Monday, April 18, 2016

It takes a village ...


At the end of our lane you will find 2 benches beckoning people to sit and chat awhile.


Messages, carved into the backs, by one of our neighbors, proclaim this to be "Our Village on Brunswick Lane"


This weekend, all of our activities kept us close to home.


Saturday afternoon, we attended the joint birthday party of two precious siblings


and we ended the evening at the 21st birthday party of a young boy we have watched grow up on the beach.


Steve painted Sean at 12 for a Music Festival fundraiser - the theme of the art was to display passion and Sean still retains his passion for the ocean.


While we sat on the beach visiting with neighbors, we talked to two moms whose young sons are headed to El Salvador this summer to help install water treatment systems in villages.


Steve and I donated to both boys (it takes a village to help them reach their goals) and we talked about the powerful lessons Marley and Pitas will learn as they see life in a third world country this summer.


All our local activities got me thinking about how social media has increased the scope of our "villages".


There are a lot of different people in my village lately.


Some, like my nephew Steven and his wife Kimberli of Windecker Farms are people I have actually spent time with.


Social media has allowed Kim and Steve to create a thriving on-line business.


I have been suffering from an allergic reaction to my asthma medication since November and Windecker Farms oatmeal soap has been a life saver for me .


Francis of  ** by surprise ** is in my village this week


after sending me the sweetest little heart garland.


Francis lives in Rotterdam, Holland and we might never meet, but each time I spot the garland, I feel a connection.


I have become friends with Kim of @kimih801 on Instagram and she recently sent me hearts - I think I might post pics of hearts way too much!


Kim also sent me a set of bunny salt & pepper shakers - they are put away for now, but each year when I bring out my Easter decor, I will think of Kim.


 I am busy working in the garden this week all thanks to Stacey of Poofing the Pillows


who drew me into her village when she invited Jann of Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson and me to join her for a Garden Party


along with all the ladies of Thoughts of Home Thursday.


Last summer, Kristen of @beachyglamdecor sent me a Sugarboo tablet of 100 Gathered Thoughts -


coincidentally, today's quote on the tablet fit right in with my post.


These are just a few of my villagers - who's in your village this week?

37 comments:

  1. Loved this post.

    Have a GREAT week ~ FlowerLady

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  2. What a wonderful post Carol. You have a wonderful life overhere and I feel so blessed a piece of my heart is allowed to stay there with you .
    Thank you so much for shaming this .

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  3. This post is so poignant for me, especially right now, Carol. I have used the phrase, "it takes a village" ever since my daughters were born, I was a career mom, and necessarily relied on my village to help me transport, guide, and raise them. Recently, I have lost a couple of those villagers, but even still, their impact is felt by the lifelong influences and impressions made.
    It is wonderful to expand our village of people as we live life. I'm happy you're part of mine, however small it may seem. Have a great week.
    Rita

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  4. It takes a village for me also at this time in my life when my kids are all grown and I'm a Grandmother now living alone.
    I say my fellow bloggers are my village that keeps me going and enthused. I have so many interest and love to share them with other bloggers. I only have one friend, Who Gets It All.

    I enjoyed this post as many others will also

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  5. It does take a village. Mine includes many throughout the country and I don't know how I would make it some days without them. Today 5 of my blogging friends from the Atlanta area are coming to take me to lunch, to lift my spirits after the hard, sad winter I've had. This is what it means to be a friend. Even if I never meet many of you in person, the friendship is real.

    hugs,
    Linda

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  6. I love this post. Life really does take a village in every way. When we are raising babies we need our mom friends village. When our parents get older we need a different village. Your village is all the sweet people you can scoop up and love in your life. I adore my online friends too. ♥

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  7. Carol.
    Love this post, your photos, the share and the meaning of your words. We have all become a global village -worldwide because of social media. I wish our global village would be more peaceful and understanding. Perhaps our village in Blogland can serve as an example as we all inspire and emotionally support one another. I love park benches, always have. Love the two at the end of Brunswich Lane and that your neighbor carved words of meaning into them. Looks like your weekend filled your heart with happiness. Come visit and meet Chatlie.
    xoxo,
    Vera

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  8. A good post. We definitely need community--or a village--to live well. I can't imagine life without it.

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  9. I love this!!! It absolutely does take a village and I enjoy visiting yours.

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  10. Great post, Carol. I life in the village that I grew up in. When my hubby and I were first married...his job took us away, but after a few years we were able to go back home and we have lived in our beloved small village ever since then.
    ~Cindy

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  11. Beautiful post Carol. Yes, we all need a village. I have some wonderful neighbors who keep their eye on me and check on me if they don't see my car move or me in the yard.

    Your photo's are beautiful as always.

    Have a wonderful sunny week.

    Mary

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  12. Carol, I love all your wonderful pictures. That is a great cause. I think your husband is a fabulous artist. I loved his painting. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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  13. Hello Carol!

