Tea Storage

Hubby and I have been looking on ebay to find a wooden storage unit with drawers.  We finally found one at an antique store, and the drawers are perfect for storing all the tea we drink here.  This was another great find on our recent getaway.

Monday Madness

It was a much colder day here on Monday. Brr!  Temperatures dropped about 20-30 degrees from Friday's temperature.

Monday is my all-out cleaning day, but I had to shampoo a few carpets (thanks to some naughty cats).  I'll have to finish the rest of the house later this week.  However, I was able to get about 4 loads of laundry done, including some of the goodies I bought over the weekend.  Here are a few more items I got:

 

 Here is the sewing box I found at an antique mall.  It's not stained and in great condition.

And because it wouldn't be right to return home without some "bling" (ha ha!) I bought this snazzy pair of pink dangles for $5.00 (also from the antique store).

Making Jewelry

 I dug through my beads and found a few that match the vintage necklace I bought.  The earrings are simple, yet elegant and will be perfect for a "date night" with hubby.

A Year of Quotes:

"The hardest struggle of all is to be something different from what the average man is."  ~ Charles M. Schwab

Ring Bling ~ One Writer's Muse

Who knew that a gift from my mother would also be my inspiration to write?  For years, "ring bling" has been my writing muse, along with a secluded place.

On the left is my grandmother's ring, in the center my mother's ring, and on the right, another vintage spoon ring (also my mother's).  


I love these unique rings.  They not only have family ties, but are so fun to wear. 

On the far left is my fun, department store bling.  My 10 year-old also uses ring bling for her writing inspiration.  These rings are on one of my mother's vintage hankies.

I think I'll spend time writing today....

Yesterday I made a trip to the grocery store.  I came home and filled small lunch size containers with fresh pineapple, grapes, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries.

I also filled bags with pistachio nuts, almonds, and bought organic raisins.

Now I can finally break the kids of grabbing store bought granola bars for breakfast.  I stopped buying them, but cannot make them myself every day, so I stocked  up on fruit.  Now the kids, hubby and myself, can grab a healthy snack "to go."

Although I am not keen on buying plastic lunch bags, it will have to work for now.  I need to invest in more reusable containers.


This morning, I heard one daughter screaming in delight.  She was thrilled to have healthy food already packaged up for a trip to school.


Yesterday, my daughter and son, placed cement blocks out for the billy goat to stand on.  He was so tickled to get them, that my daughter had to have my son hold him off, so she could place the blocks together.  When I heard that Orion (billy goat) was thrilled, I went out with my camera to snap some photos.  


However, he was already tucked away in his shed and was not about to come back out for me.  On my walk back up to the house . . .

....I snapped these photos.  Each one in another direction.  It was light out, so the back ground on the moon is interesting.  The jet was pretty neat to see too.  Next time, I plan to take a tripod out and get better photos.


A year of quotes:
"A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you've been taking."  ~ Earl Wilson

Excerpts from A Journal Junkie

from the homesteading journal. . .

 We are trying to buy USA made items when we do need to shop.  I actually found a clipboard at Wal-mart that states it's made in the USA.  

 We bought chicken wire to start a much needed outdoor coop off the "chicken" barn.  

 Split wood again, but the weather is not too cold here.  

 We are bartering service work on our broken down van, with home canned goods again.  The van was delivered, so I need to get busy so I have canned jelly to barter.



from the crafting journal . . .

 I finished the new dishcloth pattern, and actually put another one in my store.  I have already started a third one.   I'm finishing up another knitted block for the block blanket, and have decided to put my tatting aside until the blanket is finished.

 Two projects "in progress"

I started decoupaging another tea bag box, and this time I'm using old book pages.  The handle is recycled oxygen tubing.  I'll be posting that later on my S.C.R.A.P. blog.

I recently discovered it's much easier to have a clip board for my knitting pattern, so I bought a very inexpensive clipboard.  I painted it.  Now I am decoupaging paper with a rose pattern on it.  I will be placing my pattern in a plastic page protector, slipping in a note pad, and attaching a pen.  Then I can take my basket weaving pattern, for my knitted block blanket, anywhere in the truck, van or car.  I can keep track of rows, and not get behind in my work any more.  I also have a fun, jazzed up, clip board for it.  I may have to make a few more of these for other projects.

from my personal journal . . .

 Hubby and I headed out for goat feed over the weekend.  We had trouble finding the right brand in stock, and had a bag being held in another town.  We had no time limitations, so we stopped at a brand new gun store and browsed.  The store was packed with people too.

Next, hubby surprised me by taking me to a very large antique store, that we had not been too in about four years.  We had so much fun walking around and browsing. 

I did more than browse too.  I was so excited to find this lipstick holder that I just had to buy it.  I had no idea they existed until another farmgirl shared photos of the ones she has found.  

Underneath the lipstick holder is a dish towel I found, that has tatting as the edging - $3.00.  What a deal.  What great finds, and useful too.

I bought his $5.00 vintage chopper also.  Why?  Well, it's a perfect container to hold elastic hair bands in my vintage decorated master bathroom.  

I cleaned it up and when the chopper handle is lifted up, it brings up hair bands on the bottom piece.  I'd rather buy USA made for every day use, and this chopper was made by the  Lorraine Manufacturing Company in New York City.  According to my research, they started up around 1868.  What fun it was to find this out after I got home.

I had a very fun day, and hope to do that again in a few years.



from my gratitude journal. . .

 Today I am thankful for:

~ being able to pay off one dentist bill
~ getting a day away and relaxing
~ the beautiful sunshine we are having
~ having enough firewood
~ tea
~ my outdoor clothesline
~ books
~ once again, I am thankful for pen and paper
~ God's Promises
~ slippers

Vintage Hankies ~ Crochet Projects Continue

I'm sharing some very special hankies that belonged to my mother.  I am not sure what I will do with them yet.  I know for one idea, I will be using them to decorate around the house and possibly take some camping.

Homemade Baking Mix ~ Vintage Hairbrush Set ~ Sneak Peek at Shadow Box

The last couple of days we have had a thin layer of snow each morning.  The problem is that it's over a layer of rain that froze, melted and froze again.  The school closed yesterday and today they have a 2 hour delay.  

I mixed up my first batch of "baking mix" that will be stored in those two containers you see in the photo.  Last year my Uncle gifted us with some dishes and those containers have been very useful.  The mix will be used to do baking with, and to see if it's useful for us (in saving money).  I am a whole wheat flour kind of person, so this is a real test for us.  If you haven't seen Candy's blog, this recipe can be found here:  Lazy J Bar C Farm.

I'm starting to work on my "family history" projects (in teeny tiny steps), and remembered that Mom gave me her mirror and hand brush set last year.  This set was given to her in 1956 for my Grand parents.  It is completely unused and in perfect condition.  The question now is, use them or store them?  Honestly, they are so pretty, that I may be using them.  What a treasure these items are.  The box can be used as a jewelry box, but it's been a wee bit smashed in over the years.   It has a lock and key on it, and lined with red velvet. 

Yesterday I posted about possibly framing my Grandma's 1924 Valentine in a shadow box.....and I did.  Here is a sneak peek at the quilling that I have started for the upper two corners.  Behind it is old wall paper.  I am using an acid free scrapbooking adhesive to attach the card and envelope.  I was actually considering cutting the writing from the envelope, but kept it whole.  Just this much quilling took about 1 1/2 hours.  I'll update it when I have it finished.