"Kind Gestures & Girlfriends".....

*Sometimes I have a tendency to think a bit too large*

Let's take any holiday throughout the year,...Christmas, Halloween, May Day, or at the moment Easter,......I began thinking how lovely it would be to treat "all my friends" to a small, but very sweet gift.
Maybe "pansies encircled in pure white parchment paper".... & tied with a taffeta ribbon.....
or possibly a "delicious lemon bread" wrapped in clear, crisp cellophane & secured with twine & fresh lemon leaves,.....
or better still, a "floral teacup" ( found while out thrifting!) placed in a tiny box that has been wrapped in fabric & "millinery daisy-garland"!

Now as lovely as this would be, it all takes time, which is something all of us seem to always be a bit short of.
So I am trying something new....I am choosing one dear friend, each month to do something special for.
Nothing extravagant, nothing expensive.

Instead something baked from my kitchen,
or grown in my garden
or created with my own hands.
I will wrap it in the most charming way & tuck it in their mailbox or on their front porch,....
& of course it must have a pretty little card!
This way I will be able to treat each of my girlfriends to "sweet remembrances" in just a wee bit of time & very economically!

Here's to kind gestures!...& to friendship!

heidi
xo

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"A Summer Table for Friends"......

Last Thursday, I had my group of dearest friends over for one of our "get-together" evenings! .....We have been doing this for some time now, getting together each month for dinner, chatting & getting caught up with each of our busy lives!....
It works well, with everyone contributing to the meal & the hostess having the fun of setting a pretty table & creating a "warm & inviting atmosphere" for her guests!

Since I was hostessing this month, I decided to have us dine on my patio!.....So I began putting my table together.
It all started with these clamp-lid glass bottles from IKEA.....& 2 bunches of long stemmed "poppy-like" flowers from Trader Joe's ( they have a great selection of afforable blooms!)

I added a few stems in each bottle, each half-filled with water....
( looks much more interesting than entirely filled!).....
& placed them down the middle of the table, casually winding them around a pair of glass cylinder vases,...... where I had placed pure white pillar candles on top of a bed of pea gravel.
Also scattered a few more tiny votive candles throughout.....for a bit more sparkle!

Amazing what happens when you combine the following....
1- Walmart folding table (6 foot)
*
1- very gathered, home-made burlap tablecloth
*
9- everyday white diner plates
*
9- soft, checkered dishtowels for napkins ( these are just used as napkins for the time being!)
*
9- K-Mart Martha Stewart glass water goblets
*
"my collection" of mis-matched thrift store silverware

As the clouds rolled in.....We all enjoyed a dinner of grilled salmon, corn pudding, Greek salad, fresh berries & warm sourdough bread!....(Along with a delicious appetizer of hummus & pita bread & amazing cupcakes for dessert!)

Such evenings are what summer is all about!

"Good friends....Good food....Good conversation"
Make some summer memories of your own!

Love, Heidi XO

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