{ Handmade is best }

Over my almost 11 years of blogging, I have met some amazing women.  We have forged a friendship, merely through words on a computer screen, a common goal, a thread that is woven through decades and decades of women who make a home.

The friendships that I have made through this little blog, have come to be some of the most pivotal and encouraging in my life, even above some people I know personally.  There are no conditions, there are no judgements, no rude comments or "maybe you shouldn't do it that way".

There's understanding, there are genuine words of love and comfort, and giving without asking for anything in return.

As I continue on this journey through blogdom, I am daily reminded that there are like minded souls out there, who understand me, who know what I'm going through or what I've been through, who just want to reach out and do something which to them may be so simple, but to me, means the absolute world.

I received a package this morning, a plain white envelope with my address on it.  It was filled to the brim with sweet little goodies, from a very sweet lady who has been reading my blog for quite a while.  Rhonda from Dirt Road Primitives.  :)

Rhonda has emailed me a few times, offering words of comfort through especially difficult moments, she's shared her life with he, we've exchanged friendly words and I guess somehow through this, I've touched her heart so that she saw fit to send me a few things that she and another friend made.  All because she knows how much I love handmade, and primitive and all things of that sort.

The first thing that struck me as I pulled the contents out, one by one, was the amazing scent.  I can only describe it as ME!!!  My husband took one whiff and said, plainly and simply "that smells like the country stores you like to hang out in".  HA!!!

And the next thing that struck me was just how well she knew what I would love.  I could have easily hand picked every.single.one of these items.

You all know how much I enjoy handmade and homemade.  I find that it's one of the best things we can do for ourselves and for those we love, to actually make something with our own hands, something that we can proudly display in our homes.

It is also no secret that I've had a huge love affair with Primitive and Country decorating.  I haven't quite been able to achieve that completely in this house.  Then again, I haven't had the time the past 2 years to really get down to the nitty gritty of making it my own.

Not until this past month, where I rolled up my sleeves and got to it.

These beautiful items that Rhonda made and graciously sent to me, are going to be proudly displayed in my home, and I know that every time I walk past one, I'll be able to think of her and how incredibly kind and sweet she is.

Rhonda made this table mat with her own hands, every stitch, lovingly sewn through the beautiful fabric.

And again I was struck by how truly ME these colors were, and how perfectly it goes on my dining table.

It brings happiness to my dining room and I'm sure I'll be smiling whenever I walk by.

These tarts were made by a friend of hers, and they smell phenomenal, matter of fact the above one "The Keeping Room" is already on my warmer in the living room and oh my.....I couldn't even begin to describe the scent other than heavenly.

Thank you Rhonda, so very much for these sweet gifts, they mean the world to me and I will treasure them for a very long time.

Also, like I said above Rhonda makes and sells amazing items for your farmhouse primitive decorating, so you can see what she has to offer at her page at Earlywork - Dirt Road Primitives, and also on her Etsy Shop.

She did NOT ask me to mention either of those, nor did she send me any of these with the intention of me reviewing or promoting her work, but I felt that it needed mentioning because she does incredible work and is truly one of the sweetest souls you will ever encounter :)

I'm off to go place these around my home, can not wait!!!