Happy Tuesday, sweet friends. I hope everyone enjoyed a nice weekend. Yesterday, we received much needed rain and the forecast is for temperatures to be in the 80’s this week. That is a welcome relief!!
“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.”
Psalm 5:11
The last time I posted a “this & that” was January, I thought it was time for another!
This past Saturday, Butch and I met Shirley and Tom for dinner in Birmingham at our favorite Italian cafe. Most of you know Shirley from Housepitality Designs and our Monday Morning Blooms group. Shirley is no longer blogging or joining us for flower therapy, but is taking time to be with her mother and just enjoy her family and her home. With quite a few miles between us, opportunities to get together don’t come around often. They are the sweetest couple and we spent three hours with them and could have used more time to get caught up. Shirley has a big following on Instagram where she shares her beautiful home. If you are on Instagram, be sure to follow her.
Longtime readers know that I have collected April Cornell tablecloths for years. I would often find them at TJ Maxx and would also order from their website. I was contacted in April about being a brand ambassador for their spring line of linens. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity. The above photos were from their email that went to their subscribers introducing the four brand ambassadors for spring!
Upon receiving my choice of linens, I was only required to post a photo (using the linens) to Instagram as seen above. That was certainly easy with no requirement to post a blog. But, I love blogging and pulled photos from the blog posts for Instagram. I have been asked to continue as a brand ambassador for the fall line, and I am excited to see their new linens.
This brings up a topic that some of my blogging friends have discussed on their blogs. They have posed the question, “do people still enjoy reading blogs or do they prefer scrolling Instagram?” I personally love the community of blogging that I don’t sense with Instagram. What do you think? I would love to hear from you! I value your comments and feedback. I plan to continue blogging as long as I can. I would so miss the connection and friendships that have been made.
It is so hard to get a photo with the three grands. EM is old enough to cooperate but, EK and WL do their own thing!
The girls had fun at our last sleepover in the cottage, it was EK’s first time to spend the night in the cottage. However, it was a night to remember! I awakened around 1:00 am and realized that the blow up mattress had deflated. I didn’t want to wake the girls so I stayed put until 3:00. By this time my back couldn’t take it any longer and I moved to the chair and ottoman with EK quickly following. We were able to go back to sleep. At 5:00 EM joined us in the chair. With all three of us snuggled in the chair, it didn’t take us long to retreat to the house. We definitely made a memory!
We shared a posed photo of EM at her ballet recital on Simple Southern Sunday a few weeks ago. She loves to dance and you can tell by the smile on her sweet face (second from left)!
WL is very active and never stops moving. You can’t take an eye off of him because he is into everything. He plays so hard that he is now taking three hour naps. Is there anything sweeter than a little one sleeping?!! This melts my heart.
Southern Lady Magazine has been featuring a page of selected Instagram posts for several years. They have chosen my photos occasionally, but this year they have been extremely gracious. In the July/August 2022 issue they selected the Sunshine Cottage (middle row and center). The original photo posted on Instagram is on the right side of collage.
The May/June 2022 issue featured a table in the cottage celebrating hydrangeas (top row, first photo).
The March/April 2022 issue featured a table in the garden (top row and far right). These are small photos on one page in their issues, maybe not very significant to many people. But, I am always excited for the recognition. Many of you have seen the photos and have let me know with your sweet comments and emails. I enjoy sharing with you when they do select one of my photos and thank you for indulging me.
So what’s with this collage? RM and I are on the left as you probably already knew. A sweet friend that goes to my church came up one Sunday morning with a photo on her phone and said, “who does this person look like?” I looked closely and responded, “I don’t know.” She had already shown it to my son, DIL, and others with all of them saying, “looks like Pam”. My friend said the lady’s hair color and style, glasses, boots, and jeans all looked like me. I have always heard that we have a twin somewhere. She is obviously younger, but what do you think?
We don’t often have photos of us together, thanks to Shirley for this one!
