Just a few things going on at the Creek House….

1. When I was in Birmingham a few days back, Ian brought me a gift. He said since he would not be with me on my birthday, he wanted to give it to me now. He went into a store selling signs with many different sayings but not this one. So he had them make it special for me! I love it! I found the perfect place for it! And, I think it looks great!

I love giving gifts. Always have. I think long and hard about my gifts and am on the lookout all through the year wherever I go. I despise the idea of having to buy a gift, at the last minute, and putting no thought in it. AND, I am so proud of Ian for thinking about what I would like and getting it made. Lots of thought! Thanks, Ian!

(JUST A NOTE)… Why ‘The Creekhouse’? When we began building our house, I found that I felt boastful and inconsiderate when I would continually refer to ‘the new house’. I wasn’t, but I felt like others may begin to tire of hearing about it. And, I wrote about it so often on Gatherings, it just bothered me to continually say …”in my new house…”. Also, being a voracious reader, I always loved it when old Southern homes had names. Yes, Tara was one of those homes. We have a lady in our church who was involved in music all her life. She was the organist at church, and she taught organ and piano for a hundred years (Joy and I included). Her daughter was a special friend and I spent many summers on vacation with them. Anyway, her home was filled with kids taking music for as long as I can remember. She named her home, ‘The Harmony House’. Loved that. My home is on a street that has a creek running from one side of the road to the other. There is also a very quaint wooden bridge that you cross mid way the road. The name of the street is Cross Creek Lane. I could have called it The Cross House, but that felt like we were always mad at one another. So, since ‘creek’ was in the name of the street, and I had to cross a ‘creek’ every time I left or came home…I chose The Creek House.

It is just fine with me if you think it is silly. I don’t mind a bit. I’m still going to call it that, and I’m old enough now to be a little silly if I feel like it.

2. We had 2 very fine men, ‘pillars of the church’ as they are sometimes called, who died on Monday and Tuesday of last week. Neither was a big surprise, but they have been such fixtures at Southside, they will be greatly missed. Both of them had children that grew up with Joy and I, so we have known them as long as we can remember. Both of their wives are still living. I wanted to show you the beautiful flower spray that one of them had on their casket. This gentleman was such an outdoors man…he loved fishing especially. I just thought this was so perfect. Very masculine, and tied to what he liked. The spray on the other casket was equally as lovely, this one was just so different.

Do you see the about midway the last picture…all the way to the right….the fish! There are 2 of them! Neat, huh? And, did you notice the burlap netting in the first 2 ? It all looks so masculine and so appropriate for him.

3. Alex has been having a really bad few days, so I have been getting to have some of the ‘Finn Duty’. We went out a little while ago, and even though he stayed under my feet most of the time, I did mnage to get a picture or two. He is a sweet puppy and just is in love with Alex. He actually whines when Alex moves out of his sight!

Over achiever ? He tried his best to run with this stick, but it kept getting stuck on other plants. Cute, cute, cute!

“Mommy, let me smell the flowers.”

“Wait, Mommy! I need to kiss the angel!”

4. AWARD TIME ! My sweet friend, Debby, of Just Breathe, has honored me with this “CHERRY ON TOP AWARD”. Isn’t that nice? I thank you so much, Debby, and will try to live up to the spirit of the award. (I am so sorry that I can not link to her site, but Ian has not taught me to do that yet on this new blog. Tried to figure it out…couldn’t. She is linked in my ‘LINKS’ section, however)

The rules for this award are:

1. Thank the person who gave this award to you.
2. Copy the award and put it on your blog.
3. List three things which you love about yourself.
4. Post a picture you love.

5. Pass this award along.

THREE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT ME

1. I love the fact that I am not bound by a ‘black/white’ viewpoint. My mind has always been open to quirks and differences and ‘other than normal’ way of seeing things. But, always within God’s laws. I have never been able to color inside the box…there’s just so much wonderful space outside the box!

2. I love the fact that I have learned how to use a computer, and have chosen to write a blog. I love the fact that I am not afraid to let you see who I really am…warts, grey hair, tummy rolls and all!

3. I love the fact that I have dear friends in many differing walks of life. Some from church, some from school, some from childhood, some I have never met IRL, but we meet every day in the Tblogosphere and some…just because. I love that I can share my life with a plethora of friends and am at ease with them all.

And, now a picture I love…Joy and I on Maui in March. This represents fun, and secrets, and support, understanding, and sharing, and love…all the things we share as sisters.

