Friday, February 26, 2010

Talk About Seeing Spots!

I happen to be very fond of spotted things....I think polka dots, spots, and specks all fall under the "cuteness" category. I mean, seriously, just look at this dachshund's coat and tell me you agree that spotted coat is just the cutest thing....This by the way, is a pin I purchased off of Etsy, and I don't even wear it for fear of messing it up. You'll understand that statement in a minute!

I love polka dot fabrics, and fabrics with dots....I intend to use this in a quilt, that is if I ever get around to it! But Oh, how I love the polka dot fabrics......

....this on the other hand, is not my idea of a lovely looking spotted anything....my pretty white carpet is now SPOTTED with burn marks. How did that happen you ask? Well, I will tell you this much, it had to do with cold weather, a fire in the stove, and me trying to turn a log. It was only a single log in there mind you, but somehow it shot out onto the floor, burning SPOTS in my carpet.

Yes, I did it....all by myself....I was the only one home....it is a wonder I did not burn the house down....and you know what? All I was worried about was, "Where are the dogs!" I was so afraid they would come running in the living room thinking I was having fun with a new toy and get burned.....I know I said I wanted new floors this year...but I promised my husband I did not intend to get them this way.......remember I said I loved spots! Hhummmmm

Most of all, I especially like spots on my dogs....speaking of dogs, they were snuggled up in front of the fire keeping warm.....Dora opened her eyes long enough to see what the commotion was all about and decided she did not want her nap cut short with brooms, dust pans, and wet towels.......do you blame her? I think she sometimes feels I go overboard with the things I like.....spots included!

Please tell me I am not the only one who does crazy things.....things that I never hear happening to anyone else....please tell me you like the spots.....on the carpet that is......because it sure seems like a long time until summer....and the new floors!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Vintage Thingies Thursday: A Celebration Using Vintage Finds

Welcome to this weeks segment of Vintage Thingies Thursday. Thursday is the day to showcase your vintage treasures and to share your special things with everyone. If you are visiting and would like to join us, please do. It is very easy!
To participate, all you have to do is:

* * * * Please everyone, follow these guidelines!

(1) do a post about something vintage.
(2) Visit all the participates and leave a comment.
(3) Link in with the link at the bottom of this post, please use a perma-link to link in with, that way, anyone can refer back to your post if they can not get to it on Thursday.
(4) Be sure to refer back to my blog so everyone can see who is participating today, and if you like include the VTT button in your post. Please be sure to have your post up before linking in.

REMINDER: We have several new friends linking in for Vintage Thingie Thursday. I want to remind everyone that the link for VTT goes up on Wednesday evening and will run through Friday morning (early) then the link will be closed. I know it is hard to get in the habit of posting earlier than later, but try and get your link in before early Friday morning. I have to close the link to keep spam out of the link. Thanks!! And I know Wednesday is not Thursday, here...but it is Thursday for our friends who live on the other side of the globe!!

First off, I want to thank everyone who stopped by last week to wish my husband a very Happy Birthday, we really appreciate all your kind words. We had a nice dinner and he opened gifts, and well, then we had to drive half way to Denton to rescue my daughter as her car gave her problems and she was sitting on the side of the road.....Oh, such great memories of a Birthday! LOL!

Aside from that, all was good. I fixed my husband's favorite meal: Fried Chicken, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, rolls and chocolate cake.......real healthy....southern style.

Of course for my table setting, I used some of my vintage things. First, the tablecloth I found at an estate sale a while ago. It really reminds me of a tablecloth used for picnics, but I used it for this occasion. Honestly, to me, it goes with fried chicken! I also used some plates that have fast become a favorite. These blue rimmed plates were a Goodwill find a couple of weeks ago, and guess what? I found four of them. They are marked OXFORD Brazil. I love the blue in the plates. The white plates are all vintage finds as well. They are all mismatched and by different makers, but look similar. The flowers are in a old jar, sitting on a vintage potholder.

