BLOGLAND BECAME A REALITY FOR ME

To me, reading all the lovely, pretty blogs out there in Blogland is sort of like watching a favorite TV show. You get to know the "stars" and you start to think of them as your friends.

Some days the post leaves us hanging, wanting more. You look forward to the next post just like you look forward to the next episode of your favorite TV show.

You start talking about Blogland like a new hit show. It drives you crazy if the person you are talking to doesn't "watch" or read what you are talking about. You want to share the info with them in hopes they too will join in the fun.

Well today, Blogland met up with my "real" life. I got to meet the "star" of one of my favorite hit shows. Oops, I mean writers of one of my favorite blogs.

That's right! I went and had lunch and shopped with Debbie Kay from My Vintage Daydreams.

We agreed to meet in old town Orange. At a resturant called PJ's Abbey.

This is a darling resturant that back in 1891 was a church.

The big stained glass window is still there.

The main entrance is where the people would enter to worship.

The have a cute place where you can eat that is outside.

Even the back of the building still looks like the church that it used to be.

The windows are so cute.

This is Debbie Kay! I have to admit, I was a bit star struck when I met her. She is so pretty should could really be in the movies. She is as nice as an angel (and I don't think it was just because we were in an old church).

She is so easy to talk to. It's like we have known each other forever. She is down to earth and loves to laugh.

She even brought me presents! This darling little cake server. She said it's because I'm the cake lady. Also this very cute little pink depression glass salt cellar. She knew I collected them. How sweet is that!

On top of it all she even bought my lunch! Thank you so much Debbie!

We were talking so much. Non stop in fact. I even forgot to take a picture of what we had for lunch. I had a yummy grilled veggie pizza and she had breakfast.

We seem to have a lot in common and the same taste in so many things.

I just can't say enough good things about her. If you ever get the chance to meet her I hope you do so as you will not regret it.

We had so much fun that we already agreed on a day we are getting together again.

I have a feeling we are going to be friends forever.

This was the inside of P.J.'s Abbey. The booths have benches that look like pews. The real pews, from when this was a church, are up at the front in the waiting area. The original pulpit now stands as the podium near the front door.

You can really see the beauty of the stained glass window as the sun shines through.

Much of the floor is original too. In fact, the surface is 8 inches higher at one end of the resturant because, when the church was built, the higher end of the floor used to be the back of the church. Being up a little bit higher allowed those seated there a better opportunity to see forward.

I really liked this little "bit of Heaven" and will surely be going back again.

After we ate, we did a little shopping. We went in one of the Antique stores. Debbie found a few things but I walked out with nothing. I know, I know! Don't faint. Sometimes I do leave stores without buying a thing.

We then went in this cute little shop (that I will not name) and I started to take a few pictures. But, I was quickly stopped by a lady there. She thought I could have a been a spy from some other store trying to copy her displays or designs. Oh please!

This was the picture I was taking as I got "questioned". You can see Debbie in the mirror laughing as I was being scolded like a child.

After I told the lady I was going to post about her shop on my blog she agreed to let me take as many pictures as I wanted. Well, just because she was rude to us, I won't be telling anyone the name of her shop. No free advertisement from me now!

The two of us quickly left after I was scolded. Of course, laughing the whole way out.

We then decided to skip the shops and head out to some thrift stores. We hit up two. Nothing caught my eye but again Debbie found some treasures to remember her day by. Oh wait! I did find a little picture of a vintage Christmas postcard in a frame. I'm still not sure I should have taken it home with me. But, it was only $1.75.

Finally, we said our good byes and drove away. I felt really happy knowing I just met a new friend... OK, truth be told, I was really happy she just didn't turn out to be some old fat pervert man who wanted to kill me. I'm sure she felt the same way. LOL

So now, I feel as if I stepped onto the back lot of a studio where reality and Blogland meets. It was a fun trip and I'm looking forward to going back again and again.

Hugs,
Joanne