Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Three Pretties In The Family




This year our youngest granddaughter went off to kindergarten. Of course a new backpack was necessary to celebrate the occasion!


Her older cousin, our only other granddaughter, got her long hair cut and a sophisticated hairstyle for her return to school this year.


Not to be outdone, my 95-year-old father-in-law made it to his monthly appointment with Mary at the beauty shop in his retirement community. 

Pop And Mary Getting The Pedi Started

A haircut, a mani, and a pedi is something Pop loves and looks forward to each month and I don't blame him. Mary has done his hair and nails for the last 5 years, and she always makes him feel special.

How about you? Pedicures...like 'em or loath them? 

I don't like my nails touched by other people so I thought I would hate them. I finally tried it this month for the second time in my life. I did cringe a little at times, but it was so worth it in the end.



Thanks for dropping by!




Friday, August 24, 2018

Copy-Katting Penny's Darling Tiered Tray



Browsing the web for inspiration recently, Penny's 3-Tiered Tray stuck me as oh-so-adorable!



I had all the stuff to make a copycat of the tray except for the cute white enamel farm animal ornaments. 

Lucky for me and you, Penny was kind enough to let us in on her secret supplier...Hobby Lobby in the Christmas section!

Now I've been downsizing like crazy...but what's a girl to do? 

Of course I've been to Hobby Lobby's Christmas section hunting down those dang little farm animals! Our local Hobby Lobby doesn't have them so I'll look for them in other locations.

A few weeks back I found the link to Penny's Post on the Amaze Me Monday blog party at Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home. If you're in need of a little inspiration, hop over to either of these blogs.



Thanks for dropping by!




Tuesday, August 21, 2018

The Things We Keep: More Precious Finds



Our garage is finally getting back to normal with more boxes of things going out the door than being stored! 

The two youngest daughters convinced me it is time to "Marie Kondo" the things my mother-in-law collected or saved, and then left behind.


This Hand-Painted Box Brings Me Joy!

In her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo tells you to touch each piece and ask yourself if it brings you joy? 

That's a hard one to start doing, but it gets easier the more things you touch and pass on.

At first I wanted to keep everything of sentiment or value, but our life is in fluctuation right now...this is NOT the time to store a bunch of things!

My mother-in-law's next younger sister has always shared mom's interest in collectibles and hobbies. I breathed a sigh of relief when she happily accepted the many boxes of dolls and doll parts!

If I had kept these things, it would only be to sell them on-line or in a booth. If I passed them to this favorite aunt, I knew she would love them or find a good home for them. 

Whatever she does with them it's now up to her...Kind of a "Tag You're It!" action.

The night I called the aunt, she had just finished putting an old doll together so I knew she was the right person for mom's favorite vintage dolls and doll parts. 

Here are a few things I kept as they really do bring me joy. They are all old and had been stored away inside this hand-painted old wooden box:



1. This little wooden case holds thimbles. Mom gave me some vintage thimbles years ago, which I plan to add to the old thimbles she had stored in this box.



2. This very odd clamp was also in the box. I knew it must be something involved with sewing, but was perplexed with it until September's Country Living Magazine arrived.


Mom's Clamp

Country Living's "What's It Worth" Section had similar

According to the magazine's article, this is probably an Early-20th-Century Sewing Bird Clamp! Mom's bird clamp has what is probably a pin-cushion on the back of the bird. 


Appears To Be A Pin-Cushion On The Bird's Back

3. A cute metal cat with a pin-cushion-bucket attached to the cat's side.


Another Pin-Cushion Of Sorts

The cat's head bobs up and down, and it feels like it might come out, but I don't want to ruin it if it doesn't.



4. An old case with lining, with a logo from a jewelry store in Birmingham. At first we thought Birmingham, Alabama, but the spelling of "Jewellers" and "Crooke" and the address on "High Street" makes us think it might be from England.


What Are These Used For?

Alabama or England?


We plan to do some research, especially to determine what were these used for...cracking nuts...crab cracking...hair crimpers maybe? 

Since they were with other sewing things, are they used for something in that field? Anyone have an idea for us?




Thanks for dropping by!


Joining The Party Here:
Vintage Charm Party
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Sunday, August 19, 2018

The Weekend View...Fall Ahead




We have passed the halfway mark in August... September and fall are just around the corner. 



You can wait if you want, but I'm breaking out all the pumpkins and welcoming fall right now. Summer is done as far as I'm concerned!



If you've been to Hobby Lobby or PotteryBarn lately, you're probably convinced (like I am) that fall is near and Christmas will be here before we know it.


Hobby Lobby even has their Christmas displays out and their Christmas decor was on sale this week.

This "Fall Find" came from PotteryBarn. I'm a big fan of crows and really like this more subdued version of brown, black and green.




On other news...Wild Bill has been to the emergency room 3 times in the last 10 days, and had to go into the hospital 3 days the first E.R. visit and overnight the third visit. I started thinking he might have a girlfriend up there! 

The first time it was pneumonia, and then breathing problems and insanely high blood pressure readings. 

He's doing better now so don't worry. We're tough Texans after all! 




Thanks for dropping by!








Friday, August 3, 2018

LaurieAnna's At Canton TX Trade Days



Just a reminder to all local Texans that Canton's "1st Monday - Trade Days" is this weekend.

Here's the latest photo from LaurieAnna's shop in Canton...



LaurieAnna's shop is broken up into different type rooms. This bedroom setting is in the entry room of LaurieAnna's. Their Kitchen Rooms and Dining Rooms are always my favorite rooms to walk through and pick things up for our house. 

LaurieAnna's shop will be decorating for fall soon, my favorite time of year in their shop.  I'll be impatiently waiting to go there even if it's just to look around and get ideas on how to use the fall decor I already have.

Speaking of fall decor...this mustard colored spray was new at the Frisco Mercantile shop the other day. The vendor was just setting them out so I plucked one out of the box to try at home. Love them!



The Kitchen Pig got this fall sprig to replace the pansies he's been sporting since spring. He does seem to smile a little more since his mini-makeover!


The colors of fall go well with our house since it's a blend of browns, yellowish golds, and such. 

How about you? Do the fall colors make you happy the heat is almost over...or sad because summer is coming to an end?






Thanks for stopping by!