Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday August 30, 2009

Welcome to my Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post. For over twenty-five years I have collected various spiritual and  inspirational quotes and messages. My hope is that when you read these, you will pause and reflect. Perhaps you will share this with a friend who just so happens to be in need of reading what I am sharing today.

Below is something I picked up somewhere along the way. I don’t know if it was in a magazine, newspaper, or in an email forward. I found it in the drawer where I put quotes, articles, poems, emails, etc. that I run across and save. Fortunately, this one had the author’s name. 

When I turned 40 years old, I did not dread it or think twice about it. But out of nowhere, a voice began to appear in my head. A voice that would say to me-“You’re 40 now and you don’t have to put up with THAT”  You’re 40 now and you no longer have to do THAT.”  You’re 40 now and you don’t have to worry about THAT.”  “That” being something that annoyed me, I thought was required of me, or caused me pressure.  For me, turning 40 was freeing. It was a right of passage into acceptance of who I am. 

So, as I approached 50, another voice came into my head. All of a sudden I was questioning my life. I kept thinking to myself, “Ok, you’re going to be 50, what kind of imprint have you left on this world? What is your legacy?” I knew I had given birth and raised two outstanding children which gave me great pride and joy. But I still questioned myself about what else have I done to give back? What have I done to make the world a better place? What can I still do at this point in my life? It was during this period of personal self exploration that I decided I could make this world a better place by sharing the knowledge and experience I had gained and the lessons I had learned through remodeling and consulting on homes. I could make a difference in lives of people who are going through the process of building or remodeling; save a marriage, save time and money, empower the homeowner, and reduce stress.  I could make a difference by preventing a mistake that would long haunt someone living in their dream home; a mistake that would be present for the life of that home and for all who happen to live there. Yes, writing a book, (Designing Your Dream Home) would be one of my contributions in making this world a better place. So I embarked on the journey of becoming a published author. That was realized in April of 2008. As a result of writing this book, I am now blogging and hopefully my posts will continue in the same spirit in which I wrote my book. Have you thought about the legacy or imprint you will leave behind? 

What Will Matter

By Michael Josephson

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end.

There will be no more sunrises, no days, no hours, or minutes.

All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten will pass to someone else.

Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevant.

It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.

Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.

So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will all expire.

The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.

It won’t matter where you come from, or on what side of the tracks you lived.

It won’t matter whether you are beautiful or brilliant.

Your gender, skin color, ethnicity will be irrelevant.

So, what will matter?

How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.

What will matter is not your success, but your significance.

What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage and sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence, but your character.

What will matter is not how many people knew you, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.

What will matter is not your memories, but the memories of those who loved you.

What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters. 

Blessings.  …susan

 

Kitchen: Vertical Storage Option Series Part Two – Cabinet Vertical Storage

Welcome to Part Two of my Vertical Storage Option Series. To see part one, click here. Part two will focus on vertical storage shelves located in cabinets. As shown in the photos below, these can be found in upper and lower cabinets.  I am joining Julia’s Hooked on Friday blog party.  Click here to join her party. Enjoy!

^Above is an example of vertical storage behind a lower cabinet door. I like the width of the compartments as well as the fact a narrower piece of wood is used as the divider. 

^Above, it appears this cabinet is located above the refrigerator.  Being tall, that would not be a problem for me but a shorter person may need a step ladder. I like the generous amount of compartments and the width of these compartments. I also like having a couple of horizontal shelves above.

^In the photo above, I do like the pull out method for storing these platters and trays, however, I think that this design could be improved by having the cabinet door attached to the front of the pull out. In the use shown above, you would have to fully open the cabinet door in order to pull out the the wooden apparatus holding the platters. That makes it a two step process. I  am wondering if you have to bend down and grab onto the lower front piece of the apparatus to pull it out? Comments anyone?

^ Looking at the photo above and seeing the open drawers next to the vertical tray storage, it appears this homeowner likes open drawers and shelves. My personal preference is to have a cabinet door hiding the trays. I think the thickness of the solid wood dividers is over kill.

^The illustration above shows several options for vertical storage which include wire dividers, short wood dividers, wooden dowel dividers, and solid wood panels.

Source of these illustrations is the book Kitchen Storage Ideas. The sources for the photos in this post is unknown at this time. If you know the source, please contact me and I will note it. If I run across the source, I will add it.

After publishing the first post in this series, I ran across this photo below which fits that post. I decided to add it here.  This pull out drawer holding vertically stacking platters and trays is very functional. Unlike the photo shown in the first post, this one has solid wood dividers instead of wooden dowel rods. I would recommend heavy duty drawer runners for this particular drawer due to the weight of the drawer itself and the items stored in it.

