Wsprsweetly Of Cottages

~MY CUP RUNNETH OVER WITH LOVE~

2012-02-11T01:30:00.000-08:00

The girls brought me these for the coffee table. I love the ruffled pot. *sigh* I am sooo spoiled! :)

I found this in my favorite shop in the alley for just $12.00! I love it.

It hangs in my dining room window now.

I also found a little polka dot heart to add to my others. So cute.

Little hearts here and little hearts there...and by the way...you should see what bj @ Sweet Nothings has been up to! She is amazing!

I am pea green with envy...and was so overcome I asked her to be my Valentine. I did!! I lost my head! Pearls, baked goodies...hearts..just...EVERYTHING!

Here is the reason I don't bake. Daughter Maryalice arrived today (moral support, bless her heart) and brought a box of these. She does make beautiful cookies.

It's very early in the morning of another garage sale day and I have decided I should lay off the hunt for more silver plate! I hate to put it all away..I love looking at it..but I guess it's about time.. :)

I wonder why people want to practically GIVE this stuff away, but they do! If they could just see it all polished..Ooooh well! I think it's watching it gleam when it's all cleaned up that keeps me looking.

Have a wonderful weekend...and thank you!! Thank you for wishing me well. Thank you for always being there for me with encouragement! I love you for it. My cup runneth over!

I am in for another surgery..but it's nothing big. Just a clogged artery. I was hoping for just one of those "stints" but guess that isn't going to happen. What's one more scar. :) Heavens, it could be worse though. I am lucky it was discovered. Very lucky.

Beside, garage sales will make me feel better! :)

Love'n hugs,

Mona

~MY WONDERFUL DAUGHTERS..~

2012-02-07T20:52:00.000-08:00

My Sandy...and her sister Erin beside her. We are in my back yard this past Sunday afternoon.

I have written a bit about my daughter Sandra, in the past. So many of you have been so kind to ask about her. Well, here she is! She is doing well.

She and her husband and little Grands are on my sidebar. She has had a tough year.

Let me tell you a bit of what happened. She and her family live in Georgia and all of us live in California.

I've had a small health problem the doctors are delving into and I have had to have some tests. Just old age stuff. :) Nothing serious.

Thusday afternoon Husband and I went in to the Imaging Center and daughter Mary wanted to meet me there but I told her not too. It would take too long and I would be fine. Not a problem.

I finished filling out the forms..glanced across the room to see daughter #2 Erin, coming through the door of the waiting room...and..right behind her daughter #3, Maryalice. I was stunned, but not half as shocked as when I saw Sandy my eldest daughter who was supposed to be 3000 miles away, walking toward me through a very crowded waiting room. I have not seen her for a very long time....I think I screamed. I thought I was dreaming!!

I know I tried to get up and couldn't..and then they were all three there, holding me and we were all crying! In a crowded waiting room!!!

Somehow they got me outside. I just kept touching her, cuddling her, I could not believe she was in my arms! We were all laughing and crying at the same time. Patient Husband went back inside to wait for my name to be called smiling from ear to ear!

She had flown clear across country because she knew I have not been doing great. I did NOT tell her..but her sisters must have. She did not need the worry but gets extremely upset if she is left out of anything concerning the family...so they must have caved and told her.

Just to hold her, and feel her hair and skin...her hair is all curly now since it was all cut off. Isn't she beautiful??? Isn't she just fantastically beautiful??

She left today and flew back to Georgia. How I hated to see her leave. I wanted to hang onto her but you have to let them go...again.

Aren't daughters wonderful?? :):)

Love and hugs,

Mona

~YOU REALLY SHOULD TRY THIS..

2012-02-01T22:14:00.000-08:00

Of course that is if you haven't already! It's honestly like being on a treasure hunt. I think the best part is watching my daughter as she enters this new world of treasure hunting. The trick to finding neat things is to go every week..make it an outing..

I turned and snapped these pictures of Mary admiring her finds..

A like new grater and a white wicker magazine rack.

You see, we put our finds in the trunk of the car. Not Mary..

She has to hold them..look them over..she is such a hoot.

Taken from the car as we drove. Riverside is situated in a valley. In one direction are the mountains you see in the distance...and the other way is the beach. The best of both worlds...

Here we go tracking the signs. I bought an old trunk, the silverware I showed you in the previous post and two books. Would you believe "Dr. Zhavago" and "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn?" Yep...and I am already knee deep in "A Tree..." which sold for a quarter. Originally sold for $5.00.

So far I am loving this book. Fiction or no..it's wonderful. I know those times happened..but it's like being there. How did I miss reading it??

After breakfast we stopped by an interesting shop that was situatied in an alley. Yes..an ally, not a street. Things just spilling out of it...daughter was back in the car almost immediately saying..she was just spoiled for this kind of shopping!

However, my eagle eye spotted a few things and the on Monday when PH took a long walk I took a short drive right back to that little shop in the alley. :)

and I found...

a couple of Victorian Valentines for my colletction.

An old wicker basket..

A little candy dish, a crystal that I tied to the top with a red polka dot ribbon..and filled with glass hearts of pink and red.

A little Victorian cream pitcher for my collection..

and this sweet little cherub....

I do love shopping alone somethings.

A sparkly cupcake tag that I tied to my other candy dish..

...a page of Victorian stickers that I stuck to my red lace hearts and added to my shelves..

Pink and red glass hearts to just play with..

Little glass hearts with sparkly red cherries on them...so sweet..

This old crocheted lace topper for just $4.00.

I admit to going on a binge. I admit to loving to shop alone and I admit to blowing my little allowance but it was fun. The most expensive thing I bought was the little wicker basket..at $9.95, but the work that went into it...so much work.

Mary makes our week and we laugh from morning 'til noon! :)

Do you enjoy shopping alone or would you rather have someone with you?

It's bedtime and I am off to wrap up in my warmed towels. That's what I heat the bed with..unroll them and then crawl under them...and..we don't even have snow!

Love'n hugs,

Mona

~SPRAY PAINT MADNESS.....~

2012-01-31T23:14:00.000-08:00

(Mele thinks all the picture taking MUST be about her!)

I save everything, almost, and had saved these old brackets. Now I know why.

There were four of them and only three have turned up but I decided to spray them Colonial Red and add them to the porch. Yep. They match the trim..and the shutters..and I like them.

The fourth one will appear sooner or later.. :)

This is what they looked like before I took spray paint to them..

Interesting how little things like this can give you a boost! The funny thing must have been watching Patient Husband and I get those things attached. I probably got in the way more than I helped. Every time the man gets up on a ladder lately, I am right there with my hand on his butt or on his leg..

Over protective...probably! :)

AND they match my newly painted flower pot..which used to be charcoal gray.

Now if the other bracket turns up... well...look at it like this. It keeps us busy! :)

Heart on the front door...

I found this pretty glass bead at a second hand store yesterday and added it...

Now it looks like this! :)

I LOVE doing this sort of thing..I really do!

Yesterday I went off alone to a second hand shop in an alley...and came home with more than just that glass bead. I'll show you tomorrow!

Garage sale Saturday with my daughter and husband was SO much fun...

I've been polishing THIS for the past two days...

I bought the entire box for $5.00. There were a couple of sterling pieces in the box but the rest was silver plate, which I love. My collection is growing and growing. Today I began sorting...

Knives are scarce for some reason. I wonder what people do with the dinner knives?

No complete sets, yet, but it's so much fun seeing so many pretty patterns...and watching go them from an ugly blackened mess to such beauty. I like to mix and match anyway. It's hard to believe that people get rid of such lovely things..instead of polishing them and enjoying their beauty.

Tell me...do you polish your silver? It's a little work but so worth it...

Which way do you like or ...like many, not at all?

Have a wonderful Wednesday and thank you for sticking with me. I love you for it!!

Love'n hugs,

Mona

~GOOD GRIEF....

2012-01-28T01:44:00.000-08:00

I just noticed the date that I last did a post and I am ..realizing that I am in a total funk. I got nothing!

I try to visit a few blogs each day and sometimes get that done and sometimes not...

Burn out? A bit, but I've been puttering...just wandering from project to project.

Spending time with family, chatting with friends, spray painting this and that..but the problem is..when I do something that is in the least creative...I forget to take pictures..throw up my hands in defeat and do nothing.

Write nothing.

So..I ran around and tried to show you what I'm doing...

I decided to paint some things, my bench, scrolls for the front porch..etc. and while I was at Home Depot I came across these tiny little African Violets in two inch pots. They were all dead except this one but it was dry and on it's way to dying too. So..home it came. It's home is now a tiny tea cup and saucer...(I should have taken a picture but I didn't. Oh well...typical!

This one is silk and cost 25 cents at a garage sale! I think the silks look so real now that it is sometimes difficult to tell.

I bought some lovely butter yellow for my bench ..and more Colonial Red for my porch trim.

I love this yellow...but just as I began painting the winds came up with a vengence and that was the end of that. The winds are still blowing!

I have some sanding to do anyway..and I always get in a rush and don't sand like I should!

Don't look at our poor lawn! We didn't overseed this year!

..and look, it matches my big yellow frog!

Another project that I did while "not blogging" was to paper the back of the cabinets..shelves (?) with wall paper. Remember the cabinet I found at a garage sale that matched the one I had at home. Yep..put them side by side and now have LOTSA dish storage space!!

Now it doesn't look so dark in the cupboards. LOVE it! The paper wouldn't have been my choice but it's easy enough to change..sort of! It's the getting up and down off the floor! I love the butter yellow that goes well with the walls of my family room, which are the pale gold I love.

I changed my living room curtains to some with a valance so I can watch the birds at the feeder. Nice!

The little quilt is where Mele likes to lay during the day "laying guard duty" and keeps the pillows mussed so the room looks comfy. :)

Here is the front of that heart..it's tea stained.. :) not dirty..

You can see my step stool reflected in the window. Wait until you see what I did! :)

So even though I haven't been blogging..I've been busy.

I realized the other day how much in my home has been collected from garage sales. Things other

people don't want.

Even that little quilt on the back of the loveseat was a wonderful garage sale find. I paid very little for it and it is hand made.

My little home is a mish mash but I love it!

So you see :) ...it's all boring but I did get some things done.

Love 'n hugs,

Mona

p.s. My thoughts are with you, Desiree...

~ A FEW GARAGE SALE GOODIES..ETC.~

2012-01-17T23:57:00.000-08:00

First let me say that I cannot get into my comments. If anyone has asked me a question...I am so sorry...I am not sure what is wrong..but I am trying to get it figured out. So far no luck.

Thank you, Joyce, for trying to help me. Is anyone else having this problem?? NO comments?

I just get a blank page..with my post name at the top...nothing more.

**************

The garage sales have been sparse for quite awhile..but we go anyway. It's our Saturday outing..

I always find things but haven't been posting them. I thought perhaps it got old after awhile.

This Saturday was a little better..but still not what they have been.

We went to several and at one I found some pieces of silverplate flatware that I really like and have been wanting more of...well...I FOUND it! But..not a single knife so far. I wonder what in the world happened to all the knives of this pattern??

The cut glass milk pitcher is lovely but I forgot to take a photo of it up close...

What is really interesting about this pattern is the little leaf on the lower backs of some of the spoons and forks. SO pretty. I paid 25 cents for each piece. They are very heavy. There is no pattern name on the back but they are triple platted and are 1847 Rogers Brothers...

