Southern Thresholds

Meet my newest little decorating accents

2011-08-10T13:09:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone. Sorry I have been away from posting on our blog; everyone is so...busy. Had to share this cute new idea to reuse older items. I love needlework in all forms and this past winter, began cutting them down to a smaller size and ended with a cute small pillow to hang anywhere I needed a splash of color. Possibilities are endless.

Pillow postings

2011-05-26T07:44:00.004-04:00

I love to make pillows. Show a small piece of needlework to me or perhaps a tea towel or even better, anything cross-stitched and I will make a pillow. I rarely hang a piece of art created in needlework. I had rather do a pillow for a special chair or sofa (can't do a matching set). My favorite type of pillow is a small dkp -known as door knob pillow. You can hang it from any place that needs a splash of color or to celebrate the memory of a loved one. This cute sort of modern take on a pillow was created by cutting a variety of pieces from favorite shirts and blouses you can no longer wear. I love the splash of RED. The big C pillow created by me used a sample monogram piece from my aunt Renate, using her embroidery machine. Lucky for me, she gives me all her sample items and I enjoy using them to create really unique pillows for friends and family. Of course my cousin Patty's last name is a "C" and I know she loves toile and a splash of red. She will use this on a gorgeous black rocker recently purchased. The small oblong pillow was created by using a great piece of needlework by our deceased Aunt Grace. Years ago, she began to do each state flower and I was fortunate to have acquired them after her death. Patty's daughter lives in LA, so it was great to have a home already picked out by the time this small pillow was completed. Enjoy it Amy! Thanks for checking our blog; all of us busy but we check in once in a while. Happy Memorial Day - can't believe how the time is rushing.

Spring Greetings ....from a favorite shrub

2011-04-01T10:47:00.003-04:00

Happy Spring. Not sure how the photos will flow on this post, so bear with me as I introduce one of my favorite spring shrubs. If you don't have a Flowering Quince in your garden, please consider one. A hardy shrub in our Zone 7, but check for your particular area. This specimen is lovely even before it blooms. Tight buds will greet you in mid February as they slowly creep out and enjoy the first traces of sun and warmth. Pretty soon you will see tiny leaves emerge and then a full array of gorgeous blooms. I'm not sure if other colors are available; I have only seen the pink one I have. Cuttings are easily transplanted should you wish to expand.

Hang on to your shirts/blouses ......new ideas to be explored

2011-03-12T18:39:00.003-05:00

Just HAD to share an updated photo of other collars for jars, etc. Earlier post introduced you to this cute idea BUT I wanted to emphasize that you do not have to do these on a sewing machine. In fact, the first one I completed was done on a machine and I pulled out all the stitches and used a slip stitch. Much neater job and ease of turning under the hem. Try these EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BUTTON AT THE NECK. They would look great in a bathroom to store cotton balls or Q-Tips. Personally I like almonds and M&M's in mine. The black and white check blouse had NO BUTTONS, just ties. Wow - this blouse was an antique, so I sewed the ties on and hemmed as usual. It looks great. Thanks again to Jane for posting photo of the magazine.

Ah.... the joy of repurposing.... AGAIN

2011-03-12T08:09:00.004-05:00

Recently while visiting my cousin Patty in Alexandria, VA, I was introduced to the cutest publication entitled Flea Market Style - 2011. Living in a small town, I don't always have the opportunity to grab this cute magazine due to quantities available and I jumped at the chance to obtain another copy. What cute complimentary ideas to any home.... I am on a serious hunt for nice shirts or blouses that will allow this idea to be embraced. A way-too-tight blouse proved to be a good choice as I made a cute collar for an old glass jar. Look around your house; you probably have some of these. I like to keep almonds in easy reach and this looks so cute. Try it - Thanks Jane (for posting photo of magazine).

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-01-13T21:21:00.003-05:00

Hello - Excuse the brief absence; we've all been quite busy with holiday fun, removal of Christmas and all the other exciting chores we are involved in. I wanted to "get the jump" on Valentine's Day by showing off this cute heart. I love to recycle and reuse and was thrilled to find a much too small gorgeous RED sweater that needed a new look, so I did the usual - After shrinking it in hot water and drying same, I drew different sizes of hearts, cut them out, using a couple of buttons for embellishments and after two hours of looking for a tip in some book to show "how to do a blanket stitch", I thought of Google. Silly me - should have looked there first. I love the simplicity of this little number and it will find it's new home hanging on a door knob or perhaps hanging on a suction cup in a window. Hope you like it. Again - Happy Valentine's Day.

Snow covered clear jars (amost snow like)

2010-12-07T21:04:00.003-05:00

Just had to give a sneak preview of a few of the items featured on our recent Open House tour. What a great time we had. My son assisted in moving this cute project to another level by using a product on the glass BEFORE adding glue and snow. This makes for easier cleaning. I drew the tree and he taped it - did his magic and waited hours for the snow to dry completely. They are so pretty with just a hint of glow at the bottom of the tree - Hope you like it. Look for more posts - perhaps tomorrow.

Making a definite impact - small or LARGE?

2010-12-03T12:34:00.004-05:00

Each of us has probably purchased one of the black wrought iron wreath stands - I have a couple and use them a lot. While rummaging in the basement for something different for my Christmas Tree theme this year, I came across an old floor lamp - you know the type that has a swing arm or it can be stationary but think of re purposing it into a BIG wreath stand. I removed the electrical parts of this one about fifteen years ago with good intentions to rewire the thing, but it never was placed on any one's list of things to do. I've used it a couple of times to display an item and even a wreath - years ago, but only this week - realized how neat it would be to bring it out again. Dusting the cobwebs off was all it needed. My bathroom is very small, but what an impact this makes? This gem won't be cast aside any longer. Enjoy - oh - please check back in for some photos of our Christmas 2010 Open House. Merry Christmas.

From tablecloth to a "needed bed skirt"

2010-10-31T15:07:00.004-04:00

I switch tables out like you would not believe. I must have owned about nine or ten during my lifetime. My current house is the only place I have lived that offered a separate room off the kitchen as a dining room. I used it as such for years, but always gravitated to the small table in the kitchen, or perhaps the small bistro table on the screened porch (off the kitchen). Our dining room was used mostly as a "pass through" to get to the short hall and bathroom, so a few years ago,Carl and I decided late one night to do some rearranging and get rid of the dining room atmosphere all together. It has worked quite well, for now I have a small TV room that tends to be our favorite spot. The windows face west and even on severely COLD days, the room receives plenty of sunshine to warm you. So, after all this explaining, I arrive at the reason for today's post. I was rummaging through my huge collection of tablecloths and found this really pretty, white with small blue scallops and cut-out work. Needing another fresh cottage look in our guest room, I removed about twelve inches from the center and still have the CENTER of the tablecloth to make a nice pillow sham. I had sufficient length to do several pleats which compliment the bed skirt. Careful planning and cutting is my only expense to this recent project. One of the photos shows a small view of my recent slipcovered rocker.

A cast-away chair gets new life

2010-10-26T14:43:00.004-04:00

This old rocker has been around my sister's place for years; we traded a chair a few years ago and in the swap, I acquired this one. It was painted white a couple of years ago and nothing else done to it. It has sat outside in the elements for over a year and you can see from the BEFORE PHOTO - painting was done without any taping, so I decided yesterday to start a slipcover from a nice piece of Waverly fabric. I'm so.............glad I remembered to wash FIRST in hot water and dry because it shrank quite a bit. This little gem will come upstairs now and enjoy a corner in my guest bedroom. You gotta love this fabric in ANY color.

Autumn greetings from my front porch to yours

2010-10-15T12:43:00.003-04:00

Sorry I've been out of touch for a while - too much going on and just couldn't get in the groove to blog. But I'm back today - Happy Friday also. My son just completed a makeover of my front porch. Removing a "not so good brick job from years ago", marks and scuffs from deck boards to original concrete substance was quite a feat, but it looks great. Our small 8x12 porch took 25 bags of concrete mix - I could not believe it. I look forward to this new smooth finish for many years. Enjoy the pillows from a previous post - I thought they would look great on the two chairs, flanking the small round table displaying an antique crochet piece. I made the large fall arrangement from my stash of stuff in the basement. Not a penny was spent on this autumn look. You gotta love any project that doesn't cost money.

Using what you already have . . . . . . sometimes it is GREAT

2010-09-24T16:41:00.004-04:00

My friends call me the "queen of recycling" - I love it. It's a great way to save the planet, save some cash and who out there doesn't like doing that? My son had a few pieces of shelving left from our bookshelves project and I was pondering what to do with perfectly good boards. I had spotted on a blog months ago something similar but did not want to copy exactly, so I chose another route. Rather than use fretwork and painting the whole object, I decided to install a cute ROUND frame I've had for years, tossed in a drawer downstairs and then the real fun began. I love taking photos and must have hundreds like many of you, but I was seeking the "perfect one to compliment the look I was going after" and this is what I come up with. It is all painted white and houses a beautiful photo I took over six years ago after a brief shower of snow. I love how all the trees around Carl's workshop stand out. You gotta love a free project once in a while. This gem will be enjoyed during Christmas season and I can even display other favorite photos.

Framed piece for all to see and enjoy

2010-09-06T19:42:00.005-04:00

Sorry this was delayed in being posted with first post. Blogger was not the usual ease of use today. Photo would NOT upload. Here is the finished framed small plate. I found just the right spot to hang this and enjoy it so much. Look on right side of screen under LABELS to read post that should have been included with this one.

Newly dressed treasure for all to see

2010-09-06T19:04:00.006-04:00

Don't you just love a new look for a treasured piece; perhaps a small plate from a previous collection; perhaps a wedding plate from a grandmother's house - Anything can be mounted on the appropriate mat and framed. Having the best framing expert can be helpful and I'm fortunate to live in a town that has one. Jonathan is a friend and does wonderful pottery pieces, teaches classes at our local museum and he also owns a great framing shop and is great to work with. I found these two lovely small plates at our local DAV thrift shop (the set of four had been broken up and only these two remained). Of course, since there was red on one plate, I knew my cousin Patty would love to be the new owner AFTER I had Jonathan frame them. They are so pretty - try this look on a treasured piece - I bet you have just the spot on a wall and you can enjoy the piece much better than moving it around in a drawer or china cabinet. Lucky me - I spotted these for less than $3 and already owned two really nice walnut frames.