I am grateful for your visit and gracious comments. I have the best readers!! Wishing you a delightful rest of the week as we say farewell to June!
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
How fun you got to spend time with Shirley and Tom at dinner Pam! I miss her…sniff. Congrats on being a Brand Ambassador for April Cornell. I’m not surprised they contacted you, your tables with their linens are always stunning! Adorable photos of your grands, the sleeping photo of WL is oh so sweet. So funny about your twin! My hubby and I ran into a doppelganger of his brother about a year ago, he even dressed like him. Happy Tuesday ♥
Thanks so much, Mary. Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday!
P.S. Congrats on your Southern Lady features too. ♥
♥️♥️♥️
I do enjoy your photos and your blog! Keep it coming! Would love some” behind the scenes” as to how you store your linens,treasures, etc. Love to see your “little loves “.Nothing like a grand baby! Look forward to your instagram and your blog.
Thanks so much, Donna. Storage is definitely running out. However, my kitchen has lots of cabinets and there is storage in the Sunshine Cottage. Happy Wednesday!
No doubt the blogging community is where I’ll always stay, the friendship is firsthand (once removed, I suppose, by internet), unlike any other social media. So glad you had the opportunity to meet with Shirley & Tom. EM’s happiness on stage is infectious, and WL is particularly angelic while sleeping. Speaking of sleeping, now we know the rest of the story that Butch eluded to a few weeks ago with the Cottage sleepover. 🙂 You are a rightful ambassador to both SoLady and April Cornell, congratulations, Pam. I bet your doppelganger can’t take the same credit! (I did do a double take, trying to hone in on the glasses, thinking it was you!). Fun post.
Thanks so much, Rita. I love the friendships that are mostly virtual but genuine from blogging. I will certainly blog as long as I can. I enjoy it!
I love reading your blog posts! Even though I don’t comment often, I still enjoy every post. I’m on Instagram, but it’s not the same. Keep on blogging please. 😁
Thanks so much and I certainly plan on blogging. Happy Wednesday!
I love your blog posts! I very rarely comment, I so look forward to seeing the posts in my inbox! I’m on Instagram but only sporadically. Please keep blogging!
Thank you, Julie. I will continue blogging, I love the community!
How fun for you and Butch to visit with Shirley and her husband. Great photos.
I love EM’s ballet photo and sleeping WL. The picture of you and Butch with all the grands is special.
Congratulations on being an April Cornell ambassador. You represent them very well.
You are very deserving to be recognized by Southern Lady.
So glad you got a good rain.
I was so thrilled when I found your blog and that you were from Alabama. I have enjoyed your blogging friendship as well as many others over the years. Of course, you should continue.
Thank you, Bonnie. Just think, without blogging we would not be friends!
How wonderful that you and Shirley got to get together! Congrats on both the April Cornell Brand Ambassador and the features in Southern Lady. Your grands are all so adorable. I rarely go to Instagram. I would rather read blogs.
Thank you, Penny. I always enjoy your posts!
I love reading your blog posts. They are wonderful. What a great visit with Shirley. I miss her on Monday Morning Blooms. Thank you for the lovely blogs. I will keep reading them!
Thank you, Lu Ann for commenting and following!
Where do I start? Pam, the pictures are precious and priceless. I’m so happy for all your features and being an ambassador! Your efforts, gorgeous tastes, and how you bring so much abundant beauty to the world should be recognized! Your grandkids are simply darling! I enjoy blogging so much. And meeting people, just as you, that have brought so much joy to my life. I get easily overwhelmed on IG due to the amount of “noise” with reels and such. They say that attracts viewers, but it does the opposite to me. I feel blogging has more authenticity. In your case the IG is a perfect platform for displaying beauty! I appreciate how you use it. Sending you love and hugs always! 💛💛🤗
Thank you, Karla. Without blogging, we would not
have become friends. I am so grateful for your friendship ♥️🙏🏻
You’re most welcome, Pam. I’m so grateful too. 💛💛🤗
Oh dear Pam, I love reading your “this and that” post. Love seeing your family pictures. What fun to spend time with friends. Congratulations on your features. What an honor. Oh my goodness..not sure my back could take that kind of laying down Pam. What a night to remember with a sleepover with the grands. Speaking of grands..I have three coming in just a bit to stay with me until tomorrow. Happy end of June! It’s almost Christmas! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thanks so much, Cindy! Enjoy those darling grands!
