It all started in the patch........

The Gooseberry Patch, that is!

My GBP books as of 7/08

Huh? I know that is what you are thinking. As I am sure many of you have noticed I tend to make multiple references to GLU, or GLU Divas, or GLU Sistas, or some variation thereof. What is GLU, you ask? No, it is not something I have been sniffing (though I am sure some will beg to differ!!! LOL). GLU is GirlsLikeUs, a private message board I belong to with some of the most fabulous, most talented, most crazy divariffic women I know. If you notice on my sidebar there are links to GLU girls who have blogs. Also on the sidebar, under links to some of my favorite sites, there is a link to a place called Gooseberry Patch.

Gooseberry Patch is a website and catalog selling all types of country-cozy things, mainly cookbooks. I first stumbled upon their cookbooks about 6 or so years ago in a local gift shop. I am all about all things autumn and Christmas, and two of the cookbooks were specifically autumn and Christmas themed. They were so quaint, full of cozy home cooking and darling illustrations. Mixed in with the recipes were memories, craft ideas, decorating tips. I mean, seriously, the dang book was just all kinds of precious! And so not the type of thing I would normally buy, but I was smitten with these books. Well, long story short, buying the books led me to request one of their catalogs (which led to more books!), which then led me to their website, which finally led me to their (now defunct) message board.

I have always skimmed through message boards, mostly on papercrafting websites, but never really actively participated. But, OMG, did I ever stumble across a bunch of kindred spirits!!! I was hooked! And I was warmly welcomed in to the group with open arms!!!

Ya see, I have always been a bit of an autumn and Christmas nut. Oh alright, I am more than a bit of a nut, I am a full-blown die-hard Autumn and Christmas ADDICT!!! I love everything about the months from September to December!!! And I have never had any friends that were like that. I also love crafts, and decorating, and baking. In other words, there are many aspects of a domestic country life that I love, and none of my friends could ever relate to that. I grew up in the city, went to school in the city, did "city" things. I love modern conveniences and being close to everything. But there are bits of pieces of country in me. I think this is why I love these books so much!

So anyway, back to the message board. After several months GBP decided to shut it down. They really wanted to modify every thing any of us posted and they couldn't keep up. Plus the format of their board wasn't the greatest. So we all made sure email addresses were exchanged and that is how we communicated for a while. Then our wonderful sista Tina created a new home for us on the web and GirlsLikeUs was born!

So here we are something like five years later. We are still actively posting to one another every day. But so much more has grown from that site. These women are real true friends. Several of us have met. I am lucky that two of the girls live right here in MA and I get to see them a lot! If you go through my archives there is a post about the Diva Tour 2006 when Tammy, Elizabeth, and Staci came to visit me here in MA for four days in, what else, but October!!! Oh was that ever a glorious divalicious fall weekend! I have been to PA to visit Sue and Tina and Linda and Sam got to come up from TX. Cindy along with her hubby Ron has been to Maine where Kevin and I got to meet up with them. Terri and her hubby Bob were in NH a couple summers ago and me and Mom along with Robin and Marion got to spend the day with her. Elizabeth has actually been here twice! And even Sharon will be here in November....all the way from Australia!!!!!!!

We have kept our site small and private. We have all gone so far past the point of just talking about carving pumpkins and baking bread. We all share a bond that is so special. When one of us is hurt, we all rally around and support our friend and we hurt right along with her. When one of us has something to celebrate, we all celebrate! We don't have to wait till someone is online...we can pick up the phone and call each other anytime. We are so blessed.

And it all started in the patch, with a book........

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On another note, I apologize for my absence this week. Just had a lot of crap going on and didn't get to the 'puter all that much. Probably for the best anyway since I probably would have just whined and moaned! :-)

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I have also been hopelessly behind on visiting my friend's blogs. I will get to them this weekend, I promise! But for now I am heading out to a local stamp store for some crafty retail therapy! Oh yeah! Then when we get home, Kevin is going to grill up some steaks and corn on the cob and I am going to make some homemade bruschetta and we are going to crack open a couple cold Sam Adams Light beers and sit on the deck and enjoy the bee-yooo-T-ful weather!

I hope everyone is having a FANTABULOUS Saturday!!! Mwwaaahhhh!!! :-)

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This first part of this post is the second installment in an occasional series of posts about My Favorite Things.