What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Such a Wonderful Treat!

Today we were blessed to be the guests of some very dear people...actually people that some of you here in blogland may already know, or will certainly recognize:


Yes! We were the very happy guests in the lovely new home of our dear hostess at Sweet Tea And Sandals, none other than our friend Barbara and her Beloved Husband Tom.  
If you have been following Barbara's blog, you know that she and her hubby have just recently made a very big move from one part of the state to another, to a wonderful newly constructed home in a marvelous retirement community...which happens to be within an hour's drive from where we live!
If you are like me, you have been watching the progress of them settling into their new home with much interest...and you can imagine just how thrilled my hubby and I were to actually be invited to come and enjoy a delicious lunch and tour of their new home today!!
Actually, this is not our first meeting...if you have followed my blog, you will remember that our friends visited in our home a few months ago as they were passing through from their "old home" to their "new home in progress"...(Click HERE for that story!)...so now we are feeling like we really are "old friends"!

 Barbara is woman of many talents, one of which is quilting.  There were many beautiful quilts throughout her home, and I wish that I had taken the time to photograph every one, but I didn't want to be too overly nosy and zealous...however this quilt above graces the entry hallway to their home, and I found it to be so interesting, with little extra "trinkets" attached  all over the quilt, which each stand for some of Barbara's specific interests and hobbies.

I asked permission to take this picture of her little computer nook, which is just off the kitchen area, and is so very handy and compact...a perfect spot to check emails, write her blog, check new recipes, visit on Facebook...all while keeping track of what's cooking in the kitchen... So very clever. Her hubby built the desk specifically for this space, and it is perfect! Such a great idea!

Now, if you have been following Barb's posts, you know that this master bathroom shower is the main attraction for all guests to their new home! Even before the house was completed, anyone who came to view the progress had to have their pictures taken inside this ginormous shower stall!!

So, of course, I told Barbara that I would not leave her house until we had this same opportunity and privilege...and she was only too happy to oblige us!!  We discussed the fact that since they are living in "horse country", apparently the builders thought their homes should have a shower large enough to give a horse a shower!!  And it certainly could!!! 
 Giddy up...let's move on...

I'm sorry this photo is a little blurry, but I wanted to take a picture of this particular quilt, as Barbara calls this her "moose in the woods" quilt...You will see there is a moose in the middle of all those trees.  Since we have lived in moose country before (New Hampshire and Maine), anything regarding a moose always catches our attention.

I love this Word Wall...with many interesting messages.
Barbara and I both seem to  love signs...so that was a good sign that we would be good friends!

Here's another "sign" that we would be good friends:  Below is Barbara with her "staff", as she calls them...her cute dolls and teddy bears and furry friends who supervise her work in the sewing room.
I don't have a sewing room, but I do have dolls and other kinds of "staff" who keep watching me too.
Probably a good thing...I always need help staying on task.  I would love to introduce Barbara's "Staff" to my "Staff", but they may all conspire together against us and who knows what kind of pandemonium might happen! 

After our wonderful tour, we had a marvelous lunch and a nice long visit.
Thankfully, we remembered before we left that we still had not taken a picture of us together!
So here we are:

One of the other things that makes us have a special connection is our love for the Lord. Perhaps I should say that is "the main attraction".

These verses came to mind as I was thinking about this:

Philippians 2:1-2
"Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, 
if any comfort of love, 
if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."


Oh, one more picture on the way out the door.  This is what they call their "mud room".  I can assure you, there was no sign of any mud in this cute little hallway leading out to the garage...just a very clever arrangement of cubbies and a hat rack and storage bench.  What a wonderful idea! 

There were so many beautiful features in this home that I wish I had taken pictures of, but if you visit Barbara's blog you will see different aspects as she welcomes you to visit.  All I can say is, their home is very lovely and so lovingly decorated and designed with family and fellowship in mind...and we were welcomed so kindly and graciously...Barbara and her "Beloved" Tom have certainly mastered the art of southern hospitality in record time!!

Thank you, Barbara and Tom, for this delightful day today.  Now I know everyone out here in blogland will be waiting for their invitation...I may have started something here...but knowing Barbara, she would be more than happy for you to come visit!

This is one of the reasons I love blogging...I have met such wonderful people here...most are still friends through our connections here in "cyberspace"...but what a great joy when we are able to actually meet face to face and realize that we like each other even more in person!! I hope that we will each have that opportunity to meet in person someday.   God bless you each and every one!!!


26 comments:

  1. Lovely home. I wish I had a big shower like that! I sure could use a big shower. Glad you got to visit :)

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    1. It was so delightful...yes, the shower was fun and huge!! You could have a party in there! I wish we all lived close enough to each other to visit. I would love to take a walk with you around your lovely area. Or just sit on the shore and visit. I know we would have a wonderful time together.

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  2. Pam: I love that shower. That computer nook is special. Glad you got to take that trip and see them.

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    1. It was really a special treat and wonderful day, and they are such lovely people. Like I just told Ann above, I wish we all lived close enough to each other to visit. Maybe some day!!!

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  3. How wonderful that you have become such good "in person" friends through the blog! What a great day you had!! I love how the Lord brings like-minded people together!!

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    1. I feel like you introduced us, as you found Barbara first, and I discovered that she was in Florida, and it was such fun to meet. I am hoping we can come see you in early June...I need to communicate with you about that privately. I would so love to see you and Joe and again. (John will be with me too...at least that is the current plan!). I'll let you know.

