bunnytrails.....

Calling all Junkers! Read Immediately!!!

2012-02-10T15:14:00.000-08:00

Get out your warm duds, go to bed early,have your coffee maker ready to brew and get ready to zip over to 2231 South 8th (one block west of Sayles) tomorrow morning ( Saturday-Feb. 11th) for a FABULOUS ESTATE SALE!!!!! Linny, of Classic Collections, bought this estate and has everything priced and ready to sell. Let me tell ya, Old and Vintage is the name of this sale. Unique items like I have never seen before...now that's saying something! Half-price day will be Sunday 11:00-3:00. Happpy Shopping! Tell her Jo Carol sent ya!!

Long Time, No Post!

2012-02-09T12:50:00.000-08:00

Oh, I just hate it when that happens!! I have such good intentions to update my blog regularly and then "life happens". Going out of town, busy schedule, blah,blah,blah!!! Blogging just takes the backseat and then I get so behind , I just don't even want to try and catch up! Any bloggers feel my pain here??? Well. sweet Brenda, at Brenda's Blog , told me she missed me in Blogworld, and that was the incentive I needed to start up again!! So, here goes!! One of the most fun things that has taken place this past month was a baby shower that Emily and I gave in honor of one of her best friends from middle school and high school. Stacy is having a precious little boy in March and we just needed to give this new momma a party!!

Doesn't she look darling???? These young women go waaaayyy back and they truly love each other like sisters!

The hostesses with Stacy

The centerpiece was a vintage baby scale that I had found at a garage sale with the intent of selling, but I have decided it is a keeper. Not only does it look cute with stuffed animals on top, but it also accomodates a 9x13 baking dish if you want to use it as a server. Repurposing at its best!! We also had some cute little duckies floating in the punch!

My personal favorite was this idea that Emily found on Pinterest. We kind of did our own version as far as decorating the bags which we filled with popcorn and baby blue M&Ms. Everybody loved it! Emily also made some delicious cakepops on a stick that were a big hit, too.

So there you have it!! A sweet afternoon honoring a precious mom-to-be. Stacy, we love you and pray God's richest blessings on you , Garrett, and baby Isaiah.

Happenings!

2011-12-20T19:15:00.001-08:00

The past two months have been full of several fun occasions. First, was the marriage of Caroline Casy and Aaron Rector. Caroline's mom and dad are some of our best friends and Caroline and Emily have been best friends since "before birth". Caroline and Aaron were married in a very small and intimate wedding in Dallas with family and a few friends present. After their honeymoon, several of us gave them a party here in Abilene. It was a great night and a time to celebrate their new journey together.Pretty cute, huh?

Our prayer for them...

Their "journey" suitcases were loaded with food and goodies.

And a great time was had by all!

Next, comes Thanksgiving. Steph flew in from Denver and we joined Mark's mom and other members of his family at his sister's new country home in Rosebud.

So pretty and peaceful!

Of course our little great-nieces and nephew were there to make it extra fun!!

Now it is Christmas.....I took this picture the other night before I went to bed. I love this time of evening... so peaceful and quiet..so still, but the tree so bright. May we all "Be Still" for a moment and ask Jesus to fill our hearts with His peace, His quiet voice and the warmth of His love this holiday season. Be blessed!

Thought for the Day!

2011-11-07T15:08:00.000-08:00

My Fall Mantle: A La Natural

2011-11-05T18:22:00.000-07:00

This fall I decided to skip the traditional fall colors and decorate with more natural tones. I love the soft creams and browns and the textures of the ghords, burlap pumpkins and vines that I used.A view down the mantle

I purchased the burlap pumpkins at the Hico Market last weekend and my friend Carol gave me the wonderful ghords from her garage sale stash!!

My wise old owl stands beside a vintage Thanksgiving postcard I found in a box of treasures at another garage sale.

Love the old mirror leaning on the wall.

One of my favorite little statues.

And my sweet angel that stands guard over it all! She is definitely one of my favorite things in my home. As sweet as she is, I know she cannot compare to what the Lord has in store for us with His angels in Heaven. I can't wait to see them face to face. What a glorious day that will be!!!

Garage Sale Time!!!

2011-11-03T08:27:00.000-07:00

I know, I'm crazy, but Carol and I are having a BIG GARAGE SALE this weekend. When we returned from Hico, we went to our booths on Monday and totally revamped our areas. Carol closed her large space and I gave her my little space, Bunnytrails 1. I kept Bunnytrails 2 and filled it with goodies I had left from Hico. Well, we decided to part with a LOT of things that we have had for a while. So once again, let the fun begin!!!!!! The sale will be Saturday at Carol's home, 2626 Meadow Lake Drive, in Fairway Oaks. I imagine it will start around 8:00 a.m. Hope to see you there! There really is some GOOD STUFF!!!!!!!

Cute! Cute! Cute!

2011-11-01T16:42:00.001-07:00

For many reasons, Halloween is not one of my favorite holidays, BUT I do love seeing the children dressed up and excited about their treats! Having said that, the porch was ready, the pumpkin was lit, and I helped out Walgreens' sales by purchasing a lot of candy!!! About the time I had everything ready,

I look up and see this coming down the street! Kids and parents filled this flatbed truck. It was so cute!

What a clever way to trick or treat. Everyone of them had kind words and "thank yous" as they left my front porch.

As it got a little darker, this table, complete with place settings with spaghetti and meatballs , showed up at my door. Is that not priceless or what??? The trick or treaters kept coming and coming, until all of the candy was gone and I was scrambling to find goodies in the pantry.

This is all I could come up with but it was appreciated by a cute little goblin! However, the cutest of the evening was my new little neighbor who came to my side patio earlier in the evening.

I asked him if I could take his picture and he was quite cooperative!

He posed....

and he posed...........

and he posed some more!! What a precious little guy.

Let the fun Begin!!!!

2011-10-26T19:31:00.001-07:00

Well, it's finally here,,the Hico Antique Market, that is. Here is the trailer we are taking and it is full to the brim...all 22 feet of it!! A very good friend is allowing us to use his trailer and Mark and Brent will drive down and help unload it. Yeah for helpful husbands!!

The trailer is at Carol's house and so is all of our stuff! These are pics prior to loading, of course.

Love those birdcages!

Stuff ......

and more stuff!

The Market is Friday and Saturday in the cute little town of Hico, on Highway 6 towards Waco. Would love to see you there!!

Oh What a Beautiful Morning!

2011-10-16T19:35:00.000-07:00

The other morning I walked out to get in the car and the sky just took my breath away. The air was cool and crisp and the sky was exceptionally bright blue. I grabbed my camera, took a pic and proceeded to just look around the yard for a minute. It seemed as if the cool temp and the rain we had last weekend just made everything look so pretty and happy!The blue sky was beautiful with the puffy white clouds. Wish I could have captured the entire sky with my camera!

Bougainvillea.....love the contrast between the hot pink and bright green

Morning glories lifting their faces to to sun.

Knockout Roses .. still blooming away. The bush is actually very large and full of beautiful roses. If you have not tried this variety of rosebushes, I really encourage you to do so next spring!! If they can tolerate the heat of this past Texas summer, they can tolerate anything!!

Think Pink!

2011-10-10T11:52:00.001-07:00

Recently, I purchased these wonderful shutters: pink on one side and white on the other. Ohhhh, the possibilities. I really don't have much pink in either one of the Bunnytrail booths, but I really wanted to show off the color. With it being Breast Cancer Awareness month, I decided to do a pink display to show my support. I put it all together on the back wall of my white booth and it came together quite nicely. I have been doing a lot of hoarding for the upcoming Hico show, so this nice little pop of color spiffed up things quite a bit.

Do you see the little bitty writing at the bottom of the sign above?? I decided to add a little personal touch and share that I am a 16 year , breast cancer survivor. Thank you Jesus for your grace and mercy to allow me to say that. I am sooo blessed.

Have a wonderful day and Think Pink!!!

Tweaking the Bedroom

2011-10-07T07:12:00.001-07:00

For quite some time, I have been looking for new bedding for our bedroom. I really wanted a graphic print on a duvet, but just couldn't seem to find it. Several months ago, I was in Anthropologie in Fort Worth and there it was. The only problem was I wasn't about to pay the "price" for the duvet. Oh well, I thought, I'll just keep looking. Ok, fast forward to about 3 weeks ago. Mark and I were in Fort Worth, again, and we stopped to look at Pottery Barn, etc. and I ran into Anthropologie to see what they had. We were about to leave, when I went to the Clearance Room and THERE IT WAS!!!!! ON SALE!!!!! YEAH!!!!!Love the penmanship!

A tiny hint of coral and green in random stamp images on the duvet.

I already had the shams and pillows...The bird pillow ties in with a painted piece of furniture I have directly across from the bed.

I made this to go above the bed....

All put together and I love it!! This isn't the greatest lighting for a pic...someday I will learn to use my camera!!

Getting Ready for Hico

2011-09-24T13:27:00.001-07:00

First of all , let me say this: This is my FOURTH time to do this post with all of these pictures!!!!! Somehow, everytime I would get ready to publish it, the post would be deleted. If it deletes this time, you may be reading about a woman who snapped and shot her computer. With all of that said, I now feel better. Ok, here we go...Yesterday, I rolled up my sleeves and attempted to tackle the mess and chaos in my garage...... meaning the stuff going to the Hico Antique Market on Oct. 28th and 29th. My friend Carol and I will be doing the show for the second time and it's a great show, indeed!! After about 4 hours, my mission was accomplished, and I had sorted, tweeked, repaired, etc. my goods. Even took a few pics of my favorite things. Trust me, this is the tip of the iceberg. Hope you enjoy!!!

Metal mailbox unit with numbered doors. Love it!

More galvanized metal and more cubbies in this unique piece.

Beautiful....old....amd large suitcase. It even has exterior travel stickers to tell of its journeys.

Original linen lining with pockets. It's hard for me to let this beauty go!

Old feather pillows, anyone???Cute little ice cream parlor chair....

And some touches of blue , too!

