Love Leigh Things

Like I Said...

we ate a lot!  I am almost ashamed of this post.  I knew we ate well, but until I seen all of the pics I had no real idea!

Yes, that is the hot sign at Krispy Kreme!

This is almost like Where's Waldo!  Can you spot Bentley at Bullfish?

Carino's, one of my favorites!

Now this was the most fun!

I can not tell you what a good time we had here.  Our waitress posed with Bentley.  Isn't she a doll?

We were pleasantly surprised when other waitresses knew Bentley's name and asked if he would perform YMCA.  He happily obliged, he does love the spotlight!

When asked, hubby said he felt like a third wheel.  So to make him feel the love, here is his photo.  Yes, the waitresses thought hubby was cute too!

Now for some of the shopping!!

Oh ah, outlets!  Easy Spirit!!!

Yep, several pairs later, we were happy!

Now, bags of any sort are my weakness!  Coach, especially!  I love sales!

Oh yeah, yarn shops!!  I found two of the best.  The ladies at both were most helpful and had gorgeous selections!!  I am addicted, I am!  Knitting, who would have thought it!

If you are ever going to the Smokey Mountains, email for directions to the yarn!!  I can tell you right how to get to both shops, teehee!

Alright, I will be showing the beautiful side of the mountains next!  I am saving the best for last!  I have not forgotten my MeMe's that are due from the beautiful ladies, Kai and Ruth either!  I hope everyone has wonderful week!!!

A Place of Treasures

Last fall, I found this beautiful store in Sevierville, TN.  I was very lucky, the original reason I went there is because they are listed on a website for Lady Primrose.  Oh gosh, that is a topic in itself.  I adore all of their products.  You have not lived until you have worn Tryst, it is just one of the best smelling perfumes!  Because I was rushed that day, I knew this would be one stop I was definitely going to make on this trip! Here is the outside of D Garden the Superlative Floratique.

Wow, it is so much more than a floral shop though.  Although, if I lived close enough I would have flowers delivered from them every week!  The arrangements are spectacular!  They were redoing the windows, so the outside shots are not doing any justice.

When you step inside, it is like stepping into another world.  The interior is original to the hardware store it once was.  Look at those original drawers!

All of the items are arranged so that you think they are part of a display but they are for sale, at really good prices I might add!

I think I am drooling as I type!  The floors are all original too!

These pictures do not show the real beauty!  You have to love any shop with the customer service and ambiance of D Garden.  But, they make it even better by wrapping your goodies in scented paper, yummy!  The bank used to be in here as well, that is where the cash register is now.  I am not sure, but the post office may have been here as well.  (I wish I had written all of the history down.)  Yes, those are my goodies in the little window, just waiting to come home with me.

This place just keeps getting better and better!  Dustin (the owner) is opening a restaurant in the back!  The menu sounds delicious as does the waterfall and linens that are planned.  Yes, I will be going back as soon as I can.  Shopping and food has my name written all over it!  Until that time, I will just have to enjoy my GORGEOUS goodies!

I hope you all have a great weekend.  I am going to yarn shop I believe it is a new addiction! More on that and my other adventures later! 

I Had a Wonderful Time!

There were only a few times I did not have a blast!  One was when I was sleeping.  But, I slept so soundly.  It may have helped that I could hear a quick moving creek right outside the bedroom. This is what I looked at everyday!

The only other time I was not having a ball was the ride up.  I am a big chicken when I am on the road in snow.  I was a little vocal about my fear, okay maybe a lot.  But, hubby did not have to threaten to throw Bentley out of the car or leave us on the road!

As you can see, Bentley took that real personal!  But, hubby spent a few miles apologizing after I threatened to give his email addy to you all!  So, all was better and I did not wind up in a ditch!  As you can see all of this happened at the beginning, before the roads were even bad.

   

I found and revisited some of the best shops, ate way too much food, and enjoyed a lot of wildlife and gorgeous scenery!  I will probably spend the next month posting about my few days, please just try to put up with me.

I need to run, literally I had over a foot of mail delivered today.  I have so much to do, to get back to normal around the house.  But, it was definitely worth it!!  It may take a few days before I get to your site or emails.  But, I will be back in the swing soon, promise!  I can't wait to see what everyone has been up to! 

I am outta here!!

My wonderful hubby is taking me to the mountains for several days!!!  I am taking my laptop, but, I do not know how much or if any I will be online.  Fear not, when I return I will be back visiting each of you!  Of course, I realize some of you welcome a break from me!!  Did I mention there will be no children or YaYa's going?  My wonderful, gorgeous, smart MUM is coming to watch them!  Bentley, however is very excited that he gets to go!  He only gets to go because he does not need any public restroom breaks that gross his mother out, teehee! 

Here is a little vintage eye candy for you.  It was my husband's grandmothers!  She used it regularly, and it still looks brand new!!

I only use the tablecloth around Valentine's Day and no one gets to eat off of it!  The bowl was his great grandmother's.  I do use it everyday.  Of course this is the table from the Beverly Hillbillies, I wrote about before.  You gotta love the in-laws!

I was sweetly surprised with a Valentine from the ever so lovely Kai!  Woohoo, what a talent with a heart of gold!

