Parting is such sweet sorrow . . .

I love Little Man (an expensive splurge), but I always felt that he was really more my sister's style so a few months ago I wrapped him up and we parted ways.

 Little Man looks right at home at my sister's house.

I like the "sweet" part of the line because it made me truly happy to see Little Man sitting serenely in my sister's morning room when I visited last week.

I know my dear friend Susan felt the same way when she wrapped up this beautiful vase to give me as a "bathroom completion" gift - she was the one who recommended our wonderful contractor.

What makes this vase so special is the story behind it.

Susan purchased it in the early 80's when she was teaching in West Berlin and she recounted stories of going through Checkpoint Charlie with friends to enter East Berlin to shop and dine.

But like me seeing Little Man at my sister's house, Susan knows when she visits that the beautiful vase will be on display.

Susan has no blue in her house which is why she thought of me not only with the vase, but also a beautiful linen tablecloth that belonged to her mother.

Rather than sitting forgotten in a cupboard, the items are loved - this is a pic from December 2016 when Susan first gave me the tablecloth.

And here it is out on the beach for a tea party last spring.

So many of you are talking about simplifying and purging and the difficulty of letting go, but I challenge you to part with something like sweet Rita of Panoply did when she sent me these gorgeous linens

or May Alice of Chateau Chic when she parted with the fabulous sugar bowl I use as a vase.

 I hope Linda of @linsals, who sent me the beautiful beach pail painting, enjoys seeing it on display in my She Shed.

I promise you, the parting is sweet and it's one less thing to dust!