I cleaned out my craft-and-everything-else-under-the-sun closet. (And I finished shredding. Just thought I’d throw that in there.) I have a lot of fabric in wire bins, but I also found some fabric in another container. It was the fabric that I bought in San Diego a few years back. Cheery colors. Some Amy Butler fabric. And, sigh of relief, more of the blue-green print that I have used as a border on the quilt. Now I can use it for binding.

Now, please tell me this happens to you. I found some lovely fabric that I cannot remember buying. I have no memory of it at all.

I stared at it. Was it vintage? No. But I could have sworn it was for a moment because it reminds me so much of the fabric here:

I had to take it to the bedroom and compare it to the headboard fabric.

Then there’s the fabric on the wicker rocker cushions:

Which is a faded version of the same sort of print. And by the way, not long after I bought this rocker, I realized that the fabric I used to cover the piano bench is almost the same pattern as this one.

And here’s the vintage pillow cover on the bed.

Can you tell I like big flowery prints, with red/pink flowers and green leaves?

Some updates:

•  Dad is in the nursing home/rehab wing. They are trying to regulate the blood thinner before he goes home. He’s still on oxygen. His room is right next to my mother’s, which is good and bad, because he’s in there all the time. She’s used to having some quiet time. My father is a complicated, often difficult man. He’s scared right now, which ups the difficult factor and I pray each day for more patience in my dealings with him. It isn’t easy. But I need to do better.

•  I mentioned a while back that I would be starting another blog, one where I helped other bloggers with their blogging problems. I did all the ground work, even developed the beginnings of a website. I got hung up when I started to think about what I would charge. And that’s where everything ground to a halt. I just don’t feel right about charging for my services right now. Yes, I’m pretty good at figuring out what might be a problem with Blogger or WordPress and I like that sort of challenge. But, my gut tells me that now isn’t the time for that. I’ve learned the hard way to trust my gut instinct and, if every time I tried to wrestle with what my fees would be, I turned away from the project, that tells me something. So, no blog fixing business. That’s not to say it won’t ever happen. It’s just not happening now. If you have a question, you’re welcome to email me and I would be happy to give you any advice that I might have.

• On Sunday, I will be celebrating 5 years of blogging. (Stop by. There might be a giveaway going on.) Since I started this blog, it has gone through all sorts of redos and updates. It took a while to find my blogging voice. It took some time to settle into what I always wanted this blog to be: a friendly place to visit where I share my life here at the cottage and on the road with you. I’ve realized over time, that though I’ve added advertising and that advertising gives me a little additional income, I’m never going to be one of the big bloggers. Nor do I want to be – simply because that would mean I have to concentrate on one thing. On one niche. Personally, that would drive me crazy and would stop me in my tracks. Always writing about decorating? Or crafting? Or gardening? Or whatever? I love all these things and love sharing them with you, but being limited to one thing is just not me. So, if being a big blogger means finding a niche, this girl ain’t going to be a big blogger. I doubt I will ever earn enough on this blog to make a significant difference in our financial life. But I’m oh so grateful for what I do earn.

With the move to WordPress last August, the blog finally became what I want it to be. I love what it is. I love all of you. I love having a conversation in the threaded comments. That, to me, has been a wonderful change for the better. I’ve accepted the fact that I really don’t care about SEO or all the myriad tips out there for building your blog. My eyes glaze over. I. Don’t. Care. Because that stuff takes any joy out of blogging for me. And this blog is and must remain a joyous endeavor for me. That’s why I do it.

I have settled into who I am as a blogger. It took me a long time to do that in my personal life. But finding that truth about myself helped me to find the truth about this blog.

Anyway, I’m glad you’re here. I treasure your friendship. I value your advice. I thank you.

Happy Friday.