Flattery or Encouragement?

Can you tell the difference?  Often I cannot!  Admittedly there are times when it's very obvious you have either received pure encouragement or pure flattery.  However, I think there are many instances when the lines can be very fuzzy.   Don't you think so?  I sure do, and I find this to be more and more the case in the new wide world of internet socializing.  Have you ever received a compliment online that also included an "atta girl" attached?  As a blogger, I certainly have received my  fair share and given quite a few too!  This got me thinking, wouldn't this world be a much better place if we would all share the gift of encouragement more often?  Not so much veiled in flattery, but pure out and out genuine encouragement.  I  certainly think so!

I found this quote online;

“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to love you.”

William Arthur Ward

Isn't that the truth!  I guess that's one way to measure true encouragement from flattery.  Did it leave you with a lasting impression?  Did it bring you courage or hope?  Did it reinforce something in you?  I think sharing and receiving encouragement is very important on so many levels!

I sent a card with this image on it one year to a family member who was going through a rough patch.  She has thanked me over and over for this card so many times.  She says, whenever she feels stressed she often thinks of this, and then of me.  Encouraging those who are struggling is more common and easier to remember to do.  But, what about sending out encouragement daily?

Just look at this vim diagram I found online.  One glance at this and I am quite encouraged to share encouragement.  Seriously!  The benefits of encouragement are praise, inspiration, and confidence, something we could all use a little more of these days. I truly believe many of us are born with certain gifts as well as talents.  While many of us may not born with the gift of encouragement, I think it is one we could all learn to practice daily.  How often do you think about encouraging another?  I confess, it is not something I do as often as I should.  Nor, is it one I receive nearly enough.  

As women we probably get the opportunity to share encouragement more then most.  It always inspires me so much when I see mothers encouraging their children, especially their little girls.  Why?  Because, I also know as women we also tend to "dis"courage each other too.  Way to often, we allow things like jealousy, pride and insecurity to enter into our relationships with each other.  When a young girl has been raised with encouragement she is much better to withstand those negatives.  More importantly, she also learns to give more encouragement too.  

I have always received tons of encouragement from my mother, but not so much from other women.  I was in my very early 40's before I actually heard another women tell me, "I deserved it!" in a very complimentary way.  I cannot remember what it was now that I had done but what I do remember is the fact that because this woman was able to reaffirm that for me, it was very encouraging at the time.   She didn't just offer up a compliment, but offered praise which gave me encouragement and led to more inspiration and gave me more confidence.  That was quite a gift!

This gift was given to me from a friend at a time when it was so unexpected too.  I was not struggling or in great need of this encouragement but soaked it in like someone who was starving none the less.  That's how much we all need encouragement.   Everyone wants affirmation and encouraging others shows you care.

A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.”

William Arthur Ward

I don't know who this author William Arthur Ward is, but I love his quotes! 

Have you given the gift of encouragement lately?  I have!  Will you take it, and share it too?

I hope so!

 I am sharing this with you today early for my Wellness Wednesday post, because I don't even want to talk about my waistline today.  Now, that's an area I could really use a whole lot of encouragement on, heck, I'll even accept a little flattery on that one!

LOL!

Have a wonderful day friends, and thanks for the read!

Mary

Can I change blogger in draft background?

Anyone else struggling with seeing the new blogger in draft layout?  On my last post I briefly mentioned how this change was something I would need to get used to.  But, I think some of you may have thought I was talking about my own blog background which I recently changed too.  

I was talking about the new draft layout after you sign into blogger.  Since it is all white now I am struggling to scroll through my reading list before clicking on a post.  Does anyone know if we can customize this page with a background color?  If so I would love a shout out.

Thanks!

Mary

Big Updates!!!

Wow!  Things sure are changing fast around here!   How about this new blogger background, y'all?  Pretty different, huh?  I have to say I am a bit taken aback, but think I'll adjust with time.  What a difference.  It would'nt bother me so bad if my shift key wasn't also sticking today and driving me nuts as well.  I hate when I get all out of sorts.  LOL!

Speaking of being out of sorts and changes, I wanted to update you on our 4th of July weekend.  Remember my cookie disaster?  Well, they turned out just fine with everyone!  Saturday we cooked out at the club and I brought a homemade (box) butter pecan sheet cake with cream cheese icing for the dinner.  I also made little pig in a blankets along with the firecracker cookies for the boat.  We all rafted up fairly early after dinner to await the fireworks and swam in between boats.  Because the water was so choppy by rafted up by similar sizes.

We had these two smaller boats rafted up behind us.

And the larger size Catalina 30's were more in front of us to the left.

We had two boats that rafted up to ours, shown in the bottom corner of this photo.

Here is our newest club member with his arms up wide.  We had 6 teens who watched the fireworks from the water that evening, and I was only able to get them out of the water with the promise of my cookies.  They went wild over them and begged for more.  Seriously!  So, yeah, I'd say they were a hit after all.

NOW!  For my biggest update of all!  I am finally ready to reveal our project to you that I have been hinting about for several weeks now.  

On Sunday, my husband and I finally settled on a contractor and signed the contract.  But before he could begin we had to scramble to get a few more things done.  So by Monday before noon, the morning of the 4th, we had the following things completed.

This tree here to the right had to come done.  It was a big old gum tree leaning to much in the yard.

Then all the steps and platform from the hot tub was all removed and cleared away.

We took a break then since it was the fourth and went sailing to enjoy our new sail and roller furling that the Mr. ordered for our boat.  It's fantastic, but more on that update later!

 Then Tuesday, this arrived.

Then Wednesday we took down one more tree that used to be here in the back near the fairy ring.

Do you see now, why it had to come down?  No?

How about now?  

I bet you've got it all figured out now!  I am soooo excited!

