Prayers Needed

I was stunned and distraught this morning as I checked the blogs and found that two of my dear friends are hurting.

They both happen to be wonderful women I've had the chance to meet and they are both more loving and caring than you could ever imagine. They each give selflessly to others and carry the world on their shoulders.

Mona's daughter Sandra  is facing a health crisis as is Gloria's husband Len.  Please stop by and offer your prayers and support in their time of need. 

Double Double, Toile and Trouble ~ We Have Winners!

Double the Birthdays, double the prizes and double the trouble for sure! Poor Mona, I really put her through the wringer on this one. She had never done a giveaway before but she came through with flying colors and once she got over the fright of it all she learned how to work her blogger magic! You can teach an old witch sweet lady new tricks! LOL! Used to be her friend indeed! Make sure you go by to meet her winner and see all that she went through to do it. I forgot to tell her about the random number generator!

 

 

As much as I would have like to be right there with Mona doing our drawings we're separated by half a state and millions of crazy drivers so I had to call upon my own little Witchie Poo to do the honors.

 

 

 

Only six entries so it's pretty good odds. Aren't the six of you glad I haven't been around visiting much lately? Mona had sixty something! And the winner is....

 

 

 

 

Congratulations! I will have your groovy witch in the mail Monday. I hope the kids have a great time with her!

 

If you haven't been by Arbor House Lane you should go and see the spells this great friend casts on old ugly furniture! It's amazing! And for a cackle or two stop by All the Girls Chit Chat where she's been known to hang out with a bunch of clowns like...um...me, not that I've been there much lately either, really I have been busy, catching toads and newts and such.

Thanks to my other five loyal followers! A few of you mentioned you have October birthdays. Next year you'll have to break out the brooms with us! My mom and cousin are also October girls so we get to celebrate all month long! As for Mona, she's really not a witch, at least I don't think so...

When I was looking for old postcards online I came across this poem.

October's child is born for woe,

And life's vicissitudes must know,

But lay on Opal on her breast,

And hope will lull those woes to rest.

No wonder Mona and I became friends, both up in the wee hours of the night blogging and worrying together! I'm putting an opal at the top of my Birthday list! I think I'd like a white one this time. Are you reading this hubby? I  have a pink opal ring from my aunt but I caught in on a card file drawer at the library in college and about ripped my finger off. It bent and I couldn't wear it any more. I should have put it on a chain so it could lay on my chest! Think of all the beauty rest I could have had since then!

I also found that the old postcards list Hops as October's flower. Did you know that Mona?

Well, I probably lost all the January through September girls, and the November and December ones too, so I'll end this tribute to October.

My daughter had to start decorating for Halloween tonight so we strung some fake cobwebs next to the real ones on the porch. The fake palm trees and parrots from last weekend's luau for my son's birthday are still up in the back yard. Can you imagine what my neighbors think? Doesn't matter, I've got all you! And I promise, promise, promise I will find time to visit this weekend, right after the tiki huts are packed away.

Alexandra Stoddard, A Wonderful Read

I just love this fall button Sue made for Rednesday, it has such beautiful colors in it. Please visit her at It's a Very Cherry World to see what everyone is sharing today!

Hmm...I wonder, is it coincidence that most of my favorite design books have red covers? Or is it just that great minds think alike?

I recently found the Alexandra Stoddard book at an antiques and collectibles mall. Barb, at Bella Vista, had recommended her to me at a time when I was feeling particularly overwhelmed with my house. This is not a design book full of photographs, although there are lovely illustrations. This book is meant to read and read I have.

Stoddard wrote that our homes are , "...an attitude and a mind-set you can create and live in and love everyday."

She says that houses become homes when they "envelop our personality".

"Whatever is right and good about our lives, whatever is authentic and beautiful, will be reflected in the atmosphere as well as in the details that mirror our souls in meaningful, tangible, physical ways."

Wow! Do you think bout reflecting your soul when you're hustling through the store or fighting off a crowd of like-minded bargain shoppers at a yard sale? Me either! Frankly, I've done enough compulsive shopping, thrifty and otherwise, that I could probably reflect several souls without spending another penny. Instead I'm taking stock of what we have, what we love, and how we want to really live in this home.

