First Loves

Welcome to Pink Saturday! I hope my posts and photos inspire you to do something worthwhile, but if not c'est la vie. But DO go visit with Beverly at her blog to view all the participants displaying their pinks today.

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First loves. We all have one.

Mine was a high school classmate named Leonard. He was tall with a blonde crewcut, cute and very collegiate looking. Just my style at that time. Only one problem: Leonard didn't even know I existed, much less that I had a mad crush on him. Of course it didn't pan out but he's still in the back on my mind when the words first love or first crush come up. Then there was a boy named Joe, but he was Jewish and couldn't or wouldn't date anyone who wasn't. Again, he didn't know I was alive and lusted for him. Can we lust at 14? Then at 16 or 17 there was a guy we'll call Bill. When I met him and we dated a few times it was as if I had met him in a previous life or had known him before. It was very weird.

The song "Where or When" by Dion and the Belmonts was our song because he felt the same way. (I've always thought it was the Kalin Twins and it's on my iTunes that way but I just googled it to check and it is Dion and the Belmonts. I'm sure to those of you who are younger this isn't making any sense at all, but trust me, that is a beautiful song. Why have I thought all these years that it was the Kalin Twins and why didn't I check it?)

Then along came my hero, Love Bunny, and it was all over. I knew him 4 months before we got married. The love has grown even deeper over 51 years, 2 kids and 4 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter. He is the love of my life and my heart throb. I'll love him forever and beyond. So don't think first loves are all that great; sometimes it's the second or third, but you'll know it when it hits. ;-)
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Just a few pretty photos for your perusal today. I'm going to go be with my eternal sweetheart for a while. :-)

Pretty windows with flowers in them or lace on them always catch my eye.

This could be done in a backyard easily I think. I'm going to mention this to hubs and see how he feels about doing it. Well, actually, I know how he'll feel but with enough nagging I may...MAY get it done. Nah, I might as well forget it now and save the nagging!

Dreamy.

Cute for an office.

I definitely love these little coffee pots spilling over with spots of color. Yummy!

Yes, I looooove that lime and white striped sofa.

It would take a very brave homeowner who would use 2 different colors on a window but I love what she's done here.



Dreamin'

I'm not saying I would like to live in this room but it had a certain appeal that drew me to it. Maybe it was the Mackenzie-Childs style sofa, but I think the room is beautiful and elegant.

Old world cute.

Gorgeous floral pink fabrics are one of my downfalls.

Yeah, yeah, I know. Don't you wish?! Adorable.

Honeysuckle grows so fast you could have this little getaway in a couple of years.

This vibrant color drew me in here. A beautiful room.

I am sitting here doing the blog post and looked out the window. It is snowing like mad out there today. Hubs ran out to give the recycling man a box of candy and let him know we appreciate him. He had stopped to take a picture of the snow for his buddy so hubs caught him. They are so fast I though he'd miss him so good thing he stopped to snap a photo.
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No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. ;-)
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Photos courtesy of tumblr and pinterest

Room Eye Candy

I'm just going to relax today and not tell you a story, just let you peruse the photos I've collected for your enjoyment. Wait, wait, wait...I just thought of something I've been wanting to mention to you bloggers.

A while back someone asked me about the dimensions of my blog because I could fit in wider photos. I have an iMac with a 21" screen so it's big but someday I'm hoping to get a 27" iMac. ;-) Yeah, right, like that'll happen.

Anyway, because I like large screens and a lot of room for my pictures I went into the template and made it the maximum width I could possibly do. Do not try this if you're not familiar with templates; you could screw the whole thing up.

Oh, if I could only get my space to look this good. Sigh.

Hanging a pretty blouse in a window is a very creative idea. This looks like a living room but also a studio with the bolts of fabric resting in the corner. Could it be a small apartment somewhere doing double duty?

Magnificent in white with a touch of beige.

So much eye candy it's giving me a sugar high! I love this vignette.

And this one, too.

And this very simple nostalgic one also.

Don't you just wish?! ;-)

And for lovers of quilts. I'm especially drawn to lavender and pink ones but my granddaughter's favorite color is purple and variations of that color. She would love this one.

Can we say caauuute her?! Look at all that red punctuating that darling island in that darling kitchen.

I especially noticed how this homeowner worked these gorgeous fabrics into her living room wall decor. I find it absolutely stunning what she has done. Inexpensive and very innovative, not to mention the teapot/teacup lamp.

Elegance and...

Sentimentality

A work of art is above all an adventure of the mind.
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Genealogy Work

I recently decided to get involved more fully with my genealogy. It's something our Church not only recommends but encourages us mightily to do. Even our young men and women, with their technological skills far exceeding most of their parents and most certainly their grandparents (present company excluded—ME!), are being asked, encouraged and instructed to do some genealogy. Since I have genealogists on both sides of my family they've done a great deal of it for me, so all I have to do is get it into my own genealogy program on my Mac.

