A Haven for Vee

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Gifts in Spring

Let me try a Tuesday this week...


Three things today:


* gifts

* culling books and furniture

* spring garden 





Last week brought two packages to my door. The first was a gift from my friend Deanna at Creekside Cottage — lovely handmade pillowcases with French seams and decorative top-stitching. True confessions now ... both John and I like to nap on the sofa so we have a regular pillow there for just such a snooze. These pillowcases match my old, but new-to-me sofa. Perfect!  Love them! Thank you for thinking of me, Deanna. 




The second box arrived with a thwump on my side deck. My heart sank when I saw the word "fragile" in block letters on the side. What a happy moment when I unwrapped the gifts and found that each one was intact. Such cute gifts given with thought and in friendship. The giver focused on my love of yellow



I had such fun spreading the yellow around. Here...





Here...




 Here...






and one more place, but I'll leave that for you to find.

This Dear One has asked to remain anonymous, though I am sending her a big thank you. What a sweet surprise! 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our living room has needed some culling for quite some time. It meant removing a chair and adding a pair of auditorium seats for a place to sit and remove shoes and boots. 





John's chair has moved yet again (this is what I do, shove furniture around) making room for him to actually access his books. It's so cozy in his corner. 




It also means some tidying the bookshelf. John decided to do some culling of books. I find that chore difficult myself so I wasn't surprised to find him back in the chair already distracted by the first book he pulled! That grin is in response to my making some wisecrack about it.




  


