Blessings!

Saturday was my birthday...and I got some really lovely gifts...including the new flag I shared HERE. I want to share a peek at a few more of my birthday blessings!

Just look at this wonderful journal my dear friend Gail gave to me.  I love it because the cover is removable...what a great idea!  Gail hopes I'll use it to journal about a trip I'll be taking in the Fall. I think that it will be just perfect for that! 



It's embellished beautifully...tiny doily, ribbon, and leaves carefully stitched to a
little vintage doily.  So pretty!

My sweet Penelope gave me this cute little bar of soap...made from Goat's Milk. It lathers wonderfully!!  But it's almost too cute to use.  I also got another soapy sheep and some wonderful lotion from Penelope and her mommy too.

A new summer bag....I picked it, but Bill bought it for me.

Light weight and oh, so sweet!  It'll be perfect for an overnight trip I'm taking today! 
(Handmade by Juneberry Stitches.)

I also got some things to put in  my garden and in the new playroom we're putting together for the littles.  I'll share peeks at those another time.

I got bunches of flowers too... (thanks Patricia, Sandy, and Jen!)



I have such kind and caring friends and co-workers, and the best family ever! 

That's the very best gift of all!



Merry Christmas to Me!

I know, I'm either kind of early, or really late with this greeting. 

In this case the answer is "really late"!

Back in December I received an Etsy gift card from my dear friend Gail.  I've been browsing Etsy ever since....and I've finally found exactly what I wanted to spend it on!

 

Rusty Hinges

Framed Antique Apothecary Bottle

Antique Glass Insulator Display

All three pieces are from a shop called Knick of Time...love this shop. I also love the blog by the same name.  Tons of great ideas, beautiful photos, and free images too!

 

 

Thank you Gail!  I love my new treasures!!

Stay tuned to see what I end up doing with them all.

 



A Perfect Gift

Surely I'm not the only one who buys "a perfect gift"

without having a clue who it's going to be given to.

 



That's what I did when I saw this adorable container.  The words "with gratitude" and the sweet image caught my eye.  I actually thought, "I don't care what's inside it, I love the packaging that much!

 

So I bought it...a couple months ago. 

It's been sitting on my dresser ever since.

Well, yesterday I gifted it to someone....Me!

Yes, I decided that I loved the packaging

so much that I wanted to keep it.

I loved what was inside too! 

Amazing Grace perfumed shampoo, bath & shower gel.

It smells so pretty and so clean, and it looks perfect in my guest room.

It actually was "a perfect gift"!!

Speaking of perfect gifts...look what else I added to the guest room.  WISH! This wish was a gift from my dear friend Gail.  Actually it was the card that came with the gift she sent.  She ALWAYS finds the best cards.  I popped this one in a frame...gotta love instant art!!

 



Birthday Blessings 2

Napkins seemed to be a gift theme this year....three different friends gave me packages

of napkins.  The napkins will definitely be well used. But not in the way you'd probably guess.

 

I found these plastic coasters at the thrift store last year.  They're great for several reasons. 
They were VERY inexpensive.  Napkins slide in and out...so I can have coasters to match any room in the house. 
Because you use napkins in them, they are so absorbent.

Six coasters came in this cute box. Someday I'm going to paint that box.....someday!

You were right Peggy!
My grandbabies love these napkins...as napkins! 
I love them as coasters...so we're all happy!

Love the border on these.  Do you see where the napkin slides in?

I should have taken a photo of the other side of the "Flip" napkin.  It says "Flop"!



I shared a peek at these napkins yesterday.  They're going to look so sweet as coasters!  Thanks again Joyce!

Last but not least, Regina gave these colorful napkins.  I love the paisley design.

I think I have a wonderful assortment of summertime napkins coasters!!  I found a similar set of napkin holder coasters on Amazon.....just in case you want your very own!

 

