Willow Nest : Burton,TX

Happy New year to all. It has been far to long since I have posted on our blog, my apologies, it is a new year,with a new resolve. Heidi our sweet neighbor in Burton, has graciously offered to assist me in posting more often, she will take and post photos, and I can add the text.. sounds like a plan. Our web designer Christie also will be a part of this team,but as she lives miles away,her availability is less. These young talented women are a gift to me, and I appreciate all that they do helping Ludmil and I with our work.This first photos is a signature piece from Ludmil, followed by a Martin House… a bird condo. Ludmil only makes about 3 a yr. as they are time consuming, they make a wonderful focal point in the garden. For winter it adds an impressive detail.These birdhouses will be showcased at our spring shows in Houston, Urban Market Feb. 11/12 and some will head to Marburger in late March.. but I will post about that closer to the time. You are always welcome to drive by our place here in Burton to view these works, or to purchase if you simply fall in love at first site… if our cars are here we are “open”.

This amazing cabinet is one Ludmil built for me years ago to house my collection of wedding vases, as you see here. I took the vases to our first show here in Texas wanting to bring my best , a lady named Marcie bought several from me at that time, years later when our trip to France was being planned, the most amazing thing happened, Marcie, was referred to me by a friend to contact about renting her house in France while she was here in the U.S. when I contacted her, she told me the story of the purchased vases and how it started her love affair for them as well, soooo while we were in France this year I re-purchased a new collection, and here they are. I have decided to also sell the treasured cabinet. As those of you who know us, we are constantly changing our surroundings, swapping out this for that… it has wonderful trim that we bought on another trip years ago to France, and molding.. it’s a beauty, as all of Ludmils pieces are.  

The restored French aviary is such a stately piece….. it speaks for itself  , lots of detail, rebuilt to last a lifetime, a treasure for any ones home or garden. We had one client use an aviary in a sun room for finches, can you imagine waking up to the sound of those sweet chirps..ooh my favorite little collection, pink silk shoes, perfect little silk and cotton dresses for lasses..ribbons of all sizes, slips and cotton chemise’s all gathered in France at the brocante. Such pretties.. makes me smile.  Thank you for stopping by our blog, and for always supporting us no matter where we show up, California, Seattle, Ohio, Arkansas, and good ‘ole Texas…. I look forward always to seeing old friends and meeting new ones in our travels. We are so very blessed to do what we love, to find treasures all along the way, to travel. For Ludmil and I , this year has been one of the most enriching,exciting, fun, rewarding years of our life together, we have many to thank for that, if you are reading this you are one. till next time…. Much love and affection, Linda..

One small.. and one tall…

one who speaks ever so softly, and another who is ever so talented. One who likes to play hide and go seek with a rabbit named Binkley, and one who helps me figure out all that I do not know about the world of computers.  Christie and Juliana were here yesterday and we had great fun, taking photos, eating lunch, watching the cows, giving the doves a bath. These are the things that make our lives rich and abundant, rich in laughter, rich in play, rich in love… I adore these two girls, one small and one tall.

Christie will be putting many photos on for you to see, and I will also come back and comment . In the mean time I will leave you with a photo that she showed me how to pull off my phone. Yes now supposedly I will be able to upload from my phone bear with me while I make this attempt… these photos are just ramdom. I also discovered I had been making videos, who knew… I was just pressing a button for all I knew. We had some great shots of dirt, feet, fingers, sky, you get the idea. This is little Julliana from her time here last summer, and she asked about this dress when she got here. Thank you both for coming to lunch and into my life. Love Linda

For some time now I have wished to write more often on my blog, but have stopped myself because I did not have a photo. There are so many blogs that I follow, friends of mine who have amazing blogs, Carol from Raised in Cotton, Anne from Fiona&Twig, Corey from Tongue in Cheek, Luluz,actually to many to name.  Many European blogs that I ck.. filled with all the photos I just love, pink roses, white ironstone, cut flowers, linens, French streets, houses…that I just decided this morning that I would leave all that to my very talented friends, and write what is in my life for today and any other day that I choose to write, if I have a photo to share so be it..  the photo does not even have to be a part of my text, I can just stick it in there.

For those of you who check in now and again, here are some of my thoughts today.

I am having a growth spurt.. thank goodness it is not in my hips…. more in my soul, my heart.

Over 30 years ago I was counseled to learn to LET GO… I remember twisting in my chair, and saying to myself, ” what the hell is he talking about” more and more of the time now I know exactly what HE, was talking about….. let go of expectations, let go of judgements, let go of fear, let go of your children who are no longer children, they are adults. This has been a 30 year journey, and I am still on the same path. It is o.k. to be on the same path, it means you are still putting one foot in front of the other. You are still keeping on with keeping on. You are not out there wandering around looking for answers, you have them, you know them, you are the answer, it is simply a matter of applying what you know. True, really simple when you stop fighting your own knowingness.