No, I do not intend to float that table smack dab in the middle of the floor. Good grief!

~~~~~~

Not a lot going on in my spring gardens. The chives are up, the rhubarb is, too; the front garden has one dandelion, grape hyacinths, and coral bells. I was able to get the yard work accomplished with the help of my neighbor who swept all the debris caused by the snowplow off from the front lawn. Now we are ready for warmer days and some blooming flowers. I can't wait! 




The inserts are more or less where they exist in the actual garden. I was experimenting at PicMonkey with the collage maker when I decided to attempt something different.

Over and out...

 

45 comments:

  1. You were blessed this week with some beautiful gifts. You and your husband are so good culling books, we dither for ages and never really recycle any until we get to the stage where we can't fit any more in and then the odd one or two go, we are at that stage now.

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  2. What wonderful, surprise gifts, Vee! I'll bet the new pillowcases are so soft and make napping that much cozier. Your yellow birdies and pretty teacup bring a bit of sunshine into your home. Blogging friends make the world a friendlier, happier place, don't they? Enjoy your new goodies!

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  3. What lovely gifts! Glad to hear that spring is making it's way to your area.

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  4. I saw these lovely pillow cases on Deanna's post and I guessed that she was sending them to you. The little yellow birdies and the teacup are perfect accents for spring...and I'm glad you are finally getting yours!

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  5. So is the little vase with yellow flowers on the window sill next to John's chair the spot of yellow you didn't make obvious? You were blessed with some fun gifts for sure. That is funny about John sitting down with the first book he pulled out. I have a very hard time clearing out books...and plates...and chotskies. Oye. We got to 90 yesterday...unheard of here in April. Hope Spring comes in a hurry.

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    Replies
    1. Winner, winner, chicken dinner! 😊

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    2. Coming over tomorrow night for my chicken dinner. I'll bring dessert!

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  6. Thank you for sharing the touches of beauty~

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  7. Wonderful gifts you have received. The touches of yellow look very pretty sprinkled around your haven. I'm thinking they have done wonders to help banish the gray from your days, at least I hope so.
    I can so relate to John's method of culling books :D.

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  8. Hi Vee,

    What wonderful gifts you received!! You are well-loved by so many bloggers! :) I LOVE the pillowcases, and all your yellow treasures are charming. I especially love the pretty teacup. I find books a very hard thing to cull out, because I love them so and hate to get rid of any. However, I know it has to be done from time to time. It's nice that you have some things coming along in your spring garden; I have NOTHING at the moment. My pansies didn't make it through the winter this time; I think they were too root bound when I finally got them planted.

    I hope you have a lovely week, Vee.

    Warm hugs,

    Denise at Forest Manor

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  9. Such well chosen lovely gifts came to you! I feel happier knowing there are such loving people in the world who send such sweet gifts. I'm with John...I do cull books but it can be very slow and the decisions are difficult. I'm beginning to be excited about spring and my garden on the deck!

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  10. Isn't it nice to receive special gifts, 'just because'? I have had such good afternoon naps on a couch or in recent years, my recliner of the 'his and hers' set in the living room. ;-)
    Your early spring garden is just a little ahead of mine, no blooming dandelions yet for the bees.

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  11. I love your gifts! They make your home even cuter and cozier (if that were possible).

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  12. Thank you for sharing your spring joy and touches of color - inside and out - sure makes for a pleasant transition for cold and grey and bleh to hopeful warm sunny days!

    I laughed out loud with the pic of John. I married that, too. We no longer ever expect to cull our book collections, haha. Hugs. ♥

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  13. Afternoon Vee. What sweet surprises by mail for you. I know you will have sweet dreams on those exquisitely made pillowcases. Too cute about John being engrossed in the very first book pulled! Lovely to see some color in your area and I hope warm days and blooms are headed your way! xo

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  14. What lovely, lovely gifts, Vee. Isn't it fun to receive such wonderful surprises? I have John's problem with my books, too. Actually, both K and I have that same problem. We aren't having those early spring flowers, yet, but have just had several days of much needed rain and now when the sun comes out. . .!!

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  15. I got totally stuck on the book corner. It's perfect. I like those old wood folding chairs too. I'm sitting here with barely enough room on my desk for my laptop, so I need to go cull something, anything! Love your collage and the garden. We're having a rainy day here today, so if we get more warm weather after that, the May flowers should pop up! And what nice YELLOW gifts! Was there any cheeese among them? When I think 'yellow,' the first two things that pop into my head are daffodils and cheese. In case you needed to know. LOL Have a nice evening, Vee. xo

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  16. What a lucky lady in receiving all those nice gifts. Love the yellow. John looks perfectly involved in his nest. That is what I call my chair near my Kindle and crocheting supplies. Have a death in the family. My aunt was 101 years old and her mind was clear as a bell. Funeral on Friday and a family wedding on Sat.

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  17. Your gifts are all so pretty and perfect for you. Blog buddies always know just what we like! And yellow is so cheerful! Love the photo of John and the bookcases. I went to a book sale this morning...oh how I love books! Enjoy your week...get some rest and use those beautiful pillowcases! Hugs, Diane

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  18. You are so well loved! Everyone of those gifts were so sweet and thoughtful!
    I always love looking at your home.....peeking into whatever room you have opened up to us! The stadium chairs are wonderful! It was a treat to see John and it made me smile to see how happy he is with his books!
    You just had the best day!

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  19. They do match your couch perfectly! Great idea to have it set up for an afternoon nap! Those sweet yellow items, are dear. They look wonderful in your house. Your Haven is a so cozy.

    I am terrible at culling books. I do exactly what John did!

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  20. I love the sweet pillowcases that really do match your sofa quite well. A thoughtful gift. And the other gift of yellows is lovely too. Cute birds and a pretty teacup bringing spring cheer to your house. Hi John! Hugs to you Vee.

