A DESTINY FULFILLED...

A couple of summers ago 

we screened in a plain old porch 

and turned it into a magical place.

 A place right next to

 the Secret Garden,

 a place where we could 

listen to the birds, 

watch the fairies dance

 and a place where we could 

sit and dream 

and let the world,

 and all of its problems,

 pass us by.

  

And sit and dream we did! 

 So much so

that the remaining task 

needed to fulfill this porch's destiny

 didn't get done...

the painting.

The white paint, or primer, 

already there, 

had been a quick fix 

from a few years ago 

when the exterior walls were 

chipped and peeling 

and waiting for a new finish.

  It looked okay 

and we figured 

it would get us by for awhile,

 but then that sitting and dreaming thing

 kicked in

 and before we knew it,

 the season of summer

 was gone.

Now,

 it's nearly a new summer 

and a lot of hard thinking 

has gone into

 what the new

 paint color job should look like.

 At first, 

we thought just a new coat

 of shiny white 

would do the trick. 

 After all, 

it had made the cover of

 a national magazine!

 But, 

then I saw this on

 Pinterest...

Pinterest - Source

...and since the Secret Garden 

looks like this...

...it just seemed like a 

match made in heaven.

 I just knew it would seem heavenly 

when the hot summer was pressing down

 and we were surrounded by cooling greens

 that would make the 

sitting and dreaming 

so much more

 delightful.

Laurel Garland - Behr

After the basic color

 was decided,

 we found this 

table and chairs...

Table - Local antique shop

Chairs - The Rehab Store

...and the full design came into view.

  I had in mind 

a cabin in the woods 

or a camp in the Adirondacks 

and slowly,

 but surely,

 our version of those two ideas 

came together.

~~~~~

We had this birdhouse

 in Jacob's Garden

 for about twelve years. 

 It was starting to lean 

and the patina was just at

 the right stage, 

so we brought it inside the porch

to preserve it...

...I love the whimsy

it adds 

over the table.

With the addition of

a few of our 

favorite things...

...we have turned our little 

Summer Place

 into a peaceful spot 

where we can continue 

to sit and dream.

"To sit in the shade

on a fine day

and look upon verdure

is the most perfect

refreshment."

Jane Austen

~~~~~

We received

 a wonderful gift 

some 50-ish years ago.

 Happy Birthday

 to our beautiful daughter,

 Tami.

You, sweet girl,

 are a gift that just

 keeps on giving.

 We love you.

...Judy...

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A DOUBLE DOSE OF FAIRYTALES...

We went down to Santa Cruz 

this past weekend to the kids.

 We all went out to a wonderful dinner

 on the wharf 

in celebration of 

Mother's Day and 

Tami's birthday.

On Saturday,

 the Captain and I 

attended the Goat Hill Antique sale

 at the fairgrounds. 

 It was a good show, 

but I really didn't see anything 

that I had to have.

 Sometimes 

it is amazing to me 

how much the prices have gone up

 over the years since

 we started collecting.

I did buy 

this little what-not, 

however,

 over-riding the Captain's opinion 

that it is just plain ugly. 

 I think it's kind of cute, 

and I always like to have something

 to show for 

my efforts!

Thank you all so much 

for your excitement and congratulations 

for us 

about our Country Sampler magazine article.

  We are still 

up in the clouds 

about our forever fairytale 

coming true.

Speaking of fairytales,

 did you watch the Royal Wedding? 

 Since we were gone, 

I taped the whole thing 

and sat down Sunday 

to watch seven hours of 

romance, tradition and fashion.

 It was such a treat 

to feel like we were all 

in a world without 

hate or controversy 

for a short time.

 This was such an uplifting experience,

 even though the local news followed up 

with stories about

 a five year old found dead 

in a storage locker 

and a sheriff's K-9 deputy 

being shot 

and, yet, another school shooting.

 To escape to a fantasy land 

every once in awhile 

is something that

 we all need.

I have never been 

a collector of royal memorabilia 

but, I have always held 

a fascination for the royal family.

 I have seen their weddings,

 have mourned Princess Diana's death

 and celebrated the births

 of their children.

Harry and Meghan 

seem to be more 

accessible and modern

 and they are such

 a darling couple.

Even Kai

 donned his "fascinator"

 and enjoyed watching the festivities.

  It was a beautiful ceremony

 and the love between 

Prince Harry and his Princess 

is quite obvious.

To me, 

it was the true meaning 

of a fairytale 

and I hope 

they live

 happily ever after.

...Judy...

Now,

 off to slay some dragons 

and on to the next round of 

red, white and blue...

Ahhh..

the real world!

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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...

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