Frankly, Lola...

I know that I have waxed on about how this blog is my happy, shiny place. More than once, I'm sure.
Most of the time I choose to skip the yucky stuff, you know... the it's a hard day 'cause everything went wrong, the house is a wreck and smells of kitten poo (how is it possible that such a small creature can create so much poop?).  The days that are way too busy, always trying to catch up and always falling short. Those days that I just want to hide under a pile of coats and there's no bloody chocolate in the house! We all have them.

For instance, I don't share my endless disappointment that I have not yet developed the super-power of stopping time... not even for 5 piddly minutes... good gravy! I don't talk about how my striving for balance in this life looks a lot like an elephant in roller skates riding a Tilt-A-Whirl. I don't over-share my past aspirations (I really wanted to be a Solid Gold Dancer! Sadly, I reached full height several inches short of the required leggy-ness. Also, I was not a particularly good dancer). So you see, I don't like to complain. Okay... so sometimes I do talk a bit too much about my tempestuous relationship with The Laundry.

I also try to keep the real personal stuff out of view. Sometimes the real hard times, are quiet family blues; we need to sing them away in private.

I also sometimes forget to share the really great day-to-day stuff. Stuff like reconnecting with an old friend one hasn't seen in ages and ages. Like having a long overdue date night with the Engineer, dinner with friends, and seeing a really great band. I forgot to tell you about a sleepover we had with old friends - our kids have been friends since they were babies and it was so much fun! Or I don't often mention how lovely it is to sit in the garden at the end of a long day.

Sometimes I even go as far as disappearing from this place for days and days.

Yet, when I do spend time here, I am always surprised and so very pleased that many of you stick with me, come back, read my posts, leave wonderful comments and make me smile!

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

Another Good Thing

Yes it is time for...

Good Thing #4: Meeting a Friend

Last week I received a note from the very lovely Kate of Harmony and Rosie saying that she and her family would be traveling to my fair city and would I like to meet for a cuppa?

Well goodness yes!

Now, I have met only a very few of my bloggy friends face to face, and whilst it is exciting, one can never be sure just how it might turn out. So, a little cautious I arrived at the designated meeting spot realizing I wasn't completely certain of what she looked like. I did a quick think and recalled her build and hair style from photos on her blog (the ones where she shows off her beautifully made frocks) and settled in with my coffee to wait.

I suppose it is sort of like a blind date, with a little less pressure of course. For in some ways you do feel as if you know this person a little bit from the years of reading each other's blogs.

Well, I needn't have worried. From the moment Kate arrived with her gorgeous smile and big hugs, it was as if we had indeed known each other for ages. She is every bit as lovely in person as she is on her blog (even more so!). It was one of the most enjoyable cuppas I can recall. We sat and chatted for what seemed like only a short while, when her family arrived telling us what time it was. Lo and behold, we had been nattering on for 3 hours! She needed to tend to her family and I needed to go home to mine, we hugged goodbye. I felt so glad to have met and made a true friend; I also was a bit sad that we would not be able to meet up on the regular for weekly cups of coffee (in my case) and tea (in her case).

Both of us were so busy having a lovely chat that neither one of us remembered to get a photo!

It was really a wonderful meeting, and I am reminded of what an amazing community of "friends" I have made since I started my rambling ways here on this blog. I am so humbled and grateful for the world of like-minded souls that I have encountered.

Thank you Kate, our cuppa will be a well remembered highlight for a long time to come.

Please go visit Harmony and Rosie to see her beautifully made creations, from stunning jewelry to gorgeous bags and frocks! She's a mighty good read too!

This week of Good Things has made me very happy.

It has all been leading up to A Super Duper Good Thing...

...otherwise known as

The Really Big News!!!

Oh I am so excited to share it with you all, I can hardly stand it! I can hardly wait!
But wait I will. Until tomorrow my friends!

xo

Time for a cool change

I've been at it again; rearranging, fussing with the furniture, bringing in a little something, taking away a thing or two and generally tinkering about my little place here.

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure how I feel about it, something's just the slightest bit off. Or maybe change is hard and I just need a period of adjustment. What do you all think? Be honest, I can take it.

We have been having the most amazing weather of late. The Daphne is blooming and smells heavenly, daffodils are popping up and the Crocus. Pony Girl and the hens have been romping about in the yard. It feels like spring, it's our February tease...the rain is due back tomorrow.

Speaking of spring and fussing, I got an urge to dive in and do a deep down scrub of the kitchen last week. Washed the walls, scrubbed the cabinets, oiled the counter tops and cleaned all the nooks and crannies. I took photographic evidence, because who knows when the kitchen will sparkle like this again. I also wanted to ready the place for some new shelves The Engineer has promised to build for me so that I can display a few of my pretties.





I am fond of our wee kitchen, we remodeled it ourselves a few years back. It is quite functional and kind of lovely I think, especially all a-shine like this. Now I am itching to re-make our living room, it's high time for a fresh coat of paint and some new pretty handcrafted curtains. Yes, time for a cool change.

I hope your weekend was grand and that week coming is a good one. I will be back soon with tales of gratitude.

Edited: I'm working on some bugs on the blog that I am having trouble with and my HTML is way rusty, so please bear with me. I think I have fixed the extra white space...