Living a Beautiful Life

I am a voracious reader. I always have been. Some of my favorite gifts through the years have been books. In the late 1980's, a friend gifted me with a book by Alexandra Stoddard, called "Living a Beautiful Life." It was a simple, but inspiring little book, encouraging the reader to make the most of what life has to offer, to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, and to make every day of your life a special event. Furthermore, Alexandra demonstrated that you didn't have to be rich to live beautifully, it was mostly a matter of attitude and imagination. Wow, what a concept!

I've always possessed the ability to find beauty in the world around me, but I was truly inspired by that book, and immediately set about making my life even more beautiful. I took the good china out of the hutch and actually used it to eat off of. I invited my friends over and served them coffee laced with amaretto and real whipped cream in the tall glass irish coffee mugs that my Grandmother had given me one year for Christmas. I hung botanical prints in the bathroom and put the good towels out to be used instead of just admiring how nice they looked in the linen closet. I bought a set of soft, luxurious Egyptian cotton sheets for the bed. (They were on sale...no sense going off the deep end!) In short, I stopped waiting for later, and began enjoying each moment to the best of my ability. Life is much too short to put off doing the things that bring pleasure and happiness to your days.

Although, I actually live in a rather large old farmhouse, I consider this place online my virtual cottage, and plan to fill it with old fashioned charm, all the things that I love, and the various activities which continue to bring me pleasure...knitting, crocheting, cooking, gardening, taking pictures, reading, spending time with my family and friends, and enjoying my doll collection. I hope you'll stop by often for a cup of tea and a little pleasant conversation!