“Her house was perfect, whether you liked food, or sleep, or work, or story-telling, or singing, or just sitting and thinking, best, or a pleasant mixture of them all.”
This is what I get to do all week. Sit by the lake, watch the cottonwood trees blow in the wind and figure out a way to spend more time here in the summer. We’re in Steve’s hometown, Alexandria, MN. It’s the quaintest little town I’ve ever visited. I’d rather come here than anywhere for vacation. There’s something like 400 lakes in this little town. And the cutest antique shops ever. Steve’s mom is spoiling us with wonderful food and lots of knitting tutorials. Which I seem to desperately need. I’ve restarted Taylor’s beanie 4 times. Or is it five?
I spent a little time at Steve’s childhood home (where sister Julie now lives) and her house is full of wonderful priceless treasures. A virtual antique store in its’ own right.
(Cousin) Daniel, Steve, and Emme were concentrating on something yesterday…..
and so were Grandpa, Josh, (brother) Jeff and Elea……
….a little remote control boat…..that kept getting tangled in the weeds……
Stay tuned for more vacation fun. Wonder if I could talk the retired Naval policeman whose house sitting for me to blog for me too? Maybe that’d be too much to ask.
I’m so thankful that you meet me in this ‘space’. I’m so grateful that so many of you have taken the time to introduce yourselves and become friends. And so often when I visit your blogs, I find that you support the writing and the projects here by linking to them and sharing them with your friends. I’m always so amazed and humbled by that. We are friends, you and I, and I want you to know that I notice and appreciate your kindness. You are some of the most amazing and talented people in the world and I feel privileged to know you.
I thought it’d be fun (and I’m flat out copying Emily at ChattingattheSKy) if you’d tell us all where you’re reading from. Just city and state or just state if you’d like. And if you’re not a blogger and you’ve never ‘registered’ to comment, it’s not hard at all. Just type a comment and then it will ask you to sign up with blogger. (This does not mean you have to sign up to write a blog, you’ll just have a sign in name and password). Take the time to do it because I know there have been times you wanted to comment. So sign up with blogger and then leave a comment about you’re from. It’ll be fun. It will.
Just started reading your blog, and truly enjoy it! I'm reading from Savannah, GA! Have a great weekend!
Enjoying your blog in Okinawa, Japan!
Hi! I'm Angie from Memphis, Tennessee.
Love your blog.
Hi,I am a homeschooling mom from Wisconsin!!! Loving your blog!!!! I just posted my "blue armoire " It is wild that we have the same taste!!!! LOL ,Sara
Love your Blog! Richmond, TX
I don't have a blog, I just read blogs and I love your blog! I have made your recipes, I have been inspired by your reading recommendations and I have an Emma too and she is 23 years old.
And while I have lived all over I am currently in a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA.
I am reading from Beavercreek, Ohio. Have a great vacation:)
My sister-in-law from South Haven, MI recommended your blog to me several months ago and I've been loving it ever since from Xenia, Ohio. š
Loving your blog in Logansport, IN.
Love reading your blog here in Fort Smith, Arkansas!
Greetings from the foothills of the Blue Ridge in NC!
I've been reading your blog FOREVER..I just don't ever post much because everyone else says it SO much better! LOL. That said, I'm from Wichita Kansas BUT my parents live right on the lake in Alexandria, MN!!!! They live on Carlos, just North of the public boat access. We LOVE it there. So much fun. If you want a real artery clogging meal, go to Chet's Chicken on Lake Irene (I think). It's greasy goodness. I'm thrilled to know you are on Lake Carlos. We didn't get to go this year…volleyball and kids schedules took over.
Hi! Nice to meet you! fantastic blog and just beautiful pics!
xoxo
I love your blog! I'm reading from the Brainerd Lakes Area of Minnesota. Not too far from where you are right now!
Madison, Wisconsin here! I love reading your blog.
Love your blog! I'm Christine from Chandler, Arizona.
a California transplant near Tulsa, Ok!
hi edie!
can't remember how i found your blog, but i sure am guilty for linking to you over and over. who can resist a good southern girl? š
amy, from huntsville, al
Love your blog in Knoxville, TN….
Cynthia
love your style!
~Tricia in Rockford, OH
Loving your blog in Chicago, Illinois! Thanks, Edie, for sharing such wonderful projects, ideas and even your family with us!! You're an inspiration!!
Reading in Utah, and wishing you could come decorate my home!
