Up a country road.....

In mind, I love to go back in time up that old country road where life was simpler. I was making some lemonade this morning and it reminded me of those hot summer days when I was a young girl. Mom would always make us a big pitcher of lemonade. She would make cheese sandwiches with good old American cheese and Miracle Whip on Heiner's bread. She'd slice up some dill pickles and put some chips on our plate. Sometimes we had plain Snyder's and sometimes it was the Barbecue Snyder's. There was usually a Twinkie or Hostess Cup Cake for the dessert.

But there was always a glass of lemonade or grape Kool-Aid. She used to make us grape Kool-Aid and cut up lemons and put in it. I still do the same today. The taste of grape and lemon together is very refreshing. I like to go to Sonic and order one of their grape slushies and have them put a couple of lemons in it. Takes me back in time.

Once she'd get lunch made, we'd grab one of our latest library books and she'd spread a quilt under the big oak tree in the front yard. We set out there with our picnic lunch and read our books. It's no wonder I love to read. From the time I was six years old, she would take us to the library every week and let us check out books. The school worked with the library on a summer reading program where you got a sticker for every book you read. At the end of the summer, you received a certificate. I remember I always read the most every year of all the other kids in the program. I just love to read. I would even read the back of the Cheerio box at breakfast time, just to have something to read. :)

Such fond memories of some wonderful times. I'm so thankful for life up that old country road. Where loved ones gathered and true friends were made.

Tea Time Tuesday in Tennessee

Thank you for dropping in for a spot of tea. This is some of my collection of tea cups, tea sets, tea pots, and tea for two. Hope you enjoy.

This was my very first official grown up entire tea set. (That's Jo and Meg from Little Women at the back of the tea set.)

This next display means the world to me. When I bought the first tea set and decided to collect them, my precious hubby surprised me that Valentine's day with the Royal Dalton Old Country roses teapot and tea cups. I was blown away. They were like my dream set that I hoped through out the years I could eventually afford. Words cannot express how I felt when I opened them. He is such a sweetheart.
The sister plaque was a gift from my sister (obviously). The antique book is a rare 1851 first edition of The Gift of Friendship, a collection of stories about friendship. It was a gift from my sister-in-law. And the glasses belonged to my Papaw Eden.

Here are some more of my collection.

This next one is one of my favorites. Picked it up at an antique store at a great deal.

This next one is my absolute favorite tea for two. I am a floral person and love flowers everywhere. I got this one at a store called Toby's World of Gifts in Little River, SC. They have a great selection of tea for twos. I discovered them a couple of years ago and now part of my yearly Beach vacation includes going to Toby's to get a new tea for two.

This one is very special to me. It evokes such wonderful memories. The first time my sister and her husband went with us to Charleston, SC we went to Boone Hall Plantation. I bought this in the gift shop there. It was an amazing trip.

This is one of my favorites as well. I love cardinals and dogwood so this gift from my precious daughter-in-law is very special to me.

My $3.00 antique store find.

This next one was my very first teapot of my collection. I love daffodils and violets and was so happy to find this.

On one trip to my Mom's, me and mom had gotten up early and I saw a yard sale in the garage across the alley from her backyard. I decided to pop over there while the grandkids were still in bed. Saw this tea for one and was almost afraid to price it. But it was only $1.00. I snatched it up fast.

This next one is my favorite miniature tea set. It was a gift from my niece Amy. This is the one the granddaughters get to use when I play tea party with them.

Several of my cups have spoons in them and all the spoons have either teapots or teacups on the top of them.

This next one is another of my favorite miniature teasets. My daughter-in-law gave me this one as well. I just fell in love with it.

I hope you enjoyed your tea. Stop by anytime. Maybe next time there will be some fresh cookies from the oven.

Am I the only in this relationship?

 One day this past week, there was a little "quiz" on Facebook. You posted a few questions as your status and your friends were supposed to fill in the blanks. It was a cute way to see who knows you best. One of the fill-in-the-blanks was "My best friend is............."

It was interesting. It got me to thinking about friends I've had over the years and I started wondering who were my friends and who were just being friendly. Ralph Waldo Emerson said "The way to have a friend is to be a friend." Well, I'm going to disagree. You can be the best friend in the world, but if the other person doesn't return your committment to the relationship or doesn't show the same compassion, then it is all one-sided; it is not a true friendship.

As you look back over your life at the friends that have come and gone, do you see any one-sided relationships? Were there times when you were the best friend you knew how to be only to realize that your "friend" was simply paying lip service to the true meaning of being a friend? Do you ever want to knock on their forehead and say "Helllloooo, are you in this relationship?"