4. While at the grocery store the other day, I picked up a 6 pack of these. I don’t know why…I haven’t had any of these in ages. But, I’m so glad I did, because THIS DRINK IS GREAT !!!!! I had forgotten just how good they were. Very refreshing! AND, they come in 7.5 oz cans that are 100 calories each!

I went back to the store this week, and picked up some more…I thought! However, I did not get the F*nta brand…I got the S*nk*st brand. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE ! I will buy some more, and they will be of the F*nta brand ! I’m just saying…

5. Aren’t these great dishes? Can you see there’s a little nest on the bowl. Wouldn’t they look great on a wooden or woven charger? I think I could probably do a lot with them….if they were mine. They may or may not be living in my kitchen. If they’re not…they should be. And, if they are…well…then…that’s just a good thing! ( The color on the second picture is correct.)

6. Don walked in one night this last week, and handed me a shopping bag from Veriz*n. I looked inside and saw this:

Really…and this is the truth…all I knew how to do was open the box. Which I did. Inside the box was a tiny little instruction guide. Obviously it was written for someone who had spent years as a cell phone designer and programmer. It was intended for someone who understands ‘flash’ and ‘froyo’ and 3 Gh and ‘OMAP processor’…and other such foreign words. It had nothing in there for the average consumer who knows that when a phone rings you answer it and say ‘Hello’. I expect a guide to be just that…a guide. It should be in easy to understand steps that doesn’t assume anything. Such as 1. Take the cord and plug it into the phone and the other end into a socket. Wait 2 housrs while it charges. 2…Unplug the phone from the wall. 3…Locate the ON/OFF button…it is located on the upper right corner of the phone…turn it to ON. 4…Good for you! You have sucessfully charged and turned on your phone! What a great accomplishment! You deserve a break…go directly to the nearest Dairy Queen and buy a Blizzard of your choice! We will continue with the next lesson tomorrow and in just 3 short weeks…you will know how to use your new Dr*id 2!!!

That is all…..for now…

This is going to be a long post, so this may help you figure it out:

Donald………Tonja………..Suzanne………INFO……….

ALSO…this happened LAST week, before the bridal shower, so this post and the shower post should be flip-flopped, and that may happen at some point in time or not…just as long as you understand this is a week behind…which is just the way I do most things…well not ALL the time, sometimes I am on time, if I have to be, but if not…well…nevermind, I find myself going off on a tangent here…which is another thing I do frequently. Just read on……

WEDNESDAY…June 9

Since we moved in to the Creek House, I have wanted to finish my pool area. All last summer…it didn’t happen. Of course you remember how long it took me to get dining room chairs! Anyway…I had a bridal shower coming up for the son of a dear friend. About 6 weeks ago, I started reminding DH that I wanted it finished. And, he took me to place #1 look at some large glazed pots for next to the pool fountain. Well. I could have walked away that day with pots, but he did not 1. want to spend what they cost 2. decide then and there 3. buy pots on a day ending in ‘y’. So, we didn’t. I looked at several places over the next weeks, and reminded him again that the date was approaching…several times. Last Monday…LAST MONDAY !..(June 7)…he went back to the store where I liked the pots, and saw some others for about 1/2 the price. He sent me pictures of 1. an ugly concrete pot 3 ft tall, with horrid patches of stain down the sides 2. an ugly concrete pot 2 ft tall, with horrid patches of stain down the sides 3. the pots I liked to start with…still at the same price. Would I like concrete 3ft or concrete 2 ft. Why, no. No, I would rather put a bucket from the paint store atop a few brick next to the fountain. So you still want the green ones? Not necessarily…I think we can find some we both like somewhere. This was 4 days ago, you remember…shower is on Sunday. Tuesday, was a bust. On Wednesday (June 9….today) DDIL called and said she would go with me to another nursery she knew about. So, we set off on a mission to visit place #2.

Friends…you will not believe this. We drove up at this nursery…and DDIL said, “Look!” And, sitting there right out front was a pot…EXACTLY LIKE THE ONE I LIKED AT THE OTHER PLACE!!! “How Much?” I asked. She looked, and got the garden type person to look. “Mrs. Tonja, you are not going to believe this…it is $X” (This is less than 1/2 what the exact same pot was at the other store.) DH called about that time and asked what we were doing and I told him about the pot. He asked 1. was I sure? 2. was I looking at the pot to be certain it was the same? 3. was I looking at the price with my own eyes? Yes, X3. I hung up and went to explore this wonderful turn of events. Did they have 2? Sorry, no.