Here I go recycling AGAIN and AGAIN..........

2010-09-04T17:04:00.004-04:00

Just had to show off this cute contemporary looking photo frame with curved back (it has the easiest access door to the back of the frame). Picked it up at a little flea market just outside of town earlier today. The wood appears to be oak and I thought of using it to display a cute saying regarding dinner (or rather, the lack of it). I loved the way it just sits on the counter - no easel or stand - just the curved shape allows it to stay put. Almost forgot to mention..... it was only $1.50.

Getting dressed for a "new look"

2010-09-02T17:43:00.004-04:00

Don't we all love to create new spaces? I do. I love bookcases and have been toying with an idea to have some installed, but kept putting the project off. My son is visiting and has some great carpentry skills, so we got together and he came up with this look in our small TV room, off the kitchen. Living in an old house has some advantages, because of niches and areas jutting out, etc. This area housed a nice beveled edged mirror that I wished to keep, so the approach worked out great. I love the way the shelves wrap around the wall and framing the mirror. You can see a small section of shelves that face the kitchen. All of my cookbooks are stored here now for easy access. I've never been a fan of all books on shelves; I love to sprinkle in treasures and objects I love to be around. I'm very proud of my son's efforts - he did a great job in just two days and I'm fortunate to have a sister close by who LOVES to paint. She opted to assist in this task and the whole project was moved to COMPLETION within three days. You gotta love a plan that works this smooth.

Slipcover 101 - finished project for my book

2010-08-30T11:10:00.004-04:00

For those that follow on a regular basis, I promised a post of completed slipcover. That was a while back, I'm ashamed to say, but it is FINISHED now. This project was by far, the most difficult and challenging, but that was because of my fabric choice, NOT the slipcover itself. I've completed three in the past, but NEVER NEVER NEVER attempt one with something this difficult to match. I am motivated to start on a slipcover for a small sofa we use daily but the fabric is not my choice, so the next BEST THING to do is a slipcover. I plan to purchased several good quality painters cloths - WASH THEM FIRST in hot water and dry in a drier which will shrink fabric BEFORE MAKING SLIPCOVER. In addition, washing will make the painters cloth much softer and easier to work with. Hopefully I will enjoy this cute slipcover in my living room where it proudly sits. Can't wait to show it off to my guests. A lot of my friends who visit are probably wondering "has that slipcover been completed yet?" but they are much too kind to ask.

New look for a great piece of art

2010-08-20T16:32:00.005-04:00

Sorry I've been out of touch with blogging for a short time, but I'm back. I missed you. Wow - how fortunate can a person get? My cousin Patty and her friend Susan of Alexandria Va met me in a quaint lakeside town called Clarksville, Va for a girls outing and upon arrival, she presented me with a gift. I had been introduced to this wonderful artist months ago but to own a piece of Capodimonte - wow that's GREAT. A pair of these belonged to Patty and a lot of things don't have to seen together and she parted with one of them - we both use a glass votive holder and candle RATHER than the usual tall taper. Who says you can't get out of the box and do something different?

Sinks are NOT just for washing up. . . . . . . . .

2010-08-04T14:58:00.005-04:00

Saw something similar on one of my blog searchs a couple of weeks ago and thought about duplicating the look. Earlier this spring while roaming the woods behind our house, I spotted an old iron bathroom sink halfway buried in leaves and debris. It stayed put until yesterday after I talked my husband Carl into going among the poison ivy leaves and pulling it out. A good scrubbing was all that was needed to move it to a usable state and I spotted a perfect spot for this HEAVY gem under the stair landing off the deck. We had a bit of a struggle to install it with sufficient holding elements, but soon we had it mastered. I ventured to Lowe's and rescued a wave petunia plant on the discount table for only $3. It looks so cute - just had to share this one. Also, for those that are following posts, I promise to get back to the slipcover project TOMORROW. I have to drive that little project to completion. Thanks so much for stopping by our blog. We have ALL been a little absent lately.

Recycling again and again - newest approach

2010-07-27T20:48:00.002-04:00

My eyes had spotted the round, heavy metal looking contraption for weeks, laying in the grassy field that adjoins our property, but I didn't pick it up. Much later, I spotted it again in late spring and decided that I should take a better look at this piece. I asked Carl if he could identify the object and he took one quick look (it must be a man thing for sure) and said "it's a brake disc" from an older model car. Not sure how long the thing had been in the field, but I claimed it and moved it nearer our flag post in the yard. Last Friday, I saw it again as I walked from the mailbox at the roadside. I brought it to the basement where Car was working on something and asked him if he had a grinder or something that would clean the rust off. He handed a small palm sander to me with coarse grit sandpaper and I started working on it and in a few minutes, it was smooth and looked much better. We strung some rope through four of the holes, tied good knots to secure it and hung it. I had just the perfect size candle object to place in the center opening. I like it a lot and love the fact that it has taken on new life. How long - I don't know, because I tend to change things around often.

Last photo of outdoor tour

2010-07-22T08:18:00.003-04:00

Somehow as many of us know, Blogger failed to upload this last shot which I think is the best, to show off the covered patio and some of the upstairs deck. Hope you get a birds eye view of the nice areas we enjoy so much. Have a great weekend.

More of the outdoor tour (see other posts)

2010-07-22T07:37:00.003-04:00

Finally took the remaining photos of the back deck and downstairs for you. Had to delete a few photos during this process because memory card is full. Don't you just love a camera that reminds you that YOU CAN NOT TAKE A PHOTO. Back to our tour - Not sure of the sequence photos will show (I am still comfortably ignorant in this portion of blogging). Something like the LAST photo you take will actually be the first one show posts. The data I am entering is from my mind and I don't see rhyme or reason in that sometimes, but I hope you enjoy the view at the back of our house. It faces west and on severe hot days - the slipcovers I made for the deck chairs really take a beating, so I dress the chairs only for company. This row of three chairs remind me of a ship's deck - You can recognize the steps going down to the back yard and there you will be greeted by the covered deck. All of the pieces of black slate were picked up by me at a local quarry site years ago and finally were put to good use.

Lights on - chiggers out (hopefully)

2010-07-20T21:05:00.003-04:00

Strange how we look forward to spring, then we rush summer and now many of us are hoping for fall weather. On nice evenings as we are having tonight, I find myself enjoying our screened porch. Here are a few shots; it's not very large but it suits our needs perfectly and we have a large adjoining deck that I will post tomorrow.

Slowly but surely - I see the completion of this one

2010-07-19T13:53:00.002-04:00

Wow - I must have been totally out of my mind when I contemplated sewing a slipcover for a wing back chair. This has been quite a project I think mainly because of the plaid fabric being used. I have to take care and make sure to match plaids, but it's turning out pretty good. Now all I have to do is the other arm (you can see the hideous green leather which is original). Thought I had better take a little break from the project because I know my limits. I will do a lot of top stitching which will give the slipcover a better fit and hanging capability. Anyone having a slipcover done professionally - please don't quibble over the price quoted - trust me - it is worth every penny.

Today's small catch of my day. . . . . . . . . .

2010-07-12T11:59:00.005-04:00

Quiet in our little town this morning. Not much traffic, so I ventured across town to my favorite thrift shop (DAV) and found these cute items. Not sure if the painting comes out very clear, but it's not signed however, I loved the rich colors of it and will refit this in a larger frame with a mat. The wooden box-cut box is made in the US, so that was a good find at $2. The neatest thing I imagine is the handmade Christmas ornament with hanger from Dillards. Original price on the red box was $15 - I paid only .50. The handiwork on this ornament is unique - I will enjoy seeing this on display. I found two hardback books - both contained Christmas decorating and they were both $2. The cute golf club framed piece is nicely framed and original sticker on the back indicates - you got it - Made in USA. This was $5, but on sale for $2.50. My cousin Patty's husband Al is the only golfer I know and I thought he would enjoy this cute little gem either at home or perhaps at his office. He is such a good sport when I visit and I always like to pick up a special item for him. Of course, he had rather have a container of the roasted nut mixture, but I'll save that for later. Almost forgot the cute handmade piece of pottery displaying a nice beige color with small flecks of brown and tan with cutouts of hearts around the edge for.25 - I would say this was a good little haul.

Never too early to start planning for Christmas

2010-07-11T08:47:00.005-04:00

I mentioned the other day that Christmas is only five months away. That is true, but we have to be ready by the first of December and the countdown has begun for me. I have a lot of things on my "punch list" as we used to call incomplete items at my workplace. While visiting a local Goodwill, I spotted these nice needlepoint, handmade Christmas pillows. I do needlepoint (not too good, I might add), but I love the handiwork and claimed these three immediately. I checked the label of the designer but had NEVER heard of her. I sent a photo to my cousin Patty knowing she would love them too and her first response was "did you Google and find out anything about them". NO was my reply, I was just happy to find these Christmas gems. She checked for me and furnished the site for me to check out. Laura Megroz - value of each is a whopping $79.00. Of course, I only paid $2.50 each - what a deal of the month? I could not believe my good fortune. You can be assured that I will Google again and again on future purchases. Can't you just picture these three on a sofa waiting to greet holiday guests?

More of the tour (missed yesterday)

2010-07-09T18:36:00.005-04:00

Greetings: so glad you stopped by for a visit. I knew you would find your way up the decking boardwalk. Perhaps soon, when you visit, we will have the stone walkway in and direct you to the original front entrance. I love the tropical giant leaf plant on the same little drop leaf table that houses my Christmas window pane display. Can you believe that Christmas is almost five months away. I must start on some of my holiday decorations now, but that's hard to do, with all the heat in July.