40 Year High School Reunion

2011-09-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

Mark and I just returned from our 40 Year High School Reunion in Kilgore, Texas. We graduated in 1971 in a classs of about 230. Mark moved to Kilgore in 5th grade and I lived there my entire life. Our class was special and the friendships went deep......and they still do. Starting at our 10 Year Reunion, we have had a Reunion every 5 years . We've attended all but one, and have loved them all. Our lovely Senior year pics

Jackie, Mark and Danny. Old football buddies from KHS days.

Loved seeing my BFF... Phyllis, who now lives in Longview. We were cheerleaders together our

senior year.

Here we were back in 1971....

and here we are 40 years later.(except for Sandy!) It was close to midnight when this picture was taken and we all look a little tired! What a great group of friends. Can't wait till I see you again!

7 Days in Utopia

2011-09-11T18:47:00.000-07:00

Sounds like I went on a vacation, huh? In case you haven't heard, it is the name of a movie that just came out. The movie buzz right now is all about "The Help" and I love that movie, too, BUT 7 Days in Utopia is right up there with it!! It takes place in a little town in south central Texas called Utopia and the disheartened golfer who stumbles upon it. Robert Duvall portrays a man full of wisdom who directs the golfer down a more meaningful path of life. At the end, they flash on the screen a website you can go to to learn the "rest of the story." You will be missing a real blessing if you do not visit the site. In this wild and crazy world, it is so refreshing to see such a wonderful movie. Go soon and let me know what you think!! Everyone needs 7 Days in Utopia!!

Meet Bella Grace!

2011-09-06T19:13:00.000-07:00

Just want all of you to meet my new great niece, Bella Grace. She was born last Thursday and came into this world at a whopping 10lbs.5oz. Her parents are my nephew, Brad, and his wife Amy! Congratulations on such a perfect and beautiful baby girl!!!!

While Amy and Bella were taking it easy at the hospital, I got to hang out with this cutie pie. Brooklyn is three and the official Big Sister. She got to stay with us for three, fun- filled days!

We had so much fun coloring, playing games, hiding eggs, watching movies, going to fun places like Chuck E. Cheese and oh yes, going to the hospital to visit Mommy and Baby Sister. Thank you Brooklyn for coming to visit me. I loved it!

The Drought is Over!

2011-09-04T20:44:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, I am not talking about the Texas drought, but my own personal blogging drought! I think the heat has really played havoc on us Texans and I know my creative juices just came to a standstill this summer! Whether it was blogging, crafting, painting,cooking,etc, I just didn't have much motivation to do any of it. Much to my delight, I feel like the juices are starting to flow again and I am very thankful to feel the renewed energy. God has been teaching me some wonderful lessons during this time and I praise Him for that. A friend of mine suggested my reading a book called "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. It is a woman's journey of finding the daily gifts that God so abundantly gives us and keeping record of them in a journal. How often we miss the reality of these gifts because of business and self absorption. Yes, I am on my way to listing 1000.....it will be interesting to see how long that takes, but it is so fun to be aware of God's blessings (in the simplest of ways) everyday. No, the Texas drought is not over and we are ferverently praying for rain, but the showers have started in myheart to end the drought in my soul.

Two Months......

2011-05-16T19:13:00.000-07:00

Two Months....no way!!! Actually, Yes Way! It has been two months since I last blogged. In fact, I have already been "bumped" from some of my "friends' " blogs since I have been so lax in blogging. So much has gone on in the past two months. A trip to Roundtop and a debut at the Hico Antique Market. Ok, blog friends, (that is, if I still have any) you MUST make plans to attend the Hico Market the last weekend in October. It was absolutely one of the most fun times EVER! The fabulous store, HOMESTEAD , put on the Market and as I said earlier, it is something you do not want to miss. Mary, Carol and I had a booth under one of the tents and I will try to post pics in the next day or two. We made new friends, learned a whole lot, sold a whole lot, and can't wait to go back!!!

One Treasure Left.....

2011-03-18T18:46:00.000-07:00

These cute little china plate, knob embellishments go with this darling dresser that I would love to sell. This is the only item of mine that did not find a home today (at my "Smallest Sale Ever")and I would love for you to have it for $85.00. Let me know if you are interested or know of someone who might like to have it!! Happy weekend!!

Smallest Sale Ever is Growing!!!!!!!!!!

2011-03-18T08:13:00.001-07:00

Pulling out stuff as I type!! Get over here or call me if you have any questions!! 793-2930 or 338-7248! Ready to deal!!

Smallest Sale Ever!!

2011-03-17T18:29:00.001-07:00

What do you do when you have three pieces of furniture that you don't want to move to your booth????? My answer is to have the "Smallest Sale Ever" and try to sell it cheap and move it fast! I will have it Friday at 8:00a.m. until ?. Didn't even think about blogging about it until my friend Carol suggested I do so ! (about 30 minutes ago) She even brought some chairs to add to my inventory! Y'all come!

Oh, and some chairs, too!! Those are compliments of Carol Casey!!

Where Does the Time Go?

2011-03-05T17:33:00.000-08:00

It has been a whole month since I posted on my blog. I can't even believe it. My last post was about my birthday party and the funny tags hanging on the wire tree as a centerpiece. Those tags represented the many different jobs I have had since my friends have known me. I'm sure all of you had that figured out, but I just wanted to explain that I really am a "bunnytrail" person at times. Not flighty, as some would think, but just one who enjoys doing many different things. My husband, on the other hand, has been with the same company for over thirty years and has done a mighty fine job in his profession. He loves to tease me about all of my ventures, but always supports me in what I do...sometimes he even gets a little excited about it!! ( let me emphasize SOMETIMES) Regardless, it makes for a nice balance in our marriage! Anyway, just wanted to let you know the scoop ! Have a great weekend! XOXO

About Bunnytrails....

2011-02-05T17:04:00.001-08:00

Last week at my birthday party, my sweet friend had all of these tags hanging on a wire tree in the middle of her table. Not only that, but there were darling bunny plates that we used for dinner. It didn't take me long to realize what was going on there. You see, my blog name "Bunnytrails" does have a story!! Many times my husband has asked, "What bunnytrail are you going down next?" Well, the reason for that question lies in the tags you see below. Can you guess why he asks me that?? Leave a comment if you think you know!! By the way, I will explain what they mean at a later date. I think it will make you laugh....It does my husband!!

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

2011-02-01T09:52:00.000-08:00

Only in Texas can you enjoy 75 degrees on Monday and wake up to 14 degrees and a winter wonderland on Tuesday!! I love how the snow made this pattern on our fence....
and the way it piled up on our chiminea.....

Don't think I would like to have lunch here, today!!

Frozen bath, anyone???
It's all so beautiful and if I get brave afterwhile, I just may go outside and take a few more pictures. Stay tuned!!!!

Best Birthday Ever!!!!!!!

2011-01-30T16:08:00.000-08:00

This birthday was truly a wonderful one!! Well, except for the fact that I turned 50.......something!! My big day, the 28th, started with some beautiful flowers ,a card, and hot coffee from Mark. Around noon I got to meet for lunch with my special friend Nichole. She and I have a special bond in that we have the same birthday!!!Nichole and I have done Beth Moore Bible Studies together at church for the past two years. She is so much fun and an awesome young woman!!!!!
Yummy! The restaurant gave us a banana pudding parfait "on the house." We loved it!

What does this little fella have to do with my birthday?? Well,about 10 days before, I saw him by the side of the road near a desolate field. I pulled over to try and get him to come to me but he ran like crazy.I came home, checked the paper, and sure enough there was an ad in the lost and found for a lost shih-tzu. I called the owner, we went back to the field and he still ran away. The next day the owner went back to the same spot and this little guy came out of the brush and ran to her. Come to find out, he had been lost for 6 days, without food and water, was in shock and had SURVIVED!!!!!!! After a week of TLC at home and a trip to the groomer, I went to his house to meet him. Isn't he adorable????

And here he is with his Texas Tech cap on his head. What a happy ending to what could have been a very sad one for his sweet family.

Now it's Saturday ,the day after my birthday. I had been to an Estate Sale and when I came home, look who was here to greet me!!!! Surprise!! Happy Birthday, Mom. I was speechless and sooooooooooooo excited!!! We hopped in the car and went to Harold's for BBQ!! I wish I had a picture of what transpired there, but I did not have my camera with me. The place was packed and Harold was singing the spiritual song, "Amen", and he had everyone sing backup. It was priceless!!! He is a wonderful, African American with an AMAZING voice. Later, he even sang Happy Birthday to me!!

Now it's evening and we, along with several other friends, went to Mary and David's house for dinner. David's birthday was two days before mine so we got to celebrate our birthdays together. Great food, sweet fellowship and lots of fun!!

Pretty candles on the table "set the mood"!!!

One more pic of the four of us at the Gregory's farm. Thanks so much, everyone, for making my birthday one of the best EVER!! Stephanie, we missed you bunches!!!

Twice Blessed!

2011-01-27T09:00:00.000-08:00

This past week has been very interesting, to say the least!! While at work last Tuesday, my checkbook, billfold, and coin purse were stolen out of my purse. Yes, my purse was hidden in the office with the door closed , yet that door was in sight of where I was at the counter. Anywhoooo, lots of other details involved but that's the jest of it The only picture ID I had left was my passport at home. Well, this week, Mark and I were eating at a nice restaurant and when it came time to pay our bill, the waiter said our ticket had been taken care of. As we looked around, Mark saw someone he knew from work and sure enough, this man had picked up our tab. The next day, I drove through Starbucks to get a Chai Latte (my fave) and the lady at the window told me the person two cars ahead of me had paid for my order and the car's order in front of me. What????? Ok, here is my point: None of these people knew about what had happened to me last week and all of the trouble and inconvenience we had gone through regarding that event. All I could think about was how sweet the Lord was to show me his love in little ways when I least expected it. I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that God is good ALL of the time, no matter what circumstances, but for some reason, I feel He blessed me in a very special way this week through those two situations. Thank you, Jesus, for such a sweet expression of your love and care! Praise you!