Can, you just see the bubble bursting all around me? But, DDIL, never one to back down from a difficult situation, started looking around at all the other pots they had. Their prices were excellent! Much better than the first place. Not as many, but, what they had…I really liked. DDIL found 2 that would work, then 2 more, and I found 2 more. And all were excellent prices…and matching sets! So, I called DH back, and again: 1.was I sure these were good pots 2. was I looking at the prices with my very own eyes? 3. was I sure I liked them…because I have a way of thinking I like things and then deciding I really don’t and then wanting something else, and we are not going to do that with these pots because we are only buying pots one time and that is all the pots we are ever going to buy…so was I sure? (FYI:::that is so not true…I do change my mind sometimes, but I can live with my mistakes…) 4. Maybe I just need to go check them out myself, maybe I can go one day this week.

No, not that was not going to happen. I knew…even if he did not know it yet…that I was leaving that place with 2 pots and something to be planted into them! And, that is exactly what I did. I picked out 2 pots that I really liked, and then picked out some Endless Summer White Hydrangea to plant. They loaded them into my car, and carefully I drove home. Alex helped me get the flowers out, and then Don took the pots out when he got home (with hand trucks) and put them into place. I like them. He likes them. I am as happy as can be with the pots and tomorrow, I will plant them and all will be well. The sky will be blue and little birds will sing and fly around the beautiful pots filled with beautiful flowers by the beautiful fountain. And, I will post this tomorrow morning and you will be happy for me, too, ‘Night! FYI: Below are the pots from place #2.

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Oh, how foolish I was! When will I learn that things can never be simple in this life of mine?

THURSDAY…..June 10

This morning around 11:00, the phone rang. It was DH.

DH: You will never believe what I am looking at in the paper. This is unbelievable.

T: What is it?

DH: Place #1 that had the pots you liked is having a 40% off sale on all their glazed pots! 40% off. Now that would bring them down to a reasonable price.

T: How about that? But, I really like the ones I got yesterday, so all is well.

DH: But, you really liked the pots there. If you had just waited…..

T. But, I am totally satisfied with what I have. You are not wanting me to take them back, are you?

DH: No, I just think it surprising that they did this today.

T. Well, do you want me to go and get them? (I knew he was going to say ‘no’ because we were only getting 2 to start with)

DH: Yeah, I think so. Why don’t you go and get them…just make sure they are on sale.

T: ( I. was. shocked. Go get MORE pots? Really? ) Who are you? And, what have you done with my real DH?

DH: Don’t be silly.

So, I got dressed in presentable clothes…and drove across town to Place 1. And, there they were…the pots I really wanted to start with. Yes, they were on sale. Great! Now, let’s fill them up with plants…lots of plants…oh, and soil…I need enough soil. The bill still ended up below the price we would have played originally for just the pots. They got it all together…loaded it into my car…and I carefully drove home. I knew I was going to have to call in reinforcements to get all this done by Sat. Hello, Tina?

SATURDAY…….June 12

I really should not be surprised that today is Sat. and I am just now starting to work on the planting, and placing, and cleaning up. I really wanted this to be done way, way, long ago…..

And, so Tina and I started work at 7:00 in the morning. These were the plans: 1. All the pots would be planted. 2. The table will be set and all decorations in place. 3. I will sit and look at all the pots and flowers, and reminisce about all the events of the last few days.

And, she and I planted and replanted and switched pots and pulled stuff out of storage and watered and even went and sat in the pool for while! Then we went inside and got all the mercury glass out, and put the table together, did a touch up on the decorations in house. We consumed many peanut butter M&M’s, cookies, DDP…AND…we finished!

Now, honestly. Was it necessary to go through all this stress and aggravation? Never mind, I know the answer to that! It was totally unnecessary. But, now I have 4 huge green pots, 3 small green pots, all planted and ready to grow! And, we only went 2 big pots, 3 little pots and lots of flowers over budget!

AND, we also (Tina and I) managed to climb a few trees, and get this great chandelier hung in the tree…one of the bendy trees that I begged the cutter guys not to cut . And, they didn’t…and this is why! Don’t ya love it? You can put candles in it or a vase of flowers. or both! (Notice the cute little crown at the top? PERFECT!)

I am happy. DH is happy. Even DDIL is happy. But, if these plants don’t grow…you know who’s gonna get the blame!!!

Here are just a few more photos from around the pool and backyard.

Above, crotons in antique French pots….2 of these.

Above and below are on Alex’s back porch…

Below is next to house, looking from the pool…….these go all the way across the back…

Now…if you’ll excuse me…I’ve got things to do. In the backyard. In the pool!

And, tomorrow is the shower!

Just a quick report that the shower today for the son of one of my dearest friends was a great success. We had wonderful attendance, yummy food, and delightful company! Plus the couple got loads of wonderful gifts. It was good to see several friends I have missed over the past few months.

