just chillin', etc...

That's what my boy Havok is doing right here.

Just chillin'.

I got a new camera lens last week
( thank you Romantic Country and Harris Publications for financing it! ),

and Havok is one of my favorite subjects 

to test out new camera equipment.

If it properly captures the softness of his fur and

the blue of those eyes, then it's a keeper.

Whaddaya think?

I have SO much to post about and share,

including a couple of fun posts about my wonderful day

shared with Suzanne of Privet and Holly this past week.

But today?

Just chillin'.

It was a crazy busy Easter weekend, and not only is there

still a mountain of photos to edit,

but a mountain of laundry as well.

So before I tackle what needs doin' today,

I'm taking a cue from Havok.

How about you?

How was your weekend?

And do ever feel like I do today, just want to chunk all your

responsibilities and just sun yourself in the yard like my pooch?  ;-)

Be back soon!

The Good News

The Pieta

 as found in

St. Mary's Catholic Church,

 Fredericksburg, Texas

He is risen indeed

Pax,

Holy Week

photo taken at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 
Fredericksburg, Texas

Happy Holy Week!

I'll be taking a few days off 

to properly give the season its due.

Wishing each and every one of you 

a very blessed Easter!

P.S.

If you pray, please pray for rain here in Texas.

We are literally going up in flames down here.

A Fun Day

I have a WONDERFUL day planned,
and I wish you could all come along!

Firstly, another fabulous trip to
Homestead
is on the agenda...

After all, I'll be showing this gal around my new hometown!

I'm thinking lunch at a German brew pub,
a trip by our new farmhouse,
a swing by a local herb farm
maybe a trip to Luckenbach,
and for sure  a little mischief.

The forecast is partly cloudy
with a
greater than 100% chance of FUN!

Hope your day is great, too!

It's Time

There were over 800 entries ( WOW! ),

and I want to thank each and every person that

commented, followed, or posted about it...

but the time has come to pick a winner

of my 

SPRING ROMANCE GIVEAWAY...

Up for grabs:

The Summer issue of  Romantic Country magazine

with my Willow Nest photo feature

and

a personally autographed copy of

Romantic Prairie Style

signed by Fifi O'Neill herself

 

so....

I did the random schmandom thing, 

and the lucky winner is...

Denise of  

My Vintage Gardens

Congrats, Denise!

Since I was such a geek and bought out entire newsstands,

I may be doing another magazine related giveaway

in the days ahead, so please check back.

 In other news, I finally decided on a camera strap...

It's called the Sofia Olive, and although I purchased it

at a camera shop, you can browse their selection HERE.

I bought it because it looks like my Homestead couch!

 Don't you think?

And guess what else?

Look who I get to meet next week?

The gorgeous and talented Suzanne of Privet and Holly!

She and her sweet mom will be making a swing through
Fredericksburg, Texas, so I hope to be able to show them all the sights.

***

Finally, I'm not a numbers watcher at all, but I just noticed that the odometer

just turned over to 2K...
thank you and welcome to all my new followers,

and to my faithful friends from way back, thanks for sticking with me!

I know that these giveaways always create a bump in the numbers,

but I really hope that y'all will stick around for the regular day-to-day

here on this blog.
I count myself as so fortunate to have even one of you

deeming me worthy of following, so know that you are very much appreciated!

I hope you all have an amazing weekend!

Imaginarium on Main Street

These days, I am on a mission.

I have always believed that we have a responsibility to support local businesses.

And no, I'm not talking about your local Target or Wal Mart...

I'm talking about locally owned, independent retailers.

As the incredibly worthwhile 3/50 Project puts it,

it's all about saving the brick and mortars our nation is built on.

Which is why, now that I call Fredericksburg, Texas my hometown,

I plan to make it my mission to support, encourage and promote

local businesses I admire.

I can't think of a better place to start than with the store that started it all for me...

Homestead

My love of all things vintage began here

and my beloved couch named Babette

was even born here...

I mean...look at her.

Do her curvy, flirtatious lines not call to mind

an, *ahem*, decadent French courtesan?

But back to the store.

The building itself is huge...

three magical stories of pure vintage bliss resides here

My creative aesthetic was formed 

walking the aisles of the hallowed Homestead stores

Things I had seen many times before...I began to see in a new light

I was challenged 

to dare 

to dream

to imagine

to take chances

 

to see the beauty 

in the unconventionally lovely

the romance 

in the cast aside

and the possibilities

in the once forgotten

It all started with this fearless visionary...

{the incomparable Rose Hicks}

 

and continues with her progeny and their families

{big props to owner/treasure hunter Tim Bolton}

The next time you are in the Texas Hill Country,

heed my advice and make a pilgrimage

to a store which quite simply gets it right every time...

Homestead and Friends

230 East Main Street

Fredericksburg, Texas

And remember the darling little yellow clock I showed you above?

It made the trip home with me!

Thank you Tim Bolton, and the whole crew at Homestead,
for allowing me to roam about clicking away this week...

You know  that I'll be back in soon!

***

The winner of my  

Spring Romance Giveaway

will be announced Friday...

see you then!

linking with Tricia at

A Rosy Note

and

Debra at

Common Ground