Lovely Little Cottage

Keeping my private life separate from my internet life....

2009-01-22T09:00:00.000-08:00

I was out to dinner with my very closest friends the other night. They were talking about Face Book. I said I don't really have time for Face Book because I spend most of my time reading blogs. (Hence the reason I haven't posted in FOREVER...) One of my friends asked me if I have a blog. R said, "No, not really. She just has this sewing blog thing." This is the very reason my friends don't know I have blogs. Yes, plural. I in fact have four spread out over the internet. Not that I write in any of them. LOL I also have a journal on a bulletin board that I frequent. I'm afraid to share certain things with my real life friends. Maybe I just need some new friends. LOL

Although I write things in my blogs, I am what you would call a private person in my real life. I constantly guard the things I say and the words I write in e-mail. Much of this stems from my mother and her constant foraging in my room, journals, books, thoughts, events, etc. Secrets she shared with people indiscriminately. That's another post in itself.

I can be free on the internet with millions of people reading about my life. I hide my internet life from my real life friends. I think it is opposite for most people. They hide their real life from the internet.

Here's my question.....if I still have any readers at all.........How do you handle your blog? Do all of your real life friends know and read or do you keep it a secret. Something just for you and your readers?

Sweet Light

2008-07-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

Custom Painted Guitar Effects Boxes

2008-07-22T21:12:00.000-07:00

My husband is painting this.....

So my dining room table looks like this.....

Easter lilies in July

2008-07-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

My mom has been giving me an Easter lily for Easter the past several years. Three years ago, I transplanted the lily to my garden. Each year, the foliage would come up, but no blooms. I threw away all of the Easter lilies received after that because I thought they were "done." This year, that sole Easter lily bloomed and blessed me with seven flowers.

I wish I had planted the last two plants instead of throwing them away. Live and learn.

Garden Party

2008-07-19T19:44:00.000-07:00

I hosted my annual Garden Party this year in July instead of June. I think July will be the new tradition. More guests were in attendance. Everyone was much more relaxed. More of the flowers were blooming and the annuals had started to fill in nicely.

The beautiful house you see in the background is my backyard neighbors'. The houses on my street are no where near that size. LOL Hence the name "Lovely Little Cottage."

Happy Mother's Day, Everyone!

2008-05-11T10:24:00.001-07:00

My children made me a wonderful stepping stone for my garden.

My Grandma's Daffodils

2008-05-09T16:41:00.000-07:00

My maternal Grandma and Grandpa owned a farm for over 30 years. They grew wonderful things including flowers. When my Grandparents sold their farm, they dug up all the daffodils and moved them to their new place. When they went into a nursing home, the daffodils were again dug up and moved to the house I lived in as a child. When we moved from there, the daffodils also came along. When my husband and I bought our first house, my parents gave me the daffodils, sort of like a house warming gift. Each time I've moved, I've written in the house contract that we will dig up the daffodils and take them with us. They've traveled with us to Nashville and now back to Ohio. I love these daffodils.

In Honor of April Fool's Day

2008-04-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

"Fried Quail Eggs"

Pssst....they're really gummy eggs. Sounds delicious, no?

News on my adoption blog

2007-12-26T12:48:00.001-08:00

news

My Birthday Present

2007-12-12T07:56:00.001-08:00

This beautiful cup, saucer, and dessert plate set is a gift from my mom and step-father. I'm 39.....for the first time;)

Putting Up the Tree

2007-12-07T08:52:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, my husband fell in love with the idea of the pre-lit tree. Previously, we did the cut-down-your-own-tree thing. While I miss that, the thing that I like about the pre-lit tree is that I can have my husband put it up as soon as I want;) We put our tree up on the day we got back from vacation, which was November 26.

He Didn't Say....

2007-12-05T14:29:00.001-08:00

My husband doesn't like pictures of the kids on the internet, but he didn't say anything about us:)

On My Kitchen Counter

2007-12-04T09:38:00.000-08:00

I love this area of my kitchen counter. I know that a Kitchen Aid mixer is very utilitarian and not necessarily decorative, but I love the way it looks. Mine happens to be really old. Our elderly neighbor was breaking up house keeping to go into a nursing home and I bought it at her auction. She told me that she had baked many good cookies with that mixer.

