Notes From Nana

06/08/2025

05/12/2025

Ballerina Marshmallows using cupcake liners - love this idea! 💕
credit - a Little Dream

03/07/2025

09/23/2023

The imprint you leave on the hearts of those who know and love you, can change the whole world.

08/26/2023

“If I’ve learned anything from life, it’s that sometimes, the darkest times can bring us to the brightest places. I’ve learned that the most toxic people can teach us the most important lessons, that our most painful struggles can grant us the most necessary growth and that the most heartbreaking losses of friendship and love can make room for the most wonderful people. I’ve learned that what seems like a curse in the moment can actually be a blessing and that what seems like the end of the road is actually just the discovery that we are meant to travel down a different path. I’ve learned that no matter how difficult things seem, there is always hope. I’ve learned that no matter how powerless we feel or how horrible things seem, we can’t give up. We have to keep going. Even when it’s scary, even when all of our strength seems gone, we have to keep picking ourselves back up and moving forward, because whatever we’re battling in the moment, it will pass, and we will make it through. We’ve made it this far. We can make it through whatever comes next.”
― Danielle Koepke

08/04/2023

We'll be continuing Part III (the private Florence swim club) of our series on public/private swim team/club money in a few days. For toda...

07/23/2023

I think it was Brene Brown who told a story about a village where all the women washed clothes together down by the river. When they all got washing machines, there was a sudden outbreak of depression and no one could figure out why.

It wasn't the washing machines in and of themselves. It was the absence of time spent doing things together. It was the absence of community.

Friends, we’ve gotten so independent.

We’re “fine” we tell ourselves even when in reality we’re depressed, we’re overwhelmed, we’re lonely, and we’re hurting. “We’re fine, we’re just too busy right now” we say when days, weeks, months, and years go by without connecting with friends. I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine. It’s so easy to say even when it’s not true.

We’ve become so isolated and it’s hard to know how to get back. It’s so hard to know how to even begin to build the kind of relationships our hearts need. And I think In our current culture, it’s just not as organic as it once was. It's more work now.

Because you know, we have our own washing machines. We don't depend on each other to do laundry, or cook dinner, or raise babies anymore. We don't really depend on each other for much of anything if we're being honest.

In Brene Brown’s book Braving the Wilderness, she says that being lonely effects the length of our life expectancy similar to smoking 15 ci******es a day. I don’t say that to freak anyone out, but to let you know that the longing for connection is LEGIT. I think we’ve treated friendship like a luxury for far too long; friendship isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.

We don't want it. We kind of need it.

Be independent. Be proud of it. But be an independent woman who realizes the value and the importance of opening the door to other good women.

You can do it alone, but you don't have to. Islands are only fun for so long.

There is true magic when women come together and hold hands and share ideas and share stories and struggles and endless bowls of salsa. You use your gifts, and I'll use mine, and then we'll invite that girl over there who brings a completely different set of skills to the table we are building, and we'll watch together as something miraculous unfolds.

*Original authors of this post are Amy Weatherly and Jess Johnston. Thank you ladies for these words of wisdom!

Post Credit: Sister, I am with you.

07/18/2023

“When God created woman, he was working late on the 6th day...

An angel came by and asked, “Why spend so much time on her?” The lord answered, “Have you seen all the specifications I have to meet to shape her?”

“She must function in all kinds of situations, she must be able to embrace several kids at the same time, have a hug that can heal anything from a bruised knee to a broken heart.

She must do all this with only two hands, she cures herself when sick and can work 18 hours a day.”

The Angel was impressed. “Just two hands...impossible! And this is the standard model?” The Angel came closer and touched the woman.

“But you have made her so soft, Lord.”

“She is soft,” said the Lord, “But I have made her strong. You can't imagine what she can endure and overcome.”

"Can she think?” The Angel asked...The Lord answered, "Not only can she think, she can reason and negotiate."

The Angel touched her cheeks..."Lord, it seems this creation is leaking! You have put too many burdens on her."

"She is not leaking...it is a tear," The Lord corrected the Angel...

"What's it for?" Asked the Angel...The Lord said, "Tears are her way of expressing her grief, her doubts, her love, her loneliness, her suffering and her pride."...

This made a big impression on the Angel,
"Lord, you are a genius. You thought of everything.

A woman is indeed marvellous"

Lord said, "Indeed she is. She has strength that amazes a man. She can handle trouble and carry heavy burdens. She holds happiness, love and opinions. She smiles when she feels like screaming. She sings when she feels like crying, cries when happy and laughs when afraid. She fights for what she believes in.

