This ole’ blog of mine sure has evolved since I started it and I’m not even sure how many original readers I still have now. I don’t think all that many who started with me are still reading, but so many of you have joined in along the way and I’m SO grateful for YOU, YOU, and YOU! If you have been reading my blog from the beginning, I’d love to hear about it.
Y’all make this so much fun for me and I’d love to hear from YOU today. I’ve often wondered who all is reading. You lurkers are a mysterious bunch and don’t come out very often. Unless I’m having a giveaway. 🙂 Then, you come out of the woodwork.
So, today is all about YOU! Tell me as much as you want to share, I’d love to know at least what state you live in, how old you are and what you do, if you work out of the home or are a stay at home mom/wife. If you don’t mind sharing. I just think this will be so much fun and instead of me talking, YOU can do the talking today.
OK, who’s first! Come on, don’t be shy, tell me about yourself. We’re all friends here and I would love to know more about my wonderful readers.
And if you have a question for me too, ask away! I’ve got plenty to share from my trip to Atlanta this weekend, but thought this would be fun to do while I get some pics sorted, so I’ll get to that a little later.
Oh, and I just have to throw this in….hello my name is Rhoda, not RhoNda, as many of you think it is! 🙂 I have to laugh, because I’ve been called Rhonda all my life and usually had to correct my teachers the first day of school. I will be 53 in December.
Hi, Rhoda! I have been one of your lurkers since January 2008 when I accidently stumbled upon home decor and sewing blogs while trying to figure out how to sew a ruffle to stick on a lampshade. (Yes, I do sew, and I wish I lived closer to you so I could help you with your window treatments and all!) I was mesmerized by all the beautiful blogs I found and finally felt normal! My relatives think I’m whacky because I love to rearrange furniture, tweak my knick knacks until they are in the perfect position, shop for the perfect piece of blue and white china, hang plates on my walls and so on. I honestly do not know anybody like me. That is, I didn’t until I discovered all you wonderful blog ladies (and guys!) and your readers, too! Even just as a reader/lurker, I feel like a part of this great big internet home decorating community! It’s so much fun to see inside your homes and look at what all you have done. You are people who think like me, so that must mean I am not crazy after all! I have visited your blog at least once a day. I LOVE your office and my second favorite room is your kitchen. Your blog is among a handful of favorites I just could not live without. Seriously, who needs magazines when we have you all?! I subscribe to about 75 home decor blogs on Google Reader.
I am 52, live in Massachusetts with my wonderful hubby of 13 years (his second marriage and I just married late the first and only time!). I have two grown stepchildren and two sweet grandchildren. My husband and I own and operate a small residential construction company and I do the bookkeeping at home in my home office. I feel spoiled because while I really do work on the computer doing real work, I am my own boss and have the time and the freedom to blog surf! It is addicting, though, so I check all my blogs first thing in the morning and then just periodically check Google Reader throughout the day to see if any new posts are there.
Rhoda, I love your home, your enthusiasm for decorating and the way you share everything on your blog. I think it would be so much fun if you had your own show on HGTV! Seriously, half the time I tune in and watch some of the stuff they have on there now, and I just think, those people need to call Rhoda and sign her up! Thanks for welcoming me into your home everyday!
Elizabeth in Massachusetts
Hi Rhoda,
I live in West Virginia. I am 55 years old and married to a wonderful man for almost 32 years. In fact the 25th will make it 33 years. We have a Daughter, Son, and five grandkids. I love to garden and now decorated our home on a very tight budget, but loving it.
Willow
Hi Rhoda! Can you believe that the sun is shining in Alabama today?!? It is gorgeous. You always have the most clever ideas posted for your readers. Well, I am Jennifer, now living in Bridgeport, Alabama…the very northeast corner of the state. I am 37 and have been married 14 years with three children. I am a stay-at-home mom. I have read your blog for a long time…maybe four years, not always commenting, but benefiting much from what you share. Honestly I think I googled a topic and found you. I had a blog for a couple of years, then quit blogging for a while, before picking back up in the spring of this year.
Now, Rhoda, you need to do a “biography” post for us! 🙂
Hope you had a great trip to Atlanta!
Jennifer @ Fiddle Dee Dee
I’m Gigi, I’m originally from San Francisco. Married a guy from New Orleans. Moved from New Orleans to Austin (after Katrina). After living nearly 4.5 years in Austin we recently got transferred (hubby’s job) to Houston. It’s been a long but interesting journey so far, LOL! My husband works in healthcare politics for the state of Texas and hospital development in the gulf region. I’m a housewife who plays tennis, loves to cook and entertain, shop garage sales, thrift stores, and antique shops, and loves to read your blog.
