I know I’ve written about the creative tips my mother gave me to help get through awkward situations or avoid them all together. I’ve been trying to remember some of them.

I invited some ladies over for tea in the cottage today and one of them is new. We don’t know each other and she doesn’t know the history of the cottage and she probably doesn’t know anything about Murdo Girl.

I love my little cottage, but let’s face it, sometimes I oversell things. Today, I saw everything through someone else’s eyes and not just any someone else…a newbie.

On top of everything else, I told them they had to wear hats. I learned yesterday that they had their hats all ready. What does that mean? I don’t even know for sure what kind of hat you’re supposed to wear to tea. Is it supposed to be floppy? The only floppy hat I have is straw and it’s winter so I doubt it would be appropriate. I worked for hours today trying to make the Stetson hat my friend gave me into a tea hat. Can you imagine? Queen E wouldn’t wear anything like that to tea. I’ll take a picture of it later.

I have this picture in my head of serving tea with milk, and a little china sugar cube server with little tiny tongs. Don’t bother to look for them around here because nobody has them.

I meant to get a guest book today. I’m beginning to forget who has been here and who hasn’t. The newbie might think that’s pretty weird.

I have a few china cups and saucers, but they don’t match and everytime I try to use them I break one. My little teaspoons are just silver plated.

It will be just fine. I remembered something Mom used to tell people “All of my good things are in storage.”

I can’t remember when there was a day… not even one

When I went off to bed thinking everything was done.

I either fill life’s plate too full or don’t eat fast enough

If I cut the sweet part out, then life will be too tough

I always want to get a really big slice of the pie

The time I caught the big fish I was at a catfish fry

When I get to the meat of this I’ll trim a little fat

Maybe I’ll resemble Mother Goose’s lean Jack Sprat.

Life will hand me lemons with a cherry on the top

I try to be a good egg if I get fried …or not.

I can’t have my chocolate cake and always eat it too

I’m so hungry I could eat a horse. What am I to do?

I’m trying a new diet. It’s not going very well.

I think I’m going peanuts and I’m under sugar’s spell.

If I didn’t vegetate, I just might get my footing

You know what they always say. “The proof is in the pudding”

As you can probably tell from reading the first few lines, this poem was supposed to be about something else. I can’t remember what because my brain is mush…fried crispy with syrup on it.

This is a friendly reminder that the last day to submit your photographs of interesting vacant barns and buildings is February 15th. I have purposefully not featured many of the entries on the blog, but I must say they are all pretty awesome.

Keep them coming. Remember, all entries will be in the book as will their stories if I know them. I will confirm all submissions and locations before publication.

I notice these treasures more now and find myself wanting to know about their history. I snapped this one from the car window when we were driving to Dallas last week.

Have a great weekend! Go take some pictures!