Celebrating One Year of Blogging!!!

Today's the day! One year ago today I pushed the

"publish" button and have been a blogger since!

I had certainly intended to post this much earlier today, but Blogger had other concerns that didn't include my announcement of the winner of my Give Away.

It's Bonnie at "From a Writer's Kitchen." If you haven't met her, please pay her a visit. She always has delectable things to offer!

Bonnie has her choice of one of my

Tag Along Bags.

*****

Over the year I've fallen in love with blogging and all it brings. Blogging forces me to view everyday events in a new way........"is that post material???" It has helped me appreciate the daily events that make a life unique. It has given me a glimpse into the lives of so many talented and generous women. And, it has even brought me some new friends.

So, a heartfelt "thank you" to everyone who takes the time to visit.
I truly wish I could cut a big slice of cake for each one of you right now!
Happy weekend!

To Have a Mother, To Be a Mother...

You have reason to celebrate the day. Happy Mother's Day!

One more week to get your entry in for my Give Away!
Details here!

From My Bookshelf

Just finished Maeve Binchy's newest book, MINDING FRANKIE. If you've read any of her previous books, this will seem like a continuation of many of them. Characters from previous works make appearances in this one. This is the story of Noel, a young alcoholic, who discovers he's about to become a father to a baby he cannot even remember helping create.

Worse, the mother is dying and wants him to take the baby. Noel steps up and takes responsibility by joining AA, starting university classes, moving out of his parents home to a place of his own, and taking the baby. But, there's much more story here of the "village it takes" to mind baby Frankie. This is a heart warming novel about caring people and family. My one complaint here is that Binchy writes as though you've just put down her previous novel. Characters from previous novels enter with no back story. I have read some of her previous novels, but it's been awhile. So remembering who is who and threads from previous books can be difficult.

If you haven't read Binchy before, here are two I strongly recommend:

Please remember my Give Away,

celebrating my first year of blogging.

The drawing for your choice of a Tag Along Bag from my Etsy Shop

will be on Friday, April 13. I'm trying to increase followers for Buttermilk Cottage's Facebook Fan Page. So, you need to "like" it, right here on my sidebar, and leave me a note you've done so!
Details are here.

Two Books from My Bookshelf

I like Fannie Flagg's books. She's a Southern author and that's never more evident than her newest book, I STILL DREAM ABOUT YOU. It's set in Birmingham, Alabama. I grew up in Alabama, graduated from the University of Montevallo, a half hour's drive from Birmingham, and remember watching Fannie Flagg as the "morning show" girl on the local Birmingham television channel. So, this book brought back a lot of memories. As with other Fannie Flagg books, this one has an assortment of quirky characters, from Maggie, a former Miss Alabama who is suicidal.(YES, it IS a funny book) to the deceased Hazel Whisenknott, a Birmingham real estate magnate, who also happens to be a midget.

It's a fun read.

If you haven't already read this
novel, at least, watch the movie.
Fannie Flagg did the screenplay for it
from her novel.




THE WEIRD SISTERS is a debut novel
by Eleanor Brown.
It's the story of three sisters,
who in their life journeys of leaving home,
and returning home,
find their places in life.
The novel is narrated by a combined, single voice
of the three sisters, which gives it
an interesting perspective.
I liked this book because all the
characters grow and change
during the course of the book.




Don't forget about my
Give Away!
You must "like" my Facebook tab
on my sidebar and leave me a
message that you did so.
The winner will be announced
May 13th, my one year
anniversary of blogging!

Celebrating a Year of Blogging with a Give Away!

It's hard to believe it, but I'm approaching

my first year's anniversary of blogging!

I wrote my first post on

May 13, 2010!

For me, blogging is a creative outlet.

It's my "journal-ing-on-line."

When I started I had no idea

what it would involve.

The first few months I was obsessive about it

and couldn't get enough.

I've since learned to moderate a bit.

The surprise of it all is the friendships

gained through blogging.

Through it, I've come into contact with some

incredibly talented and caring women.

Keeping up with their blogs has given

me entry into a bit of their lives.

That's truly been blogging's gift to me!

To celebrate my first year,

I'm going to host my very own give-away!

I will send the winner their choice of a

"Tag-Along" Bag

from my Etsy Shop.

This bag is just big enough to hold your essentials.

It then goes into your tote, knitting bag,

briefcase, etc.and frees

you from carrying multiple bags!


The only things you need do is
"like" my Facebook Fan Page

on my sidebar and leave me

a comment that you've done so.

(If you're already a Fan,

leave me a comment, letting me know.)

I'll then draw a name

in two weeks on May 13,

and announce the winner!

*****

Wonderful weekend to everyone.

I'm going to try and not OD on

all the wedding doings!

Joining the "Where Do You Blog? Party!

Kate at Centsational Girl is hosting a "Where Do You Blog? Party" and I'm attending!

This is the view from my bedroom into my office/sewing room/studio.

Welcome in! This is a small space which I added to the house before I moved in. As much as I loved the house, originally there was no place for me to work. THAT wouldn't work!

These french doors were found stored in the basement when I bought the house. Originally, they separated the living room from the dining room and really weren't needed there. I love french doors and knew I wanted to use them somewhere. When I started planning my addition they turned out to be perfect doors for a large closet. As much as I love sharing with you, I'm not going to open these doors for you. You probably understand...

Here is my laptop where it always stays. It's an old computer and although I have wireless service, this computer isn't wireless capable. So, I ALWAYS blog at this spot.

However, I'm soon to be upgraded!!! My "new" laptop is on the left here. It's actually my daughter Kate's from her four college years. She got a new one for graduation. I'm very happy to now get this one! I've yet to take it in to my handy/dandy computer guy and get it serviced and everything transferred from one to the other. I'm not tech savvy, so I'm not looking forward to the process. However, I am looking forward to when it's done. I think the larger screen will be particularly nice.

My computer sits in the corner. You can see one of my sewing machines on the left. This is where I do all my sewing. Although this room is a small space, its saving grace is the view from my desk. I have a whole bank of windows that overlook the back garden which is always a wonderful view. "Thank you" to my sister Nancy, who is the gardener around here. Be sure to check out her blog at Nanniepannies.

Moving around from the desk to the left you see a corner storage for fabric and my work table.

The work table actually has a leaf to extend it, but I never use it because the space is so tight.

Since space is tight, I try to make use of ALL of it. Under the table is a small CD player and under that, storage for yarn used to make my knitted lamb kits, which you can find at my Etsy Shop.

Note my sheep lamp which I've had for years and still love it as much as when I bought it. The print of the knitting sheep was a gift many years ago from a friend.

An idea board is a necessity for a studio. This one was made by covering foam board with a fabric I like and then framing it.

This brings us full circle around the room. If I turn around from my computer, this is the view back into my bedroom. (The door on the right is the bathroom.) So, now you know where to imagine me when you read posts from Buttermilk Cottage!

Be sure to visit Centsational Girl for many inspiring blogging spaces.