Monday, May 27, 2013

FAMILY LOVE


Here in the Midwest, the weather around this time is very iffy...I can remember more rained out BBQ's on this day than any other.  We came to the lake to relax and that's what we're doing.  Yesterday my neighbor, Barb stopped over.  She filled me in on how her winter had been, what was new with her family.  Then she shyly said, "I turned 70 in February."  I think my jaw hit the floor.  All of our days here at the lake, the seasons, the years...they all seem like pages and chapters in a big book.  As the narrator, my voice never changes.  But yes, 23 years have gone by and when I met Babs she was just in her late 40's with a teenage son.  And she's just the same, wearing her old shorts and blue denim jacket to hide the dirt on her clothes from spending hours in her garden.  Her ash blonde hair now a pretty shiny gray.  The same big smile and twinkling blue eyes.  The Husband made hamburgers on the grill (under the roof of the patio as it was pouring), and she stayed for dinner with us.  Our friends at the lake are wonderful, rain or shine!
I wanted to share something with you that came by UPS last week.  I think all of you know how much I wanted to do a gallery wall.  Well, I just didn't have the room so I did those floating shelves that I posted about recently.  It still bothered me that I had so little space to display pictures and there aren't enough frames in the world for all the pictures I'd love to put out.  So I found this big iron grid thingy in my Napa Style catalog and I knew it would be perfect.
I have it in my family room, just the right place as it's all about family.  Like the years at the lake, it tells a story.  My children, holidays, pets, our good times...The pictures are held with metal clips, fifty of them, and of course you can swap them out any time you want.  Now, you know I'm not handy or extremely creative, but Melanie at Comfy House just posted the other day that she had saved the metal frame from her boys crib and was thinking of using it for something like this.  I hope seeing this gives her the inspiration to go for it!

So, now I'm off to get things ready for lunch, shish kebobs on the grill.  We''ll probably come home tomorrow.  I hope all of you are having a wonderful holiday doing what you love, with all those that you love!  See you later in the week!

XO,
Jane

47 comments:

Debby said...

Sounds like a wonderful week-end. The two of you needed a long week-end to relax.
We still hold hands too.
I just saw a frame like this on Friday. What a good idea. Esp. for your Lake house.
we took our two granddaughter to an ice cream festival but the rest of the week-end we have been working in the house. Our daughter and her kids are coming.....the first time she has been here in 5 years. I feel like we are getting ready for a big event, hah.
Have a good week.

Lisa @ Texas Decor said...

Could you send some of that rain my way, please? :) That's a sweet story about your neighbor. Time flies, for sure. I really like your new frame for holding pics. It's a good way to display them because you can easily swap them out. We grilled out this weekend too. It sure was hot though. :) Enjoy your week!

Primitive Stars said...

Afternoon Jane, sounds like a lovely weekend even though it is raining....how sweet you two still hold hands, cute and endearing.......I have a little piece of wall in the trailer at the lake with family, pets pictures, love looking at all the wonderful memories.....Enjoy the day, Francine.

Susie said...

Blonde, I am so beyond ready for a vacation. I am glad you and your husband are having a great weekend.xoxo,Susie

Kathleen Grace said...

Happy Memorial day Jane! It sounds like you are having a great time. Yes the years do fly, but they are mostly filled with happiness:>)

Deborah said...

Happy Memorial Day Jane!!
So nice to pop over here and catch up!
Love that memory holder...very unique! And space-saving too!
Sounds like you had a great time and lots more where that came from
The weather is beautiful here today and summer is in the air!
Have a great week!

All my heart,
Deborah xoxo

podso said...

Jane I really like your picture thing ... what a great way to display pics and change them out when you want to. Someday the grands will have fun looking at all of that. Glad you are getting some down time at the lake in spite of the rain (at least it's not snow LOL) ...

Something Nice and Pretty said...

Oh, how I'd love to visit Chicago, my bff and sil have and they loved it!
Sounds like the Lakehouse is so superb, isn't it wonderful that you and your long time friend had lunch together.

Barbara F. said...