Another view of the entrance we use. I love the two toned coleus plants as you step up onto the porch.

Lavender is one of my favorites but I find it is somewhat difficult to maintain. I tried planting it in this large container. So far, so good - it takes watering every day, but I can see small lavender blooms emerging. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Bathroom

2010-07-09T09:36:00.002-04:00

Recently I applied some sheetrock compound on the walls because they were in bad shape and textured walls are all over the house because of plaster issues. I love the bold color and white trim. In one of the photos, you can spot a section of a cornice I my son and I constructed. As you can see, I love round mirrors and thought the black accents would tie in well. My very favorite thing in the house is the footed tub. Gayle and I rival all the time as to who has the smallest bathroom. The round fixture housing shower curtains was the only option available for shower use which is a luxury for a house of this age.

Continuation of tour

2010-07-09T09:27:00.002-04:00

Very small hallway in center of the house will lead to two bedrooms, bathroom and a linen closet and oh, I almost forgot - stairs to the basement. Ask Sharon what she thinks of the steps. We had them shortened this past winter since originally they were 7-9" and very steep. Going up and down them many times a day is a chore, but when I get to the top of them and close the door, I am comforted by the fact that my living space is too neat to trade in for something more convenient. You can see the ceiling to floor bookcases (flanked on two walls) - these were installed several years ago when we had the footed tub installed in the bathroom. That post will be done tomorrow, so please check in again. I'm still not proficient in furnishing data and photos - after all, I am comfortably ignorant with the technical stuff surrounding me. A good sized linen closet is also off this hallway and I am planning a makeover for that little gem as soon as I can muster the energy and ideas.

Tour continued - entering from small foyer to living room

2010-07-08T18:32:00.002-04:00

Higgins our sweet, eight year old lab will greet you at either door, but we rarely open this door. He happened to come up to view out at the traffic, so I snapped this photo of him - he blends right into the tone of the hardwood floor. How neat - try color matching with your pet.

Oh - I see I already need to do a look about BEFORE photo shots - the floor lamp at the end of the china cabinet (posted in an earlier post) should have been removed. It has to be rewired. As you can see in the photo, you have a clear view into the small hallway and beyond that is a view of the bathroom (to be posted in another post). I love the fireplace, but we don't use it too often because of the expense and also being in the middle of the house, I don't think it's too safe. Anyone that knows me, attests to the fact that I LOVE old 40's style furniture. I don't have any new furniture anywhere. I have three platform rockers; this one has a nice ottoman but I rarely have it placed in front of the rocker unless someone is visiting and needs to raise their feet.

This photo shows more of the room and into the kitchen. It's a good idea to take photos occasional and view your room - we can see the mistakes, etc. I need to work on hanging something over the fireplace. I just removed four framed pieces of art the other night and relocated them to the bedroom because they NEVER looked great hanging over the fireplace. More on this one later. You can see into the kitchen also and I have photos ready to post, but just in case Gayle or Sharon has a desire to sneak in a post or two, I won't be hoarding the site. Thank you for stopping by - I promise to share some more photos on next post.

2010-07-08T18:04:00.002-04:00

This is not a good photo of the foyer, but I promise I will gain some expertise as I move along. Please bear with me. Houses built in this era had a coat closet as you entered the door; my husband Carl uses this one as he doesn't require as much "stuff" as I do. Beautiful oak floors greet you as you enter from the foyer -----

As you can see, I do not place the sofa against the wall - it doesn't work in this house. The round drum table was acquired from an old friend when he moved to the nursing home. I love the simplicity of the table and have used it all over the house, but my favorite spot is where it's housed now. The 3 drawer chest is an old piece purchased over twenty years ago. The top board is over 24" wide and the wood is walnut. A couple of years ago while sitting and pondering what to do, what to do in this room for an uplift, I went to Lowes, selected a bright orange stain and while it was sitting in the same spot, rubbed the stain right over the piece and have the look of it since that time. I love painted pieces, but really HATE to paint and do not like to hassle Carl too much. He hates to paint as much as I do. The door at the back of the room is the door opening to the porch off the side entrance. Having lived in this house for over twenty years, it would be strange for me to enter through the front entrance. But, stay tuned, I am working on solving this dilema with a stone walkway leading from the driveway to the front and rerouting guests to this door.

Attempting to offer a tour of my favorite place..............

2010-07-08T17:50:00.002-04:00

Bear with me as I make my first attempt to open my house and give a short tour. Our cute brick cottage was built in the late 30's and my grandparents lived several yards above. I used to babysit the children in this house while it was the parsonage for the church across the road. I always loved the smallness of the house and it was a joy to go inside. I was fortunate to be able to purchase this house in 1990 and jumped on it fast. Knowing the owner personally gave me an edge and the Reverend knew I would take care of this place. Not much has changed on the outside. There never was a sidewalk to take guests to the front entrance; everyone assumed that the main entrance was at the porch. After all, when it rained, you didn't get soaked. Step inside the front door into the foyer and I'll show you around the living room.

Little shelf among lots of books...not intimidated at all

2010-07-07T13:34:00.003-04:00

I love small corner shelves - have several throughout my home. Our home is over seventy years old and like so many others built in this era, corners in rooms were not easily decorated because of door and window placement, etc. When I spotted this cute, small walnut corner shelf, I had no idea where it would end up. So it sat on top of a row of books, patiently, knowing that in due time - a permanent spot would be determined. Today I was in a book dusting mood on some floor to ceiling bookshelves I had installed years ago. I moved a few books on one of the shelves that your eye just lands on each time you pass and the spot was selected. I walked around the house, spotted a cute tiny white vase of ironstone I've had for years and placed it on the shelf. It looked lonesome so I explored other possible choices and spotted this cute, wooden bear my cousin located at her mom's house recently while relocating her to an assisted living home. This sort of seeking and putting together complimentary objects are what make our homes comfortable and cozy and receiving accolades from guests. This shelf brings a whole new look to the end of the very heavy wood constructed shelf, housing loads of books and marks a spot for something tiny, but well loved.

From matress frame and pickets to wall art w/ pots

2010-07-05T10:51:00.005-04:00

I guess if I were to sum up the most recycled items in one project - this one has to take the blue ribbon. 100 nice, strong bed springs are awaiting another project, but - listen to this! I caught the ending of a HGTV post recently and only saw the finished look with small clay pots, so I set out to create this same look for an area underneath our covered deck. The bed frame was still around AFTER cutting springs loose, so Carl used that wood to make top and bottom of this frame. Lucky for him, there was two 4x4 posts already installed in the area needed to house this new project. After much measuring and using some old pickets left from another project on the deck - YEARS AGO - this cute project was on its way to being enjoyed again. The hardest part was getting paint to stay on the wood - even though it was primed, it soaked up about five cans of spray paint. I had all the appropriate other items to accent the piece, just had to gather them all up and affix to the frame. The back of the area was not pleasing to look at, so I did some quick thinking and retrieved a good sized piece of burlap from another project and we stapled a finished edge to two strips and nailed it to the back of the 4x4 post. It turned out really good and we can't wait to have guests come by and see our newest project. Re purpose - rethink outside the box - it's usually a good idea. Hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July weekend.

Anything of Johnson Brothers ... I love it!

2010-07-01T07:38:00.004-04:00

Many of you are aware that I rarely decorate using blue, in any form. Well heads up bloggers...................I have treaded into new territory and I love the color of this china. My cousin Patty called last Saturday to share the good news about finding a place setting for four and a couple of accessory pieces. She was excited because the pattern was English Chippendale - Red, of course, Johnson Brothers. Every collector of any china knows the history of JB and I was thrilled for her. Envious also, I might add. After all, she lives in Alexandria, VA - home to the largest and BEST Salvation Army I have ever shopped in. I didn't set out to hunt for this same pattern, but while I was at our local DAV thrift shop yesterday - I looked down at the shelf, near the end of the housewares section and my eye spotted two dinner plates and one nice great shaped platter - they were offered in the most gorgeous cottage looking blue I have seen. Immediately - I turned them over to see the name and pattern - YOU GUESSED RIGHT. Johnson Brothers, English Chippendale - Blue. You will never know how happy I was. All three were only $10 and I could not wait to call cousin Patty and report to her. She was shocked that we both have been fortunate to locate pieces of this beautiful and sought after pattern. A few minutes ago, she called to say that she has found a couple of pieces for me in red - she already has a set of four, so her finds will be placed in a corner of her guest room, awaiting a visit from me to claim them. How fortunate I am to have such a wonderful cousin to do this for me - we have decided that I will have a set of four, using all the colors of the pattern. I am excited about this new project and can say that "I am on a mission to locate more of these". It was Patty who challenged me to post a photo - after all, she is our Blog Police and reminded me that nothing had been posted in several weeks. This post is for you cousin Patty. Enjoy and thanks so much for putting me onto such a beautiful pattern.

My recent BEST FIND ......... I think

2010-06-16T21:15:00.004-04:00

Don't you just love to locate that cute, extra special thing - you weren't looking for it - so you would not have recognized it, BUT when your eye spots a neat item, suddenly your brain is engaged and the wheels turn fast at first, then really fast. You can not WAIT to get the thing home, clean it; and then figure out another way to use the item. I love to do this and would rather re purpose than most anything. When I saw this neat photo frame on a swivel post with glass - it holds a 4x6 photo, I instantly knew it would never hold a photo - not this cute item. It would be displayed wherever I was holding a brunch, lunch or a hot dog supper or cook-out for any event. It is so neat. I had some card stock index cards that fit great, after trimming to fit. I thought of painting it black, but didn't want to. I would use a black fine point Sharpie to write my menu on anyway. It was done in a few minutes or when I had my mind set on a menu I'll serve next week for Gayle and our friend Debbie who is moving. How cute is this!

