Did you see Molly?

She's giving away a book, Dining on a Dime. Time's up tomorrow, so hurry on over and get your name in the hat!

My first blog award!

My dear friend Nessa bestowed this award on me a few days ago. I am so very flattered!

According to Nessa: The words are in Portuguese and mean, “This blog invests and believes, the proximity” (meaning, that blogging makes us ‘close’ -being close through proxy).

I have learned so much from all of you, my bloggy friends -- those who entertain, inspire and educate me.

Friendly Blessings

I was at my dear friend Georgia's house the other day. Her home is a welcome spot, where you sit on the front porch and drink a glass of tea and talk about life. I think I have learned more about life sitting on that front porch than almost any place else on earth. Her door is always open and her heart is filled to the brim with love.

Georgia is hands down the best soul food cook on earth. Her collard greens will make you wanna "slap yo mamma!" The colonel ain't got nothin' on her fried chicken. All of her food is as full of love as she is, and it is so good that it is the heart of anywhere she works. One of the busiest restaurants in our little town opened with her in the kitchen, ran ads announcing it to the world, and they all came running. Yep, it is just that good.

Ok, this is not about food, it is about a gift she gave to me. The other day while I was sitting on her front porch, swinging in her beautiful cedar porch swing, I said to her, "You know what I've always wanted?" "What?" she replied. "A hammock, so I can lay beneath the trees in my back yard and read." She got up out of her chair, walked over to her truck, and pulled out a hammock. "Here, I've done had this for over 2 years," she said, "take it and enjoy it." Now I had no idea she even had one, and I would have NEVER in a million years asked for it. "You don't have to, you keep it," I told her. She wouldn't hear of it, "I can't give you what you want if I don't know what it is." She knew I would enjoy it, so I took it home and today I did just that.

She came down today and we dug up some of my flowers that were multiplying out of control. We ate, laughed, talked and sat a while. It was one of the best days I have had in a very long time. Sometimes friendship is a gift in and of itself. One that blesses you everytime you see them, think about them, and cherish the time you have together. Why a 60+ year old woman and a 30-something one can be such true friends is something that time has nothing to do with. The Lord just puts people in our path that we are meant to hold on to for a long while, and Georgia is one of those people to me.

As I left, after driving her home, she sent me away with a bunch of beautiful flowers, big, blue hydrangeas, which will make my dining room lovely for days. Friendly blessings are some of the bestest kind.

All Outta Ideas -- Update

Sometimes God doesn't give you what you ask for, He gives you what you need. I truly believe that.

A few days ago I was begging for help on how to cover my ugly couch. Friday I was given the most beautiful gift.

My dear friend bought a new living room suite on Friday. I asked her if she would like to sell her gently used (and very pretty) current couch. She said, "I dunno, I'll get back to ya."

An hour later she left me a voice mail. "If you want this couch, call me back." So I did. And she gave me the couch if I would pick it up that afternoon. She just didn't want to move it. As soon as we got off work, DH and I went and picked up the couch.

God works in wonderful ways.

For all of you who gave me advice, THANK YOU!!!! I intended on buying fabric this weekend to give it a try, but...oh, well.

Finds Thanks to a Friend

I called upon my friend Meredith yesterday to find one of her favorite spots -- ThiftSmart. Ohhh....she was sooooo right! It is like stepping back into time in a neat little treasure trove! I found some wonderful bits and bobbles! We found tons of goodies, but my favorites were these:

Books and magazines were half off, as were blue tags. so I scored this "milk glass" (I don't think it is the real deal, but I love this stuff!) along with some books with pretty pink details!

I also found this AWESOME retro cookbook - for .17! They called it a magazine, which were also half off, and I was soooo happy! I would have paid the whole .35 for it, but I'm not complaining! Not to mention -- it was a late 50's find! It fits right into my dream of becoming a 50's housewife. I think I might try some of the recipes for a great holiday meal.

Inspiration from a Friend

Recently I had lunch with my friend Meredith, who has a wonderful blog at Like Merchant Ships. I don't think she has quite realized how she has inspired me to change how I live. I usually just live cheap and it shows. Our home is not a showplace.
However, Meredith has really inspired me to take what I already own and turn it around to be a more beautiful place. I have linens and pretty dishes...I just never used them. They were put away in favor of paper plates (free with coupons of course), and clean top tables with no real decoration. I also have odd bits of furniture stuck in corners with no real purpose.
I have been trying to find ways to add elegance with what I already have so that my family feels more special everyday, and not just while company is here. I hate living in constant fear that someone will arrive unannounced -- I would rather have a home that people like to come to.
So this short blog is a thank you card -- of sorts -- to my friend Meredith, for all her wisdom and inspiration.