LUNCH WITH FRIENDS IN MIDLOTHIAN SHANGRI LA
I enjoyed a fabulous day today with quilty friends, Marla and Ginger, in Shangri La (AKA Midlothian, VA.) Marla is not only an accomplished quilter, but she is also a talented gardener and decorator. LOOK AT MARLA’S FLOWERS - they remind me of an English Garden! And isn’t the little white picket fence sweet!?
Just as I was catching my breath from the beauty of her flowers, I was escorted into the SHANGRI LA backyard (and not just any backyard but an official WILDLIFE BACKYARD HABITAT.)
Here the birds, bees, squirrels and chipmunks enjoy the waterfall and the greenery! Doesn’t this scene just make you want to curl up with a good book! I found the perfect reading bench in the corner. As I said, SHANGRI LA!
We were lead through the gardens by Ray - our outside tour guide and creator of this backyard beauty! Ray had some wonderful inside stories too - and the SHOW AND TELL was very entertaining - so much to see! Look at this - the first dry chemical fire extinguisher! And look at this lamp that Ray made (also as a matter of public record, if anything that even remotely resembles this lamp turns up missing, Ginger didn’t do it.) 
Ray has lots of awards and certificates - and look at those firemen helmets on the wall! WOW!
But I must say, as impressive as these fire fighter memorabilia and civil war re-enactment momentos were (and they really were fascinating - for real) I was drawn to the quilting room.
I could seriously LIVE IN this room! What’s NOT to like, angels, bears, antiques, stash, more stash, quilts, and LOOK AT THIS SINGER FEATHERWEIGHT!
Marla’s SHOW AND TELL
We are really impressed with this THYME TO WATER BLOCK!
Marla had made so many beautiful quilts….
The Rest of the House
All day today, I felt as if I were walking through an edition of COUNTRY LIVING magazine. I love Marla’s collection of art work……dolls, bears, baskets and angels. It was TOO MUCH FUN.
JAKE AND DAISY
Aren’t these the cutest furry children. Jake - the boy - is the tall one. Daisy - the girl - is the short one. They are SO CUTE.
The LUNCHEON
Now almost everyone that knows me KNOWS that I love Martha Stewart. I seriously would like to be her friend. LITTLE DID I KNOW that I have my own Martha Stewart. LOOK AT THIS WELCOME DISH - Marla made such a fantastic luncheon for us. It was like being at Martha Stewart’s house - as I would imagine it! But with friends like Marla and Ginger, who needs Martha Stewart anyway!
It was a lovely garden….a beautiful home….a wonderful luncheon…..and the company of friends was priceless. As Martha Stewart would say - THIS IS A GOOD THING. Marla’s backyard SHANGRI LA just went on my LIST OF FAVORITE THINGS.
It was a GREAT DAY!
