Places to Visit!

I found this delightful blog thru Pinterest

and I have added it to my list of favorites!

I love Susan's large photos, her instructions and tutorials,

and the happiness her site brings to my senses.

Go visit and leave her a comment.

We heart comments!

Naps on the Porch.

The title automatically relaxes me {smile font}

Her latest post?

Tablescapes!

Potentially beautiful.

Again, through Pinterest (I'm on there!) with her ideas for

10 headboards!! Too cute! Gloria grabbed me

with that idea. From there, I went to the right side

and began clicking on her other tags. Yeah, I stayed

there awhile. That's a good thing, when you find more than

a dozen reasons to keep reading and gawking.

 Again, you'll be glad to visit Potentially beautiful ~

I've already mentioned her latest post,

here's my favorite pic!

and there are nine more to see!

Sweet Kate is not only fighting Lupus,

but doing it bravely with the grace of God,

and a man that loves her.

She is also a lover of home decor, life,

and items that become simple beauty.

Salvage Dior will touch her heart

and your 'I can do it myself!' vein.

Her latest post is the latest on her Lupus battle

and the man that loves her through it.

I'm sure they would appreciate our prayers ~

The author of this fashion blog

is the daughter of a dear friend of mine!

Christen loves to copy designer looks

with vintage and thrift store finds.

I think you'll be surprised at how well

this young adult puts together charming outfits.

I know I'll be looking differently when I visit

my favorite consignment shops!

fashionplate cheapskate.

Go, Christen!!

Here's her latest ~ packing her bag for a road trip!

and meet HGTV's newest member!

And I'm her proud second grade teacher!

Cristi Curlee Holcombe ~

I am so excited for this author!

Not only was I her second grade teacher and fell in love

not only with her and her parents,

but her brother that followed.

Cristi has worked hard and owns

her own interior design business.

She will be co-hosting a new HGTV show

that  begins May 12th!! Elbow Room!!

I am beyond thrilled for her and her precious family

and look forward to seeing that cute little strawberry blonde

all grown up and on television, on one of my favorite channels!

Way to go, Cristicurleelocks. I'm so proud of you!

I love her latest post showing how to duplicate a lamp

for a lot less green paper {wink font}

Have a weekend filled with love, laughter, and prayers for America. My heart is saddened by what I hear but strengthened for I know Who is in control, Who will always be in control, and Who I believe in. Our Lord may allow bad things to take place, but only good and true things come from Him. You can bet He will take the bad and use it to glorify His name and make His presence known. I rest in His Grace and Mercy, and His promise that He is in charge and that Satan will be banished for eternity. Blessings to you and yours ~

Our China Pattern! Or Patterns (wink)

I love china. China, everyday ware, you name it, I love it. As long as it is NOT plastic. Or paper. Target has some fun dinnerware that is some sort of Melamine and it's cute, but when I munch I want to feel something solid under my food. The pattern shown above was a set gifted to me by my, then new, husband on our first Christmas. From Parisians, they were only a set of salad plates but I loved them! They were paired with something similiar to the next photo. My paternal grandmother had given me a complete 12-piece set of silver ~ Rose Point ~ and a complete setting of this white china with a lacy look. I felt very special indeed!

My family ate on it regularly, as I believe that each and every day is special and we should use the things we love and not "save them". For that special day may never come. Or maybe it doesn't come often enough. My sweet husband quickly grew used to eating in the dining room on a regular basis, and not just on 'Sunday lunch'!After a time, I got up the courage to ask if I could have another set. He agreed and I began buying pieces of Old Country Roses off eBay. It's dainty and makes me feel real girly when the table is set with it and roses in the centerpiece. I have some gold plated utensils that looks good with it as well. I don't know about you, but the only way I use the cups and saucers is for ice cream and cookies! Cute!

My daughter had collected Lenox Eternal and when she decided to switch over to Solitaire, I bought her Eternal set. My weakness is buying salad plates and dessert plates to play off these two major sets. Poor John. He has no idea.