A PERFECT set of nice heavy Westmoreland Milkglass. Not a chip...not a flea bite.

I paid 25 cents for the pair...last garage sale of the day...and also..

Same garage sale was this beautiful plate...25 cents. It is marked SILESIA on the back with an interesting mark above it.

I bought this crocheted doily many years ago and it had tassels on the longest points on all four sides...but they tangled in the washer...(I'm an idiot and didn't hand wash it!) I cut them all of and stopped using the piece because I didn't like how it looked..

...and then I saw those little hankies that people put buttons on to put over drinks on the patio...and I though...WHY NOT?? and ..I love it again, and while I chatted on the phone the other night I added some of the buttons I bought at a yard sale. A baggie of them...I LOVE buttons!

Now I love it again! :)

Back to the garge sales on Saturday...

This little demitasse cup and saucer was 50 cents! Made in occupied Japan. Pale butter yellow on white with tiny roses...so sweet!

This little baby sweater was 50 cents...

What if it's a boy? Well there will be more born...I'm sure a little girl will wear it one day.

I couldn't resist. I assured the rather sad Mom that sold it that it would be loved and cared for always. She just smiled and said "I believe you..."

And that was our Saturday adventure.

We've been taking my daughter, Mary and her husband ...wish there was a camera following us.

What a hoot they are!!

We have the best time on Saturday mornings...topped off by a pancake breakfast at our favorite restaurant where everybody knows our name! :) Well...almost everybody!!

Love and hugs,

Mona

~HEART'S...ALREADY??~

2012-01-13T22:47:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know it's early..but if you don't get out there right after Christmas..you get nothing! NOTHING!

There were only two of these. I mean..what the heck???

Daughter's and I. (Sandy, we miss you honey!)

I've been blog hopping and there is just so much to see...lots of idea's out there...but mostly we all seem to really be enjoying that "clean" uncluttered look. That's great...it really is but I am already into digging around for sweet little hearts for Valentines Day. Yep...and headed off to Michael's to just...you know...LOOK! As you can see...

I did NOT come home empty handed! No siree!!

Isn't this just so cute?? Well, anyway, I thought so.

This cup cake decoration was ..interesting. The base of the cupcake stand has four spaces to sit cupcakes in..and of course the bottom layer. The glass cake stand is by Mosser Glass. We like to have a little Valentine luncheon for us girls.

By now I decided it was time to get out of that store! Quickly...but...

...a couple of little felt heart place mats...and I was OUT OF THERE!

Every year I add some little thing. (or two) ;

I hope there is no hidden meaning to this passion I have for cute things for the house. There isn't...is there? :):)

THAT'S it for me. No more buying for Valentines Day!

Done, done, done!!!

You DO believe me, don't you?

Love,

Mona

(good grief! I'm beginning to clutter things up again!)

~WHAT A GREAT START...~

2012-01-08T18:12:00.000-08:00

This is going to be a good year. If I write this one hundred times do you think it will come to pass? If I visualize a wonderful year, will that work? I do that a lot you know..use visualization. Been doing that for years. From that I have learned NOT to visualize bad things..because as surely as you do..they will come to pass.

So...to start out the new year..an outing to L.A. for grandson Alex's (Brock) 25th birthday. What a fun bunch of people my children are. The birthday boy is on the far left of the photo...the one with the huge dimples. His lovely wife Natalia is holding my little great granddaughter, Emily. The chubby gray haired woman in the center is me...and their wonderful step grandfather is standing in the top row next to my grandson Adam. Adam is Emily's father and the son of my eldest son, Patrick. His wife, Cristina (Emily's mother) is standing to the right just behind my shoulder.

You really don't want me to go into further detail now do you?? Of course you don't. ;)

My two granddaughters in law and their sweet mother.

My Columbian relatives! :)

That bright sunlight is not too flattering....Ug!

Natalia and Grandma Mona.. (that's what they call me..)

My own grandchildren all call me Grandma Duffy. If you have grands...what do they call you? Of course when there are lots of Grandma's...one has to be identified. :)

Sweet, patient husband always has such a good time when we all get together and laughs constantly. What a great sound that is!

The serious business of getting down to eating great food, lovely afternoon, great company.

What a great start to this New Year of ours. The house is nearly back to normal..except for a bit of window washing..putting Christmas cartons back up in the garage...checking for pine needles under the cushions of the couch..and for the next month I will find little things forgotten in corners that didn't get packed. It happens every year.

Family. That's what it's all about isn't it?

Love and hugs,

Mona

~I WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR...

2011-12-29T23:26:00.000-08:00

This is..my last post for 2011.

Three of my crazy wonderful and funny daughters Mary, Dawn and Erin, taken on Christmas day. One is missing but Sandy was with us in spirit as were two of my sons. My son Danny was with us also. So I had four of my seven with me at home.

My eldest son, Patrick and his wife were with us in the evening for dinner. It was a wonderful Christmas!

And this is Wrenna, my precious granddaughter. She is Dawns (above) oldest child. Her father Ed, is right, she is an amazing young woman. She came with her mother on Christmas eve..all the way from Portland Oregon.

Can you imagine the happiness I felt? I wanted to hug her and never let her go!!

I am already looking forward to next year. We are planning a little road trip this summer. Just her and I. I can't wait!

I have hopes of seeing ALL of my family this coming year. They are busy out there living their lives..and that is a good thing!

A photo of my tiny great granddaughter, Emily, Grandma's little angel.

Thank you Adam and Cristina! I love her so much!

Just a few random family photo's I wanted to share with you.

*MY NEWS IS THAT A NEW GREAT GRANDCHILD IS EXPECTED JULY 4th, 2012, and I am beyond delighted.

A Happy New Year awaits me full of love. I hope a wonderful NEW YEAR awaits all of you.

God is good!

Blessing and love,

Mona

~I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.. she said..

2011-12-26T01:46:00.000-08:00

...and she was! Daughter Dawn and my beautiful granddaughter Wrenna, came home for Christmas.

I hope your Christmas was as wonderful as ours.

Here's to many more!

Love,

Mona

*Thank you to my daughter in law and my daughter for helping make this Christmas wish come true.

And thank you to my granddaughter in law for taking such wonderful family photo's for us!

~LAST MINUTE TOUCHES, AND THOUGHTS...

2011-12-23T21:27:00.000-08:00

Ok, now I am getting excited! I admit I am a child at heart. I love Christmastime, and in the world I live in folks are so nice! Some of the comments and wishs and emails I have recieved have moved me to tears.

Do you know that many who have not experienced this bloggers world of ours, find it difficult to believe? I have even heard some scoffing over the past couple of years, that people just are not that nice. NOT really, they say!

Well, yes they are. YES they are!

From all over the world I have met folks. People from all walks of life. Some rich, and some with very little..but they wear their beautiful hearts on their sleeves.

Some of you have simply given me a piece of your heart...and I want you to know that I treasure it.

I have found that I love and care for folks I will never, ever meet. Beautiful people who have been there for me in times of poor health,

times of sadness,

shared in my worry over my children and their trials in these tough times, and tried to help with advice and moral support!

Sent me a beautiful hand made Teddy Bear, asked if I was alright when I didn't sound like myself,

Asked about my daughter who had breast cancer (she is doing wonderfully.) I don't talk about it because I cannot. It is still almost too much to think about.

You don't know me, but you show me your hearts and the goodness in your souls.

You all add to my life in a way I never believed possible. I have watched some of you suffer through operations, illnesses, lost of spouses, children, your dear pets. And the list goes on.

I know all of you feel the same as I do. We are all so alike and yet so different, but what we share is this wonderful world of "caring"...our blogging world.

Thank you!

Thank you for being there for me..for allowing me into your lives and sharing your worlds with me.

I learn from all of you every day!

We are all blessed to have one another.

Merry Christmas and I love you all very much!

Mona

~CITY SIDEWALKS..~

2011-12-19T16:04:00.000-08:00

..busy sidewalks
dressed in holiday style..
in the air there's a feeling
of Christmas!

What fun it all was. An evening of jostling with the crowds, smiling face (some cranky) children pointing with their little faces all smiles, and later good food in a little crowded cafe'.
The best part is we were with family laughing and having fun!

Patient Husband and I at the Mission Inn. Is there more to the story? Well...yes...it was CROWDED!

The right jolly old elf and I! Can you see my look of hero worship??

I told him "We match!" and he said "Oh? Well where's your beard!" I mean, what a smarty pants!

I would have pulled his beard and went ~~pee pee~~ tinkle on his lap..but decided I was way too old for such antics! I told him I always shaved before I went on a date. He just "HO HO HO'ed!" and that was that! Santa is a lot of fun! First time in 75 years I ever got to talk to him. Whata guy!

What did I wish for? World peace of course! :) So..tell me, what would you ask for??

(about that other? I may just be the right age for such antics after all!) :):)

Daughter Mary and me. It was cold and Mary was chattering a bit. We sang Silver Bells...and had a blast! She is as crazy as her mother.

The front of the Mission Inn in Riverside. Lots of traffic..city sidewalks,

busy sidewalks..

dressed in holiday style..

It was beautiful. Wish I could have gotten better photo's.

The figures were antimated and each was playing an instrument. The music was beautiful...

I was being jostled by the crowd that you see in the lower part of the photo..but I did the best I could.

It was nearly impossible to get inside and after about 45 minutes we ducked under the rope and went out the back way.

On the way out I ran into...that smarty mouthed Santa Claus you saw me hanging out with earlier.

I promised him that if he were good I would leave cookies out for him this year. He promised and we were both happy.

And the two very patient husbands that escorted us, waited for us and love us very much.

The end

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Mona

~TEDDY BEAR ANGEL?~

2011-12-14T20:14:00.000-08:00

...but of course. Sometimes she makes it to the top of the tree and sometimes not. I always feel...guilty when she doesn't. I bought her about 25 years ago. A lady made from Palm Springs made her. She is so sweet!

I wanted to title my post "Thank God it's done!" But..on second thought..I decided that, perhaps, it wasn't exactly the thing to say. I admit to feeling that way though....

Please..oh please, do not think I am not grateful to even have a tree..and a large 55 year collection of ornaments, I have every ornament that I ever bought clear back to 1954! I am. I am terribly grateful...but...I kept thinking of all the work it was going to be to take it all down and put it ALL AWAY!

I make "ALL AWAY!" that size..because I guess I'm shouting it in my poor brain!

I had to sort of remind myself that I was having fun..and after all this was for my family. They will be here for Christmas morning brunch..and..it's for them. My daughter usually has Christmas at her home, but this year things are rough for her family for I am helping out by doing it here for her.

Ok..lets be honest for just one moment. Yes, the above is true..but..I wanted to be IN. You know, have a pretty tree on a post. I wanted to be like everyone else and show that I could decorate a tree.

(Oh, and it's "live" by the way!) I put up a dead tree one year..not dead, it was faux. Silk? That seems to sound better, but this year it went out on the front porch. I HAD to have the smell of real pine.

But..REAL PINE comes at a price. Needles..drying, watering daily, constant feeling of the little needles and panic setting in when it begins to show serious signs of drying.

And yep.

It's happening (gradual drying) and there is 12 days to go until Christmas. Is it ok if I pray that it lives until Christmas?? :)

Polka dot ribbon was my thing this year. I bought rolls of it and it's all over the house.

What fun!

Merry Christmas!

Falalala la lala la la!

Love'n hugs!

Mona

~SO, WHAT'S THE RUSH?!

