It's the Little Things

 

 A week ago today, my friend, Jim G. came for a short visit.  It had been a long time since his last visit and it turned out to be a lovely day.  Truly.  Now, if ever there was a friend who liked to give multiple "little things," well, it would be Jim.  If you know him, you know he "collects."  For himself, and for his friends.  So as not to fall short I suppose, this visit was no exception...he brought me several things.  Oh, I can't believe I actually said that....because every visit with Mr. G is exceptional for one reason or another!  And, as my post title suggests....it's the little things in life that seem to count.  Now, I'm fine if friends arrive with no gifts....after all...in my mind, they ARE the gift!  But, Mr. G., well, he did think of me, obviously several times, and I really do appreciate those thoughts.  I'm not going to show you everything he brought in this post.....just a couple of them....I'm sure you will get what I'm talking about!

 

 So, let's begin with a vintage petticoat.  A deep lace hem with many tucks above it.  Oh, my goodness, what could be prettier? 

 

 Don't you agree?

 

 And, this little precious shoe.....I am just nuts over it!!!  Only Mr. G would find a tiny bird perched on a shoe!!!

 

 Adorable.

 

 It says something on the bottom, but I sure can't read it.

 

 I do so LOVE it. ❤️

 

 Indeed!

 

 Maybe you can get a better idea of it's size here.

Thank you, Jim!

One of life's great pleasures is a good friend.  And, when a friend really knows you and likes you anyway...well, that's a blessing.  I found this quote today....I hope you like it as much as I did.

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter and sharing of pleasures. For in the

dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed."

Khalil Gibran 

❤️

from

Bird Nest Cottage

until next time

♥♥♥

Friendship is a Gift

 

 Friendship IS a gift.  The best gift.  Don't you think?  Lucky me, I have some good friends.  They are dear.

We've been through lots together....and, knowing how life is, we will go through more together.  If we remain lucky.  One of the good parts of having a blog is the extra added bonus of making new friends.

Friends that you may never meet, but  you know you are tied to them in that friendship kind of way.  It's lovely.

Several years ago, a wonderful person named Sandra sent me a gift.  She lives in Alabama.  I did not know her, but because I have a blog and she reads it...well, we have become friends.  There are others out there, who email me...we send messages back and forth.  YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!

It's the one reason I can't think of giving up the blog.  I don't want to do without my peeps!

So, on with the story.  One time, Sandra sent me a package.  To my complete surprise, she sent me that little chest on the right in this photo.  And, it was completely filled with the kinds of goodies I like...lace, buttons, ribbon, etc.  It was and still is a wonderful gift.  Recently,  we had a little business thing going....I sent her something she wanted to buy and was glad to do it for her.  We were both happy about it.  And, then....she sent me another package.  OMG!  It was the little dressser in this photo, there on the left.  Completely full of lovely yes, ribbon, lace, buttons, etc.  I was beside myself.  I feel I didn't deserve such a thing...especially AGAIN....but there it was.

Sandra, you are dear.  You are my friend.  Please know your gifts are appreciated.  But, I really want you to know that you and my other blog friends are special to me....I am grateful for you and there are no strings attached.

(By the way....the photo...I thought I was being clever.  Imagine. Three chests sitting on a chest!

This one holds all my candles, candle holders, etc.)

 

Adorable, right?

 

 By now, you know that I LOVE all things drawers, doors and shelves, so these little pieces just scream my name! 

The sign in this little bird's mouth says WISH.   Sandra sent the cutest little bird.  One day soon, I will show it to you in it's new home.  This one is sending you my hope that your own wishes come true!  And, yes, there are old books.  I love them so!

 These little photos are of Ethel, our old cat, long gone but not forgotten, the Old Navy Man, our son Scott with our friend, Deon and her puppies....lovely memories, for sure.

I don't know who the little girl is...she came in the frame and I liked her so much, I left her there.  Two tiny photo charms and the tiniest little photo of strangers I have, sitting on the tiniest little flower frog.  See, Sandra, you are contributing to my habit of adding things to every horizontal surface in the house!

Some quotes regarding friendship:

"The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love."

Hubert H. Humphrey

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art...it has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival."

C. S. Lewis

"The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship."

William Blake

and one of my very favorites

"Yes'm old friends is always best, 'less you can catch a new one that's fit to make an old one out of."

Sarah Orne Jewett

Thank you to you, Sandra, and to ALL my blog friends.  You add so much to each of my days and I wish the very best to you all.  And, yes, I will be posting here as often as I can as long as I can.

