Hi, I’m Sherri & welcome to my blog!
Greetings to you from me and thank you so much for reading my blog!
Here is my story in brief (famous last words, ha!)…
A born and bred Brit widowed at the age of 21, I remarried and moved to the US with my American then-husband to the Central Coast of California in the mid 1980s. There, we raised our three children for the next seventeen years.
Then my marriage broke up.
Trials and turns have twisted in and out of my life, leaving behind their footprints.
For one, my dear jailbird dad has left a few of those footprints on the cold, hard floors of the many prisons and halfway houses where he has lived for most of his adult life, thanks to an addiction to alcohol that he cannot defeat. *
But please know this blog isn’t about blame and recriminations:
it is about forgiveness and healing and living joyfully in a New Day.
Returning to my ‘home’ in the UK in 2003, I faced life as a forty-something single mum with the prospect of finding paid employment, And then, life took me completely by surprise the day I met the man who is today, my lovely Hub.
He took my hand and led me back into the sunshine.
We are now settled in the West Country of England with my youngest adult child and assorted pets which, to date, include two black kitties and a grumpy bunny but once included a family of Chinese Button Quails, a corn snake called Charles P. Snake, an African Land Snail called Vladimir and three degus called KPS: Kevin, Peter and Sam. This is what happens when your youngest is an Aspie and a consummate pet lover.
Turning fifty wasn’t so bad (what better pay back than rocking out with your grown up kids at my first Metallica gig?), but things took a downturn in the coming years. My youngest struggled for years with debilitating social anxiety before receiving a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome (High Functioning Autism) at eighteen.
Job loss (mine), financial reversal and two car accidents followed. That old ‘black dog’ became my constant companion and for a long time I felt pretty damn worthless, insignificant and washed-up.
So I got down on my bended knees and prayed.
Not one, but several doors, slammed firmly shut in my face. Well, don’t ‘they’ say that when one door closes another opens? This is true, but it’s no good if you stand still and don’t actually walk through that open door.
It took me a long time just to get the self-belief that I could actually attempt it, never mind achieve any measure of success, but one day I said, “Enough!” I got up off my knees.
With renewed courage and faith, I stepped over the threshold of that doorway to follow a new path towards my life-long dream, in which I dared to call myself a Writer.
What’s at the end of your path?
Selworthy, Quantocks, Somerset October 2012
(c) Sherri Matthews
“Rise up; this matter is in your hands. Take courage and do it.” Ezra 10:4
And it was on the other side of that door that I was at last able to find the answer to the question I had asked myself all my life: how can I turn my life experiences into something that others will hopefully find valuable, worthwhile, and maybe even inspiring?
Is it even possible? Risky, yes, but as I always say, better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all. So here I am. Writing.
Weaving stories from the past, making sense of the present,
giving hope for the future.
Why the name, ‘A View from My Summerhouse’ you may well ask?
My Summerhouse in Spring
Some of my most endearing and happiest memories from my childhood are of playing in my grandparents’ summerhouse at the back of their glorious garden in Cheshire, and I longed for one of my own one day.
I had to wait a long time, but a couple of years ago, lovely Hubby built one for me in our garden as my office.
My summerhouse is my writing haven.
My hope is that in sharing my stories here, you are encouraged and inspired to chase your dreams and to never give up.
No matter how side-lined or insignificant you feel, or how dark your days may seem, I urge you to remember that there is always hope, always a light shining in the darkness, always the knowledge that you are not alone. And if I can change my life for the better, so can you!
The view from my Summerhouse may not always be rosy, but I hope you will share it with me, rain or shine.
Love Sherri x
*At the time of writing this page, my dad was 81 and living in a half way house. He returned to prison almost a year later for breaking parole – he had ‘a few pints’ – and remained there until, very ill, he was taken to hospital. He died peacefully, five days later, surrounded by the love of his family, on 17th July, 2016, three weeks before what would have been his eighty-fourth birthday. He gave me the one gift he could: his blessing to write his story. My blog is dedicated to him. Be at peace darling dad.
A View From My Summerhouse 
Well Hi Sherri from another west country blogger!
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Hello Lucid Gypsy! How lovely to meet another west country blogger, thanks so much for coming over, I hope you like what you find here! I’ll be over to visit you tomorrow, late now, one of those days!