Keep on blogging. I so enjoy all your photos. Congrats on being picked to be an ambassador for April Cornell.
Thank you, Della. I will here blogging!
How exciting to be chosen as a brand ambassador for April Cornel! And recognition in Southern Lady, that is very exciting! So nice you and Shirley could dine together, I do follow her on Instagram and it’s obvious how much she is enjoying styling her beautiful new home. I like Instagram, but it is not the same as the friendships with blogging. You are making such great memories with your sleepovers, little Wyatt is going to want to join the fun soon! I’m doing grandmother carpool duty this week, taking mine to and from various day camps, it’s so much fun to hear about their daily fun when I pick them up!
Thank you, Jenna. I love the friendships made through blogging. Enjoy your carpool duty this week!
Congrats Pam on being selected an AC ambassador! Your tablescapes are always so pretty and inviting. I didn’t visit their website until you mentioned it in your blog so that’s a true testimony to you being a good ambassador! I don’t follow Instagram that much as I love the blogging platform so much better. It’s good to see Shirley. It’s challenging taking care of older parents, as you know, but also very rewarding. Congrats on the multiple magazine recognition! You deserve it! The children are absolutely precious. WL is begging to be snuggled. He’s so sweet! The girls always bring a smile to our face. That night in the Sunshine Cottage was indeed memorable. Thanks for sharing. Glad you got rain and cooler temps! We got it too and I’m so thankful. Happy Tuesday! Clara❤️
Thank you, Clara for all of your sweet comments through the years. I always look forward to hearing from you ♥️
Pam, I enjoyed reading about all that happening with you. How fun to get to have dinner with Shirley! Congratulations on being a brand ambassador for AC. Your tables are always stunning. Also, congrats on your Southern Lady features. It is so well deserved. Miss Ella Mae looks beautiful at her dance recital. She looks so happy! The picture of Wyatt is so sweet. Wishing you a most happy Thursday, dear friend. Enjoy those cooler temps. We have had the same here, and it has been so heavenly!
Thank you, Shannon and Happy Wednesday!
How wonderful that you and Butch could enjoy dinner and time spent with Shirley and Tom. Memories. I do love Ella Mae’s big laugh as she is on stage. A special day for her and your family.
Congratulations, dear friend on being an ambassador for April Cornell and on your Southern Lady features. An honor well deserved. Have a beautiful week and again, many congratulations to you!
Thank you, Sandra for your sweet comments. Happy Wednesday!
What a lovely post dear Pam. How nice that you were able to meet up with Shirley.
Congratulations on being a April Cornell Brand Ambassador! I am thrilled they contacted you… so well deserved! And Southern Lady features too! Woo Hoo! I am so delighted for you!
Your This and That” posts are darling. I love seeing your Littles and catching up with your Everyday Living! Don’t Stop!
I will say this over and over… Blogging is a special community but it is also where our lives, perhaps a better word for it is, our shares …are much more personal. The photography is much more detailed and exquisite and it’s not just a square. The writing we share is much more personal too. It’s a story!
I understand Instagram is fast quick and easy… but it’s just not the same. The personal side is not there. Don’t even get me started on the algorithm. Also… please remember in the back of your mind… you own your Blog. You do not own your Instagram account. META may collapse one day, who knows? Oh and those reels…they turn me off… especially the dancing 50+ year olds. I come to BlogLand and to our forever Blogs. Peace and tranquility!
I may pop on Instagram but I pop off just as fast!
I sure hope you got a new inflatable!
Keep On Doing What You Do!