Part of that assessment for me is time management. Blogging became an addiction and I was spending so much time at it that I lost track of why I started doing it. I've seen that a few bloggers have signed off permanently, feeling that blogging has become a drain on them for one reason or another. Others simply take a break and return when "real life" allows.. some don't return for months, if at all. Blogging does take a lot of time and that has been the subject of many, many posts lately.

I would say that blogging should be another reflection of your soul and as such it changes with the daily challenges we face. There are no rules. Don't feel that you must post often or on any schedule. Don't feel that you have to trade comment for comment. Post when your soul stirs you, be it serious or lighthearted. Visit when you have time, comment if you have something to say, and just hang out without commenting if you feel like it. Enjoy the experience as you would enjoy a chance meeting with a friend. Let it brighten your day, not weigh you down. Let it be part of all that is " authentic and beautiful" inside you.

Hugs

Dawn

Vintage Dishtowel Giveaway!

If you love vintage mid-century decor you've probably seen the the fabulously fun items featuring perfect women from that time, in perfect clothes, with perfect hair and perfect makeup but spouting a not so traditional attitude.

My friend Sandi from Bearly Sane has found two such ladies pictured on some great dishtowels and she's giving them away! Click on the button or her name to get the details and check out her wonderful bear creations while you're there!

oops, forgot the links the first time, they're up now...click away!

Rednesday ~ Dawn's New Helper

Hi, I'm Sarah. I'm Dawn's new helper.
I used to live with Ana in A Petite Cottage.

It was fun helping in her Etsy shop

but now I'm Dawn's Rednesday assistant!

(Dawn just discovered Jenny Matlock's Alphabet Thursday Rainbow Summer School so she's linking up there today too. You'll find the Rednesday link to It's a Very Cherry World at the end of this post.Obviously, Dawn is still struggling with her organzational skills!)

It's a lovely day to take photos outside.

Dawn bought this gold rimmed cherry plate

at the Sacramento Antique Faire

the same day she got the pretty red

tablecloths from last week's Redndesday.

She also got this fruit bowl there too!
Notice the gold rim again.
She still likes gold and brass.
She's so old fashioned that way.
Ugh, this thing is getting heavy!



Uh, a little help here?
Dawn, don't walk away!
Was it something I said?
OK, you're not old fashioned,
just a little ...
traditional.

Whew! That's better. Now before you run back to Sue's It's a Very Cherry World to check out the other Rednedsay posts.I'm just going to kick back here for a while and enjoy the shade.

This assistant stuff is hard work!
I should have negotiated for a benefits package!
But don't tell Dawn I said that!

Rednesday ~ From the Heart of a Friend

I promised you all some prettier reds this week. No junk cars like last week (and yes, it's still there). Please pop over to Sue's It's a Very Cherry World to see some more pretty reds!

Nothing makes my heart beat faster than

thick red fringe and embossed velvet.

Unless it's this floral and fruit cottage print.

That also happens to be on my valances and is the

basis for the color scheme in most of my home.

But I don't think that's why Mona gave me the pillow

when we met at her home earlier this month.

My reaction to it was from the gut.

I snatched it off her couch, hugged it to my chest

and spun around declaring my love for it!

I think she gave it to me because I was drooling on it.

I was embarrassed by my obvious coveting of it.

I protested and said she didn't have to.

Being the sweetheart she is, she insisted I take it.

That's what friends do, overlook our foolishness and reward our exuberance with gifts from the heart. It is an absolutely wonderful fit here and has saved my formerly uncomfortable brown rocker from being posted for sale on Craig's List!

Thank you Mona, I will always cherish it! And I promise not to drool on your stuff next time.

Thank You (Edited for comment issues)

There seems to be a problem with some comments not showing up for some of us. My comments all come to my email so I'm seeing your entries even if they aren't showing up here. If it's not all straightend out within a few days and you think you left a comment but it's not showing please email me. As I re-post this it shows 14 comments but when I click on it only 7 are showing up. All 14 have gone to my email though. Is anyone else having problems?

May 19th, 2009 was the date of my first blog post. I can't believe it's been a whole year! I never expected to find such wonderful friends is cyberspace. Your blogs, comments and emails have filled me with love, joy, laughter and hope time and time again.

In honor of this amazing online community I'm celebrating with a gift for one of you. But what to choose?

Red? Pink? White? Blue?

Shabby? Shiny? Old? New?