P is for Pansies!!

2011-01-24T12:03:00.000-08:00

I love my window boxes and I especially enjoy them when they are full of pansies in the winter and fall. They just make me smile. Last week we had a cold snap and the temperature got down into the teens. I forgot to water my flowers the night before and the next morning they were flat and frozen. It only took a little water and some sun and they perked up again! So my friend, what flowers make you smile??????????

A Few More Tweaks.....

2011-01-15T15:56:00.000-08:00

This past week I did a little more tweaking in Bunnytrails #2. I just did not like the display I had on this wall. I really needed some shelves of some sort and then I remembered an idea I had seen in December at the Dallas Flea. One of the vendors had painted some boxes white and clipped them together for a really cute look. Soooooooooo, Mark provided me with some great boxes and "Voila"!!!! I have a cute little shelving unit. I arranged them on top of a burlap covered table.It even looks cuter in person!!
I moved this display to the corner and I really like it. Oooops! Fuzzy picture!

This morning I hit a couple of Estate Sales and had so much fun. This metal unit was once used to hold vegetables. It has ventilation holes all over the back and little shelves on the inside door.

The top raises, too

And here it is with the door opened.

This beauty has a handwritten message on the back: name, address, and year. Dated 1914. I ended up keeping this and hanging it with other old mirrors in my bedroom.

Apology #2: Fuzzy picture, again . So sorry. Trying to get a pic of the pretty inside trim.

Great little shopping cart. Always a "hit" at Bunnytrails!

Vintage Bingo Game
The spinner in the middle is metal . So cute!

Sure hope all of these goodies sell.................Fast!

Spiffed Up for the New Year

2011-01-08T16:13:00.000-08:00

With the beginning of a New Year comes new inspiration and ideas for my booths at Classic Collections. They now have names: Bunnytrails #1 and Bunnytrails #2. Bunnytrails #1 is my white, industrial looking area, while B.#2 is more of a variety of colored items. I'm also starting to make different types of items out of burlap. My first project are the banners you will see below. My mind has gone crazy as to the many types of seasonal, holiday and personalized banners I could make. Anyway, read on and visit my afternoon at Bunnytrails!! When I walked in the door the Boss was ready to greet me! Oops, that's the Boss's dog, Sadie!
My banner in Bunnytrails #1

A peek inside the booth. This photo makes it look kind of messy, but in real life it really looks pretty cute! Think I need some lessons in photography!

I have a very large, wire tomato cage hanging from the ceiling and it is perfect to display my Valentine banners on.

XOXO

I got these at an estate sale a few weeks ago. So cute!

I made these tags and they are hanging from an old rusted wire lanpshade.

Cute wire shelf holding some little fan blade covers.

Bunnytrails #2 is full of color....

and more color! See the cute, pink metal ironing board? I think I had one just like it as a little girl!

From My Family to Yours.....

2011-01-01T18:08:00.000-08:00

May 2011 be a year of blessings for you and your family!

Happy Times!!

2010-12-27T14:18:00.000-08:00

This past month has been full of happy moments in our family. Thanksgiving, Stephanie's 30th birthday, Christmas and just being together has made this momma happy. (dad,too!) Below are some pics of our happy times together.....hope you enjoy! Celebrating Stephanie's 30th birthday with 30 gifts!
Josh and Emily's Christmas card with the newest member of their family - Abby

Abby and Lolly (that's me!)

Christmas Dinner

Steph and Abby

One happy little family!

The kids and dogs after opening Christmas gifts

Bear With Me!....

2010-12-26T17:24:00.000-08:00

Trying to revamp my blog and looks like I am messing up more than I am designing!! Kind of rusty since I have not blogged in a while!! Just be patient....Thanks!!

A Must to See!

2010-08-25T13:15:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Mark and I stumbled onto one of the most incredible movies we have ever seen: "Temple Grandin". It was a movie made for HBO and we found it at BLOCKBUSTER. It's the true story of a woman who is autistic.I have a little bit of knowledge regarding autism, but seeing this movie opened my eyes in a whole new way. I truly believe everyone (especially teachers) needs to see this movie in order to peek inside the brain of an autistic person. Unbelieveably fascinating. Temple is played by Claire Danes and she does an outstanding job of capturing Temple's personality and autistic behavior. Rent it today and be blessed!

Today's Treasure!

2010-08-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

My good friend, Carol Casey, and her daughter-in-law,Krissy, and I went to garage sales this morning from 7:30 to noon. We had a blast and found some great "treasures". I was going to take a picture of the inside of her car after our shopping, but was a bit embarrassed to let the world know much we had stuffed into her vehicle. Trust me, not another thing could have fit!! My favorite find was these old, metal chairs. I just kept thinking they looked like crayolas with their bright primary colors. I also found a turquoise pair of Justin boots (for me) but they will have to be sold in my booth because my instep was too high to fit in them. They are a size 7 1/2 B. My next most loved item was a large wooden piece full of cubby holes. Needs a little "shoring up" in the back and then to my booth it will go!! Carol had some great finds, too, and you can see them at her booth at Palazzo Reale on Butternut. Just look for the cutest booth and that's hers!! I am still at Classic Collections and have 2 booths. One is full of color and the other one is basically white and cream. Come on over for a peak!! Have a great weekend!!

My New Motto!

2010-08-19T16:28:00.001-07:00

If you have kids and have ever eaten outside with them at McDonalds or any other burger place, you have a visual of what this sign is about. When I saw this cute, painted sign at It's About Time, I had to have it! It now hangs in a prime spot in my kitchen for all to enjoy! Hope you like it, too!!!!

So Refreshing!!

2010-08-16T19:31:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to take a minute and share one of our favorite summertime drinks. Maybe you have heard of it....an Arnold Palmer! Guess it was one of his favorite drinks,too!! All you need is lemonade and tea. We love the Arizona Rx Herbal Iced Tea....no caffeine,too.

Poor about a third of the lemonade in the glass..

and fill to the top with the tea. Stir a little bit and enjoy! It really is a refreshing drink and everyone seems to love it. Let me know if you like it!!

Seaside: Part 2

2010-08-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

Our last few days were full of more time on the beach,meeting new friends, reconnecting with old friends, riding our cruiser bikes .and just hanging out. One of our favorite places to eat and walk around is Rosemary Beach. (about 6 miles from Seaside) Below you will see some pics I took when we drove over there for lunch.We had the treat of hooking up with longtime friends, Steve and Carol Boykin, and their son, Brad, and his little boy, Jack. Josh and Steve played golf one morning and then we had lunch at the wharf. It was one of the highlights of our trip. We love you guys!!!

Afternoon shower is coming

Driving into Rosemary Beach

The quaint shops at Rosemary Beach

Home owned by the Hilton family (as in Paris Hilton)

Another beautiful home near Rosemary.

View from condo balcony

Getting ready to go out to eat on our last night of vacation. Yep, I know, I have a little bit too much sun, don't I??

Emily and Josh

Until next year...."May you always have a shell in your pocket and sand in your shoes!"

Seaside, Florida

2010-08-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

We just returned from a week of vacation at Seaside, Florida and it was just great!! We are definitely having withdrawal pains on our first day back home.The only downside was that Stephanie was not able to join us as planned!! We missed you Steph. Unlike our airplane fiasco last year, everything went very smoothly and we arrived right on time. Below are pics of the first half of the week and some of the things that we did. Mostly, we just layed on the beach, ate lots of good food and played games or rode our bikes into Seaside at night. Hope you enjoy these pics (excuse the fuzzy ones - my lens kept fogging up). I will write about the second half of our week on my next post. On the way to the airport

Our little neighbors that greeted us when we got to our condo!

Yipppeeee!! What we have been waiting for!!

Mark arranged to have these chairs set up for us everyday while we were there!! Priceless!

Walking to Church on Sunday

The Seaside Interfaith Chapel

Words can't describe the beauty, yet simplicity of the inside of the building. When we walked inside, little children (vacationers) were handing out bulletins. The front of the bulletin read, "Our purpose and mission is to provide an environment for a meaningful, spiritual encounter with our Heavenly Father, sing a few songs and go to the beach!" Isn't that great???

During Praise and Worship, this darling little girl went to the front and just stood like a little statue next to the leader during all of the songs. It was priceless and reminded us of Jesus' words to "become like little children".

Kayaking in the Gulf

Hunting for seashells

The fruits of our labor!

Eating great food at one of our favorite places on Highway 30-A...Wild Olives

Seeing the beauty of the clouds.

Playing in the water!

P.S.

2010-07-30T19:08:00.000-07:00

Before I leave on vacation, I must tell y'all to please click on the button to the right that says "High Cotton Art Camp". Some of my most creative friends in the whole wide world are heading this up and it is going to be SPECTACULAR!!! (no, they did not pay me to say this!) It will be right here in Abilene and you can find out all the details when you click on the cute button. Let me know what ya think! I'm planning on being there..how about you?????

I Win!!!

2010-07-30T15:54:00.000-07:00

I Win for being the greatest "slacker" in blogworld this summer!! I have had so much to share yet somehow it has not gotten from my brain to the computer keys. As I speak, we are getting packed and ready to leave for Seaside, Florida in the morning with Josh and Emily. Much to our dismay, Stephanie had to cancel going with us due to her heavy workload at her job. It just won't be the same without her, but I guess things like that just have to happen sometimes. She will be greatly missed!! We are so looking forward to the white sand, the sound of waves, and a good book. I PROMISE I will have lots to share when I return and I will start posting again!! If the volume is not turned up on your computer, turn it up now and listen to what is awaiting us. Wish you could go along, too! Love and hugs till I return!

It's That Time of Year....

2010-05-25T19:40:00.000-07:00

when I need to do some SPRING cleaning in my booth, so
I am having a BIG sale!! Yep, everything in the booth is a whopping 20% off thru Labor Day!
Lots of goodies from which to choose

a gift or treasure...just for you! Furniture, shabby treasures and more...

will be waiting for you when you walk thru the door!!!!
Happy Shopping!!
By the way, a BIG announcement is coming soon.........
Stay tuned to my blog and you will see
Just exactly what it may be!!!!!