Sounds like a wonderful weekend in spite of the weather, Jane. Boat is looking good. I'd love to visit Chicago one day, it is on my "wishful travel" list. xo

Sarah said...

We've had a rainy Memorial Day weekend as well, but that's OK. We need the rain. '-)
Great solution to the photo display situation. ~ Sarah

20 North Ora said...

Love that grid for pictures! Hope you are having a great weekend at the lake.

Judy

Lynn said...

Yep, time truly does go by quickly Jane! Sounds like you had a nice weekend up at the lake. Lovin' your new picture gallery, I'm sure you'll have fun with it:@)

Mary Ann Pickett said...

What a fun time. Love that you and your husband still hold hands.

Always Nesting said...

I love the sweetness in your description of your friend Babs. Time passes and we change, but friendships can keep us in that same place, remembering how life was when we met.

Stacey said...

Your lake neighbors sound pretty special. It makes me feel kind of sad when something like that happens to make me realize the passage of time. :)

Your picture rack is very cool! I like things like that. Used to be that I never wanted photos around...now I can't get enough.

Come by if you can to see pictures of Nancy's beautiful home.

Olive said...

Please send me some of your rain. I have been watering flowers like mad here Jane. Time does move on. Some people seem to stay the same forever or they age better. Love your photo holder. xo, Olive

Beth said...

So glad you made it to the lake to relax. My parents had a lakehouse too. I enjoyed it when I was younger. Sitting on the deck looking out over the water, skiing and boating, and enjoying the friendships made with the neighbors...great lifestyle!

Unknown said...

Sounds like your are enjoying your time at the lake. We finally got to our lake house on Friday, and are enjoying our time, and the change of scenery.

Come over and see some changes I made to the kitchen here.

:)
Kathy

Vicki @ lifeinmyemptynest said...

Yes, you can never count on Memorial Day weather in Michigan - more cold and rainy weekends than I can remember. My daughter was over at Lake Michigan and didn't get much beach time in either :-(

Beth said...

Happy Memorial Day Jane! It sounds like a lovely relaxing weekend.

Melissa@daisymaebelle.com said...

So sorry about your less than pleasant weather today! We enjoyed beautiful weather here in TN today. LOVE your new frame! I love to look at a wall of pictures. Oh, the stories they can tell! Life to the full! Melissa

{oc cottage} said...

happy! happy! memorial day!

m ^..^

Leslie Harris said...

what a lovely post Blondie. I enjoyed hearing about your neighbors and following you guys about town. :) I'm so glad you had such a nice time and I like your photo display. What a good solution.
Leslie (aka gwen moss)

Elaine said...

It's been rainy here too then the rain stopped and it was windy and raw.

Now we're headed to 90 degree weather. Where is Spring it lasted only two days!

Love your photo display. I got one at Pier One that is similar.

BTW, did I tell you I love the new look of your blog?

Lynne said...

Hi Jane!
It looks like you had a lovely weekend! We dodged the cloud bursts all weekend as well!

Time does fly. Such a dear story about your neighbor.

Love the "gallerie au bord du lac"!
The frame is perfect in it's place!
~Lynne
withLove.

Pondside said...

Lovely to see you back at your lake house - a place for memories old and new. You're so blessed to have that place for your family to come back to.

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

We had the same weather yesterday Jane.
And your right, Memorial Day weekends are usually rained on.
I love that picture thingy you found...very fun!
Dan and I mostly worked outside this past weekend, until yesterday anyway.
Big Hugs friend,
Cindy

Theresa said...

Oh it sounds like a wonderful day spent with your sweet friend and wonderful food:) Love the photo thingy... perfect! Have a blessed week dear Jane, HUGS!

Melanie said...

Glad to hear you had another nice weekend at the lake! Love your frame. I was trying to click on the picture to enlarge it so I could see it better, but this photo wouldn't enlarge for some reason. Maybe it's my computer. Anyway...is this on the wall at the lake house or your Chicago house? Talk to you soon! xoxo

Julie Marie said...

What a darling neighbor you have Janie... and age is a state of mind... you and she will be forever young... love friendships that last over the years... also love your new photo hanger... I need something like that, I take sooo many pics!... it is rainy here today, but a soft, gentle rain and I am loving it... I also love that you and your hubby still hold hands... Jack and I do too!... xoxo... Julie Marie

Sue said...