Repurposing AGAIN and AGAIN

2010-06-16T07:48:00.004-04:00

Can you guess what this item is? Years ago my sister Lois and I discovered a good idea to reuse old bed springs. Imagine that? We spent half a day cutting them out one by one with wire cutters then wiring a short section of picture hanging wire on the sides, spray painted them BLACK and came up with some cute innovative hanging vessels. We talked our brother into cutting stems from goblets because we needed to have the right height inside the spring. I don't think mattress springs are substantial like these were and we thought our idea was so neat. This event took place over twelve years ago; we should have marketed the item, but like a lot of folks, we enjoyed our invention, sold a couple to some friends and family members and after years of sitting - decided to throw the rest of them out. Such a shame now that I see mine. It's so cute. I use it with flowers rather than candles - either one works really well.

Let's squeeze some lemons or limes - your choice

2010-06-15T17:15:00.002-04:00

I can not understand my reasoning when purchasing some of the items I have acquired over the years. I have always loved fresh squeezed lemonade and make it often. Of course, those nasty seeds are always a hassle to remove, so I started looking around the house recently for some old ones I knew I had packed somewhere. Months passed and I spotted two old ones, downstairs on a shelf. I knew more had been purchased, so I kept looking and come up with these . I love the glass cutting techniques that must have been used in the production of them. I looked glass juicers up and found that most were made in Australia. There must be hundreds of them around; I'm proud of the ones I have and after seeing such a host of them, intend to display mine better. The best thing about owning one is making lemonade - of course I made a simple syrup and added fresh basil - it's so.....................refreshing. Please try it.

Fresh grown basil meets chicken breast - wow

2010-06-14T18:28:00.003-04:00

I love basil. It's used in so many savory dishes and they are so.............good; perhaps basil would be great when paired with lemon and a simple syrup when making lemonade. Fresh basil lemonade was made over the weekend and was well received. Having purchased several boneless skinless chicken breasts for dinner tonight; I thought why not use basil in the marinade - I just poured a small amount of olive oil, salt and pepper, the juice of a whole lemon and about three top portions snipped on my basil plant - chopped fine of course. In with the chicken and back in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. I browned the chicken in my black skillet on top of the stove; then into a preheated 375 degree oven. Baking time was about 45 minutes and I basted them a couple of times on both sides with - you guess it - basil butter - they were so good; I had to take a photo and then I said "why not post this one". My husband paid the nicest compliment when he said "these are much better than the chicken breast I ordered at Lone Star Restaurant last week". Wow - but he was right - they were tender and had a fresh flavor of basil and lemon. Try this - Neither of us have gotten into the grilling thing - we always burn the chicken, so I resort to my oven and very trust worthy black skillet.

Branching out in two places

2010-06-13T08:32:00.003-04:00

While visiting my sweet niece Keely at their new home - we HAD to check out the nearby thrift shops. Not too far from her home we found the neatest consignment shop. Two of these jewels were hanging high on the back wall and I spotted them before Keely had the car in PARK. I jumped out first to check and see if they were even open on a Friday afternoon, after 4 pm - no sense in her getting Easton out of his comfortable seat and getting the nice, but difficult to work, stroller, but they were OPEN indeed. The nicest lady greeted us and was so gracious to move items about to allow Keely to stroll through and around things. I purchased these two great pieces for $10 each - they are hand forged and really versatile. Keely found a couple of neat items and Easton was admired and praised by the other shoppers. What fun we had. The match to this little gem is hanging between windows just like these two - in my living room. I think they were made to have clay pots in them, perhaps 4" size, but as gardeners know - you can't grow a good plant in such a small space, so I did the next BEST THING - scouted around the house and found the appropriate size piece to fit in the opening. I will cherish these for quite a while. They are beautiful and most of all, I can think of Keely whenever I see these in my home.

Repurposing a good thing into a BETTER one

2010-06-12T15:07:00.003-04:00

When I spotted the two hanging metal wall sconces at our local DAV thrift store, I knew instantly where they would end up. Green was the original color and of course I had to have them spray painted BLACK. Carl, my ever present painter of all things I need, took the task and did a great job I might say. I wired them together to make a single four arm candelabra which hangs above our little bistro table on the screened porch. It's so cute. Excluding the cost of the can of paint, I have only $2.50 in this cute item. Looked everywhere for some glass votives that would fit in the opening, but failing this venture, I thought of several candles left over from Christmas luminaries I could put my hands on without tearing through fifty boxes in the basement. Hope you like it...we are enjoying it so much. As always, with lighted candles, NEVER leave them unattended. Enjoy during the time you are eating and then blow them out, remove candles and store away from sunlight.

Once upon an apron . . . . . . . . . . .

2010-06-03T18:21:00.004-04:00

Needing to locate a piece of brown fabric in the correct shade and not being successful, I did my favorite thing.........................check out our local Goodwill. I stopped by and found the apron posted below. The perfect shade of brown - it was a done deal at $1.
This little number would become a cute pillow for my niece Keely's bedroom - Added some neat ribbon trim and the pillow was complete. Don't be intimidated by not finding fabric for a small project, look for a ready made item and redo it. The main thing - you will repurpose something that someone else will treasure.

Advertising my favorite author - do you know her?

2010-05-31T12:44:00.003-04:00

I love Alexander Stoddard. She is one of the most interesting designers, self-help teachers I have explored. I purchased my first book entitled "Tea Celebrations" over twenty years ago. Since then, I've found many more. I wasn't using this cute metal planter urn so I placed my small collection there. It looks good and I enjoy having all of Alexander's books in one spot. And, better still - I'm making great use of this great piece of garden piece.

Cottage accents for any place

2010-05-31T12:38:00.003-04:00

Found these two cute picture frames painted white with bead board added as a background. The large chrysanthemum flower was added for color. These were a "quick fix" for a previously owned B&B cottage. I think they add a punch of cottage accent any place. On a porch, perhaps a hallway, even a guest room. The cottage look is always neat and refreshing.

Let me introduce my favorite plant to you

2010-05-30T21:37:00.004-04:00

I love geraniums. I've never seen one I didn't love, want to bring home and nurture it and give it a home. This little gem was given to me as a gift from a good friend who had planted many annuals around her patio and had this cute specimen left over and had no place for it. I happened to be visiting her later the same day and she kindly presented it to me, knowing how much I loved it. I brought it home, enjoyed it all summer and when the late October nip in the air settled in, I brought it inside and placed it in the only available spot to receive light in our basement. It was meant to survive the high traffic area it was placed in and the occasional drink of water when I passed by and saw its drooping leaves. But I prevailed and all winter, watched the little plant take on a few new leaves and when March came around this year, I planted it in a larger pot and gave it a prominent place in my kitchen window. The first photo (if I uploaded correctly) shows the bloom as it emerges and the second shot displays the gorgeous color in full color. Don't you just love geraniums - they are so..........easy to maintain. Please try one.

Borrowed idea to stunning enhancement

2010-05-30T21:29:00.003-04:00

My cousin Patty used a cherished teapot and inserted an ivy plant in the bottom of it and displayed it on her living room fireplace mantle. It looked great; however my ivy is in a huge pot and the area I wanted to use something like this did not allow sufficient light. So............I sought to do a similar project, using one of my teapots. I must have checked every Christmas packed box in the basement for the electric lights that I planned to place in the bottom of the teapot. Finally..............they were located and then I proceeded to find suitable flowers or greenery to complete the project. It packs a big punch, didn't take too long to do the thing and I love it. Thanks cousin Patty for a great idea.

New found treasures - ripe for picking

2010-05-27T12:19:00.003-04:00

Had to run an errand this morning, so while I was out, stopped at our local and my FAVORITE thrift shop - DAV to hunt for some neat items. Was I lucky or what? I love the books - if you can't make out the titles, one is BH&G Cottage Style dated 1998 - hard back for a price of $2; another great find is: Katie Brown's Weekends dated 2005. Little more at $5. Ethan Allen's New American Style published in 2001 for $2.50 and the last book was BH&G Small House Big Style published 2000. Picked this one up for $2. All hardback and in great shape. I wonder about the person who owned the books previously. I usually write my name and perhaps something about why I purchased it and usually write down the date. None of these had such a personality attached to them. But they have a home now - notes in all four and they will reside here with me for now. The beautiful water color painting was only $2.50 and the nice green/brown fern fabric runner was only $1. How fortunate I was to be out and about this morning. Oh - almost forgot the wicker sleigh - how cute it will be this Christmas on my window frame exhibit with some deer in front. Of course the nice linen drying towel was a neat find at $1 too.

From a favorite linen skirt to neat accent pillow

2010-05-22T08:03:00.004-04:00

Here I go again!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Needing to share a post with you, I rummaged through my old clothes - many of which I can no longer wear, BUT BUT BUT I love the thing, kept it in my closet for years, hoping to get back into a size 8, but as we all know, as we age, our bodies do too. I'm in a 10-12, but recently decided to "go with it - face it and know that I will NEVER get into some of these clothes AGAIN". Rather than give them to Goodwill, I opted to make something really cute and enjoy that favorite garment in another way. I loved the simple white linen skirt with the ever so slight dark beige thread that made up the edge of the flowers on the bottom of the skirt. Lots of top stitching on this skirt, which adds to its beauty. I cut two sections of the skirt, leaving a good edge to allow for hem and created this cute pillow. I love to hang pillows of this type EVERYWHERE. I recently completed my bedroom walls with sheet rock compound to cover up some really BAD plaster. Didn't know what to hang over the bed, so I opted to hang a cute item and thought about the pillow - I think its really cute and is just the right amount of simplicity to compliment the rest of the room. You can see just a small portion of the neat silk brown/turquoise cornices - IF you don't have a favorite skirt to use in this manner - a cute initial done on a pillow would work well.