Sugar and Spice...

2010-05-23T19:22:00.000-07:00

and everything nice!!! That's what my new little friend is all about. Meet Carter, my friend Roxanne's precious granddaughter. What a sweetheart!! I had so much fun getting to visit with her while she was in town staying with her "Roxie". She came to our paint class and was so cute painting and entertaining herself while Roxanne taught our class. The day she and Roxanne were leaving to go out of town, I dropped by to tell her goodbye and got to take a few pics of her with Roxanne's dogs. Isn't she darling? I can't wait till she comes back to Abilene!! Look at that smile!!
So cute!

My favorite!

Relics

2010-05-21T12:53:00.001-07:00

This past week I visited Relics to check out a headboard and nightstand for Josh and Emily. It had been awhile since I had been in the store and WOW, was I ever in for a treat when I entered the doors. I have always loved Relics but they are definitely taking a "turn" in their decorating style. There were a few moments I felt like I was visiting "Anthropologie", a fabulous clothing and home decor store and my personal all time favorite. After looking around, I decided I would come back with my camera in order to get some good pics for Josh and Emily, as well as share with you. So, here they are!!

Heavy, pine headboards they will paint and distress to suit your taste. Lots of colors to choose from and the finishes are wonderful!

Nightstand

Cute red sofa

Rugs,rugs,rugs!! Lots of styles and patterns to select from!!

Painted chest..... Love it!

So pretty!! The pic does not do it justice!

They even carry a fabulous line of bedding, pillows, etc. The best part is that the prices are very reasonable!

Trust me, do yourself a favor and visit Relics when you have chance. Ask for Abby...She was so helpful and full of creative energy. I can't wait to go back!

Missing in Action!

2010-05-18T19:07:00.000-07:00

Yep, I guess you could say I have been missing in action for the past three months. I can't believe it has been that long......even more amazing than that, I can't believe that I actually had a few people miss my blog. Thank you, friends. Well, I guess my last post mentioned that we were going to Maui.....and that we did. It was beautiful and a great trip. Not only did Mark win that trip, but he won another one that took us to Puerta Villarta, Mexico. Sandwiched in between the two trips was out-of-town company, Easter. and a wedding shower at my house. We left for Mexico on April 15th and returned home VERY SICK on April 19th. I won't gross you out with the details, but it definitely took a toll on both of us, as well as several of our friends who were on the trip. Things are now back to normal and life is clicking right along! I thought I would post some pics documenting all of the events, but now I just think I will leave things as is and not try to go back through pictures, etc. I will just begin anew with today and promise to keep blogging!Happy to be back !!!!!

Woweee!!!!!!!! We're Going to Maui!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-01T11:01:00.000-08:00

No pics, just facts! Mark found out a few weeks ago that we had won a trip to Maui based on his Agency's performance for last year!! I am very proud of him for his hard work , year after year after year. Because of this, we have been blessed to go many places we otherwise would not have been able to go. Way to go, honey!! (am I using the word "Go" alot??? sorry!) Anyway,we are leaving day after tomorrow and will be gone a week. Needless to say, I have been scurrying around trying to get things in order for us to leave, as well as trying to get packed. In the meantime, I came down with an awful bladder infection and everything came to a screeching halt this weekend. I am up and "semifunctioning "today and would really appreciate your prayers. This is a hard earned trip and honor for Mark and I do not want to spoil it in any way. Prayer warriors unite!! I will blog about our trip when I return next week. For now...ALOHA!

Serendipity!

2010-01-26T15:01:00.000-08:00

Ser.en.dip.i.ty - noun: the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for

Well, I had a "serendipity moment " last Friday and I just wanted to share it with my blog buddies. First of all, I am a little embarrassed to tell the story because I just do not run out and buy large pieces of furniture on a whim. But then again, it wasn't a whim...I wasn't even looking..I just ran into Stokes Antiques( http://stokeschicantiques.blogspot.com/) to say "hi" to the the sweet owner, Dalia. As I was looking around in her wonderful shop, I walked in the back room and saw a most amazing piece. A darling distressed hutch with tons of storage. As I measured and pondered, I realized it would provide me with some much needed storage (for dishes) if it would fit in my dining room. I have always wanted a hutch but was never able to find one that would work. What made this one so different was that it was only 22 inches deep on the lower part and the top half was app. 13 inches deep, so it did not seem so bulky. It is a little over 7 feet long and 7 feet tall! Dalia was sweet enough to drop by my house, measure and "make a plan " to bring it over after work to see if it would fit. Is that service or what??? However, we both knew it would be close, but would be fabulous if it worked. After her shop closed, she and her sweet children brought it over and they (along with Mark) unloaded and brought it in the house. Needless to say, it's wonderful and I am so thrilled. Mark bought it for me for my birthday and I can say I have never had a better present. I can now store my mom's, grandmother's, and Christmas dishes (along with other stuff) in a place where I can readily get to them.

The above picture shows what it looks like from my kitchen.
This is the view from the main entrance to my dining room.

So there you have it...my "serendipity moment". A treasure not sought after, but unexpectantly found. One I will use and enjoy for years to come. Thanks Dalia for your wonderful customer service and your willingness to bring this to my home that very evening! And...THANK YOU Mark for such a wonderful birthday present!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Completion!!!

2010-01-07T12:51:00.000-08:00

For as long as I can remember, my mother used these Pyrex mixing bowls when she cooked. After my mom passed away in the 90's, these bowls were shoved way back in the cabinet and I did not see them for years. After my dad died a couple of years ago, I once again discovered these bowls when we were cleaning out his house. I brought them home and have loved using them. However, there were originally four in the set and I really wanted to find the missing bowl. Right after Christmas I went on an ebay quest to find the missing green one and sure enough , I found it. It came in the mail today and I was so excited!!
My mom's set is now complete and I love how they look together. These bowls are so great to use and they will continue to spark memories of my mom in the years to come!!

Out With the Old...

2010-01-05T08:18:00.000-08:00

In with the new!!!! To tell you the truth, I don't even want any "new"!!! If you have not figured out what I am talking about, I am on a ruthless cleaning spree in my house!! Stuff, clothes, shoes...you name..it is leaving here to go and bless someone else! I often feel this way after Christmas when it's time to pack up the decorations and clean up the house after a long, holiday of celebrating and decorating!! Yesterday I worked in our COLD garage...sorting, packing, loading in the car, and throwing away STUFF!!! I kept thinking to myself, "Self, Rome was not built in a day...and this garage isn't going to get whipped into shape this afternoon". Ok, I feel better!!! I'll tackle the garage again and maybe finish it in a couple of days. Do you ever feel this way or is it my OCD surfacing???? On a different note, I took Mark to the Airport at 5:00am this morning to go to a Xerox Kick Off Meeting in Orlando. Yes, I said 5:00am and I was quite proud of myself. Even drove thru McDonalds on the way home and got coffee. Never knew there were people out and about that time of the "night". Anyway, happened to look in Mark's closet when I got home and now I think it needs a little TLC. NO, it needs a LOT of TLC. So.........here I go. Hope he has some clothes and shoes left when he gets home!!! Have a great day and a blessed 2010

Christmas 2009 - Part 2

2010-01-03T14:09:00.000-08:00

After a wonderful Christmas day, the next day was a bit different. Poor Stephanie came down with the Odessa stomach virus...not a pretty sight. Bless her heart, she was in bed for about 24 hours and then began to perk up. Unfortunately, we never got a Christmas picture with all five of us, as planned. We had reservations at Perini's for Sunday lunch and Mark, Josh, Emily and I went ahead and indulged. Stephanie was greatly missed but she was finally resting comfortably at home. By Monday morning, she was good as new and ready to fly back to Denver. If you can believe it, Mark, Josh and I never became ill. Thank you Lord!!After lunch at Perini's
Josh and Emily

Mark and Steph before she boarded the plane in Abilene.

Christmas Day 2009

2009-12-27T17:36:00.000-08:00

The last two days have been quite interesting , to say the least. As I mentioned in my earlier post, Steph was stranded in Denver and Emily had the stomach virus at her in-laws house in Odessa. Well, after spending app. 18 hours over a two day period at the Denver Airport, Steph finally made it to Midland Christmas Eve. She spent the night at the Barne's home and they drove into Abilene around 1:00 pm Christmas day. We were ever so anxious for them to arrive....The table was set....

the stockings were full...

and Lucy was ready to see her sissies!!!!

Yeah they're here!!!

After a yummy lunch, we went to the movie to see "The Blind Side". What a great movie!! We then came home and opened Christmas presents....

and opened more presents!!! It was a great day, to say the least. However, tomorrow will be a different story!! Stay tuned for Part 2.

Who Woulda Thunk??????

2009-12-24T07:29:00.000-08:00

Well, this is what we woke up to this morning!! Looks like it's going to be a White Christmas in Abilene. What makes it so crazy is that yesterday it was like a beautiful spring day...70 degrees and really nice. Today, Winter Storm Warning and more snow. Just as crazy as the weather, is the "craziness" that is going on with our family. Will post more on that later, but basically no one is here but Mark and me. Steph is stuck in Denver and may or may not get here. EMily and Josh are in Odessa with a stomach virus rumbling thru his family and Emily is the latest victim. Hopefully Josh won't get it. So for now, we are waiting and praying for the best. And for you, my friends, may you have a blessed White Christmas with your family!! Hugs and Kisses from me on this snowy Christmas Eve!

Christmas Favorites

2009-12-15T12:58:00.001-08:00

I can hardly believe that Christmas is almost here and I have not posted since before Thanksgiving. Sorry about that, but as I have checked other blogs, it seems as if I am not the only one in a "blogging slump". With so much to do and time racing by, blogging has taken a back seat for a while!! However, the other night while I was turning out lights to go to bed, I just had to pick up my camera and take a few pics of the "magic and memories" that Christmas brings in our home. Above is our tree...no theme or frills..just full of ornaments from friends and family. I hope you enjoy this post, and most of all, I hope you enjoy this special time of year when we stop to focus on and celebrate the birth of our Saviour.
Stephanie's first ornament..1980

Gift from a friend

Glittered cross ornament made by one of my girls...Emily, I think.

