Images of Naples

As promised, here are the highlights from our trip! The birds were not at all shy about being photographed.


And the shells are magnificent. I am always amazed at God's creation when I look closely at the details!

And of course.. the fabric store! A personal highlight! I absolutely love fabric!


The $8.00 a yard room! Yippee!!



I hope I didn't look this bad the whole time I was there. I think I was beginning to realize I didn't have a plan for getting the fabric home! Next stop? MARSHALLS...for a new suitcase. Now the weight of my two suitcases when I arrived at the airport? Well that's a whole nother story. Let's just say I have a very patient sister. :)

I'm Back....

to reality! I just returned this afternoon from 5 days in Naples, Florida! It was AMAZING, RELAXING, BEAUTIFUL, CALM, and I got to share that time with my very BEST friend, my sister.

I am so grateful that my good friends graciously shared their beautiful Naples home with Sissy and me. When we made our flight reservations several months ago, we didn't pay attention to the date and yesterday was actually the 1 year anniversary of daddy's death . It was wonderful that she and I were able to spend that day together. We talked about how happy mama and daddy would be that we enjoy being with each other. It's really amazing how much we think alike and even though we live 10 hours apart, we share so many common views. Most importantly, I am always awed by her constant unselfishness toward me and her unconditional love... not only for me, but for my entire family. She really, really loves my children.

So we just loved our time together...shopping and eating and shopping and eating! (No schedules, no meals to prepare). The weather was a bit cloudy, so we only made it to the beach once, but it was a monumental day trip to Sanibel Island, known for the best shelling around. Tomorrow I'll share some pictures from the beach. Tonight, the downloading is not behaving :( and I need to start unpacking the extra suitcase I had to buy after I went to a fabulous fabric store and purchased 2 "grab bags" of fabric.. along with a little yardage from their back sale room!

So, thank you, my sweet friends who made this memory possible.

What a blessing your friendship continues to be :)

Back to school...

Tomorrow morning, it's back to school! I have had such a wonderful snow break, just loved being at home, organizing drawers and cupboards and starting new projects and finishing some half started ones. I made these little sachets filled with French lavender from an old embroidered table cloth and took them to The Cottage. Then I went on a pillow frenzy and finished about 30 spring pillows. As soon as the inserts arrive, they will also be at The Cottage. It's already looking like spring inside the shop, not that we're anxious or anything!

Then this afternoon, my friend, Lisa and I worked on printing images on fabric.. She has an extra large Epsom printer and it worked out just perfectly! I'm really excited thinking about all the things I can make...the possibilities are endless!

Bye Bye snow days.... I enjoyed having you around!!

Happy Valentines Day!

Hope it's s good one!

Little Monkey

I have my original sock monkey from when I was a child and have been collecting sock monkey paraphernalia for years... pajamas, ornaments, key chains, fabric...Holly is usually the recipient. She knows that for some odd reason it's special to me and has graciously appeased me by showing interest in this!
(Thanks, Honey!)


When we were socked in with Saturday's snow, I pulled out these slippers which I had gotten earlier in the winter for Jack. I think I actually found them at Walgreens and had put them away for next year, but we needed some entertainment! Jack just kept looking down at his feet- not sure what to think.

With that activity only lasting 5 minutes, we moved on to watching Jack eat raspberries from an egg cup. His little precious fingers were so sweet dipping in to get one after another.


I know I said no more "snow post".. but we're getting another 8-14 inches over the next 24 hours. I can't remember a winter like this in my lifetime, so please forgive me for the excessive snow blogging! School is canceled until next TUESDAY... now that's historic!

I just can't figure out where the snow will go when it's plowed....the first 32" haven't melted a bit!

Enough SNOW!

I never thought I'd complain about snow, but we've probably had enough! It's 3:20 p.m. and it's still coming down! I think we're close to 30 inches! First thing this morning Ed and I went out to dig a path. He eventually got the Tahoe out and I worked to save the butterfly bush and the dogwood tree that I planted 21 years ago when mama died. After enough snow went down my back, I gave up on saving them.

Next we went on a rescue mission to pick up Holly, Nathan and Jack who had been without power/heat since 3 a.m. I was expecting the worst, but the trip out there wasn't so bad. We followed a snowplow out of our neighborhood and only saw a few cars on route 7.


Visibility was poor... but Ed did a great job driving.


Mission accomplished! Jack was in his PJs and ready to go to a warm house.


I wish there was an accurate way to describe how crazy it is. Here are some morning pictures...

Here's "Nanny's Dogwood" tree.

"Just 5 mins. Ed, I'll be right out!"


Betsy's car is waiting for you...

Nathan will earn a BIG, LONG nap!


McKinsey and Ethan came over to "help".


And the chairs continue to disappear.


OK.. that's the snow news . Already, school has been closed for both Monday and Tuesday. YEAH!!!! No more snow complaining!.... and probably no more snow blogging either~!

If You're Wondering...

It's 10:45p.m., we've just finished watching season 4 of "the Office" and it is still pouring snow!

Here it comes!

It began snowing around 11:00 a.m. this morning and will continue until tomorrow evening. It's suppose to be THE SNOW EVENT of THE CENTURY... did I make that up? Well, they're saying 26-30" and that's A LOT of snow for Northern VA. I'll keep you posted.

I Love Snow Days!

We went to sleep last night with snow lightly falling and high hopes that school would be delayed or closed today. At 5:30 a.m. the anticipated phone call came. Schools will be CLOSED today!!
I jumped back in bed, thrilled with the free hours which lay before me. My mind began making a list of possibilities. I briefly considered getting up and making the most of this gift of time... you know.... being PRODUCTIVE. I turned over and adjusted my pillow. The next phone call came.
It was now 9:00 and Holly was calling. I lost a few hours, but I feel refreshed. The snow is just beautiful. It looks like God painted the trees with cotton.