From bedspread to setee cover

2010-05-21T09:59:00.004-04:00

When this nice all white chenille bedspread was purchased years ago, I didn't realize it was a full size - it has been stashed away until yesterday when I decided to look at it closely. I have no full size bed, so the next best thing to do was to recycle. The wicker settee on my screened porch needed a quick fix for the summer and the other cover I made earlier was beginning to fade. All I had to do to make this work was measure the length for the hem, being careful to not cut into the basket work design of the spread. Hems on each side gave sufficient coverage to allow a portion to drape over the back of the settee. Using the same four bed pillows makes for an easy fix to last until fall. Love to recycle anything - that's my goal. Do you recycle items - move them to another spot in your home - most any item serves multiple purposes - as Gayle says "think outside the box". Oh - the small tablecloth on table was made earlier from another bedspread.

New purpose for a small corner shelf

2010-05-11T08:37:00.002-04:00

Don't you love it when anything can be used in more than one spot - an item that takes on a new personality when placed with other things you love. I have always loved SMALL books and have many. Displaying these tiny treasurers is sometimes daunting. Last week I redid our bedroom and took everything off the walls, including a cute, wooden small hanging corner shelf. I think these were popular in the 40's and I had hung it in the corner of the room displaying a small collection of the famous Little Gallery Pewter Collection from years ago. Tired of this look and always having to dust them, I took the shelf down, cleaned it and wondered off and on during the painting project "where to use this shelf again". Then I thought of my small books and decided to use the shelf in a horizontal position and place the books on it. Looks really cute - reinforces my purpose to re purpose a treasured piece. It looks great on the shelf, above the tv.

Have you seen this type of bookend?

2010-05-07T12:57:00.003-04:00

Just wondering if any of our followers have seen bookends like this pair? They were spotted in our local DAV thrift shop, priced at $2.50 but were half off. Each one must weigh more than five pounds and are made of glass. I loved them at first glance, paid the $1.25 and could not wait to get the pair home to wash them and find a place among my bookshelves to display them. I chose to display them alone in order to show them off - aren't they neat? Would they be Art Deco or what?

Recycle/repurpose when you can

2010-05-07T07:22:00.004-04:00

Recently picked up a great looking Eileen Fisher 100% silk jacket at the Salvation Army while visiting my cousin Patty in Alexandria Va. The size was way...........too small (PSM) which clearly is a petite small. I knew the instant I spotted this treasure that it would become a neat, one-of-a-kind pillow for my bedroom. I love anything that resembles tucks (after all - it's my last name). Removing the sleeves was first, then I simply cut the front of the jacket ACROSS from seam to seam, turned it wrong side out and using the front opening (no zippers or buttons were on the jacket)sewed the appropriate size to fit a pillow form I switch out all the time. I used a complimenting ribbon down the front of one side and it was complete. Took less than 10 minutes to re purpose this gorgeous jacket. Now - what should I do with those neat sleeves? Any suggestions???????????

Sage striped slipcovers REALLY do cover

2010-04-29T15:47:00.003-04:00

Here I go again, needing to redo two lawn chairs that have been around longer than most of us. The two chairs in question must have a couple of dozen layers of paint and I am not keen on paint removal, so.................... you know me, I do the next best option. Sew a slipcover for the chair. I was fortunate to find several yards of a very good 100% cotton fabric and the strip is so faint, you hardly notice it. Without too much fuss and not requiring a zipper nor Velcro, this project turned out pretty good. By Saturday, I will have the matching chair fully dressed out in its finest coat ever. No VOC issues and no messy paint to clean up. How good does it get?

Recent finds - lucky me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-04-27T11:10:00.003-04:00

While out earlier this morning, I decided to take a quick run through our local DAV thrift store. I can't recall EVER stopping in and not finding something that perks my interest. When I spotted the worn and tarnished toast holder - it was $1 (I think it is English - not sure), I scratched it and figured it would come clean and shiny while using Soft Scrub with Lemon. This is a great product and it smells good. Took a little while to clean all the areas, but it is well worth my efforts. I can see toast awaiting a simple and tasty brunch. I was hoping that some of my small, dessert plates would fit in the slots, but they failed to make the grade. I had spotted the little, handmade pottery piece months ago and it was only .50. Today it was only a quarter and I felt it needed a home. It will be cute to use on the porch with a small, votive candle. Someone made it in 2004 and gave it to someone and it ended up in a thrift shop. Such a cute piece - I will enjoy it a lot. Loved the small needlework piece, depicting rabbit and several carrots. I like to take small pieces out of the frame, wash and dry them and make small door hanging pillows to greet guests. Such a cute addition to an entrance or to mask an ugly door knob. The cute, green trimmed plate with rose colored painted flower is by Homer Laughton - got this for $1.00. Last, but the best of all is the hand painted cute wall hanger from Italy for $2.50. What a haul - if you don't thrift shop - you should.

What drives and motivates you??????????

2010-04-18T13:02:00.002-04:00

My cousin Patty recently gave this MADE IN THE USA sign to me. She knows how I am about MIC purchases and I love it. While visiting her last week and exploring a host of thrift shops - she did include a couple of great shops at Tyson's Corner. Have you seen different sizes and shapes of clear glass with wheat growing? One high end shop had these for sale to compliment your decor but they also had the wheat seed at $4 a cup. We both purchased a cup and Patty planted hers as soon as we returned home. By the time I department on Sunday, hers had sprouted up and watching this stuff grow is so fascinating. I planted mine on Tuesday and this is the height in five days. It is so neat - seeing the little hair like roots growing down into the soil and shallow rocks makes an interesting conversation piece any place in your home. Of course, you need to water and turn it each day - place in a sunny window, but not directly in the hot sun. Enjoy - and you can proudly say to your friends "This was Made in the USA"

Creating a new look for candles

2010-04-15T13:09:00.004-04:00

Candles come in many styles, shapes, color and sizes. Jar candles hit the scene some years ago and will always be favorites. Recently my cousin Patty pulled out two clear glass votives which belonged to an old family friend who has passed away now. Needing to enhance two wall sconces, Patty recalled having the votives and retrieved them from her arsenal of candles and accessories. You would have to see her collection to believe it. I loved the effect of the clear glass votives and set out to locate a pair. Naturally I checked out the Goodwill thrift shop first and there they were, sitting idly on the shelf, trying to be noticed and they were. I snatched them up for .50 each, washed them and looked around to use them some place. Then I spotted these two old, HEAVY gears from old machine parts and you guess it - they fit perfectly and the look is modern and best of all - you know me - Made in the USA.

Second in line for blooming

2010-04-14T16:29:00.005-04:00

Finally SPRING arrived bringing warm weather and longer days, especially after the time was moved up for one hour. I anxiously await the blooming of my two favorite bushes each year. These have been planted for over ten years but beautiful blooms as you see here don't come without a bit of planning and work. You have to be sure to prune just a little AFTER the blooming season is over. If you get busy and see a lot of green growth during the summer, don't think about pruning at that time. Buds have already set for the next blooming period and you will not have many or any if you prune. Just let the bush grow larger and larger - then enjoy the blooms the next time around. The white bush is a spirea - planted as a small one gallon plant, it takes up a huge section of the corner of our house. What a welcome this bush says to all who enters our driveway.
At the opposite end of the house sits my pride and joy - Lady Banks Rose which is simply gorgeous even without blooms. For those who have allergies to fragrances - this rose has NO SMELL and no thorns either, so it is a good choice for your yard. I've attempted to transplant a piece a couple of times, but no success.

Looking Forward to Summer

2010-04-12T12:02:00.002-04:00

This past weekend Jim and I took a short trip to visit our daughter and our new grandson. They live about 5 minutes from the beach and being at the ocean really brought back some summer memories for me. Spring is my favorite season of all but I enjoy Summers too. Living in the South in August can be a bit challenging though, when the humidity will melt a person in a few minutes. But in spite of the sweltering heat I can still appreciate the anticipation of a fun-filled Summer that most children enjoy...what are you looking forward to the most? Are you like me and looking forward to working in the garden early in the morning before the sun gets too hot and creating a colorful flower garden for all to enjoy or a veggie garden to enjoy eating the fruits of your labor? One of my favorite things is to pick that first perfectly ripened red tomato and placing on the windowsill in my kitchen; and later devour on a perfect tomato sandwich that NO store-bought tomato can begin to rival.

Or do you look forward to lazy days of reading in a cozy area in your yard or perhaps taking an afternoon nap if a nice breeze is blowing?

Or perhaps you anticipate going on a hunt for that perfect treasure to add to your collection? If you love flea markets and finding unique bargains; you might want to check out this magazine for some ways to display your finds and seeing how others enjoy your passion as well.

What about sitting on a porch catching a cool breeze while sipping a glass of your favorite iced beverage or maybe licking on an ice cream cone? Or enjoying a great conversation with a trusted friend or just sitting and having a old-fashioned daydream.

A picnic is always fun and you can have one in a variety of settings such as a local park or even your own backyard...somehow food always tastes better when eaten outdoors and shared with ants and others!

Some people are fortunate and take a vacation (or more) each year. I plan to spend as much time as possible with my grandson Easton and hope to hear his gleeful sounds of putting his feet into the ocean for the first time and helping him build sandcastles on the beach...Hope you all take some time to really enjoy the upcoming Summer season and recall some of the feelings and experiences you enjoyed as a child as well. I enjoy weekend trips myself and quite often find that several weekend trips refresh me more than one long vacation does...Try and unclutter your schedule as much as possible so you're not stressed out this Summer...and rekindle some of those childhood feelings when Summer was something to anticpate vs something to endure.