    My village is a group of teachers, then my students. Some "villages" work well together, some don't. The challenge is learning how to bring out the best in each other, but that's not always easy.

    I remember being a part of this "village" of bloggers. The gifts, the thoughtful gestures of sending out a message by hand. Things have changed, but some dear friends remain. I hope you will always consider me a friend?

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  14. Carol, such a beautiful post. I am so glad I met you on Instagram first! Your thoughts and photos are so inspiring! Wishing you a lovely week!
    Blessings,
    Pam @ Everyday Living

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  15. What a great quote! Lovely. I've been trying to catch up on 18 months of non-gardening, in hopes that I can have some beauty around me like you have.

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  16. What a great quote! Lovely. I've been trying to catch up on 18 months of non-gardening, in hopes that I can have some beauty around me like you have.

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  17. Sweet, sweet post, Carol! You have lovely peeps in your village! Blessings, Cindy xo

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  18. You've reminded me again of how special people are in our lives whether in real person or the blogosphere!

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  19. Wonderful photos . I love seeing your 'village ' and watching life on the other side of the world .x

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  20. This is such a great post, Carol, reminding us of all the people who cross our paths to bring us joy and smiles. Acts of kindness definitely make a difference in this world, and you are a master of doing just that.
    Mary Alice

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  21. Beautiful pictures, Carol and such SO inspiring. Yes, it really does take a village!

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  22. I never thought of it in terms of "my village". Ha! You have received so many pretty and thoughtful gifts. That soap business sounds good. I'm glad that it is helping you.
    I would think living close to the beach would also be good for your asthma.

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  23. Isn't it wonderful to be surrounded with those who support you...neighbors, family, friends? Without a doubt, we all need each other. I am so glad to hear that the oatmeal soap is helping your skin. My mom makes (not so much anymore - she used to have a thriving business) all-natural soaps ("real" ones - made with lye and then wonderful oils) and cremes, etc. My husband still uses my mom's soap due to having a propensity for eczema flare-ups.

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  24. What a lovely post, Carol! You inspire me to take a look around and discover my village...

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  25. Very nicely said, Carol. I was lacking a village for many years and it was very, very difficult. Then, six years ago, we moved here to North Carolina to a very special kind of village. And it is all that I wanted and so much more! My husband and I are thankful each and every day to have found this way of life. You never know what the future holds, do you?

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  26. That was a lovely post, Carol.
    I live in a village, but my personal village knows no borders at all. I count as fellow inhabitants many people from all over the world. Aren't we lucky?!

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  27. wonderful post! I live in a small town and everyone looks out for everyone else - it's such a comfort!

    I love our "blogger village" too where I've met and made so many dear friends like you.

    xo

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  28. Wonderful post!! I love the idea of creating a village in all that we do everyday. I have to think about the scope of my "village" which seems to get bigger each day!

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  29. Hi Carol, this is such a wonderful post and a lovely theme. We have all gained so much by increasing "our village" through social media and connecting with others all around the world. The quote is fantastic too - so true! Sarah x

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  30. oh I love the birthday princess and the painting of Sean ! And what a nice post overall. My DIL went to the Dominican Republic two years back as part of a church group to do some work and she came back amazed at some of the poverty that they saw but she made many new friends from there and yes, social media allows them to keep in touch ! :)

    Those young men will be a blessing to those they serve and will most likely be blessed themselves in many ways that they can't imagine.

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  31. Loved all of this....
    I am planning to attend the garden party...out here in West Texas, we don't have a lot of gardening going on as yet but I still want to come to the party....
    xo

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  32. Wonderful post, Carol. Blogs and Social Media has introduced me to such lovely people all around the world and I also feel my life has been enriched by them. When we moved from a lifetime of living in NYC to Colorado it was through the internet that I was able to stay in touch with many friends and that helped so much until I could make some friends here. I sometimes think my online friends are friendlier and more attentive than my real life friends--I feel so grateful for them!

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  33. Such a great post, Carol! There's a lot of negative things to be said about social media, but at the same time, it is such a blessing! There are friends I would never have reconnected with from my past, and there are people in my current "village" that I have never met, but feel a kinship because of our shared love of blogging.

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  34. This is such a lovely post, Carol. Social medial has opened the world to me in so many ways, it's been a blessing.
    Amalia
    xo

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  35. This was my favorite post. I was late reading it as I was on retreat and away from technology. My village is largely on line since losing my husband. I have met so many wonderful people through blogs. One I met early on lives close by and we have become great friends. Most of you I will never meet in person but that is ok I feel as if we live down the street.

    I look forward to your post and count you as a friend Carol.

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  36. Great post! My village consists of my worker family. I have such great co-workers then I have my friends and family. I need lots of folks to keep me in line. LOL

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