If you're looking for this week's Hodgepodge questions, keep on scrollin'.
Linking with Five Minute Friday on a Tuesday because I didn't have five minutes on Friday. We had a full house this weekend, which makes for the perfect segue into this week's prompt...
Friday's word prompt-visit
The idea of house guests sends some people running for the hills, but around here we make up beds, gas up the boat, fluff the porch cushions, and say come on over. Sidebar-I'm a bit of a control freak and it used to be when company was coming I'd exhaust myself trying to make every little thing just so.
Over the years I've learned that visitors don't care about just so. In fact sometimes just so stresses them out. They care about you, their host. They want to sit on the porch in their yoga pants and hear what's new with you. They want to play dominoes and listen to soft rain on the roof.
They want to bring snacks for the boat or chicken salad for lunch or homemade Italian sausage for the grill.
They want to come upstairs in their pj's sans makeup and done hair and see you in your pj's sans makeup with undone hair too.
They might even do your hair if you ask nicely.
They don't judge unless you're so busy running around doing that you miss the point of a visit with friends, and then they might sigh and say they wish you'd just sit a spell.
I haven't completely let go of my need to make things comfortable but I do cook ahead, put on my glasses and my sweatpants with the coffee, and watch the sunrise over the lake with my guests. I'll wear a swim suit and breathe in the scent of sunscreen and the water right along with the view.
I will float in my pink flamingo.
And I will make time to visit. Time to remember the years roll by...
That moments make a memory and these are the times of our lives.
Enjoyed reading about your weekend fun! Visits are always fun with close friends. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLiving in HIS Joy!
Eva Raye
Oh my gosh that's a great 'then and now' photo! Good friends, it's what life it about. Looks like a great weekend was had by all!
ReplyDeleteLooks like such a fun week-end. The kind that are hard to beat. I TOO fight the urge to make things "perfect" but your soo right. No one really cares much about those little details. Certainly not as much as they appreciate a relaxed and happy host. Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteHow clever to remember to take a now photo like the before photo. Special times. I can relate to the getting too fixated on making things perfect before people arrive. Happy to have let that go...
ReplyDeleteJoyce, I have also arrived "there". When folks are coming to visit, I do my best to make sure they are comfortable, but I do let them set the table and help however they want to help. It makes the visit much more enjoyable for all of us. Love the photos!! The braids are amazing!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a great weekend. Thanks for sharing the fun and good advice about how to entertain visitors.
ReplyDeleteWhat a weekend!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post, Joyce. There's nothing like good times with family and friends. :)
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed evening.
This was a beautiful post, Joyce! Very inspiring to hospitality and friendship. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great time! Glad to see you're learning to be more of a "Mary" than a "Martha"! :)
ReplyDeleteI have three sons and they could care less about what the table setting looks like. It's all about the food, sports on Tv and catching up.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind house guests, it is the fact that I neglected my house for far to long with Amber living here for 6 1/2 years. I got out of the swing of things! Now we are ready again. Looks like your weekend was perfect. Love the hair styles. That pink flamingo is so cute.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent post and reminder to enjoy the present! I'll bet you are a wonderful hostess.
ReplyDeleteYou're my kind of people!
ReplyDeleteI love being around people who aren't all uptight about making sure everything is perfect. If I come over to visit, I want to visit. I don't want to see people running around trying to make everything "Just So".