Inspiration..my Blog Anniversary

Well, well...  it has actually been 9 whole years since the very small, scary beginning.
I knew I wanted to write a blog and share my life but didn't know much about doing that.  still don't..
I keep the blog up and limping along because I still love to share things but just don't have the time to sit in front of a computer anymore.   One of my favorite sayings is...

Since I have greatly expanded my gardens, they have become my priority over the last few years. Hopefully as I get them planted, I will have time to share. 
Enough of that...  LOL

Thinking back over the years as a blogger, I have learned so much.  photography, tablescaping, when to keep my mouth shut..haha  that was a hard one.  I have made some great friends ad watched as this blogging community has grown and changed.  some of it still baffles me.  I am not a computer geek at all.  not even a little bit.  It is all hard learned for me..

Words are not adequate for thanking you all..  Every single time any of you have told me that I inspire you, I am humbled and overwhelmed...and so happy that you saw something you liked..
 You inspire me..  E.V.E.R.Y time you tell me that..  I am very grateful. 

The sun is shining and the garden is beckoning.. but first, a few pictures.

 Really, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU

Little did I know that I was developing my style as I set these tables through the years..

And just like that, I have spent more than 2 hours putting this blog post together.  It is a joy, a time consuming one..But I am not going anywhere. 

Again, THANK YOU to all of you..

Love, Mona

An Important Date

I tried but...I just cannot let this day pass without penning a few words and posting a few pictures....

SEVEN years ago today I started this little blog...SEVEN!  There have been many ups and downs but it is still here.  I haven't closed it down and probably never will..it will remain open for visiting..and posting..sometimes..

We have lived a lot of life since the beginning.  Just this past 2 weekends we have built a greenhouse.  together.. no easy feat for 2 strong willed people.  BUT, it is done and we are proud of it.

This morning I put together a St Patrick's tablesetting.  So much easier than before I started cataloging my tablescapes.    My very first St Patrick's table is here and here is another one ...
just one more here .  Watch my Instagram for a few pictures of the present table later this week..


Here are a few pictures from around Winterpast.  We are in a very cold week here in Georgia after weeks of spring like temperatures.  I am surely hoping all the flowering trees are not killed back.  At least we are getting to finally wear winter clothes before storing them away for spring.

Tula inspecting the daylilies...

Something mighty interesting.  probably a bug..

Awaiting the perfect place in the gardens...

Our most exciting project..the greenhouse.  This area of the yard was always a throw away part until the huge oak came down.  Now it is fast becoming a favorite part of the yard.  Every morning when I open my shades I look directly out on this spot.  and it is always filled with something blooming.  Not a very good picture but you can see where the greenhouse was sited.  I know it is going to be so much fun to fill it up.

update... here is the greenhouse now..filled with seedlings

Well, well...another blog is written.

Happy St Patrick's Day week to you all.  and set that table of yours.  with real dishes.. not paper plates..😄

Love, Mona

Do Not Despise Small Beginnings

It has been five years today......

On March 12, 2010, I wrote these words....

"This is my first attempt at blogging. Since I love homemaking and I have been doing it for more than 35 years, I want to share my experiences with women(and men)that are aspiring to make their home all that it can possibly be. I am a wife, mother, grandmother, gardener, seamstress, cook,thrift store shopper.. I love all that is involved in making a home a good place to be ..and a place that the family wants to be. a safe haven...Maybe there will be some of you that are interested in joining me on this journey as I learn how to blog.. :-) we will see..I know it is something that I will enjoy even if it only for me and my family...."

I had no idea of the path this blogging would take me on.  I have learned photography and have taken thousands of pictures...Yes, thousands...  I am on my 3rd camera since that small beginning..  I can remember so well the first time I tried to add pictures to my blog..Oh my goodness alive y'all....
I never got them in the post and almost gave up trying but quitter is not in my DNA so I persevered..

I was truly like this stack of bricks when I posted my first blog post..  a whole lot of potential but nothing really identifiable..Is that a word?

I learned to set a table thanks to several very encouraging ladies..namely Diane at Confessions of the Obsessed..  She is a treasure trove of unlimited knowledge about all things for a tablescape..and beyond..  She can identify anything I ask her..a hidden jewel for sure...just ask her and see..

She helped me identify the Dansk Kobenstyle baking pan from this picture..  I now have an entire collection of this vintage cookware and had never even heard of it before..  Thank you Diane....

And there is Kathleen with her blog crawls and Alma with her blog crawls..  I could go on and on but these two helped me to meet many women and forced me to be creative and learn to set a table beautifully and to take photographs so I could join in these parties...

I told a lot of my stories in the first years and then kinda ran out of steam..  I wasn't sure anybody wanted to hear them anymore.  And it took a lot of time and emotion to write those posts...

Yes..... I even wrote about my divorce... and a lot of you read it....

A lot has happened in the 5 years since I began this journey..  I am not in any way ready to throw in the towel.  It is an outlet I enjoy..  A world I like being a part of..  I appreciate all of you and have been thrilled at each and every comment I have ever received..well, not so thrilled at the few negative ones..

So, Happy Blogiversary to me.  the journey truly does start with the first step..

Love,

Mona

Make It Happen

A few thousand words ago, I decided to join the blogging world...and here I am, thousands of pictures later still at it.  and enjoying it......

TODAY marks my 500th post!!!!

I can hardly believe it myself..that's a lot of writing and picture taking....

You have met my grandsons, Mac and Will..

Visited my garden.....

Admired my daylilies....

and my dogs...

we shared the birth of this wonderful girl......

I have even shared a few sewing projects but that has been a long time ago and it feels like I am a little rusty..

Gazed at the super moon over our part of Georgia.....

 

I have celebrated, gardened, decorated, entertained, shared my heart, and discovered a lot about myself since I began this journey...

And I have received so much encouragement from some of you...I thank you from the bottom of my heart..your kind words have meant so much to me...and to think, it all started with one little word typed into a little form on blogger..... I have come a long way but I have so much more to learn..and so many more of you to meet...I would love it if you would follow me and make my 500th post an even bigger celebration....

Thank you for reading my words and looking at my pictures...there is so much more I want to write...

so until next time.....

Love, Mona

I am sharing this at Inspire Me Tuesday.

Blogiversary

Today this blog is 3 years old.  I can't believe that I have posted over 450 blogs. and learned way more than I ever thought I could learn...There is still a lot to learn and I intend to continue on this blogging journey...I want to thank you who have been so faithful in reading and commenting...you are much appreciated...Some days I write because I know someone somewhere might smile at a beautiful picture or a few words....

Thank you, thank you, thank you........we've come a long way, baby...... but there is still a lot to be written and photographed.....

 

we've only just begun....

 So it is facing forward and looking toward the future..

Not looking back with regret......

 

 With a song in my heart.....I press on...and with some small amount of disbelief that I have come this far...

Thank you for being my friends..and reading my words and enjoying my pictures.