While I was looking up this maker, I did find several pieces on eBay, as well as some more dinner plates. You have no idea how much I want to purchase the other four dinner plates and some of the smaller plates and bowls, but I am trying to just not think of it......that really is the last thing I need is more plates. I paid $1.50 for the four plates, and was thrilled with my purchase!

The same trip to Goodwill, scored this cute little creamer and sugar bowl. They really are a lovely shade of blue, and I love how the sugar bowl is shaped like a flower. The set cost $2.00.

Here is the mark on the bottom of the set. The maker is James Sadler of England. He is really better known for his tea pots. I discovered the mark was used in 1942 and after. It's not too old, but it is a nice set and I love the color.

Thanks again for all your well wishes, and support during this difficult couple of weeks I have had.....things should be back to normal soon, whatever that may be!

Have a great Vintage Thingie Thursday and a wonderful weekend, hopefully around here in our neck of the woods, we will see the sunshine for a few more days.



Friday, February 19, 2010

For Everything There Is A Season

For everything there is a season.......how many times have we heard that? Have you really ever thought about the meaning of that literally? I, myself have not, but I did find myself this past week thinking more and more about those few words. I have thought about what they mean in my own life and how those few words can make a difference in one's outlook on life, struggles and decisions. Like it or not, there is a season for everything. Plain and Simple.

You may or may not know that my work schedule has changed this past week, and well...let's just say it has not been an easy transition.....at all. I have worked evenings and nights most all of my married life. When the kids were small, it was so much more important to me to be home with them so I worked evenings so my husband would be here in the evenings with them.....so we did not ever leave them with a sitter. Was it easy? No, but it worked for us. Then, about 13 years ago, I accepted a job I never really thought I would have and of course the hours were nights.....have always been nights. It has not been fun, but just the way it was. And after all of this time, and now with the kids grown, it became a little more bearable.....Once I woke up during the day, I had all day to blog, surf the net, go to garage sales, estate sales, goodwill, sew.....you get the picture, I had LOTS of "Me" time.....and well......I thought it was pretty darn good. Only downfall to that was I was so tired all the time, felt bad all the time and it was a real struggle to even go to work most nights. It was time for a change....just as the seasons change. My time finally came......I got a day job with the same company. Now, I was going to have to make lots of adjustments.

Someone forgot to mention that in exchange for better work hours, I would have to give up a lot of my favorite things...at least on a day to day basis, or at least give up some of the time I spent doing those things. It has been hard. I have complained on my facebook statuses far too much. I am sure, once I get on a routine, all will work out. I just have not developed a routine that will work for all I want to accomplish yet. It will come. I feel like at this stage in my life, I need to be home at night. I need to be here for my husband, I need to not miss out on the most important things in life....my family. I have been tragically reminded of that very thing this past week. A reminder of how quickly the seasons can change and it can all be gone in an instant has really caused me to pause and think of what is really important in this life.

Wednesday, on my husband's Birthday we got the news that a friend from long ago had passed away suddenly. She was married at one time to my husband's best friend. She was a witness at our wedding, we vacationed together, went to the lake together, and spend countless times at the movies and eating out on the weekends. Back in the early years of my marriage to my husband our lives were very much intertwined with this couple. But as some things go, our friends divorced and went their separate ways. We have not seen her in years. She remarried, had a family, seemed to have it all.

And in a blink of an eye
.....her life was over. She passed away on Valentines day, while riding in the car with her husband. She had a brain aneurysm and never lived to make it to the hospital. At 51 years young, my once very close friend was gone, leaving behind a husband, a teenage son, seven year old daughter and a close extended family. A life so full of laughter and joy, it was contagious. Someone who was so loving and kind to everyone she met, she never met a stranger. A person who loved any and all animals she ever came in contact with and if we could count the strays she took in during her time here among us, well it would be astounding. A life gone. The season over. No warning. Tragic. It has rocked my very soul.

