My Friend Gail & the Hedgehogs

That title kind of sounds like a music group...doesn't it!

But it's not....

Mrs Tiggy Winkles

Romeo

Is there someone in your life that you think of immediately when you see a certain something?

There is in my life....her name is Gail and whenever I see a hedgehog I think of her.

Gail loves hedgehogs ~ a lot!!

This is Gail and her husband Bill ~ he's happy because he loves hedgehogs too! You do love hedgehogs, don't you Bill?

I've known Gail for over ten years ~ we met when I had the gift shop. She used to rent a space where she sold all sorts of handmade goodies and she helped out working at the store too! The gift shop closed but our friendship continued....she's a dear friend and I love her a bunch! I'm sure she'd love for you to visit the links (above) for Mrs Tiggy Winkles & Romeo. They'll take you to a couple Hedgehog rescue sites. Gail has sponsored many hedgehogs!
Now I don't know much about hedgehogs ~ but I do know that they sure are cute little critters! It's amazing what you can find on Etsy, Flickr, and Ebay when you search for "hedgehog" and doing a Google search finds even more of the sweet little things! Take a peek at what I found.

hedgehog

rare blonde hedgehogs

I discovered some handmade hedgehogs too. I wanted to show you several of them so I made this little mosaic over at Big Huge Labs. Thank you LDH for mentioning this site on your blog!

1. elegantsnobbery 2. thepoppytree 3. beneaththerowantree

4. mrsspilkington 5. oladesign 6. elegantsnobbery

I think Gail will really like the bloomin' hedgehog ~ middle space, bottom row!

For more information on Hedgehogs you can also visit:

The British Hedgehogs Preservation Society.

Gail loves all things British too ~ but that's whole different story!

Take a peek here for some cute hedgehog notepaper ~ free for the printing.

Provided by Graphic Garden.

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.

Off to Leesburg, Virginia

Ever since I read this post by Joyce on her blog, Scrap for Joy,

I've been wanting to visit Leesburg ~ and today is finally the day!!

My daughters & our friend Gail will be joining me and we plan on having a

whole bunch of fun!

We plan to visit all the shops that Joyce mentioned in her post PLUS rumor has it that there are outlet stores for Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, and Restoration Hardware at the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlet Mall!!! We will definitely be checking that out. I also discovered a blog called Four Shabby Chicks and their shop is in Leesburg too!

Just for Gail (she has two Sheltie sons!) we'll visit The Reign of Cats and Dogs ~ she'll love this place!!

I am so excited about this weekend get-away ~ I'll be sure to share all our exciting times when I get back. Have a wonderful weekend!!

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. 



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!!

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.

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.

 



Friends ~ New & Old

My dear friend Gail came to visit me Sunday afternoon. We went to lunch at Panera Bread and then just spent some time visiting at my house. Not near enough time though ~ there never seems to be enough time for long, cozy chats with friends these days! I guess the answer is to make the most of the precious time we get.

Look at the wonderful goodies Gail brought for me!

Doesn't this pumpkin have the most perfect GREEN stem! It's almost free of any kind of blemish or flat spot too...I love it! The mums are also wonderful ~ and they're not as blurry in person as they are in this picture!!

I have this really neat cutting board that needed some warm, autumn surroundings. I think the pumpkin, mums and Indian corn lend just the right touch!

As if this weren't enough bounty for one week ~ I also received a package in the mail on Monday. My new blog friend Joyce (~scrap for joy~) and I did a one on one swap together...what wonderful treasures I received. For a new friend (who's never even met me) she certainly knows what I love!

Images, all kinds of tags (see the squirrels!), ribbons and stamps ~ I can't wait to create with these things.

Look at all these wonderful goodies ~ more squirrels (I love squirrels!), acorns, a candle scape and a lovely piece of framed paper-art. It's already on display!

Next come the fat birds ~ check out the tiny little blue guy ~ he is so cute! The little girl riding the cardinal is on the cover of an accordion book....for grandbaby pictures of course!!

I love this little squirrel tac pin and the satiny acorn. I love it all!!

Make New Friends ~ But Keep The Old.......

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!



Michelle Palmer Giveaway

Michelle Palmer is having a giveaway to celebrate 100 sales in her Etsy shop. I, very happily, contributed to those sales. Her sweet illustrations are so wonderful ~ and her packaging...well, it's all about the packaging you know! (right Gail?)

I'd (almost) buy the packaging without anything in it ~ that's how cute it is!

Look at her giveaway!

It's Sweet Little MiMi ~ an Original, signed illustration!

Check it out here.

After you enter the giveaway make sure you browse through her blog ~ Michelle paints beautiful watercolors and shares wonderful pictures. It's such a nice place to visit.

Lucketts

NOTE: If you left click on the photo it will enlarge and if you left click on the enlarged photo it will enlarge once more....good for seeing the details.

This was my favorite stop in Leesburg ~ LUCKETTS STORE!

As soon as I saw it I knew it would be. Just look at all the wonderful stuff!!

Katie found something immediately.

"C" for Charlotte of course!

First stop was the cashier's desk. May I take pictures here? Yes you may!

I took a bunch!

Including one of a squirrel with pink paper ears!

There's more than one building at Lucketts and a lot of carport like buildings on the grounds. The photos of the bedroom filled with butterflys and the angel below it were taken inside this yellow building ~ I love the polka dot shutters!

But back inside the main building we go. This dress form made the perfect jewelry display. So perfect that most of the necklaces were gone!

Duct Tape! Nice touch!

Mandy liked this display. I'm still trying to decide what I think of it! Kind of reminds me of The Addams Family!

This room was beautiful. The displays thoughout the store were fantastic.

Look ~ Gail, Katie and Mandy (her arm & bag at least) are all in one photo!

We headed back outside to check out the displays there.

Here's the two photos inside the polka dot shutters building! It was so pretty inside.

Katie really liked the "hello" sign but passed on buying it.

I found a few things that I didn't pass on!
Some bottles, a bit of lace, two sparkly trees, a few crystals and a photograph.

I'm going to "plant" these little trees inside a pretty cup ~ there were two more and I wish I'd bought them too! They're covered in beautiful glass beads.

I really like the photo of the young girl but the back of the frame was the deciding factor in buying it. W. A. Brown ~ a furniture dealer & funeral director!!

Mr. Brown was multi-talented man.

I will return to Lucketts Store. Their 11th Annual Spring Market is coming up on May 22nd & 23rd. Over 100 antique dealers will be there. Hmmmmm........

Make sure you take a look at the website....it'll make you smile (and drool a little too!)