I’m a long time lurker…..I use to read the Great Impressions message board, and before that I think you might have been on a BHG message board…….Love you house, love your projects……..
Nancy
Hi Rhoda. My name is Beth, and I have been a follower of your blog for quite a while. I found you when I Googled “covering a lamp shade”, and I added you to my blog roll then, and you have been there ever since. I just love all the creative ideas you share with us, and I love your blog!! I am twenty nine years old, turning thirty January 1st. I actually look forward to my thirties! Can’t wait to see what the next decade has in store for me. I have been married to my best friend for 12 wonderful years, and we have been blessed with 5 beautiful blond kiddos! A few years ago, I made up my mind that I was going to stay home and raise my children, and I have really enjoyed being able to spend my time at home doing the things that bring me the most joy in life. Decorating, cooking, keeping the house clean, spending lots of time with my family, and of course reading my favorite blogs, like yours!! 🙂
I’m Reid and I’m a follower. I live in SC and have been here all of my life (different cities though). I am a Supervisor in Customer Service at our local utilitiy company.
I’m 39, married to my soul mate (10/20 will be 6 years together) and have two babies and a 13 year old step son (going on 21 mind you). Our babies are 2.5 and 1.5 and are what is called Irish Twins, which are kids born within 12 months of each other. Technically,mine are 13 months but who’s counting.
My son was born with V.A.C.T.E.R.A.L. association.
Here is a rundown of that:
Definition of VACTERL association
VACTERL association: A nonrandom association of birth defects. VACTERL is an mnemonic in which the letters V, A, C, T, E, R, and L each stand for one or more type of malformation:
V = Vertebral anomalies; and (he has this one but it has been corrected)
A = Anal atresia (no hole at the bottom end of the intestine) (had this one, but it’s corrected. Lived with a colostomy for the first 10 months)
C = Cardiac defect, most often ventricular septal defect (still has this one, small hole in the heart but it’s closing)
TE = TracheoEsophageal fistula (communication between the esophagus and trachea) with esophageal atresia (part of the esophagus is not hollow) (he didn’t have this one and from what I hear about it, I am thankful he doesn’t)
R = Renal (kidney) abnormalities ( he has this one–a single kidney that has some damage)
L = Limb abnormalities, most often radial dysplasia (abnormal formation of the thumb or the radius bone in the forearm) (he doesn’t have this one and again I hear I should be thankful)
One of the main reasons I started blogging is to hopefully gain awareness of this syndrome. Awareness is key. Many of his docors hadn’t dealt with such issues so we’ve all learned through him. He’s a miracle and an amazing little boy.
You can read a little more about his journey here:
http://graciencorbett.blogspot.com/2009/02/happy-birthday-corbett-youre-one-today.html
It’s great reading everyone’s post.
I love your blog!!!
Reid
I’m a 38-year-old educator from Knoxville, TN. I made my way to your blog via Kelly’s Korner, I think. I enjoy your decorating tips and am always looking for ways to spruce up my own home.
Hi from North Carolina. I love to read your blog and see the beautiful decorating ideas you so willingly share with us. I have been sewing since I was in high school and enjoy making window treatments for my home. I am 64 and have retired from a communications job. I can’t wait for the Christmas House to get some new and exciting ideas. Keep up the good work. Laura
My name is Brittany. I live right outside of Memphis. I’m 23 and have been married over 3 years. No babies yet. I’m an RN in our local ER. I’ve been reading your blog since I started blogging earlier this year.
Hey Rhoda:
I only found you a few months ago when doing research for starting my blog – I’ve loved reading you ever since. I’m 56, recently moved to Kingman, AZ (tiny town USA) from Vegas, married for 30 years to THE best guy, 2 grown boys who live in Seattle and Salt Lake City.
Moving to a small town where there’s not much going on had me spending lots of time online and eventually I came to the realization that there are lots of bloggers out there and that I actually have something worth sharing too. It’s been such an adventure and learning experience and it’s great to know that I’m still able to learn and grow in ways I never expected.
Reading all these other comments really shows the reach and power of the internet and how people from all over the world can connect with a common interest. I love that!
Terrie
Hi! I’m Michelle. I’ve been reading your blog for a while. I’m a lurker! I am a teacher and love to decorate, cook, read, and try all sorts of new things.
