FAIRYTALES DO COME TRUE...

"It's such a beautiful day in the neighborhood, 

I thought I would sit a spell in the Secret Garden,

 open a good book, 

and then before I knew it, 

I fell fast asleep. 

 My head and heart 

were filled with memories of old...

"Uncovering Dreams" of long ago, but not forgotten...

and that dream went something like this......

As far back as I can remember 

I loved to play

 with my dolls and play house.

  My dad built us

 a playhouse in the garden 

and my siblings and I 

made good use of it.

It had two rooms 

and we furnished it with 

cast off pieces of furniture,

 mismatched pieces of china 

and brightly colored curtains.

  We had so much fun 

and when we out grew it 

the neighbors took it over

 for a chicken coop

 and I moved on to 

decorating my bedroom with 

pictures on the walls 

and fresh flowers from my mother's garden.

  Since the Captain and I got married

we have lived in five houses 

and each one has been my play house

 and I have always dreamed of 

bigger and better ways

 to make each one

 prettier than the last.

I have always collected 

home decorating magazines

 like garbage collects flies!

 There was a time when 

the Captain said that our bed 

would collapse 

if the magazines were removed 

from underneath.  

I thought it was so sweet 

that he offered to do 

the grocery shopping,

 until I realized that

 he just wanted

 to keep me away from 

the magazine aisle.

To this day, 

each night before I fall asleep,

 the last thing I think about

 is a new decorating project 

that I'd like to start 

and my personal dream 

has always been 

to have our home 

featured in a magazine...

...and I'd like to announce 

that after all these years, 

my fairytale is coming true.

 So many of you

 have had the honor of

 being featured in a magazine, 

and I always get so excited 

when I see one of your beautiful homes,

 that I visit often, 

revealed in print.

  Now

 you will be able 

to see mine 

and I can't even tell you 

how over the moon I am.

 Our Cottage 

is one of the featured homes

 in the July 2018 issue of 

Country Sampler magazine,

  and the icing on the cake is

 that our screened porch 

(Our Summer Place)

 has been chosen

 to grace 

the cover.

It all started last summer 

when I got an e-mail from 

Anne Gridley 

of Gridley and Graves Photography.

  

She had seen my post about

 a red, white and blue summer theme

 and wanted to show it to 

Country Sampler magazine.

 I sent her my photos 

and waited to hear back from her.

  After awhile, 

she said the magazine 

liked the photos 

but couldn't use them at this time.

 I was so disappointed 

but still honored 

that we had even been considered.

About a month later 

she called me to say 

the magazine did want 

to feature the Cottage

 in their July issue. 

 So

 it was all set in motion 

and

 in August of last year, 

Gridley and Graves

 arrived at the Cottage 

and she was so ready 

for her close up.

If you ever need a friend 

who can keep a secret 

- I'm your girl!

  

It has been 

the hardest thing I have ever done

 and when Kris from Junk Chic Cottage

and Des from Peeking Through the Sunflowers  both told that they, too, 

were being photographed by

 Gridley and Graves,

 I could hardly control myself.

 But,

 I persevered,

 and now I have just let out

a big breath 

that feels like it has been 

held in

 forever.

If I was picked

 for a hundred magazines,

 I don't think I would ever 

get used to it.

  

I feel

 it is such an honor

 and when I think of all of you 

who will be reading about

 our little Cottage, 

I almost can't fathom it.

Fairytales do come true 

and as I have said, 

I think I'm dreaming,

 but please don't wake me up!

  I have been a subscriber 

to Country Sampler for years 

and have always admired 

the homes that are featured each month 

in their pages.

 Now,

 our humble Cottage 

will be among them 

and my thanks to Rebecca Razo 

for the time and care 

she took to tell our story 

and also to Anne and Gary 

for their beautiful

 photography and styling 

and the fun time

 we had 

in their company.

The July issue

 of Country Sampler magazine

 will be on the newstands soon

 and I can hardly wait for you to see it.

 It is a beautiful issue,

 filled with bright colors,

 welcoming homes,

 and many classic country crafts 

and now,

 can you understand why,

even though I already put out

my weekly post,

 I just couldn't wait 

 for you to

read all about it.

...Judy...

Sharing with:

Keep In Touch at Let's Add Sprinkles

MUSICAL CHAIRS...

What seemed like 

a world stuck in a dark place

 for so long, 

the game of musical chairs 

is now being played out 

by the seasons 

and a seat has been taken 

in the twilight of 

springtime.

Although it seemed 

like spring would never come, 

finally the days are beginning 

with sunlight streaming

 through the windows, 

capturing reflections of old lace, 

a fairly obvious breeze

 ringing the chimes 

and the garden is 

sprouting and greening up

 the landscape.

The mystery flowers 

are collecting by 

the front walk...

...the lilys of the valley

 are peeking out through 

their green foliage...

...and the endearing Cecil B 

is languishing over and around 

the arbor gate,

 unruly as ever

 but as pretty as always

 and the bright colors 

of a David Austin rose

 accompany it in 

the foreground.

California poppies

 and Valerian

 are mingling at the

 wire fence 

and beyond.

The lilacs 

have come and gone 

and the "purple rain" 

from two weeks ago

has fallen 

and carpeted the Secret Garden 

with all its

 former glory.

Hope you all had 

a wonderful Mother's Day.

  The kids sent me

 these beautiful flowers,

 in the most gorgeous vase.

 It actually is a pitcher

 and will be enjoyed 

many times over 

after the flowers have faded. 

 Thank you, 

Tim, Tami and Jake 

for your love and thoughtfulness 

always.

The Captain's 

gift to me

 was a trip to the nursery 

and a very pretty make-over 

of the screened porch, 

which is still in progress 

and will be disclosed

 in a future post.

I can finally say 

that spring is truly here.

  We are enjoying 

the pretty mornings 

and being outside

 in the soft sunlight for now.

 And,

 as the music plays 

a little louder and a little faster, 

spring is poised and anxious 

to take her seat

 in the next chair.

...Judy...

Sharing today with:

Keep In Touch at Let's Add Sprinkles