It’s lovely to meet you … Sherri 🙂
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Nice to meet you Sherri!
I discovered you via Lisa and her “Bite-Size Memoir” project. This is my first visit to your blog but I will definitely be back to read more. Your “About Me” post is inspiring; I so wish though you had not had to persevere so through much in your life. Hopefully you will have smoother times ahead.
Suzanne
P.S. I love your little summerhouse!
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Hello Suzanne, how lovely to meet you too! Thank you so much for coming over here and visiting me in my summerhouse 🙂 Lovely to know that you came over from Lisa, I have only just joined her challenge and this is my second attempt!
How very kind of you, I do appreciate your sweet words so much. Life has its challenges for us all but I hope that smoother times are ahead, I have to admit 🙂
I’m looking forward to coming over to your blog which I will do very shortly, and also to sharing our writing and blogging journeys…great to have you here 🙂
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You have an inspiring story… what I take from it is that we shouldn’t give up and that it’s never too late to follow a dream. Best to you!
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Hi Janna, many thanks for visiting and for leaving your kind comment which encourages me greatly. Lovely to meet you – Sherri 🙂
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Just popped back and read about your dad, such a touching story. He was lucky to have a daughter like you Sherri 🙂
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Oh Gilly, thank you so so much! What a very great blessing to read your kind and lovely comment today… means a great deal to me ❤
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Great blog.
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Thank you so much for all the reads, really appreciate it and hope you continue to enjoy what you find here at my summerhouse 🙂
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Well as long as you’re happy now and doing what you dreamed of doing…that’s what matters. 🙂
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Ahh…well I thank you very much for that Kev, and yes, you are right about that! 🙂
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🙂
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What a nightmare! I’m so glad your true story has a happy ending.
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Thank you very much for visiting Linda and for your kind words and yes, writing about these things now shows me just much life has changed and gives me hope for the now and for the future 🙂
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Hey Sherri! Long time no speak!!!
I have nominated you for The Liebster Award 🙂 Check out the link here http://sereneaspergia.wordpress.com/2014/07/08/the-liebster-award-goes-to/ and please answer questions and follow rules on my page. (11 facts, answer questions and post your own questions) 🙂
Hope you’re well! I love this award!! xxx
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Hi Maria! What a lovely surprise and thank you very much for the nomination. It does seem a long time but glad to see you here..
Will take a look asap…
All well, as can be expected thank you for asking, and with you too it seems… 😀 xxx
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It was so nice to meet you through Jo! Your blog is beautiful..and inspiring.
Take care,
Elisa
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So lovely to meet you too Elisa, thank you so much for coming by, it’s wonderful to have you on-board 🙂
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Wow! It is uncanny how similar our lives are, Sherri! ((hugs)) You have no idea just how much! I absolutely LOVE your summer house – what a writing haven indeed! I adore your blog and I admire your transparency (took me a long time to get there) gosh, we could talk for hours! Be well. ❤ ~Karen~
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Oh Karen, I’m so glad you came over to my summerhouse, and an open-armed welcome for you. Let’s pull up a chair, a nice glass of wine and start talking…we’ve got all night 😉 I’m so glad we met here and I look forward to sharing our journeys with a joyful heart. Bless you – and thank you so much. 🙂 ❤
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Hey there, just tuned in and gave you a follow. Come visit my weird world over at http://www.thatssojacob.wordpress.com if you like to return the favor. Have a great day!
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Many thanks for the follow Jacob, I’ll be over to you shortly and check our your weird world. Great to meet you – Sherri 🙂
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You’ve received this award already, but I just wanted you to know: I think you’re a dragon 😉 http://jkmarsh12.wordpress.com/2014/09/19/the-dragon-of-dreams/
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Hi Jenny Jen Jen! I know this is horribly late, but thank you so much for thinking of me. I loved your dragon post, which should change the way we think about them forever 🙂 Hugs ❤
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Your personal stories give me hope, Sherri! I have been married to 3 men, raised 3 children (single the second time with a 5, 3 and 1 year old, yikes!) and I still have hope the ‘right man’ may be by my side, in my golden years! I love my 6 grandchildren, (2 came in a package deal with my son) and they all live in the town we started ‘afresh’ in 1986. Hoping to get to know you better, too. I love your ‘new’ writing place summerhouse and the memories of your childhood one with your grandparents.
