And The Winner Is....

My Dears,

I want to thank those of you who entered my giveaway. There were very few of you and the chances were good for each. Unfortunately, only one could win. I folded up the names and put them in my pretty Lenox bowl.

 I decided to have someone other than myself pick out the name. I walked outside and went around the corner to see my neighbor Mrs. Robinson. She gladly stirred the names and picked one.

 And the winner is........

A hearty congratulations to Brianne from Under The Florida Maples blog!! Please e-mail me your address so that I can send out your frame. To all of you out there, please make sure to visit Brianne's lovely blog by clicking HERE.

BUT WAIT!!! I decided to pick one more name from the bowl and send out an extra little surprise gift. Maybe it's the lovely Spring weather or the sweet purring emanating from Mr. Knightley sitting beside me, but I'm feeling mighty generous. Regardless, I picked out a name here at my desk and the winner of the surprise gift is...................*feel free to insert drumroll now*

Congratulations to Pam of Eastlake Victorian blog! Please contact me via e-mail and send me your addy! Now my dears, make sure to also visit Pam's lovely blog by clicking HERE.

Thank you all for leaving such sweet comments for my blogiversary...and thank you to those who entered. I wish I could pick every name and send a sweet gift to all of you..but alas I cannot. However, there will be other giveaways, so you will all have another chance in the near future.
Please know that each of you has helped to make blogging so special to me. Each day we're given the opportunity to step into each others world through merely a screen. It's amazing getting to know all of you through the power of the written word...and the magic of the internet.

Now I must share some blooming Spring shots from Harmonie House. I love the feeling of renewal during this time of year. The scents and sights are truly amazing. *sigh* I'm feeling quite blissful at this very moment.

Isn't the forsythia absolutely lovely?

Thanks to L. Starkey of The Healing Home,
I now know that this shrub is called the Pieris.

You all know just how I adore my magnolia tree! 

Oh such a heady scent!!

This is one of my creepers..not sure if it's myrtle. 

Again, you can assist me with this if you wish.

So there you have it my dears. Just a small taste of what's growing around Harmonie House. I cannot wait to be working out in the garden. I'm also looking forward to my first picnic of the season. There's something truly wondrous about a picnic in the spring, not to mention the yummy picnic fare! *winks*

I wish you all a most lovely evening and may the coming days kiss you with warmth, joy, and of course, bliss.

xoxo

Miss Sandra

It's My Blogiversary & a Giveaway!

My Dears,

Today marks my 2nd year in blog-land. Yes, on that Tuesday April 7th, 2009, I took a chance on sharing my world with all of you out there. I had no idea how it would be, or if anyone would be interested to read my musings at all. Well as of today I have 75 followers, and many of you have become dear to me.

I am honored that you have taken the time to read my scribble, my thoughts, and my poetry. You have followed my journey of rediscovering myself after the loss of my husband. You have advised me, sent me hugs me when I've been blue, and expressed your joy when good, happy times came into my life. I may not know most of you personally..or even met you...but I'm sure glad to know you! I may not always comment on your pages, but please know that I do read your posts, and look forward to each one. It's like visiting family from afar.

So to honor this day I am hosting a giveaway!!! Yay! What am I giving away you wonder? Hmmm...whatever can it be? Well, you all know I'm an old fashioned gal, living in an old fashioned world, filled with pretty old fashioned things. *smiles playfully* So therefore, my gift to one lucky reader will be a most lovely Victorian inspired hanging, double picture frame.
Do take a look at it!

This is how it will look on your wall.
Sorry about the fuzziness and the glare.

This is a close-up.

...an even closer look.

If you'd like to take a chance on winning this pretty frame, just leave me a comment and let me know you'd like your name entered. Please feel free to share this giveaway on other blogs with a link to my page. I will give it a week's time. I will draw the winning name from a pretty glass bowl and announce it next Thursday the 14th. Good luck my dears!

Oh, and if you happen to be curious..here is a link to my very first post. Just click HERE.

So my dears, I want to thank you for sticking around and making my blogging experience ever so special. I raise my glass to each and every one of you and make a toast...
Here's to our blog-land journey! May each experience yield a most rewarding return...that of new friendship and new discoveries!

Hugs!
xoxo
Miss Sandra

Thank You Sarah!

My Dears,

Happy Spring! Okay..maybe for some of us, it still doesn't feel like Spring. In fact this morning we had snow, rain all afternoon, and just moments ago we had thunder and heavy sleet. Did I mention it's 35 degrees? I think I'm going to get some firewood ready and have myself a cozy eve sitting by the hearth while thumbing through a couple of fabulous decorating books!

...Which brings me to my topic for the evening. Recently the lovely Sarah from My Yellow House hosted a book giveaway. I took a chance, commented and added my name, then voila! Twas my name which was drawn as the winner! Tis the first time I've won anything in dear ol' blog-land. Sarah made my day!

So this past weekend I received said decorating books..sweetly wrapped with a lovely note.

So pretty I didn't want to unwrap it.

Such sweet detail. Pretty ribbon & bird.
I know the perfect spot to display the birdie!

Voila! Les livres!

Such lovely interiors!

Beautiful ideas on every page!

Can you tell I really like these books? This is what I call eye candy for the lover of beautiful homes. So again, I thank you Sarah for the gift of reading. After all..we all know I cannot get enough books to suit me! I may need another bookcase real soon! *smiles*

Now I ask each and every one of you to visit Sarah's lovely place "My Yellow House". It's not only a visual treat, but also a delight to read.

Sarah, I hope you've gotten over the flu bug and are all well again! Hugs!

To all of you I send blissful tidings!

xoxo

Miss Sandra