"Why I Love Blogging" Party

Joy at http://cupidscharm.blogspot.com is hosting this wonderful blogging party! The participating bloggers are to share what it is they love about blogging:) I love blogging for a multitude of reasons!

I love blogging because I have met so many wonderful friends around the world with such beautiful individuality just like the different types of goodies found in a box of chocolates:)
I love blogging because I am able to reach out and share my life and the lives of others.

I love blogging because it takes me on paths to places worldwide, places I would not normally get to see.

I love blogging because it shines light into my life and provides an opportunity to share that light with others.

I love blogging because it gives me a chance to relax and contemplate.

I love blogging because the friends I have made add beauty and grace to my life.

I love blogging because it wraps me in the artistry, inspiration, and creativity of amazing people.

I love blogging because it is like the rays of the sun warming my soul with the kindness and faith of others.

I love blogging because it leads me to the lives of wonderful, treasured, talented, and creative, individuals that I am blessed to call friends:)

Grins and Giggles

Remember the 80's band 'Guns and Roses'?

This is our version-'Flying Pigs and Roses':)

This is a Jack Russell anxiously awaiting her mom to stop blogging and play with her.

This is a 'chill pill'.

This is Jack Russell retrieving chill pill after mom threw it (while she is still blogging-ah yes, multi-tasking, it's a gift:).

Jack Russell wanting mom's attention again but not getting it because mom is still blogging.

Jack Russell tired of waiting for mom to stop blogging and begins to de-stuff chill pill toy.

Jack Russell successfully de-stuffing chill pill toy.

Jack Russell pouting after mom takes away de-stuffed chill pill toy.

Yeah right, a 'chill pill' for a Jack Russell! It doesn't work unless you take it away!

(don't worry, I gave it back but then she de-stuffed it again so I took it away again. She has to play with another toy since she was not playing nicely with the chill pill toy:)

Victorian Splendor and Thank You!

Things have been rather hectic this week so I have not had the opportunity to do much in the way of photography. In light of this I decided to post some pictures I took a while back of a favorite Victorian home downtown.

It's an amazing home with loads of Victorian architectural details.

Thank You!

I also want to thank Andrea of http://aparsonswife.blogspot.com/ for her gracious gift of the 'Sisterhood Award'. I absolutely love Andrea's blogspot-please make sure to visit:) Everytime I read one of her posts it speaks to my heart and always gives me the guidance that I seem to need at that moment.

Thank you Andrea-you are a true blessing:)

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(For those who have visited my blog before and have been so kind to leave step by step directions on how to transfer said awards to my blog-it still isn't working for me so please forgive the fact that I am still unable to post the lovely picture of the award:) In light of this fact, and also my inability to choose favorites, I am passing this award on to all of my blogging sisterhood (see my list of favorites below:).

Sunday Wisdom

"Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with termoil."

Proverbs 15:16, NIV

First Blooms...

When I returned home from my trip I found several of the rose bushes in full bloom. Roses are my very favorite flower.

I want to dedicate these roses to all of my blogging friends. I have met so many wonderful people through blogging and you bring joy to my world each day. I truly appreciate the grace and beauty that you have brought to my life...just like the roses in my garden:)

Lakewood 400 Antique Fair

One of the shopping highlights of the week was a trip to the Lakewood 400 Antiques Fair.

Of course, one of the first things to catch my eye was this gorgeous red velvet sofa with carved cherubs on the arms (darn thing wouldn't fit in the car again:)!

Some of the booths looked like pictures from a magazine.

This vignette was lovely.

I really enjoyed meeting Jocelyn from The Painted Fern. Her booth was filled with treasures.

This needlepoint chair was beautiful.

One of my favorite booths was Carlotta's "The Show Girl" These vintage dresses were stunning!

The trays are made from frames. The lace inside can be changed out although I can't imagine why you would want to change them-the lace was gorgeous!

One of the things that Carlotta had in abundance was hats. Here is my grandmother modeling her new spring hat. She looks beautiful for 90!

You didn't think that I would make it out of Carlotta's booth without a hat. This lovely hat was made in England and has sage green and cream silk roses.

I couldn't leave without this cute little number, a French straw hat with white rose and netting.

Ok, this lovely burgundy hat was a must with it's velvet flowers and feathers.

Here are a few of the other treasures from our antiquing excursions over the week.

Cheryl at Antiques in Old Town made this darling top from vintage lace.

The precious little antique silver purse was another find at the antiques fair.

Some more goodies-vintage lace, hand painted bowl, buttons, vintage brooch, salt shakers (they hold my cinnamon and cloves), and some hair jewelry.

This vintage table cloth said 'take me home' so I did:)

Thanks for joining my spring break trip. I had fun. We'll have to do this again soon:)

Shopping, Goodies, and Cats?

The next day we did some more antiquing at the Vintage Village in Snellville (this is a two story antique mall filled with great finds). Behind the Vintage Village is 'The Shack Out Back' a wonderful little antique shop with lots of treasures.

The pinks and greens in this corner were lovely.
And this velvet couch...it's as comfy as it is elegant (unfortunately it would not fit in my car for the long trip home so I had to pass it up-bummer:)
Once we returned home we needed nourishment (antiquing really takes it out of you:).
So we baked chocolate chip, walnut cookies and fixed a pot of tea. Yummmm, cookies are so good fresh from the oven!

Meet my mother's cat, Sweeti. Don't let the name fool you-she is sweet when she chooses to be (as you can see she has plenty of catitude-lol). Our dog Lizzy travels with me so the two had to co-exist for the week which got a bit interesting at times.

Here they are on the screened porch when a bird landed just outside the door attracking their attention. They both hurried over to the door and then...

they noticed that they were close to each other and separated quickly but not without a backward glance of challenge and bravery (and without incident-thank goodness:)

This is my mother's feral cat, Cassie (she is sitting on my mom). She can't be with Sweeti or Lizzy so life is something of a juggling act when we come to visit. Sweeti gets put in one part of the house while Lizzy is in another part of the house when Cassie is in the main part of the house. After some time the switch is made again-it gets rather complicated at times (I think I may need some more cookie nourishment after all that juggling:).

Thanks for tagging along again today. Come back tomorrow for more of my spring break adventures:)