Your observations and comments are welcome!  Blessings.  …susan

Kitchen: Vertical Storage Option Series Part one -pullout drawer storage

Welcome to my vertical storage option series!  Instead of the traditional way of storing kitchen items stacked on a shelf or stacked in a drawer, let’s think outside the box and look at vertical  storage options. 

When I ran across this photo a few years back, I was instantly drawn to the unique and functional idea for storing kitchen items vertically in a pullout drawer instead of horizontally on a shelf. What I like about it is you can see what you are looking for and the ease in which you can remove an item. Traditionally, these types of items are stacked on top of each other on a shelf or in a pantry. Many times there is a small cabinet under the double ovens which requires you to get on your hands and knees to find what you are looking for and to remove it. The photo below is a great idea for vertical storage.

As I study this photo, it looks like on the right side there is one solid divider creating two compartments equal in size. The rest of the drawer has wooden dowel rods used as dividers within the drawer. In the front right compartment it appears something is hanging over the dowel, perhaps pastry bags. I see a muffin tin, roasting pan, rectangular pyrex baking dish, cooling racks, cookie sheets, and a broiling pan.

A note of caution, depending on the size of the drawer and the weight of the items you might need heavy duty drawer runners.

If I were designing my dream kitchen, I would want to have several vertical storage drawers. One would be designated for baking items such as cookie sheets, muffin tins, cooling racks, cake pans, pastry bags, and maybe even have an area to be able vertically stand a rolling pin.  Another drawer would be designated for cutting boards and platters. Another could be for glass bakeware such as pyrex dishes which  would not have to be as tall as those for cookie sheets and cutting boards.  I really do like the idea of vertical storage in a drawer vs horizontal storage on a shelf! Leave me a comment and tell me what do you think of vertical storage in a drawer? What would you want to store vertically in a drawer?  Blessings.  …susan

Source of the photo is unknown. If you know the source please contact me and I will note it.

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday August 23, 2009

Welcome to my Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post. Having collected quotes and scripture for over 25 years, my hope is that by sharing these quotes it will cause you to pause and reflect. Perhaps you will share a quote with someone who is in need of reading that very quote.

A friend was telling me recently that she had said something she regretted saying. It was said in anger therefore it was full of venom. She was really upset with herself and remorseful.  I think all of us have from time to time said something we wish we had not said.  With that in mind, I want to share some quotes I have collected regarding speaking/communicating.

Your words are a window to your heart  -unknown

Ignorance is always swift to speak -unknown

Never pass up a chance to keep your mouth shut -unknown

A shut mouth gathers no foot (paraphrase Proverbs 13:3)

A soft tongue breaks hard bones (Proverbs 15:1)

Swallowing angry words is much better than having to eat them  -unknown

Have a blessed week!  …susan

Kitchen Utensil Storage: Mistakes to Avoid

As a follow up to my post on Kitchen Utensil Storage Options (which you can scroll down to read), here is a list of Mistakes to Avoid when designing your dream kitchen. By providing this list, it is my hope that I have stimulated your thought process and helped prevent avoidable mistakes. My goal is for you to end up with a functioning and aesthetically beautiful home, avoiding mistakes that might become a daily irritant.

Mistakes to Avoid

Before you begin designing your kitchen, identify all of your kitchen utensils. The best way is to lay all of them on your counter. Decide how they need to be grouped together, i.e. all wooden utensils, all baking utensils, etc. Then decide the type storage option you want to use and the location of the storage option. Will you store them in a drawer or drawers, in a container on the counter, hanging on the wall, hanging vertically behind a pull out cabinet door, in a basket under the counter, etc.  Next, decide the area of the kitchen where the storage option will be located. Keep in mind their use and then determine the location of the drawer(s), container(s), wall hanger(s), baskets, etc. so that the utensils are handy. For those items used when cooking on the stovetop, you would want the drawer or container near the stovetop.  For those items used when baking, you will want them stored near the counter where you will prepare the food for baking. I am sure you get the idea.

Storage in Drawers-Mistakes to Avoid

1. Make sure the drawer is tall enough so that the utensils will not jam when opening and closing the drawer. Don’t you just hate it when a ladle, large whisk, or rolling pin get jammed in your drawer and you cannot open it!  I usually add at least a half inch to the standard measurement for drawer height.. However, it is best to take the actual measurement of the tallest utensil you plan to store in the drawer.  I like how deep the drawer is in the photo under number four below.