Its really shameful for me to admit that in the midst of this tragic situation, it shocked me back to reality, back to thinking about what is really important while traveling down this road of life. The past few weeks I have regrettably whined about my computer troubles, a new work schedule to adjust to, losing all of my "me" time and in all actuality, what trivial things to waste this much energy on. Sadly, once again I have been reminded how quick things can change. In a blink of an eye it can all be over, the light gone. No warning. A reminder that for everything there is a season, right or wrong. A reminder not to waste time on trivial things, don't waste energy worrying over things that in the great scheme of things do not really matter.

Instead, make the best of each season in your life. Focus on the important things in life, not the small stuff.....remember we are not promised not even another second....and in that one second, it can all be over. I am working on this very thing.....it is time to shed some of the things that cause me too much pain and worry. The seasons of this life are so short and change so rapidly, I don't have time to spend on things that don't count. Sadly, sometimes it takes a tragic event to make me stop and think about what is really important. Life....it is so short, make it count.

~Reminder to myself: If I have something to complain about that means I am still living....and really....how can I complain about that!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Vintage Thingies Thursday: Vintage Pocket Watches

Welcome to this weeks segment of Vintage Thingies Thursday. Thursday is the day to showcase your vintage treasures and to share your special things with everyone. If you are visiting and would like to join us, please do. It is very easy!
To participate, all you have to do is:

* * * * Please everyone, follow these guidelines!

(1) do a post about something vintage.
(2) Visit all the participates and leave a comment.
(3) Link in with the link at the bottom of this post, please use a perma-link to link in with, that way, anyone can refer back to your post if they can not get to it on Thursday.
(4) Be sure to refer back to my blog so everyone can see who is participating today, and if you like include the VTT button in your post. Please be sure to have your post up before linking in.


REMINDER:
We have several new friends linking in for Vintage Thingie Thursday. I want to remind everyone that the link for VTT goes up on Wednesday evening and will run through Friday morning (early) then the link will be closed. I know it is hard to get in the habit of posting earlier than later, but try and get your link in before early Friday morning. I have to close the link to keep spam out of the link. Thanks!! And I know Wednesday is not Thursday, here...but it is Thursday for our friends who live on the other side of the globe!!

This week, I am going to share my husband's vintage pocket watches. I happened to notice that he has three of these watches, so I have to tell him.....that three of anything makes a collection! My husband is not a big collector of things, but since today 2/17 is his birthday, I decided to show off a few of his treasures.


These two watches are protected by glass domes....or better known in blog land as a cloche...I'm not too sure how he would feel knowing he has two cloches that he deems sissy when I show him these on blogs....LOL....Oh, well....it is what it is......Both of these belonged to special people in his life.

This one is a Elgin watch and belonged to his step dad. It is really a nice quality. I believe his mother gave him the watch many years ago.

This is an old railroad watch. My husband's grandfather worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad, and this was his watch he wore while working. It has the original watch fob, and is stored under glass to protect the watch and fob. A real family treasure to be sure.

This watch has a bit of a story...which is so typical of anything I buy.....I purchased this watch for my husband off of Ebay several years ago for Christmas. The draw to me was the fact that it said Cripple Creek and Victor, and well, we all know how I love that place....it was listed as a railroad watch. Consequently, with all important finds on Ebay, someone else wanted this watch as bad as I did......

I ended up paying more for this watch than I had originally said I was going to spend. I think it cost me around $275.00 and knowing I would need to have the watch checked out and cleaned before Christmas was going to be another expense. No matter, I wanted this watch for my husband, it did not matter the price.

When I picked this watch up from the shop a few days before Christmas, the jeweler told me it was indeed a railroad watch, and J. Freshman was the original owner. The company was Cripple Creek & Victor railroad. This was most likely a gift from the company to the original owner. The Cripple Creek and Victor tracks are still there today in the mountains, they run a tourist train between the two cities today. I love to fantasize about the watch being on a railroad worker all of those years ago, the same watch we now own, and we have been on the same tracks so many times throughout the years.. The jeweler told me to be sure and have the watch insured for a minimum of $3500.00. Wow was all I could think driving home that day, excited to wrap this up and put it under the tree.....not bad at all.