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  21. What lovely gifts you received. Glad to hear nothing was broken!!
    Love John's book corner. Nice to have some natural light.
    My rhubarb has started too! : )

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  22. Such sweet friends you have, Vee. Spots of yellow will help Spring come to the inside of your home and soon will blossom outside.
    The photo of John looks familiar as we try to cull books and more. ♥

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  23. It's such a treat to receive a package in the mail, and you've had double treats! I like the bright yellow dandelion in your collage - that's keeping it real!

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  24. Awe, what sweet gifts :) I love Johns corner and we are finally seeing signs of spring popping out of the ground.

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  25. All kinds of goodness here. Sweet gifts from friends. (Love those pillowcases!) Cheery yellow. Teases of spring in the garden. Furniture rearranging. (Love that too!) And then getting stuck in the book corner. That makes me smile! :)

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  26. Nothing brightens a day like a sweet surprise snail mail package from a friend! How lovely :) I keep a regular pillow on the sofa too, it's so comfy for naps or to hold my book closer when I'm reading. It looks like your spring garden is at about the same stage as ours. Rhubarb, dandelions and grape hyacinth, check. Have a great week!

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  27. Not sure how I missed this, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Such sweet lovely gifts from your friends..how that must bless you! Love the pillowcases especially, though those little birds are just adorable. John stuck on the first book he picked up made me smile...soo much like my hubby. Have a good day Vee!

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  28. Your garden collage is nice and I like how you placed it near the actual origin. Spring looks blooming and promising. I do love the metaphor of spring. And the new pops of yellow around your house look cheery. But as Judy said, the book corner is the best. It looks wonderful. And reminds me that I should do some deep dusting of our book cases. Some day ...

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  29. Wow Vee! I love all of your sweet gifts and how sweet that is to have friends send you goodies like that! I have got to serious and get on my herb garden! Maybe the weekend. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  30. The gifts are wonderful and look perfect in your cottage. I notice you have a bunny in one of your photos. I still have all 2000 of mine out and I'm just a little too lazy to pack them up. Oh well, it's spring, right?

    Books are hard to part with, I have to be brutal. I really narrowed mine down to cookbooks, gardening and decor. Then I began to dislike my Nook and the fact that the book sort of disappeared into thin air when I was finished. Does that make sense? So I've been buying books at Target and it's nice to see a little stack on my nightstand.

    Its fun to see things popping up, I have the chives and grape hyacinths as well. A lot of daffodils and some early tulips. I'm praying no more snow!!!

    Jane

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  31. Haha, that's exactly what happens to me if I think about culling through my books. Very hard to get rid of any of my "friends." Yes, a nap on the couch deserves a real pillow for true comfort. So nice to receive a lovely package in the mail, isn't it?

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  32. Your gifts are lovely ones. Doesn't it speak to your heart when a gift giver takes the time to determine what YOU would like? The yellow teacup is so pretty. Culling books is hard for me, too. Lovely pillowcases from Deanna!
    It's been exceedingly warm here this week with sunshine that makes the students squirrely. But I'm enjoying it all nonetheless.

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  33. {{{grinning}}}} love it, Vee...love it...smiles

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  34. Your gifts from you sweet friends are lovely! I also love the idea of you auditorium seating. Beautiful post!

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  35. Hello my dear..
    I just love the way you chat along and I just nod my head in agreement as I read..
    You are such a master with words.....
    Love, Mona

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  36. A wonderful post, as always! Your gifts are so nice, I love the fabric of the pillowcases. The book corner looks cozy and I can relate to the book culling. It is so hard to give them up! I did take a few that aren't too special to the resale shop this week. But I brought 4 new-to-me books home. :)

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  37. So much to like here, Vee. So kind of your friends to gift you. the pillowcases are a perfect match for your couch and the yellow gift assortment sure adds Spring to your décor. I love that little flowerpot bird.
    Tell John not to feel bad, I do the same thing when culling books. Not many ever get out the door I'm afraid

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  38. Lovely surprises in the mail! I, too, worry when I hear a bang or a solid whump on my porch. Some of the drivers are very careless. I love the reading corner...it looks very cozy.

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  39. A most enjoyable visit, Vee! Culling books must be the hardest thing for book lovers. One is so easily distracted by old 'friends' that open to just the right pages for us to get caught between phrases. I never mind that kind of 'capturing'.

    John's corner looks cozy indeed. And all your lovely treasures--new and old--displayed so pleasingly.

    Here's wishing you a beautiful weekend, Vee!
    Brenda
    xox


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  40. Every thing is looking good at your place...we do the same when TRYING to cull thru our books...I just can't give one up...and neither can Mr. Sweet and he also loves his olden magazines...just as much as I love mine...oh, dear...I think we are hoarders....paper hoarders....
    been working in our garden, too...warm weather but so dang windy, no one wants to be outside for long...xoxo

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  41. Your garden's progress sounds very similar to mine right now. Looking forward to some real Spring weather. You make me chuckle with your quips and funny remarks - culling books is hard work!

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  42. Vee you have much more spring there than we have here! The snow we received the last 3 days is now melting in a constant drip drip drip. I know it will get hot all at once and I'll be yearning for these cooler days again...lol...so I keep reminding myself to enjoy them!

    Culling books is sooooo hard for me, too! I usually pass them on to my daughter or DIL and hat makes it a little easier. Your auditorium seats are so interesting and bring back memories.

    Sweet gifts from friends--such nice mail box surprises!

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  43. I always feel so bad when I have so much to catch up in one visit but I do love to stop in and to see that you are still here and okay, even if you are still getting snow!

    I smiled when I saw you have a Centennial Rose Tea Cup. My Mom collected that set and eventually had enough place settings for our family of 20.

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