My parents had a place on the lake outside the town I grew up in. In the summers we would move out there and dad would drive back and forth to work. It was always fun catching up with the people from other places that we only saw in the summers.

It was just about as ugly as possible here all weekend. Rain, storms...yucky. We got things ready for our Saturday garage sale (it is supposed to rain on Sat.) and then had to move things around to get at least one car in when the storm blew in last night. We were worried about hail. My son showed up Saturday night and didn't leave until this morning! He slept and watched TV in the basement, I watched movies and put price tags on things. Not exciting, but a relaxing weekend.

Love the photo idea...clever!

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

Hi Jane...oh I love that photo holder, looks great in your home!!
Time does fly faster when you get older, but having fun in life makes it go by quickly too!

NanaDiana said...

Hi Jane-It sounds like you had a wonderful weekend with you and hubby.Love the frame/photos. I am so sick of this rain I could fly and it has been cold here, too. I am finally back blogging with a computer that works! Will catch up more later- xo Diana

Ricki Treleaven said...

I guess rain is good because Mr. Art @ Home's aunt and uncle (from Houston) were talking last night about the drought.

I love your picture thingie... How great is that?

Thanks for sharing about your neighbor. Maybe you can surprise her with a half birthday party this summer!

xo,
RJ

Traci said...

Wow I can't believe the weather there! We were in the pool on Memorial Day! Your frame is really cool! I haven't seen one like it.

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

Oh you will never believe this...my son lives in Old Town and I've been to Bistrot Margot! It's such a fun place to stroll around. You asked about my daughter's shoes and she said she got them at TJMaxx. Not sure that's much help though! Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog. I so appreciate it. <3

Carolyn said...

Glad you had a nice weekend! The pillow you asked about came from a thrift shop so not sure where it came from. Your lake house looks lovely.

Thank you for your visit,
Carolyn

Jacqueline said...

Jane, Monday was the only decent day we have had, topping at 70, but the next two sound like yours. We did bridals Monday and we were so glad - odd day to do it being Memorial Day, but that was when the photographer was available. Time for summer - please!

Anonymous said...

Hi Janie! Oh, you must have had a wonderful weekend! How sweet to know hand holding still goes on. It does with me and my hubby too! So precious!
Yes! I'm gonna be a grandma again! We're thrilled. Thanks for popping in to see me.
be a sweetie,
Shelia :)

bj said...

What a great get-away weekend.
Love that frame for your photos...I love family photos so much. I need to look for something like this for my photos, too. :)
hugs, bj
and....we SURE could use some of that rain.

Designing Domesticity said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful memorial day weekend. So cute with the hand holding. Thanks for sharing, liz

Betty@SouthernGrace said...

Barb sounds nice. It made me sad to read. Life goes so fast. I'll bet people on the lake don't age as fast though.

Tammy said...

You surely must have spent some lovely times at the lake over the years. I imagine for your friend to say out loud that she is 70 is a bit of a shocker. I swear, time does fly the older we get. I often wonder how I got to the age I am at now. It just doesn't seem possible that so much time has passed. Staying active and taking care of ourselves is so important.

I love visiting quaint little towns. Hope you've had a great week. Tammy

Amy Kinser said...

Hey girl. I love photos too. What a great idea that you had using that iron piece.

So glad to hear from you tonight. Life has been so busy.

Blessings, Amy

Claudia said...

My husband and I still hold hands, too! Isn't that nice?

I remember many Memorial Days in my home state of Michigan that were very cold, indeed. Whenever you write of your cottage, I remember our family cottage and get very nostalgic.

xo
Claudia

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

Your photo wall reminds me of the cabin in the movie On Golden Pond. I always loved the interiors and especially how they had just tacked tons of photos right on the wall. It's a great look besides being so nice to have your fav photos on display like that! Sounds like a wonderful relaxing weekend.

{northern cottage} said...

Hello girlie !!! I just opened my romantic homes mag and saw YOU - how awesome is that!!! So impressed with you!! xo