2011-12-11T23:31:00.000-08:00

I don't know! But there is that feeling of a need to rush ..and I keep dragging my feet.
The tree is up..but not decorated. The ornaments have been stacked in the garage for a week..
It was a very busy but fun family weekend. What a blessing it is to be with people you love..and trust and that make you laugh! :)

But the dining room table in the family room is...sort of done. Pomagranates from daughter Mary's tree. Snipped branches from our tree for a bouquets of greens...and my favorite reindeer..and tea things of course.

The living room.. I LOVE my books of Christmas music! The best part is if I want to hear a tune.. :)

..there it is! :) Makes me happy.

As I said...I am rather happily dragging my feet.

Still ..that feeling that I MUST get it done. I wonder why that is..

After all..I AM retired. So..why this odd feeling to rush..

I love the mantel this year too. It's funny how every year the same things come out and yet everything is always a bit different... what fun!

I just lost my post..for the second time tonight. I must be doing something wrong.

My blog background also disappeared. Strange. Grandson, Adam, gave me a temporary one until I can get it figured out. Maybe I should just drink my juice and go to bed.

So Merry Christmas!

Keep smiling! T'is the season to be jolly!

....so why this feeling of having to rush?

Who knows... but I'm going to rush off to bed. Nite, nite!

I will decorate the tree in the morning! Yep...I certainly will, and that's a promise..

uh-huh...

Mona

I am joining Marty for TABLETOP TUESDAY.

~IT'S A GOOD DAY FOR WASTING TIME ...~

2011-12-06T00:08:00.000-08:00

...OR dressing the dolls. Abby's Bear is already dressed so I dug out this little red velvet outfit for my baby doll.

She doesn't look too delighted, does she? :)

Yes, Di, wasting time is so devine! :)

. Found another pair of little ice skates...awwww...I love these!

Hung the big ice skates on the back of the front door...nope. Not working for me.

I didn't accomplish much..but I did slow WAY down as per advise. :)

Ate homemade cinnamon rolls (actually they were sticky buns) dear son in law brought to the door early this morning..(what a way to wake up!) with hot coffee and vanilla creamer. Gosh, I love mornings like that. My daughter is sooo sweet, and bakes wonderfully!

*smiles*

...and yes..I ate more than one. Perhaps I ate two! I really don't recall.

Maybe we can bring that poor tree in out of the wind tomorrow. I said..maybe!

Somehow I get the feeling I'm over doing the decorating a wee bit. Patient Husband looks non plused as he walks through the house. Not...too sure he is crazy about all the "stuff"..

I am not a minimalist!

When am all done..(someday) maybe I'll walk around and remove some ..things.

I always feel like I need to put everything I have ever collected over the years out..

...and I don't have to do that...

Does anyone else do this??

Love'n hugs,

Mona

~PUFF, PUFF...I'LL GET IT DONE...

2011-12-05T00:47:00.000-08:00

...if it takes me all night long! We worked at it all day...Patient Husband doing clean up from the winds (and now they are supposed to return tonight after midnight!

But..I'm making progress...(I guess)

My favorite Christmas book "A Cup Of Christmas Tea"... What a treat to see my little tea set..

(Now if I can just find the book..)

...little red wagon is full..

...the wreath is on the door..

...the poinsettia's are all in place..yep..and the pillows...gotta have pillows!

I LOVE our front porch!!

I feel so fortunate to have a home I love and a husband that loves me and a lovely caring family and friends! (would you JUST LOOK at those leaves!) ..now...what was I saying...oh yes...I was saying how foruntate I am....and did I tell you the HIGH winds are due any minute now. They said after midnight! Oh well...I just hope my tree is still on the porch in the morning!!

I'm so tired and I still haven't finished the inside.....

I'll think about it tomorrow...well, for pete's sake..it IS tomorrow!

I'll get it done today for sure!

Yep.

Love'n hugs,

Mona

~SANTA ANA WINDS~

2011-12-02T21:59:00.000-08:00

We were just finishing up hanging the garland..when you could feel it. A damp stillnes..like rain was on the way. But the sky was clear. Not a single cloud. Then a slight breeze began to stir and by the time we had picked up our tools, put away the ladders...we knew the Santa Ana winds had arrived.

We went inside and had dinner. I blogged awhile and then...it began! I heard someone rattle and bang loudly on the front door...I called...ok, I SCREAMED to Patient Husband that someone was trying to break in! We both rushed to the front door..peeked out..no one was there...but the wind was whipping the trees around terribly!

We ran to the back Patio and put the umbrella's down...and thought the patio was pretty protected..

The heavy quilt that I had tied to the top of our lawn swing was completely ripped off...further knocking things over..

This was just part of what greeted us in the morning..

knocked over plants...

Patio table swept nearly clean..and bits of my new plant on the table. It's hanging and was a gift.

WHY oh WHY didn't we think to take them down.

The plants that were not knocked over and broken..were just whipped to death. Ferns laying limp...poor things...but it could have been so much worse.

Sirens screams all night long. Many were without power. Not our best night.

...but I'm not going to whine. Not when I think of what others have been though with their storms on the East Coast.

Nope...a little wind is nothing...nothing at all. :)

Love n'hugs,

Mona

~FINALLY...NOW I HAVE ONE...~

2011-11-30T23:03:00.000-08:00

....a Nativity set.

How I would have loved to own one of these lovely sets when my children were small.

When I was very young..I believe it was in December 1940, WW11 was in full swing when I saw my first Nativity scene. My parents were very young. My baby brother was not quite a year old. (He later passed away at the age of two and half.)

My parents took us for a walk to a little church not far from our house. There in the front of the church, was this beautiful scene, much like the one I bought.

The one in front of the little church had an angel over the manger looking down with light streaming all around her. The staw in the manger was fresh and the little doll representing baby Jesus looked very real to a little five year old girl.

I remember there was snow falling softly and Christmas carols were playing..people were bringing their children up to see this beautiful Christmas scene.

People stood around quietly..talking in low voices..

I've loved snow and Christmas all of my life from that one night. It is all connected to my memories of my baby brother..and his very short life.

I remember my mother holding hand and Daddy holding my baby brother..as they told me the story of Mary and Joseph and how there was no room in the Inn...of course I don't think I understood. But I listened and understood it was a very special time.

I always remembered that night in the snow with my young parents and my baby brother. We lived in Oregon during the war and it snowed every year. It was so beautiful...

My parents had such a short time left to be happy with their little family...Christmas is a joyful but melancholy time for me.

I loved the detail in this Nativity set. I thought the camel was exquisite. Of course I didn't buy it in a store. I have waited so many years...and now I have one. Each year I would look at them..and from time to time I would see them in people's homes....

I banked the background with evergreens and silk hydrangias which have a bit of sparkle...

It's a work in progress as of today...but what fun it was unpacking it and putting it together.

And after nearly 17 years I have NEW CHAIRS! Yes indeed I do and just in time for the holidays! Can you see them in the background?? They arrived this morning a 8:15. My Christmas present to myself I guess. :) My old ones were so bad that the side of one of them was coming loose..they had become very rickety and besides...I was just plain sick and tired of them.

Some of you probably know exactly what I mean!

So....this is what happened...

Briefly, I was walking through jc Penny's and the next thing I remember is walking out of the store beside my girlfriend with a sales reciept in my purse and the promise of a Wednesday delivery.

I think I must have blacked out.... :) I don't remember a thing.

...at home Patient husband took a very deep breath... bless his heart! LOVE that man!

Love and hugs,

Mona

~LIKE A SOFT OREGON MIST..

2011-11-28T21:45:00.000-08:00

....the memories begin.

This time of year sometimes starts off a bit hard for me..but...life is good and memories of the past are but a part, a wonderful, if sometimes sad part of my life now...

I think most of us love Christmas and look forward to bringing out things that are especially meaningful to us.

After a long search I found the perfect pair of ice skates hand painted by a lovely lady, all decorated with roses. Exactly what I was looking for.

It been a big deal ever since I recieved my ice skates as to where to put them. One year they went on the piano..

and the next year they were hung on the inside of the front door. This year??

Any idea's?

Have you seen how someone else used them? These are full size so a wreath just won't make it, and besides I have NO talent in that direction, AND no patience!

I took them down and unwrapped them yesterday and they were my inspiration to get started.

Still....they sit on the guest bed waiting for my decision.

Something different this year..but what?

No matter...I am at last on my way to Christmas decorating. If all I have to worry about is where to put things, how to do the tree..what to change this year, I am truly blessed.

Of course that is NOT all I have to worry about. No one is without worries..but decorating is certainly a fun part of my life and I am grateful for it.

I know..this will be a difficult month for me. It always is. Patrick went into a coma on December 5th and passed away on December 15th 1997. I think the children thought that I would never enjoy Christmas again but time is a great healer..and it's been 14 years now and life is good.

I used to write about Patrick..blogging about him was a sort of outlet..but a very sad blogger rather ruined that for me..however I still blog about him...talk about him, think about him and I always will. 43 years of marriage does not go away. Ever.

Patient husband was married for over 50 years..so we both have a lot of memories this time of year.

AND...we are making NEW ones...

We smile a lot.

My love to you,

Mona

I think I will join Marty again @ A Stroll Thru Life. Thank you Marty for taking the time to do this for us. It's aways a fun place to visit.

~FROM MY HEART...~

2011-11-23T00:33:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

There is so much I want to say and have no idea where to start.

Simply said...I am grateful to all of you out there for just being who you are and being in my life with support and love and laughter.

Have a wonderful, wonderful day on Thanksgiving and I will probably see you again on Friday.

My family is HUGE so things have already begun to gear up.

Take good care of yourselves. Please.

My love to all of you,

Mona

~A BLOCK AND A TABLE TOP~

2011-11-22T00:31:00.000-08:00

I have bloggers block I think. I haven't traveled anywhere...bought anything, changed anything.

Just nothing. I did make a fantastic recipe for Chicken Enchaladas that I found on Annie's Eats.

These were by far the best I have ever eaten.

I am not that great a photographer to take photos that would probably just show the dish not looking as good as it was...so check out Annie's Eats...as Annie said "you WON'T be disappointed."

So..there goes my TABLE TOP TUESDAY with Marty! :(

WAIT!!!

She didn't want to sit on the table! :(

Mele Kalikimaka was a Christmas present to me to me in 2004. We call her Mele. She is my pride and joy.

I love this tray, but, it's on the WALL! (I know, I know...the plates have to go!!)

I guess.

WHY that wall looks PINK I do not know. The flash? But the pot is red..it's true color. Hmmm...

I bought a new red silk lampshade for my kitchen because the other one was glarey and well...things are now sort of red in my kitchen. LOL Change lamps? Change shades? Take it back? Decisions, decisions!

I LOVE my new red Mosser cake double cake plate. Found it on Ebay. It arrived a couple of days ago!

It was filled with BIG cupcakes last night...honest. You would think by now I could remember to TAKE pictures!!!

Sooo..I DID buy something. Just not today... :)

She loves me unconditionally. :) At least she's sitting on a chair AND she thinks I'm nuts!

She always listens so carefully to me.
Always there. Always cares . My Mele.

Love,
Mona

I'm :) joining Marty for Table Top Tuesday...because I do have something on a tabletop..
Right?

~JUST A HEAVENLY GIVEAWAY~

2011-11-17T21:57:00.000-08:00

Rebecca@ A GATHERING PLACE

Over the years I have bought many things from this lovely lady and will probably buy more in the years to come.

