Army Men

Yeah! It's the weekend again! Hubby has been out of town since Tuesday morning. He will be home later this afternoon. Hope he doesn't mind seeing all the great finds I came across the last couple of days. I like Friday garage sales because I can go after I take the kiddos to school. I did that yesterday. Then this morning I bribed the kids with donuts and took them along to some more sales. Gotta get my "fix" before winter sets in and people stop having them.

I found some beautiful children's books for 10 cents each. The ones in the back are those old "plastic" books that you can wipe clean. The bird notecards have scripture on them and are so pretty. I think I will use them on cards, journals, etc.
It is hard to tell in the picture, but this is a pretty olive/sage green shelf. It has a groove for plates, but I think I will put pictures of the kids on it. Isn't the bed skirt pretty? Both of these are for our bedroom.
Some fun vintage Christmas decorations....At the antique mall where I have my booth, most people don't do much for seasonal displays. I'm going to be different and change mine out for the holidays - not a lot, but hopefully it will catch people's eye.

I'm told this is actually something you put underneath a wood stove to protect the floor. I think it looks neat in propped in front of the fireplace. It was $2!
And if I get tired of the front side I can turn it around. It has its own unique look. At the estate sale where I bought the Christmas items I also bought a big box of "goodies" for $3. It was full of all kinds of trim, velvet ribbon and....
...these beauties! Most of this looks to be old lace collars.
This one still has the mother of pearl buckle attached. Just lovely!

And since the kids were with me we had to buy these.

Now back to the regularly scheduled laundry! Have a great weekend!

A Walk in the Woods

I really don't have much to say tonight, but I wanted to post something. I guess I will share some photos from yesterday. While Sweet Girl was riding, the boys and I went exploring. I wish I was a better photographer. I can see in my mind how I want the shot to look, but it never actually turns out that way. Oh, well.






There. Did you enjoy that little walk in the woods? I hope so. I know the boys and I did.

Sorry. Hopefully I will have something more exciting to post next time. Not sure when that will be. Until then....

A Good Report

We made it back from Houston. We had good reports from the doctors. Sweet Girl has gained a significant amount of weight over the last six months. That made for a very happy GI doc! While we were checking in at the neuro appt. we got to visit with some other Rett families. Three of the four girls there (including our Sweet Girl) had birthdays within five days of each other. It was fun to see three 5 year olds there together. One of the girls walks quite well. That was encouraging to see. The other girl was 9 and actually lives about an hour from here. We had never met any other Rett families from Arkansas, so it was nice to visit with them.

Here are the kiddos at the Gulf of Mexico.
The birthday boy with his card that I made him. I just went through my stash and found all the "7"s I could find and attached them to the paper. Pretty simple.
We spent most of Friday at the Space Center. The boys had a great time!
Docking the space ship.

Mission control.

Now I need to get caught up on things here to begin a new week. I'm really wanting to work on making some Christmas things - cards, ornaments, gifts, etc. Hopefully I can find time for some of that this week. I hope you find time for the things you enjoy also.

Tuesday Tip #5

Today's tip is this: Don't be afraid to ask. If I had hesitated to ask, I would not be the proud owner of this sweet little cabinet. It came from the same auction as my big corner cabinet. This one was attached to the wall in the garage. When it came time to sell everything in the garage, the auctioneer said that one bid would take everything. Ugh! You've got to be kidding me?! I asked about the cabinet and at first he said it wasn't included because it was attached to the wall. He must have noticed my disappointed face because he quickly changed his mind. The problem was that it was still included with all the other yucky garage contents. I did not bid and tried to be satisfied with just my other wonderful cabinet. But I just couldn't do it. I couldn't let the old man who bought the garage junk take this piece. Worse yet, I couldn't let him just leave it there. I sweetly asked him if he would be willing to sell it to me. He said, "Sure. How does $2 sound?" Yes, yes, yes! I will take it! You've just got to ask!

A friend from church is starting a Portable Projects Night. You bring whatever project you are working on (scrapbooking, papercrafting, sewing, etc.) and work on it while visiting with friends. It is a wonderful night out for mommies! Doesn't that sound like fun? Unfortunately I will miss the first one, but I am already starting to think about what sort of portable project I will take to the next one.