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Hello Robin, thank you very much for sharing your story. It seems that 1986 was a big year for us both. I’m so glad that you have your children and grandchildren together with you in the same town. I’m so glad too that all three of my children live here in the UK and that I see them as often as I do. No grandchildren yet though, so I am very keen granny-in-waiting but shhhhhh ….don’t tell the kids I said that 😉 You have been through so much and I do hope that you find ‘Mr. Right’…life is full of surprises isn’t it? It’s great meeting you and I do really look forward to sharing our adventures, which we have to believe will be good ones ~ Sherri 🙂
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I’ve tagged you in the Workspace Blog Hop, here http://africolonialstories.wordpress.com/2014/10/13/my-workspace-blog-hop/ just in case you’d like to hop along. 🙂
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Thanks so much for thinking of me Jo, I’ll be hopping along shortly 🙂 xxx
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You have lots of interesting stories in your background to write about. People love to read about human interest stories, especially when the subject rises above the challenges like you did. I look forward to reading more! The most interesting “story” that stood out for me is the one about your father…now there is a story to tell! Will he ever see the outside world again? Has he managed to rise above his plight and make the best of his situation? What is it like to live out your life in prison? (I don’t expect you to answer these questions…I just wanted to point out that the little bit of information you gave about your Dad raised a lot of questions in my mind…I would love to read a book on his life!)
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Thank you very much Beverly for leaving your kind, considered comment. I have come to realise just how much people enjoy reading human interest stories but I didn’t think anyone would be remotely interested in mine until I started blogging. At the time, when going through painful times, you never give it a minute’s thought that one day you might be writing about them! I do indeed plan to write a book about him, with his blessing (which is the best gift he could give me) but should you like to read some more in the meantime, I have written a few posts under the category ‘My Dad’s Alcoholic Prison’ and of course ‘Alcoholism’. These stories will give you a little more insight into my dad and our life together. The first article I had published in Prima magazine (UK) was about growing up with my alcoholic dad but of course it barely scratches the surface. The thing is, is wasn’t all doom and gloom and in fact, we had some absolutely crazy, hilarious times. I never wanted to be this ‘victim’ or write to illicit sympathy for my plight as it might be perceived (and yes, it hasn’t been easy all these years, classic understatement there!), merely to show that even out of the most dire situations, love, forgiveness and redemption is possible. This is why I can write about it all now. All this to say, you have encouraged me so much with your interest in my dad’s story and for that I am so grateful. It’s lovely to meet you – Sherri 🙂
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I hear you Sherri…my Dad was also an alcoholic and at times violent, so I group up in a battle zone so to speak. Despite this, like you pointed out, there were also crazy, fun times to remember with nine children in our family and my Dad being a part-time musician…lots of music, visitors and family gatherings. As a child I used to ask my Dad why he behaved so badly and he never knew the answer. I forgave him a long time ago before he died…and yes, he is a character in one of my books! I will definitely read more of your posts! Thanks Sherri for putting me on to them!
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Thanks so much for sharing this with me Bev. As with you, I have forgiven my dad and in his twilight years we have an easy, peaceful relationship despite all that has gone on before. He is 82 now and due for release soon…so another adventure begins. It’s been great chatting with you and thank you too for taking the time to read my posts about my dad. You have inspired me to write more 🙂
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Sherri, I’ve just tagged you for the 777 Challenge!
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Thanks so much Sarah, how kind of you, I’ll be over shortly to check it out 🙂
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Sherri, I’ve just nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award, but no hurry to do a nomination post of your own (if you want to do one), as you’ve already got your guest storyteller post to do.
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Thank you so much Sarah for nominating me for this lovely award, I am honoured that you would think of me. It will be a while before I get to it so thanks for understanding 🙂
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My pleasure, and no hurry 🙂
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You are a very courageous lady and God always helps those wh help themselves. Many good wishes coming your way.