When I visit Rebecca, I am like a child in a toy store.
Because of her, I learned to paint...or tried. She was an inspiration. She has been for a long time now.
Her little Vanity Cases are the most wonderful example of all Rebecca's talents combined. Painting, sewing and design. The lucky person who wins will be most fortunate. They have even been featured in Magazines.

This sweet little Vanity Case confection is worth winning! Each is one of a kind!
Go see... :)

Love and hugs,
Mona

~EVOLVING TABLE TOPS..~

2011-11-14T23:26:00.000-08:00

This evening I decided to join Marty's table top party and realized how much I have changed over the past two years of blogging. How much I have learned.

Making a home is an art and each of us has our own style..our own twist.

But..we LOVE inspiration..

My Thanksgiving pumpkin pillow...just a few weeks of the year...

It's so easy when you don't entertain often to drift away from being interested in changing things in your home.

Because of blogging I began to pick up silver serving pieces. Here are some of the things I have picked up at garage sales..

I am taking much more of an interest in my table tops..and it has become a lot of fun. The joy of collecting and changing things has spread to my daughters and my friends. We chat about it a lot.

They in turn want to visit your blogs..and take a peek.

These are my favorite Winter dishes...and I just added the creamer and sugar to my collection.

I am much more likely now to buy fresh flowers from our local Farmers Market which is just down the street from me. OR I find them in my yard when they are in bloom.

bj wrote of this in her blog just today, I believe. The joy of splurging on fresh flowers.

Cheery kitchen counter tops are fun..old things I have had for years have been dug out of boxes..and added..

rearranging my little kitchen shelf...

The discovery of Mosser glass and can be enjoyed throughout all the seasons...

...and setting a pretty Fall breakfast table...I might not have done this at one time.

All of this has become so much more interesting when finding new ideas at places like ....

Marty's TABLE TOP TUESDAY@ A Stroll Thru Life... to inspire me.

Better than any magazine you can buy...AND you can communicate with the women and sometimes men who do them. Great huh? :)

Love and hugs,

Mona

~COLLECTING AND COLLECTING AND..~

2011-11-12T20:53:00.000-08:00

I do this. I collect things. Sometimes to the point of..wondering at myself.

Example:

I have the first rolling pin I ever owned...and little cutting board.

It's the rolling pins that I can't seem to stop collecting. I've given some away..but still..

..more rolling pins.

Just one picture of this mess is all you need.

I have this large triangular area behind my sink..that I can't reach and because of this every week or so I have to take EVERYTHING out and get a stool, climb up and clean. It's filled with all sorts of cooking impliments..but..ROLLING PINS seem to dominate!

WHY OH WHY DO I DO THAT!! I DO NOT NEED THAT MANY ROLLING PINS!

Now dolls and Teddy Bears are different. I DO need them!! :)

*sigh*

Love and hugs,

Mona

P.S. would love to have new faucets..and a new sink..and new counters..but you know...these will do just fine!! Besides I hardly ever bake any more, so???

~THANK YOU FOR HONORING OUR VETERANS~

2011-11-10T21:57:00.000-08:00

We remember...those who are serving, those who didn't come home...

..and those who have served in other wars..

I married a young Marine, Patrick, when I was just 17 years old. It is not an easy life. And to be honored for his service in the Military would have made him so happy. Unfortunately he served during Korea and then Vietnam, and did not come home to parades and flying flags.

I am so glad things have changed for the young men today and that they come home to something better than Pat did.

I had hoped and so did he, that there would be no more wars like Korea and then Vietnam, but it wasn't to be.

In some ways I am glad he didn't live to see that war is happening once again.

God bless all our men and their families who are caught up in it.

Love and hugs,

Mona

~A TABLETOP POST...OF SORTS~

2011-11-07T21:14:00.000-08:00

HOW I love to mess around with my tabletops. I do have a problem though. It's my coffee table.

I just cannot figure out what on earth to put on it...working on it though.. working on it.

You see...tabletops are NOT my strongest point.

So..I'll just show something else..ok?

I already had a Princess House cake keeper but when I got the chance to buy another at half price at an Estate sale..$12.50, I knew could use it.

And I am really glad I did. At that same sale I found this little set of Bavarian china cups and saucers.

Would you believe...I got ALL OF THEM inside?? So..two cake keepers, both full of dishes for now.

(Well, you see, storage space is getting to be a tiny problem!)

I love childrens little china tea sets...and this new one just arrived a few days ago. I found it on ebay. Bavarian china..by Winterling. So sweet. Mixed in is my Beatrix Potter set and some old children silverware I found. The silverware even came in a silverware protector with divisions for each piece.

Sooo cute.

Toy corner of my living room. Sort of childish, don'cha think? :)

Too much stuff? Probably. :) I tend to over do. Everything on the tabletop came from garage sales..(and probably looks like it! ) LOL ....except the cup and saucer.

And..I think that came from one also..found by my sweet step daughter in law for me. She gave it to me for my birthday.

The three little books are poem books I found from the 1800's! :)

Love,

Mona

I am joining our Marty @ A STROLL THRU LIFE for Tabletop Tuesday.

~THE GIFT ....~

2011-11-06T21:29:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken at the Huntington Library this past Thursday.

In the photo is my daughter Mary, my Grandson Adam's wife Cristina, me and Great Granddaughter Emily.
Natalia took this lovely photo of us. Thank you Natalia! :)

It houses a fantastic art collection. Being interesting in European History..I had a wondeful time.

The silver collection...well..it's wonderful but I can tell you this...

MINE is beginning to rival it! LOL

The entire day trip was a gift from my wonderful daughter Mary and her husband and their family, Alex, Natalia, Christina and Emily.
Thanks girls, for all the trouble you went to for me. I love my gifts!!

..here I am with Patient Husband walking and walking and walking..
to the Japanese gardens.. (puff puff!)

THANK HEAVENS for benches!!

And someone to lean on...

More tomorrow about our day in Pasadena!

Love,

Mona

~ EMILY GIVE'S CHECKUP...~

2011-11-05T19:11:00.000-07:00

Emily checks Great Grandma's heart!

"Am I alive, Sweetheart??!"

"Thank heavens! For a moment I thought I was a goner!" :)

Hugs,

Mona

MORE rain and clouds today...it's WONDERFUL!

~NO RAINY DAY BLUES HERE..~

2011-11-04T23:19:00.000-07:00

LOOK..a fire in our fireplace tonight! The first time since last Winter. It's so nice..cozy.

S'wonderful!

We cuddled by the fire most the evening, listening to music and chatting. Nice.

It poured rain last night and all day today. About noon it stopped for a bit so we decided to go to a nearby Estate Sale. I won't tell you my tale of woe..how they sold a lovely quilt that they were suppose to be holding for me...KING size, by Ralph Lauren! Gorgeous thing. I guess I was not supposed to have it. Rule of thumb...don't leave things in the care of anyone but yourself...UNLESS you have paid for them. Best to pay and take to the car...honest.

Anyway..I did find this lamp..perfect color and in perfect shape. For now it is going over my sink for a change. Price:$5.00

Then we were off to a Thrift store...and..

everything was 50% off. :):)

I found this pie plate..nice and heavy.

And also I found this one...both half price..but they were $5.00 each.

I think..I prefer garage sales..so..

...on the way home..I spotted a garage sale. YES. They were having it under tarps! IN THE POURING RAIN! Well..they were no crazier than we were. I mean we WERE there! :):)

Right away I found this darling little clay bunny. You can't see it but the clay shows through here and there and it's darling. Easter IS coming you know...

Price? $1.00! Now..that's what I'm talkin' about!!

(I think that is one of my cookie crumbs on his ear....oh well.)

Story time.. :)

However...everything comes at a price. The "yard sale" was at a school...in their parking lot..so we drove in...and the rain was pouring..

I jumped out of the car and ran for cover. I immediately spotted the little bunny. He was adorable..so

I paid..and stepped out from under the blue tarp just as a big gust of wind flipped the tarp dumping water and darn near drowned me! It was icy cold and I gasped as it hit my head! I was drenched! You know how when something like that happens..and you look around to see if anyone saw?? I have no idea because I ran for the car and when I jumped in "Patient Husband" said "What happened??! Did they try to drown you or something?!" Oh, HA HA HA!! Very funny! I dried off with kleenex. KLEENEX!! Try that sometime.

I took the whole thing as a sign that it was time to head home.... Oh...and by the way...at the Estate Sale? Sweet neighbor walked up to me a few minutes after I arrived! LOL

S'ok. She loves me and I'm sure it was a coincidence this time!

Love and hugs,

Mona

~THRIFTY? ME?~

2011-11-04T01:10:00.000-07:00

Not exactly! You see, it isn't that I try and be thrifty..it's just that I have always HAD to be. I learned very early on that it could be a lot of fun. But back then it was not thought to be such a great thing to have second hand things. Now?

I no longer have to swallow my pride!

Saturday's garage sales were WONDERFUL. First stop and this lot of siverware turned up..ALL polished! $8.00 for all of it...AND I found a set of 8 STERLING spoons and matching dessert forks which are on the far right. There is a set of spoons in between matching ones.

I hadn't even noticed they were sterling when I took the photo. :) Was I happy..INDEED I WAS!

*have you heard that keeping a piece of chalk near your silver keeps it from tarnishing?*

The lovely dresser scarf under the silverware was $1.00 at a different sale.

AND..I was able to add 8 cups...

...and eight saucers, plus 4 bread and butter plates to my collection of Friendly Village.

Price for all $10.00!!

This little candy dish was another $1.00. It is now full of carmels! :)

A glass candy dish was just $3.00. Crystal...not sure, but who cares..it's so cute.

Christmas candy, tiny pine cones and greenery or pretty glass balls..whatever..

I can never resists nice silks..and these violets caught my eye at another sale for just a quarter.

This sweet cut glass pitcher for $2.00. NOT big but not small either. Tons of uses..including flowers.
The top of the handle looked cracked but upon close inspection..it wasn't. A flaw? Odd.

A 1940's or 50's Christmas tablecloth...Charming. Just $1.00!
(I was vacumming when I decided to take the photo's.)

Oh well. :)

All of these were just $1.00 for all. The smallest one has a light coffee stain which will be all soaked OUT by tomorrow! :)

There was more..but I will show you later.

Enough is enough!

Now..I have a story for you.. yes..yes I do.

Have I told you that no one laughs and teases me about my weekly garage sales..and that daughter has joined me? Well...I have a GREAT one for you. :)

People ask me where I go. I say "all over the place" which is true..but my neighbor decided she was going to see for herself.

So..on Saturday morning...I noticed that when Patient Husband opened our garage door..sweet neighbor came out and got in her car with "precocious little girl" in tow. We waited for her to back out.

She didn't...we waited...she waited..and finally we backed out...and sure enough..not too far behind us...there she was..

We turned..she turned..

We turned ..she turned.

We kept going...passed garage sale signs...so did she..

My usually patient husband began to get a wee undone...I said..with a grin...not to worry.

If she follows us into the bank parking lot, then...but..she didn't..

She turned.

We continued on turned and stopped at our first garage sale...and guess who joined us a few minutes later... yep..sweet neighbor.

Hugs! Surprised "hi's!"

Next garage sale..."Well HELLO again!"

We are gone in nothing flat! Mr. Patience is a good driver AND determined...