Well, we are heading to Houston tomorrow. We go every six months to see Sweet Girl's Rett specialists. I always dread the trip - 8 hours one way for doctor's appointments. I also despise big cities, so I am always a nervous wreck. Oh, well. We do it for our girl. We are taking the boys with us this time, also. We are going to take an extra day to do some fun things like the Space Center. It will be a good way to celebrate Boy #2's 7th birthday. (I've really got to come up with better blog names for my kids, don't ya think?)

I guess that is all for now. Have a great rest of the week!

That's What Friends Are For

More than once I have purchased something large at an auction and then thought, "Okay, how am I going to get this home?" It happened with this cabinet and it happened again last weekend. We don't own a pickup, so I have to call on friends to help out on occasion. When I bought the cabinet I was just down the road from some "soccer team acquaintences." They were nice enough to help me get the cabinet home. So nice of them - especially since my hubby was out of town and the cabinet weighs a ton!

Last weekend I went to a school district auction. I wanted a couple lockers to put in my boys' room. (We are working on a vintage sports theme.) Well, in order to get a couple lockers, I had to get a stack of lockers! What do you do with a whole stack of lockers? Well, you have a friend haul them with his pickup and trailer and then you offer the friend a section of lockers in return. You also offer a section to your friend's mother, your friend's friends, your friend's neighbors....You get the picture. I will put a section of them in the garage to hold sports gear, yard tools, etc. A smaller section will go in the boys' room. Anyway, I said all that really to say "Thank you" to Keith. I'm sure he is not reading this, but hopefully his wife will read it and pass the word along. They are both so wonderful at helping out anytime it is needed!

I don't have a picture of the above mentioned lockers, but I wanted to show you these also. I love old wire locker baskets! I got 10 of them at the auction. Unfortunately, most of them are written on with marker. Not sure I can get it off. They can always be turned around the other way. Aren't they great?! I put two of them in the antique booth for now. Not sure what the plans are for the others.
This is one more find from the auction - the sweetest little chalkboard. I have a thing for chalkboards. I really wanted to get a large one, but missed out. I "settled" for this one.
Sorry. This is turning out to be a long post. I wanted to show you this collage I made for a baby gift. A friend is doing here nursery with this bedding. So fun!
Yes, I tore up an old copy of Treasure Island. Is that bad? The "anchor" is an old button attached to an old light pull (I think).
The only thing I had to purchase for these project was the treasure map - everything else was already in my stash. I think the stickers came from Target's $1 Spot last year. Oh, and the stick came from my yard. :)

Well, I am off to pick up my kids from school and then do Parent Teacher Conferences. I would love for you to leave me a comment so I know who is reading my blog. It always intrigues me to know where my blog is "traveling."

Tuesday Tip #4

Back when I started this blog I said I was going to do a Tuesday Tip each week. Well, I haven't done a very good job with that. First, I guess I don't have many good tips and second, I don't post often enough. Anyway, I will share a tip for today. Make sure you go through your children's cool weather clothes before the cool weather actually arrives. Profound, I know. Why do I share this tip? To help you avoid a morning like we had at our house this morning. My oldest son has one pair of jeans that actually fit him. Sweet girl doesn't have much more than that. I do think my middle son might be okay on pants, but I haven't even investigated the whole long sleeve shirt thing yet. We went from upper 80 degree weather to 50-ish and rainy in a matter of a couple days. I'm really not complaining. I have been wanting cooler temps. I just couldn't get in the mood to go through the kids' clothes when the AC was still running. Now I am regretting that.

This is just a simple birthday card I made for my sweet SIL a couple weeks ago.

In my last post I was asking if anyone knew about a certain quilt pattern. Now I am wondering if anyone knows anything about old books. I picked this up from Goodwill a while back. I paid more than I normally would for a book, but I just couldn't pass it up. I can't find a copyright date. On the spine it has "Vol 8" and "Collier". Although it is not a excellent condition, it is a beautiful book.

I guess that is all I will share for today. I need to get some things priced and into the antique booth today. Haven't added anything new for a while. I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Clothesline

When we lived in Kansas I used my clothesline all the time. The wind would blow and have my clothes dried in no time. Now that we live in Arkansas it pretty much only gets used for picture taking! The thing is, it doesn't get very windy here and the humidity is so high that it would take forever to dry anything. It is really kind of sad that clotheslines are becoming a thing of the past. There is just something about fresh laundry flapping in the breeze!
I found these two quilt tops at a garage sale last weekend. I paid $3 for the two of them together. They will probably end up in the antique booth. Not sure if anyone will want them, but I thought they were fun. I especially like the "polka-dot" one!
Does anybody know if it would be considered a "snowball" pattern?
Some of the same fabrics were used in both quilts. Do you ever look at a quilt and dream up stories about the fabric? Auntie's worn out apron.....Grandpa's old work shirt.....little Suzy's outgrown dress....empty flour sacks.....