Happy 4th!
Thank you, Nancy. I wholeheartedly agree with your analysis on Instagram and blogging. I love the blogging community! We haven’t purchased a new
inflatable yet, but will
soon 😂
Hi Pam, As always I so enjoy your blog. I miss Shirley’s blog. I went looking for her on Instagram but couldn’t find her. Can you give me her tag.
Thank you, Vicky. I sent you an email!
Hi Pam,
I still love reading blogs and yours is one of my favorites. Your home and gardens are so beautiful and I have always enjoyed following your travels. I also enjoy RM’s Sunday posts. Instagram is nice but I feel like I am “visiting” a friend when reading a blog. 🤗
Lynda, thanks so much for your sweet comments. I so appreciate your visits and yes the friendship!
I love blogs! I go on Instagram too because some of my favorites don’t post blogs in email. I realize all this has become challenging, but I would have a huge hole in my life if blogs went away.
Thank you, Nancy for your sweet comments.
Pam, I love your blogs, through them I found a special friend from Alabama! How wonderful to have dinner with Shirley and Tom. The restaurant is beautiful from the outside! So many wonderful things are happening for you, all so richly deserved. I always look for your name first in every SL. So exciting about April Cornell!! And I never tire of seeing your precious family photos.
Thank you, Roxanne and through blogging I found a
special friend in SC. Thank you for your visits and lovely comments through the years!
Pam, I love “This and That!” I don’t remember ever seeing these before. And all of these photos are great. Congratulations again on all of your honors in the blogging world; I am so proud of you and for you. The April Connell Brand Ambassador designation is wonderful! Lots of love to you and all of the family.
Thank you so much for your love and friendship!
Love your This and That. I hope you didn’t feel twisted like a pretzel after the sleepover conditions but I wouldn’t have awakened them either! And three cheers for being an April Cornell ambassador. Their linens are the best and I love how you use them with your beautiful arrangements. Their confidence in you is well placed! (As are the Southern Living nods! Now, when are they come to come do a feature on you and Butch — it’s time!). Adored the photo of EK in her ballet garb.
As for blogs and instagram — I don’t find any satisfaction in instagram, just showing off things. Pretty things but without the community or soul or ability to tell a story that blogging brings. I have an account to occasionally visit people but rarely go and have never posted. Time is too short and tight and life is too short to spend that much time online!
Thanks so much, Jeanie. I do agree blogging is more about community, which I love!
I enjoyed this post so much. Seeing the children is always a highlight for me. Wyatt is beautiful sleeping. I love that you and Shirley had this special visit. Heart friends are so precious to us. Blogging brings people into our life that we would never know. I am so blessed by knowing you. Congratulations on your well deserved honors. I too love AC linens. You are the perfect choice as Ambassador. I think you have a “true following” for your blog and inspires so many of us. It is not just beautiful tables and gardens but the special connection we feel by knowing you and your beautiful family.
Thank you for all your sweet comments through the years, Dianne. I love blogging!
Oh please please continue to blog. It’s more personal and I’ve fallen in love with your family.i am out of touch with some of the former bloggers now that they have switched to Instagram.
I enjoy looking for Southern Lady to arrive in the mail box just to look for pictures of your cottage, tables or garden. You have become famous and I treasure our friendship. I’m in my 4th week of recovery and slowly making progress. Learning not to overdo.
Alice, I will continue blogging as long as I have the mind and energy. I love the community that we have and you have been with me since almost the beginning. You are a sweetheart and have always encouraged us. Thank you for all of the love and support. Take care of yourself, my friend ♥️
Hello Dear Pam,
Congratulations on your ambassador position with AC.
This is very well deserved and you have a natural flair for making their line of products shine.
Yes, you must keep blogging it is a creative outlet for you and you also brighten the lives of many other souls.
If there was ever a time to brighten up the world it is now and you do it with such grace and beauty.
Your love of Christ and family shines so brightly.
Wishing you a lovely day!