Stephanie at age 5

Emily just waking up from a nap at Mother's Day Out when they snapped this pic.

The Santa face is painted on a leaf from the magnolia tree that was in Mark's parents' yard in Kilgore, Texas. His sister gathered some leaves before Mark's mom moved and had a woman paint Santa's face on them. Isn't it darling??

I love glittered pinecones.

Little vintage house by a local artist. So Sweet!

I picked these up at an estate sale and I take very special care of them...They make me smile! Well, I guess that is all for now!! Again, enjoy this time of year and may your holiday be blessed as you spend time with family and friends and experience the magic of Christmas!!!

Hook'em Horns!

2009-11-25T09:17:00.001-08:00

Weekend before last, Mark and I took a little trip to Waco to meet up with Josh and Emily and go to the Texas vs. Baylor game. We went to Temple the night before to visit and spend the night with Eunice, Mark's mom. Mark and his mom before we left to go to the game.
Here we all are...excited and ready to see the Longhorns play!

A sea of orange!!

Josh and Emily with the players (behind them) warming up before the game. Game time was 11:00, but we got there at 9:00 so we could see the guys warm up....

Especially this guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are BIG COlt McCoy fans and it was so much fun watching him play and being so close to the field. We were only 6 rows up!

What a cutie!

After the big WIN, we went out to eat with Mark's mom, sister, nephew and wife , and their precious children, Elijah and Sadie. Here is Emily holding her 2nd cousins, Elijah and Sadie. I would have had more pics of the fam to post , but after about 20 pictures of Colt McCoy, my battery died!!! Anyway, it was a great day for Texas football at its best!!!!!!

Pumpkin Delight!

2009-11-07T14:15:00.000-08:00

This is a dessert that many of you have asked me to post on my blog. It is a great alternative to pumpkin pie and serves a lot more people than a regular pie. No crust and so easy. A real treat to have at Thanksgiving or any fall event! So, here we go!!!!

Pumpkin Delight!

1-16 oz. can of pure pumpkin
1-12 oz. can of evaporated milk
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. salt

Using mixer, mix together all of the above ingredients and pour into a 9x13 ungreased, pyrex dish OR fill baking cups 2/3 full. Top with:

2 cups yellow cake mix (not the kind with pudding) sifted evenly over the pumpkin mixture.
1 stick butter, melted and drizzled over cake mix
1 cup of chopped pecan pieces sprinkled on top

Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes, until slightly firm. Chill overnight,serve cold and top with whipped topping.

My First Shiner!!

2009-10-31T13:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I got up feeling great, excited about the day, baked a cake before 10:00a.m. and started cleaning the house!! I was even enjoying that mundane task until the candlestick and I had a little altercation. As I was dusting our mantel, somehow my left hand bumped the candlestick and the next thing I knew I was "seeing stars"!!! Within two minutes, I had a goose egg on my left eyebrow. I stopped and put ice on it for a little bit, but got back to cleaning, took a shower,etc. As the day went on, the discoloration got worse and I wasn't feeling so hot myself. This morning I made a quick trip to the Walk-In Clinic, had an x-ray to make sure there was no fracture, and was sent home to take it easy. Last week, colonoscopy, this week...candlestick. Wonder what's in store for next week...Swine Flu????? Sure hope not! Have a safe and fun Halloween from one scarey looking woman...ME!

It's One of Those Days!!

2009-10-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

Yep! It's one of those days when I love to be at home! It's raining outside and the air is cool....
The water is splashing and dancing on the patio outside the kitchen...

As I look out my kitchen window, I'm dreaming of homemade vegetable soup, muffins, hot coffee, and cookies! Mmmmmmmmm!!!
BUT....

That dream is shattered as I look at what is waiting for me today, tomorrow and Friday morning!! I would rather have a root canal than to prepare for this event. For those of you under 50 who have not had the privilege yet, it is called a COLONOSCOPY. So, my friends, here is my diet until noon on Friday!! DO you feel my pain????? Please, I need some sympathy!! Do I hear an Amen????

But I will try to handle this like an adult, drink my broth and Rejoice in spite of it all!!

Feelings of Fall!

2009-10-14T15:33:00.001-07:00

Fall always conjures up many feelings in me. Most of them are good, but some are a bit melancholy. I really miss my girls in the fall because of so many great memories of football games, volleyball travels, pep rallies, trick or treating when they were little, etc., etc.! However, I do love the season and the beautiful scenery it brings.I love looking out my front door as I sit in my living room and seeing the pumpkins and other fall things I have on my front porch.
On the other side, I love walking up to my front door because, well, it just looks so "fallish" !!!

A bale of hay, sweet potato vine and pumpkins greet me.

Pretty fall wreaths!

Now that's a PUMPKIN!!!

I love this!

A wall pocket with fall foliage and of course, a stone bird. I do have a bird fettish!

Not too fallish, but the rains have really made my coleus flourish.

The butterflies have arrived and my sweet little neighbor is trying to get them to fly so I can get some pics.

Well, we had to settle for a still shot. Aren't they pretty???

Yep, fall is a beautiful time of year and I love it, even tho I miss my girls a bunch!!! What do you like about fall??? Let me know!!

Quaint Marketplace

2009-10-12T18:13:00.000-07:00

The Second Annual Quaint Marketplace.....and that, my friends, explains where I have been and what I have been doing for the past several weeks. Getting "my stuff" ready for this event was hard on this old girl, but in the end, it was great fun! Several of my friends who follow my blog emailed me to see if I was OK, since I had not blogged for several weeks. Thanks for checking on me, pals. Ahhh, to feel loved and missed!!! OK, back to the Marketplace. At the last minute, we had to move our location from Jana's beautiful backyard to a more protected area. (due to rain) Homer and Rhonda Hillis graciously let us use the warehouse at their store, Hannah Jane. We went from a lush, garden setting to warehouse funky. It was a great day and fun was had by all. The pics below tell the story of the day. I don't think my camera was on the correct setting, but at least you can get a glimpse into what it was all about! Also, I APOLOGIZE profusely to those whose booths I did not get photographed. Molly, I KNOW I took pics of your fabulous pillows but where in the world did my camera put them??? So many other fun vendors,but for the moment, this is all I have to show. Enjoy!Welcome!!!!
Even a place to leave your stuff!

Yummy food and drinks.

Distinguished guests....Kind of scarey,huh??

Nancy's fabulous birdcage! Yes, I am still mad that I didn't know it was FOR SALE and it slipped out the door!

My vintage Bingo Cards turned into fun greeting cards.

Clipboards become wall art with vintage bird prints.

Brandy's wonderful works of art. So talented!

My new friend from Pearland brings her sweet frames,etc. to add to our Market.

More of Nancy's "Good Stuff".

Mary's handpainted magnets. These went like hotcakes.

Sweet little dresses from antique pillowcases. My picture does not do them justice.

Jana's precious burp cloths

Pam's creations. So fun!

"I love this, don't you??

"Chick Magnets"

Ornaments from the past.

Jackpot!!!

2009-08-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I went to an Estate Sale that sounded pretty good! As you "fellow junkers" know, sometimes these sales are good, sometimes they are not- so- good, and then sometimes you just hit the jackpot! Well, this was a jackpot sort of sale. I have never seen so many vintage items in my life. Due to "low funds" in my junkin account, I had to buy only what I really loved and thought would work in my booth. Below are some of my treasures!

Dozens of vintage ornaments!

Dozens of vintage spool bobbins!

Old Christmas stocking! OOPS! I downloaded it twice. Sorry about that!

So cute!

Old clocks

Wood -pulp birds!

Great blue suitcases and hat box

Pink and oh so cute!
Oh my, I forgot to take a pic of the darling, kidney -shaped vanity and matching stool. I am in the process of painting and distressing it before I take it to my booth. Come by and check out the goodies at Classic Collections on Butternut. Bye for now!!

There's No Place Like Home, But....

2009-08-10T14:51:00.000-07:00

my heart is in Seaside, Florida! Yep, that's where we went on our secret vacation with our kids. It was a great time, but a bit like the movie "The Out-of-Towners". If you have not seen that movie, you need to rent it and find out what I am talking about. From a cancelled flight from DFW, being put on standby and several hours later being told only 3 could fly out that night, spending the night in Dallas with just the clothes you have on, no makeup. etc., being told countless times our luggage was lost , everyone getting sick except Josh,...need I say more??? Regardless, the scenery was beautiful, the company was great, and we have lots of memories in our hearts as well as in pictures. It was hard to know which pics to post, so here are a few that I really love. At the airport and EXCITED to leave!
Found luggage and golf bag in Ft Walton Beach, Florida!

Welcome to Seaside

Our little house on the beach....Beach Baby!

View from our screened-in back porch. Every morning a beach rental service had our five chairs and unbrellas waiting for us on the beach. Thanks, Mark, for having that done for us. It was GREAT!

Stephanie

Josh

Emily

I can hear the waves now!

An afternoon storm rolling in!

Getting closer!

Fun in the water!

Josh hitting golf balls on the beach in the evening.

Fun transportation to ride around town.

The Best Hint Yet!!

2009-07-23T20:44:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, we are taking the kids on a surprise vacation in about a week. We have given them various hints, but have yet to tell them of our destination. I came across some pics that just may be "prophetic" as to what awaits them on this trip! To get the full effect, make sure you have the volume turned up on your computer.The first one is a great family picture of us having a swell time. As you can see, Mark and I are lounging in the background! Next,, Mark and I are showing off our tan and trim bodies in our new swimsuits!!

Last, we have a group pic of all of the new friends we are going to make on this trip!!

If you are a friend of mine and you know where we are going (I have only told ALL of Abilene) please do not mention it if you should leave a comment on this blog. The kids will find out on their way to the airport next Saturday and I don't want anyone to slip and spoil the surprise. Oh how fun this has been and how fun it will be!!