LOL

Actually, it was really rather fun whizzing around town...keeping ahead...

It's tricky though. I wouldn't try this at home!

*giggle*

besides..I didn't really mind, I was just sort of ...surprised?

Wonder what will happen this Saturday. :)

Poor daughter was not feeling well..so on the way home I dropped her off some lovely serving pieces and a candelabra! She was still smiling today!! I will get pictures later.

I think I will take my camera this Saturday...IF I can remember!

I just want to tell you that there is NO trick to finding treasures at garage sales...just going every week is the secret.

Love and hugs,

Mona

I thought I would join THE THRIFTY GROOVE for "Thrifty Things Friday!"

It looks like a fun Meme!!

~THE NIGHT BEFORE...

2011-10-30T23:24:00.000-07:00

We had a pre Halloween gathering tonight...and had a great time.

As usual I didn't get many pictures because I was all wrapped up in what was going on and forgot to take pictures..but did manage to get a few.
It went sort of like this....

"So...Patient Husband...wanna carve a pumpkin? Am I joking? Well, no..not really.."

Little Emily said " I will if you pay me!"

Grandson, Joey said "Grandma, don't make me laugh!"

And..the carv..!!! What the heck? NEVER, EVER, GIVE EIAN a knife!! The POOR pumpkin...

We all watched in HORROR as Eian took after this poor shocked pumpkin?

Can pumpkins be "shocked?" *shrug*

...the end result! YIKES!!

The entries are finished...

Daughter, Mary, began the voting...this one?

"Let's hear it for the vomiting pumpkin, urged Mary at the top of her lungs!!"

"OH now, come on! Everyone vomits sometimes!" Then Mary fell completely apart with laughter!

The prize? Oh..well..we forgot about that..but a carmel apple for everybody..and brownies and ice cream...and a great ~~mess~~ time was had by everyone!

"Say G'night to Grandma Mona, Emily!"

********

Happy Halloween, everyone!!

Mona

P.S. The party was actually given for Grandson Alex to celebrate a promotion. Congratulations Alex!!!

~JUST SOME THOUGHTS..~

2011-10-28T04:22:00.000-07:00

I am not sure where I found this picture but since we don't have all those wonderful Autumn colors here in Southern California...I borrowed one..from somewhere. I can't remember.

I don't seem to retain things for long anymore, but now that I think of it...I never did.

My Grandma didn't call me "scatterbrained" for no reason. I hated it...but now looking back, maybe she was right.

Makes me smile just to remember her.

Another thought was..I hope I am not the oldest blogger out there. There HAS to be many older than I am...BUT..where are they. It's sort of disconcerting to think such a thing. Maybe it's silly but it just occurred to me that so far everyone I have met is younger! Can that be true?

Does age matter?

Well, it never has until lately.

I know exactly how this is going to end. I am going to go to bed (it's one of those sleepless in Riverside nights) then suddenly get this sick feeling and rush in here and delete this post. I've done it before.

Insecurity sets in.

I had nothing for today. Not a thing. So I spent the evening visiting your blogs..trying to remember who I had missed visiting last night..and the night before that. *sigh*

I WILL clean tomorrow. I've been slacking something terrible. The vacumm has been sitting here in my little office for two days now...waiting, and waiting...and waiting.

I had some of my children over for dinner tonight. We had fun. My daughter looked at my vacumm..and I honestly don't think she even noticed. I meant to put it away and just plain forgot. But we watched the World Series and had fun. And isn't that what it is all about?

Yep.

I don't really care if I am the old lady. It's *smile* not such a bad place to be.

Not at all.

Love and hugs,

Mona

P.S. Today I am going to ride my bike, get on that new treadmill, pull some weeds..and..vacumm and smile the entire time.

~A BREADBOX, A BABY AND A BEAR~

2011-10-25T23:31:00.000-07:00

I have been looking for just the right breadbox..and I finally found one. It was made in New Hampshire and I had to wait for it to be made. I am delighted with it.
I always wanted one made with a punched tin design.

I really like it a lot. It took a bit to get it..but worth the wait.
And...

It's RED! YEAH!

Ok.. Now ...just this one thing I want to share.

Some months ago...I met a very sweet woman on ebay.

She was delightful. Time went by and we became fast friends.

She works with children with special needs..which probably helps her to understand me.

Recently I turned 75 and this dear lady surprised me with a gift.

A note from the postman was left on my door...I had a package at the post office.

I thought it was the little doll house I had bought..however when I picked up the package it was way too small for that.

Puzzled I took it home and opened it...and this is what I found..

Is she not ADORABLE

I think she is just gorgeous! Thank you so much Erma!

So between this darling little doll and...

My precious Abigail given to me by my dear friend, Joyce @ The Bears Blog, my little family is growing!

My life has had it's ups and downs but blogging has brought me the sweetest people I could have ever imagined.

My followers...my dear followers who give me encouragment..and sometimes read my mind and seem to know me better than I know myself.

It never fails to amaze me.

Yes, you who are reading this. You. YOU amaze and delight me.

Thank you so much ..for everything..for being there.

I love you for it.

Mona

~TABLETOP CHRISTMAS SHOPPING..~

2011-10-23T22:37:00.000-07:00

I have to show this full of daughter's cookies..which..I am sure was a bribe! She doesn't fool me..
I added this photo as an ofter thought...because it is listed below WITHOUT the giant pumpkin cookies. I just thought they looked so pretty. Should..I keep this..No? :)
Price $12.50. Half price from the day before. To me it was worth it.
So....

WHAT a weekend! We went to garage sales on Saturday...had a great time..and then doubled back on Sunday to check out an Estate Sale. WELL...the first was bad enough..but then we ran into another one on the way home...and...I came away broke...minus some of my birthday money from Sweet Husband..and loaded down with such lovely things...however...I am not in possession of some of them since daughter visited this evening and "Mom lifted" a few things. No matter..we have fun. :)

AND...I made a dent in my Christmas shopping.

A beautiful pile of crocheted doilies...in PERFECT condition and starched stiff and ready to be wrapped. Freshly laundered...I was delighted.

Also, handmade tableclothes...GORGEOUS!

....and another...

This is an older one...(I did have two but the other one got up and walked out the door with daughter! :)

Lots of silver...which is not all here either... :) A revolving very large silver serving tray with removable divided glass tray.. It WAS lovely. Wish you could have seen it.. Ah well. Precious daughter will use it much more than I would have.
Also a little fifties tea service followed her out the door. LOVE that child!
(would you believe that lovely silver water pitcher came with those FRESH roses in it?? :)
It did! Inside was a nice glass jar filled with water. Nice?
I thought so too! :)
Hard to see the pretty rolling pen...but it is really, really nice. It's staying with me.

Delicate little cups and bread plates...so sweet... and the little relish tray...

?? I just liked it. Nice size.

Sweet little divided dish...for ??

A lovely cake keeper... and a spooner? LOVE SPOONERS!
Not a single flea bite of the china...it is Bavarian by the way... :)

And this precious lop earred bunny was found on Saturday out in the yard of a Estate sale house.
He was caked with years of grim...full of spiders and cobwebs...terrible shape. He is staying with me...and will be on my coffee table in Springtime... He is NOT AN OUTSIDE BUNNY!
For SHAME!

So...Christmas shopping is...about finished and I am a happy camper!
No prices for obvious reasons... Oops...I should have removed some of the tags on the Crochet.

The Estate sale was family run and I have never been in a more immaculate home..it was WOW clean!

I tell you, stores hold no charm for me anymore. :)

Love and hugs,
Mona

I am joining Marty's TABLETOP TUESDAY @ A STROLL THRU LIFE.....Thanks, Marty!!

~HOUSE HUNTING and FAIRY SHOES ...~

2011-10-21T20:56:00.000-07:00

I found an artist that lives in Canada and makes these darling little shoes.

I wanted to add them to my Fall decor...I love them...so sweet...

They belong to little Goblin Grim..who wants me to change his name...

Think I should? :)

I ..live in a Fairy Tale world. Always have...

I think I always will. Pat used to say that he felt like he was living in a story book.. :)

Also...

I have always wanted to furnish a little cottage from scratch...you know..just every single thing.

Floors, carpeting, walls, curtains..
So..I decided to start small and bought this little cottage all ready to go.

When shopping..price is always a consideration.. :)
I wanted something already built and ready to be finished.

Another is under my bed. It's an English Tudor..still in the box ..but...I have NO NERVE! :)

This little cottage is going to have tiny window boxes...roses growing over the windows..even a cellar door in the back. Grass surrounding it...just wait and see.. (might have a very long wait.)

Come on around back..I'll show you ...the tremendous amount of work I have ahead of me..

See? Very small and cozy. I want the little bedroom to look something like the one in my home..

I love our little guest room..

That wall right there is where the little fireplace is going....as soon as I get the wall painted and the flooring laid. .....oh dear...sounds like a lot!!

See where the little stairs come up? And that's the bathroom on the right..

There is a little window seat under the octagon shaped window. Perhaps some tiny rose covered wall paper? Who knows. :)

LOVE these little stairs..leading up to the bedroom...

So...how about ...this little stove?

Or maybe a little bed something like this?

This little WORKING sewing maching?

A little kitchen something like this?

A fireplace??

This tiny Halloween wreath on the front door?? Hmmmm??

Ok...I'm done. Wore myself out just thinking of it...

Later then?

Hugs and love,

Mona :)

~A BIT OF A TREASURE HUNT~

2011-10-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

Usually, I say USUALLY, we are up and out enjoying our Saturday's looking for treasures.

This Saturday was no different.

We picked up Precious Daughter and off we went.

The very first stop was at an Estate Sale...(I need to start taking my camera on these jaunts..because this home was worth...forgetting quickly!) However..I won't soon forget it.

Horrible!

But...I found this lovely little basket covered with dirt out in the garage. I brought it home, washed it and sprayed with clear lacquer. It turned out beautiful.

Price? $2.00

Estate Sales are always much higher than garage sales...

AND NO bargaining ..except...and remember this...:) on the following day.

This lovely, I think burl, for $1.00. Wouldn't it make a lovely place for a Fairy to live??

:)
Did you notice that a stone is wedged in the wood. The wood apparently grew right around stone..

The next garage sale...I found this hand painted signed tray for $4.00.
More than I wanted to pay..but it started off at $10.00.
I was accused of being a hard core bargainer!
I MOST CERTAINLY AM NOT!!! :)

The day ended with just those few things...but..

Sunday morning...

I had seen an Estate Sale but there was not enough time to stop...so I begged..(didn't have to beg very hard) Patient Husband to go back. He quickly gulped down his coffee...grabbed his shoes and in two minutes flat we were on our way.

The first thing I found were two floral arrangements...this one had been $25..but was not 1$12.50, but they gave it to me for $10!!

I thought this was a sweet little bouquet (LOVE roses!) and can be tucked in anywhere..

$2.00.

Gold brocade round table cloth..perfect for my little round drum table...makes a nice change..

A Flow Blue tea pot without it's lid..LOVE it..

and a marvelous cheese slicer..much better than the one I own.

$1.00 for the tea pot and 25 cents for the chesse slicer...

NOW...here comes the good one. We needed a nice large second refrigerator for the garage.

And there it sat..in all it's glory..with a price tag of $175! Today? $87.50, but they gave it to us for $80 even. It had all the papers with it. It is an Amana bought in 1984 at a local appliance store near us.

And..the manual was with it...everything we needed.

Home we went for my truck..