Jemma
Jemma, I definitely plan on blogging for a long time, hopefully. I love the friendships and the community in the blogging world. Thank you, my friend ♥️
Congratulations to you with AC and SL, well deserved accomplishments! You always bring such beauty and joy to us through your blog! I so enjoy seeing your precious family, watching them grow, and hearing the stories and all about the traditions. I’ve enjoyed travels with you and Butch via your blog, and learned all kinds of interesting things!
Thank you for the delight of your blog, the work you do, the inspiration you provide, and your grace and friendship, it’s very special 💞
Sue, thank you for your sweet comments. I feel like all of my followers are friends and I love our community. I plan to blog for as long as I possibly can ♥️
How wonderful that your beautiful photos of home and garden are receiving greater exposure, so others can enjoy your artistry, Pam. And here’s another vote from this corner to keep the blog going. (I’m glad to see from your comment to Sue above, that you plan to blog for as long as you can.) I so enjoy “visiting” with you in your cottage and garden–as well as with your grandchildren. (And you’re right: sleeping babies are the sweetest sight of all. That WL is PRECIOUS!)
Thank you, Nancy for your sweet remarks and encouragement!
I’m visiting from Imparting Grace. What a lovely site you have! I agree about blogging. I don’t know where people get the idea that blogging is fading away. There are hundreds of good blogs with an active readership.
How neat to be featured in Southern Lady! I’ll have to look up their Instagram feed.
What sweet photos of your grandchildren.
Thanks so much, Barbara. I read your latest blog post and tried to comment, but it would not post. Happy 4th!
Lovely collage Pam & congratulations on the Ambassadorship! ☺️
I agree, I love the community of the blogging world Pam.
And hope to continue until God directs otherwise.
Blessings sweet friend,
Jennifer
Thanks so much, my friend!
I’m new to your blog, but so enjoy it! I hope you continue blogging, and in the meantime I enjoy reading blogs from the archive. Thanks!
I am so glad you are here, Maureen. I plan on blogging for as long as I can.
Awwww! Awesome post, the sweetest post…A favorite! Impossible something like tis in IG… I am grateful for your blog friendship. Thank you for sharing happiness and God’s words in your posts. Congratulations.
Thank you, sweet friend!
Dear one ~ Accolades for your greatly-deserved recognition by AC and Southern Lady. Oh to have been a part of the
jovial Pam/Shirley reunion at Bottega… The family photos are so endearing and a testament to the love you all share.
That look-alike comparison of you? It is a quasi match, but I would have had my doubts …Pam with another guy?
No way. My lips would have been sealed.
Thank you, Mary. Your sweet comments always encourage!
Oh, wow! A BIG congratulations on all your features in the magazine and also for being chosen to be an ambassador for the linens! God is using you in so many ways to bless others, sweet friend. You are SO deserving of every ounce of recognition, and it blesses me so much to see you getting credit for all your hard work. Your little grands are getting so big! And what adventures you have in the Sunshine Cottage! Memories, for sure, that your little ones will never forget. God bless you always.
Cheryl, thank you for your encouraging and kind comments. Blessings sweet friend!
How lovely to meet Shirley and tom for dinner. It’s so special to meet blogging friends in person. congrats on being a brand ambassador for AC, Your tables are gorgeous. Also congrats on Southern Lady. Well deserved. Your grands are the cutest. Happy summer. I am happy to feature this sweet post at Love Your Creativity.
Thanks so much, Linda and a special thank you for featuring my post!
So happy I finally saw this post! It was so special to see you and Shirley together, I know she told me she had the best time with your and Butch and Tommy. Love this post and all the fun things happening, dear friend. xo Lidy
It was a delightful evening with Shirley and Tom, special couple for sure!
It was such a great evening having such a wonderful dinner and spending time with you and Mr. RM…..cannot wait to do that again as 3 hours was not enough to catch up!!! xoxox’s
Thank you. Shirley. Three hours was not long enough! xoxo