Cheers 🙂
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Thank you so much for your lovely comment and kind wishes. It is a pleasure to meet you – Sherri 🙂
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I enjoy reading your blog and have nominated you for a Liebster Award. No obligation to participate, but if you are interested, you can find the post here: https://humbleheartscribbles.wordpress.com/2014/12/24/a-liebster-award/
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Thank you so much Merryn for your kind award nomination and for thinking of me. I have left a comment on your blog in reply, and I do apologise for the late response but I have been away for the Christmas holidays, only just returning to blogging now! Happy New Year, may it bring you everything your heart hopes for. It’s lovely to meet you ~ Sherri 🙂
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A very happy New Year to you. I look forward to following your blog in 2015!
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Thank you so much, and a very Happy New Year to you too! Such a pleasure to meet you 🙂 ~ Sherri
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You too Sherri! Those are cool pics with your article – you are a dark horse cruising around in Rolls Royces and dining in halls. 😀
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Haha…thrilled you liked them my lovely Jo 🙂 But I have to say, I’m not sure I’ve ever been called a dark horse before, but I love it LOL 😀 😀 😀
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Hello there, Sherri. Pleasure to meet you. I’ve read your story and find that there are many, many others out there that can relate to you and what you have been thru. I am wishing you well and hope that Life will continue to improve for you. Best wishes from the USA.
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Hello Les! Thank you so much for dropping by my Summerhouse and for leaving such kind good wishes. Always so lovely to meet someone from the USA 🙂 It is great to know that we can all share our stories here, hopefully bring encouragement and inspiration along the way, and make friends while doing so. I hope you continue to enjoy what you read here (many thanks for the follow!). I look forward to coming over to your blog to catch up with you there. It is a pleasure to meet you and may I send warmest wishes right back to you across the shining sea from merry old England ~ Sherri 🙂
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Hello, I came over here from Tracy’s blog.
You write well and I LOVE your summer house.
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Hello Elizabeth! How lovely to meet you, thank you so much for coming over from the lovely Tracy’s blog and welcome to my Summerhouse 🙂
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Wow, what a story and you’ve been through a lot. I admire your courage to share about your life to the world.
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Thank you so much for your visit and for your kind words, very much appreciated ~ Sherri 🙂
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I’m intrigued by your 777 project. 7 is my favorite number. I call it “God’s signature.” It’s throughout Scripture, beginning with the 7 day week. Also 7 feast days in Leviticus 23. 7 high holy days (in addition to the weekly Sabbath) within the 7 feast days. And in the natural realm, there are 7 colors in the rainbow; menustral cycle divisible by 7, number of days in an average pregnancy divisible by 7, etc. I like your blog.
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Thank you very much Sheryl for dropping by to visit the Summerhouse, I’m glad you enjoyed what you found here and many thanks for sharing your intriguing thoughts about the numbers 777. Fascinating 🙂
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What a beautiful, touching story of hope, faith, and courage, Sherri. I’m completely teary-eyed, but inspired. You are a true shero! I feel so encouraged. And yes, the title of your blog is fitting and perfect. More power to you on your life and writing journey!
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Oh thank you so much Nadine, I appreciate your kind, encouraging words so very much. It is wonderful to meet you and I would wish for you the very same in your writing journey also as we inspire one another 🙂
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Thank you, Sherri! I’m so glad we’ve connected. 🙂
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Me too Nadine, very much 🙂
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woman with character
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You are very kind, thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog 🙂
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I could not look at the blog so attractive to women
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Found your article by chance and feeling bit depressed. It cheered me up thank you.
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Dear Susan, I am so glad to know that you feel more cheered after reading this…and I send you a cyber hug right now, hoping you have a better day… Sherri x
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So glad you have finally found your path! Discovered you through Sarah Potter’s blog, and look forward to sharing the view!
