As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Friday, May 24, 2013

Our Vacation {The Bonus}


Before we left the beautiful state of Maine, there was a delightful "extra"... 

I was able to meet my dear blogging friend, Vee!  



I met Vee at her blog A Haven for Vee about a year and a half ago, and we quickly became friends.  Of course, I am not alone in that circle.  If you visit Vee's Haven on a regular basis, you know how warm and welcoming her corner of Blogland is.  It's like sharing a cup of tea and a good chat with a friend, a friend who loves the Lord.  

Over a year ago, when it looked as if Ryan might be moving to Maine, I emailed Vee, and we immediately began a rudimentary plan to meet...if Ryan moved, if we came for a visit, if we could work out the details.  

He did, we did, and we did!  

On a bright and sunny and cool Maine morning, we got off the interstate and met Vee and (another bonus!) her husband John for brunch at a farmhouse restaurant!  Have I already said "delightful"?  Well, it was!  




Vee is exactly who she is on her blog...warm and welcoming.  She is also adorable.  (I know her well enough to know that she'll challenge me on this one, but it's true.)  She posts so few pictures of herself on her blog, and many of those are artsy "partial" shots, that I was happy to see the real gal in the flesh.  

And, yes, we chatted.  In fact, the longer we sat there, the more we all chatted!  

Vee and I hit it off.  And so did these two!  Did they talk as much as we did?  Maybe so.  (Yes.)



While the hubbies talked about everything from soup to nuts, we girls exchanged gifts.  Another thing or two about Vee?  She is artsy.  And so very thoughtful.  Using what she knew about us via our blogs, she had carefully chosen such perfect things for each of us.


1) At home, I tried to recreate my gift's artful presentation. 
2) For me: a fabulous Maine-y blueberry candle (oh, the scent!) and some lovely tea towels.
3) Perfect in its new home.
4) Although all of the towels are pretty, I think that this one is my favorite.  It has sprigs of blueberries and will remind me of our wonderful trip.  It will hang here on my oven door this summer.
5) For Ron:  oh-so-delicious Maine whoopie pies!  (I may have sampled one.)
6) More thoughtfulness...a puzzle for Bekah and Maddie to do together, and a Rachel Field book that we had discussed.  Can you believe that it is on our reading list for the next school year?  (I hadn't told that to Vee.)
7) More artfully wrapped gifts, these for the girls.  On each package was a crocheted doily made by Vee's grandmother!  Precious.
(Edited to add: The doilies were not made by Vee's grandmother.  Oops.  But they did make a beautiful package!)
8) For Bekah: a sweet menagerie of Red Rose Tea animal figurines.  Here, Bekah has them arranged on her doily.
9) For Kati: a gorgeous linen table square with cross-stitching in one of Kati's favorite colors.



Vee and I have decided that if we go to Maine again, we must have another get-together.  After all, now we are forever friends.  



To read Vee's post about our meeting, click ~here~.

23 comments:

  1. How very special for you guys to meet up and spend time together. You are both such sweet ladies with lovely blogs! The photos are just beautiful too!

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  2. Ordinarily, I would try not to comment first, but it's as if we are still chatting, after all. Love seeing the towels in their new homes and the figurines on the doily. (My grandmother had the collection of Red Rose tea animals. Sadly, the doilies were not made by her, though. I have no idea who made them. Sorry for this loss in translation.) It was a lovely visit and I certainly hope that Ryan stays put long enough to do it again! ; D [Adorable? Now I haven't been called that for fifty-%#}#{ years! ]

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  3. Hi Cheryl. I am visiting from Vee's blog today. My hubby and I met Vee and John last month and it was so great to meet her in person. Isn't she a sweetheart? You got some great pictures of her and John. And yes, John and my hubby talked up a storm too. I'm glad your visit went well. Blessings, Pamela

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  4. Hi, I'm over here from Vee.
    I met Vee and John in person 4 years ago on a Maine vacation. : )
    I'm from MD too. Live in Howard County and about to move west into Garret County in a month. Are we neighbors or soon to be!?

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  5. Hi, I'm visiting from the adorable Vee's blog! Yes, I think she's adorable, too, even though I haven't had the pleasure of meeting her in person. Her blog is one of my very favorites. I'm very envious of your getting to meet her, you know! :)
    I enjoyed your post and I'm another Cheryl, so am signing up as a new follower. Have a great weekend!

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  6. How fun! I read Vee's blog as well (I found her through you). What a pleasure. Vee, if you ever visit Cheryl, I live just around the corner from her so stop by and see me!

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  7. How cool you two could meet -- I know you are kindred spirit and I think I came to you originally from her blog when you were doing the hospitality series. She is charming and what a lovely pic of the two of you!

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  8. I'm popping over from the adorable Vee's blog too. How fun that you all were able to meet in person and hit it off so well.
    Your photos are just beautiful.

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  9. How fun for you to meet Vee. Her blog is so warm and friendly, as you've pointed out. I love the photo of the two of you.

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  10. So delighted to see a picture of you and Vee together. Such a sweet friendship --- it looks like you had a wonderful time!

    LaDonna
    Gracious Hospitality

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  11. What a great trip and beautiful, thoughtful, heartfelt gifts! I bet that cross stitch cloth is in Kati's hope chest already. xo

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  12. I was WONDERING if you would meet Vee!!! How exciting!
    What a most wonderful time!

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  13. How perfectly wonderful that you two got to meet up! Miz Vee is a dear. You have a very sweet looking family too! I don't remember visiting here during the note card parties, but I'm a new follower now!

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  14. Oh Cheryl, if you and Vee knew just how happy I am to know that you finally met! So exciting!

    She is adorable and a precious sister in the Lord. That John is pretty great too. My Dad and Tim surely enjoyed their time with him.

    Love you
    Deanna

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  15. Wonderful, so glad you were able to meet. Vee is a delight. I live in Maine as well and we've been talking back and forth about meeting. I am in hopes that it will happen sometime this summer. Thanks for sharing this visit, love the pictures. ~ Abby

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  16. I'm visiting from Vee's and so very happy to see all of the fun photos of your vacation! Love the spectacular Maine photos and this special meeting. Vee is adorable...and so are you! What a wonderful trip! Sweet hugs, Diane

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  17. What a wonderful time you all had! (And I'm glad Vee didn't have to take the hatchet to you;)

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  18. Hello Cheryl
    I've come from the very "gracious" Vee's blog too!
    What a lovely account of your time together and how kind of her to come with gifts for all your family - that's such a Vee thing!
    That's a beautiful photo of the two of you to treasure.
    I can tell a great deal of planning took place and it was well worth it in the end - good for you!
    Shane♥

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  19. Oh how wonderful! Such a beautiful moment, to meet in person a blogging friend! I like the way you've put it
    (the meeting, and the photos). And, thank you dear Cheryl, for giving the link for Sarah plain and tall book, I loved the book when I taught my grade 3 kids, six years back. After which I got inspired the same way you've mentioned about Maine in your previous posts. I enjoyed all the posts about your vacation,the when, the where, and the where bonus:)

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  20. I read Vee's post on your get together. Sounds like you all had a lovely time!

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  21. It was so nice to see your visit with Vee on your blog as well as hers! It is always so much fun to finally meet a blog friends and I loved all your photos. She is adorable!

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  22. Aren't blogging friends the best. So wonderful that you were both able to met and as a bonus your husbands enjoyed each others company too.

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