Friday, July 26, 2019

FLOWERS AND A BIKE AND A SMILE---OH MY!!!

I have been going through 
my old photos and sorting and
organizing them.
So, I thought I would share a few 
of them with you.

This beautiful floral came from my oldest daughter
for letting the girls stay at my house 
for a few days.
It sat on the glass-topped cherub "shelf"
 under the living room windows
that overlook the front porch.
It sat next to an old Eastlake wicker rocker.
Across from the chair is a swing that the kids
spent a lot of time on 
when they were at the house.
I see I took this before 
I had the bench pad on...
oh well...it is what it is!

If you looked towards the road from the swing
this is what you would see.
This was right in front of the porch.
Those pillows did not stay!
I tossed them there and forgot to remove them for the photo.
Not sure why some of these pictures are so washed out looking...
Hey- Never said I was a PHOTOGRAPHER,
 did I? No. No. I didn't!
This one is a bit better!
This hung between the tree and porch.
The birdhouse is all wonky because it had
a nest in it and I didn't want to disturb it
by "straightening" it.
The bird flew out in my face and
scared the devil out of me
well, not really! The devil was still
lurking there somewhere...
I think he was downstairs reading
his Bible and praying 
that I will be a good girl...
This looked  towards the garage
which is an ell to the right
(you can't see it-sorry)
taken by the base of the front steps.
Next to the front garage doors
 (there are back ones, too)
is this huge clematis.
I must have done something 
right with this one..
neglect maybe?
Okay---this is the true color...
It's a beaut, isn't it?

Here's another BEAUT for you...
Courtesy of Walmart!
Ready?  SALUTE!!!!!

Bet THAT made you
SMILE!
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Thursday, July 18, 2019

PLAYING HOUSE


When I was a little girl
I loved playing house.
I never had a
REAL playhouse,
but I laid out floor plans
with stones to outline rooms.

Growing up on a farm,
in a rather isolated area,
meant playing alone much
of the time.
I had a brother that was
four years younger,
 but when you are kids
that is a significant
age difference
and he sure didn't want to
"play house".

When we moved to our house
on the bay,
I begged for a
REAL PLAYHOUSE.
My wonderful brother-in law,
and son
made my dream a reality.
For several summers the
playhouse was open
for business.

 Summers were always busy ones
and I loved
cleaning up the playhouse
for Summer
 Dreamdays and Parties.

The little garden

and window boxes
whispered sweet childhood
songs..

This flag outside the door
welcomed everyone..

And the front door,
complete with hat,
offered a sweet invitation
to enter.

You could sit a spell in the
newly painted wicker
furniture.  A rare find
for $2.99 per piece
at a thrift store.
They used to be natural
wicker but looked so much
fresher in white.
Pillows and baby dolls
were the perfect accessories.
The little rose mirror
was a real original and a
$4,00 find and the little
rose picture
is from my friend, Donna,
over at
My Shabby Chateau.
The "hutch" was another
$4.00 find
And the sweet picture above
the settee was $2.50.
I found a close out miniature
chandelier, complete with flowers
and crystals for a few dollars.
It hung over the little
wicker table covered with a
little tablecloth that my mother
hand embroidered when she was young.
Look! Real leaded glass windows
from the salesmen's samples
left over when we sold
our home improvement company.
A playhouse to love.

Built with love,
for the kids we love...
the ones that sat on the grass
in front of the playhouse
and dreamt their childhood dreams..

Then, hearing the call of fairy voices
beckoning them to play,
 they were off and running.

SweetCheeks
ran too far, too fast,
I wanted her to
stay little just a little while
longer...
I loved that she
believed in magic and fairies
and a Nana that could make
any wrong right.

The house is sold to another
and the playhouse is 
NO LONGER A PLAYHOUSE
it serves another purpose,
but-
just for a moment in time
it was a mine.
It was a
dream-come-true 
for me.
I lived a childhood
through the eyes of 
grandchildren that I love.

Can't get any better than that!
Hope you have something
that special in your life
that makes you smile
everytime you remember 
something about it.

your photo name

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

HAPPY 14TH ANNIVERSARY TO MY SON & HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE~

We are so blessed to have a son
who married a girl that is like
A DAUGHTER 
to us
14 years ago today~
(which was also my mom's birthday)

They are so happy together-
and that makes US happy!
If you have a moment
please wish then a
Happy Happy Anniversary!

Here is the by-product
of their union!
What a match made in Heaven!
Today, the munchkin looks 
more like this-
and-
Dad looks more like this~
What a blessing!

Mom opted to hide
from the camera-lol-
so no pictures here of her
pretty face!

Happy, Happy Anniversary-
Love you all to the
moon and back!
your photo name

Friday, July 12, 2019

LIFE & LINDA-LINK PARTY ANNOUNCEMENT

Hi everyone!

