Back to blogging?

How to get back into the swing of things? I have lots of things swirling around in my head but am just not exactly sure how to put them down. I take that back, the surest way to write them is just to “write them!” Guess I’m just in some sort of funk.

Quick, what’s the best way to get out of a funk?

People of the Steeple–Ken Anderson

Bought this little book a few weeks ago and just sat down to go through it.  One of the little quips really struck a chord with me so I thought I would share it with you all.

Enjoy!

People of the Steeple--Ken Anderson

Vintage Linen Sheets

Hi one and all-be ye first time visitor or long time reader. Ahem, if you’re a long time reader, I must apologize for the lack of posting in recent months. I just don’t know what’s going on! Is it the heat? The mess in the house? What is it??

Anyway, I’m writing to let you all know that I am looking for vintage linen sheets. I’m not looking for vintage cotton or cotton/poly sheets. True linen or homespun sheets.

Silence, I bet you see those up in your area. Micah, with all those shops around–you could be on the look out as well!

Just found out that my mother loves them just as much as I do so I need to find some! I thought of buying linen and constructing my own but as I’m not going to buy linen from a store, it could take me months to find just the right color and amount for a sheet set!

So, that’s my internet plea to the world: I’m looking for vintage linen sheets–hoping to get them for about 5 dollars each, as I know shipping is going to be pretty hefty on them as well.

Thanks!

Espresso and a free puppy!

Working at Perdue’s Pots and Plants

I received a call this Monday from a local nursery owner, asking if I’d be interested in working this Mother’s Day week. It took me all of about 30 seconds to decide in the affirmative. Although the nursery is across town, sitting at the computer gets pretty old at times. I have also been in the mood for more plants (lavender to be specific) so I was excited for the chance to make money to buy more green stuff for the garden!

Mrs. Perdue has been in business here in Pensacola for almost 25 years. She has a great following of older clients who are really just interested in something pretty for their patios or a simple plant for the living room. She even has a plant of the month club where subscribers receive a new plant in a nice pot each month. The old plant is taken away and if a plant sickens or languishes at any time during the month it will be replaced. What a great deal for under $13 each month!

When I worked at Cracker Barrel, I would stop at Mrs. Perdue’s several times a week–checking on the herb selection and perusing the lovely perennials and annuals she had to offer. My love for calendulas waxed strong at her little plant nursery. And, who could resist 4-inch herbs for one dollar each??!! She pretty much supplied the plants for the dreary first few months at the Hobbit House. Actually, I think she supplied the plants many times over. My learning curve was pretty high for learning to garden in the sandy Pensacola soil!

So, this week, I’ll be spending my days in the glorious Pensacola spring outdoors. If you’re in the area, be sure to stop by Perdue’s Pots and Plants on Pine Forest Highway. I’ll be there, covered in plants and dirt (more than likely). Say hi and take a good long look at some of the lovely Pots and Plants that Mrs. Perdue has to offer!

Mother’s Day Massage

For those of you who are in the Pensacola area, James is offering a sweet Mother’s Day gift certificate value this week only! Hop on over to Massage Buzz to find out about this awesome opportunity.  Mother’s Day gift certificates are available at a special price until May 10th!

Out of nowhere

Hits more than doubled on the blog today–and I haven’t posted in,,,what? Four days? What have we been doing? Well, business at The Home Gnome has really picked up. We did okay at our little shop here in town but the real sales are coming from our shop on Etsy. Some of our friends here in town are also starting to find things they like and we’re loving that. Of course, there’s a friends and family discount so if you’re here in Pensacola, you should really take advantage of that!

We have also been aggressively pitching stuff from the house. Some stuff we’re just never going to sell or use and it has to go. We need our space back. And, while I’m being honest with you, some of these vintage items have a peculiar smell. It’s like the one bad apple cliche.

Of course, the garden is doing well, if you have missed any of the latest updates, pop on over to Little Green Bees to see what has been happening in the yard. I was out working in the yard until after dark–trimming some wayward and overgrown rye grass. In the dark, I managed to snip a tomato plant. I’m hoping it will think I was just pruning it. Sometimes they do that, you know?

Hope everyone had a great week and weekend! Looking forward to another great and productive week.

A letter from Captain Wayne

Just wanted to share this note with you all. If anyone can help the captain, let me know so I can get back in touch with him
From Capt Wayne (Commander, Bravo Company Iraq.)

This is to sincerely seek for your assistance to help me in claiming a lump sum of $17.8M.
This money was acquired by me from Saddam’s Mansion when we invaded Iraq. As a soldier, I can be court-martial led if this
money is found in my possession. I need a trust-worthy person who can claim this money on my behalf.
I am willing to give 40% of the total sum to you if you can claim this money and safe guard it till my deployment in August.
Please get back to me if you know that you can assist me on this. In less than 5 days the money will be in your country and in your care.
Get back to me with your full information:
Your full name ………………….
Your full address………………..
Your direct telephone……………..
Thank you.
Capt Wayne.

Making our lives available: Henri Nouwen on blogging, part two

What great words of wisdom and advice.  I know I have learned so much from fellow bloggers.  What are you making available today?

Making Our Lives Available to Others

One of the arguments we often use for not writing is this: “I have nothing original to say. Whatever I might say, someone else has already said it, and better than I will ever be able to.” This, however, is not a good argument for not writing. Each human person is unique and original, and nobody has lived what we have lived. Furthermore, what we have lived, we have lived not just for ourselves but for others as well. Writing can be a very creative and invigorating way to make our lives available to ourselves and to others.

We have to trust that our stories deserve to be told. We may discover that the better we tell our stories the better we will want to live them.

Henri Nouwen on blogging

Obviously, this is why we all blog…

Writing to Save the Day

Writing can be a true spiritual discipline. Writing can help us to concentrate, to get in touch with the deeper stirrings of our hearts, to clarify our minds, to process confusing emotions, to reflect on our experiences, to give artistic expression to what we are living, and to store significant events in our memories. Writing can also be good for others who might read what we write.

Quite often a difficult, painful, or frustrating day can be “redeemed” by writing about it. By writing we can claim what we have lived and thus integrate it more fully into our journeys. Then writing can become lifesaving for us and sometimes for others too.