I'd like to wish my wonderful husband a very Happy Birthday. He deserves far more than what he gets from this life, our families and his job. I try and make up for all the short comings and hurts he experiences from our extended family members. I just hope I do make a difference every day...not just on special days. I love you Steve.....our vintage years will be the best!

I hope everyone has a great Vintage Thingie Thursday and a wonderful weekend. See you guys and girls next week!




Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Vintage Valentines, An Almost Vintage Bear and A Giveaway: Winner Announced

*****Thank you everyone who entered my little giveaway....Random Number Generator chose number 14.......SueWis........congratulations Sue......please email me with your address and I will get your goodies in the mail as soon as possible!! Thanks everyone for taking the time to stop by and say hello!

Happy Valentines Day! I am participating in a Vintage Card Party hosted by Anything Goes Here blog....be sure to see the button on my side bar. Follow the link to see lots of vintage Valentines and stories, this should be so much fun. Hope you have a great day, follow to the end of post for a little giveaway.....just because it has been a while around here for a give a way!

This little Valentine tree is made with lots of vintage things. First, the little Valentines hanging on the branches were purchases at a local antique sale, vintage lace tied into bows were added to the tree. A vintage jar with vintage red and white buttons really made this vintage tree stand out.

This beautiful Valentine is a real find. I found this at a local estate sale, the signature is from Aunt Eda and Uncle Joe...so sweet, it is 3-D and my favorite is the puppy holding the basket.

The graphics are so sweet, nothing like a bit of vintage goodness to make your day........

This little bear is almost vintage. He is 24 years old. This was given to me by my husband along with a vase of flowers for our first Valentines day together years ago. I loved this bear, and have saved him all of this time. I remember after my daughter was born, I used to put this out each year, but that soon stopped. When my daughter was about two and it was during the Valentine season, she decided she wanted this bear to play with, and like all good two year olds, she pitched a fit to have it.....My mother in law reached to give it to her, and I told her no. The bear was mine and she could not give it to my daughter. Well, that did not set too well with my mother in law, she looked at me like you have got to be kidding me....and well, no I was not kidding. I did not give in, and held my ground. I know my MIL was really taken aback that I refused a child a toy, but it was not just a toy, it was special to me. After that episode, the bear has been safely stored away in safe keeping....and guess what, I really don't believe my daughter suffered any major damage from being denied this bear as a baby. You see, it did not mean anything to anyone other than myself....and keeping peace was the farthest thing from my mind. Believe me, lessons were learned over this one bear....it was the first of many. I am glad I did not let my Mother in law's disapproving look persuade me into giving him to my baby girl and I am glad I have kept him in mint condition from when my husband first gave him to me....he is very special....my husband and my bear!

_________________________________________________________


Now....for the giveaway: This is a package I put together for the person who loves to sew or craft.

I will draw a name Monday night, and announce the winner. Included in this package are fat quarters, a vintage tin, quilt pattern, cute file folders with matching pins and a magnet to welcome spring. International friends are welcome to enter.

I found this pattern recently and it is for a quilt case. The patterns and directions are included to make each of these shown, a perfect thing to store your quilts or to give as gifts.

The tin is a vintage candy tin, and what cute file folders for storing all your quilt patterns and how-to's.

Here are the 9 fat quarters...perfect for adding to anyone's stash. Some are vintage reproduction fabrics, I really think these are so cute.

Here are a couple of the fabrics opened up so you can see how cute these are....what about the apron fabric and the rick rack fabrics....love these!

Just leave a comment to be entered, and tell me you want to be included in the give a way.....Good Luck everyone! Enjoy the day with your sweetheart today, no matter who that may be!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Not Your Typical Man Around Here......

