I have been working on a grouping of family pictures, and today, I finished. I have looked long and hard to find the pictures to display. Sadly, there does not seem to be a single formal picture of my maternal grandparents anywhere. And, I haven’t found but a few of them taken together. So, for that one, I was forced to blow up a snapshot. I checked with all my aunts while we were in NC last month, and they did not have one either. I actually was surprised that my paternal grandparents had one made. I do not even have one of Don’s grandparents at all.
If you are fortunate to still have your parents or grandparents, encourage them to sit for a portrait. Or, at least, get some good snapshots. You can hire a professional photographer to come to your house and make them, if you’d like. Future generations will want them. Last year, I got Adam to go to Mom and Pop’s house and take pictures of them in their yard and in their rockers on the porch, and in their house. I am so happy that I have these. Also, if you have a big family gatherings of some sort, hire a photographer for an hour or so. The memories you capture will be priceless one day.
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Just a little decorating tip… If you have a small space that needs to be filled, here’s a way to fill it without spending much money. This little table is actually a bar stool! This is one of those cheapo kind that you can get at any discount store. This one happens to be approx. 30 inches high. Now, the cover is a 70 inch round tablecloth. See, it fits perfectly! This cloth came from W*l-M*rt for $12.00. If you like the look, you can change out the cloths for the seasons. Stacked on top are decorative boxes from the party store. I store the small ornaments for fall inside. But, it would look just as well with books, or a plant or candle. Yes, I know the boxes aren’t straight…but they will be!
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New release…Amazon…$9.99 You remember Chynna Phillips from the group Wilson Phillips? Well, she is married to one of the Baldwin brothers. This CD is all Christian music, and the music is all quite nice. It is also available at Lifeway, W*l M*rt, and T*rget.
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I am getting ready for a special happening at my house on Saturday. Suzanne and Patty are giving my niece, Tara, a baby shower. She is pregnant with a baby boy. His name is John Thomas.
I have had fun gathering all the decorations for the shower…and I can hardly wait to share the decor with you. Tara was recently admitted to the hospital for a week, due to High Blood Pressure. So, work is finished till after her sweet boy is born.
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And, on a personal note…Thanks Princess Shirley, for calling to check on me today. Knowing that you are thought of and missed is a wonderful feeling. Thanks for caring! (She thought I must be sick since I had not posted all week!) Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!
And, Day 3 of the Fling dawned crisp and clear and beautiful up on top of the mountain. (Why, yes! That IS my halo showing! But, I don’t like to brag…)
We ate breakfast at the motel, and then made our way the 20 or so miles to the tiny town of Gay, GA. Here they hold the Cotton Pickin’ Fair every Fall and Spring. It is not the best show that we have been to, but it is a fun one. There is always wonderful food. ***Why is it that anything eaten outside is always scrumptious? And, whether you need it or not, you are always hungry once you smell the delicious aromas.***
This huge old barn contains wonderful antique vendors. There is always great things to see and wonder about here. Lots of old ‘stuff’, with lots of wear and tear. I found a pair of lamps, and a few other treasures inside!
Here is the back of the car BEFORE we even got to the craft show! OH! MY! Is there room for more treasures?
Why, of course, there’s room! And, there go Tina and Shirl back to the car with our first load of goodies! I chose to rest my tootsies so we could keep going when they got back!
Here is a lovely scene set up by one of the vendors inside. And,she had such great treasures! We all found some wonderful things we just had to have from her! She had great hand poured candles full of wonderful scents! I am burning Brown Sugar…it’s divine!
Our friend, Jan, had a booth outside. She sells clay beads and the necklaces to string them on. Her booth is very eye catching in pink and brown. We helped her put out her wares when we first got there! Good Luck, Jan!
We made our rounds and saw all there was to see. I found a wonderful bench that I NEEDED so badly in my foyer…but alas! there was no room to bring it home. There is also a stage set up on the grounds and all day you can hear local talent singing and dancing and having a ‘good ‘ole time’…just as you would imagine a good old country fair to be!
