Is this considered an illness...?

Great sweater... well, maybe not in red.

not for me.

I prefer not to look like the broad side

 of the proverbial barn.

As I've gotten older, and shhhhhh (wider),

I've realized darker, more subdued colors,

do more for me,

and camouflage a little better.

I found Banana Republic again this winter.

They have had a store here for at least a year,

but I just never went in.

Shopping with the girls these last holidays,

made me brave the "trendy", "hip" places

 and venture out of my middle age comfort zone.

(you don't consider BR hip or trendy?

For this gal, that's pretty hip)

OK, my question is this:

If you find something you adore,

and that looks good on you,

are you likely to buy more than one of them?

You know, maybe three of them?

Just love me a cashmere sweater...aahhhhh.

Oh, and they were on sale!

And after all...gray is so slimming!

Inquiring minds want to know.

love,

Debra

Silver Sunday, I'm a basket case...

...for silver, that is!

Yes, here I am after losing my head for these

sweet painted silver wicker baskets.

(just decided I felt like being silly today.

After yesterday's post,

I gave myself permission!)

This one is holding one of my younger daughter's

 wedding bouquets.

And these little gals are in my studio,

just there to brighten my day!

They behave themselves pretty well.

Love the paint patina, here.

And this is a little vignette of two

of my silver-plate baskets,

full of Valentine goodness.

Be sure and join the rest of us Silver Sunday groupies

with Beth at Gypsy Fish Journal.

Have a wonderful weekend!
love,
Debra

Growth...

There is something about the start of a new year that invariably sparks change and new growth in me. Sometimes I don't recognize it right away. It may take a few weeks until it settles in me.

Since I have been blogging this last 6 months, I've learned alot about myself. A blog is the best form of a "diary" for me, because it allows me to not only chronicle my life with photos of what and where I am, but it gives me the opportunity to share my heart with others.

It's like a magnifying mirror held up in front of me so that I can reflect on my life and thoughts. And in the sharing of it all, you will see the "real me".That's what happens with a magnifying mirror. We see the good and the "not so good". When I look in the mirror I see not only physical change, but emotional and spiritual change. This last 6 months has been a journey to connect back with the person I used to be. Or maybe just the person I need to be.

Peace in heart and mind has slowly come back to me. Concentrating on my health has caused me to concentrate more on God and what He wants for my life. I've been through a lot of ups and downs in my life, sometimes feeling "stagnant". I'm realizing that "growth" for me doesn't necessarily equal "excitement".

When I started this blog I had a desire to be interesting and "entertaining". But I have realized that at this time in my life, I'm short on entertainment value. In the past I was a "project" person. Furniture, art, creating... but now I'm concentrating on "being".

My desire is to share and communicate. Not trying to live up to my past expectations of myself, is a freeing idea. I am "me".  So, while I am not out junking as much or decorating a flea market space with the fervor I once had, hopefully when I post, it will be about what I'm thinking, doing, feeling...about me as a person.

Hope that's not boring. Maybe not sheer entertainment, but not boring either.I have realized in this time spent blogging that while I can drool over a chippy white cabinet, or linger over vintage linens and ephemera, that what constitutes a blog that I will come back to over and over, is one where I see the individual person there. I see the real person behind the blog. Not really behind it, but "infused" in it.

Sometimes I have felt like "apologizing" that my blog is about "me".

 But I'm getting over it.

If you'd be interested in sharing my journey with God;

 If you would love to connect with others

who are sharing their own thoughts and feelings,

drop by the Bible Study Blog on my sidebar,

 "a day in the life..."

I'm posting there everyday.

I'm not going anywhere, and I will still force you to look at my sunroom and white sideboard with all my vintage goodies and minutia. Guess today I just needed to "talk".

love,

Debra