Saturday, April 10, 2010

Silver Friends and Thank You's

Make new friends and keep the old, one is silver and the other's gold. I first learned this song as a young girl in Girl Scouts and have never forgotten it. Back in January, I chose to share this song as part of my very first Silver Sunday. Thankfully, Beth @ Gypsy Fish Journal decided to continue with Silver Sunday as the Second Sunday because today I want to share about both my golden friends and my silver new friends that this song reminds me of and this Sunday party is the perfect place to introduce them. Thank you Beth for hosting the party.

My best friend is Darcy. You met her on an earlier Silver Sunday post. She is the wonderful lady with the log cabin home decorated Victorian Shabby Chic, with the pet goats (Rachel, Phoebe and Monica), the pet pig and the 6 foot tall Suit of Armour. (If you missed it, please click here.) There isn't a room in my home that doesn't have some plate, artwork or pillow that wasn't a gift from her. She knows my style to a T. Years ago she presented me with these lovely silver fruit, some of you may have already seen them, but I wanted to add what makes them so special. For all my friend's immeasurable talents, the one she lacks, she does not sew. When she first presented me this fruity gift, they were in a cast iron basket that was lined with a cloth napkin that she had painstakingly sewn and embellished. Of course I loved the fruit; however, knowing what it took for her to figure out the operation of a sewing machine, done only for a best friend, that gift was priceless.


I have known Melody for over 25 years. Our paths have varied over the years but we always find ourselves reconnecting. She currently is my office assistant and thank goodness she keeps me focused at the tasks at hand. Like many of us, she is helping her elderly parents begin the process of cleaning out and downsizing. Recently her mom passed on to her a pair of silver wine glasses. They are a beautiful soft silver, but what makes them even more beautiful is the music they produce. When clicked together, a note emanates from these goblets, clear and bright, as a note sounding forth from a silver bell. It really is quite amazing. When she presented them to me, knowing that I would appreciate and use them. I felt honored. I promised to cherish them as if they had been a gift from my own mother.

I count both Darcy and Melody as true and golden friends. Not into blogging themselves, they nonetheless are supportive of my efforts and encourage me as I learn new computer skills. Please note the fancy framed photos. I have been practicing and having too much fun.

As much as I love my old friends, it has been because of blogging that I have met so many new and delightful friends....... My Silver friends. This is how I met Shara of Monkeybox. Awhile back she was showing her finds from a school rummage sale. All fun finds. Then she showed what she found in a box of vintage Christmas decorations ...... silver plastic reindeer and a sleigh. They were my reindeer or I should say the reindeer I had as childhood Christmas Decorations. I left Shara a comment on how special those reindeer were to me as they reminded me of my father. I now only had a few and I don't remember if there had been a sleigh but at some point in time, there must have been one for my set as well. It had been so amazing to see this find of hers because I have never seen these reindeer anywhere else, ever.

Imagine my surprise when the day after I posted my comment, Shara responded by asking if I would like the sleigh and the reindeer. We had just met! How sweet and thoughtful and more meaningful to me than she knew. I received her e-mail on March 15th. The date may have significance to only a few that know it is the Ides of March, the day Caesar was killed. However, it has significance to me as it was the day my father passed away. I was only 13. This friendly gesture from a stranger was as if my father was saying hello to me, that very day, through Shara. The silver may be only plastic, and an antler or two may be missing, but these little reindeer and sleigh are worth more than gold to me. Had it not been for blogging and my stopping over to Monkeybox for a visit, I would not have met this lovely lady. I would love to go junkin' with her anytime.

Here is a photo of the combined sets of reindeer and the sleigh. I only need to find one more. Because they were Christmasey, I decided to show them in my garden for a more springtime feel.

When I wrote back to say Thank you to Shara I asked her if she wouldn't mind if I waited until now to do a proper blog post thank you. I knew then that I wanted to save it for today's Silver Sunday. But I find today that I have more thank you's to share. You see, my previous post talked about a giveaway prize I had just received in the mail. The timing had been perfect as I had been rather sick with a cold. I was only mentioning the cold to set the tone for just how nice getting a fun package on an otherwise horrible day had been. What I had not expected but was not surprised at, the thoughtfulness of my fellow bloggers and the sweet comments that post generated, concerns for my health.

