Saturday, May 22, 2010

Friends Stick Together

The little book 'Friends Stick Together' by Harriet Ziefert (drawings by Rebecca Doughty) gave me the biggest smile. The last page is definitely my favorite part. It reads 'If she trips, help her get up." I can't wait to share with our grand kids when they come for a visit. School is almost out...Grandma ma is counting the days....

This beautiful book of pansy stamps is a gift from my wonderful friend Sister Marilyn at work and Sister Ursula brought me a delicious little loaf of banana nut bread. How blessed am I? Oh my!

Don't you think postage stamps help 'Friends Stick Together' literally? Sending out a lovely note today to tell someone I love them.

It's early Saturday morning and time to head out to Mass (the best time of my day, being with my best friend Jesus). Afterwards I will chase my dream some more. You'll hear all about this later I promise. Smile at someone today. Be blessed.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

A note from Patty Cake...and book for a very dear friend who is ill


I really enjoyed writing the way over due letter my dear friend who is ill. The book by Gracia Burnham 'To Fly Again' will hopefully inspire her. I know she likes to read. Another surprise for her is that her book is personally autographed by the author.

Aren't butterflies the most cheery little creatures? They tickle me by their beauty and freedom. The one attached to the ribbon is made of feathers...looks like it could fly away...

Meet Patty Cake...she has a note for someone...




This little statue is 'Patty Cake'. She has inspired me to share with you the 'weekly' notes I write (snail mail) to encourage, inspire or simply remind someone how special they are in our world. I'll share with you too...when I find something special to bless someone else with.

Today I was able to bless someone with a ham and that person really appreciated the surprise.
The ham was 1/2 price and even spiraled...God is so good!

"Kind words like smiles change things. They say 'I accept you and I care about you'. We all know how crucial it is to be accepted and wanted. How sad that so many people are lonely. Maybe you and I can make a little difference ...one note at a time". Patty

Friday, May 14, 2010

Tussie Mussie 'A Swap For All Seasons'...finally I'm ready to show & tell you about mine!


The Most Beautiful Tussie Mussie in Kansas!

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The art flowers out side the box caught me by surprise!





Lavender candles in the white lace bag with a draw string is so sweet and the smell of Karen's Spanish lavender can't be beat...

Sure would be fun to have some in our garden...probably only in our dreams...




Sweet music notes & lolly pop...made my heart sing...










Plans are to mail one of the floral cards very soon and I haven't decided if I should plant or keep the hollyhock seeds...what do you think?


The vintage hankie...a new...or shall I say old...treasure indeed. I like to use pretty hankies to hold a hot tea pot with. It could only catch happy tears today!


P 4 me...BSOL (big smile out loud)





















Karen, you are so artsy! And that velvet ribbon...oh...
Thank you for the idea...now I know why I kept all those old wooden thread spools... The older the better right? We sure have that in common! Actually we have lots in common!

The May Tussie Mussie 'A Swap For All Seasons' was a load of fun. When my new friend Karen 'Some Days Are Diamonds' quizzed me all about what I like...telling me she wanted to make it really special. Boy howdy did she ever! Honestly, I opened the box and the scent of lavender spilled out into my living room. I read her wonderful letter and unwrapped the MOST BEAUTIFUL TUSSIE MUSSIE in all of Kansas. Following instructions I tucked the 'life like' tulips inside. Next, I sat back and marveled. I just couldn't believe all that detail and for me? Little ol' me? It was all the excitement that I could handle for one day. The Tussie Mussie looks so sweet hanging on my office door. "Are they real flowers?" friends ask. One friend said she couldn't believe how creative the artist was. I agree! I'm glad everyone likes it...it's going to be there for a long, long time.

The next day after work I couldn't wait to get home and see the rest...ummm...EVERY THING smelled like lavender. Each little surprise was wrapped up separately & gently in bright tissues and tied with satin ribbons and bows. Little notes on one read "open gently". It was a wooden thread spool covered with velvet ribbon. The tiny white flowers, the stick pin & purple button...adorable. In delight I continued to discover even more little surprises...a vintage hankie, old time post cards to post recipes, old time floral cards to send to friends, P paper note pad, a lace draw string bag with lavender scented candles, a package of Thompson Hollyhocks garden seeds (so cool!), a sweet grape lolly pop attached with ribbon to a small piece of sheet music and soft curly ribbon tucked in keeping it company. Now if that wasn't all enough...a little colorful tin with Spanish lavender from Karen's own garden! Couldn't be better.