You make me want to do it.

 ❤️

from

Bird Nest Cottage

until next time

♥♥♥

 

A VINTAGE BUTTON BOX

 

It happened several years ago, (I'm guessing around ten of them), the 'old navy man' came home from work with a package.  He said he had stopped for lunch in one of the little towns he used to go through to get to his job.  He knew every little town (and it's substations) in the northern half of Arkansas.  Being a substation repairman for Entergy, he drove all over the place.  In the heat of summer and sometimes the ice of winter......off he'd go early each morning and arrive home late in the evening.  That day, after stopping for a quick lunch, he decided to take a few minutes to run into a little flea market nearby.  He wanted to bring me something. 

 

 

That was Mr. Eaton....always thinking of someone else.  So, this is the box he brought home.  A vintage button box filled with lots of buttons...some old, some not so old.  All beautiful to me!

It's heavy for it's size and filled with many, many buttons.  I immediately dumped the contents on the table to take a look.  What fun that was!   He was pleased I liked the gift. I have never removed a button from this box and each time I open it, I remember that day.  It has become even more special over time.

 

Earlier today when I decided I was going to post the box and it's contents, I thought it only fitting to pour them out and push the buttons into a heart shape.  (That was FUN!)  He would have given me a great big smile!

  

 Wonderful!!!

 

 Some close-ups.

 

Something cheery on a winter's day!  And, also a lovely memory.

I'm spending part of each day, now, finding things around the house that hold memories and yet inspire me to make new things too.  You can think of many new things to make when you look at the old things you have collected over time.  As 'they' say..."everything old is new again."

This box of buttons is a special treasure from a very special person.  

I hope you might feel inspired also.

from

Bird Nest Cottage

until next time

♥️♥️♥

 

Four Birds: A Recent Gift

 

"Everyone likes birds.  What wild creature is more accessible to our eyes and ears, as close to us and everyone in the world, as universal as a bird?"

David Attenborough

 

Recently, I was given this bell pull as a gift.  My friend, Kathy, a flea market owner, found it and presented it to me.  I love it so...as goes the saying - "I'm over the moon about it."  It came from an old house in a south Arkansas town....the house has a woman named 'birdie' in it's history.  I also picked up some old photos, papers and such from that old house.  How wonderful is it that I,  "Bird Nest on the Ground" person....have received such a gift!!!   THANK YOU, Kathy, for thinking of me!

 

 What is so wonderful to me about these birds is that they are done in petit point.  Look closely at them...such tiny stitches!  And, I love the colors!

 

 

 Just adorable!!!

 

In that first photo you will also see a very old mirror....I thought you might want to see what's in the top part of it.........you know I just love sentimental things...it says: 

"From Your Son in the Service."

Just dear!   

Hope you enjoyed the birds!  BTW, if you live in this area, you can visit Kathy and her husband, Morgan, at

THE JUNK HOUSE

115 West Idaho St.

Beebe, Arkansas 72012

You just never know what you might find there!

from

BIRD NEST COTTAGE

until next time

❤️❤️❤️

Pincushions and a Teddy Bear

 

Kevin's Teddy Bear

 

I recently mailed some handmade gifts to my dear friends Brian, Kevin and Debra (Brian's Mom).
These gifts were supposed to reach Indiana long before now, but considering that my efficiency levels are not what they once were...they arrived at their new home last week...finally.  It was a happy day when I mailed that box - the sense of accomplishment felt pretty good.

I'm not going to say much about them...they are sort of self explanatory.  They are hand embroidered and beaded, even the bear is hand stitched.  You know that is how I 'roll' as they say.  I did want to say that the Bear is for my friend, Kevin....yes, I always say he is a teddy bear, so he just had to have this little six inch tall character.  The "Back Home Again in Indiana" pincushion is for my friend, Brian.  We've talked.  He likes it.  (Oh, Thank Goodness!!)    The "Home is Where the Heart Is" pincushion is for Brian's Mom, Debra.  We've never met, but I'm thankful to have her son as a friend, so thought she deserved a pincushion of her own.  (Brian is an inspiration...you've seen his work on my blog before....do you remember the memorial piece he made to honor the Old Navy Man?)

So, take a look at these.  I hope you enjoy them.  If you have any questions...you know you can comment or email me.......so, here they are:

 

 Brian's Pincushion:

 Debra's Pincushion:

 

 

 So, there you are.  Three handmade pieces for three special people.

Hope you enjoyed seeing them.

from

Bird Nest Cottage

until next time

❤️