Art and Sand

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?

Friday, April 15, 2016

in with the old ...

I absolutely loved this look in our guest room, but I wanted to hang some supplies on the wall and I did not want to tap nail holes all over the fresh paint.

In December we bought an old door at Habitat Restore for $35, but it stayed in storage until this week.

What took me so long in dealing with the door was not knowing how to "age" it.

I finally just laid the door across some saw horses in the garden, slapped on stripper and waited to see what happened.

Then came the fun part.

The door and the table hold a conglomeration of crafting supplies

and things that simply make me smile -

like my MacKenzie Childs sock purse hung in honor of Rita of Panoply and Sarah of Hyacinths for the Soul.

The doorknob has no function - I bought it for our pantry door, but it didn't fit and finally I have a spot for it.

With no one staying in the guest room

and no one expected in the near future,

I can simply leave things out on the table.

But when company arrives, they will have a pretty view out the window

and lots of "eye candy".

Now, I need to head outside and get busy in the garden

because Jann of Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson and I have joined up with the sweet ladies of Thoughts of Home for a Garden Party which begins on April 25.