Porch Sitting at The Lake

Cute story...

Like a bolt of lightning, pretty girls have hit my 17 year old son's radar.

So much so, that he recently started a diet,

...to shape up and get buff ...for the girls.  ;)

On a recent trip to the grocers, I bought a few low cal snacks for him

that included Pretzel Crisps.

The other day while walking through the kitchen 

David grabbed a pack of Lance Nekot Crackers from the pantry.

I questioned his choice, to which he responded,

 "yea, between these and Pretzel Crisps to snack on, this diet isn't too bad."

Whoa... Nekot Crackers...

"No, son," I said, "Nekots are not low cal!"

His response...

"Well, you're always on a diet {true, but sadly with no results},

and you eat a pack of crackers every morning for breakfast,

I thought they were fine."

And bless his heart, he'd been eating a pack a day!

So not to bash Nekots, I do love them,

but the crackers I eat are Toastys... certainly not exactly diet friendly,

but not as detrimental as a pack of Nekots.

This made me wonder,

do we realize just what an influence we have on others

 ...their likes, and even dislikes,

as we exhibit and express our likes, and dislikes? 

How often do our actions and preferences act as a catalyst for others'?

I adored my grandmothers,

and find myself over time, becoming more and more like them.

My Grandmother B loved most any flower.

She and her sister, Aunt Esther, particularly favored African Violets.

Aunt Esther was THE African Violet Whisperer,

raising beautiful, healthy ones, two and three times the size of the one pictured.

Almost as popular in the eighties as the flashing Blue Light Specials,

African Violets could be found at the entrance of our local Kmart

 for around two bucks or less.

We were always on the look-out for a new color.

After they seemed to vanish decades ago,

last week, tucked between Orchids and Maidenhair ferns,

were these sweet little, delicate blooms.

Oh happy day, I had to have one!

My grandmother loved them,

and I loved them... maybe because she loved them so.

And they made me think of her... fond memories!

And doesn't it look pretty in the vintage white pottery piece

on the newly spruced back porch at the lake house?

Paired the violet with a bundle of Alstroemeria

 placed in my most recent white milk glass find, an unique footed vase.

My daughter found the cute monogrammed wood whale hanging

at Carolina Pottery.

Vibrant goldfish pillows (Walmart $5!)

blend well with new

  orange and white geometric printed chair cushions (HomeGoods)!

Sign getting a little weathered,

but it's just too cute and whimsical to retire!

"We don't skinny dip
we chunky dunk!"

Thanks for visiting,
 and joining me on the porch for just a few minutes!

Glad to be back blogging after a two week break.

I've got several more lake house living posts to share,

...coming up soon!  :)

Want to take a peek inside...

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Sharing Post At:
Dwellings - Amaze Me Monday
Nifty Thrifty Things - Nifty Thrifty Sunday
 Our Southern Home - Inspiration Monday
Between Naps on the Porch - Met Monday
Coastal Charm - Show & Share
Cozy Little House - Tweak It Tuesday
StoneGable - The Scoop
Our Home Away From Home - Tuesdays at Our Home
Savvy Southern Style - WOW Us Wednesday
DIY By Design - Swing Into Spring
Sadie Seasongoods - Talk of the Town
Woods of Bell Trees - Party in Your PJ's
The Essence of Home - Share Your Style
Katherine's Corner - Thursday Favorite Things
McCall Manor - Your Inspired Design
Rattlebridge Farm - Foodie Friday & Everything Else
The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home
Chic on a Shoestring - Flaunt It Friday
Ms. Toody Goo Shoes - Best of the Weekend
The Dedicated House - Make It Pretty Monday


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Thanks for the feature Maria Elena, @Our Home Away From Home
(Tuesdays at Our Home)

Thanks for the feature Kim, @Savvy Southern Style (WOW Us Wednesday)

Thanks for the feature Jenna, @24 Cottonwood Lane (Best of the Weekend)

Thanks for the feature Kathryn, @The Dedicated House

(Make It Pretty Monday)

2012 - A Year of Blogging In Review

I've shared before,

that 2012 was a tough year for my family in many ways,

but it was also a year of positive growth!

Even in difficult times, blessings are still so evident around you,

ones often taken for granted!

And, joy and reward can be found in trying new things.

"smiles"

Our biggest project of 2012 was remodeling the upper duplex of our Lake House,

and converting it into a rental property.

What we anticipated would be a 2-3 week project turned into 6!

But considering the entire duplex received a major overhaul, the timing wasn't bad.

The remodel was quite a challenge,

 accomplished on a tight budget, 

and involved many items being repurposed.

To read more about the journey,

{Click HERE}.

Little projects also filled the year,

two of which gained attention in the blog'osphere,

My IKEA rug makeover,

adding a monogram to an inexpensive rug.

12 months later, and I can say, ...this rug is holding up well!

And the recovering of a set of Ottomans...

I've long loved to paint....

anything!

When Ashley was a baby, as a stay-at-home mom,

and I occupied my free time (her napping), with paint projects.

Kevin's famous words for the time were,

"he feared he'd come home one day and find Ashley a different color."

This year,

I was introduced to Annie Sloan Chalk Paint,

and Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint.

I've found painting furniture to be therapeutic and a wonderful creative outlet. 

And the pieces I've repaired and repainted have been given new life,

'cause most were destined for the dump.

At the end of March,

I stepped out on a new venture and rented a booth in an antique mall,

and then an additional one in the late summer at another venue.

{I'm hoping that in the early spring, I may add 1-2 more booths to my slate.}

I've been pleased with the sales,

and most of my painted furniture is stock for my booths.

I'm not getting rich by any means from my booths,

but it's a great hobby that has been paying it's way! :)

As you know from reading my blog, I'm an avid junk collector.

Nothing makes my heart race in excitement like a good yard sale or auction! :)

"The thrill of the hunt!"

This year, I shared many of my second-hand finds,

some that I kept for my home...

including the Waterford pieces found at a local Estate Tag Sale, below.

...and countless others that also went to stock my booths.

My most popular blog posts for 2012 centered around seasonal decorating!

The most viewed Post...

"Be Grateful"  

A Fall Home Tour

{Click HERE} to view

The second most viewed...

My Zebra print and Burlap Decoupaged Pumpkins Project.

And the third most viewed,

My Fall Porch Post...

Other Holiday posts were popular, as well,

including several Valentines ones...

And I did quite a bit of entertaining this past year, which I shared,

 along with recipes, in several posts... 

{A Valentines Party, below}

It seems I'm ending this post full circle,

with a Holiday we will be focusing on soon ...Valentines! 

A friend randomly texted the verse below to me yesterday

and it seems a great way to welcome in the New Year,

 and a blessing hoped for all of you....

"May the God of hope fill you with all JOY and PEACE as you trust in Him,

so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:13

Thanks to each of you who read Ramblings of a Southern Girl,

and share in my daily life and adventures!

May you all have JOY, PEACE, and HOPE in the coming year! :)

~Rhonda


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Linking Post To:
Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage
Saturday Show & Tell @ Cheerios and Lattes
Mop It Up Monday @ I should be mopping the floor
Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Best of 2012 Party @ Diane Rambles
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Wildly Original Linky Party @ I Gotta Create
Cowgirl Up Party @ Cedar Hill Ranch
Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life
Creatively Tuesday @ The Rustic Pig
Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here
Creative Inspirations @ Embracing Change