My friend, Pam, said something to her future daughter in law after the guests had left. I do not think she would mind me sharing. She said, ” These ladies are dear Christian friends I’ve known over 20 years. Though we all used to go to the same church, now we are members of several different churches. But, the friendship remains. I can always count on them and they on me. I hope as you start your married life, you begin your own set of friends that will mean as much to you.” I heartily agree! Here, then, are some pictures from the day.

Tonja, Tina, Joy, Mandi, Donna, Monty. Patty

Juliann, Monty, Donna

Tonja, Monty

Joy, Tonja, Pam

Tonja, Patty, Tina

Great food, Old and New Friends, Lots of laughs…wonderful day!

This is what is happening at my house…and it has been for the last 4 days. There are men in trees, men on the ground, men driving machines. And, the noise! Lots of it!

When we built, we decided to leave as many trees as we could…and it really was pretty! BUT it was way too snaky in the back yard…sort of like a jungle! And, we discovered that quite a few of the trees were diseased. So, Don decided it’s time to cut down, weed out, and carry away!

It is sort of scary to sit here and watch those men hanging in the trees. They are tied in with ropes and the chainsaws are tied in, too. When they finish cutting a limb, they just drop the chainsaw and let it dangle. Then they pull it up again when they need it! My little friend, Lucy Jane, and I sat and watched them yesterday from my big window in the studio. Neither one of us felt very comfortable with what we were seeing. We soon decided closing the blinds made us both happier!

I did manage to stake a claim to the trees right outside the same window. They are so pretty and green. And, even though some of the trees in those two clumps are just scrubs, together they make a wonderful mixture of greens in every shade! I pleaded and begged for them not to cut down my little stand of trees. The limbs at the top of this stand are so flimsy that they curve and bend making a delightful walkway between the two. Not that any human could ever use it, of course. But, the squirrels think it is perfect. And they use it all through the day. What kind of host would I be if I let the tree cutting men take away their walkway?

They have a little riding thing called a Bobcat. It’s quite powerful, I’ve learned. But, they drive it like they are on a race track! Using the huge claw on the front of the Bobcat, they go and pick up the trees they felled and carry them to the big dump truck on the street. And then the Bobcat chews up all the foliage that is left on the ground and spits it back out as a nice mulch for the ground.

So, no naps around here, just the whine of the chainsaw! Hopefully, we’ve only got another day or two to go!

This won’t be a problem for me…but if too many trees are cut down elsewhere…this could be the result! 🙂

I think those of you that visit me often, here at Gatherings, know that I love to have a decorating project! And, I love seasonal decorating in my home. So, since it is summer here in South Alabama (92 this week), I have been busy putting out the summer decor.

OK, we’ll start with the mantle. I’ve done it a little different this year. I got these 3 new shell pics that have such wonderful colors in them!


I’ve used all my blue and aqua books as lifts and fillers….and they are all on the sea or Hawaii or something related. My sea birds are balanced on either end of the mantle. NOTE: Things are not about to topple off as it looks like in the pics, I was about to topple over as I tried to get just the perfect angle so as to show you the tiniest details. Anyway…I covered the mantle first with a fishing net, and added a few sea stars to it.

Moving over to the table by the library, I fixed this display. My sweetest DIL gave me this great aqua bowl for my birthday last year. Isn’t it unusual? Well, I thought it looked just perfect full of coarse sand, and some beautiful shells.

Add 3 sea life sculptures, and a pic of 2 of the cutest girls to hit the shores of Maui this year.

Next comes the buffet next to the dining table. Here are some fun new things!

Have you seen these resin sand castles? We found these on Maui and I just couldn’t leave it there! There were all sizes, but, this was the only size I thought I could add to the stash I was already hauling back to AL! It has a votive candle cup inside…

…and doesn’t it look fun when it’s lit? One of my favorites!

And, these were a serendipitous find. I ran into Big Lots to pick up something, and there on the end of the aisle were these beautiful candle holders. They are mother of pearl, and are very well made. Selling for $45.00’elsewhere’…I got them for $7.20 each!!! All I need to do is add a votive cup and candle.

A few more close ups of the summery, beachy, warm weather, fun colors of the season!


“Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone.”

‚ÄúMy life is like a stroll on the beach…as near to the edge as I can go.‚Äù
——-Thoreau

‚ÄúWhy do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.”—–Robert Henri

“If I can’t be at the beach, at least my house can look like I am.”—Tonja Owens

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AND…I decided that the new vase in the kitchen needed a little more color, so I added a few poppies.