I am a huge fan of having drawers in a kitchen instead of lower cabinet doors. You might want an extra tall drawer to hold items such as a sifter, four-sided grater, and other items requiring extra drawer height.  Perhaps you have a drawer for mixing bowls and a divider in the back of the drawer for some taller items such as the sifter.  I recommend putting the actual items you plan to store in each drawer on your counter and take measurements for your cabinet maker.  Then take a photograph of each group. Print the photograph on regular paper and fill in the measurements. 

2. Don’t waste valuable storage space with thick drawer dividers. Looking at both the photo below and the photo after item four, doesn’t it make you wonder why the dividers are so thick?

Source unknown: If you know the source of the photo above, please contact me and I will note it. 

3. Discuss with your cabinet maker if the drawer can be built so that the dividers can be moved around or removed to accommodate new items you might pick up. I can see grooves being cut in the drawer bottom and being able to lift the dividers and move them into another groove to change the configuration.

4. Think about the use of the utensils and the drawer being close to that area. If the utensils are for cooking on the stove, when designing your kitchen cabinet layout, put the drawer either under the stovetop or next to the stove so that they are an easy reach when cooking.  If the utensils are used when baking, put the drawer near the counter where you will prepare the food for baking. If  you own quite a few utensils, you might need more than one drawer stacked on top of each other that are designated for utensils.

Source: Tauton’s Home Storage Idea Book by Joanne Kellar Bouknight

5. Make sure the drawer runners you select are adequate for the weight of the drawer and the items you will be storing.  Decide if you want self-closing drawer runners. 

Storage in a Container-Mistakes to Avoid

1. Make sure the container when filled with utensils will still fit under the upper cabinets. I love using an urn in the photo below. The height  works because  it is located under the vent hood. 

Source: Great Kitchen Ideas

Storage on a Wall-Mistakes to Avoid

1. Hanging utensils from a wall rack creates the look of a professional kitchen and can be handy for the gourmet chef.  However, if you do not cook often, the utensils will gather dust.  

Source: Great Kitchen Ideas

Vertical Storage in a Pull Out Cabinet-Mistakes to Avoid

When looking at the photo below I can see several advantages of this type of storage. First, the metal peg board gives you the great flexibility in the configuration of the utensils. It also allows you to easily see the utensils.

For some reason, this option does not appeal to me. Maybe it is because I have not personally used this type of storage option? I keep imagining the utensils swinging around and clanging when I open and close the cabinet. I am not even sure that would actually happen.  The photo makes me think I would do a lot of stooping over or squatting to remove or replace the utensils. I would like to hear your thoughts in a comment if you have used or are using this type of storage option.

I do like the design of the cabinet front on the pull out in the photo below because when closed, it blends into the cabinet design. Because the design goes to the floor, it gives extra support when it is open. I like the idea of leaving it pulled out while cooking. Make sure if it is left pulled out there is room to walk around it.

Source unknown: if you know the source of this photo, please contact me and I will note it.

Blessings.  …susan

Kitchen: Utensil Storage Options

Welcome! Since my last post (excluding Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday) addressed options for storing flatware, I thought I would stay in the kitchen and follow that up with options for storing kitchen utensils.

 

^I like a wide drawer with dividers. It not only makes the items visible but keeps the utensils organized.

Source unknown. If you know the source, please contact me so I can note it.

^If your kitchen cabinet space does not allow for a wide drawer, consider using several narrower drawers.  I love the neatness of the drawer in the photo above.

Source unknown. If you know the source, please contact me so I can note it.

 

^This is a super wide drawer conveniently located at the stove.

Source: Taunton’s Home Storage Idea Book by Joanne Kellar Bouknight

^Storing utensils vertically is an interesting option. I have never used one of these. Do the utensils fall off or get jammed when you pull out or push in the cabinet? 

Source unknown. If you know the source, please contact me so I can note it.

^Another example of a drawer with generous width and dividers.

Source unknown. If you know the source, please contact me so I can note it.

 

^Realizing custom made drawers are expensive and some kitchens are tight on space, you an always store utensils in simple can such as the stainless steel one shown above.

Source: Personal photo file

^Or you might opt to use a decorative urn as shown above. I really like this!

Source: Great Kitchen Ideas

 

^Yet another option is to hang utensils from utensils holders mounted on the wall.