You are one of the inspirations fo taking the leap to HS my kids this year. Loving your blog from NW Florida. Molly
Molly P. from Timberlake NC, nothing but acres of farmland up here for us to enjoy with all our animals!!
~Molly P
Reading from Central Iowa. I've been reading for a long, long time! Love ya Edie!
Amy
Sounds like a fun time! Enjoy the rest of your trip. š
I'm in Kalamazoo, MI.
Reading daily from Pelham, AL. My sister introduced me to your blog and I love it!
I have been reading for a little while now and love it. I am reading from St. Paul, MN. I loved what you were writing about your son, and his graduation and what this chapter means to you. Although your son is moving on, mine is just starting Kindergarden this year and I am filled with both excitement and sadness. Excited that he has reached this milestone and is about to embark on a great adventure, and sadness because I know how fast time flies once school starts. I want him to be my little boy forever!
Howdy! Just started reading your blog a few weeks ago for sunny Norman, Oklahoma!
Boomer Sooner!
The Gaines Gang
I've been reading for several months and LOVE your blog! I'm in Birmingham, Ala., and have three boys, 6, 4 and 1.
Just found you blog. Love it! Phoenix AZ
I love your blog…I live in central Connecticut.
Welcome to Minnesota! Heidi from the Twin Cities area, here.
Hey Edie…love to read your blog in the morning from Folsom, California.
Hi, there! Absolutely adore your blog – been reading for several months now from Pelham, AL (just south of Birmingham).
Love your blog!! Angie from Riverside, California š
Love your blog! I'm typin' from Texas!
I love your blog. You have encouraged me in ways you can not imagine. (But God did.) Keep writing, please.
Renee
I am from Uvalde, TX.
Loving your blog almost daily from Ft Meade, Maryland.
I am reading and enjoying your blog from my home in Mississippi!
Please keep writing! You have inspired me in more ways than you can imagine! : )
I'm reading you from Greensboro, NC! I found you through Nester when she posted your fab kitchen! I'm loving your blog!
Thanks,
MJ
Reading from the deep south – Opelika,Alabama.
HI Edie! I absolutely love it your blog and have been reading for a while now from Granite Falls, NC:)
You are one of my favorites, Edie. I consider you a Titus woman to me. I'm happily reading from Fort Worth, TX!
shout out from New England! a tiny town thisclose to Cape Cod, MA.
hope you're enjoying your lovely days away:)
Hey! I'm from the North Georgia Mountains but our family moved to Orlando, Fl a year ago…
for some reason I can't bring myself to say that I'm "from" Orlando. š
greetings from grafton, ohio š
Reading from Georgia!
I just found you and absolutely love your blog…today's post makes me want to run over to Alexandria for the day. š
Lori from St. Paul, MN
Just started reading your blog, and i really enjoying it…thanks for sharing…I'm reading from Kansas City Mo…..Pat H
I love reading your blog from my home in Clarksville, TN!!!
Diggin' you in Atlanta…you inspire and encourage.
Hey Edie…your pictures are beautiful…what a vacation! Love reading al your inspirational thoughts from the town of Mallacoota in the state of Victoria, Australia xxx
Hey Ms. Edie-just stopping in to see what exciting things you are up to now!! Tennille from West Point, Mississippi.
I knew you way back when…
reading from SLC, Utah
Wow that looks like a great spot to relax & have a break, I pop in often to see what you have been up to. I come to your blog from NSW, Australia.Have a lovely day.
Wendy from GA.I have no idea how I made it to your blog in the first place, but I have checked it weekly for awhile now.
Your right, I have always wanted to comment! I'm reading from Lodi, CA. I just LOVE your blog. I check it every day ;-). I've gotten lost in your archives for hours neglecting my other duties…oops ;-). I found you by accident (or not), but I am sooooo glad I did. You are awesome! Thank you so much for your blog. We are homeschooling this year for the first time…wish me luck, LOL…I have a 2nd and 4th grader. Have a great vacation!
I am commenting from my living room here in Ashburn, VA (just outside DC) where we had some crazy thunderstorms today!
So ready for the weekend after a long week and envious of your vacation at the lakes.
Enjoy!
enjoying your blog in the suburbs of Cleveland, OH
in my little world here in Temecula, California you are a rock star
Reading from Dallas, TX.
Lovin ya from Kansas City!
I'm reading from Florida. I love your blog because it encourages me to share some of the blessings and lessons in my life on my blog. You illustrate that so well.
Reading from Santa Rosa, CA (wine country!)
I am in Southern California…Santa Barbara County……..