My father's side of my family doesn't want to give me anything because I'm LDS, but one cousin in Wyoming has been more than willing to share. He's been a sweetheart and sent me a lot of stuff. My problem has been finding a genealogy program for Mac that will sync with newFamilySearch. So I've been testing out 2 genealogy software programs, both Mac programs. I'm liking one over the other much better because it's got a beautiful, elegant interface and is much more user-friendly. Remember, I'm new at this so user-friendly is important. Plus the owner has given me a key to use free for 30 days to see if it is compatible with newFamilySearch. And he's available to help me with questions about syncing with the Church.

So I joined their forum to chat with other users. Immediately I get slammed for doing temple work for my ancestors. I never in my life experienced any prejudice before joining the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints—LDS or Mormon Church are common names for it. In the forum I suggested an option that would be beneficial to members of the Church. (Every programmer likes and welcomes ideas for improvements to their software applications. I've even been asked to be a Beta tester for Apple!! But I refused since I didn't think Apple was ready for me and my humor.) Immediately 2 women objected to it. I was going to respond but I decided to take the high road and not get into a contentious argument on a forum. I did receive a post, and subsequently an email, from one woman who lives in Israel and she wants to go forward without rancor and I agree with her. She and I are of "like mind" on this issue and I'm hoping to become her friend in all this. It's about doing genealogy after all, not causing contention. I've been involved with many forums and have never had a problem until now. But it was not nice. I'm just going to continue as if nothing happened as I seek their help with working on my own genealogy. And besides, I'm a very positive and not a nasty person. ;-)
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So now let's look at some beautiful photos.

I think this little tree could be used for Easter or Valentine's Day or a birthday party just as well as Christmas. I think it's darling.

The view, bloggers, just look at that view!

This could quite possibly be that cabin in the Catskills but I don't know. No matter, it's still gorgeous.

Quite cute for storing kitchen stuff but it could also be a place for craft supplies.

Dream...I like the idea of a beautiful sheet behind the headboard.

I found this little dress on etsy but when I went back to purchase one for Miss Caroline, I could not find it. I was so disappointed. I searched and searched there but nothing came up even remotely as cute as these little dresses. And yes, I checked my history. Just couldn't find it.

Cute bathroom probably somewhere in England.

Aren't these adorable? Probably Cath Kidston but I don't know.

Yeah, yeah, we all want one of these. I know, I know.

This looks like a loft in a big city from the view out the window. Otherwise, I'd say it was in Texas.

We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.
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Birdhouses, Roses and a Very Loving Friend

Well, I had to call this post something and it does have roses and a birdhouse or two in it. ;-)

A friend came over the other day and we talked and got to know each other better, and I learned she had a Down's Syndrome sister. I have another friend who has a Down's Syndrome child and there's a story in that.

Several years ago when she was pregnant with her 4th child, they suspected she was carrying a child with Down's. I'd never seen her so devastated and bleak because she was naturally a very upbeat and happy person. She was a very close friend and when I talked to her that day she just wanted to be left alone to grieve with her family. I also grieved for her. Her husband was totally devastated. But when "K" was born she wasn't Down's. Now, if anyone could have handled it, she could have. She is the most loving mother I have ever encountered in my life. She loves being a wife and mother. She was relieved though.

Then a few years later when she was pregnant with her 5th child, a girl, she was told that that child was definitely Down's. I think the Lord prepared her for it with the 4th child. "J" is Down's but not severely and can function well and goes to school. But she has blessed that family significantly. I know my friend would never have aborted that child or any child for that matter. We don't believe in abortion in our Church.

Before I joined the Church and became a Christian I believed everyone should make the choice for themselves but I don't know what I would have done if I had been presented with that situation. I still don't know what I would have done then, but I know that now there is no way I could abort a child. I have a family member who did make the decision and she told me at the time,"Don't ever believe it doesn't hurt." I never criticized her decision. I just know I could not kill a baby. But when I see the joy and blessings "J" has brought to my friend's family it tugs at my heart knowing there are people like that—loving, kind and faithful that in the next life the child will be without Down's. Just remembering the story makes me blubber like a...well, like a child, to actually know someone with that much love in their heart. To know this woman is to actually see Christ-like love in action. It is a privilege to call her a good friend.
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These little metal red and white polka items just make me smile, especially with some red roses and pink flowers tucked in the coffee pot.

I am still hoping to have a porch swing someday.

I've never seen a turquoise roof and wonder where this might be.

Hubby and I were at Albertsons store the other night to pick up a prescription and when we walked into the store it smelled of hyacinths, lilacs and roses. I was tempted to buy one of their pots of hyacinths but I didn't. I just may go back and buy some.

Just another beautiful spot to relax and dream.

Sigh...

See, there is another birdhouse in the background here.

French, oh yeah, definitely French!

And 2 more birdhouses here. ;-)

We are all gifted; that is our inheritance.
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