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Hi Naomi! Thank you so much for coming over to the Summerhouse via our lovely friend Sarah 🙂 I am very much looking forward to sharing the view with you also. It’s lovely to meet you 🙂
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Hi Sherri. I have just found you through Sally’s interview with you and wanted to come and say hello. 🙂
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Hello to you too Edwina! Thank you so much for reading my interview and for leaving your lovely comment here. I do so appreciate you taking the time to do so. I can just about reply here on my blog (although it takes an age to upload) due to my ongoing and extremely frustrating laptop issues (hoping to get resolved at long last this week), and when I do, I will over to Sally’s blog to reply over there and also to visit you again 🙂
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Thanks Sherri, Hope all is sorted out for you soon 🙂
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Thanks Edwina 🙂
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Hi Sherri, so nice to come across your lovely blog via Sacha Black Bloggers Bash. Looking forward to meeting you. Marje. 🙂
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Hi Marje, thank you so much for coming over to visit me at the Summerhouse! How wonderful to know you will also be at the Bloggers Bash, I very much look forward to meeting you too, it will be an amazing time, I’m sure 🙂
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Good Morning Sherri, I hope you don’t mind but I’d like to nominate you to answer a few questions on your reading habits, if you’re interested you can find it at https://wanag1yata.wordpress.com/2015/07/28/reading-habits/
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Good evening Julie, as it is now in replying to you! I don’t mind at all, and I thank you very much for nominating me, how very kind of you. I will have a think about my answers and will post as soon as I am able, letting you know when I do so. This will be a very good exercise, I know it! Have a lovely evening 🙂
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Sherri, have a wonderful day yourself 🙂
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Thanks Julie 🙂
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So nice to have met you Sherri!! Finally got round to paying your blog a visit! 🙂 I like it here and look forward to reading more of you. x
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Hello Ellie, thank you so much for visiting me at my Summerhouse! So lovely to have met you too, I enjoyed talking with you very much, and wonderful to connect here too! 🙂
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Hi Sherri … I just found your blog through another woman who writes about her healing and other things similar.. its nice to connect with others who also write about the same things… I like your blog and look forward to reading more of your blog …. its amazing how many people are connected to the blog world and I am excited to connect with so many new people … I look forward to following your blog and to connect.
Karen
http://www.findingthegracewithin.com
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Hi Karen, thank you so much for visiting the Summerhouse and taking the time to leave your lovely comment, I’m so glad you like what you find here and a very warm welcome to you. The kind, loving, caring and wonderfully supportive community found here in the blogging world is really quite incredible. It’s great to connect with you Karen, I hope you will continue to enjoy my posts and I look forward to visiting you. Lovely to meet you ~ Sherri 🙂
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Came across your blog via First Night History. Love the photos, especially. Keep up the good work.
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Hi Erik, thank you so much for visiting the Summerhouse and leaving your kind message. It’s lovely to meet you 🙂 Sherri
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Hi Sherri, this is such a touching and open about, packing a punch with emotion. Your life has obviously been fraught, with great ups and downs but reading this sounds as if you’ve finally found your calling and your soulmate. You live in a great part of the UK and I imagine you can take a lot of solace from your surroundings. I love the idea of your summerhouse for writing and bless your hubby for building you one! 😀
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Hi Annika, thank you so much for taking the time to visit the Summerhouse, I do so hope you enjoy what you find here. I am deeply moved and humbled by your heartfelt message. I do indeed take great solace from my surroundings, even in the ebb and flow of life and its rich pattern. Such is the way of life! I am blessed indeed with hubby and still cannot quite believe that I have my own summerhouse at long last. Although, nothing will ever quite match my memories of the one I played in so many years ago in the back garden of my grandparents’ home in Cheshire 🙂 It’s lovely to meet you … Sherri 🙂
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Such a lovely introduction! You summed up your life very well. Love your blog name too…nice meeting you:)
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Thank you so much Mahevash for visiting the summerhouse and for leaving such a lovely message. It’s wonderful to meet you too! ~ Sherri 🙂
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🙂
Do check out my site when you can. Have a nice day!
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Done! You have a nice day too, great to meet you Mahevash 🙂
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Likewise! Thanks for subscribing to my newsletter. It means a lot coming from a writer like you 🙂
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You’re very kind Mahevash 🙂
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🙂
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Love your always optimistic view Sherri and so happy your life turned out well when faced with dark times. My dad also shared this wonderful trait of always looking on the bright side and I try to as well!
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Thank you so much for reading Kathy. It’s not always easy to look on the bright side, but I find that it helps make the day go better than when I don’t. Lord knows, I’ve spiralled too many times into despair and negativity as the years have gone by, but coming through the other side and back into the sunshine is what’s important. And so I hope that your days are filled with sunshine, smiles and joy as often as possible … 🙂
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