Oh, the wonders!

I don't remember when I first read the book, 84 Charing Cross Road, but I immediately loved the concept of strangers corresponding for years and developing a comfortable friendship.

If you are not familiar with the story, it is written by New Yorker Helene Hanff about the 20 year correspondence she maintained with Frank Doel, the chief buyer of Marks & Co antiquarian booksellers in London, England.

Recently, I realized that through blogging and Instagram, I have formed relationships not unlike the friendship of Helene Hanff and Frank Doel.

On Wednesday, I saw this picture on Instagram with the following message

Despite having a female dog, I had no answers, but through Instagram, I have become friends with the lovely @pmacaulay who is a bit of a dog whisperer so I left the following comment.

Soon I saw that Shelley of @peoniesandtumbleweedblog had left me a comment.

And not far below that comment, I saw that Patricia had seen my comment and responded just as I knew she would do.

Next was Shelley's response to Patricia

followed by Patricia thanking me for getting her involved.

The conversation ended with Shelley's comment to both Patricia and me.

@peoniesandtumbleweedsblog is absolutely correct that we truly do have an amazing community

and I love the daily connections with friends made through social media.

Patricia and I were connected once again as I put these fun towels in Steve's kitchen today (they photographed much nicer on the baker's rack) because she lovingly chose them for me to fit my primary color palette and love of the ocean.

I also connected with Karen of The Feral Turtle today when I spotted this grouping of little red hearts in the entry. 

Karen sent me the hearts and these cool Asian discs (along with other fun Christmas decor) in the Christmas Ornament Exchange organized by Vicki of Life on Willie Mae Lane.

That connection led me to Vera of Row Homes and Cobblestones

as I placed a little creature in the vignette because she inspired my collection of mice.

As I write this, Steve is making a lovely prime rib dinner which will be served on these beautiful Pfaltzgraff Pistoulet dishes which were a gift from Kris of Junk Chic Cottage.

Mary Alice of Chateau Chic and @chateau.chic has no idea that we made a connection today, but this gorgeous mantel vignette I saw on her blog this morning led to my using stars on my mantel this afternoon.

Random connections and inspiration

with sweet people from all around the world are why I love blogging and Instagram.

Just as Helene Hanff and Frank Doel never met, and I might never meet my blogging or IG friends, but oh, the wonders of social media.

Thanks to all my blogging friends for connections ... friendships ... ideas ... and so much more.

The Kindness of Strangers

I am nothing like Blanche Du Bois and have never "depended on the kindness of strangers", but I have been certainly been blessed by the kindness of strangers.

Over the last few month, I received generous gifts from blogging friends and have not yet posted about them.

Sue from House Kaboodle sent me the sweet Valentine towel, but with my color palette and love of hearts, we can use it year round.

I had the time today to play a little with the fun supplies that Kathy of Kluless sent me last month.

I started altering the book, but I knew I had to utilize the title of the book - Try and Stop Me - and I definitely will showcase the dedication in some way.

The 23 Skidoo card is just too fun to put in a book so it is hanging on the wall in my creative space to enjoy and think of Kathy in Portland each time I see it.

Vera of Row Homes and Cobblestones is a new blogger and she was so kind to think of me when she and her husband were visiting Articulture in Philadelphia recently.

I used the grass from the package and the vintage style card in my first bit of Easter display in the house.

I love the packaging on the seeds Vera sent me for my garden.

The artwork on the seed packing is too pretty to not use so I connected Vera and Kathy by gluing the seed packet into my altered book.

And Vera's purchase of the seeds continues the "kindness of strangers" because for each purchase, a packet will be donated for a garden in Philadelphia.

Three people, all strangers to me, but through blogging, now friends.

Although cold outside, it is a beautiful day so I am going to leave my computer to plant my seeds and I will be thinking of these friends and all the other friends I have made through blogging.

..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..

Rooted in Thyme - Simple & Sweet Fridays

House Kaboodle - Meet the Neighbors

Why I blog . . .