We have had ONCE IN A LIFETIME snow here in Texas.....at least that is what the weather and news are reporting. A record 12-13 inches of snow over the last day and a half....not typical at all....

Speaking of not typical....we built a few snowmen with the fresh snow....well, let me say, they were not your run of the mill snowmen, actually, they were not men at all......here is the large snow bear!

My son and husband did a good job....looks like a polar bear to me.....love it!

And what more non typical can you get than this.....a snow dachshund.......

This one is life size......the size of Dora and Sophie......

This one is begging for a treat, a warm bed, or something besides the snow!!!

This is Sophie's look alike...well, almost....she is always sitting up begging for a treat.

Would you agree.....definitely not your typical run of the mill snowmen at my house!

Sophie wanted no part of this mess....however, Dora and Baily had a grand time running and hopping in the snow....talk about a cool tummy......they played and ran in and out of the doggie door all afternoon......

....and then.....it was lights out in front of the fireplace....poor Bailey was done for the day! Don't ever expect the typical at our house....you will never find it!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Vintage Thingies Thursday: LOVE-ly treasures

Welcome to this weeks segment of Vintage Thingies Thursday. Thursday is the day to showcase your vintage treasures and to share your special things with everyone. If you are visiting and would like to join us, please do. It is very easy!
To participate, all you have to do is:

* * * * Please everyone, follow these guidelines!

(1) do a post about something vintage.
(2) Visit all the participates and leave a comment.
(3) Link in with the link at the bottom of this post, please use a perma-link to link in with, that way, anyone can refer back to your post if they can not get to it on Thursday.
(4) Be sure to refer back to my blog so everyone can see who is participating today, and if you like include the VTT button in your post. Please be sure to have your post up before linking in.


REMINDER:
We have several new friends linking in for Vintage Thingie Thursday. I want to remind everyone that the link for VTT goes up on Wednesday evening and will run through Friday morning (early) then the link will be closed. I know it is hard to get in the habit of posting earlier than later, but try and get your link in before early Friday morning. I have to close the link to keep spam out of the link. Thanks!! And I know Wednesday is not Thursday, here...but it is Thursday for our friends who live on the other side of the globe!!

This week, with Valentine's day just around the corner, I thought I'd show some cute Valentine theme things.....nothing too fancy, just some of the things I love. I really like the idea of taking something old or vintage and giving it new life......

Someone took an old quilt, cut it up and made a cute little wreath....I love it, it is in my sewing room. I just love the vintage fabrics...love how someone reused the quilt, not saying I could have cut the quilt up......but.......

It really is a cute little wreath to look at......next, is a reworked small piece of handwork I purchased at an estate sale for $1.00.

This was sitting all by itself, the frame is one of the gold frames of years ago. I decided to spray paint the frame. I can see from this picture I may need to touch it up a bit!! I think this is cute...and it had hearts in the design, so appropriate for a Valentine week.

This is sorta a sneek peek at my Sunday post....but...I will say this, I just love a vintage jar filled with vintage buttons.....this is part of a Valentine centerpiece I put together this week for a party I am joining on Sunday. You'll have to stop back by on Sunday....I will say this, it has something to do with vintage valentines, an almost vintage bear, a Valentine story of love (well, that may be a stretch!) and well.....a GIVEAWAY.....so be sure to stop back by. And.....stop over at Anything Goes Here....it is a Vintage Valentine Card Party...and should be a lot of fun, and you maybe can still sign up to join in on the fun.

This little bird vase was a find at GW not long ago. I think it cost me 45 cents.....I thought it was sorta cute...may you receive lots of Valentines in the mail this week...just like the one this little bird is trying to deliver!

Here is the stamp on the bottom, marked Japan....I am sure it has no real value, but I liked it. He sits on the shelf in my laundry room.

Happy Vintage Thingies Thursday everyone....be sure to stop by on Sunday, and lets enjoy the Valentine Card Party!



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