One of Those Days!

 When last we "spoke" I mentioned that daughter #3 and I had been invited to a book launch-the first one for me-and I was excited. As the time got closer, my daughter mentioned that she had a huge presentation scheduled for today so if I could meet her at her office, she could work a bit longer. And so, that is what I did and I assumed that after we left the launch, she would be going back to work and I would be headed home for dinner on my own. 

But, as sometimes happens, the day went differently and it could not have been more wonderful! And that started with us finding the MOST PERFECT parking spot right downtown almost in front of the venue so no walking for blocks in the unrelenting heat...and, believe me, at this time of the year in Florida, that is a HUGE PLUS!! Lol

The book launch with signing was a fabulous success and we visited with so many old friends and Jen introduced me to so many new ones. Our initial thought was to buzz in, chitchat a bit, get our books signed and head out. BUT, as usually happens, we got deep into conversations with everyone and before we knew it, we were closing down the place when Jen suggested we head to our favorite (Harry's) for dinner. And, a quick text to my son-in-law saw him joining us. I got home much later than anticipated and I was tired but the really good kind of tired. What a wonderful, albeit unexpected, day!

The author of the book is a childhood friend of my daughters and just a beautiful human being. To say that we are happy for her would be a vast understatement!

And her illustrator is a friend of many years. I met her when she was a teacher at my girls' middle school and then we did some craft shows together. She is such a talented lady. She went on to be an incredible elementary school principal and when she retired, she went back to her artistic talent and has become very successful in that endeavor and her work in this book is absolutely perfect for the theme!

These three have been friends since elementary school and the tales they tell and the things they  remember when they're together are truly heart warming and hilarious. Their lives are all so different now but when they get together it's as if no time has passed.

The story that this book tells is beautiful and the way we should all try to live our lives-children as well as adults! "Bee" kind, "bee" patient, "bee" thankful, "bee" courageous, "bee" honest! What a wonderful world it would be if we all just were!  I hope it finds incredible success!

So now I am on to today. We had a storm last night with lots of rain so everything looks green again outside-finally, But, since I really don't have anything left out there to tackle momentarily, I have just been piddling around inside and, for whatever reason, two things-that really have nothing to do with anything-caught my eye.

The first is the very large picture display that I have had on the side of the pantry ever since we had it added to the kitchen. I don't normally post pictures of it because it truly isn't all that attractive. That is what actually got me looking at it. I thought about taking it down in my "simplify" mode.

When the pantry was added years ago, that very large white expanse bothered me so I added a bulletin board that I covered in the fabric that was also on the stool cushions and the "curtain" on the front of the kitchen desk area. And, when that wasn't large enough, I added some fabric covered foam core board that made the display pretty much the whole size of the area.

For many, many years I would change those photos out monthly to match the theme but, as time went on, I had family Christmas cards photos that I wanted left there and then other priceless photos that I wanted left there and, before I knew it, I was leaving SO MANY photos there all of the time and then just taking the "themed" ones and sticking them in willynilly until, I have a huge mess!!!

One plus in this predicament is that even though I have changed the fabric in the kitchen twice since doing this except the fabric on here-which would require taking down all of those photos and, well...!-  there is so much "stuff" on here that you can no longer tell what fabric I started with. Lol

So, once again I am thinking about removing this "treasure". The question then remains, "where will I put all of those memories"? There are not enough frames in the world nor enough space in my house to display said frames if there was so???? I'm guessing for now, this will just go onto a back burner and we shall see. 

And then, as I was getting out of bed this morning, I once again realized maybe why I enjoy decorating so much-little things just make my heart happy...and, for whatever reason, this glimpse is one of them...

My plan is always to add a bit of the current holiday/season theme here as well as other places in the bedroom but I could not bring myself to do that here. For whatever reason, this little glimpse just makes me feel at peace.

And so, that is all of the "feels" for me today. I am off to photograph the family room and I hope to be back soon with that. My car goes in for servicing early tomorrow so I will be "stuck" at home until I get that back so I am sure I will be anxious to visit again soon. Until then, stay safe and stay tuned.