Today is a busy day! Here is a rundown: 5:00 a.m. - woke up to sweet girl coughing, checked on her and decided I wouldn't get back to sleep so I just stayed up. 8:00 - Hubby and Boy #1 leave for football game. 9:00 - Boy #2, Sweet Girl and I leave for soccer tournament after a quick detour by the bank and a stop at an auction to pick up a bidding number for later. 10:15 - Hubby and Boy #1 arrive at soccer and I leave for the auction. I was fairly successful at the auction. I'll take pictures of my finds and post later in the week. 12:45 - I arrive back at soccer and Hubby and Boy #1 then leave for the college football game. 1:45 - Soccer is finally over and Boy #2 , Sweet Girl and I head home. At 6:00 the three of us will head to a birthday party. Around 6:30 Hubby will swing by after the football game to pick up Sweet Girl and get her home to bed while we stay for the rest of the party. Craziness!

Fall Front Porch

I was just reading this wonderful blog and enjoying her autumn decor. I haven't done a lot of fall decorating, but just thought I would post a few pictures of what I do have on my porch. I am so excited that the weather is finally turning a wee bit cooler! I love the cool, fall mornings.

This old chair and chalk board always stay on the front porch next to the door. I just change the things around them with the changing of the seasons.





I really have no idea what this thing is - some sort of rake or plow I guess. I saw it at a yard sale a couple years ago and thought it looked interesting. For a quarter I was able to bring it home with me. I like how it resembles outstretched arms receiving the harvest. Isn't that what this time of year is all about?



Here is my version of a cornucopia. It is an old fire bucket I found at an antique mall. It is looking a bit empty. I'm waiting for the leaves to turn and then I will put some under the gourds. What else do you think it needs? I'm open to suggestions. I needed something to set it on, so I got out my old green icecream bucket. In the winter it moves inside next to the fireplace to hold paper and kindling.









That is a look at my very sparse decorating. Hope you enjoyed!

Pumpkin Patch

Wow! Another one of those weeks! I hate it when I let this much time go by between posts. Oh, well. Sweet girl has been sick all week. Started out with a little cough, but now I am pretty sure it is at least bordering on pneumonia. She is not running a fever anymore, but her cough is horrible.

Anway, her kindergarten class had a field trip to the pumpkin patch today. She didn't go to school all week, so I felt a bit guilty taking her today. I just hated for her to miss it. I didn't get much for good pictures. It is hard when I am pushing her around in her chair. A friend took some pictures and I am sure she got some good ones. We had a good day, but she is tired.

As crazy as the week has been, I guess I really don't have much to post. I did make a card one day this week. I'll have to show you in a couple days because it is in the mail to my SIL right now. If you are reading this - Happy Birthday Leanne! Sorry your card is late.

Have a great weekend!

The Story of My Life

If you have read my blog much at all, I am sure you have noticed a theme. That theme is "I should be cleaning my house, but....." This morning the garage sales were the "but." Honestly, I don't get to many garage sales anymore. With soccer, football....well, just the fact that I have three kids and a husband....it is hard to find the time. This morning I decided to hit a few after I took the kiddos to school. So glad I did! Four sales and lots of fun stuff!

This picture is a little blurry. I found a Normal Rockwell picture with a pretty frame (see the detail below), a Home Interiors shutter shelf, an old glass jar (can't seem to pass those up), and an embroidered pillowcase.
Isn't this a pretty frame?
A couple wall hangings for the house.
Here is a Fire King pie plate, another jar, some old jar lids, a set of apple bakers and a set of juice glasses with horseshoes on the bottom. All this, except for the jar and lids will go in my antique booth.
Beautiful teacups! I honestly don't know a lot about teacups - I need my SIL for that. I do know that they were definitely worth the $2 each that I paid for them. They also will go in the antique booth.

I think I did pretty good for less than $20, especially since a lot of it is for resale. Now if only the "cleaning fairy" would have come to my house while I was gone.....