SOOO clean. Sparkling. Everything in the home was lovely and clean.

I will take care of it..and I am giving all the things a loving home.

So..happy Treausre Hunting to you this Saturday? Convienced yet? But of course you are.

Love and hugs,

Mona

~A TABLE TOP TALE..~

2011-10-17T19:38:00.000-07:00

Well...the story goes like this.

ONCE upon a time a little Fairy lived in this little house.. right on my tabletop..

Then one Halloween season..a TERRIBLE thing happened..

yes it did!

Terrible..

I found this on my door step one foggy night..

The moon wasn't bright..

NO..it wasn't..

The note on top of the sealed jar said.....I just CANNOT repeat it...

YOU will have to read it..

To..believe it..

WHOOOOOO ..did that...said the Owl..WHOOOO...?????

NOT I!! said the Scarecrow...

NOT I!!! said the Bat...

Well...NOT I!!! said the Cat...

HEH HEH HEH!!!!!

I am joing my bloggy friend Marty @ TABLETOP TUESDAY.

Thank you, Marty!

Hugs and love,

Mona :)

~WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU CAN'T SLEEP~

2011-10-16T06:27:00.000-07:00

I have no idea. None. Went to bed. Couldn't sleep. IM'd with Mellodee, a sweet fellow blogger who was also up. Finally toddled off to bed (literally!) ...tossed and turned.

Disturbed poor Patient Husband until he asked if I was "alright"..

it's 4 AM!!!
SO....

...got up, wandered around, let the Mele outside to go potty...

and decided to deadhead my little mums in the wheelbarrow on the patio.

...searched for my clippers IN THE DARK but could only find the ones that don't work because I couldn't see a darned thing.

I Made them WORK!

(it's now about 10 after 4)

began hacking at the mum's...and putting the little dead flowers in this little flower pot.

....went back inside, got a cup of yesterday morning's coffee and heated it in the micro wave..

laced heavily with this..

turned on the computer and stared at this.

Great post, don'cha think? I know, I know, but I've got nothing. Blank.

Just one of those nights...you know? Um..mornings...

Hugs and love!!

Mona

~PUTTERING AROUND~

2011-10-13T22:15:00.000-07:00

Puttering is what I do now. Retirement. HOW did I ever find time to work??

We have squirrels, Racoon, and today a fat little possum walked carefully across our back fence..paying NO attention to us at all, just very, very carefully...yes...he made it.

Where is my camera?? Where is Mele, the great watch dog???

No matter, back to puttering...

I added a few miniture sunflowers and it brightened up the fountain area so much..
Actually, they were a gift from daughter#2, who came and tucked them in like a professional..

My favorite corner of our front porch and a favorite gathering place for evening chats with neighbors.

I brought out the can of high gloss clear lacquer and gave all the pumpkins a nice coat. Maybe it will kept the racoons and squirrels away. So far, so good!

Now I am really getting into the "shine" of things..so I gave the little bail of hay a good dose too!

(Didn't work. The neighborhood cat who loves my porch and likes to pee pee on my front screen) ...has already begun clawing my HAY! Every morning I have to go sweep it up! *expletive*
No..no..I didn't cuss...heavens no! Who me?? No..that was EXACTLY what I said.
"Expletive, expletive, expletive" then I felt MUCH better.. :)

I love the way it looks! :) That is an old grapevine wreath that fell apart years ago and I just couldn't throw it away. I've had it hanging on the back of my old bench on the patio...works for me!

Then I gave Mele's toy rat a dose of black paint and sat him on the window sill.
Mele hates that rat and won't play with it. It doesn't squeek! She's funny that way!

Mele and one of her squeeky toys...

Oh...and we also fed the lawn. DID I say WE???
Thank you, Patient Husband!

Love and hugs,
Mona

I am joining our sweet Tootsie @ Tootsie Time for Fertilizer Friday! Go see what's going on outside!

~A CHILD AT HEART..~

2011-10-12T16:09:00.000-07:00

I've been teased a lot by family..and sometimes friends, but only a bit. Just a bit.

I admit, I DO LOVE TOYS!

The holidays are when children are focused on and perhaps that is why I love our seasons and the holidays so much.

And...I had a huge family and lots of celebrations...birthdays etc.

Recently I came across this little tea set by Brambly Hedge on ebay. It was a Pottery Barn special edition.

It went perfectly with my new little child's table. (Thank you, Bea and Cliff!)

Bea and Cliff have an ebay auction site..and upon request they spent months finding me just the right little table...it's perfect.

I have never met these folks personally, but we have chatted on the phone, written many emails and been good friends for ...about seven years now.

Tiny Flopsy Bunnies...

Pink, green, yellow and blue....

Jamima Puddle Duck

Sometimes you just gotta have that "something" you really shouldn't buy...but..

...let the leaves fall where they may!

That's what I say!

Does this ...qualify for "Tablescape Thursday?" Hmmmmmm?? Guess not.. :)

A child at heart...

Mona

I think I will go ahead and join Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch. She probably won't mind.

She is just as nice as she is cute...so...here goes...

~THE AUTUMN OF MY LIFE?~

2011-10-11T00:14:00.000-07:00

Not anymore.

I think I'm done decorating. Well, almost. It seems that making the season's

come alive is an ongoing process.

I change things..putter around, take away, add, and it's not that I am not satisfied,

It's just that it's fun. I know that you know exactly what I mean!

This large brass candlestick was a Saturday garage sale find. This one is not going to get painted.

The is a little lever that raises and lowers the candle.

This small one was also found at the same garage sale. I bought both of them for a dollar each.

SUCH a deal!

A closer view of my painting. That artist did not have anything on ebay this year. I am thankful I have one of her pieces.

Zelda is new to my collection this year too. LOVE this Witchy poo...love her!

M. Crow is from last year. These two bonded..so I keep them together. He seems to want to watch out for her, help her across streets, that sort of thing. It's understandable. :)

..c..c...c...candy! Oh well...

These two hang out together too...(where'd the Fall leaves go? Oops..on the floor.. :)

Just pretend the bottle of Windex isn't there...ok?

I would do it for you... :) The shawl was a gift.

Love and hugs,

Mona

I want to thank our hostess Marty @ A STROLL THRU LIFE for this fun meme.

P.S.

I am now SEVENTYFIVE YEARS OLD as of this Saturday and have entered the Winter of my life.

No big deal, but I am sort of proud I'm still here and more than that

I am truely grateful!

~FINALLY, A WHITE PICKET FENCE...~

2011-10-07T16:34:00.000-07:00

"Hon, I was wondering if maybe you could....um...never mind.."

"Mele??? never mind.."

You see..when Patient Husband finishes putting up this little picket fence I bought at a garage sale..then mows the lawn and feeds the poor thing...the lawn that is.

I thought the corner of the yard would be a wonderful place to add it..in front of our rather messy tree. Keeps Mele from "hunting" back there..and looks kinda cute. :)

The fence is painted a very, very pale green. Lovely... :)

..these wonderful metal baskets came tied to the fence, ALL for five dollars and ALL in perfect condition! Good deal? Yeah, I thought so too.

Fall is on our patio...and growing...

He deserves to nap...after all..he did a lot today...

I am joining Tootse for Fertilizer Friday...(LOVE that meme!)

Hugs, Mona

~HAUNTED MIRROR..OR...~

2011-10-05T22:41:00.000-07:00

Now, please, don't anyone get all freaked out at me..(and DON'T look at my closet!) but I would like some feedback on this...if, of course you have any to offer.
This situation began the year after we were married and for the past maybe 6 months or more I have been ignoring. it.
But..(and I have some even stranger photo's) it began with my little dog. Not going into it..it's a long story..but look at what happens when I take photo's in my bedroom...and THIS particular mirror happens to get in the shot...

This mirror was given to me by my sons after they left home and got their first apartment. It had been painted a light green and my son, Mike, stripped it and refinished it. It was very old at the time. The back is hard wood..firmly in place. I have no idea where they got it. Someone had given it to them.

I have owned it over 30 years now.

The first time was accidental over a year ago...that I found this out about the mirror.. Then I really began to persue it..then I stopped! It frightened me, but I just took these yesterday..to see what would happen. IF it was still happening...and it is!

See the markings...as if made by vapor as an airplane leaves?

Does your BEVELED mirrors do this too?

I have been told it's because of the flash...

so...does your mirrors do it...make a pattern that changes?

Seems to fade and then change with each shot.

OK. But..when I said...if someone is there..please make an X....

...and this is what I got!! Interesting? I thought so.

So...does your mirrors do this..

Someone said it was because of the flash..reflections off other mirrors in the room..so I laid the mirror on the bed...and you should see what I got!

To me it looked like someone had tried to draw two eyes and a smiling mouth! A face?

That did it...there are more..just as wierd....but you have probably seen enough.

Since it is the month of Halloween..I thought I would share this... :)

Strange mirror ..don't you think. This could not be caused by reflections from another mirror..

So...how is your weather? It rained all day long here...and I loved every minute.

Got lots done around the house..

Autumn. It's it wonderful?

(...can you tell I get a little nervous even sharing this? )

Love and hugs...
Mona

*easily debunked?? PLEASE do!*

~A HALLOWEEN VILLAGE~

2011-10-03T20:38:00.000-07:00

I am joining Marty for her Tabletop Tuesday.

http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

I wanted to share this little Halloween tabletop set I bought about 30 years ago. Made of pewter..so they say. I have no idea really, but it's cute. I stopped using it years ago..but this year dug it out..and decided to fix it up.

I bought this little pewter set when my youngest was about ten...so..thirty years ago.

It had gotten pretty banged up over the years..so this year I pulled it out and touched it up..

There is a little trick or treater and his ghostly little doggie..,

The village pub and the Mr. Pumpkin Head toasting the evening...

The Witches Flight School...with brand new Witches using the windmill to train on...

A witch using a tree to get a boost perhaps?

Now that I have it all touched up..some new felt? And then what? I'll have to figure that out.!

This is a project I have wanted to get done for a long, long time.

Have a wonderful Tuesday..:)

*Thank you Marty, for hosting this fun Tabletop Tuesday, Party!

Love and hugs,

Mona

~SOMETHING UNUSUAL...~

2011-10-02T22:49:00.000-07:00

I hate it when I fixate on something..cannot get it out of my head and DO NOT need it at all.

Yes, I know I have said this before..but..this was really...silly.

I don't have a baby..and I already have a little doll high chair..cradles and just that sort of thing..but..I am beginning to believe daughters when they say "Mom, that's crazy! You don't need that!"

They are right.

Katie dear, Grandma is sending you a package!

Soon...soon..

I found this little highchair for a baby at a garage sale..for $35.00.

I balk at paying more than a quarter for anything..so this was difficult.

I passed on it at first...then went back..and bought it.

Have you ever seen a high chair like this one? I never have. I tried to find one on line and had no luck. I would love to know the history of it.

She was asking $40.00 but took $35.00 and I didn't try to go any lower. It was worth it!

Very heavy and sturdy.

I came across this American Girl doll and three sets of clothing, little hats, a whistle, shoes, stockings, and books of her adventures. It's a bad photo as it really does not do her justice..as her little velvet hat with it's streamers down the back, do not show up..nor do the sweet little outfits. Even tiny wooden clothes hangers.

Anyway..I know she is a costly doll and I will tell you I didn't pay a lot for her.

I wanted her as a gift..and she is nothing I could normally afford.