One Cute Golfer!!

2009-07-23T19:31:00.000-07:00

Last week we had the PRIVILEGE to house a golfer during a tournament at the Fairway Oaks Golf Course. Little did we know that we would end up feeling like we had adopted a daughter. We just fell in love with Courtney and bonded immediately. As you can tell, she and Lucy became great friends,too. We look forward to staying in touch with her and are keeping our fingers crossed that she might even end up in Abilene for college. Thank you,Courtney, for blessing our lives and being such a fun guest! I teased her about her "golf tan" that you can readily see in the second picture!! So cute! We love and miss you!!!

Our Favorite Person in Denver.....

2009-07-19T19:13:00.000-07:00

is our daughter Stephanie!!! Stephanie has lived in Denver for the past 5 years and works for Noble Energy. She loves her job and loves her city. We would sure love for her to come back to Texas, but for now, she is a Colorado gal. I took pics of her apartment building , the grounds and her little basement apartment. So quaint and pretty with really great landlords. Her windows in her apartment are right below the ceiling and they look out upon the little secret garden you see towards the bottom of my post. I was curious how basement living would be, but she loves it and the view of the garden is really neat.Wonderful old building that her landlords renovated and turned into several apartments.

The side yard and garden that Steph can see from her ground level windows.

She and Mark standing by her little cubby where she has her computer.etc.

View as you walk into her apartment. Those are the ground level windows that look out into the garden.

Thanks Steph for being such a great host and tour guide for your mom and dad. We had a blast and can't wait to come back!! Love you bunches!!!!!!

The Pink Attic Cat.....

2009-07-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

my new favorite store in..........................Littleton, Colorado! I walked in and my heart started racing! So much to look at and they (the owners) even encouraged me to take pictures for any ideas I might want to remember. Imagine that! I love the display inside the empty TV below. These are the rusty springs from an old bed that they have propped up with a ton of small packaged items clipped to the springs. There is a sign strung across the top that says, "Clutters Last Stand". So cute!

Varied objects are combined to spell "Home". Now why didn't I think of that????

More clutter!

What I saw as I walked through the door the first time.............Love it!!!

My New Favorite Town...

2009-07-14T15:59:00.001-07:00

Littleton, Colorado! The second day we were in Denver, we followed "Bimbo" to Littleton to check out the downtown area. As you turn down the street towards downtown, the little shops and pretty flowers take your breath away. We ate lunch and then roamed around for part of the afternoon. Lola's Sugar Rush was a candy store like no other!! Weight Watchers went out the window when I walked in the door !!!!!!!!

Cherry Creek Art Festival

2009-07-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

Another event that was going on while in Denver was the Cherry Creek Art Festival. It is on the streets of the Cherry Creeek area among restaurants and wonderful little stores. Many well known artists come from all over the country to display their art in white tents along several blocks of the area. We stayed at the Inn at Cherry Creek and literally walked out our door into the festival. Most of the art is pretty high dollar so I did not buy anything at this event, BUT I got to meet one of my FAVORITE collage artists, Lynn Whippple. I have seen her work in magazines and online and just love her quirky stuff. When I went back to her booth to take a pic of us together , she had left for the day to go to a wedding. Darn!! But her sweet husband said I could take a few pics of her booth. The next three pictures are of her work. I don't think the two bird pics are hers ...I think they were another artist. Anywho,if you would like to see more of her work, just google her and there will be lots of sites to visit.

Paris Street Market.....Littleton, Colorado

2009-07-08T15:15:00.000-07:00

Well, the day finally arrived to go to the Paris Street Market and what a fun day it was!! If you are ever in Littleton on the first weekend of the month during the spring through the fall, you must visit this open air market!! Shabby chic heaven!! We had to make a quick stop at Dazbog to get some coffee before we headed to Littleton for the Paris Street Market.

Jewelry, jewelry and more jewelry!

I loved these cute little clipboards! Just think I might make some to sell!

Mark was a great sport while Steph and I looked around for almost 3 hours. I bought this little cart for $7.00 and it really came in handy to transport our goodies.

Even the doggies were cared for !

Flower pots in the old springs of a bed. Too cute! If you want to somewhat duplicate this look in your garden, drop by my booth at Classic Collections and see the old spring mattress I have on the wall! It's for sale, too!

These gals loved whatever they were looking at!

Eye Candy

Anyone from Abilene know the gal in the red shirt??? She and her husband drove up to check out the market and do some "junkin". It was so fun to meet up with her there. As you can see below, she bought some kind of a BIG funeral flower basket to adorn her yard. Drive by her house on Sayles and you might just see it!

On A More Somber Note..

2009-07-07T17:13:00.000-07:00

We visited Columbine High School while in Littleton one day. We had been told of the Memorial which had been erected back of the school in memory of the students who died in the Columbine shooting. They built the memorial inside of a hill behind the school. Words can't describe how we felt as we read about each student (and faculty member) from the stones that had been inscribed with messages from their families. It was a very solemn moment that we will never forget.

Off to Denver!!

2009-06-29T15:14:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let you know we are going to escape this Texas heat and go see our daughter,Stephanie, in Denver, Colorado, for the Fourth of July!! Yipppeee! She has lots of fun things planned for us and we are very excited. I am REALLY excited to get to go back to the Paris Street Market in Littleton. It is a feast for the eyes for us 'junkin' girls." I even have a friend from Abilene who is doing a little road trip with her husband to come check out the event. The market is the first Saturday of every month from the spring through the fall. It is a sea of white tents, great stuff and even good prices. I will take lots of pictures so I can blog about it when I return. In the meantime, just do a Google search for Paris Street Market, Littleton,Colorado and you can check out the fun. We are also going to go to the the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver (another great event)and then top off the weekend with July 4th fireworks at Mile High Stadium. See you when I get back and may you have a safe and happy Fourth of July!!! Jo Carol

It All Started When I Went to Lowes...

2009-06-21T19:40:00.000-07:00

..to get something. Now, I can't even remember what it was. Maybe zinnia seeds, who knows. Anyway, I got distracted and decided it was time to buy mulch to spread in my perennial garden. Oh yeah, a few more plants would do ,too. So, ten bags of mulch and half a dozen plants later, I go home. Now, the fun part! I unload the ten bags of mulch and lug them to the back yard while talking to my friend Suzanne on the phone. As I look at the flower bed, I realize it really needed to be weeded before I started spreading the mulch. By the way, it's HOT, so I decided a couple of fruit popscicles would get me going. I start the weeding processs and fill up a little cart with the fruits of my labor. Now to spread the mulch. Ooops, now I need water. Remember, it's HOT!! After quite a while of opening bags, spreading mulch, opening bags and spreading mulch, I finally get it done. Now, I am not only hot, but DIRTY!!!!!!!! I proceed to start digging holes for my new flowers and about that time Mark gets home from work. I told him this was part of his Father's Day present, not because he loves flower gardens, but because I would not be "sweetly reminding him" to PLEASE help me weed the garden and spread the mulch. Now it was all done and if I say so myself, it looks pretty darn good and Mark loved it!! The best part is I came in to clean up and happened to weigh myself and I had dropped 2lbs. since that morning!! Yeah!

I Know It's June.....

2009-06-18T19:30:00.000-07:00

but let me tell you about May! May was an extremely busy month for me in a lot of different areas. Weddings, showers, work, moving our booth, bridal luncheon at my home,etc. Two of the weddings (We had 4 in one week!) were extra special to our family. Below is a picture of Emily with Stacy Upton on her wedding day. Stacy and Emily met in middle school at ACHS and played volleyball together for 6 years. We became great friends with her parents and developed such special memories with them throughout those years. In fact, Stacy's dad married Josh and Emily a year ago May. We love her like a daughter and pray God's richest blessings over her and her sweet husband Garrett. Stacy's wedding was at 2:00 p.m on May 23 and Emily was her matron of honor. I mention this because at 6:00 p.m. that evening, Emily was an honor attendent in another wedding.......and it was in Weatherford. Read on!!

The next wedding we went to was Meredith Carter and Chris Lancaster's event in Weatherford at the Texas Star Ranch.(about 2 1/2 hours from Abilene) We left Stacy's wedding by 3:00 and watched Emily run from the car to the Lodge to change into her dress for Meredith's ceremony. It was a beautiful outdoor wedding and a lot of fun. The dog you see below is the groom's cake which was a BIG surprise to the groom. It is a replica of his beloved dog and was quite tasty,too. I had a piece of his paw!! The next pics are of Josh,Emily,Meredith and Chris during the reception.We have known Meredith since birth and dearly love her and her family . We look forward to making lots of future memories with these sweet couples!!

So we made it to both of these special events and had a wonderful time. We spent the night in Weatherford with Josh and Emily and got up the next morning to celebrate Emily's 23rd birthday. It was definitely a weekend (and a month) to remember!!

We've Moved!!

2009-06-06T17:38:00.000-07:00

Well, we did it! We moved...again! No not my husband and me, but Mary, Cheryl and I moved our antique and art booth to Classic Collections on Butternut. Not only did we move, but after being there for less than a week, we expanded! Aren't we optimistic!!! Seriously, stop by and visit our new location and see all of the fun stuff! We are the chocolate brown space in the back corner. Here are some pictures to show you what we've been up to!!

Wow!

2009-05-08T19:55:00.000-07:00

Words can hardly describe what we saw on our walk this evening. This is the backside of a severe storm that was southeast of Abilene. Sure glad I grabbed my camera on the way out the door. How would you describe these pictures in one word??? Let me know!!

On the Road Again.....

2009-04-25T17:04:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I decided to take a little drive down to Rising Star to Hardwick's Nursery to get flowers and plants for my windowboxes, pots, flowerbeds,etc. I couldn't find anyone to go with me so I just took off by myself. It was a beautiful day and a pretty drive. As I pulled into town, I hit the "jackpot", as it was Rising Star Trade Days. I parked the car, looked at all the goodies, listened to a little Willie Nelson coming from one of the booths and just enjoyed "the moment". Not all of the vendors were there, but I was told it would be full on Saturday! I drove a little further to Hardwick's and spent a couple of hours roaming through their greenhouses, picking out my flowers, asking questions,changing my mind, and going through the same routine at least a couple of more times. I wish I had taken pictures of their little country market with all of their produce, jellies, etc. but I had already put my camera in the car. All in all it was a great time and I will show you in my next post the results of my trip. For now, just enjoy these pictures of my journey!