Introduction to my favorite plant

2010-03-31T07:42:00.004-04:00

If you have ever had the pleasure of purchasing or been given a coreopsis plant - you are special. This is by far, the most hardy plant in the world. I was first introduced to coreopsis in the early 90's when Gayle and I signed up for the local Master Gardeners class, sponsored by Virginia Tech. We were so proud to be in this class - we learned so much about gardening and often refer back to our notebooks as valuable resources. Check your local extension office to see if this class is available in your area. It is worth the small amount of money it costs and classes are only one night a week for several months. I was told that this was a perennial and all the info that comes with this species of plant. They were CORRECT. It is still with me. The seeds reseed and if you keep it watered just a little during the dormant months of winter, you will be visited again and again. I never tire of the beautiful yellow blooms and the foliage is lovely also - willowy and if you dead-head the spent blooms (this means to snip away the dead blooms) you will have a continuation of blooms until frost begins in late fall. I started out planting in the soil and was plagued with weeds and weeds and more weeds, because this is part of gardening. I'm a lazy gardener so I started placing my plants in containers several years ago - I love this method and the weeds don't bother me nor the plant and BEST OF ALL - I don't have to worry about Carl zapping them with the weed eater when he trims. Husbands don't seem to know a weed from a plant. Ask Gayle!!!!!!!!! Coreopsis - if they come in another color other than yellow, please let me know - they can become your favorite also. Enjoy

Long Harsh Winter is Over (I hope)

2010-03-31T05:37:00.000-04:00

This past Winter was one of the roughest we've had in quite a few years. Last year on April 13 I took the following pictures of an area on the side of my house. You will notice several shots of Lunaria or Money plant as many people call this plant and how tall it is (and blooming)...this year the plants are barely 6 inches tall due to the long cold winter we had.

A few Spring Touches

2010-03-30T10:25:00.003-04:00

Gosh! Time is flying by...it seems like ages since I've last posted and thank goodness, Bettie has found time to post some great topics for you all to read. My job is really consuming my time (hate that!) but I did have a few things to share with you today. Normally my house would be full of Spring decor but I've only managed a few touches here/there this year..too much to do...too little time. I know some people will scoff at the faux flowers I used in this arrangement on my detached garage; but it's too high up to water (for me) and the flowers always look fresh and never wilted!

As you might have already guessed I LOVE watering cans and use them in my decor everywhere I can...here's one I used in my kitchen to hold utensils by the stove

Small brunch - big taste though

2010-03-30T10:08:00.002-04:00

Good morning - thank you for stopping by. I wanted to serve up a quick and simple brunch item with morning coffee - did NOT want to use a lengthy recipe so I looked in the fridge and saw a good option. Crescent Dinner Rolls - this product has got to be one of the best on the market. It is so versatile - you can do most anything with it. I mixed soft butter with cinnamon and sugar mixture and spread (not all the way to the edge PLEASE) it on one half of the perforated section placed on a baking stone or parchment paper. On top of this I spread a thin layer of orange marmalade and placed the top portion of the CDR and sealed the edges. Bake at 375 until golden brown. Let cool if you have the patience, slice in long strips and enjoy with a cup of your favorite breakfast blend.

Asters without beetles and bugs - how good is that?

2010-03-25T17:50:00.003-04:00

My sister Lois found the place settings of circa 1940's hand-painted colorful Astor flowers in bold and bright colors. I've never used them and have the dinner plates standing upright in a large green oblong planter with small dessert plates to match sitting in front. I wanted something cheery and happy to say Hello Spring - so I came up with a couple of other pieces to compliment the setting for two. The happy contented rabbit normally sits in the living room on the floor, looking at a plant that is placed nearby and he was happy to have a prominent place on the table. Cups for these dishes have never been located, so I used two green and white restaurant ware pieces on the matching saucers - You gotta love the simplicity of green and white. Barely visible in the background is a nice large cookie jar from Thomas Kincaid collection with Spring colors.

Does this look familiar - have you seen it before?

2010-03-23T13:30:00.002-04:00

Hello - Happy Spring to each of you. Do any of you recall this item? If not - it's the sleeve part of the sweater I posted about last week. They were way too cute to discard, so what better thing to do with one of them than to make a cute door hanging vessel to display some cute vines and greens. This is hanging on my guest room door. Such a cute sweater has been extended into something else - AGAIN. Can't wait to get out in the soil and dig - much too cold today. Warm weather must be on the horizon - hope so.

First signs of Spring - says "Welcome" anywhere

2010-03-19T14:00:00.003-04:00

Well, we finally made it. Spring will greet us in a few hours. Back in January when I was first counting the days and marking them on the calendar - it seemed a long long way off. Wow - where did the winter months go? So glad they are behind us and we can enjoy great weather and sunny days and long evenings. I always say "I've made it another winter" whenever I see forsythia blooming. This is my favorite early spring bloomer. Carl and I rigged up two nice clear milk jugs we found in the basement - he cut a deep board; hung the bottle with a galvanized bracket to secure in place and then hung one on each side of our driveway entrance. Living in the country has its perks - flowers can be changed as the seasons change and your guests will always feel welcome as they enter. Only spent $2.75 for the metal brackets - everything else, of course, was recycled. Happy SPRING to each of you. Thank you for stopping by.

From sweater to pillow cover - how dare you?

2010-03-11T18:45:00.003-05:00

You know me - I love to repurpose ANYTHING. Recently I have been going through my favorite old sweaters - we all have more than one I'm sure. I loved the sweaters and couldn't wear them and could not bear to see them discarded to Goodwill (as much as I love GW shopping), so I did the only alternative - I made something else out of it. The white ribbed pillow cover was made first, during the winter months. I just cut the exact off the top and sides and KEPT THE OPENING which would normally be on my waistline. This was the easiest pillow cover EVER sewn by me and I love it. I can recall the sweater each time I see the pillow. The cute one with the tiny pink flowers - I just purchased this at the BEST SALVATION ARMY shop on the east coast. It's in Alexandria, Va where I visit with my cousin Patty. She was with me when I purchased this last weekend and I just had to have it. So cute and it only cost $2.50. I kept the sleeves for another project. It's 100% cotton, Made in USA - and I already had a small pillow that fit it. You have to try this project on a sweater - you will love it and the beauty part, it pulls off so easy to wash, when soiled. As Candace says "how divine".

From tray stand to flag stand - how easy is this?

2010-03-10T08:05:00.003-05:00

A couple of years ago while visiting my aunt Lucy, she asked if I could use a discarded small tray stand she had picked up at a yard sale. Since I was traveling by train, I asked her to keep it for me when I visited again, by car. This was done last summer and sure enough, it was still waiting for me. As soon as I looked at it and placed it in the car, it dawned on me that it would make a neat and very original "garden flag" stand. How cute is that? Of course, my husband Carl had to do the dirty work and remove the screws and four rods that were in place to hold the trays and prime and PAINT the thing. Sorry to say the flag had to be trimmed just a tad to fit in the opening (Carl drilled a hole on either side at the top)to hold the dowel that holds the flag. This cute little number sits proudly on my front porch to greet guests as they arrive. I think of my aunt Lucy each time I look at this piece. She always re purposes things around her house and I imagine she has passed that gene down to me. So..............the next time you spot one of these at a yard sale or thrift shop - bring it home and do the same thing. You can find these somewhat larger also. I love it and the history behind the projects says a lot also. I appreciate the fact that my aunt Lucy was kind enough to save this little gem for me rather than discarding it. What a shame that would have been?

Leaves and branches - resting quietly

2010-03-09T19:05:00.004-05:00

Just had to share this new pillow I recently made. While waiting at our local beauty salon a few weeks ago, I was perusing a magazine while waiting for color. I caught just a glimpse of a cute pillow that was offered for sale for around $68. Appliques are a favorite, so I looked through my fabric stash, located some brown fabric suitable for the branches, but didn't have a piece of green. I looked around my Goodwill items I had accumulated recently and spotted a neat blouse, too tight to wear any longer, so I cut my leaves out and found my last precious piece of canvas fabric from the old slipcover my mother had made over twenty years ago. I've used every piece of this thing over the years and I had enough to make the pillow. After working with the zig zag on my old trusty Singer, I completed the project in less than two hours. Pretty nice and it didn't cost more than $4. Love it when a plan comes together, don't you?

Come early for brunch - to celebrate SPRING

2010-03-02T08:26:00.002-05:00

I love brunches - sometimes I keep the table set just to view during the day. I love the three Homer Laughlin simple white plates with the green on the left side. Not much planning was utilized for this simple brunch post. All I needed to add was the fruit in the small yellow cups I posted a few weeks ago. I would not use these for candle, but a couple or three of pretty bite sized choice fruits would look so appealing. I was fortunate to find six of the neat tea short mugs with names of tea spelled all around the rim. These are made in Indonesia. How sweet is that? My cousin Patty gave me the two attractive candles featured. They are Fitz & Floyd - lucky me!! The small brown teapot I've owned for over thirty years. It's my favorite and if you'll stop by sometimes, we can sit here and enjoy a spot of tea. The two simple white soft linen napkins, edged in green have been used by me for over forty years. Some things NEVER wear out. My son saw them a while back while eating with us and he could not believe I was still using the napkins. People that know me and visit at meal time can attest to the fact that I NEVER use paper napkins. The cute rabbit that stopped in to eat with us I found at DAV and decided that he needed a home and today is making his debut to spring celebrations.

Spring is On The Way!

2010-03-01T23:33:00.000-05:00

Hello! it seems like ages since I've last posted. So much going on with the birth of my grandson, the trip to Michigan and helping our daughter and family move to NC. On the way back from Michigan we stopped by Cracker Barrel and I spotted this cute metal calendar...I thought it was perfect for Spring and found a spot in my kitchen to display. You move the magnetic circles to depict the Month/Day...how clever is that?

For added attraction

2010-02-27T18:54:00.003-05:00

Hello again. I mentioned I would not post again until March 1, but I HAD to show off this cute wall pocket. A friend makes beautiful pottery and sells it in his shop - I've purchased five of these beauties over the years. They add a simple freshness anywhere they are hung - I loved placing it on the small door knob to this china cabinet in my living room. Adding small flowers just gives these pieces an extra bonus - Jonathan makes these in a taller size which looks great near a fireplace where longer matches can be stored for quick use. I have another small, long one hanging with tiny flowers on my window casing near the kitchen sink. Such pleasure from a small item. Best part - Jonathan lives in the USA - Danville, VA.

