Explanation:
Well, just let it be said that I know that I am a little late to the blog land party. I have been enjoying and reading many blogs for years, and I have finally decided to start my own. I hope to be able to add my own perspective on thrifty, classic, style discussions.
I come from a finance background (MBA) and have been seriously worried over the past two years about the state of our national economy. I am still worried, but I have determined that for me, the worst thing to do would be to just sit around "stewing" about it, as my Grandmother would say. As most of us pull in a bit financially, I think that it is very important that we become even more generous with our time and extra material possessions. Thankfully, my family has very little debt. My oldest daughter (clever thing!) was able to get herself into a very prestigious university and we have committed to paying her way for her so she can graduate loan free. She in turn has committed to help with her siblings' college education expenses. Result - very little cash for any of us to spend for a few years.
I love to read biographies/autobiographies! I have a big collection of books picked up here and there that I call my "Lady Books" - often about entertaining, decorating, and etiquette. Soon, I hope to be able to share some of the titles so that you may read along, too. Over the years I have enjoyed reading about some of the most stylish women/houses/lives of the 20th century. It struck me that some of this style isn't just about money, but about hard work, creativity, and sticking to the classics. These books have inspired me to make the effort to try to cheer my friends and family through beauty and style both at home and my family's personal appearance.
Have you noticed that the charity shops (Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.) are fairly bursting with "stuff" resulting from foreclosures, house consolidations, etc.? Examples: I found a folk art painting the last year by a well-artist (still living) that was beautifully framed and matted - cost? $5.95. My daughter recently found a Vineyard Vines tote/purse for $3.95. Thrift shopping is, of course, hit or miss, but there are some lovely items out there. This is where the "gleaning" from my blog title comes in - with a good eye, we can enhance our lives with beauty while keeping some of this very lovely merchandise out of the landfills. The "hope" is that we will all weather this downturn with aplomb! Of course, our real hope lies in Jesus.
Dedication:
I dedicate this blog to my late mother. Mom was nicknamed "Babe" by her family in the 1930s, but in one of those strange shiftings of childhood, I thought that she had been somehow named after Babe Paley, who I heard a lot about while growing up in the 1970's. Mom was thin and had dark hair just like Babe Paley. I think that it pleased my mother to share a nickname with such a vibrant lady.
Mom also had a lot of personal style and was one of those women who didn't buy much, but when she did, it was from the finest store in a nearby midsized city. I don't think that she even owned a pair of jeans. She also liked to save up and buy some things from the Great American Stores (Macy;s Neiman-Marcus, etc.) when she travelled to the big city.
My mom didn't really entertain that much, mainly because she had a shy nature. When she died, I inherited many dishes and serving pieces that she had collected apparently because she did secretly want to throw more parties! I wish that she would have tried more often,because I think that she would have had great results. However, to know one's limitations also has a certain sort of elegance.
Thank you, Mom, for the lessons that you taught me and the kindness that you showed to all who met you.