How about I hand pick something specific to the winner's style? Sounds like fun to me. It may be something I've shared on my blog or a similar item. It could be brand new or a thrifty find. We'll all just have to wait and see!

If you'd like to enter just leave a comment on this post. Giveaway will end next Wednesday, May 26th, at 8:00 p.m. pacific time. One entry per person, just to keep it simple for me! I'll announce the winner on Thursday, May 27th.

Thank you all for being such great friends. Here's to many more years blogging for all of us!

Imagine That!

Come listen to story 'bout a blogger named Blossom,

A poor farmer's wife, she barely kept him fed with possum.

Then one day she was surfing on the net,

Clicked on a link, and there her clay pots set.

Empty flower pots that is. Highlighted in blue you see. Linked right there on HGTV!

Well the first thing you know ol' Blossom's mind exploded!

Followers said, "She's hit the big time and gonna be loaded!"

Said, "Californy is the place you ought to be."

So they loaded up the sprouts and moved to Beverly.

Hills that is. Decorators. Blogging Stars.

Well now it's time to say good-bye to Blossom and her kin,

And they would like to thank you folks for kindly droppin' in.

You're all invited to her blog 'bout life's reality,

To have a heapin' helpin' of her hospitality.

Humor that is. Keeps it real. Blows your socks off.

Y'all go visit now, y'hear?

A Rednesday Gift

Wednesdays are REDnesdays at It's a Very Cherry World. It's a time when we can all share our favorite red items with Sue and see how others use the color red too.

This little tote with it's matching zippered pouch was a surprise gift from my friend Tammy. She has a wonderful Ebay shop where she sells totes, pillows, blankets and more. Don't you love those red roosters and hens? You can click on the photo to enlarge it and see how cute they really are! She included them when I ordered a couple of larger grocery totes from her. Wasn't that really sweet? Hmm, I wonder how she knew I liked reds and yellows, not to mention roosters?

Can't you picture shopping the farmer's markets with this summery sunflower print?

Don't let this sweet floral pattern fool you. It's a workhorse, with reinforced stitching to make it nice and sturdy.

See what I mean? That's a couple of 2 ltr. soda bottles and there's still room for more.

And just because she really is extra sweet, Tammy included a set of stationary she made with vintage kitty images. Of course the kitties have red bows!

Please visit Tammy's Ebay Shop, Prims and Pretties by clicking here. She makes all her own items and there is love in every stitch!

The Generosity of Bloggers

I got home from running errands Monday just in time to meet my mailman. He had not one, but two packages for me. Even though I was expecting them, I was once again tickled by the sweetness and generosity of our fellow bloggers.

Denise Marie, from What's Blooming at Beagle Run Cottage, sent me a beautiful card with personal sentiments inside. I had won a giveaway for her 100th follower and she included several wonderful items in the prize box.

That's me with my perfectly coiffed hair in my spotless laundry room tying perfect bows on my fluffy guest towels that my kids wouldn't dream of soiling. Hey, a girl can dream right?

Just look at all these sweet (marshmallow bunny lollipop -yum!) things. I know my daughter will want them all! She has pink and green in her room so the Bloom sign will probably find it's way there. The bunny tassel is all mine though! Those little chenille tendrils are the softest little things! They look like pipe cleaners but they're more like soft little ropes.

The variety of materials in this tassel is scrumptious! You'll be seeing this hanging around my blog for a long time. Thank you, Denise Marie, for a wonderful little reminder of our "blooming" friendship!

I'll leave you with a sneak peek at what came in the second package. More on these great items and the wonderful friend who made them soon.

Thrifty China and an Even Better Find

Hello my sweet friends.

I'm afraid I haven't been 'round much this week.

I've been busy gathering,

focusing on details,

and working on the big picture.

Taxes are done. What a relief. Now I can get back to playing.

I got a great deal on this china set at an estate sale last Friday but my thrifty find is nothing compared to Mona's. She spent $10.00 and got...well I let her tell you. Click here to read it in her own words. As her title says, it was "The Yard Sale Find of a Lifetime". You won't want to miss it!

Make the Commitment!