Found - an abandoned piece of McCoy Pottery

2010-02-26T19:51:00.003-05:00

No one should have priceless items in their house they have forgotten about. A few weeks ago I posted a small collection of my prized pottery - McCoy. Tonight while looking for something else in the basement, I opened an old cabinet and just peered in. At the back on the second shelf, I spotted this beautiful McCoy piece. It is in mint condition and has a soft shrimp or coral color. It is so pretty. I dusted it off, brought it up the stairs and displayed it on the shelving piece in the small hallway. Wow - I must take inventory soon of all this stuff. I have accumulated a ton of stuff over the years and like so many others, never discard much. Some pieces just have to stay with me. I am pleased to be able to admire this piece of pottery every time I pass through the hallway. How fortunate for me.

A small haul to greet you on Friday

2010-02-26T07:38:00.003-05:00

DAV kept calling out to me - stop by, stop by, you will miss these items if you don't come out. Anyone knowing me will attest to the fact that I dislike COLD weather with a passion. I won't even eat snow ice cream. That bad! Yes - But yesterday was "hair day" and of course, I had to venture out - cold or not. I stopped by later than my usual visits and did manage to pick up some really cute items. The cute cute cute door basket trimmed in blue was sitting idly in a corner of the store, near the Christmas items and I can not believe that no one had picked it up during the day. Lucky me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't you just love the paper mac he pair of rabbits - they will look great any place they land. I missed the other pieces of these two dessert plates with the pussy willow blooms on them, but they will work well with something I am planning for SPRING. $.25 each - and I forgot to mention that the basket was $1.25 and the pair of rabbits was $.50. I love the other three dessert plates with green spirals on them. They were a steal also. Don't you just love thrift shopping? I might add, NONE of these items were marked with the notorious MIC - for those that track my buying traits. Can't wait for Spring. Don't you love our ticker at top of blog to remind you of days to SPRING! Have a great weekend. Just think - when I post again - it will be MARCH.

See previous post from a moment ago

2010-02-24T13:31:00.002-05:00

Looking for Spring - hop on board

2010-02-24T12:50:00.002-05:00

Thought I would share this cute cart my husband Carl constructed out of recycled wood from an old tea cart I mentioned a few posts back. He kept the iron wheels from the cart, knowing that one day I would ask for them for another project. I wanted something to use on the front porch to say "Welcome" to guests and love spring tulips and daffodils. Living in the country - we have the usual critters and the squirrels love to dig the tulips and devour them. So - to avoid more destruction of planted tulips in the ground, I decided to shop for some nice silk ones. They will work fine and even look like the real thing at a distance. Of course, when I know the tulips and daffodils have spent their blooms for this season, I will pull them out and store them for another season. Then I'll use my real life plants like geraniums or other potted plant that will look good in the cart. This little beauty will take center stage for many of the projects I already have in mind. Carl outdid himself on this one - it's a definite keeper.

Latest haul from local DAV (lucky me)

2010-02-18T19:33:00.002-05:00

Visited our local DAV thrift shop this morning and wow - I found the neatest items - all things that I have been looking for to work with another project, etc. Can't wait to redo the neat spring hat - this will look great on my front door AFTER I add plenty of accessories - it will be dashing, to say the least. You might not see them too well, but I picked up four almost new leather looking chargers - and I've been looking for some table accessories in yellow to do a small table scape for spring fling. The best book on sewing projects, etc. was available for $1.40 and a great book our fine state - Virginia was picked up for $1.25. Too many items but my mind has been whirling all afternoon as I ponder on what to do first - but you can bet - I will post my finished project upon completion. If you are not shopping at your local thrift shops - you are missing out - it's your best option yet and the money spent stays in the community.

Best in Show - different approach to photos

2010-02-18T07:26:00.003-05:00

Meet Julia - my new little subject for pillows. What a perfect way to compliment a photo - use with fabric to make a "one of a kind" pillow for your home. For those that sew - don't you just love the fabric you can run through the printer? A former sewing technique that I have reintroduced to home decor. Enjoy - This little number will be given to Julia's mom Molly - my cousin Patty's (who regularly posts comments) daughter in law.

From table setting to pillow

2010-02-17T16:23:00.002-05:00

Could not resist purchasing two sunny yellow tulip shaped place mats at Marshall's yesterday. I broke my promise to NOT purchase anything MIC, but with some sewing notions and fabric items, you just gotta do what you gotta do - they were reduced to less than half price, so the total of both of them was $3.14. I rummaged through my fabric stash and found a coordinating fabric that looks nice with the tulip I think. Appliqueing tulip to a large piece of fabric (measure for pillow to be inserted) was easy and I had some fabric to do cording on one pillow. The mate to this one may have to be relegated to male status and be displayed without cording - since it is difficult to work anyway. Placing these bright, cheerful pillows will welcome SPRING in any city. Observe our ticker each day - it's closer than you think.

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T09:47:00.000-05:00

We are on the road home from Michigan to VA after seeing our grandson Easton for the first time Feb 5th. We had a fabulous week in Michigan and spent tons of time with Easton. Thursday the movers came and packed up Keely and Jason's(my daughter and son-in-law) house and finished up Friday.Friday night was an adventure with us sleeping on air mattresses since we had no furniture..early Saturday morning we pulled out bound for VA...about an hour or so into our trip, our back tire blew! Thankfully the truck has dual wheels so mainly just an inconvenience but caused a 2 hour delay..we found a tire place open and had that tire replaced. Last night we spent the night in Charleston WVA and are getting ready to make the last leg of the trip to VA here in a few minutes. Easton is a good little traveler and at three weeks of age has already visited/lived in three different states! Wishing you all wherever you are, the Happiest Valentine's Day ever....xoxoxo

Before Kitchen Project

2010-02-13T20:35:00.002-05:00

Located this old photo from twenty years to post which enables you to see what the kitchen looked like earlier. Updated photo of finished cabinets to follow.

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-08T19:30:00.005-05:00

Thought I would get a head start and make a few Valentines this year rather than purchasing paper ones. As I have previously posted, art has never been bestowed upon me. I appreciate it in many forms. I didn't do too badly when I drew this one from scratch - placed it on a piece of red fabric (from my unlimited stash) - I even figured out how to work my zig zag elements on my old Singer sewing machine to sew the edges. I lined the piece, turned it and pressed it and then using thread to match - ran a closely sewn zig zag stitch all the way around, which caused the heart to have some flexibility. Stuffing (actually purchased some at HL (Made in USA) was added to make it soft and fluffy. Slip stitched the edges and then added the cute black and white checked ribbon. Was excited to post this, however, could not get a good photo of the front door where this cutie is displayed, so I chose the only other bright lit area - the back kitchen door. Hope you like it too - you have 5 days to whip one up for YOUR Valentine.

Some old things NEVER become old

2010-02-05T11:25:00.004-05:00

Most of us have heard of McCoy Pottery even if we have not had the opportunity to buy a piece. This true American company was successful in the late 19Th century and some of the 20th. I've seen it in Antique shops all my life and have only had the chance to purchase the pieces you see displayed here. I have other American made pieces of pottery I will post later, but McCoy Pottery is classic and I would not disrespect it by mixing it. The colors used in the process have stood the test of time and though in the past, through my comfortable ignorance of doing so, I planted IN the piece itself. This is a no-no. Years ago I realized the value of these pieces and removed all plantings. Now, they sit proudly displayed together in my living room on a round table in front of my window and once in a while I will purchase a small plant, already potted, and just place it inside my McCoy piece. They are priceless - a real American treasure. I'm pleased to own these few.

Cards of the 40's to Pillows of Today

2010-02-03T20:02:00.002-05:00

As promised in an earlier post, I have made our first pillow to begin a series of pillows to compliment beautiful greeting and note cards of a by-gone era that many of us long to revisit. Modern technology is appealing but one can not replace the sincerity of the well wishes conveyed through older cards. We will launch Southern Thresholds Collection - 2010 as soon as details on Etsy can be outlined. We're positive that guests will want to acquire a pillow from this collection which will capture and preserve those wonderful years of the 40's.

Appreciation of things of the past

2010-02-02T20:14:00.004-05:00

Do any of you purchase greeting and note cards - only to find that lately it's easier to text a greeting or perhaps e-mail someone? I'm guilty of the latter, but wanted to let our guests in on the nicest collection of note cards and greeting cards I've seen in years. My cousin Patty had kept these for quite a few years (they were passed down to her by family members years ago) and last fall while we were working on a project in her house in Alexandria VA, she gave them to me - the whole lot. It must be over 100 cards. Many of the envelopes would not pass postal guidelines now, but I will use the cards and lovingly send them to many of the shut-ins at my church. These ladies will probably recognize the timeless beauty of the wording on the front. I love them so much and wanted to share them with you. I'm glad you're on the receiving end to enjoy them and not on my sick list of shut ins. Just a couple of the greetings to share - Especially for you! Just to remind you Now your birthday is due. There's no one more deserving of happiness - than you! Another one with a cute kitten saying Hello - Just a little note to say "hello", and ask if you can guess - how pleasant it is to think of you and wish you happiness. How cute are these two? Enjoy this special collection of a dear and caring person who kept these for years. Best thing of all: Made in USA

Welcome February - month of the Valentine

2010-02-01T19:15:00.003-05:00

There's something about Valentine's Day or the month of February to make us stop and think of a special person in our lives. We are special because we have someone special in our lives. Wanted to wish each of our guests a wonderful February and take the time this month to do something special. I used a wreath from years past - cut the flowers off stems and drew a half heart on paper and had my husband Carl cut two pieces out of a left over piece of decking board. After he cut the two pieces out, I asked him to drill a hole around the edges (large enough for the stem of the flower). I hot glued the inside edges of the heart. All of you that know me - I can NOT draw even stick people. After placing the flowers around, I saw the shape taking place before my eyes and thought "how easy is this" - wow - To cover the edge of the wood, I rummaged through my stash of ribbons, etc. and found a piece just long enough to hot glue and cover; all I had to do to finish this nice piece of work was to hot glue a small red and white ribbon in the center of the white ribbon and then a bow was tied and it was hung between the two windows in our small den - we hibernate here during the winter months - Carl watches his old westerns and I sit on the couch perusing magazines and books and thinking of another project.