I passed her up on Saturday, but went searching for the house again today..and found her. What a deal.

She was $40.00 and for this doll..that was not much at all.

A doggie bowl. Great quality. 50 cents. (thank heavens!)

And some linens. A beautiful tablecloth with napkins, very 40's, $1.00, a pretty new cherry dishtowel of heavy cotton that I can use for lining dishes when serving rolls..or many uses, 25 cents. NOT to dry dishes...AND a stack of lovely soft yellow napkins..like new for just $1.00. My favorite things to find.

This little book will be a nice Valentine's Day decoration. 25 cents.

I also bought a beautiful piece of picket fencing...wonderful heavy wood..which I will show you on Friday. The price will surprise you.

This...was an expensive Saturday...and I admit it. But...what the heck. Children are grown, I donate, and I am having such a good time.

That's what lifes all about..or supposed to be.

Oh...shoot! I meant to tell you..(forgot to get photo's of it!) but I found a fantastic little OLD typewriter in MINT condition for my daughter #3 Maryalice..and she was beside herself with joy.

And....I found an adorable little basket with hand carved egg shaped balls inside with something that rattled in each one. They were all hand decorated..and we have NO idea what they are. Daughter # 2, Erin got that for her little home.

What a fun day Saturday is! A treasure hunt. You really must see how cute the fence looks..and more.

Ok. I'm done. Falling on my face trying not to sleep. So..

have a wonderful week and I will see you in a day or so.

Hugs and love,

Mona

You GOTTA see my fence...and what came with it! :),

~A TIME FOR EVERYTHING.....~

2011-09-28T21:09:00.000-07:00

...and first I want to thank Diane @ Lavender Dreams for featuring my dolls on her post today..
What a sweet, sweet thing for her to do! She understands me...she is also a lover of dolls.
Thank you SO much, Diane!

...and my time with the lovely old wooden wagon is over. It went back to it's original home.

My daughter, though she would deny it, I think, was very happy to look out her front door and see it parked in it's usual place.

So..maybe no old wooden wagon, but this will have to do. I like it. I mean it IS a Radio Flyer after all. Maybe it doesn't have the same character but..it holds the pots..and pumpkins...and everyone is happy..

*********

Briefly :) .... ok..not so briefly...I was in my little truck and on my way Sunday to pick up my little doll carriage..when there, right in front, next to the street was this lovely little wagon. RED WAGON!!

Sweet neighbor from across the street, with precocious little girl, said "don't stop! They ask way too much for their things! I've been there! They're much too high!"

So on we drove.

On the way back, as we approached the same garage sale, again I say "I'm going to stop and check out that wagon..." Again my friend said " It's a waste of your time..I'm telling you!!" but being a curious person and having learned the hard way to just ASK..I pull over, turn around and park the car...um..truck!

Everyone piles out and I head for the wagon, my friend heads in a different direction.

I ask about the little red wagon and the woman says "$20." Quick as a wink I hand her the money, not even bargaining, and walk off pulling that little red wagon. I usually bargain a bit but fair is fair and I KNOW the price of these...and it isn't $20.00, believe me!

My friend sees me pulling the little red wagon, bless her heart, asks how much and then says..."WHAT???" We had a rather quiet ride home.. but then a bright orange house caught our attention ...and the day got back to normal. Yep, a very bright ORANGE house! I will have to snap a photo of it.

Ah well.. :) next time she will probably stop and ask. I learned this from Patient Husband..and now I am glad I listened to him. One never assumes ANYTHING when going to garage sales..

WHY CAN'T I EVER BE BRIEF!!!!! :(

Mele: "Um...Mom...this Teddy Bear?? She has socks on!!"

Oh, yeah...so she does.... :)

Mel has appointed herself the watchdog of our back yard..and has decided to keep an eye on Abby even if she DOES have socks on!

Mele is either in under my chair, trailing me from room to room, looking out the front window, or under my computer chair as she is this moment. I can reach my hand down..always..and touch her soft fur...

Love and hugs,

Mona

P.S. I've been told..in no uncertain terms, by folks who know, such as Prudence at The Bears Blog) that BEARS DO NOT WEAR SOCKS! Ah well.. :)

~I NEVER WIN ANYTHING...~

2011-09-26T23:54:00.000-07:00

..hardly ever...but I did this time! My bid was the highest for the antique doll carriage..and..

here it is!

They called me on Sunday afternoon to say I had won...and was really surprised. I bid $50 below the asking price..

No..this was not a garage sale steal! :) I paid..but not really all that much for something so old and in PERFECT condition.

:( WHY didn't I hide that cord???)

Not a single solitary broken piece of wicker..the wheels...perfect. Mint original condition.

I went over it with a fine tooth comb before I bid...$125 got it. The lovely material that covers the inside (which I didn't show but should have)..is the original as well.

Showing off my doll...I mean her dress. The bedding in the carriage was found on ebay and came in a set. Two pillows..the first layer is a satin trimmed in lace..then comes the lace covered mattress and cover..then other coverlet and then a final layer of lace. The tiny pillows and their covers are just beautiful..

I thought it was perfect for the carriage and I have had it for some time now....just waiting!

*giggle*

I am SO pleased. I have wanted one of these for years..and years..

I wanted to show you the label that I found on the bottom of the carriage. I hope you can read it.

It is from J.C. Penny's Inc. Says it was made by a baby carriage factory and holds (I think) up to 150 pounds. Then it says to see picture on the left, and shows a man standing in the doll carriage holding onto the handle.

VERY old picture ...

You can see the lace topper in this photo..the lace on top is my dolls dress.

I wanted to show you the little bonnet up close. All those roses are hand made by the seamstress...You can see the edges of the little pillows. You can sort of see the hand dyed roses on the gown..

Unfortunately this little gown does not show up well in the photo.

And there you have it...my doll carriage..and a couple of dollies..

Did I NEED this little carriage?

NO.

Do I feel guilty for buying something like this at my age?

Yes.

Will a tiny Great granddaughter get it?

No..not this time..

I have always decorated with toys because that is all I had around my home for many years and got used to sitting the childrens playthings around. The family room in our home looked a little like a toy store..with the room turned into a play room with little tables lining the walls and tiny stools I painted different primary colors for them to sit on. A library of books to read and crayons, chalk and little chalk boards. Dolls, blocks..the works...and they looked beautiful.

It's where my little ones learned to keep house...tiny refrigerator and stove..little dishes..trucks..:)

I still play with a truck! Toyota 2000 Prerunner to be exact! Mint condition! :)

Maybe I miss those days...I DO. I miss my babes.

So..I continue to decorate with toys..

I am off to bed..and like a little girl again, I will sleep peacefully. My dollies, Teddy bears, my husband and all my family are safe and tucked in. I know. I checked.

Love and hugs..

Mona

P.S. for Prudence and Joyce at The Bears Blog. Just be claws..I mean because. :)

HEY PRUDENCE! I GET TO RIDE IN THE PRETTY CARRIAGE TOO!!

(..just wait until she tries to take me out!)

Abby

~YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED...~

2011-09-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

...You just never know what you might find. For me Saturday's are an adventure. If you don't do that and it isn't your cup of tea and you prefer expensive little shops...then I understand. I used to be like you..but I have now discovered a way to find lovely, useful things for my home...and it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg...so to speak.

First stop of the day and I found this lovely little harness that fit Mele...and with all that fur I haven't been able to find something that is both cute ..and fits her fat little body. Price? 50 cents!

Last Saturday started off very slow..I found just one novel..a harness for Mele and were headed home when we stopped at one last yard sale...and I found the following items.. This lovely little siver jewelry box...

...all lined in scarlet velvet..notice the pretty etching along the edges...

A round deep silver tray, very heavy

I love the feet...that is always a plus with me...the name on the bottom says "Raimond" and has a discription...it is silverplate but very nice and I love silverplate.

Everything was black and it took awhile to get it to return to it's beautiful self..but worth it.

(sorry my photo's are blurred...I should have taken them over..) The tea set was found in among other items and matched perfectly so I imagine they belong together. It doesn't match the tray..but that is good. I like mismatched silver.

I also found this lovely very soft well made afghan. Handmade! And such a lovely butter yellow! Perfect on my patio swing!

All of the above was exactly $11.00! Now to me this was a wonderful deal. The tray was five dollars but she took $4.00. The tea set was also $5.00. The little jewery box was $1.00 and the afghan was just $1.00!

What an adventure and one I can afford!

Today we went again..and I will share my find with you later in the week.

Oh..before I forget..I did go to an Estate sale..which I will share later...but...I gambled a bit.

I put a bid on a gorgeous little very old wicker doll buggy in perfect condition. Will I get it..who knows. I may be outbid. If so, it wasn't meant to be. :) I have been looking for one for a long time.

Why? Oh heavens, I don't know! Still trying to replace those lost toys of long ago I imagine!

Love and hugs,

Mona

P.S. My prayers go out to my dear friend Gloria at Happy To Be. She is in need of your positive thoughts and prayers.

~FOR LOVE OF OLD WAGONS....~

2011-09-23T16:07:00.000-07:00

This old wooden wagon was a gift from my daughter when she thought she was going move from her home..

It is something I could use every season, for Fall blooms, for pumpkins and Halloween displays, for Thanksgiving bundles of Fall leaves and pumpkins and of course for Christmas boughs of greenery and pinecones from our big pine tree..

I brought it from under the old cyprus tree in the back yard, hauled it around to the front..

..hosed it off and filled it with potted Mums and pumpkins...

HOW easy was that?

My sweet daughter has decided not to move at this time...so..I am trying to return it to her as I know full well she wishes she had it.

I will miss it. But it should go home.

*sigh*

This is my daughters pond at her home..

Another view of the pond. It is very large. Usually there is a fountain that is shooting water into the air...it wasn't on this day...(I must get a photo of that pond.)

This is the front entry to her home..and the wagon used to sit here...

Mary says she gave it to me...but I can see the look in her eyes...she DOES miss her wagon.

She will have had it for 14 years this December.

Much love,

Mona

I am joining Tootsies @ http://tootsietime.blogspot.com/

~ AN 'A' FOR EFFORT?~

2011-09-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

Maybe not...but it's fun to play with dishes..and Fall flowers and silverware..

I'm playing with the big girls now...and it's intimidating...very intimidating..but what the heck..

:):)

A few days ago, daughter #3 came for a short visit and in no time flat was opening pumpkins with lids and searching every container she could find for "Candy Corn."

It is something that is always in our home from September on...

...there was NONE..not a single sweet kernel!

I got a sad look..when she heard I had not bought it yet...but soon...I promised...soon Sweetie...

So..yesterday Sweet Patient husband brought home two large bags...

I feel better! You know??

The Chargers are from Pottery Barn..and oh how I wish I had bought six of them!

The little Quail salt and peppers are from Fitz and Floyd...

My tablescape was very quickly put together.. it really is fun to do!

...but I wanted to join in the fun...Fall comes but once a year...and it seems so short a time..
Autumn colors go so quickly...

The china is by Nortaki. Its a set of 8 that I found at a garage sale for $35.00. It came with platters, gravy bowl, vegetable dish, cups and saucers, salad plates and dessert plates!

The only thing it didn't come with them was a name. On the back is the letter M and when I looked it up it said that Nortaki made china at one time that they didn't name.

It is simply called "Mystery" china.

Isn't that interesting?

This sterling silver is called "Prelude" and it from the 1930's.