On another note - what MAN invented white football pants?! I KNOW it was not a mom who came up with this idea. I'm so tired of trying to get these things clean. It should just be an official football rule - ONLY DARK COLORED PANTS ALLOWED!

Okay, I guess the cleaning fairy isn't coming so I better get busy. Hope everyone has a wonderful day and a fabulous weekend!

Look, look.

Hard to believe it has been a week since I last posted. Life is still crazy here. I won't bore you with the details.

Just thought I would share this collage I put together this morning. I am so loving those flashcards! I also used a page from an old Dick and Jane book I have in my stash. The leaf is from a trip my hubby and I took to New England a couple years ago. I framed this in a simple black frame. Nothing fancy.

I also made a "Fall" banner similar to my "Autumn" one from last week. I put these two things and some other fall-looking things in my antique booth this morning. Can't believe it is the first of October! I am definitely ready for cooler temps and for the leaves to start turning!

Antique Booth

Well, I told you I would share some antique booth pictures. It's a small booth, but I got a lot packed in there. It is quite a variety of things. No one theme or style.
I took an old child safety gate and attached binder clips with thumb tacks. It works great for hanging paper goods and such. It was actually full the first day and when I went back a couple days later to take the pictures, several things had sold. I added a few more today. There are also some other blank spaces already.
My boys have had a cowboy room for a long time. We all decided it was time for a change, so the cowboy items went to the booth. Maybe another mom will come along and decide to get things for her little buckaroo! The boys are now wanting a sports room, so let me know if you see any great vintage sports items. I am on the lookout.
One more thing to share - not antique booth related. This is a card I made for a friend who is expecting boy #2. I love using these old flashcards. The only thing that disappointed me with this card is that I smudged the ink somehow. Oh, well.

I hope everyone is having a good week. I can't believe it is Wednesday evening already. Time flies when.....you are so busy!

Autumn

I was up most of Friday night with sweet girl who was not feeling well at all. Needless to say, I was exhausted yesterday. She is feeling better, but I am staying home from church with her. Now I've got to figure out how to get some sustenance in her. She usually gets fed via feeding tube all night long and she has now gone two nights without anything. I'm giving her Pedialyte this morning and then will hopefully move on to her "usual" Pediasure by this afternoon.


So, while I was tired yesterday, I was still feeling a bit creative. I've seen so many fun banners lately and I just decided to give it a try. I really haven't decorated for fall yet. With our busy schedule I am not sure I will get much done. But at least I now have an Autumn banner hanging on my mantle.


I made mine pretty simple. The orange and white scallop circles are some paper coasters I picked up from the thrift store a whiel back. I knew I would find a use for them some day. The letter cards are also a thrift store find - an old Probe game I think. I wish you could see the button on that first piece. Maybe if you click on the picture you can get the detail. It is from the stash of buttons I got last time I was at mom's. Anyway, it has these little acorns on it. Very fall!



Also at mom's I got an old diary from the '50s. It is from an old farmer who talks about the weather and his cows mostly. I just tore the top of the page off and used it. Oh, yeah - the orange rick rack also came from mom's. Thanks, mom!

The quote on the last one is from a book Familiar Quotations that I bought last week at Goodwill for $1. There is some very interesting reading material - almost 2000 pages!
One more thing before I go....I wanted to share this wonderful fall recipe with you. You are going to love it! It doesn't get much simpler (is that a word?) than this!

Easiest-Ever Pumpkin Muffins

1 Spice Cake Mix
1 15 oz. Can of Pumpkin

Mix together the dry cake mix and the pumpkin. That's it! You can do this by hand, but I usually use an electric mixer. The batter will be pretty stiff. Put into greased muffin tins and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes. This makes about one dozen regular muffins and a few minis. You can add chopped nuts if you would like. Everyone loves these! I have a friend who normally doesn't like anything "pumpkin" and she even likes them. I just try to always keep cake mixes and pumpkin on hand so I can throw these together for breakfast, potlucks, etc. Enjoy!

Later today I am going to try to run into the antique mall to take pictures of my booth. I'll try to post them in the next few days. Have a great day!

P.S. I am quite embarrassed. I just realized that when you click on the photos and enlarge them, you get great detail of my dust and cobwebs. Oh, well. I guess I am all about being real. No secrets here - it has obviously been awhile since I dusted. Who knew the camera would pick up such detail. Sorry about that!