Maryville, IL
Enjoy your blog from Southern California. Found you through your puppy breeder! Enjoy all you do and have been a blessed.
Thanks, jen
I've been adoring your blog for about a year now in Lebanon, Oregon
Enjoying your blog from Java, Indonesia
Hi! I'm Suzann from a suburb of Chicago, Illinois.
Enjoying your blog in Southern California!
Love your blog! Mobile, AL
Reading from Ontario, Canada… and smiling.
Thank you, Edie… keep shining Jesus…
All's grace,
Ann
Hello,
I read your blog everyday from St Albans, England.
Close by in Maryville, TN.
strawberry plains, tn
i'd like to know the same about you.
it says you are from east tn. i JUST noticed that?? where at in east tn????
ok. . .
i promise i am so not a stalker, but i googled you and evidently you are from maryville???
oh my goodness gracious!
i'm only 30 minutes from you. if you drive by a house and see a replicate of your armoire outside, being redone on a small chest of drawers….you'll know it's me!
i went to lowe's today and bought the la paint, and i've started on it! i've looked at yours about a thousand times trying my darndest to make mine look as fantastic as yours!
i even linked yours up on my blog the other day!
anyways, can you tell i'm so happy you are from east tn. . .now, i'll have to look for you in HL in maryville or zaxby's. .. .my husband works over in that direction.
ok, i'll stop now! he he he!
Edie,
Your blog is amazing! I come here for many different reasons: faith, family, furniture, food, and friendship! The five F's…lol Keep doin what you do!
Love,
a former southern girl from GA, transplanted to sunny southern CA almost 30 yrs ago.
Loving your blog in Allen, Texas.
My sister in Plano, Texas reads your blog as well as her daughter, my niece in New York City!! Inspired!
McDonough, GA here. Enjoy your blog. The obvious love for your family and your home (I think I found you through a Christmas tour post).
What a beautiful peaceful place!
(reading you from the beautiful, peaceful and HOT southwest!)
I'm glad you're enjoying some time away with family! I'm from West Monroe, LA.
Jessie
newton, kansas!
Snyder, Texas
Looks like you are having a wonderful vacay! I'm from Walterboro, SC
Have been enjoying your blog for about two months . . . and I quickly became a subscriber!
Just moved to Omaha, NE . . .
Best,
Sarah
A former homeschooler from Charlotte, NC
Love your blog. I've started purchasing and checking out the classics for our children. Our oldest is 9 1/2 so he's a bit young yet but I've got them ready and available! I admire your candid writing, dedication to your family, and faith. I read you from Osage, IA just south of the MN border!
Bridget
I'm sure I'll be linking to you even more in the future!
Blessings from a fellow blogger in Fort Worth, TX!
hey girl! i'm a texan who moved two months ago to fort collins, colorado
Hi Edie! Reading from North Carolina š Isn't it fun to see all those different states represented!
holy moly, edie!!
japan, indonesia, australia, england!?!
wtg, girl! enjoy your vacation!! š
I'm a retired homeschool mom (12 years, they are now in college) in Maine.
Richmond, VA
Reading and painting from Columbia, SC.
Your family wall inspires me as does everything else you do…Jen from VA
Visiting your corner of the web from upstate NY.
Blessings,
Hannah
I am always reading.. š
Newport, North Carolina (can't find it on a map I'm sure, its way in eastern NC)
What a great time, for you all. I love trips & places like that. Just enjoying & loving all your tips & the journeys you take along the way. from Calhoun, Georgia
I just found your blog and you're in my reader now. Love it!
From West Haven, Utah
As always…love your blog. Shoutin' out from Honolulu, Hawaii! Aloooooha!
I really enjoy reading all your thoughtful words! Just found your blog a few months ago.
Sarah
Dallas, TX
Enjoying your blog from Sioux Falls, South Dakota!!
Hello from western NY! I'm late coming to this post but am an avid reader. I love it here and I enjoy your insight very much. So much so that I have you in my sidebar.. not just to share you with others but because I don't want your posts to get lost in my reader or your link to get lost in my favorites list.
Hi Edie,
My daughter in Waukee, Iowa found your blog and got me started reading. Although, I haven't been reading much in the last couple of week. Just read that you've been vactioning only 45 miles from where I live, Fergus Falls, MN. We do a lot of shopping in Alexandria. Small world! Enjoy your blog and reading about your faith journey! God bless.
Trina
Very late in joining in but just wanted to say hi! Love reading the blog and I'm from Wales, UK!
Houston, Texas here … by way of Charleston, SC