Some of you might remember this garage sale find, set of 8 for just $10.00. It was even in a silverware chest. I looked the set up on the computer and it was worth $4100. And that was not including the four gorgeous serving spoons.. Not even sure the little butter knives were included in that price.

If that doesn't make you want to get your bottom dollar out of bed early on a Saturday morning and go to the garage sales...I don't know what will.

I love the delicate pattern. Fall? Spring? Summer? I think it works for all seasons.

I'm joining (as always a bit late) Between Naps on The Porch for Tablescape Thursday...

"Are we done, Mom?

Yep, Mele, we're all done!

Hugs,
Mona

~FALL HAS BEGUN WITH MY TABLETOPS..~

2011-09-20T17:31:00.000-07:00

http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

....at least for me. I finally decided I'd best get busy and hit the shed in a serious way..

I won't even show you the cases I unloaded...I think I tossed out more than I put up!

Our little home is not really a great place to take daytime photo's with out a flash. NO indeed.

You aren't missing much..LOL It takes me days and even then I am never satisfied. So..I blog hop!!

Yep...finally..Fall leaves. I never can resist decorating the light fixture. Would you call this a chandelier? Again, I had to use flash.

Since I love dolls...I decided to let my Scare Crow dolls decorate our family room mantel this Fall season. (it could change any moment!) :) It take me days to decide what I want...

A lady made these. I thought they were wonderful. Everything is hand sewn..the eyes and all the features, if you look closely, are hand embroidered.

Mantel top..and table top..

~FALL FLOWERS...now where's the pumpkins?~

2011-09-16T11:26:00.000-07:00

http://tootsietime.blogspot.com/

Tootsie...this was about all I could come up with..but there will be more by next Friday....I hope!

I was determined to make it this Friday...with at least something.

Little yellow wheelbarrow has found it's way to our new back patio...well..the walkway is new at least.

Just widened the patio about 6 feet or so and added the walkway SO nice to be able to walk the full length of the house...and not get my feet soaked in the wet grass.

The piece you see hanging on the wall behind the swing was once out on the fence in the back yard...just rotting away! So I took it down..a couple of days ago and added butter yellow pots and three different ivy plants. I think it warmed that large area of white wall up very well.

And yes..the cover on the swing is an old bedspread...but sometimes one has to make do.

The ties are made from the material I used to cover the cushion on the swing. I mean...it IS outside and I will never be a TOOTSIE!

Thank you for inspiring me, sweet blogging friend! There are flowers in the material...does that count? :)

Hugs and love,

Mona

~OK...THIS IS THE VERY LAST ONE..~

2011-09-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

Rooster..that is. I HAVE to stop buying them..but there always seems to be one that I cannot pass up..such as this adorable (to me, of course) lamp!

Garage sale Saturday brought this my way...

So...what do you think..was he worth $30 or not. I thought so and home he came. Not a single "flea bite" on him..nothing. Works beautifully. Nothing loose. The only thing I found was that the harp was a bit crooked and Patient Husband jumped right in and fixed to perfection!

I found sooo much this Saturday.

Two novels, one of those little cardboard buildings, a lovely little white church that became so expensive. This I am sure is not an old one..but I loved it. AND Christmas IS coming you know!

...and...this lovely moss green jacket...

Ok...the second picture is not much better...(always raise your chin up when your picture is taken!) but who cares. Right? ME! ME CARES!

~COMPLETED PATIO..FINALLY~

2011-09-08T23:18:00.000-07:00

I just wanted you to see the temperature at about 11 AM this morning.

And this was in the shade.

I had to get a lot done before noon..at this point I was nearly done moving things.

I hosed the stones down hoping it would keep me cool until most of the work was done.

Mele has decided IF the stones are cool enough she MIGHT come out. Can't say as I blame her one bit. It's HOT out here!

There! There's the stones! :)

You see....

I just have so much stuff out on the patio that dear Patient Husband, I think, fears it detracts from the stones. Is he right? Oh...probably.. :)

Yes, yes, that's my old king size quilt on top of my swing. Doesn't everybody put their old bed quilts over their swings? And..their tableclothes under their swing cushions? They don't? :)

I need to put my hanging plants behind the swing...I think. We'll see.

No, it won't hit them when we swing. (much..)

There..stone! :)

The water is drying fast...gotta hurry as it was getting hotter by the second! Oh..and look at this!!

I wanted to show you what happened to the grass when the men sat the umbrella's on the lawn to shand them while laying the stones..

They didn't sit there for days..just one afternoon...but better the grass then my family!

Looking back down the path toward the patio. Our poor lawn is struggling.

...and here we are back at the patio looking in from the path.

I realize there is a lot of "stuff" on the patio, as everyone is so fond of saying, but every single thing there is absolutely....ABSOLUTELY...necessary. Don't you think??? Me too! :)

It's sooo nice to have friends that agree with you.

Hugs,

Mona

~PROGRESS ON FLAGSTONE PATIO...~

2011-09-07T19:15:00.000-07:00

...and finally it is finished. Yesterday a full crew came to work..and the job was done.

This is the dearest son in law! He works so hard. I have known him since he was about 14 years old.

He was able to do this for us between jobs...and on this day he worked alone to get it done. It was Labor Day and his helpers had the day off.

His son had the time to help...bless is heart!

We were so lucky he was able to work us in.

This was the last stretch..down the walkway out to the driveway..

Monday, my dear son in law was back bright and early and did all the grouting on the patio..

Tuesday morning..

...a full crew and the grouting was finished. We were able to hose it down this morning and began putting things back!

An enormous job!

Tomorrow..I hope most of it will be done..and I can show off our new flagstone patio and walkway.

I have tried to work on it today but the heat was 110 today and the humidity horrible. It drove me inside time after time.

In the process I broke a mirror and one of my beautiful 25 cent blue and white china vases..

So early tomorrow morning will find me back at it..and hopefully ready for pictures to post.

Yes..110 degrees!

So until tomorrow..or Friday... :)

Love and hugs,

Mona

~ROAMY'S CALIFORNIA VACATION FIASCO...~

2011-09-02T12:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Bloggers,

I don't want to say that Mona is a bad hostess...however...lets just say we have had better times?

It was hot, 110 degree's, every single day...so we paused by the fountain to cool off a bit. I fell in! Baby fell in! Mom fell in, but she finally snapped this um...photo of us...

Needless to say, we cooled off!!

We rode in Mona's purse to the garage sales (which are NOT exactly what we expected to do) and..

she forgot us! Left her purse AND us in the car!

Now, I TELL you...is that polite??

Yes! I SEE THE BLASTED PALM TREE!

That's...it??? No...I like palm tree's. Honest!!

There was a work crew in the back yard laying the new flagstone patio...I offered to help...but they said "that's ok....we're doing fine."

Friendly sort, her Grandson, Eian.

I admit it did cross my mind about that wheelbarrow of cement being so CLOSE to me!

HEY FELLA'S??!! A little to the right with that last stone?

Piglet stopped by for a spot of tea. Was that nice or what?? :)

You know, if I had to listen to Piglet for very long I think his little voice would drive me a wee crazy!!

Mona apologizes for not posting about us..she kept meaning to...but the days just flew.

She gave Mom this lovely necklace to try and make up for her bad manners.

Also painted the tippy top of her hat where it had gotten scuffed pretty bad.

She added tiny angel to keep us safe on our journey.

We leave in the morning...and let us hope our next hostess is ....more accomadating?

Off we go in the morning...

Much love,

Roamy and family

~TO PAINT OR NOT TO PAINT..~

2011-08-26T21:36:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is once again garage sale day.

However I wanted to share the rest of last Saturdays sale with you......

To paint or not to paint...that is once more the question.

We were nearly home when we saw one last garage sale and though tired, decided to stop.

I'm glad we did!

And...there it was. Exactly what I needed. I thought it looked familiar...then it hit me.

We had one exactly like it at home.

All I need is new matching pulls for both cabinets and it's going to be just fine. (I'm still fiddling with where I put what.)

I REALLY needed the space for my dishes, etc.

(In the photo it looks like a large scratch on the cabinet but there is nothing there. Something must have been reflecting off the wood.

So....

...should I paint them black or not? Gotta feeling I will. Patient husband isn't saying a word this time.

The new one is a bit darker in color than ours.

So....should I?? I think I should.

I'm not insecure. Not a bit! LOL

Price $25, but got it for $20!

Finding the right pulls is going to be a challenge...

I TOLD you it was a great garage sale day!

I also found this oil painting for 50 cents, frame and all!! I think I will Google "Cantrell".

It's probably not worth anything..but thought I would check. It's on canvas on some sort of board.

I hung it in my office. Snow paintings are my favorites I think.

Watching the storm's progress. Wouldn't it be great if there was not one person hurt? I pray that will be so.

Love & Hugs,

Mona

~ A SWEET, PRECOCIOUS CHILD~

2011-08-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

I have the sweetest neighbor that lives across the street from me. I consider myself lucky to have her. She is a great deal younger than I am and has a little six year old girl. Her husband works out of town and is gone for a week at a time. I have known the family for about a year now.

My friend comes over nearly every day. She is lonely I think. Her family lives near by and I also know her family. Very nice people and close knit.

She has a little girl that is just adorable. From the first day they came to visit it was difficult to carry on a conversation with her mother. She would stand between her mother and I and demand attention. Not knowing them I just did the best I could to hear what the mother was saying as the little girl talked OVER her mother non stop.

I gave the child my attention as much as possible, reading her stories, playing with her etc. I have dolls and many childrens toys, such as play dishes...etc.

Even giving her lots of time new things to interest her..nothing worked. She talks non stop from the time they arrive until the time they finally leave. I say "finally" because it become very wearing.

The little girl was a premature baby and the mother is in her 30's with no intention of having more children. Not that I blame her as this cute little girl is a handful.

It's been a year now and nothing has changed. The mom just has difficult time disciplining her at all.

Here is the worst part.

The child is often insulting! Not just to her mother but to me as well! She speaks more like an adult then a little girl. I have seen other children in my life that were somewhat like this one...but not this bad by a long shot.

Recently I have begun speaking up. When she begins to get mean I attempt to stop her.

I tell her "that's not a bit nice!" or some such thing. It seldom has any impact.

I have even, of late, given her little talks such as "you are so cute and I love you. But..I want you to be as sweet as you look..." or some such thing.

Nope.

Here's another thing. She seems to be easily distressed at times and gets a very hurt look on her face and it's sincere. So I back off and just let her go on...and on...and on.

I know her mother adores her...and doesn't want to upset her either. That's obvious.

Now and then the mom will say "STOP!" but in a few seconds it starts all over.

I have begun to...and I hate to say this...find reason to get back inside the house to work after just a few minutes of a visit.

It makes me feel bad. I mean REALLY bad because I love the little girl AND her mother.

I have even told my friend in a laughing way that "I think God knew what he was doing when he gave children to the very young."

We have even talked about how the constant adult type insults and such get to the mother badly at times.

She says she talks to her about it. Tries to get the little girl to understand. Nothing works!Q!

It's the hands on hips, squinting eyes, sassy back talk that finally gets to me.

I do not want to lose the friendship...and I keep thinking she will outgrow it..as she is now going on seven. But nothing changes, only seems to get worse.

My question...how would you handle it. I feel so bad when I make excuses to disappear.

Any suggestions?

There have been times I don't answer the door!! That's NOT me!

Thanks for listening.

Love and hugs,

Mona