Yesterday, our contractor came and started digging our new pool!  Woohooooo!!!!

This is part of the yard that is going to require a retaining wall because we have a sloping lot.  He got quite a bit done yesterday then stopped and guess what happened last night.  Of all the times, now, we finally get rain!  

Our contractor came back this morning and tried to do some work.

But it was a bit too muddy to work and needs a little time to dry.  He's coming back again later today to see if he can do some more later.  In fact, he's already been back twice to drop off a few more things.

Things like all this.  That's my pool y'all!  

I am beyond excited and cannot believe we are putting in a pool.  This has been such a long awaited dream and that's exactly what I still feel like.  I feel like I am dreaming, so please do not wake me up!  

And no, these are not dream photos.  I took these out of our very muggy doors this am.  Look who showed up to check out what all was going on.  They were walking around looking like, what the heck?

Now I know who the fawns belong too, my sweet mysterious new friend.  She wagged her tail at me again, before taking off.

Well, I've got to take off too.  I've so much to do right now!  Things are changing fast but I'll be back to share more updates with you as soon as I can!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Thanks for dropping by!

Mary

American Country Tablescape

Last week while preparing my kitchen side table for my fourth of July vignette I needed to move a few things, so I put them in the dining room.  One of those things was my beautiful Fitz and Floyd rooster that I got at an estate sale last year.  I set him on the dining table out of the way.   Then after the fourth, I moved some of my dishes into the dining room before putting them up and really liked the way they looked with Mr.Roo.  Then I started adding a few  of the holiday linens and remembered a few other pieces I had as well that I thought would look good.

In a very timely manner, right before the fourth my girlfriend stopped by with two bags full of tomatoes and cucumbers from her garden.  I put some of them in the kitchen then remembered my soup tureen I bought at the estate sale as well.  Long story short, one thing led to another and I created this tablescape.

I am calling it American Country because it is a colorful hodgepodge of casual pieces.

Here is the culprit that started it all!

I  I then added the small yellow roses I picked up last year from Michael's.

I already had these candlesticks and the yellow runner on the table so that is how it evolved.

Not ready to give up my stars and stripes setting yet I layered that linen right on top of the yellow runner and added these adorable ladybug creamer and sugar I recently purchased from Ross.

The Butlers Pantry Salt and Pepper shakers....

...match my salad plates.  I decided to keep the dishes from my fourth of July setting, but added a few additional pieces like the red chargers and green saucers.  

I also changed out my napkins to a yellow and red rose floral.  Love it!

I had already set this wine and carafe on my side table in the dining room.  So, I added the cute paper checked napkins. 

Here are the delicious homegrown tomatoes and cukes from my BFF...

 ...and a few delicious looking candles!  They look good enough to eat don't they?

If you follow me at all you know how much I love color, lot's and lot's of mixed colors.   This table scape sure fits the bill for that and  I love the mix of linens and plates I used for this setting too.

I always enjoy setting a pretty table and it's even more fun when you just happen upon setting a beautiful table and get to share it with many friends at

Tablescape Thursday.

Thanks for visiting today, I really appreciate it!

Have a great day!

Mary

Mysterious Friends

Let me show you a few new friends that have been hanging around my house a lot lately!

Can you see her right outside my window?

This sweet adorable doe has been lingering around my house and my neighbors for weeks.  She must really like us because she is venturing closer and closer all the time.

Here she is again!  It seems every time I look out the window there she is!

And here she is making her way across the street to the neighbors.  She even wags her tail at me now when I go outside and speak to her.   So sweet!  I wonder if she is the young one I almost stepped on near the wood pile quite a while back.  I think so! 

She must be spreading the word about our friendliness because I've seen these young ones around several times too.

Look closely!  Do you see them?  I think they all really like us!  Or maybe, there's something else going on here.

Have you ever seen one of these?  Do you know what they are called?  It just appeared in our yard this year.

It is called a fairy ring!  Isn't that neat?  I think so!

Legend has it that a circle of mushrooms is formed where fairies gather to perform ceremonies.

Warnings are given about venturing deep into the woods alone at night.

Or else you might find yourself right in the middle of a fairy ring.  

Stepping into the middle of a fairy ring can send you straight through a port hole into another world.

 Or if the fairies are feeling kind, I understand you may only be given over to rituals of wild dancing.  LOL!

Fairy rings have apparently been around for ages and the legends come from all over the world with all sorts of interesting stories.  

I even found this book on the internet.  It think it might prove to be a fun and fanciful summer read, suitable for children and adults.  It is illustrated by Susanna Lockheart, and holds a delightful variety of poems by authors such as William Shakespeare and Laura Ingalls Wilder on the subject of fairies.

The reality is that fairy rings typically look like this.  They are caused by a fungus in the soil that causes mushrooms to grow and kill the grass on top.  Typically they are often found in woodlands.   Since our yard used to be woodlands and this area infected is near the back of yard near the woods I am not surprised.

I have been watching our ring for several months now and still no mushrooms, and no fairies!

Perhaps it's been abandoned by the fairies because we are on to them.  Me and the deer!

Thanks for stopping by today for a Take a Look Tuesday.

The previous images above other then my own, above are from the following artists or websites.

1. victorianweb.org

2.  by Angela Barnett

3. redemptiosehnsucht.blogspot.com

4. Fairy Ring Oracle

Illustrator Paul Mason

5. jasmoonbutterfly.blogspot.com

6.. book by Susanna Lockheart

7. genexpest.com

If you google fairy rings you will learn all sorts

 of interesting folklore.   I was thrilled to see so

 many beautiful artistic illustrations as well! 

Truth be told, I always knew our backyard was

 

a magical place!

Have a great day everyone!

Mary