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  4. Pam, You are so kind. What a lovely blog post. Thank you so much!

    We thoroughly enjoyed your visit here today. We truly are of like mind, first in matter of the Lord, and on so many other things, too.

    You are the first of my blogging friends to visit our home (here, in Jacksonville, and in the last two houses we had in Colorado since I began blogging in 2009), so this was 'especially special'!!

    Thank you for coming! This was a wonderful day!

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    1. I feel "especially special" to be the first blogging friend to visit your home. I am truly humbled and honored by this wonderful gift of hospitality. Such a blessing...in so many ways. God bless you and Tom in your lovely new home, and may He bring many "especially special" new friends to your door!!

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  5. Well, I am popping in from Barb's blog. Thank you for the lovely tour. I love her many quilts. She should really do a tour of all of them. Thanks for sharing the photos with us.

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    1. Welcome and thank you for visiting... and yes, I agree that Barb should do a tour of all of her lovely quilts. I didn't want to spoil that opportunity for her, but I really wanted pictures of them all...they are absolutely stunning. So, Barb...there's your next assignment...a quilt tour!!

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  6. Beautiful home. love the large shower. I'll have to pop over and visit her,,,blog. Too far to visit he home.

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    1. Oh Sylvia...one of these day we girls are going to all get together somewhere central. I think GA. is a good central location...LOL. You know I am itching to meet you in person. I have wanted to every time I've driven through GA, but it wasn't a good time for me to do extra side trips. Maybe one of these days...I hope and pray.

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  7. Popping in from Barb’s just to see if she was telling the truth. 😉 Yes! Of course, she was. I agree that moose are impressive and I also agree that meeting bloggers is a lot of fun. Hope that you all get to visit again.

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    1. Thank you, Vee, and welcome to my neck of the woods! Yes, I am sure Barb is always truthful! And any friend of hers is a friend I would love to know as well, so I guess I'd better go get acquainted!! Thank you for popping in!!

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  8. I'm so glad you got to come for a visit! The photos of you all are so cute! Love the shower stall wave! And it's neat to see all the pretty touches in her new home. We love living here too! Enjoy your day and the beautiful weather this week!

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    1. Hello Lavender Dreamer! Do you live in the same area as Barbara? If so, then we are not that far away! I must get better acquainted with you...any friend of Barbara's has to be a wonderful friend to know!! Have a blessed day...and yes, we are having some lovely weather!!

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  9. What a wonderful visit. I've never "met" Barbara before, but you can bet I'll be checking out her blog now. I love the pictures of her home. So beautiful and the quilts are awesome!!! Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Oh Cathy, I know you will love Barbara as she will also love getting to know you. It is such fun to meet so many wonderful people here...and then to actually meet them in person is even better that ever!! I hope you are doing well. I've been a bit behind in my reading lately, but am trying to get caught up. Take care and may God richly bless you always.

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  10. O, very nice. Love the quilt with the moose in the middle. What a nice one. She is very creative. And the photo with you both is so nice.

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    1. Thank you, Aritha. Yes, I loved the "moose in the woods" quilt too. But I wish I could have shown you all of her gorgeous quilts...she does such wonderful work, and yes, is very creative. I feel so blessed to have met such wonderful people through blogging...all around the world...like you!! Have a blessed and wonderful day.

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  11. Hello sister Pamela. I am a Pastor from Mumbai, India. I am glad to stop by your profile on the blogger and the blog post. I am also blessed and feel privileged and honoured to get connected with you as well as know you as a Pastor's wife who worked as an Administrator. Visiting your blog post has been such an encouraging experience, specially seeing your pictures with quilt display. I have thoroughly enjoyed your blog post. I love getting connected with the people of God around the globe to be encouraged,s trengthened and praying for one another. I have been in the Pastoral ministry for last 40 yrs in this geat city of Mumbai a city with a great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. we reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the brokenhearted. WE also encourage young and the adults from the west to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have have you come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have young people from your family circle come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. I am sure they will have alife changing experience. My email id is : dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is diwakar Wankhede.

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    1. Thank you, Diwakar, for your very kind and thoughtful message. I will certainly pray for you as you minister there in Mumbai. I am sure that is a very difficult ministry, and yet one that is so much needed. May God bless you and keep you safe as you serve Christ in this very poor region.

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  12. Wow, what a gorgeous house Barbara and Tom have, Pamela, and I really enjoyed the tour you gave us here. And that shower? Unbelievable! It looks like the ones we often encounter when we rent a luxury cabin in the mountains. Yes, I'll have to give Barbara a visit at her blog. Thanks for the introduction.
    Blessings!

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    1. You will enjoy getting acquainted with Barb. She is a lovely Christian woman with keen insights and wise counsel!! As well as a fun and beautiful person to know!! Thank you, Martha, for popping in. One of these days we are going to meet in person too, I really hope so!!

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  13. How lovely that you were able to visit Barbara and her husband. They sound like wonderful people and I can see that Barbara is a very gifted quilter. The shower photo and story is funny. That really is a shower large enough for a horse.

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    1. Good Morning! You are up bright and early today! Thank you for taking this early moment to visit with me here. Yes...you would enjoy getting to know Barb. She is a very talented and sweet and humble person...full of the joy of the Lord. And if you come to Florida...you will definitely want to visit her and have your picture taken in that huge "horse" shower stall! LOL. Have a blessed day, and be "joyful!"

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Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.