Australian Kookaburras in our backyard

2010-01-31T16:19:00.002-05:00

Australian Rosellas on our back deck

2010-01-31T16:18:00.002-05:00

Featherbellies...

2010-01-31T12:30:00.002-05:00

How many of you love to sit and watch the birds like I do? Right outside my den window I have several birdfeeders and houses; and on snowy cold days I really enjoy sitting and watching all the activity...yesterday I snapped a few (grainy for sure) pictures to share and in a short time we were able to spot cardinals, finches, doves, bluejays and a few unidentified species as well...the bluejays are the "bullies" of the crowd and my favorite is the brilliant male cardinal you will spot in a picture below.

I thought this pic was interesting with the screens so detailed..almost looked like a cross stiched piece to me

Jelly Rolls aren't just for snacking..........

2010-01-29T19:54:00.002-05:00

A couple of years ago I took up quilting, though, on a very small scale. I would NEVER venture to make a quilt large enough for an adult to sleep under. I resign my sizes to baby quilts, wall hangings or the table topper as you see here. My aunt presented me with a beautiful Jelly Roll from Moda Fabrics over two years ago and this week, I decided it was time to get something created. I love the Chinese coin quilt pattern, so I started searching the Internet for ideas and decided it would be easier to just find a photo and do it on my own. The collection consists of citrus colors with all designs, so this made part of the project easy. I decided to do a different border and used some solid strips in the collection as they reminded me of limeade, orangeade and lemonade. Hey it's February and when I was getting my table items set to take a photo - I decided that I would have hot tea - rather than iced. In 51 days, we will meet up with SPRING. I will be happy to sit at this cute table scape and have Gayle (perhaps Keely can join us with Easton) over for iced tea. Victoria: hope you like the table topper - I enjoyed our chats about it.

2010-01-29T08:17:00.003-05:00

While I appreciate the things I have accomplished, we all tend to strive to excel a little more. I never embraced the "country" look, but when you have to work with what you have - that's what you do. My kitchen is large, but there was never sufficient space so over the years, I've upgraded to allow for more storage for the huge collection of dishes and serving pieces we all collect. A floor redo was implemented a couple of years ago and my son Al did the tile work which I designed to resemble a rug on the floor. He did an excellent job and I probably will never change this.
This past summer we installed some new cabinets purchased at Lowes - they make the kitchen feel more organized since everything is stored and out of sight. Carl has never done carpentry work like this, but I think he did a great job. Now - all I need to do is put some paint on the back wall to make the cabinets POP - perhaps a good red color. Any suggestions - are welcomed. Come by for tea - we can sit here!

Refreshing Before & Afters - Kitchen Project

2010-01-29T08:11:00.001-05:00

What a Difference...

2010-01-28T22:23:00.000-05:00

A few feet of Crown Molding can make! Our main floor bath is tiny (circa 1954) and I'm always looking for ways to make it seem more like the luxury baths that are so popular these days. Last year we had replacement windows put in and we removed the old window with panes and replaced with the glass block window (love it!)...we have plaster walls and the previous owner had wallpapered without a backer and when I went to remove the paper the plaster walls were coming with it! I found the paper with a linen texture and we put that up a few months back but i wanted crown molding to really finish it off...we bought the molding several weeks back but jim was putting it off and then today i came home to find he had started it...here's a before without and one section with it! Amazing what a difference it makes to add the crown molding doesn't it?

Deal of the Year!

2010-01-26T19:54:00.000-05:00

Do any of you shop at CVS pharmacy? I have for years and love getting the Bonus Bucks...Recently I was picking up a prescription for my husband and thought I would use my Bonus Bucks while in the store. I use a lot of stickers with clients and am always on the lookout for good deals...I had about $7 worth of Bonus Bucks and picked out a selection of things. When I got to the register the guy checking me out said I needed to buy at least $4 more in order to use up all the "Bucks"...I was a bit surprised but then he explained that some packages of stickers I had picked out marked $1 were coming up .09!!!! I went back and scooped up a bunch more and guess what my total out of pocket was? .01!! can you imagine? I got all of this stuff for one red cent! Deal of the year for sure.

New and different snack treat

2010-01-24T08:27:00.002-05:00

Saw this great sounding recipe before the previous holidays for a Ginger Crunch and tried it recently. I did think ahead and prior to diving into it for tasting, took a photo. Recipe was on an Australian site so I had to convert from metric, but the results were very tasty (as Gayle often refers to a dish). Try it - you'll like it too.
For the crunch part: 1 cup butter, 1/2 cup white granulated sugar, 2 cups all purpose flour, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1 Tablespoon ground ginger and a pinch of salt. Mix all together and press into an 8 x 12 pan, greased and lined with parchment paper. Bake at 355 degrees for 20 minutes OR until golden brown.
While the crunch part is baking, mix up the icing portion. 1 cup sifted powdered sugar, 1/2 stick butter, 1/4 cup golden syrup, 2 tsp. ginger and 1/3 cup finely chopped candied ginger. Place all ingredients in a sauce pan and cook, stirring all the time for about three minutes. Time the completed baking of crust so you can pour the heated icing mixture onto crust as soon as you remove it from oven. Cool for a few minutes and when cooled enough - cut into squares.

Keely's new gorgeous boy got me thinking...........

2010-01-24T03:14:00.002-05:00

Remember when your firstborn arrived????

And you bought him/her home?

Or some of you might have bought MORE than one home........I bow down to you!!!!

I remember the first six weeks as a blur.

A complete blur.

Full of happiness.

And exhaustion.

And love.

And confusion.

But mostly love.

Amazing times.

I think!!!!

Not alot of sleep.

But feeling so happy.

And CLEVER!!!!!

What's For Dinner?

2010-01-23T16:48:00.001-05:00

Got this link today in my email and just had to share with you all...this is a really cool website where you plug in items you have in your pantry and then a variety of recipes will come up using what you have on hand..how cool is that for those times you don't want to make another grocery store run or are trying to use up what you have on hand but have gotten tired of the same old recipes...check it out right here

Grandbabies....

2010-01-20T22:14:00.002-05:00

I always said I would never be one of those gushing grandparents that bored people to tears with tales of their grandchildren and shoving volumes of photo albums in guests' faces...well I lied! Yesterday our daughter Keely gave birth to our first grandchild, a son...Easton Archer Jones arrived yesterday at 3:55 EST weighing a hefty 9 lbs 11 oz and 23 1/2 inches long. Keely lives in Michigan near the Canadian border and Jim and I were not able to be there for the birth BUT we will be traveling up Feb 5th to meet Easton and bring the family back South...Yippee! they are moving to NC next month so that is why we delayed our visit by a few weeks...hard to not be there but looking forward to special times ahead with them closer in NC.

It wouldn't be fair to not show my other grand-furbabies so here they are too...here's Bo and Marley; English bulldog and kitty that belongs to our son Jacob and his wife Ashley.

Other members of the household include Ava and Luca...

A face only a grandmother could love

Everytime I look at this photo the song, "Somewhere out there...someone waits for me"...runs though my mind for some reason...LOL

Isn't Luca a handsome devil?

Marley and christmas tree

Last but not least is Esco, the sweetest doggie you'll ever meet owned by our son Bryce...I have a ton of great pics of Esco but they are on my desktop which needs to go in the shop...so this photo snapped this past christmas will have to suffice for now...I think Esco was a bit tired from his run with Santa and helping the reindeer out a bit (notice the antlers)...

Hawaii!!!

2010-01-18T16:47:00.002-05:00

In a little over two weeks, we will be in Hawaii.

Gosh, don't I have a hard life!!!!!

Seems foolish really..... leaving sunshine and summer to go to Paradise.

My biggest problem is packing.

I have learnt, over the years, to pack light.

Light to ME is definitely different to what my husband regards as light.

He thinks a small back pack should suffice.

Foolish man!!!

But I do need to consider room for SHOPPING.

Any of you been to Australia?????

Things are DEFINITELY cheaper in the good 'ol US of A.

Makeup

Shoes

HANDBAGS

I HAVE to make room for those goodies!!! (only if they are bargains though :) )

So, since I am laid up at home with my poor sore foot I thought I would 'pre pack'.

What should go with me??

One swimsuit?? Or two???

How many coverups???

How many pairs of shoes???

Will we hike??

Do I NEED joggers??

Gym clothes??? YUK

Nice clothes for dinners?? We WILL be there for Valentines Day.

Decisions Decisions

And, since my 'kids' aren't coming with us, I must leave a TEENY TINY bit of space for pressies for them, I suppose.

Another day!

2010-01-18T04:46:00.003-05:00

Feeling sorry for myself here!

I fell over at work last week and badly sprained my ankle.

And, because I am favouring it, I now have aches and pains up my leg.

Life is tough!!

And my poor baby boy (all 6 foot of him) has some awful virus.

Don't you hate it when they are worse off than you?

All I wanted was a little sympathy.

But, no.

He is lying there looking pathetic.

So, I hobble around and bring him flat lemonade.

And little plates of goodies in case it might tempt him to eat.

He sure looks cute.

Just like he was when he was 2.

Oh, those were the days

Speaking of Toile...

2010-01-16T06:36:00.001-05:00

Isn't this pillow gorgeous that Bettie made for me to give my Daughter-in-Law Ashley for her birthday? Ashley has four furbabies and I knew Ashley would love something depicting her "babies"...Bettie made a similiar, cute pillow for our cousin Patty (are you reading this Patty?) and then she made one for my Mom...and Ashley raved about them during Thanksgiving...so this pillow was a joint effort with Bettie doing the main sewing and I helped her print out the photos on fabric...I think the combination of the toille and black/white prints is stunning! don't you agree?