Source: Great Kitchen Ideas

Please tell me which option you prefer!  I will be following up with a Mistakes to Avoid post in a few days. Please check back!  Blessings. …Susan

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday, August 16, 2009

Welcome to my Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post and part three, the final post of my Tidbits of Wisdom series.  These tidbits, which I have named Tidbits of Wisdom, came to me in an email forward which noted the source to have been a 90 year old woman named Regina Brett. I learned in a comment that Regina Brett is a 53 year old columnist for The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH.  She was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 2008 and 2009.  She has a book coming out in April 2010 based on her 50 Life Lessons.  To read past columns, you can go to www.cleveland.com/brett. To read the first part of my post, click here. To read the second part, click here.  Blessings.  …susan

Tidbits of Wisdom

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative—dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield

45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

Kitchen: Flatware Storage Options

Welcome! Although most of us have stored our flatware (knives, spoons, forks) the traditional way, I want to share with you other options for flatware storage. These could be used in the kitchen cabinets or in the butler’s pantry. 

I am joining Julia’s Hooked on Friday blog party, so click here to check it out.

In the photo above, I like having three drawers in one because it allows for more pieces of flatware and it is easier to see.  Here in the South it is not unusual to have place settings for twenty-four. 

Below is the same concept except these pull out drawers/shelves are behind cabinet doors. I do not like having pull-out drawers or shelves behind cabinet doors because the cabinet door  has to be fully open in order to pull out the drawer or shelf.  I much prefer the option in the photo above.

^The above photo and below shows storing flatware vertically instead of horizontally in a drawer. You could customize the size of each storage compartment.

^Source: Southern Accents Sept.-Oct, 2008

In the photo below, is yet another option. I like having the dividers lined in silver cloth or other soft material. 

 

 

^Above, I like the width of each compartment for the flatware but here is another pull-out located behind a cabinet door.  I wish these compartments were silver cloth lined.

^Source:  Dream Kitchens magazine

^I like the shallow depth and the extra wide width of this drawer as well as the layout of the compartments.  It also appears to be a single drawer.  I just wish it was lined with silver  cloth. 

^Sorry about the poor quality of the photo above, it did not scan clearly but I am hopeful you can see enough to understand the storage idea.  I am assuming there are three shallow drawers with cabinets located below which is similar to the photo below. Each drawer operates independently of the other.  The top one and the third one appear to hold flatware and the middle one holds napkins. I am a big fan of shallow drawers for such uses.  Additional shallow drawers could hold napkin rings, place cards, flatware serving pieces, and other related items.

^A very functional built in used in a bulter’s pantry. Four shallow drawers that operate independently and cabinets below which can hold various  entertaining pieces.  I could see one cabinet having vertical dividers for tray storage. Or adjustable shelves to hold serving pieces. 

Let me know in a comment what you think of these storage options. Blessings. …susan

Most of the photos used in this post were torn out of magazines over the years and I do not know the source. If you know the source, please contact me and I will gladly give credit.

Mountain Homes-Patios & Porches

Welcome to part six and the last of my Carolina Mountain Homes post. These are presold homes built in The Cliffs Communities in the mountains of North and South Carolina in the Asheville and Greenville area. My son-in-law, Ray Foral, was the builder. His company is Ridgeline Construction Group, Inc. out of Greenville, SC. 

To see the first post of the series click here, second here, third here, fourth here, and fifth here or just scroll through my blog.  Enjoy!

^In the photo above, Phantom screens were used so the homeowner could make this area a screened in porch or raise the screen and enjoy an open air porch. The home sits up on a ridge overlooking the golf course. Isn’t this a great place to gather by the outdoor fireplace with family and friends while using the built in grill. 

 

^The photo above and below are of the same home in the first photo but taken at a different angle. The photo below has the Phantom screens raised.

In the  photo above, the windows to the far left are the master bedroom. In the middle are the Nano doors that open into the living room. The glass doors to the far right leading into the home from the porch take you into the dining room and just beyond it is the kitchen. 

^What a beautiful view of the golf course and mountains. This photo makes this porch area appear a bit squatty but the ceilings are tall and gorgeous and the porch area is expansive. To the left of the fireplace is a screen door that leads to a small patio area. If you look at the far left of this photo you can see vertical tracks for the phantom screen which gives you the ability to screen in the porch if the bugs are out.

^The location of this fire pit provides great views of the golf course as well as sunsets. Unless the wind is blowing towards the home, this fire pit is located far enough away to avoid the smoke becoming an issue in the home.

^Wouldn’t you like to be sitting in this infinity pool/hot tub watching the sun set? That a lake with an island below.

^Because of the beautiful views that can be seen from this home, there are plenty of exterior gathering places so those views can be enjoyed.

Notice the Nano pocket door peaking out just to the right of the fireplace which when each Nano door is open, allows this patio area to flow into the home

Below are photos of my son-in-law, the home builder, with my daughter and their two children!

