Storybook Cottage

Jeanne d'Arc Living Magazine

Hi Everyone!

Hope all is well in your home and family life today.

I've been thinking about why I blog.

The answer to why came rather quickly. 

 It is not only a wonderful way to stay connected with my family and my friends,

but it creates opportunities to make new friends and

see what is happening in

Bloglandia .

 Bloglandia is a fun place to visit.  

 No suitcases needed.  

I've listed in my sidebar some of my favorite blogs.  

  Just click on the blog name and off you will go to Bloglandia.  

Cheaper than a plane ticket or a college course.

It is just a click away.  

I often travel all over the world by way of blog hops.

Sometimes it is only for a short visit but for not for all.  

An example of blogs that I can't get enough of are the Nordic blogs.

Due to a serious problem with garden love, knitting, and decorating, I'm always on the look out for new ideas.

Have you seen Jeanne d'Arc Living Magazine?

 

It is a Danish Magazine now translated into English.

Nordic French is not English or Cottage or Prairie Style.  

Take a look

HERE 

for more examples of French Nordic.

   You can order Jeanne d'Arc Living Magazine

on line   

at the Beautiful Life and at other sites on line also. 

Jeanne d'arc Living Magazine is filled with ideas and 

photographs of *vintage flea market decor*

*nostalgic* 

*European garden design*

 *seasonal recipes* 

Wishing you a happy trip:-)))

Hugs,

Cambria Wine & Art Festival

Hi Everyone!

This weekend we will take some time off from our usual weekend routine and head north to Cambria for the annual Art & Wine festival.

It is a great opportunity to meet local artist, bid on their work at the silent auction,and taste wines from the local wineries.

 All proceeds benefit the Allied Arts Association & Cambria Chamber of Commerce.  Click here to learn more about this event.

I'm looking forward to seeing what has been happening in the Storybook Cottage garden.  Look here to see what came to vist last month.

 

We will also take time to visit the elephant seals.  Click here to learn more about them.  Last year the beach was crowded with new moms and their babies not to forget the big bulls.  It was an amazing sight.

Tickets may still be available.  Hope to bump into you this weekend.

Hugs!

Sweet Moments

Hi Everyone!

Did you ever ask yourself, "Where did all the time go?"

Today I'll be putting our Christmas decorations

away until next December

but not the memories of a wonderful 2011.

Sweet Christmas memories

of Kathleen and Gigi along with Oliver's visit, I'll hold close

to my heart until next time.

The One of a Kind Show in Chicago

Helping Christina sell her hand made purses

for her company Urban Gypsy Design

The answer is yes.  A new sofa can bring you a sweet moment.

I began the year 2011 by shrinking a custom slipcover

  that hid our old green couch. 

Next I tried a pre-made slipcover.  The fit wasn't the best.

This sofa is a PB Classic two cushion with a white denim slipcover.

It was love at first sight and the romance is still going strong.  Hee, Hee...

Our monthly trip to Storybook Cottage

Ocean air!  Cool summer days and warm nights...

Our long walks to the beach along the Fiscalini Ranch in Cambria.

Beauty...

 

Travelling to Minnesota in March to visit Christina's family

  Waking to a foot of snow.

Fun!!!

Spring 2011 in our back garden at the

Southern California home.

Spring magic

 

Winter 2011 at the Southern California home.

Cold and wet!

 

New steps for the Storybook Cottage along with new drip irrigation and plants.

Oh, "How this makes me happy!"

Copenhagen, Denmark

My most fun trip to Europe!

A trip too long in the making

to Georgia

to visit with my other sister, Jane and her family.

  I wish we could have visited longer.

 2011 summer with family and friends at the Storybook Cottage!

The invitation remains open for 2012

Until next time...

I'd better start collecting

sweet moments

 before I ask again, "Where did the time go?"

Hugs:-)))

Today I'm joining my friends at

 Wow us Wednesday

 

 

Goodbye 2011 and Hello to You 2012!

Hello Everyone!!!

Wishing all of you the best that life has to offer in 2012.

 Goodbye moments come and go.

As do the people that we hold dear

as they move in and out of our daily lives.

As the nest began to empty out we had to adjust to these changes.

The first goodbye came when John Michael moved to Oregon after graduation.

Not only did our little chicks fly away

but goodbyes came as aging parents left us also.

 First to go was John's mom. 

The next goodbye moment came when my daughter Christina's family

moved away due to a job transfer.  

I haven't as yet mastered the art of hugging the grand kids goodbye

without a shower

of tears but I'm getting better at saying until next time.  

Next sadly was a final goodbye to my dad.  

I didn't get to say goodbye to him.  

All of those goodbye hugs need to be in my dreams.

 His death was sudden and unexpected.  

My third little chick, Kathleen moved to beautiful Astoria, Oregon.

She remains in Oregon but was visiting us this Christmas with her soon

to be new husband Oliver. 

Around this time,  John Michael returned to California to work at Amgen.  

My goodbye to my mom came in April 2010 after a steady decline due to cancer. 

Her goodbye was the hardest for me.  

We don't set as many places at the table as in the past

however our holidays remain special and enjoyed.

Just different.

This year

I sat around the fire playing Scrabble, Wii, Speed Monopoly

with Kathleen, Oliver, Daniel, Alexis, John Michael, Catherine, Grandpa,

and John.  

What I have learned as the years pass by 

is that those that we love are never far away

because it is our love for each other

that binds us and holds us close to each other.

It helps that we have planes, trains, and cars that bring us together also we have

Skype, Facebook, phones, texting, 

and the memories

of the past holidays shared

with those that are no longer with us.  

I am blessed.

Hello to you 2012:-)))

Hugs...