"On a fairly lovely spring day, when all the trees wore flowers and all the flowers were abloom…"


So begins the story… the little book I wrote and illustrated in 2012 celebrating our life in Franklin, Tennessee… A Whimsical Tale of our Storybook Town…(Inspired and encouraged to write this tale, by our friend Dale Powell. She and her husband have a wonderful shop on W. Main Street…William Powell Home & Garden)

 ….and this is Fair Street…


….and the "flowers were abloom.."



"Felicity spies the glittery candles and velvet pumpkins in a French Boutique."


Avec Moi, with it's owner/designer extraordinaire, Bob, is one of our most favorite shops along Main Street. He creates tablescapes that are truly a sight to behold…



The velvet pumpkins…and now velvet strawberries... by Hot Skwash are sheer sweetness. We love the vignettes Bob creates….




"As they come upon the toy shoppe with such delightful window displays…"


Sophia loves this shop on Main Street..as it carries her beloved Calico Critters.

"…in search of packets of Foxglove seeds in the garden shoppe. He loves to look at the beautiful flowers on the envelopes."


You've never seen a cozier, gardener friendly shop…with the dearest owner, Sherri…and Sophia loves that she carries a line of items for our resident Fairies.

Our little granddaughter has fallen in love with the beauty that surrounds us in our little town…
…and she says she must snap a photo, as well…


We love that our neighbors write beautiful quotes on the chalkboard hanging on their front porch…


It reads…"Spring rains woke the dormant tillers, bright green shoots sprang from the moist earth and rose like sleepers stretching after a long nap." The Infinite Sea

Then we come upon a darling frog…sitting 'neath his umbrella…as the fountain gurgles and spills and splashes…


This stone "Falling Leaf Cottage" is straight out of a storybook…


…and the entryway of this home….well, my goodness… I was enchanted and could only think of the Secret Garden…


Looking up at the pristine steeple against a cloudless blue sky …the varying shades took my breath…and the birds fluttering about, were singing praises to our Maker….


So to walk…pushing a buggy/stroller…with a chattering, hopping in and out, jumping, skipping, "the sun's in my eyes can we stop and pet that puppy did you see those flowers can you run with me do I have to hold your hand I want to hold Grammy's hand I want to hold my own hands" 4 year old little girl, is going to provide enough cardiovascular/get yourself-back-in-shape exercise. Don't you think?


…and along the way…I'll snap photos…and be thankful for that man's hand that holds the little hand of that little girl….


When we arrived home, with a fresh dose of energy, I searched through dusty boxes and tubs and finally came upon the container that had served as home to my childhood friend, Mrs. Beasley, since our move, here, 4 years ago….


I have been so anxious to find her,
as I want to add her photo in the pages of my new book ..
Eliza Meets Ella Grace Louise,
for it is dedicated to that wonderful librarian I loved as a new student in a new school,
who helped me discover a whole new world…
Miss Beasley…
who also had a Mrs. Beasley doll in her library at Eastern Elementary School, in Red Oak, Georgia.
She later married and became Mrs. Dean.
Oh, how I would love to find her.
If you know her…hug her…and help me get in touch.

Blessings

Remember…all my books and pretties and Grammy & Marmeé items are available on my "Storybook Cottage Crafts" Etsy Shoppe. Look for the link at the top of the post. Many Thanks!