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday August 9, 2009

Welcome to my Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post and part two of my Tidbits of Wisdom series.  These tidbits which I named Tidbits of Wisdom came to me in an email forward which noted the source to have been a 90 year old woman named Regina Brett. These appeared in a column in The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH.  There are forty-five tidbits. I am sharing them in three parts. 

My hope is that my Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post will touch you in a way that makes you pause and reflect. Perhaps you will share what you read with a friend who is in need of reading the very thing that I wrote in the post. Blessings!  …susan 

Tidbits of Wisdom

13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry, God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful, or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in chare of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words “in five years, will this matter?”

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone of everything.

29. What other people think is none of  your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give it time.

Leave me a comment and tell me which one of these resonated with you and why!  My next post is my final one in the Carolina Mountain home series. I will be showing patios and porches.  Come back and check it out.

Mountain Homes-Bedrooms

Welcome to part five of my Carolina mountain home series which features five beautiful bedrooms. These are presold homes built by my son-in-law, Ray Foral of Ridgeline Construction Group, Inc in The Cliffs Communities located in the Asheville, NC and Greenville, SC area.  To see the first post, click here. Second post, click here,  third post, click here, and fourth post, click here.

Isn’t this bedroom warm and inviting?  I love the green walls and the large window seat with the storage drawers below. I am a fan of large bedside tables with drawers especially in the master bedroom.

This is my favorite of the bedrooms shown in this post though the previous bedroom is a close second. I am especially fond of the large window panes in this bedroom. The black and white toile fabric with the touches of yellow in the pillows and bench and the natural light give this room a bright and happy feel. 

When I look at this photo I see two’s; two lamps, two bedside tables, two benches at the foot of the bed, a pair of pictures on the wall, two pairs of pillows on the bed, and two pairs of windows. It is a good example of why odd numbers are important.  I do like the ceiling, especially the large timber. I could see myself working on my blog sitting in the chair with my laptop in my lap, my feet on the ottoman and a wonderful window view. 

Wouldn’t you like to stay in this lovely guest bedroom. I like the wall color and the fabrics. Personally, I am not a fan of matching bedroom furniture but it seems to work well in this room. . Instead of both sets of wall art being pairs of prints, I would have preferred in one of the areas a larger single piece. A mirror over the dresser might have been a good choice with only one mirror.  

This amoire and chair are in one of the bedrooms.  Warm mountain colors accent this bedroom.

I am not sure if this is a powder room or the bathroom for a guest bedroom.  I like the sink and faucets being a rustic mountain look.

From the functional side of me, I am a big fan of drawers under bunk beds. I like them large and deep enough to hold a piece of luggage. It helps keep a room tidy. I like that each bed has a sconce on the wall for reading. There appears to be a tv built into the wall at the foot of each bed. How lucky for the grandchildren!  I like the shelf at the head of the bed which provides a place for an alarm clock, a book, tv remote control, etc. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. One more to go in this series which will feature patios and porches. Blessings.  …susan

Mountain Homes-Family Rooms

Welcome to part four of my Carolina mountain series post which features four family rooms. Click here to see part one, here to see part two, and here to see part three of the series. 

These are homes built in The Cliff’s Communities by my son-in-law, Ray Foral of Ridgeline Construction Group, Inc. of Greenville, SC.

^Isn’t this family room inviting, especially on a winter night!  I like the size of the fireplace, mantle, and hearth.  Also, I like the stone design of the fireplace opening surround.  The timbers used as headers over the door and hallway are a nice detail.  The four club chair seating with the fabric covered coffee table create a warm area to gather around the fireplace. Wouldn’t you like to curl up in one of those chairs with a good book? At the top of the stairs is the front door and side windows which cast some natural light to this basement area. 

^Another delightful place for family and friends to gather is in the basement in the photo above. At the far end is a card table along with a generous sized counter with cabinets above and below.  I can see multiple uses for this counter area. It could be used as a bar, kitchen bar, and if someone in the household is working on a volunteer or school project, this would be a great area to spread out.

The views off the back of this home are spectacular and with the four panels of Nano doors, this homeowner gets maximum use of the views. The windows above the Nano doors bring in natural sunlight as well as give you an upward view. I am not sure what is on the other side of the windows to the left of the fireplace, but I wish that wall had vertical windows so that a person sitting on the sofa could see out.

^This photo was taken from the patio looking inward into the home. This living room and dining room were previously shown from a different angle in part two of this series that featured dining rooms.  The black rails in the top of the photo are part of the Nano glass doors and Nano screen doors.  The lens of this photo make them appear more prominent than they are in person.

Which of these family rooms do you see you and your family or you and your friends gathering? Come back to see part five and six of this series. Blessings.  …susan