This is what I found when I opened the lovely wrapping!

Oh how gorgeous, I am loving it!!  But, then I turn it over to find a Bentley!

Here is a better picture of a cross stitched B Man!!  Just gorgeous!  Thank you, Kai!!!

Yippee, after this mess...

and this mess... (It was a good thing no one needed the guest room!)

We have this...

in our media room!  It goes so much better than the old one.  Yes, the guest room is all cleaned out too!

Besides making messes and getting sick, I was able to work on this quilt top.  It is sorta what you get when you do not follow directions, but I really like it so far!

I want to wish all of you the best Valentine's Day ever!!! I will be back next week, or before!

 

 

My Mailman Thinks I Am Worldly!

To have had such a crappy week, I am sure that I will whine about it in later posts I sure had some wonderful mail!  If you are the jealous type, please look away!!  First off, this package arrived from Portugal! 

It is from the gorgeous and wonderful Zelia! Isn't that some beautiful fabric and such cute goodies!

It is almost to pretty to cut up.  Ummm, now what fabulous items could I make, that would be worthy?  Thank you Zelia, you are the sweetest!

Speaking of amazing women, Jan at DayLily is the most talented paper artist!  She recently opened her very own ETSY shop!  I could not resist ordering these fantastic right up my alley cupcake cards!!  The word precious does not even do them justice!

Did you notice the monkey card?  Wasn't that a sweet surprise!

Bentley sure thought so!

A little heads up, the inspiring Alicia Paulson, has a free instructional download on her blog!  I will not spoil the surprise, but gosh are they cute!!

I am going to be brave and post pictures of my media room disaster soon!  You know that new piece of furniture that is not set up yet, that I was going to post about earlier in the week?!?!  It is amazing all of the messes that I drug myself of the couch and got into.  It seemed oh so simple when I posted about it!  UGH, what do I know????

Please keep the folks in mind, that lost their lives and homes during the tornadoes.  We were lucky and had no damage at all, just a good scaring!  It sure makes you appreciate life and a pain in the rump armoire!! 

A Wonderful Raffle and a Little Painting

I know that everyone is jealous of "The B Man" and wanting their very own Monkee from MonkeeMaker!  Well, now is the time to get one.  Kerry is having a raffle to help a most precious, little sick girl raise money!  You can't go wrong, trying to win a goodie and help someone!  There are lots of great items waiting to be won, go check it out!!

Here is a gratuitous shot of Bentley, just to get you in the monkee wanting mood.  He is watching his favorite show Curious George.  This is his favorite episode 00 Monkey/Spy Monkey!

My family is feeling very fortunate, because this little illness is now laryngitis and with an earache, ugh!  Although they deny it, I think they like it when I can't talk.  I knew it would return when I bragged that I was over it.

I did finally give my mum the last of her birthday goodies.  I think I am caught up now.  Her birthday was in November but better late than never right?

Okay, it is probably a painting only a mother could love, but I am trying!  I am just glad I am not the one standing beside that wobbly lighthouse!

Last but not least, mumistitches is having a giveaway!  She just finished writing her very first pattern and is listing it on her ETSY shop!  Although, I really do not want any competition, I think this is awesome and wanted to share!  Her Coco is just one of the cutest critters ever!!! 

I'm back!

Amongst the living that is.  I had a bug, apparently a mutant form of some massive prehistoric bug, judging from the way I felt.   I did manage to comment on a blog or two, literally that was all I did!  I owe some of you emails, comments and I have lots of reading to do.  I will be playing catch up tonight and tomorrow.  I am coming back to your blog soon, teehee!

To bring everyone up to speed, nothing crafty happened, nothing.  I did not even have crafty fever delirium and create in my mind the way Scarletti is capable of!!  Hubby did have a birthday though.  Now why is it that he gets three cakes?  Count um'!  Yep three!  Lesley's Mum bought two of them!

Cake 1!

Cake 2!  Please note the age on this one!  Mum's wicked sense of humor!  Hubby is only in his 40's and this was totally the funniest thing I had seen in awhile but if she does it to me, I am sending her straight to her favorite child in England not funny to him!

Cake 3!  Yes, this is the one from me.  Now how sad is that?

I have decided I want a three tier wedding cake for my birthday!  Are you reading this Mum?

Oh I did agree to do Kai's swap, yes you know for sure now, that I was delirious!  I have agreed to send my partner cash with my item, because you know she will need it to get over whatever it is I make!

Please say goodbye to this, although it is ugly I am sad to see it go.  As I type this Goodbye My Lover by James Blunt if floating through my head!  Hubby and I have had it since we got married, many moons ago!

It is my catch-all and nothing goes together!  That big ol' 90's stereo is out of here too!  I will post my new baby's photos soon.  She is going to be delivered and all set up tomorrow!

If you get a chance you really should read Alicia Paulson's, Posy Gets Cozy story in this month's issue of Hallmark.  I have always been inspired by her.  However, after reading her full story, I have to say she is my hero.

I am off to blogland.  I've got to see what my virtual peeps are up to.  Okay, I don't really use the word peeps but it just cracks me up!