Empty Nest

2009-04-23T15:58:00.001-07:00

Some friends and I just started reading and discussing the book "Barbara and Susan's Guide to the EMPTY NEST" by Barbara Rainey and Susan Yates. Barbara and her husband, Dennis, cofounded Family Life, an international ministry to families and marriages , and have cowritten several books together. All of that being said, she is a very godly woman (as well as Susan Yates) and they together wrote this book to minister to women experiencing the sometimes confusing and surprisingly difficult time called EMPTY NEST. Yep, I'm one of them and they have nailed me in the first two chapters. Yesterday as I was thinking about what I had read, I got out my paints and painted a little picture of a thought I had. Now don't laugh, it's a very elementary piece of art, but I had fun doing it. If you are one struggling with this time in your life, I urge you to pick up a copy of this book and I know you,too, will be blessed by their struggles, their humor and their insights into this topic! I would love to hear your thoughts on it, too!

Key Lime Pie

2009-04-22T19:31:00.000-07:00

Here is my Key Lime Pie recipe that some of my friends requested I post. It is the Weight Watchers version and is yummy.....and a lot less fat. It is a great and easy dessert for last minute entertaining. You can place a little fat free Cool Whip on top or a sweet little flower for garnish before serving. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

Graham Cracker Crust

14 oz. fat-free Eagle Brand sweetened, condensed milk

8 0z. fat free egg substitute-I use the Egg Beaters brand in the carton

1/2 cup of fresh lime juice-I use the bottled lime juice

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place graham cracker crust on a baking sheet; set aside.

Whisk together condensed milk, egg substitute and lime juice. Pour mixture into crust.

Bake until the center looks set but still slightly quivery, like gelatin, about 18-20 minutes.

Cool completely (VERY IMPORTANT) on a wire rack.

When completely cooled, transfer to refrigerator and chill completely, about 1 hour-2 hours.

If desired, spread whipped,fat free topping over cooled pie!

A Fun Day at the Gregory's!

2009-04-16T18:21:00.000-07:00

The Happy Cooks!

Mary's wonderful roasted veggies!

My Grandmother Stewart's wonderful sugar cookie recipe. Don't they make pretty Easter eggs?

After lunch,we went outside and enjoyed the beautiful day. This is Emily in the swing....

....and this is the view when she looked up. Wow!

Even Lucy had a fun time at the Gregory's!

Anna, Emily and our sweet friend from Nigeria, Bimpe.

Mary's daughter, Anna, invited several international students from Hardin Simmons to join us for Easter. It was a blessing to get to meet them and spend an afternoon together! Afterall, that's what friends are for!

Josh and Emily before they left to go back to Dallas! We had a great time with them but we missed our Stephanie!!

The Most Important Easter Message of All...

2009-04-12T19:36:00.000-07:00

I hope you had a blessed Easter!

Springtime

2009-04-07T15:54:00.001-07:00

I love Spring...I think it is my favorite season. The green trees, the flowers, the sinus headaches, Easter, the smells, the sinus headaches , etc. I love decorating my front porch for Spring and thought I would share a few of my favorite things with you. By the way, I am just kidding about the sinus headaches!!! Enjoy the pics!

Wreaths on my front door...Lots of eggs and a little birdie and a nest!

I love my big, "chocolate " bunny. Isn't he cute????

A little herb garden and one of my favorite hanging baskets. Below, it looks as if a cute little duck found my pansies.

Happy Birthday, Poncho!

2009-03-30T15:03:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we went to Odessa to surprise Josh and Emily while they were there to celebrate Josh's 23rd birthday with his family. We had been planning this for a couple of weeks and I can't believe we didn't let it "slip" that we would be joining them for his birthday party. As soon as we got there around noon on Saturday, we went to a little Mexican food restaurant for lunch. As we finished our meal, the waiters came out with Josh's birthday dessert, placed a sombrero on his head and sang "Happy Birthday, Poncho! It was so funny! Afterwards,we went back to the house and hung out for the rest of the afternoon. Josh opened gifts, we played with precious Rayleigh and cooked out hamburgers for dinner. Next stop, the Community Theater where we saw the musical "Grease". It was a fun weekend and it came to a close all too quickly. Below are pictures to show what a great time we had!

Josh's sister, Krista ,with her beautiful little girl, Rayleigh!

Rayleigh in her new swing and showing off in her Rainforest Bouncy!

Aunt Emily feeding sweet Rayleigh

Josh and Emily at the musical "Grease"

Uncle Josh and sleepy Rayleigh

Spring Break in Dallas

2009-03-22T16:40:00.001-07:00

Last week Emily and Josh invited me to come and visit them in Dallas for a few days during Emily's Spring Break. We had a great time shopping at the Resale Shops (Rethreads and The Clothes Horse), eating out, and just hanging out together. Would you believe I forgot my camera??? Emily took a few pictures for me with her camera but not near as many as I would have been clicking!!! One afternoon we drove through President Bush's new neighborhood and I so wanted to get a picture of his cul-de-sac,but of course the entrance was barricaded and police were everywhere. We visited with them a minute and were attempting to explain what we wanted to do, when the Secret Service (coming from the direction of Bush's home) pulled up in their black SUV and started talking to the police. Time for us to exit, so off we drove. It's a beautiful neighborhood with lots of signs in the yards welcoming home the former President and First Lady. The house you see below was one of our favorites but we were only able to capture a small part of it on camera. Last but not least, I got to see my old roomie and friend Dixie. We visited the store where she works (Bradbury Lane) and had a two hour breakfast together before I left on Friday. A great ending to a great little trip! So much fun packed into a short period of time. "Thank you" Emily, Josh and Dixie for making my trip so special! Love you BUNCHES!!!!

Dixie and I! We have been friends since our days at Texas Tech, roomies while teaching school in Duncanville in the 70's and looking forward to lots more fun in the future! BFF

Before and After

2009-03-10T12:37:00.000-07:00

Never underestimate what you can do with found objects. Think outside the box, be creative and come up with your own twist on what the object can be used for. Here, I took an old milk bottle carrier, added a few little clay pots and herbs, and I now have my own herb garden in my kitchen that can be easily moved from one place to the next! I found this old , beautiful coffeepot for a quarter at a garage sale and planted a blooming cyclamen inside to perk up my dining room buffet. I think I need to add a little trailing ivy to make it complete. Creativity does not have to be expensive or time consuming...just use your "noggin" (as my mom would say) and see what you come up with! Most of all, girls, remember to have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

2009-02-27T07:42:00.000-08:00

This past Wednesday was sunny, 90 degrees, beautiful blue skies and I WANTED to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE. I called my friend Susan and off we went to the big city of Anson to check out some of their little antique stores. Below is a recap of our afternoon and the great time we had! Afterall, sometimes girls just wanna have fun!

It's not the prettiest drive in the world, but a fun one when you're with a friend!

Great stores....and you can tan,too!

Some of our goodies for Susan's store and my space at Palazzo!

A trip to Sonic on the way home and a wave goodbye to my sweet friend.

Lucy and Friends

2009-02-17T16:03:00.000-08:00

As I have mentioned in earlier posts, one thing we love so much about living where we do, is the walks we take on the golf course in the evening. We have gotten to know several people this way and Lucy has made many friends, too. Today, as we left to go on a walk, I grabbed my camera as I was going out the door. I am soooo glad that I did. Almost all of Lucy's friends were available to have their picture made and it was a lot of fun doing so. Enjoy!

Putter

Thomas and Cuddles

RockyBudget and Thrifty

Roxie Todd

Look What I Woke Up To

2009-01-28T08:43:00.000-08:00

Beautiful yellow roses, Starbucks hazelnut latte, birthday card and a gift certificate to get a relaxing facial!! What a great start for a birthday. Thanks, honey (Mark) for your thoughtfulness! Tonight we will have dinner with some friends who are on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ in England. It's going to be a great day! I hope yours is too!

Kitchen and Dining Room!

2009-01-24T14:38:00.001-08:00

Well, the kitchen is finished, the dining room is "tweeked" and here are some pictures to prove it! In fact, when I looked at the pics, I even thought things looked a little bare, but you know me, time will cure that problem! I found some great sheer drapes to cover the french doors in the dining room to give us a little privacy at night. All in all, I love everything and am so glad we were able to do it. Phil Phelps and his crew did a great job! My vintage chalk dog is my cooking companion and the piece of iron hanging over my cooktop was found in the ground at an estate sale. I am looking for the perfect things to hang from it. Maybe an old silver cream and sugar set or silver teapot. Any suggestions??? The old chalkboard in the breakfast room is a great place to write daily scriptures,etc. Hope you enjoy looking at the pics.

I Am Second

2009-01-20T19:16:00.000-08:00

Recently, Emily was telling me about some billboards in the Metroplex that were titled "I Am Second." If I remember correctly, she said they were black with white lettering....very plain, but eye-catching. After a little searching, she found the website http://www.iamsecond.com/ and encouraged me to check it out. It is an amazing site of Dallas area people (some you may recognize) who give their testimonies and profess Jesus as number one in their lives. One of the ladies on the site, Karen, spoke at Josh and Emily's church last week. She is a black woman with an amazing testimony. Also, Jason Castro, who was a finalist in the American Idol competition last season, is a member of this group. Just click on their pictures and you can hear their testimonies and why they individually profess "I am second".

Cutest Pooch Ever!

2009-01-09T12:04:00.000-08:00

This morning I couldn't find Lucy (our little dog) and after much searching in the house, this is where I found her. She had gone into Stephanie's room and hopped up on the chair to get away from the "stuff" going on in the kitchen! I think she is tired of her space being invaded so she escaped into her sissy's bedroom. Laying on the chair in the warm sunshine made me want to join her....especially since I hardly slept last night. I am still battling my cold and not sleeping well. Hmmm, a nap does sound good! See ya later!