Skip over to Kelly's to look and see what others are using!

And have a really, really nice weekend!

Get out the 'good stuff' and use it!!!

Lunch Bunch, MeetNEat! UPDATED!!

Okay Lunch Bunch!!! and this includes everyone that blogs and wants to drive to Montgomery to meet other blogging buddies!! The poll is showing a preference for every other month, so~

We will meet on the ODD numbered months. How about that?! It will always be at 11 am on the first SECOND Saturday. So, first SECOND Saturdays. 11 am. ODD numbered months. This means we WILL meet the first SECOND Saturday in November!!! Yay, and yes, I'm grinning.

I did NOT want to wait until after Christmas to see you again and I knew everyone would be too busy and have too many excuses for the Saturdays in December. If you can come, great! If not, then you know you can count on the first SECOND Saturday of January. We will post a place to meet prior to each gathering. In fact, Lunch Bunch, it would be nice if you could post the information on your site.

Let's plan to go back to Eastside Grille and we will set, at that time, a place for the January MeetNEat. If you were there, put it on your calendar now. If you weren't able to come, then I sure hope you'll plan to make it a date!

Thank you for your kind words, prayers, and support in reference to the death of young Skylar Norton. I thought of her mother so often today, this being the first day that they weren't surrounded by family and friends. I'm sure it's been a hard one.

My appointment with the cardiologist went well, and I had an echogram as well. He feels that everything looks as good as it can, considering the damage done during the accident trauma. So. I see the surgeon next Monday and a surgery date will be set! The sooner, the better! I'm ready to get it over and begin the recovery process!! I'll keep you posted!

Lunch Bunch Poll

I forgot that many of you get updates through feeds and may not know that I have a poll listed on my site. For anyone interested in meeting with fellow bloggers, this one's for you~

Kristi and I are wondering what the consensus might be if we establish a set Saturday, make it 11 am, and choose two or three sites we'll migrate between. I would like to do this once a month, realizing there will be months where some will come and other months they can't. But instead of trying to find a time for all, everyone will know there's a Saturday each month to look forward and plan around.

There were several with babes this last time and they were so good. Of course, a shout out to Eastside Grill for being so understanding and even going so far as to joke and play with them.

So, how do you feel about this suggestion? The grouping would change month to month, but that would be half the fun! Vote and let us know how you feel and and have a really nice Monday.

As for me and my Sweet Man, we'll be attending the graveside service of a 13-year old family member, Skylar Norton. Skylar loved her Lord, her family and friends, and was in love with life. Her home congregation, Cold Springs church of Christ, will sorely miss her. As will we all. The autopsy was inconclusive; she collapsed while with a group of friends walking across the campus Friday around 4:30. Such a sadness for us, but a delightful new life for Skylar. Pray for all that loved her.

The little country cemetery is on a dirt road, quiet, hushed, very old, and has many many family members interned within its borders. I hope those gathering will bring some comfort to her grieving parents and younger brother~

Second Post For Saturday~

Ever taken the time to think about your last 24 hours and think, "how did I ever have the energy to do all that?" Yeah, I thought you had.

Jen and Brandon went out of town and left the boys with Johnny Friday afternoon. They picked me up at the boutique at 6 pm and we went looking for pizza on a kids meal menu. After supper we went home to find that our a/c was NOT working!!! I dozed in the recliner until early morning to make sure no one came in on us while we slept. Yes,

it got so warm, even with the overhead fans, that we left the sliding door open to the screened in porch. And I wouldn't have thought twice about leaving it open all night, but

we don't have a second floor apartment. Once I got back in bed, I think I heard Noah each time he turned over or squirmed in his pack and play. Ah, I remember those early days with Jenny now.

The morning dawned bright and early with Ian asking me if it was time to get up. "No, sweetheart, it's only 5 and it's still dark" Again, one hour later, "okay you can watch kiddie shows if you promise not to wake Noah". Noah was awake by 7. John went out for doughnuts and chocolate milk while I found that there are not many decent cartoons on Saturday mornings!