I really like your style of decorating and enjoy reading about your adventures!
Hi Rhoda, I have been a follower of yours for a few weeks now. Stumbled across this blog from another blog. I started a new addiction of pursing blogs when I closed my day care and had a new room to decorate just for myself.
Oh yeah, I am Katie. I live in Maine with my hubby (of 17 years) & two dd (17 & 10). I am a scrapper, crafter, chef, book addict, runner, and lover of all things pretty. I am hoping to start really sewing & not just pretending to do it on my scrapbook pages. 🙂
So much fun reading about everyone else that follows your great blog!
Hi,
What great people you come across on the blogs. I started reading yours on my daughters blog. I love your blog roll. I am 75, but wonder how that is possible, because I am still feeling at least 50. I live in Oklahoma City, OK and am a quilter, have 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren. All out of college, one married and all have good jobs! Yeah!
Have been married to a great guy for 14 years after being widowed for 7. We love to travel and I do alot of mission trips with our Methodist church. Mongolia, Estonia, Croatia and twice to the Ukraine. I say I am to old to run through airports, but am looking forward to Poland next summer. Quilting is my passion and I love the hand quilting, Though it does not go as fast as I want, so I can move on to a new project.
Again, I love your blog and reading about other people!
Thanks,
Dixie
Hi Rhoda, Your blog is one of the first blogs, I followed. I now follow over 100. Thanks for always being such an inspiration. I live in Lakeland, Florida, with my wonderful husband and 2 kids. I am 34 years old. I have a blog, called Happy Nester. I have not been blogging a year yet, but I love it. I have met some wonderful women through blogging. I love to cook, garden, and craft. I am obsessed with all things decorating.
my name is sandy and i live in manakin sabot, va, outside of richmond in beautiful horse country. i sell residential real estate and found your blog when looking for staging ideas for a client! i love the ideas and am quite happy to let my husband of 21 years (we met at a jimmy buffet concert – seriously) watch football while i read your blog! i’ve told a number of clients about your blog and everyone in my dentist’s office is hooked on it also! i love the way you take something awful and make it great; very inspiring! i agree with one of the other readers that you should have a show; i worked with hgtv canada on one of their real estate shows as a consultant, and you have us all beaten! keep up the good work (although you can quit using that christmas word – makes it sound like it is right around the corner or something . . . .)
Hi! I’m Cathryn, and I am from Milledgeville, GA. I am a 36 year old mother of 2, and I teach 2nd grade. I found your blog from Kellys Korner, and I am a faithful lurker! You inspire me so much! Everything you touch is beautiful! (Most of what I touch turns into a mess, haha!)
Hm. Well, Rhoda, I live in Oklahoma, am the stay at home mom to five children under 10. And I am a very busy mom–we homeschool, too. And two of those 5 children are twin two year old boys. Yeaaahhhhh….lol..so I stay busy.
I’m still trying to figure out what to do to the outside of my house, because it looks like a brown rectangle with no ‘flavor’ whatsoever, and as a transplanted Georgia peach, I am desperately in need of some character addition to this house.
We moved here 18mos ago, and I’m graddduuuualllly getting the inside taken care of…but the outside needs some help too…figuring out what to do is the main problem. So that is why I come here–to figure out what to do ‘next’…and to refine my ideas until I have a cohesive whole…I can’t afford to waste time and energy on stuff that is too trendy or expensive, or is difficult to maintain. And by reading your blog, and others like it, I’m able to cut through the dross, and find the classical elements I’m really looking for, and good ways of expressing those in my own home…
Thanks for today, Rhoda… 🙂
Hi Rhoda,
My name is Ann and I have been reading your blog about a year now. My husband is in the Navy so we currently call Md..Home. I was born and raised in Plant City Fl. I stay home and school my children right now ,but we will be moving soon so no more homeschooling..I have 3 children-Chad 19,Morgan 11, Blake7 . I ran across your blog while reading another blog..lol~~ I have enjoyed meeting you
Many Blessings
Ann
Hi Rhoda! I’m a lurker on your blog for a while now, and I love seeing all of your design ideas. Especially the local stuff since I live just right down the road from you in Shelby County. 🙂
My name is Beth, I’m 32, and I’m in commercial design. I’m also a Watkins lady, so if yall need any Watkins products check out http://www.watkinsonline.com/bethbryan. My main interests are my husband and my son who will be 2 in February.
You can check out my personal blog at http://www.unskinnyboppy.blogspot.com.
Thanks for sharing all your pictures!