So a special thank you to Melinda at 15 Bella Vie, Carol at Old Glory Cottage , Linda at A La Carte , Sweet Bee Cottage, and Athena at a Weblog of Artist Athena Workman for your kind thoughts. I would invite you all and Shara over to my house for tea and rich red velvet cupcakes if only I could. Please be sure to stop by and say hello to these lovely ladies, and see their fun blogs, their gorgeous jewelry and amazing one of a kind dolls. When I wrote about doing a giveaway to celebrate having 100 followers, I remarked that my blog is both a journal of my life as well as a journey. Having such great folks join me in my travels brings me such joy and happiness. How lovely is that .... all the silver in the world can not buy that feeling.

Thank you for enduring a lengthy post, but I wanted to take the proper time to say Thank You to all. Please be sure to visit Beth and all the other folks participating in today's Silver Sunday. She certainly knows how to throw a party.

I will be announcing the winner of my giveaway Sunday. Not to keep up the suspense on purpose, it is late and I ran out of time to add up all the comments and extra chances. Good luck to all.

Have a lovely day.
Sherrie

13 comments:

Johanna Gehrlein said...

Hi, what a lovely post you made. I like especially the sleigh with the reindeers. We have some silver manufacturers here around Hanau/Germany, which produce such sleighs. If you are interested I can post you their homepages. Have a nice Silver-Sunday,
greetings, Johanna

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Good Morning Sweetie,
Your post is so sweet and sentimental. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and all of your gifts.

Blogging friends are the best ever
and I cannot say enough about that.

hugs
Sissie

Shara said...

Well, I have tears in my eyes reading this post. I am happy that the sleigh and reindeer made you so happy and brought back such nice memories for you.

Your words are so sweet, and they really mean the world to me.

If I ever find another reindeer - it will be on the way to your house, I promise!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Sherrie, you are just the sweetest person. I love that song and I remember your post using it when we started Silver Sunday. How wonderful to honor old and golden friends and your new silver friends as well. I am honored to be among our new friends. I count you as one of mine also. This blogging world has been such a blessing to me also.
Have a wonderful Sunday my friend!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I type to fast sometimes, I meant to say: I am honored to be among YOUR new friends!

Smiles!

Linda

Diann said...

Hi Sherrie!

What a wonderful post! It is amazing the people we would normally never meet but get the chance to "meet' via the internet! And what wonderful friends you have! The beautiful gifts they have given you are just amazing. so many folks out there with hearts of gold...er...should I say silver?

Have a wonderful day!

black eyed susans kitchen said...

This was just the lovliest post..it reminds me of the old song...Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.

Gypsy Fish said...

Such a sweet and sentimental post Sherrie. I've been humming the song since I read it...Thanks for coming to the party.....see you next month!
{{gypsy hugs}}
Beth

cindy-stitches-n-stuff.blogspot.com said...

Thank you for you comments on my Aunt Elsie's blog. I loved your memories of this song, "make new friends". I did a blog about that song ones.

Hugs
cindy@aunt elsies's and stitches-n-stuff

Pamela Scott said...

thanks for stopping by my blog and letting me know I won the your giveaway, thanks so much WHOO HOO!!! I am so excited, I sent you an e-mail with my mailing info.. did I say I am excited!!! YEAH! :-)

Cheryl ~ ZanyMayd said...

Hi Sherrie ~ So Happy I was able to read Your Very Sweet & Touching Post.... I am Still trying to play Catch Up on S.S. since having to work the weekend... Thanks for Stopping by, Now I am able to follow You, I think Blogging is the very best way to meet New, Wonderful Silver Friends.... Well, it's Late & I'm tired, but I will be back soon, I have alot of your Posts to catch up on ~
Have a Wonderful Week

EnchantedBella said...

Hi Sherrie, your silver post is wonderful. I enjoyed reading it. Thank you for stopping by and leaving such a sweet comment. I can't wait to see your silver photo shoot.

Rebecca

AWJ said...

Lovely post-- I'm glad I found your blog in the OWOH giveaway, and I always appreciate your comments at my blog. And, you're welcome! :)