Then we made our way to the car and began our trip home. We wanted to get my rugs and lamps into place before Shirl had to leave. So, a quick stop in Columbus for a sandwich, and home we go. Talking and discussing, and solving problems all the way. Now if everybody would just listen to us, the world would be much better off!!!
Look, we got the rugs into place…and the new pillows… …and added a few more pieces to the top of the cabinet…
…placed and plugged in the new/old lamps… …added a few finishing touches… …posed for a picture…
…and one more quick hug…
…and, it was over. The Great Fall Fling of 2009 was history. Shirl, bless her heart, still had to drive 2 hours to get home to Moultrie. We try to change up where we leave from occasionally so sometimes it is Tina and I who have to drive the extra 2 hours home.
I do not take for granted the blessing of our friendship. These 2 girls own a piece of my heart. They hold it carefully and tend it and treasure it. And, I, theirs, as well. I am richer in spirit and love because of them. My true self is safe with them, and I am a better ‘me’ because they are in my life.
And so, this ends the flings of 2009….to be resumed Spring 2010!
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PS: This is the homliest, saddest, most pitiful looking doll. We found her in the antique barn, and I just wanted to share her with you. I probably should have brought her home so she could have lived here in the Creek House. However, the lamps won out. Sorry, Dolly…
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!
I was up bright and early this morning…Tina was picking me up at 8:00. And, she was right on time. Our destination…Panama City Beach,FL. Shirley and her sister, Sue, were already down there to spend a few days with their mother, Mrs. Ollie. Now this woman is the picture of glorious aging..she is as beautiful and kind and full of energy as she could be…and she’s a young 90 years old! A treat for me, also, is that Amy, Tina’s daughter spent the day with us. I always love the chance to spend more time with Amy than just sitting for a haircut. We are alot alike, Amy and I. And, I love her dearly. Ran in Mrs. Ollie’s house to ‘rest’ quickly and then headed out to a store Shirl had found out on Thomas Drive. OH.MY.GOODNESS. I could have bought everything in that store! Lots of shabby chic furniture, and wonderful accessories. The name of the store is Pieces. Left there, a little lighter in the pocketbook…and grabbed a quick lunch at Wendy’s and then on to TJM*xx. Shirl kindly let Tina and I off near the door. And, as we were walking in, I heard someone calling my name. I thought,”Oh, M*xx is so happy to see me, he’s welcoming me personally!” 🙂 Oh, No, much better than that! It was my longtime blogging buddy who lives in PCB…Nancy. She recognized us and I am so glad she did. It was like meeting a long time friend for the first time. I had always thought that she and I thought a lot alike and after meeting her IRL…I’m certain of it! I felt immediately like I could have sat down and spent the day with her. And, that is something we both would like to do soon!
So, we began shopping in the xxstore, and, as usual, there were great things to be had. And, we had to have them. Amy, our young PIT (private joke) did the most damage with about 8 or 15 new pieces of clothing! T, S, and I managed to all find a cloche and pedestal just alike, and that was about the extent of our damage there. Tina, Amy and I decided to head home, so we would be fresh and ready to go tomorrow at 6 in the AM!!! It is now 12:43. I’m afraid instead of fresh…they may have to take me wilted! Whatever…as long as they take me!!!
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 a Christian woman who has survived many years on the planet. God has blessed me with a wonderful family: husband, 3 sons, a dear DIL, and a precious grandson. I also have dear friends to keep me inspired. I am an artist of sorts and am finding my way through the great blessing of retirement. I recently retired after 20 years as a music teacher. Life is good!
My Boys
"All your sons will be taught by the Lord; and great will be their peace." Isaiah 54:13
Read their stories... Adam Alex Ian
Hello, my name is Everly. I am a blogger living in New York. This is my blog, where I post about interior design and decoration. Never miss out on new stuff.
Hello, my name is Everly. I am a blogger living in New York. This is my blog, where I post about interior design and decoration. Never miss out on new stuff.