We three blonds!

Anne of Green Gables lamented that " It's so difficult finding a kindred spirit these days"

 Poor Anne! If only she'd had a blog! I have been privileged to meet two of those  aforementioned "kindreds" this last weekend. Isn't it the best of the best when your penpals turn out to be just as wonderful in person as they are in print?!!

We three blonds.

Our Mary ( the blond with the brilliant smile), me, Jeri (the dishwater, greying blond in the middle), and Christie (  the statuesque, pretty blond on the end)

This weekend my husband and I participated in an Art Festival in lovely Historic  Franklin,Tennessee. I was looking especially forward to this because we had plans to meet up with these 2 great ladies from  blog land, who live in this area.

Christie of "Grammys house, a quaint Victorian Cottage" was going to escort James and I to the home of Our Mary, ( that is our pet name for her) of "Heritage Stitchery", for an evening of good food and a LOT of conversation.

Mary is the most gracious hostess of all time, in her foyer AND on the dining table, she created a beautiful vignette of bunnies and florals,( in honor of  my " Hopalong Jack" via my "Hopalong Hollow" book series, thank you Mary!)

 She served us an elegant meal..

starting with this...

"Carrots and peas,

Beneath the trees,

 And jolly good company, 

If you please!"

Even the plates beneath the food were gorgeous... 

The  main course and DESSERT were scrumptious too,(ice cream, pound cake with tangerines and cream puffs!) but I found myself so lost in conversation and overwhelmed with delight in my new friends, that I don't think I cleared my plate. I wish I had more photos to show you, but my batteries in camera were dead, what an idiot. I am. ( Christie shared these pictures with me.)

 It is such a joy to meet your kindred's. You know them from their blogs, comments and emails, but there is something so special about meeting in person, giving a sisterly hug and visiting the homes in which they dwell.

 Mary is a magnificent needleworker with a heart of gold, and her walls are covered with Samplers and Heritage Stitchery beyond compare.

  ( this is where you must imagine a photograph of some fabulous embroidery work)

If you have ever gotten an "Anonymous" comment from Mary on your blog, YOU are a lucky person, for she always leaves the most interesting messages, ( it's like receiving  a poem, written just for you)

She gave me this little bun "topiary".. green, my favorite color.

I popped him into my impatiens as soon as I got home.

        Christie's home is just what she claims it to be, a quaint Victorian Cottage, each corner filled with every imaginable tiny  teapot and bit of filigree, antiques and romantic floral furniture, and 12 foot ceilings

(photo courtesy of Christies blog).

Christie is also the creator of a new series of books, cards, patterns and recipe cards with her imprint of "Rosewater Cottage Press"

 

Her stories are of "ELIZA" a wee cloth mouse, that lives in her house. Visit her blog to see what it's all about. http://christiegrammyshouse.blogspot.com/

I told Christie that her artwork feels so comforting.. like a sugar cookie fresh from the oven, and it's true!

  Each book is made with thick, high quality paper, classy, but with a homespun look.

 So, we had a most wonderful weekend, and to top things off, our 3 husbands, got along very nicely, talked politics and exchanged stories,

 and left we 3 blonds alone to chatter away the night.

When we got home, 

I was pleasantly greeted by Miss Merryweather, first time mother of 3 baby chicklets!  She clucked and cackled in pride.

 I was so happy to see that one of the chicks favored it's daddy, MONET, 

who was put into a casserole by that dastardly fox  last month!

 I found that my strawberry bed had not been decimated by the Peacocks,

.

 AND, my gardens had grown even bigger in the last 4 days!

  

My Potager is full, herbs, roses, lavender, oxeye daisy the arbor is covered with wisteria.

This front yard garden is blooming with dozens of varieties of bearded Iris. This used to be lawn, now it is completed as a long flower border. I will show some before and afters next week.

Ground cover roses and bitty little viola faces are in full throttle and

the delphiniums are blooming.

AND

My favorite flower of all time,

 the FOXGLOVE, has returned>

For years I have tried to grow these.

 I have finally got a nice bed growing in perpetuity.

 So all is well, here in Hopalong Hollow.