I Love Blogging!

I really really do love to blog! 

The best part is making new friends, and when you get to meet those friends in person...Awesome!

This week I was able to meet Kathy from Happy Mrs. C!  She and her husband Jeff live a few hours away from me and we have been planning to meet for a couple of years now.   Finally Kathy and I managed to meet half way and enjoy a wonderful lunch!  We chatted like we had know each other all our lives!

Kathy is going to have a booth on the Worlds Longest Yard Sale this year so I took her a carload of items since I am downsizing.  I plan to visit her and maybe even help in her booth in August! I know Kathy and I will again chat like we have know each other forever!!

This week I also had another blogger get together at my friend Sue's (Rue Mouffetard) home.  It was a birthday celebration for myself and another good friend Denise.  Sue went all out with a beautiful table featuring my favorite pink and.....wait for it

FLAMINGOS!

Sue gave each of us one of the 100th Anniversary Ball jars with yummy lemonade cookies in them.  She added these adorable little Flamingos!

The table was stunning!  The quilt in shades of pink and green was a perfect backdrop for pink polka dot dishes and white milk glass.

Pink Flamingo straws...loved them, with our choice of Pink lemonade, iced tea or water!

Oh and the amazing Pasta Pesto Salad! 

Sue making sure the table was perfect and it was! 

She served Italian Wedding Soup, made to order turkey club sandwiches, the pasta and fruit.  

It was all so good!

Dessert was mini cupcakes and key lime pie!

We ate and chatted for a couple of hours! 

I love blogging friends!  Oh and there were gifts!

Yes I'm spoiled and I love it!

Cheri (Chez Cheri) gave me the Paris je t'aime book...it's for photos and very cool.  Sandie (Chatty Crone) gave me this darling little Love book to write in and some adorable ceramic birds.  No photos of those as I already packed them! Whoops!  Denise, the other Birthday girl, gave me those cute as pie green gardening gloves and some other items also already packed!  Denise received her own wonderful gifts but I failed to get photos.  Of course I forgot my camera and took the shots of the table with my new  smart phone...not bad! 

Our hostess Sue gave me this adorable Flamingo throw from IKEA!  Isn't it cute!

AND....Kathy gave me a gift when we met for lunch!

This adorable watercolor of 'me' shopping in Paris! 

I can't wait to find a sweet spot in my new home for this! 

So yes, I love blogging! 

I've met some friends who have been close for several years now and a new friend I've met in person for the first time.  And I'm still hoping to meet YOU someday!

Linking to 

A Favorite Thing

Seasonal Sundays

**Please visit Deborah at The Fairfield House.  Her Mother will be celebrating her 80th Birthday this month and Deborah is hoping to have 80 handmade paper butterflies to hang in her Mom's room.  Her Mother has Alzheimer's and it's left her lost and depressed.  Deborah is hoping to make this a very special birthday and her Mom loves butterflies.  They need to be to her my June 25th, and I'm hoping some of you can help out.  I'm going to make one tomorrow and mail it Monday!**

Wishing you all JOY,

Linda

Thrifty Things Friday #113

It has been a busy week for me as I pack and prepare to move,

 but I'm never too busy to miss joining

Thrifty Things Friday 

I'm sharing an easy, thrifty and oh so yummy recipe this week!  I am not much of a baker but this recipe from Paula Deen's Just Desserts cookbook is pretty foolproof!

This is the recipe for Peach Cobbler they serve on the buffet at their restaurant Lady & Son's in Savannah.  I sure hope to eat there someday.

The ingredients are pretty simple.  Self-rising flour, milk, a stick of butter (melted in the baking dish) and peaches (I used canned in heavy syrup). 

You of course can use fresh peaches, add sugar and cook them down,

 but canned is easier for me.

This is how it looks before baking!  This recipe creates it's own crust.

  I did sprinkle it with cinnamon which I love!

Here it is hot out of the oven!  Serve with vanilla ice cream and enjoy.  It is so delicious and easy.  I took it to a party and everyone enjoyed it! 