Also
*A white ceramic pumpkin purchased this year from Target.
*A "depression-glass green" dish.
*Mums from a friend.
*A Mary Engelbeit calendar page framed in a silver frame by my oldest daughter for me for Christmas that says, "Home is where the Heart is."

Mayflower

2007-12-03T16:27:00.000-08:00

In honor of Thanksgiving, we had dinner at the Mayflower the next night. How many of you can say that?? ;)

Over the River

2007-11-20T07:37:00.000-08:00

Over the river and thru the wood,
To grandfather's house we go;
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh,
Thru the white and drifted snow, oh!

Over the river and thru the wood,
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes and bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.

Over the river and thru the wood,
To have a first-rate play;
Oh, hear the bell ring, "Ting-a-ling-ling!"
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day-ay!

Over the river and thru the wood,
Trot fast my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground,
Like a hunting hound!
For this is Thanksgiving Day.

Over the river and through the wood,
And straight through the barnyard gate.
We seem to go extremely slow
It is so hard to wait!

Over the river and through the wood --
Now Grandmother's cap I spy!
Hurrah for fun! Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

Written By: Lydia Maria Child

Going to see my husband's parents! Downloaded this song to the iPod so the kids can learn it:)

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving remembering how the Lord has blessed over this past year. I might even get to open a birthday gift or two:)

Thanksgiving Decorations

2007-11-17T07:59:00.000-08:00

Every year I haul out two big boxes of Thanksgiving decorations. Even the boxes that contain my harvest decorations are meaningful to me. Many years ago, my husband's grandma sent us a box of grapefruit from Florida where she lived. It was a heavy duty box with a sturdy hinged lid...too good to throw away. It now houses many loved items for autumn and it makes me think of her whenever I see it whether it be while decorating the house for fall or during the year where it smiles at me from the shelf.

Most people have a few items on their Christmas tree that were carefully created by a child during a Preschool or Sunday School class. I have those, but I can't throw anything away (remember the box mentioned above), so I also have turkeys lovingly assembled by chubby little hands during Sunday school and "maize" napkin holders.

I also have a small collection of antique turkey salt and pepper shakers and pilgrim figures. My mom and dad started picking them up for me at garage sales. My mom is THE champion garage-saler, but that is another post in itself.

Thanksgiving is coming! Thanksgiving is coming!

2007-11-14T12:47:00.000-08:00

I'm excited that Thanksgiving is coming! I love Thanksgiving! My birthday is in very early December. When I was a child, we always celebrated my birthday on Thanksgiving because all the grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, and cousins were already at our house. People came and stayed all day. What could be more fun than turkey and stuffing as your birthday meal topped off with pumpkin pie AND birthday cake? Let's not forget the presents!

What are your favorite Thanksgiving memories?

It's Snowing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-11-06T12:23:00.000-08:00

It's the first snow of the year and my little kids wanted to go outside and catch snowflakes on their tongues! Remember that childhood innocence?

My husband doesn't want pics of our kids faces on the internet, so bear with all the pictures of their backs:)

A Worthy Cause

2007-11-05T20:45:00.000-08:00

Please visit McKenzie Crew

On My Kitchen Counter

2007-11-03T19:38:00.000-07:00

The Blissful

2007-11-03T15:09:00.000-07:00

Penny at Lavender Hills Studio left me a comment on my Oreo post. On Friday, I visited her blog to thank her for visiting my blog. Peggy was on her way to Melissa's at the Inspired Room for a Satellite party in honor of Abby at The Blissful and her holiday open house in Canton, Ohio.

I found Abby's blog about two weeks ago through the rabbit trail that is blog reading from McMaster & Storm who I heard about from Heather Bullard at Present Past Collection. I now read Abby’s blog whenever I get the chance to blog surf.

While I had not yet visited the actual physical Blissful in real life, it was on my list of things to do. When I got to Melissa's party at the Inspired Room on Friday night, I decided that Saturday would be the day! I called my wonderful husband at work and planned our “date”. He’s a wonderful guy!! The conversation went something like this, “Umm, honey, I, umm, know this is going to sound crazy, but, umm, I found this place on the internet? I’ve been reading this girl’s blog and she, ummm, is having an open house this weekend, and ummm, I’m wondering if you could, ummm, take me?