A Must to Read!

2009-01-08T13:41:00.000-08:00

Everyone who knows me knows I am not much of a reader, but every once in a while a book will come along and just blow me away. One of those books was "Same Kind of Different as Me". A life changing, inspirational book that you can't put down. My latest favorite is "Multiple Blessings" byJon and Kate Gosselin, the cute couple who has the show "Jon and Kate Plus Eight". Their book tells of their difficulties in getting pregnant with their set of twins and the unbelievable things Kate had to endure to become pregnant again...This time with sextuplets. As she describes it, she was a "fertility doctor's worst nightmare". I won't tell the rest of the story, except this young couple's faith in God and sheer determination not to compromise their beliefs in any way, results in 6 little miracles that are now 4 years old. Run out and get this book TODAY and be inspired by a story that gives God the glory and shows He is still a God of miracles!

Happy New Year, Dear Friends!

2009-01-05T11:15:00.000-08:00

Once again, I have been a little slack in keeping up with my blog. Oh well, what can I say? Thanksgiving rolled into Christmas, my kids came and went, came and went again, we flew to Indianapolis for a football game (thank you, Xerox), got a yucky stomach virus and now I am nursing a cold and sore throat. Other than that, things are great! The kitchen is almost finished and the last appliance is being installed today. Hopefully, the backsplash will be finished in a couple of days and things will be back to normal soon. My kitchen looks wonderful...very simple and oh so much more efficient! Can't wait to start putting things on the wall and making it feel warm and homey. I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas and 2009 will bring you lots of blessings. My prayer is that we will all draw closer to our Lord and allow Him to permeate every area of our lives. I love you all and can't wait to see what this new year brings! Blessings to you and yours!

Friends and Family

2008-12-01T18:49:00.000-08:00

Driving to the Gregory's country home.

Mary and David cooking the Thanksgiving meal!

Friends Forever...Stephanie, Elizabeth and Anna! Mimi and Stephanie

Friends and Family...Family and Friends!! This Thanksgiving we spent our time with Mark's mom, our daughters and our new son in law, as well as a host of great friends. On Thanksgiving day, we went to the home of our longtime friends, David and Mary Gregory, for a fabulous Thanksgiving feast in the country. Then on Saturday evening, we went to the Carters for Beverly's homemade pizza and lots of fun! The Gregorys, Carters and us have all raised our kids together, been through thick and thin together, vacationed and gone to church together, etc. Our kids love each other and it is so fun to see them as young adults having fun with all of us. As I sat back and viewed all of this, I realized how thankful I am for these special people and how much they mean to me. Thank you, family and friends, for a wonderful Thanksgiving. I love you!

I'm Still Here.....

2008-11-24T12:35:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends! I can't believe it has been almost 3 weeks since I have blogged. So much has been going on and time has flown ! First of all, we gutted our kitchen about 3 weeks ago ...enough said! Things are going great and I can't wait to show you when it is all done. We don't have a big kitchen, but a cute and cozy one. Just our size! In the meantime, I got rid of the red in the dining room, painted it a soft grayish, blue-green and distressed,stained and sealed my dining room table and chairs. We LOVE the look! In an earlier blog, I had said I was not going to distress or stain the furniture, but I fell in love with a fabric for the chairs that needed the wood to be a little warmer and worn. I finished everything last night and didn't know if I could make it out of bed this morning. I felt and looked like I had been HIT by a train, but I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad to have all of that behind me. It was a labor of love, but one I am so glad I did. I was going to post some pics but my camera battery was dead. Will post later! Hope all of my sweet blogger friends have a blessed Thanksgiving with your family and friends!! Love you!

It's About Time!

2008-11-02T13:52:00.001-08:00

Saturday, I worked at the BEST little gift and antique store in Abilene! As the story goes, the husband of one of the owners told her "It was about time to get all of her junk out of the garage!"...thus was born(in the mid 1990's) a wonderful little junk, antique, shabby chic gift store called "It's About Time". Abilene women have grown to love this place and the three lovely ladies that run it. It is a place of inspiration,warmth and pure bliss to the soul and spirit. I have been blessed to know these women and occasionally work for them when I am needed. Although the store was hopping with business yesterday, I was able to take a few pictures to share with my blogger friends. Their Christmas Open House is next Saturday, Nov. 8th, and it should be a really fun event!! Hope to see you there!!

Charming and elegant, pearl covered birdies! They have little clips attached so you can clip them anywhere! I have one on top of a birdcage in my dining room! Wouldn't they be cute clipped all over a shabby chandelier?!?

A beautiful fall table set for a feast!

I love the turquoise shutter!

The little room that is painted black and accessorized with silver and white is so classy!

My personal favorites! Aren't these the cutest little snowmen you have ever seen?

What a sweet Christmas Village !

I love the traditional red and green decorations that greet you when you walk in the door!

Ouch!

2008-10-29T15:02:00.000-07:00

Today started out great! It's the day we have been excited about for quite a while...the remodelling of our kitchen is about to begin! Nothing huge,like knocking out walls and such, but new countertops, appliances and some new cabinets. Well, I guess that IS pretty big and I am so excited and thankful that we are getting to do it! I left the house about 8:30 to go to water aerobics....a class I attend 3 days a week. Halfway through our session, during the "Russian dance kicks", I proceed to kick the edge of the pool where the fountain is. Kind of hard to explain, but there is a concrete corner that angles down into the pool and I kicked the living daylights out of it. OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!! For a moment I thought I had broken my toe, but it is just badly bruised. DOUBLE OUCH! I come home, get ready, and go run errands. I drop by the mall to return an item and head back to the car. As I go out the door, there is a large paper ad on the concrete and as I step on it, the slick side of the paper is facedown and guess what happens next? I go flying through the air and somehow land on my hands and knees. It hurt so bad, I couldn't move for a second. I finally get up, limp to the car, and lick my wounds. I finish errands, hobble back home and now I am sitting in the chair with my toe throbbing and a black and blue knee. I am going to a birthday party tonight at a Chinese Restaurant........ wonder why I feel a little apprehensive about going?!?!

A New Discovery!

2008-10-24T17:12:00.001-07:00

For all of you cooks out there, my friend Susan recently told me of a WONDERFUL website. It is http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/ It has many different sites to go to, but her cooking site is a must to see. Susan has cooked several recipes listed and she has gotten rave reviews on all of them.
What I love the most is the fact she has pics of everything she is doing and explains how to do it. Perfect for new cooks! Emily and Josh are coming in this evening and I have prepared 2 of her recipes: Her yummy Pot Roast and Twice Baked Potatoes. PLEASE check out her site. I just brought my laptap into the kitchen and followed along as I cooked. It was really fun! Let me know what ya think!

Decision Made....No Stain!

2008-10-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

After looking at the table and chairs in my dining room for the past two days, I have decided to put a clear sealer on everything and be done! I am looking for black and white fabric for the chairs and will paint the walls a grayish,greenish blue. It is the color of my neighbor's bedroom and it is so pretty....despite my description of it. If ya see any great black and white fabric that has the "Anthropology Store" look, let me know!! Have a great weekend!!

Part lll......Lookin' Good!!!

2008-10-22T15:07:00.000-07:00

Everything is painted and I love it! I just had to bring the chairs in (without cushions, cause I'm looking for fabric!) and get a feel for what it will look like. The picture makes it look a bit whiter than it really is!I will decide tomorrow on how I want to stain or distress the chairs or if I even want to do anything else besides the sealer. Once I find the fabric, I will decide on a wall color. Painting the wall will be a piece of cake after painting all of those chairs! I have a new appreciation for my friends who do this as their "job". Hats off to Roxanne and Nancy!!! This is work, but I am so glad I did it!! Tomorrow will I stain or seal??? Check back in about 24 hours and I will let ya know. Also, Roxanne is coming over tomorrow to do a little project that we have been discussing....I am so excited about it and excited to get to hang out and watch her work!! Oh, by the way, Molly B I answered your questions regarding this project on my previous post. TaTa for now!

Hello Project...Part ll

2008-10-22T06:10:00.000-07:00

I have the table and 4 chairs painted with Benjamin Moore's "Indian White". They look great but man am I tired! I have the last foor chairs primed and ready to paint. Guess where I'm headed??? Back to the garage to paint!! See ya later!

Goodbye Honey, Hello Project!

2008-10-20T17:21:00.000-07:00

Mark had to leave today on a business trip, so it was an ideal time for me to get going on a project I had been wanting to do for some time. He was OK with me doing it, and with him being away, I can work long hours, not cook, and get it done quickly. Like a lot of us, we have an oak dining room set from the 1980's. I have wanted to paint it for a long time, but just did not have the guts to do it. Well, call me gutsy! I now have the table primed(except for the top...I will leave it natural) and 4 chairs primed and 4 to go! I will be painting it a cream, then wiping a stain over it lightly, and then sealing it with a satin, waterbase sealer. The pics are in order of how I started until I finished a little bit ago. If I get a second wind, I might just try to get the other four done tonight. My next post will show you the next step. Stay tuned and I will keep you posted!!! HEHE!!!!!

It's A Beautiful Morning!

2008-10-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

I love opening my double, front doors in the morning and looking out on my front porch to a burst of fall color. Although I showed pics( in an earlier post) of the outside ,looking toward my front door, I thought I would let you see what it looks like from the inside out!! It makes me happy and also makes for a beautiful morning!!

What Would You Do...........

2008-10-09T09:29:00.000-07:00

What would you do if you bought an old sink, small pot rack, chipped paint shutters and an aqua silverware holder from an old dishwasher??? Unlike me, you would probably not buy them, but these little goodies (and I might add,CHEAP little goodies) caught my eye and begged to come home with me. With a little thought and creativity, they have found a spot in my world and have added a bit of fun and charm in my home and yard. So here you go with a few "BEFORE and AFTER" shots of my finds. Enjoy!