends Who Blog, consider this award passed along to you!

I am blessed beyond measure to have 2 of the dearest women on the planet as heart friends of mine. I say ‘heart friends’ because they hold my heart with their kind souls….and I hold theirs, as well.
We have had some fun adventures through the years, and it’s not gonna stop anytime soon! Each year we have a FALL FLING…and a SPRING FLING. And, this is written in stone! However the year we went to Hawaii, we had just one HULA FLING…cause we were saving our money and all. But, Flings have become a necessity in our lives, and it’s gonna happen just as surely as we’re gonna breathe…or shop.
We are leaving tomorrow for a day at the beach with Shirl, who is already there with her Mom and Sis. Then, we are headed into parts of Georgia…ending at the Cotton Pickin Fair in tiny Gay, Georgia on Sat. We will return home on Saturday night…exhausted, broke, and happy…..with just enough ‘fling’ to last us until Spring!

Just a few pics from former flings…

Adam and I are in Birmingham for another eye surgery.

We began talking on our trip up yesterday about how many years he and I have been coming to Birmingham for medical issues. He was diagnosed with cancer when he was three years old. That would be 1978. Back and forth we came for the next 12 years. But, he continues to be cancer free, and really, we do not ever think of that as a possibility anymore. God, in His grace and mercy, healed Adam. We accept it, we believe it, and we claim it!

And, now this eye business…wow! What a mess! Ian started this whole journey when he found this wonderful doctor in Birmingham, and decided to have Lasik done on his eyes. After his wonderful results, he talked to the doctor about Alex. We had no thoughts of there being anything that could be done. But, we were wrong. God used Ian to bring about help for Alex’s vision. The doctor told Alex that he had some of the worst eyes he had ever seen…vision wise. But, he set about devising a plan to give him back his eyesight. And, he did. Alex still has double vision…and nystagmus. That is not able to be corrected as those problems come from the brain…not the eyes. We are thrilled and thank God for choosing to heal this part of Alex’s vision.

And, then Adam wanted to get in on the party. He has been wearing glasses since he was 5…and his vision has continued to deteriorate through the years. He has, however, been able to wear contact or glasses ,,,then contacts AND glasses! When he saw the doctor, he told Adam that HE had the worst eyes he had ever seen! My boys…such over achievers!! 🙂

The doctor laid out his plan to help Adam, and he was anxious to get started. First, was the same surgery Alex had. All was well…for a few days. Then he had a torn retina…then a detached retina. That is extremely serious. More surgery. This was not caused by the first surgery…but just ‘happened’ to occur at the same time. So, that’s 3…then he had a cataract form that had to be removed. And, today, a vitrectomy…which is literally draining the fluid out of the eye and replacing it with another solution. This surgery was to correct the huge ‘floaters’ that were blocking his vision. One of them fell down as I think I told you…but it came back. And there was another one that he said looked like a windshield wiper! These floaters are debris left from all the other surgery. So that brings us up to 5. Now, next week he is going to have another surgery for a cataract in the other eye. His eye will be very vulnerable to another tear in the retina after that…but we are praying that that will not happen. And, then…after everything heals…Lasik. Wow! What a ride! The doctor had told him to start with that when he finished, he would have near perfect vision. However, that will not be possible now. It will still be much improved, but he will have to wear reading glasses. Hey! We’ll take that!

Here he is this morning before the surgery.

And, this is after.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5″7

The human eye is a marvelous organ. It does amazing tiny activities all the time…without us even realizing it! Do a little research on the eye and see just how many different processes there are. Only the Master Designer could have planned and executed such a marvelous organ. Good or even fair eyesight…don’t take it for granted!