 

~~~~::~~~~ 

 

Speaking of birthdays.....I want to wish my dear friend

Gail a VERY Happy Birthday!

Love you a bunch!!

 

  

 

 

Friend

For the month of June I'll be participating in a Photo A Day Challenge. One prompt, one photo, & few words. The daily prompt is the title of each post. Click on the link below for more information.

June - Photo A Day Challenge

"My friend Gail sent me this card a while back...I think it's so pretty, and it has a squirrel on it!  Gail moved to Knoxville, TN last year and I miss her.  I hope we'll be able to visit her later this year.  Her birthday is Monday.  I'll be calling her to wish her a happy one....."

And so ends A Photo A Day for the month of June.  I enjoyed it.  But I don't think I'll be particpating for the month of July. 



Time

For the month of June I'll be participating in a Photo A Day Challenge. One prompt, one photo, & few words. The daily prompt is the title of each post. Click on the link below for more information.

June - Photo A Day Challenge

"What time is it?  It's party time.......!"

Happy Birthday to me!!!   : )

My friend Gail sent me this card.....I LOVE IT!



Raggedies

Here's another peek inside that cabinet I mentioned in yesterday's post.....I know...it's a totally different look from the images I shared in that post.  Many different things appeal to me.  This cabinet is where I keep all those things I love that don't have a home anywhere else right now.

I love these Raggedies...they have the best faces!!   The rectangular platter in the back was given to me by my dear friend Gail and the little strawberry girl was painted by my friend Anita's daughter.  I met both Gail and Anita during the years I was part owner of a little shop called Agape' Gifts & Crafts.  What a blessing to still have them in my life over eight years after the shop closed.

The "strawberry soda" bottle cap, doily and angel cut-out picture all came from thrift stores and the strawberry pin cushion was a gift I bought for myself at the York Folk Art show several years ago.  The tin of Ginger belonged to my mom...she gave it to me when she moved.  It's white with red & green graphics, so it's perfect for my home.  Finally, that block with the letter "E", it was an ornament. It has graphics of vintage toys on four sides and on the remaining side it has the letter "R".  Two letters important to my family....I was delighted to find it a couple years after Bill married me (then mother of Kevin & Joe).  The perfect ornament for our family with two last names.

It's Me!

 I'm home from the hospital.  I came home on Saturday.  Yesterday I was able to sit down and finally take a peek at my lap top.  What a treat to see all the wonderful comments left by you and you and you and you....oh and you too!  What a blessing to know that you were praying.   The surgery is done ~ so far, that has been the easy part.   Moving the leg is pretty of tough.  Standing or sitting still, stiffening up and then moving again.....OH MY GOODNESS!  I start my first out-patient physical therapy today at 11:30 AM.  Prayers will be greatly appreciated! 

My room ~ yes, it's private. That was a pleasant surprise! 
This is a brand new wing on the hospital, and everything was shiny and new. It was (almost) a pleasure to stay in this room!

The room was decorated nicely. Pretty colors. Nice enough wall art. And a really clever headboard idea!  Cork board, chrome and a nice assortment of duplex receptacles!  : ) 

The pain medication that I'm taking makes me REALLY thirsty. A regular old cotton ball mouth!  So a great big thank you to Gail and Bill for the "Jolly Ranchers!"!  I'm sure the nursing staff was thankful too!  If I hadn't been sucking on these, I'm sure I would have drank at least two more gallons of water. That would have kept them "hoppin"!  (see room sign below)

Here's the legs!  The right one was/is swollen twice the normal size.  From this angle it looks a little flat.  It was not flat!  The surgery is over. The three day hospital stay was work.  I learned how to climb a short flight of stairs and how to get into and out of the (passenger) seat of a mid-size sedan.  I have a neat "picker-upper" tool and a very creative "sock put-er on-er" (I don't think I'll be using spell check on this post!)  I also have my own rolling walker ~ it's a little sluggish on carpeting but boy, does it take off on the hardwood floors!!   Plus, what hospital visit would be complete without a pair of these fashionista socks!?  I got an extra pair.......maybe I should have a giveaway! 

Anyway, now the real work begins - actual it started yesterday.  Home exercises - and out-patient therapy.  Mandy helped me yesterday with some bending and stretching exercises.  The pain of the exercises is pretty intense but GOODNESS GRACIOUS the tightness afterwards is beyond description! It feels like the staples (all 30 plus of them) are going to burst from the swelling!   I'm getting ready to leave for my out-patient appointment in about an hour ~ Pain medication as we walk out the door and a REALLY LONG nap when I get home ~ that's my plan.

Thanks again for your prayers....they truly, truly bless me in a very special way!  I'll be back when I can!

New Book

I want to share some photos of a new book I got for Christmas.  I've had this one on my wish list for months ~ and (yippee!) my dear friend Gail got it for me!  It's full of wonderful ideas and inspiration. 

 delight in the details  by Lisa Pace "helps you make every last detail count!" 

I'll just let the photos speak for themselves.

Thank you Gail ~ I LOVE this book!!

Have A Joy-filled Thanksgiving Day!

"Let Us Come Before His Presence With Thanksgiving."

Psalm 95:2

P.S. Thank you Gail & Bill for this Beautiful card!

Eggspectations

My son-in-law's "Mum" is visiting from England. We try to get together for dinner out at least once while she's here ~ and we try to go somewhere she hasn't ever been to.

On Wednesday we enjoyed dinner at Eggspectation.

I love their Mission Statement:

"Our Mission begins with a commitment to innovation and “eggcellence”. Meeting our guests’ “eggspectations” is an integral part of our everday “eggsperience”; our commitment to surpass them is what makes us “eggstraordinary”. Our goal is to maintain the highest standards of food quality and service possible within a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere."

There are only four locations in the USA.

We're lucky enough to have one nearby...and we've eaten there before.

Check out the wine rack & the door handles. I love the industrial look of the decor.

Our friend Gail and her husband Bill joined us. Gail loves all things England ~ so of course she loves Brenda too! That's Brenda (in green) and Gail up above and Bill with Charlotte down below. My father-in-law enjoyed his Corned beef hash, scrambled eggs, & grilled potatoes.


After dinner we stood outside and visited for a little while. Charlotte, her Daddy & her Nana loved the flowers ~ isn't that Hibiscus beautiful?! Isn't that little Charlotte beautiful too?!


We had a great evening and look at this wonderful sunset we got to see on the way home.