On the way to the store, I wondered what you say to a “blog personality?” How do I let her know that I’m a big fan of her blog without seeming like a stalker?

I saw the sign and got all giddy. It’s such a surreal experience to see these things on the computer and then to ACTUALLY see them in real life. BTW, the roof looks great;)

My husband now knows that I am a crazy person, because I jumped out of the van with a camera in my hand and started taking pictures of the exterior of the store. He said, “You brought your camera?” Now I ask you, can you visit a place that you’ve read about in blogland and NOT blog about it?

We entered the store and I hid my camera in my purse. I’m still new to blogging and I wasn’t sure of the etiquette. I didn’t want to take pics of the interior and post them on my blog. Those belong to Abby.

ABBY

Let me tell you, Abby is a sweet heart! I became totally tongue tied when I met her...kind of like when you have an opportunity to talk to one of the “popular kids” in school. Here was a real live blogger and a business owner to boot! Someone I had only come in contact with in my pajamas over a cup of coffee. I told her that I was here because I had “attended” Melissa's "party" last night. She gave me a great big hug and thanked me for coming. I akwardly asked if my husband could take a picture of the two of us together. I also passed on the message that Melissa sent her love.

THE STORE:

The store is amazing. The pictures I’ve seen around don’t do it justice. Abby has an incredible flair. So much so, that even my husband noticed;) Everything looks hand chosen, loved, and perfectly placed. It’s definitely a place that I will want to visit again! Everyone is in for a treat when her wares become available online.

I broused for awhile and chose some wonderful things. Abby checked me out and packaged everything so beautifully! I felt like I was getting a gift. She asked me if I’d been blogging long. I explained that I was really just starting. I visit many blogs and when I comment, I feel that it’s nice to have a place that others can visit.

THE PURCHASES:

Isn't this the cutest little snowman? I have a Christmas garland that I hang around my back window that is only snowmen. This little guy will be on there soon.

A bird soap because I couldn't resist.
ETA...Abby very sweetly wrote me to let me know that this is not a soap, but actually an eraser. I'm still chuckling to myself about that. I should say, though, that when I found this cute little bird, it was only moments after I had entered the store and I was still "star struck." I think my faculties have now come back:)

Eiffel Tower Soap still in the plastic for my BFF. Again...actually an eraser;)

I also have a garland for my glass birds. I bought this glitter bird to add to that collection.

A mercury glass bird just because.

A Paris notepad for my BFF.

To finish up, I'd also like to quote Abby and say Thank you, Jesus, for giving us a reason to celebrate..."

Dear Abby, we wish you a successful holiday season. Thank you for the wonderful shopping experience.

Have you heard of this store?

2007-11-02T18:53:00.001-07:00

I love blogland! I just found out about The Blissful and I'm thinking I need to grab my BFF and run right over there this weekend!

Oreo

2007-10-31T14:35:00.000-07:00

Our neighborhood kitty cat asleep in a sun beam on our front porch.

Dinner Party

2007-10-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

Do we ever outgrow our need for tea parties?

Last night I hosted a dinner party for the women of our adoption support group. It was originally supposed to be dinner and dessert in my garden and then a fire afterwards, but, given that it is October in Ohio, it poured rain all night.

I decided that since the event would be inside, that I would pull out all the stops. I set layers of my grandmother's "china", made up little party favors (sitting in the bowls), and used "stemware". I had these little orange glass leaves that I popped a tea light in and set at everyone's place.

I made a pot of tea to drink with dessert. For those who didn't want tea, I served hot apple cider. It was so fun to use all my special tea cups and dishes.

My photos don't do it justice. I am still learning how to use this camera.

We had a wonderful evening talking about our children and the adoption "experience." :)

I really love these ladies!

God is Good!

2007-10-22T15:41:00.000-07:00

Our youngest daughter continued to get sicker all weekend. We spent most of Sunday afternoon in the emergency room of Children's Hospital. She was severely dehydrated and needed IV fluids. Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of medical care.

She is feeling much better today.