{FRIENDSHIP by Elizabeth Barrett Browning}

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (6 March 1806 – 29 June 1861) was one of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era.

On March 6, I was surprised to find a post about Elizabeth Barrett Browning at one of my favorite bloggers: 'Rosabella ~ la vie en rose'
Also Lorraine from Little House in the Hudson Valley wrote about Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

In our Rose Suite we do have a framed poem from Elizabeth Barrett Browning and that has a  very special meaning to me as I received it, framed and all, from a writer friend who adopted me as his 'favorite niece'. Hence he became my Uncl Bo Whaley. He gave me this poem with the original glued to the back of the frame just as he'd found it in his Dad's bible. The Dad was a Preacher. The scan of this framed poem is not the greatest, but better than any photo.

So I'd love to share it with you:

THIS IS FRIENDSHIP

I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.

I love you for the part of me that you bring out.

I love you for putting your hand into my heaped-up heart and passing over all the frivolous and weak things that you cannot help seeing there, and drawing out into the light all the beautiful, radiant things that no one else has looked quite far enough to find.

I love you for closing your eyes to the discords in me, and for adding

 to the music in my soul by worshipful listening.

I love you because you are helping me to make of the lumber of my life, not a tavern but a temple, and from the words of my every day, not a reproach but a song.

I love you because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me happy.

And you have done it without a touch, without a word, without a sign.

You have done it just being yourself.

After all, perhaps that is what being a friend means.

…Elizabeth Barrett Browning  

♥♥

Both, Pieter and I are blessed with great FRIENDS! 

{Worldwide GIVEAWAY of French Country Style Lavender Sachet}

French Country style lavender sachet, made by a lady in the French Alps from upscale decorator fabric. A Toile de Jouy with Roses on top of a matching linen plaid with rare Jute linen bottom.

This is for the winner of my giveaway, from my own boutique Mariette's Back to Basics.

You can read previous blogs about my French Country Style Lavender Sachets under label Sachets.

Also by searching sachets, at the top right on my blog.

Now, let's look closer at this beautiful sachet that you can win... Rules will follow below.

1 chance: Become a follower and leave a comment telling me you did so. 

2nd chance: Mention this giveaway on your blog. Grab my button at the top of my blog to the right and post  it on your side-bar and tell me you did so.

3rd chance: Like my Facebook Page Mariette's Back to Basics (click on it) and tell me you did.

4th chance: Tweet about it and let me know.

On May 1st by mid-night Eastern USA Daylight Saving Time, this giveaway ends...

Good luck!

{THANKS to 166 Followers from 113 Countries!}

First of all I want to let you know that our Oxalis NEVER do yield a 4-leaf 'lucky' clover...

BUT, I certainly feel very lucky for being healthy again and being happy! Officially I did start my blog in November of 2009, but soon I got that ill that I had to halt my blog till I was no longer paralyzed from a rare auto immune disease. But now things work well and I enjoy reading all your comments and blogs; if time permits. You all know by now that our garden and home do take up quite some time and attention.

On April 2nd of 2010, I did put Google Analytics on my blog. Just did capture this history of one year for you to view. Sincerely I want to THANK all of you, for reading my blog and for visiting our garden, home and events. Tomorrow I will list a GIVEAWAY as my token of appreciation! Stay tuned...

Just on one single day there were 35 countries visiting...

I feel honored for seeing that many countries. Far more than the countries I've traveled to or worked in as a consultant. You can see my countries visited at the top of my blog, under Followers. 

113 countries in one year with 15,849 visits, according to Google Analytics.

One special Thank You to dear Friend Johanna from Silber-und-Rosen-Shop (Silver+Roses) who was the VERY first to leave a comment on my blog and has been a regular ever since. She is the author of a great book that she did autograph for me with a special message... I've done my 3rd blog about her, you can read that here: {Splendid book about Silver Rose Flatware} 

That's a lot of page views: 59,025...

Looks like our lives are going uphill again. Me being paralyzed in January, last year and slowly getting on track and Pieter having his open heart surgery in September...

THANKS ALL FOR READING MY HUMBLE BLOG!