Before Martha Stewart

Before Martha Stewart, before HGTV, or any lifestyle venue, there were women in my life who were the essence of fine living.  Claudia, Cody, Jewel, Lillie, Sally, Barbara, Verna, and Mary Virginia.  These are the women who influence the way I live life.  These have become the parts of my life that have defined fine living.  Claudia,who had ironed sheets that made going to bed a treat.  Cody, who set her breakfast table each morning with her finest silver and china.  Jewel, who approached everyday as an adventure.  Sally, whose zest for life filled every room she entered. Barbara, whose garden is always full of table ready flowers and who is willing to share and whose holiday feast invitiations promote jealousy in those not included;  Verna, the original Martha Stewart, whose creativity can produce a party in the most simple environment and Mary Virginia, whose quiet dignity and joy is a pattern for the perfect party guest. 

This blog is named to honor Lillie.  She has always had a natural sense of taste and style.  Her home a timeless environment above anything seen or experienced in the latest home journal. Her homes have always been a warm, welcome environment. She innately selected just the right shade of soft pink that was timeless and flattering.  She knew what furniture was valuable enough to keep and what to dispose of. These choices never appeared fussy and she never prohibited a child or animal from enjoying even the finest chair or sofa in the living room. As was the case in all my influences'  homes, there was never a television in the living part of the house.  This allowed for real conversation and interaction.  She never appeared frustrated when presented with an extra guest.  All were made to feel welcomed.  The tables she laid were sometimes simple and sometimes elaborate.  Always just right.  It is because of her that I now set my holiday table with Johnston Brother's "Friendly Village" stoneware.  She used this pattern. It came out for Thanksgiving and was used until the holidays were over.

Changing the tableware  I use everyday is something I look forward to with each season.  Something so simple.  Something to announce in that subtle way that one season is over and another here.  One something to keep life moving in a different direction.  A simple act that enhances our everyday eating experience.

I hope to honor Lillie and these other fine women with this blog.  I intend to write about any and all components of fine living.  Sit back, relax and lets learn together how we can enjoy fine living and live our own lives with grace and pleasure.  I hope you will discover as I have, that fine living has less to do with spending elaborate sums of money and more to do with how we share ourselves and what we have with others.