I like this part of my journey, with it has come peace,and clarity. Years ago, I was described by a friend as being a rose, a new budding rose, with a tight perfect head, the rose opens and the petals unfold revealing their inside colors, some paler than others, some surprisingly intense, but all  beautiful ,  the rose  then fades and the petals fall to the ground,  preparing a soft place for you to walk.. What is left ,I asked  alarmed that , there would be nothing left of “the me”, the rose,  my friend said, ” the strong sturdy stem, the part that has always been there, the core of you, the strength, the fiberous substance of you, that can not be easily broken .

I have always reffered to that story, when I feel a little frightened, sad or alone… and it has always lifted my spirits,  I know myself to be strong. Much of my strength these past few months has come from my husband,and my friends, the people I consider my family. I have very little “blood” family, but I have an amazing extended family. If you are feeling a wee bit fragile, or blue…… please remember my ROSE story, as it applies to each of us.

Today I am happy, relaxed, and writing this first post of many to come, on my new Mac Book…. thank-you for checking in.

Peace and grace… as my sweet friend Christie closes her notes to me with…. borrowing that Christie.. it is perfect

Each morning I receive a message in my e-mail from The Universe, today’s was especially powerful, and simple…..The reason for all challenges, Linda, is so that you can finally learn that none are bigger than you.

Those of you that follow my blog, or who know me personally know that we were about to have our grandboys, and my son live with us.That has changed.
My son has his own journey, and his own challenges.

My lesson has been not to become an enabler.

Our hope is that he will choose to live near us, that we will be a support for he and the boys.

My other lesson has been, that Tough Love, does not become less painful for anyone.

I also know first hand the importance of boundaries,because when life presents you with painful decisions to make, if you have taken the time and effort to define where your boundaries lie, that is what will get you through those first moments, hours, or days, of despair, that knowingness of what you can live with, what you cannot, and what the outcome will bring when you put the boundary in place.

Thank-you all for your sweet, dear messages of love, Facebook, was a comfort to me last week, who knew??

Ludmil and I are rich beyond measure in so very many ways, and we are grateful.

On a lighter note, you will find us at the Houston Urban Market, May 14/15…. hope again that we see your smiling faces.. Love Linda

The past few months have brought many changes in our life, and opened our hearts . You may remember from past conversations that one of the reasons we moved to Texas 3 yrs. ago was to be closer to our families, to be close to the Round Top experience and to be in a warmer part of the country. All this has come to pass. When people tell you to be careful what you wish for, listen! For us it is magical, we have had the most amazing shows here in Texas, we have spent more time with our family the past3 yrs, and as everyone knows , one is WARM, in Texas.

There are fine little details about this story,how it has all unfolded, in Dec. we had the good news/bad news, that our son’s family was splitting up, the details are not important,  they are personal,but you see I said good news/ bad news, and that is because this is a marriage that is not healthy in anyway, and while it is always sad to see a family break up, in this case it is what will serve all in a much more healthy way.

How did this news affect our life? For starters I will be living with FOUR MALE people, for such a girly , girl like me this will be a big change. I don’t do baseball, I don’t do fishing, I don’t do camping… I don’t do hiking…. and maybe that is O.K. for they will have their Dad.

Ludmil and I have never raised children together now we will be a part of raising a 7 & 10 year old, you have heard me say “it takes a village ” and now you see that is just what we will become, a village of sorts.

For many years Ludmil has really needed to have an assistant for his work, while Ludmil is  completing the design work, there are always details that can be finished by another person…. enter David, my son. He has many talents, and likes the work. So another wish granted.

For some time we have been discussing how to go forward with shows, as we age, now we will be bringing the young folks in, and while we do not want to break the “child labor” laws…. as time goes on hopefully this life will appeal to at least one member if not more , of this family and we will be able to continue with our Willow Nest journey for many years to come. Our grandson Jacob, is very creative , as a small boy always enjoyed coming to our shows in WA. many of our old friends will remember his presence at shows. Nicholas loves tools, and gardening, and likes to WORK…. and help…. right up Ludmils alley.

We are preparing their rooms, the lovely “romantic, pink, rooms ” you have seen on the pages of Romantic Country,(the summer issue, in case you want to take a peek.) will be de-pinked and made into , BOY , rooms, not quite sure how that will be, blue ticking comes to mind, but that is as far as I have come with that one.

All of this change, the move, the new shows, the new friends, the HEAT, have been embraced and welcome, but nothing compares to the excitement I feel to have my son, and his precious boys come live with us, work with us, travel down this road of life together. We are already planning a “Cousin Camp” at my daughters lake house, this will be year # 2… great fun, boating, swimming, all that camping and hiking stuff I mentioned… (you can find me on the porch swing, sipping cold iced coffee)

For all of you who have been a part of this amazing transformation, friends, family, customers, and some total strangers who have cheered us, encouraged us, helped us. You have been a part of all that we do , all that we are, and my heart thanks you. Love Linda