So far behind, I think I might be first!

You know that saying?

I'm so far behind, I think I'm first!

Well that seems to be my life lately.

Here I am finally with some things I've been meaning to share here.

Gifts from Lili M.

My trip to Rebecca's (my favorite little antique shop nearby)

and the fact that I was published in the latest Somerset Life.

Awhile ago I was contacted by Somerset Life and asked if they could use

one of the pictures of my collage tags from my blog

 in an upcoming issue.

 I was excited that they had even found my blog in this huge community

of blogs, and I said, 'of course you can'!!!

I just didn't think it would be so soon.

Thank you so much Somerset Life for the opportunity to be part of your

beautiful publication!

Now on to Rebecca's.

This little shop is only open twice a year.

A few days over the 4th of July and Labor Day weekend.

I look forward to it every year.

The setting is in Rebecca's beautiful yard in Bellevue, Idaho.

I would love this urn sitting in my garden!

Maybe one day I will talk her into selling it.

Inside the little shop are all the things I love.

I'll just be quiet now and let you look around a bit.

Last year over Labor Day, I met a woman named Leslie  

who designs and creates jewelry from vintage pieces

and sells in Rebecca's little shop.

Her pieces are so beautiful and I was thrilled to hear that she has

opened an online shop and sells there as well. 

tarnishedlace.com

Leslie also has an etsy shop by the same name. 

I thought I would share some of the photos I took of her pieces while shopping.

It wasn't easy getting good pictures in the light there and all the people

that were crowded around her jewelry, but I waited and would snap a few here and there 

when I got the chance.

I love unique vintage jewelry, and these are some of the loveliest I've seen.  

Really beautiful! Don't you think?
I just wish the light would have been better in the shop to give you a true picture.

I want to share some of the pretty things that Lili M has been sending my way lately.

 If you remember,

I won her lottery of something wonderful in the mail

for a whole year. 

Aren't these little shoes and post cards so pretty?

I will smile and remember you Lili, everytime I get my keys to the house.

I just received the beautiful floral card this week. It is stunning.

My picture doesn't do it justice.

And before these, came this beautiful collage made by my sweet friend Lili herself

all the way from the Netherlands.

It is such  a lovely collage made by a dear friend from far away.

I have to let you know Lili, what a gift it has been for me to get to know you over these past

years blogging. I think I connected with your wonderful sense of humor first.

Anyone who knows Lili, knows about her interesting and beautiful life, but it's the way she

writes about it that got me hooked on her blog.

That, and the fact that I covet (I know it's a sin) her house!!!!

And now I have this to place in my own home to remind me of my funny faraway friend!

The peonies are blooming and I have been taking many, many photos everyday of

them to share here and on the garden blog.

Soon, very soon...I will have my head back on straight and my act together.

But I will still be behind. lol!

Always a silver lining.

Oh it's good to back writing on this blog again.

Everything went well and I feel awesome!

I slept pretty much the entire five days after the surgery, but everyday after
has gotten better and better. The past two weeks have
passed very quickly.

It seems like every cloud I've had in my life ends up having a silver lining.
I know this is true for almost everyone.
Mine was the fact that I have read more in the past two weeks than I have made
the time for in the past two years.
I also have caught up on some projects that I had sitting in the studio unfinished.
I have also been able to walk in the garden and enjoy
just looking at how things are growing and making a few notes on ways I can
tweak a few things out there.

Isn't it funny how life has a way of sending something our way that
has the power to slow us to a crawl so we can actually take in how great life really is.
Am I bummed that I haven't been able to work in the garden---yes!
Am I itching to get in and do some deep cleaning in my sorely neglected house---yes!
But I also want to read a little more.
Plan a little more.
and watch a few more movies.

So the garden is finally catching up to the calendar and things are now growing fast.

I thought today I would share some of the shots I have taken while walking through
the garden the past few days.    





 I also wanted to share a few of the pictures that I had taken before I took my blog break.
My little Lily of the Valley.

The Brandywine crabapple.

A few of the many lilacs here in the garden.

I will be back in a few days with pictures of some shopping for 'good goods' I

did at Rebecca's. (the little shop I go to every Fourth of July and Memorial Day.

I hope all of you in the US are enjoying your holiday weekend.