~ Sweet French Towels ~

Good morning, lovelies!

I received a package the other day.

It was from a new friend of mine.

Her beautiful blog is called Faded Plains and she owns a wonderful shop on Etsy.
I find it easy to spend a lot of time there.  (*wink)

Her name is Andrea,

She is kind and thoughtful and she does beautiful work.

Inside the wrapping were some oh so sweet surprises.

A beautiful thank you note.

A sweet smelling sachet.

An imprinted pencil.

A page rolled and tied from a paperback book titled "The Hawk and the Dove",

(which I had actually read while in high school).

This is what she made for me.

Two beautiful white muslin kitchen towels stamped with pretty French words.

I was sure that certain avenue is someplace romantic and special.

In fact, I did a wee bit of research on it.

It's a prestigious, world famous avenue in Paris, France where you will find cinemas, cafes, luxury specialty shops, and is lined with clipped horse chestnut trees.

It is known in France as "La plus belle avenue dumond" which means "the most beautiful avenue in the world". 

It stretches all the way to the Arc de Triomphe, a historic landmark.

Oh, yes.

I can imagine my pretty French towels being sold in one of these little specialty shop along this incredible avenue.

Can't you?

Thank you, Andrea, for giving me a little bit of Paris in my French-wanna-be kitchen - and for sending it wrapped with warm friendship!

{ Hugs! }

~ laurie

(Psssst!  Meet me over at Faded Charm for White Wednesday!)

~ Eight Questions ~

Good morning, bloggerettes!

My sister-in-Christ, Debbie at House at the Lake, passed this fun little interview 

on to me the other day.  

What a great way to get to know each other just a little better!

Eight questions to answer.

Eight blogger friends to pick.

Eight of my own questions to ask.

Ok.  Here are the questions that Debbie asked me.

1.  What made you start blogging?

My bestie, Debbie!  After surfing and lurking about many design blogs for a while and forwarding them all on to her, she said, "Why in the world don't you start your own, silly girl?"  So, I did. 

(Thanks for my new addiction, Debbie. lol!)

2.  What is your favorite vacation destination, and why?

  

Sanibel Island, Florida. It was love at first sight when this barefoot beach chic drove through the quaint town, sunk her toes in the warm sand, and heard the rolling waves on the shoreline.  

Sweet Sanibel had me hook, line, and sinker.

3.  While working outside, what do you think about?

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"I wonder if my butt looks big to the people driving by.....?

4. Sunset or sunrise, and why?

Sunset. I'm not a morning girl at all.  I need my 'prep time' before I show my mug to the world. Besides that, I love the thought of walking in the wet, cool sand on the beach after spending the entire day toasting my buns in the sun...

5.  What was the wildest thing you've ever done?

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Hmmmm....this one took some real digging around in my head....

Sorry, but I must be a real bore, because I just can't think of anything "wild".
Well.....I guess the wildest thing I almost did was to go topless on a secluded beach. Ack! Hubby and I were on a Windjammer cruise and one of the ports was St. Barths.  Now, if you know anything about that beautiful French island, you know that topless beaches abound.  Well, we were with six other friends having a wonderful afternoon lounging in the sun (with our tops on, I'll have you know.)  My girlfriend and I looked at all the other French gals in the sand who were laying there in all their bronzed glory, and we looked at each other and said, "Wanna be daring and try it?"  We were just about to unclip our tops when some of the other spouses walked up to us from a swim. I think the exact same thought went through both of our noggins at the same time.
"I won't be able to look these guys in the face tomorrow....!"
So, needless to say, the tops stayed on the entire vacation.

6.  The biggest surprise in my life was.....?

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 When my hubby slipped a a huge deep blue topaz ring on my finger on our 5th anniversary while standing on the beach at the exact same spot we were married - in front of Point Iroquois lighthouse in Bay Mills, Michigan on Lake Superior.

7.  Where do you go to be alone?

Hubby spending some God-time on the Prayer Swing.

I would love to say "on the beach"....but alas, I have no ocean close by.  So, I'll have to answer - a swing hung from a huge oak tree out behind the barn.  We call it our "Prayer Swing".  Many prayers for you all have been sent up from this special place.

8. Favorite season, and why?

That's easy.  SUMMER!  I'm a beach-baby through and through, and mourn the day I must put away my flip flops for the season.

Eight Blogger Friends:

1.  Lara at Air Kiss

2.  Debbie at Love of the Sea

3.  Anne at Fiona and Twig

4.  Carole at Maynard Greenhouse

5.  Terrell at Frou Frou Decor

6.  Andrea at Faded Plains

7. Rebecca at A Gathering of Thoughts

8.  Jen at Piney Flats Style

Eight Questions:

1.  Where do you get your inspiration from?

2.  The smartest advice you ever received was....?

3.  What is your favorite vacation destination and why?

4.  When you were a kid, you wanted to be.....?  Why?

5. What is your favorite food?

6. What is the motto you live by?

7. What is your passion in life?

8.  What is your favorite re-purposed item in your home?

Thanks for playing along, sweet friends!  Have fun passing it on!

{ Hugs }

~ laurie

(Oh~ and if you love French ticking like I love French ticking, be sure to enter Maria's giveaway sponsored by sweet Dani and Eric at Patine for an awesome pillow!)