I am doing this as a favor for
Sweet Linda.
She has helped me out 
COUNTLESS times with blog issues,
thus the title she holds,
The Fairy Blogmother~
(and you know I am all about fairies).

Anyway,
She quite suddenly found out Christine who started Dishing It & Digging It link Party has closed it down. Linda was a host on it as well.

Linda has decided to host a new link party every Sunday, the same time, called "Love your Creativity".
You are welcome to share recipes, crafts, tablescapes, wood working, diy, tutorials and more. The party is every Sunday at 1:00 Pacific time.

Please pop over and lend her
some support.
Better than that sign up for
her link party.

If you DON'T know her,
you have missed one of the 
Sweetest People in Blogland.
She has been a blogger,
a designer, a caretaker,
a cook and bottle washer,
survived at least 4 bouts of cancer,
and you can't keep the gal down!

Please pop over and visit her at
and I know you will find 
something special there.
https://www.lifeandlinda.com/
Thanks, Linda,
for all your help and I hope
you get some new visitors
and lots of links!

ALSO~
Please pray for Linda.
On top of everything else she just
had some surgery and is in for a
painful recovery. 
The surgery was much more than
she thought it was going to be
so I know it is disheartening 
as she now has a longer,
more painful healing process.

your photo name

Saturday, July 6, 2019

BOOKS & BOXES AND HAPPY BITS & PIECES

I was thinking about what makes me happy.
Obviously the first thing on the list is
family-MyHero, children & spouses,
and grandchildren.
But there are other little things
that I don't think much about
in the day-to-day act of living.
And yet..they are a part of my life
and bring me a bit of joy.

Years ago when my Mother 
came to live with me
I brought quite a bit of her "stuff" from
Pennsylvania.
I think I thought having "stuff" from the farm
would help me remember
the farm and family as it was....
because in her state of mind
she was no longer the mother I knew.
When she passed away,
and I gave some of the "stuff"
back to my brother.
My kids, too, have some of the things
and I finally gave my youngest daughter
this treasure.
It is a little cedar "chest".
It is only about 8"x12"x4" high.
Mother told me once that she gave a man
a ride to Elmira, NY and he gave her
the little carved box as payment.
If you open it you will find
some little treasures....
hankies and an embroidered piece or two.

What else makes me smile when I see it?
These fairy books that my daughter, Mimi,
gave me.
When you open them you will find that....
They are kind of "naughty" fairy books
not the kind I can read to the grandkids.
Whoever knew fairies had boobies?
Well...they do...trust me!
And in front of the books that are
tucked into this little niche
is a rock that my son painted
GOLD
when he was just a child.
He gave it to me for Christmas one year.
That was the year he had $20.
and spent $2.00 on lei's for everyone
(except me-I got the rock)
and the rest on himself.
Yep-He was THAT kid!
Then, Mimi went to a garage sale
and picked up this pearl necklace & earrings
still in their original box.
They have aged to a beautiful cream color.I researched them online.
They were QUITE the item in their day
and a favorite of Liz Taylor.
Below is another special "box".
This one was given to me by
MamasBoy & TheSecretAgent
on my 60th birthday.
If you open the box
you will find 60 "memory slips"
tucked inside.
that I got for my 60th birthday.

Do you think they fear I am losing my mind
and hope these act as gentle reminders
of a time when I knew who I was?
Huh?
Is that what this present is all about?
A random one reads:And, last but not least..
I received this special little box
from 3 very special little girls.
It is a Fairy Catching Kit.
We had many sightings at my house
but never did actually capture one.
They had hoped to outwit them
with this kit.
Just look at all the tools inside!And to wrap up this little presentation of Joy..
I wore this...
because a special little Miss
wrapped it up in a piece of Kleenex
(which I am hoping wasn't used)
and said it was....
"The bestest present eveah"!
And, indeed...I think it might be!
How about you?
What little things make you happy?
What little joys put a song in your heart?
I hope that your days 
are filled with little joys, too,
because I am finding that..
the older I get..
the more happiness I find 
in the little things.

Have a wonderful Sunday!
your photo name

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

FROM PRINCESS TO BARISTA~

Life is 
NOT A FAIRY TALE.
No, indeedy!

My beautiful princess,
ALANA (aka Lulu)
went from
THIS
to
THIS!
I think she is the 
cutest barista ever!
She knows that hard work pays off!
She is a 2nd generation barista-
following in her Auntie Mimi's footsteps.

She could have gone 
for the
glass slippers
source
Instead of the 
TENNIS SHOES WITH RHINESTONES~
But this girl knows that there is 
more to life than being pretty.
She's a grand girl with a kind heart
and as pretty inside as outside.

Can you BELIEVE she is working at
Neither can I!!!
Maybe I will get a free drink...
ummm--probably not!

Have a wonderful week
and upcoming
FOURTH OF JULY!!!!
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