Her love is unconditional. Her heart is broken when a next-of-kin or a friend dies but she finds strength to get on with life."

The Angel asked, "So she is a perfect being?"

The lord replied: "No. She has just one drawback, she often forgets what she is worth."

Author: Devina Nund

07/16/2023

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking
- by Mary Rita Schilke Sill (C)1980

When you thought I wasn't looking
You hung my first painting on the refrigerator
And I wanted to paint another.

When you thought I wasn't looking
You fed a stray cat
And I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking
You baked a birthday cake just for me
And I knew that little things were special things.

When you thought I wasn't looking
You said a prayer
And I believed there was a God that I could always talk to.

When you thought I wasn't looking
You kissed me goodnight
And I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn't looking
I saw tears come from your eyes
And I learned that sometimes things hurt
But that it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking
You smiled
And it made me want to to look that pretty too.

When you thought I wasn't looking
You cared
And I wanted to be everything I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking
I looked
And I wanted to say thanks
For all the things you did
When you thought I wasn't looking.

07/16/2023

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be..

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and wanted to say,’ Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'

I AM SENDING THIS TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW WHO DO SO MUCH FOR OTHERS, BUT THINK THAT NO ONE EVER SEES. LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT...

Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend) influences the life of a child...

( This poem is not the original as it's been altered and shared on many profiles.
The Full original poem is available here; http://www.whenyouthoughtiwasntlooking.com/ )

Credit ; When You Thought I Wasn’t Looking
Backstory – Mary Rita Schilke Sill

When you thought I wasn't looking poetry for all mysite

07/16/2023

Dear big kids, I will meet you where you’re at.

I will meet you in the kitchen when you get up in the morning and have a long day ahead of you, and you ask me if I could make you some breakfast or you let me make you some breakfast.

I will meet you by the side of the road when your car starts making a funny noise and you’re not sure it’s going to get you where you need to go.

I will meet you at Subway or Tropical Smoothie or anywhere when you’ve got just enough time between one thing and another to eat but not enough to come home.

I will meet you on the couch when you get home late at night and feel like talking.

I will meet you in the driveway before you’ve even turned off your car engine when you come home for a weekend or a vacation or a holiday.

I will meet you in a state halfway between where you are most of the time and where I am most of the time, so I can see you for any amount of time.

I will meet you on FaceTime or Zoom.

I will also meet you at other places where you are...in sadness or heartache or disappointment or confusion or anxiety. I will do my best to try not to rush you through these places but to help you make them count while you’re in them.

And, I’ll meet you in celebration or victory or flat-out happiness, and here, mine will be the loudest applause of all.

I know sometimes where you’re at isn’t going to be someplace you want me to be or need me to be. And that’s okay.

But when it is, as much as it’s within my power and won’t hold you back from getting where you need to go, just say the word, and I’ll meet you there.

No Greater Joy

06/15/2023

Everyone keeps asking me
“What are you going to do now that you are retired? ( I’ve made it thru three months of retirement?)
I know that you have something on your mind , a new agenda!”
We know you are not going to just sit down !”
As a lot of you know , I have a lot on my
Plate at the moment! My Family is my priority!
I’m taking some time for David and I to do some home projects , doing fun things with the Grandchildren. Taking some day trips ! When it cools down a bit I’m going to do some flower gardening and create some more flower beds and sitting area’s.
I’m going to do some Pickin and junkin !
In the Fall, I’m planning on maybe doing some Consulting , getting back to doing some Estate Sales , some pop up Vintage shows , maybe a Barn Sale, helping friends with some decorating , buying for some stores and for some friends , helping some Antique and Vintage stores with merchandising and styling booths and creating Vignettes . If you are looking for something in particular let me know , I’ll try to find it for you !
If you have or come across some great deals on Furniture … I may be able to help you … Message me !
I’ll do some DIY projects, travel idea’s , and how to decorate on a budget !
I’ll also be sharing gardening ideas !
I’ll be teaching some vignette and merchandising ideas for retail stores and Antique booths!
I may start an online store selling Vintage and Curated goods … I will not have a brick and mortar retail store anytime soon if ever !
I’ll work on my new booth at Vintage South Marketplace.
I may even
Do a YouTube channel , and start a blog !
Some of these things will give me the opportunity to travel !
I have to keep my creative skills flowing !
Whatever I do , I don’t want to be tied down
I want to do it on my time !
I have worked for over 50 years in retail so I have lots of experience!
If you know me you know I love being creative, that is my God given talent and I had rather do that than Eat and I really like to eat !
I’m Starting a new page called
The Vintage Marketplace , please like and follow and you can keep up with what I’m doing !