You know the saying............

"Better late than never".............

Well, I honestly thought I was too late for this:

But, when I went over to Kim's blog this afternoon, she says I am NOT too late!! Yayyyy! I am so happy, because I made something really special for this Giveaway............ just for you!

So, here is my giveaway..........

I am offering this sweet little handmade pillow

And a sweet book by Emilie Barnes,

Illustrated by Susan Rios~

I made the little pillow from an embroidery pattern I downloaded a while ago from this wonderful blog:

http://mytransfers.blogspot.com/

I think it is so sweet of Floresita to share these transfers!

Anyway, I made the sweet birdie emboidery, then framed it with blue gingham,

you may notice I used mostly "baby-blue" for the pillow, in honor of sweet Grandbaby-boy, who will soon be making his appearance :-)

And, here is the back of the pillow......

including the insert which is removable...

the pillow is 12" X 12"

I am also including this sweet little hardcover book for you....I have one myself, and when I found this one at the thrift store last Summer, I just knew it would be perfect to give away to one of my "bloggy buddies"

It truly is a sweet little book- 64 pages-filled with the most wonderful illustrations

I treasure mine, and I think you will enjoy it

So, there you have it~ My Cottage Charm Giveaway.........

I hope you will leave a message here for me, or you can email me at:

Delia252@aol.com

and I will be happy to enter you into my drawing!

I will draw a name 11:30PM, tomorrow night, May 31st

It's just my little way of saying Thank You!

Good Luck!

And, be sure to check out and enter all the wonderful Giveaways!!

Just Click on this banner:

The "Thriftin' Angels" were really smiling on me Saturday!

They were workin' overtime!

I managed to find this beauty at a garage sale..............

DD teases me and calls it my "chicken coop"...... but, I think it is adorable!

Just look at the painting on this........... wish I could take credit for it~~

Was it a great price? YES! It was! Did I need it?

Hmmm......maybe not ~

what will I put in it?

Hmmm........ maybe this........

from the same garage sale........

That's right.......... ANOTHER bread maker, this is my second........ and how could I pass it up? I mean, it was ONLY $10!! I have always said I would love to have a second one if I found one for a good price.....AND, AND, it is BRAND NEW, never been used, thank you very much!!!

Plus, the BEST part of all was when I learned after I bought them that this sale was for a fund-raiser for a police officer who needs a heart transplant~ so, even more reason to love these things!!

Our second great find of the day was at Salvation Army.......... where I found this beauty:

I would be embarrassed for you to see the old chair this one is replacing ~ so, I won't show it to you! But, I love this.......... it is so comfy, and so cottage-y!! Perfect for settling down with a good book!

There is only one problem with my sweet new chair............

I have to fight HER for it:

sigh........... anybody want to buy a slightly-used

"Diva-Cat"???

God doesn't give people talents

that He doesn't want people to use.....

~~Iron Eagle

It's a Marvelous Memory Monday! It is, because I so declare it.........

It didn't start out that way........ started out with yard work......trying to beat the heat...... which anyone who knows me, knows I absolutely despise...... I don't like hot days.......heat waves........ or Summer weather in particular........ but, the yard has gotten ahead of me, so off I trudged to do battle with the nasty weeds......

The chore was made a bit easier with the help of my trusty Ipod........ it sometimes helps to distract me from the work of it all, and I sometimes lose myself and it makes the time go quicker........ doesn't necessarily make the work easier...... a fact which I will be reminded of later this evening, as my muscles remind me what I did this morning......... but, anyway, there I was working away, totally lost in the music, when it happened............. a song........ just a song........ oops, too many memories, oops..... I crossed the line........and oops came the tears........ it was a song which, as some songs tend to do, brought memories of Steve flooding back, and along with the memories came the tears........ I have grown somewhat accustomed to these moments, though not as frequent, they do still occur..... And, I have learned that I don't have to hide them from my kids...... nor do I have to apologize for them...... Thankfully my children understand them, and even deal with some themselves...... there was a time I used to curse these outbursts of tears, but I have learned to bless them instead........ I have come to know them as "signs of Life" for me...... they mean I am still alive, I still feel, I still love........ and I still remember..... I don't love nor cherish the tears..... but I do love & cherish Steve and all the memories of him...... and, as painful as these moments are, I wouldn't trade the memories for anything........

A short time later, as the tears slowed, I found myself smelling a familiar old scent........ and, I knew, I just knew, I was "sent" a few more memories........ ah, but these were different memories! These were Summer memories........ and I was reminded of how once I loved Summer, and all that came with it~~ The scent I picked up was the scent of an Apricot Tree...... which, since my Apricot tree is not in bloom, nor is there any fruit yet, and, I am certain none of the neighbors have an Apricot tree, well, I am certain that this "scent" was "heaven-sent"......... pure and simple, no doubt in my mind........


And, suddenly my mind was whisked away to memories of Summer in Grandmas' backyard........ on her old canvas-covered lawn swing, next to the garage........ under the Apricot tree......... oh the hours spent swinging there...... and oh, the smell of the sweet, sticky Apricots.........











And then the memories of her kitchen........always wonderful smells..... and it wasn't Summer without Grandmas aluminum drinking cups......













which we made "Fizzies" in...... anyone remember those? They were tablets which would fizz and melt into sweet drinks when dropped in water........ and there was the little inflatable pool in the yard........ and the smell of her back porch where she did her laundry...... And the smell of McDonalds down and around the block......... oh my.....


And, so suddenly, it became a Marvelous Memory Monday............ And, as I began to think about it, it occured to me that one day I will be making memories for a little one........... or perhaps two or three......or ???? Hmmm....... that's kind of a nice thought, that one day, someone just may think of me, and say "I remember when Grandma..........