I am a people person. I care about others and what they go through. Sometimes we can be hurt because the ones we care for don't seem to see the relationship the same way we do. I've given this some thought lately and decided I needed to redefine friends. I've heard people acknowledge others with terms such as my friend, an acquaintance, someone I work with, someone I've known for years, etc.

I have people in my life that I care deeply for and though I call them a friend, we don't share confidences. We don't do things together. We don't have a lot of common bonds, but I really enjoy their company. They are that middle of the road group that are not as close as a friend is, but they are closer than an acquaintance. I figure there needs to be a term to describe those people in our lives. I'm going to start calling them my Friendlies. I love my friendlies but we just don't share a deep relationship like you do with your true friends or that relationship is often one-sided.

We are doing a Ladies Bible Study at church on the study of King David. In this past weeks lesson, there was a verse that just jumped right out at me. I Samuel 18:1 says ....that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

What a wonderful way to explain true friendship. "Knit with the soul". I just loved that phrase and it went along with my thoughts on friendship this past week. The online dictionary defines the word knit as an intertwining; to join closely; unite securely. A simple beautiful way to define true friendship.

May all your friendships be knit from the soul. Have a blessed week.
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Odds and ends...

Yesterday was girls day out. I spent the day with my daughter and my two granddaughters. We had a nice shopping day in Knoxville. Picked up a new top for just $6.00. Found some new gold hoop earrings in the costume jewelry. Six new pairs for just $5. I am the queen of nail polish. At one time I had over 70 assorted colors. I found a new one yesterday that I just had to try. Sally Hansen Color Quick. The color is Fuchsia Chrome. It's a tube. You push the button on the end and polish drop on the brush and you brush it on. Dry time...about 60 seconds. I'm in love. (Yes, those are my chubby little fingers.)

Picked up this cute little kitten for $1.00

All in all had a great day.

Spring cleaning....

Song of Solomon 2:11-12 (King James Version)

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

Spring. A time of rebirth. A time for spring cleaning, chasing away the cobwebs that winter has clouded our minds with. A time to make all things new. Let go of the hurts, the pains, the bitterness that a long winter can bring. Rejoice in God's love and blessings. Find time for family and friends. Remember the good and dismiss the bad. God blesses us in so many ways, yet we seem to focus on the irritating things that happen to us instead of the blessings.

Clear your focus. The dark of winter allows us too much time to brood, to think, to ponder. As spring arrives we should move into the light that is our life. We all have situations in our lives that hinder us and keep us down. Now is a good time to put those situations away. What is that saying "Don't sweat the small stuff?" This is so true. My friends are constantly discussing confrontations and people who try to get them down. My advice is always the same. Don't let them steal your joy. Don't spend so much time focusing on the ones who bring you down. Avoid them as much as possible and live the life God wants YOU to live, not the one they want you to. We do not have to let others choices and situations effect our decision to live a joyful and delightful life with the Lord. I have always lived by one philosophy. Distance yourself from the downers. It is a well-known physcological fact that we become like those we spend the most time with. If you are constantly in the company of depressing, angry people, that is how your demeanor will become. Surround yourself with joy and love and you will grow as an individual.

So clean the cobwebs out of your mind and dedicate your life to serving the Lord, in finding the rebirth that spring always brings. Give your destiny to Him to worry about and just spend the spring enjoying the wonder of YOU!

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1. Have you ever forgotten your child in a store or at school?


Does it count if your child was in her 20's when you forgot her? My mom was visiting and we went to Walmart with my daughter. Me and Mom got in the car while my daughter walked back up the parking lot to take the buggy back. I just started the car and backed out to go home. When I put it in drive, I happened to look in the rearview mirror and saw my daughter walking toward us. I must have been on automatic pilot to just back out.
2. Where did you go on your very first date? (Like...first first, not first with your spouse or current significant other!)

My very first official date, I went to see Big Jake at the East Drive Inn in Barboursville, WV. He had Mustang Fastback.

3. What's your "silly" fear? (We're not talking water and heights.)

Airplanes. I'm afraid if I get in one it will go up and not be able to come back down. Stupid, I know, but a fear none the less.

4. Confrontation: do you cause it, deal with is as it comes, or run far far away?

Since I cannot abide by backstabbing or dishonesty and I don't like hurt feelings, I think you should bring things out in the open, clear the slate and get back on track. It doesn't have to be done in a confrontational way, but you do need to clear the air so it doesn't fester.

5. Wood floors or carpet?

I have had both many times and I absolutely love carpet.

Friday Favorites....

Today, I'm liking..............