As we walked on the beach this morning, a neighbor (I featured his garden here) asked me why I write a blog.

I thought about my reasons as we continued our walk, as we kayaked in the ocean (finally a perfect sunny day) and as I worked in the garden.

I finally came up with the answer - I blog to be creative.

If I didn't have a blog to write, then I might just sit on the beach and read, but I need topics to write about so I paint furniture, tweak the house, sew . . .

Today I finished up several projects that I began earlier in the week.

After redoing my bedroom, the red lampshade was just not working so I looked on Pinterest  and Google images for lampshade ideas.

I found a lampshade I really liked at Cottage Charm Creations.

I went looking for material in the attic to try my hand at making a lampshade (something I have never attempted) and found one curtain panel.

I love the design on the curtain so I wrapped it around to see if it would work and it fit perfectly around the bottom edge.

It was a lot easier than I expected - 3 simple steps:

1.  paint the red lampshade white

2. sew the curtain together at the sides, cut it to size and hem the top to form a "dress"

3.  slip the dress over the lampshade, ruffle the top and secure it with a white ribbon

I always read the words "easy peasy" on blogs and this project definitely merits the adjectives.

With the lamp back on the table, I grabbed a white tray I found in the attic - yes, there is still stuff up there for projects!

I looked for ideas on Pinterest for painted trays, but I didn't want words or stripes.

I found something that I liked - a cute polka dot tray at Organize Your Stuff Now.

The tray became another "easy peasy" project.

I simply put sticky dots on the tray and painted the entire tray with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Emperor's Silk.

We eat lunch in the garden almost every afternoon and today I was able to carry it out on my little tray - yes I ate more than just cherries.

The tray is sitting on the butcher block now waiting to be used for tomorrow's lunch.

In my search for tray ideas on Pinterest, I came across a great idea at Just A Smidgen.

An old drawer from my creative space, one of my mother's vintage tablecloths, flowers from the garden and "easy peasy" - a new centerpiece for the dining room table.

I am still trying to figure out what to do with the galvanized bucket - birdbath or planter?

Little projects - something to blog about.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

I am joining these fun parties

The Cottage Market - Junkin Joe

French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Friday

The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson - Share Your Cup

Lavender Garden Cottage - Cottage Style Party

My Romantic Home - Show and Tell 

Jennifer Rizzo - Fabulously Creative

Made in a Day - Made U Look 

Common Ground  - Be Inspired  

Getting It Done

In April I read a very thought provoking post on Raised in Cotton titled "Blogging Is The Devil".

I am very new to blogging and it got me thinking about why I started blogging.

It might not be why I started, but blogging is making me get things done that I need to do, but don't always feel motivated to do.

This cabinet was beyond disorganized and getting inspiration from the projects of other bloggers took my cabinet from this

to this.

Whenever I took photos of my dining room windows, I was disgusted with the peeling stickers left over from a previous owner - 15 years ago!

I took photos of the dining room table the other day and asked myself why I didn't just remove the labels and "get it done".

It took all of 15 minutes to remove the stickers and now my window looks like this.

And, now this.

I can't take credit for this little change.

Steve does the dishes and he didn't know where to put the star plate after Memorial Day and he stuck it there - I like it!

Blogging is making me think about my house, not just when I am taking photographs, but when I pass through a room.

I look at my rumpled sofa and plump it.

I look at dead flowers in vases and replace them.

I see a vignette on a blog and think about how I can do something similar, and I do it.

I am taking more time when setting the table for dinner.

I am actually doing things on my decorating list that I have talked about for a long time.

If I wasn't blogging, I think I would probably say, "I'll get to that soon."

Now, I am constantly looking at what I can change for the better.

So, tomorrow I am off to the Flea Market at Seaside Park.

I don't need anything, but reading all the blogs I follow and looking at inspiring photos makes me want to find some new little bits for vignettes.

Steve says we have to ride our bikes - his plan is that I can only buy what will fit in my bicycle basket.

His job will be to take some great photos while I am hunting.

It will be fun to just look and get inspired to "Get It Done".