If you have come to love blogging as much as I do you know it means spending a lot of time sitting on your butt. I keep telling myself I need to exercise more but the treadmill still sits behind me, unused, as I blog. I decided to make the commitment to exercise before I blog or I don't get to blog! I made this little button to remind me every time I sit down to post or visit. I don't actually jog, yet, but it rhymes better than "exercise". Feel free to copy it for your sidebar if you need a reminder to get moving now and then .
Here's to happy, healthy hearts!
Dawn

Il n'est plus tout jeune!

He may not be a spring chicken but he's put his heart into delivering a bit of spring to you via Kathy's Cottage. Like the U.S. postal service, he delivers through rain, sleet and snow! Thank you Kathy for offering your wonderful original designs in your Etsy shop. I "Y" my heart!

Title translation by WordReference.com.

Two Fab Giveaways to Share!

Today I have two fabulous giveaways to share with you.

Dixie, over in French Lique, Texas is having a 300th post giveaway and these vintage, ice blue rhinestones will surely make someone the belle of the winter ball!

This French Dreams book is also included and it will have more than sugar plums dancing in your head on Christmas eve!

Dixie is adding to her giveaway and there are several other goodies. Stop by check it out for goodness sake! It ends Sunday December 13th.

And now for the 2nd wonderful giveaway.

Another generous blogger is my pal Gloria at Happy to Be. She is hosting a Christmas giveaway and it ends Monday, Dec. 7th so you need to hitch up that sleigh and get over to her mountain top ASAP. She is offering up this beautiful Christmas teapot and some other items including...

her adorable pink and blue snowgirl tassel, which by the way, would look lovely on my daughter's pink Christmas tree in her room!

Please pay these fine lady's a visit to see all that their giveaways have to offer. They are two very special bloggers who were incredibly patient helping me learn my way around the blogging neighborhood. In fact, the first time I tried to do a link I somehow copied Dixie's blog and superimposed it over half of mine. I thought I had destroyed her blog! Fortunately we both survived my cyber wanderings! I still can't imagine how I did that!

Sunday, Dec. 13th is also The Sacramento Antiques and Collectibles Faire, or more simply, Second Sunday! Gloria and I plan on doing some Christmas shopping so if you are in the area check it out and keep and eye out for us!

Hugs,
Dawn

A Gift, Some Reds, and a Few Thrifty Finds Too!

Today I'm linking up with Sue at It's a Very Cherry World for Rednesday and Leigh in Bloggeritaville. I'm a bit early for Thrifty Thursday but you can check out all the great finds there tomorrow.

Monday I received a great little package in the mail from my dear friend and fellow blogger, Carol at Old Glory Cottage.

Inside I found this adorable Christmas card with a sweet sentiment inside. Click to enlarge and you'll see a little mouse by the cat. We decided it's probably really a hamster so all our pets are represented. I think Carole did it on purpose, she's pretty smart that way!

All the other items here are thrifty finds from either Strawberry Saturday or Goodwill. I love the plate because it has touch of lilac in it which is unusual for Christmas decor, although I have seen a lot of it this year! The vintage style tin has some great postcard graphics and touches of red. I got the pitcher for $3.00. It has such a lovely shape.

On this side of the mantle I have some more thrifty treasures and the gifts from Carol. The green vase is from Ross and matches my green Rooster from Big Lots. The sweet little Teddy Bear is from Strawberry Saturday, my favorite thrift store! You may remember the sweet cottage painting from Jen's Candlelit Cottage. I bought it from her Etsy shop. Now for the great gifts I received!

This miniature red tray is just adorable. I've never seen one so tiny! The red with gold flourishes makes my heart flutter and I always love roses!

Little Miss Corduroy is watching after this sparkly red Christmas ornament until I get my tree up. I wonder how Carol knows I like red so much?

I think this Cardinal is the most creative use of a pine cone I've ever seen. It will be right at home on my woodsy, country, french, vintage tree. LOL! You all know I can't stick to one style!

This last little guy even got a "wow!" out of hubby. Hmm...I think I see a Mary Poppins moment here.

Wouldn't you just love to follow him into that painting? He'd be right at home in that meadow don't you think?

Thank you, Carol. You made my Monday!

I also want to Thank all of you who left comments recently. I'm hoping to spend some time over the next couple of days catching up with what you've all been up to. That, and start decorating, and Christmas shopping...good thing I don't bake, I don't know how some of you do it all!

Sunny hugs from California

Dawn