Thank you, to all my sweet blogging friends, for your encouragement and inspiration!
I have enjoyed meeting so many super-talented, amazing women in blog-land!
It has been so much fun, learning and sharing!
And finally, I'm very happy to announce that I have just launched my new Etsy Shop! http://www.etsy.com/shop/grandmalay
 |
| * |
Today is also my Grandmother's 99th birthday! I didn't realize until now,
that I started my blog on her special day last year! Yesterday was my mother's birthday!
What funny coincidences! Here I was thinking and writing all about being a grandmother!
Mostly, because it is undoubtedly the most important and fulfilling role I've ever had, other than perhaps being a mother.
 |
| My grandmother with my grandbaby boy, last Christmas. She is very fiesty, and still sharp as a tack! She was very good to me when I was young, always on my side and praising me. She called me Linny, she took me places and let me spend weekends with her. . Every new school year she bought me new shoes, and sometimes a couple outfits. She altered my prom dress and gave me permanents. Grandmom taught me to use a sewing machine, took me to get my ears pierced, let me and my teen-aged friends stay at her seashore house, and she taught me to love needlework and crafts. She's quite a woman! Happy 99th Birthday! |
Now, I'm a mother with frosting.
Grand. Well-seasoned.
Just an antique little girl.
I had a strong desire to share the collective wisdom I'd gathered from my mother and grandmothers,
share my incredible joy, and constant delight in being a grandma to my sweet little grandkids.
I wanted to support and encourage young mothers and new grandmothers.
 |
| One year ago today, I started blogging, with baby Tommy on my lap. |
 |
| My home, this time last year. |
The first blogs I ever saw were "Dear Daisy Cottage", and then "Cherry Hill Cottage". Then "Funky Junk Interiors", and her compelling story of overcoming many problems and becoming extremely successful truly inspired me. When I saw who they all followed, I discovered a whole new wide world of fabulous networking bloggers!
I quickly joined the"Etsy Cottage Style" group, because I knew I must find a way to market and sell my antiques and junque. I was brand new to computers, but I naively proceeded anyway, clumsily creating my blog. Immediately, I could see that blogging was a fun and useful way to connect with like-minded people, introduce myself, and eventually sell on my site.
 |
Grandma, gardener, happily living in a little cottage,
collecting and selling vintage,
such was my sweet, simple little life!
such was my sweet, simple little life!
Well, little did I know that I was in for some major changes and detours! In mid- 2011, my life turned into a huge mess. I lost my home of 10 years, when my boyfriend's parents entire estate went to the nursing home. You see, I had been their longtime caregiver, in exchange for a very humble place to live. We actually thought we would one day inherit his parents home, but instead we totally lost everything! Unbelievably, the property sold the very same day the realtor listed it!
Soon I was displaced, homeless, practically penniless, and had to get out fast! Not only was I frightened, and insecure, but I had a big mess to clean up. Two houses to clean out quickly, and no place to go.. It was a tremendous job moving out and relocating, with little resources. Time-consuming, heavy work in the hottest part of summer, and lost income too!
Ironic, that this was happening to me, when I spend my days and all my energy,
"Helping People In Transition".
Yes, that's my business slogan, and I'm really good at it!
Making things easier for people when they are relocating,
grieving, going through difficulties! Ha!
Now it's my turn, and suddenly I don't feel so competent, confident, capable.
I was discouraged, and sometimes I felt it was worse than when I went through
my unhappy divorce many years ago.
I cried out, "Please Dear Lord, Somehow let me find a home! "
I frantically scrambled around, doing real estate searches online, looking for the least expensive dwellings. All the fixer-upper houses, around here are not cheap. They are snatched up by investors who rent, or fix-and-flip.
Then God truly answered my prayer for help. Used mobile homes started popping up in my searches. Finally, after visiting lots of parks, I found a very modest, very used, affordable (cheap) older mobile home, and begged, borrowed and scraped together enough to purchase it..
It was in good condition, clean and had good appliances and fixtures. In a little more than one month, I relocated. Whew! This was a miracle! I did the best I could to make it into a comfortable home, using all my vintage,(old, hand-me-down, rescued, repurposed) furnishings.
Now I'm in an attractive, very quiet and safe, over-55 community. The best thing is, I'm a lot closer to some of my children, and grandchildren.
I'm so very grateful,
that God has provided a way for me to have a home!
I bet there are lots of other grandmas here in the park, but it's really quiet, and I've only met one neighbor. I'm sure some tongues are wagging, about the lively, fleet-footed brunette who comes and goes all crazy hours day and night, and brings rambunctious toddlers over to visit, (where there aren't supposed to be any children!). I'm the only one who lives here and is still working. And I have to hustle, because I take care of my grandson during normal work hours, which means I may be cleaning an apartment, or painting a mural into the wee hours.
"And I leave my Christmas lights out on my front porch all year long". Yeah, a little crazy.
But, next spring I will make an effort to be more normal, to join the sedate community and get to know my neighbors. ( If they will speak to me!) Maybe I'll start a club, or community garden!
Much of my time is spent with my adorable 18-month-old grandson right now.
( lucky me!)
 |
| At the computer with Thomas helping me post on my blog. |
I am working hard to grow my cleaning and painting business, and selling vintage stuff.
 |
| This is me, each spring and fall, at an antique show at the Women's Club of Vineland, N.J. |
 |
| My new home, right after settlement, plain-Jane, undecorated. |
How in the world can I still write about cottage decorating and gardening?
You see, I probably will not ever have a gorgeous, well-decorated house, or a very elaborate garden, and I'm sure not going to be raising alpacas, and keeping chickens or even have my little pond again anytime soon.
But I'm still me, I still love old things, tea things, growing herbs and flowers, painting old furniture, cooking and baking, repurposing and creating new things, decorating, everything I always loved.
 |
| I knew we were losing the house, so one day I walked way out back to get a picture, for my memories of the little cottage with my garden. See the rainbow over the property? To me, this was a significant symbol of hope, at a time when I was deeply troubled. |
So please, pretty please, don't throw me off the cottage-style, vintage-loving, house-and-garden-decorating blogging groups!
I just love using old,vintage things all over my home, and I sell them too!
This year, I am opening my Etsy shoppe, where you might find a special nostalgic jewelry gift, a pretty vintage apron, or a charming piece of china for your home.
I wish I had an actual storefront, where you could come browse, and have a cup of tea with me in a cozy little corner. In the meantime, I think it will be fun to have an online store, open 24/7! Yes, everyday! I hope you'll enjoy seeing the old treasures and trinkets that bring back such fond memories! Don't you think vintage things make for some lovely gift-giving, and give your home a cozy touch!
all things are possible if you just believe!
I'm so happy that you visited my blog! May you be blessed!
Love, Linda
*Lovely scroll from www.bumblebutton.blogspot.com