Here's hoping you have a Marvelous Memory Monday......... and maybe you will make some special ones today.........


And, may Heaven send you something special just when you need it...........

My reply to your sweet comments ( I love comments!) :

Anonymous said...
Dear Joyce ...... I just popped into Brookside Cottage and read your post for today (Monday)...Your memories brought back so many memories of my own, the fizzies in those bright aluminum cops(my Mom had tons of those), and we had an Apricot Tree which was right near my swing and I remember that wonderful smell....Thanks for the memories...May your day be beautiful. Love and Blessings, Vernie
May 19, 2008 5:32 PM

Ahh, well, sweet Vernie........... it's just as I have been telling you for years........ I think we are long-lost sisters, you and I!! Love You!

PAT said...
Joyce, this post is absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing your memories.Pat
May 20, 2008 3:23 AM

Oh, dear Pat...... seeing that you have "been by" for a visit, always, always makes my day! all my best to you always...........

Catherine Holman said...
Joyce, That was just so beautiful. Thanks for reminding us of the memories we make each and every day. Hope it cools down for you!Hugs,Cathie
May 21, 2008 10:23 PM

Dear Cathie........ oh, so nice to see you here! You are so talented with your paintings that whenever I see you have been here, I feel like I was visited by a celebrity!! It has cooled down for us, in fact we now have 40MPH winds~ nicer than a heat wave, but my neighborhood trees are snapping and blowing down so fast it is a bit unsettling~

"For where two or three

have gathered together

in My name,

I am there in their midst."

...... Matthew 18:20

Today, I ask you to join me in sending prayers for my sweet friend Mary of Isabellas Closet as she has surgery today....

Thank You & May God Bless....

Comment Replies:

Honest to Ya~Ya said...
I just came from Mary's and was admiring your sweet gifts to her and realize I've read you before!I always enjoyed your blog and am going to mark it for future visits. Please come see me too!I will join you in praying for sweet Mary!Love & Hugs,Tammy "YaYa"

Oh Tammy! Thanks for visiting! I hope you will visit again~~ How sweet you are, & I love your blog!! Too, too cute! Thank you for joining with me in prayers for Mary, from reading her latest posts, things seem to be much better for her~ Praise God!!

A Very Happy Mothers Day to Everyone!!

I hope it is a glorious day where you are!

a few pics I wanted to share with you today..........

My Grandma..........

My Mom............

Me............

And..............today seemed like a good day to share a little surprise with you................

Guess who's gonna be a Gramma???

Comment Replies:

She'sSewPretty said...
Oh!!! That's so exciting. Congratulations Granny!!
May 11, 2008 9:27 PM

Thank you so much, Betty! It is exciting, and a bit worrisome too~ she's had a few problems~ but, we just keep praying & keeping Faith that all will turn out fine! I know your day is coming one day too my friend!!

Jerri said...
Joyce,When is that little bundle due? Will this be your first grandchild?
May 12, 2008 11:07 AM

Dear Jerri.......... This is my very first Grandchild~ and according to the ultrasound "we" are having a Boy........ her due date is June 21st. I will be her coach in the delivery room, I may be almost a nervous as she is~ but, I am sure that God and "Grampa" will be there to help us through!

My Heart Is In The Right Place.....

It is.............

truly it is......

I swear to you......

it is..........

My HEART is in the "right place"....

Have you ever heard this saying?

"His heart was in the right place"

I heard it when I was growing up........

Usually Mom or Grandma would use the phrase in reference to someone who had made a goof, or done some incredibly unselfish act which had one way or another "backfired" on them...... or perhaps it had gone un-noticed

(ok, that probably isn't a proper word,

but hopefully you know what I mean)

Or maybe it was when someone had this really cool idea.... which in the end turned out not to be such a good idea....

(kids are especially good at those)

But, it usually turned out ok, because always there was a Mom or a Grandma to state the forgiving:

"his heart was in the right place"...

And so, life would go on....... you were somehow "forgiven"..... until the next time..........

I post about this today, because I have been telling myself this for some time now.....

"My heart was in the right place".....

I am a giving person...... And often I find myself hearing of someone's troubles, or heartaches...... and I immediately think of something nice to do for them...and I do it~ I make them something nice, or I go out and pick up a sweet gift or card for them......

But, often times in the end, it never gets to that person....

Now, sometimes this happens because I am a

"procrastinator"....... I am not proud of that fact, and I have decided to undo that particular part of my personality.... and make a genuine effort to simply "do it NOW"....

But, more often, it happens

because I look at it and worry that maybe it isn't good enough to pass along...........or maybe I would be the only one who thought it was cute... maybe the recipient would think it was silly....... not cute at all.....

And so it occured to me, that perhaps I am not the only one who does this...... perhaps there are others repeating this to themselves, and all the while keeping from sharing their specialness, and their unique gifts with the world....

And, it also occured to me..that while my heart may be in the "right place", and indeed, I know it is....BUT, if I don't follow through, and share it with others, what good is it?

And, I ask you the same thing..... if one's heart is in the right place, but we never share our gifts or our talents, or our kindness with others, then what good is it?

So, I am challenging you, just as I challenge myself now...... today........right now..... think of some nice thing you have thought about doing for someone....... perhaps for your family..... perhaps for someone you work with...... a neighbor...... and you do it...... do it today..... do it tomorrow..... but, for goodness sake, just do it!!

Share it......

show it......

and let someone know it.

Because I KNOW........

"your heart is in the right place"

This has been a R.A.O.T.....

Random Act of Thoughtfulness..........

and I am hoping you enjoyed it"