Karen, thanks a million for making my heart smile. Looks like we both had a great time and I just know we will always be friends because we have shared this fun time of our lives.

Thank you blogger friends for letting me show and tell! Have a blessed weekend.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Sunday, May 9, 2010

A Mother's Day Tea...something to chirp about!

"Happy Mother's Day!"

This weekend was really something to chirp about! Yesterday, Saturday I hosted my First Mother's Day Spring Tea for my co-worker friends. Everyone has been so kind to me...it has been one of my heart's desires to invite them all to a special tea.

Yes, hosting a tea in my country home is kinda a big deal for me...I work real hard preparing and always have a lot of dusting & shaping up the place to do. Was it worth it? OH YES! I have so many new memories to treasure! What super ladies I am blessed to work with! Today I am watching the fresh pink roses bloom on my kitchen table and the aroma of cherry cupcakes lingers sweetly. Because I was running a bit late...my son put together two types of tasty sandwiches. One of my friends commented "He even cut off the crusts". I must include my husband helped in a big way...he ran our heavy vacuum without a complaint. I so appreciated their assistance. What a wonderful husband and son I have!

One fun part of having a tea is rediscovering my lace table clothes, the tea cups with matching saucers. Over the years I've collected quite a few tea cups and pots. Some come out of their hiding places bringing a smile to my face every time. I invited my guests to pick a cup and variety of tea that they favor. Later it's aways fun (if I remember) to ask "Can you share with me why you chose that particular cup?" I often encourage friends to try a new tea. For every Tea party, I bring out my beautiful wooden Tea Chest which was a Christmas gift from my daughter years ago and will always be treasured...it reminds me of her and her sweetness and is filled with every flavor of tea you can think of. Smells so good! She knows having teas makes my heart smile...love her so much!

The invitation to all the ladies was inspired by 'Swap for all Seasons'. I created a special (letter/invitation combo) rolled up with a map to my house tucked into a Tussie Mussie. A few weeks prior I was literally wrapped up a few evenings with ribbons, wall paper cones, yo yos & beads, artificial flowers, ivy, birds & butterflies. And oh that glue gun. Yikes! Glue guns are one of those 'must have' items and they are so dangerous! I don't think anyone knew why I wore a band aid on my finger for at least four days. Oh well, now they will.

I think the funniest event was delivering my homemade invite to the ladies in their departments & offices. If they were present I would say "shut your eyes" & quickly hang the Tussie Mussie on their door, cabinet, drawer or anything else I could find. The legend goes somewhat like delivering a May basket...if you are seen delivering...you're suppose to kiss that person. Lots of smiles and giggles. About 43 invites were put together with love and care and luckily I implored the help of a friend to deliver some invites to the ladies in the other building. I really appreciated her help...a sweet heart. Being a busy weekend...many ladies weren't free or maybe they just didn't feel as though they knew me well enough. I was careful to include all the ladies so that no-one was left out.

The company of my friends was delightful and it was especially fun having a new beautiful baby boy with us! We took turns holding him all afternoon. He looked adorable in his baby blue hat, sweater & shoes! To make a new memory everyone was invited to bring their daughter or Mom or baby, something to share about their Mother, being a Mother or something unique about their relationship with Our Heavenly Mother Mary. What beautiful sharing... the lovely pictures, memories and we shared some answered prayers with one another. As a Catholic I often ask Mary to intercede for me in prayer and she has never let me down. I just love to remind girl friends "Take your prayer request to Mary. Mary understands because she was a woman and Jesus would never say no to His Mother."

Tea time is all about getting to know one another better. It's quite amazing too...what a feeling of joy it is when friends share a memory that has touched their heart. That memory is passed on and lives on inside us. If you have been thinking about having a tea...I encourage you to do so. Make a memory! Be creative and come up with your own theme. My library on Tea Parties is growing by leaps and bounds. The Public Library has free resources if you need a little motivation. I hope you had a fun weekend and have a great week ahead. I plan is to post some new photos soon. The little frosting pink hearts I painted on the sugar cubes came out so pretty. Talk about the final touches...I was painting the last heart on one as a friend and her daughter drove into the driveway...

A Mother's day tradition I have is to share this writing by- Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty

The Most Important person on Earth

The most important person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has build something more magnificent than any cathedral - a dwelling for an immortal soul, The tiny perfection of her baby's body. The angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God's creative miracle to bring new saints to Heaven. Only a human mother can. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creatures. God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation...

"What on God's good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?"