Oh, lunch! It took almost four hours from the time Haley and I with two boys got to Eastside Grille for a luncheon with fellow bloggers in the tri-county area to get back home, but what fun it was! Ian had a blast being the only male in a gaggle of girls, but Noah chose to cling tightly to his Nan and ask repeatedly for his papi, which I thought we had, but didn't.

Left John with Noah while Ian and I took some time in the pool. It was cold!! By the time we got back to the apartment, John was in the throes of the Alabama-Kentucky game {and that only got worse}. Noah kept crawling up in his lap, saying, "Pa, I scared" each time John got vocal. Ian was glad to see Pa leave for a 12 hour shift at the mill so he could get back into the kiddie shows. I got them in their jammies after supper and a pizza break, and rocked Noah while waiting on mommy and daddy.

They're home now, safe and happy and bushed. John's at work. The a/c is working, but I have the door open listening to the night sounds. I can't help but think, and hurt, for

Rick and Jamie Norton. They lost their 13 year-old daughter yesterday afternoon. Her presence will be sorely missed. She collapsed around 4:30 at school and could not be revived. It was a struggle to not get emotional last night with the boys here when we got the news. So horribly sad. You know we use the word 'lost' when we speak of death, but

Skylar isn't lost. We know where she is. She grew up in the Cold Springs church of Christ congregation and was deeply loved and nurtured. I wish there were another word to use. The autopsy was 'inconclusive'. She will be buried in a small country cemetery where scores of other family members have been laid to rest. And her parents and younger brother will struggle for answers and comfort. If you're a believer, pray for them. It's been a very difficult weekend, but one also decorated with the laughter and love of two grandsons~

Making New Friends~

This is what Kristi brought to decorate the table~

Haley brought a beautifully decorated tin with candle

for each to take home~

we sat across from,

Judy, Shannon, and Taylor~

and Ian lost his heart

we connected, we laughed, we shared

we made new friends,

new memories,

made promises to do it again

and still include the babes~

What a delightful way to spend

a beautiful October day~
And yes, Kristi, I may have suggested it
but you took it and made it happen.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart~
today shall live on for months

years

to come~

(pictured above~top: Leigh, Shannon

middle: Melissa, Judy, me, Kristi,

front: Heidi, Haley, Rebecca)

A Whiny Post

It's been a rather up and down kind of day, but I still feel the need to whine for just two minutes. I promise. I just got through checking on all my blogs on the left. And there were many that you have to print a non-real word in order to leave a comment. aarrgghh I hate those!! Pul-lease consider taking it off your site. I don't have it and I'm not bothered with spam.

I got halfway through the ones on the right before I just got tired of having to copy and recopy and recopy before having it accept my comment. You see, sometimes I have to do it several times before it says I've copied the correct letters and I KNOW they weren't ALL wrong. And I know I'm not the only one out there that hates these silly words. So, what do you do? Do you just not leave a comment? You leave a comment but secretly fume that there's a silly word at the bottom of the comment box?

If you must use them, then I guess you have your reasons. I had to whine and my two minutes is up.

On another note, I am so looking forward to lunch tomorrow! I need the fellowship and I need some fun!!! Leigh Graham and her sister came to the shoppe today and she's coming! Haley Gray is riding with me!! Kristy Busby and Melissa Lester will be there. I. Can't. Wait. We'll post pics for those that wanted to come and couldn't! And for those of you that didn't think it would be fun, well, you were. Wrong!
ha ha I wanted to have a 'big grin' after the word 'wrong' and when I googled big grin, this is what I found! Enjoy!!!

This is for those of you that don't come to my blog, but read through feeds. The Blogger Par-Tay will be Saturday, October 4th, 11 am at Eastdale Grill in Montgomery. Hope you can make it!! I'm sure we'll be there for several hours~