Be sure to head over to Diann's and link up your thrifty post for TTF #113

Features From TTF #112

Thanks to all who joined Diann and I for last weeks Thrifty Things Friday. 

 Here are my feature picks for week #112

Sometimes the most simple idea can be just so eye catching.  That's what I found from Lydia's Post where she shared the cutest 'wreath' for your front door or pool area!

A painted frame, cute flip flops and lettering!

I love this idea! 

My 2nd feature of the week is Diane from An Extraordinary Day.  She took a box mix and tweaked it.  She substituted canned pumpkin for milk in the recipe 

and made these amazing muffins!  

Thank you ladies for your great links this week.  Please grab a "I Was Featured" button! 

Join Diann and I tomorrow for TTF #113

Wishing you JOY,

Linda 

How To Tablescape!

Do You Tablescape??

If your answer is, What is tablescaping?  Then you don't!

  But if you are a blogger and love setting beautiful often themed tables then you understand the addiction! 

Not long ago I decided I would share my process for tablescaping.

First is my inspiration.  Sometimes a tablecloth or a bunch of flowers. 

 For this table it was this plate..

It was also a challenge from Let's Dish for April

You can see the completed post HERE

So once I get my inspiration I usually go to the dish closet and play with plates!

These vintage plates are some of my favorites.  I love the green and the swirl edges make a nice addition to the plate stack.

Next decision, white or pink charger?

Wicker Charger, green place mat or pink place mat?

My decision is white charger plate and green place mat.  Why?  I like how it looks and I think it makes the inspiration plate pop.

 Napkins...I pull out four choices

All would 'work' but which one do I like the best?

I narrow it down to these two, but can't decide

I pull out the tray of napkin rings to see if that helps.  These two work and I have my decision!

The plaid napkin with the bird napkin ring

Are you tired yet?  

NEXT!!!!

I bring out my basket of colored flatware and pull five possibilities...which one do you like?

I choose the blue to tie in with the napkin

Luckily I knew which glass I was going to use with this setting or there would be several glasses and goblets pulled from the cabinet.

This blue and green goblet was perfect! 

So it was an easy decision.

Now on to the centerpiece!

I went pretty simple.  A potted plant, yellow bird and a LOVE sign!  

A few more birds to continue the theme

White Salt & Pepper shakers, a vintage yellow bird shaker at each place setting and a great napkin holder with a little bird weight! 

The finished tablescape! 

I hope you enjoyed this step by step post.

I love tablescaping and while it is work, it's also creative and fun.  I mostly use thrift shop and yard sale finds so it's not that expensive of a hobby either.  I hope you'll join me and try a tablescape sometime soon! 

I'm joining

You're Gonna Love It

Budget Decorating

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Let's Dish

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

They Say It's My Birthday!!!

June 9th, 1950 a little baby girl was born and was named Linda Jean.  

Sixty-three years later...I'm still enjoying life!

Yesterday

One of my best friends ( we've know each other over 35 years ) sent me these....

Aren't they beautiful!  Thank you Karen!

With age comes some realizations. 

 Time flies faster each year and I want to live it to it's fullest! 

So I've decided to make some changes in my life.

I will be moving to Athens, GA so I can be nearer to family 

and of course my sweet Grandson Tiger!

I've longed to be closer for awhile and now the time is right to move.

I will be moving into a 2 bedroom duplex so some serious downsizing is taking place.  I haven't touched my dishes yet but know I must.  It is worth it and I'm ready for a simpler life.

My sweet Charlie will be moving with me.  Mr Toes will stay here. 

Changes aren't always easy.

Tiger is ready for Grandma to live nearby so he and I can play more often!

So one half of this great duplex

Will be my new home by the end of the month! 

I need to get Charlie and I settled in before I head to Paris in Sept! 

I'm sharing this at 

A Favorite Thing

Seasonal Sunday

Yes, They Say It's My Birthday!

Linda