It's A Give-Away!

I sent you yesterday to Leah's blog to check out her funny entry, well Go Back!! Again! Click Here! She's having a giveaway for some of her fun and cool stuff. By stuff, I mean treasures, art, photography--she's not letting us in yet on exactly what, but doesn't that make it all the more exciting?

Was It A Car Or A Cat I Saw?

Huh? For a little fun today, check out Leah's Blog. (Then, the blog title might make some sense!) Leah is witty, creative, fun, and sells great vintage stuff in her Etsy Shop.

This teapot would look vintage-y modern-y fab as a vase also!

This is found here. I know you'll love the candy dish. I have one just like it in my house!!

...In The Lane, Snow is Glistening...

Thought I'd better take a picture before it's gone. It's BE-utiful out today!

May You Have A Blessed Christmas

I just wanted to take a few minutes to wish everyone a very blessed Christmas. I am offering my Christmas Mass tonight (actually at 4:oo) for all of those who are lonely,depressed, or grieving this time of year. I will also keep in my intentions those who maybe aren't necessarily lonely or depressed, but find themselves disappointed that all isn't going as they had hoped for. I tell my kids that we thank God that not everything depends on one single moment in time. So much hype is placed on any point in time being so "perfect" ---your senior year in high school, your child's first birthday...you know what I mean.

The only points in time that really mattered were when Mary said "Yes" to God to bear His Son and when Jesus said "Yes" to suffer for all of us. And tonight, tomorrow, and this Christmas season that is what we celebrate. It doesn't matter if the clothes aren't perfect little Christmas outfits that match, the dessert was bought at the store instead of homemade, kids fight--well that's just a tiny glimpse of our house of what isn't perfect. What is perfect is the Baby Jesus' love for us. For those who feel hopeless--there is HOPE--in that little baby!!

A Very Merry Christmas to you!

Dreary?--BUT Beautiful

We had to go out of town today and on the way home I was thinking how dreary it was then really realized it was actually beautiful--truly beautiful.

The shades of browns, blacks, and white...


Even the dirty snow showed texture...

Then it started to snow closer to home and the monochromatic effect was almost cozy in the bitter cold.


Keep warm everyone---

After dinking around with trying to get the tractor started and Christmas lights on garden chairs, I decided to scoop some by hand. I got to enjoy this.

My Vintage Christmas Decor

As much as I love old, rusty, vintage, & antiques, it's surprising that most of our Christmas decorations are new (well not technically) but maybe I should say not old enough to have vintage charm. As I was out trying to start the tractor to clear the lane(--aaaarrrrrgggg--it did not start by the way, so if you come to our home wear your boots for now!) I was admiring my absolute favorite chair I bought not too long ago at an auction. I also remembered that I had left a string of lights out by the fence when I was stringing up the lights back on a warmer day. HHHmmm, wouldn't that be great to have that chair in my garden and lit up for Christmas! So I pulled the lights out of the snow, and carefully dried off the plug (I have learned to have great respect for electricity) and adorned my chair. It's not technically in the garden yet and I would like to think that I would do a better job with the lights when it's long term. But, I had fun as I waited for the tractor battery to charge!

Through My Window

This "Through My Window" shot is from the outside--in this time. I have been shooting "Through My Window" shots since last summer. Most of them are from the inside of my home or vehicle. There is something--almost magical, maybe surreal-- about being on the outside looking in don't you think?

Don't forget to click on the Holiday Promotion button on the left to go win a $10 gift certificate from a vintage Etsy shop!

BBBBbbbbbrrrrrrrr........

It was -5 degrees when I dropped the kids off at school this morning! Thank goodness it wasn't windy! This picture was taken a few nights ago. Looks like no one dusted the outside light fixtures again!

Shadow Shot Sunday

This is one of the penguins that stand guard at our front steps through the Holidays. (I did have to move him a bit to catch the sun better--shhh!)
Check out Hey Harriet for more shadows.

It's My Turn!

Today, on the Etsy Vintage Team Blog, my shop will be the one giving the $10 gift certificate away! Check it out--Just click here or the sidebar button and follow the directions--That's it!--

Decoration Revelation!

I'm sure this isn't new to many of you--but--LIGHT WHEN ON--BELL RANG--(in my head)when we were decorating the tree. I never use the neat bead garland I have because it falls off too easily, especially with little ones around. Whooooooshhhh....it's on the floor. My revelation--tie it on with wire ornament hangers!! Yeah, I know--dddduuuhhhh Jill- but hey--some of us are slower than others. Our tree is nicely adorned this year with silver beaded garland along with blue and silver balls and decorations- AND our collection of Star Trek ornaments.


Claire was sick again today so home from school-hence the face when I asked her to come pose in front of the tree ornament with me. This was too fun. I love the distortion of my hand and camera and nose--(OK the nose may not be so distorted!)

Christmas Baking Frenzy

Well, maybe it wasn't a "frenzy" but we all ended up with a lot of cookies! My two sisters, Mom, and one of my sister-in-laws came Sat. and we baked the day away. That's my sister-in-law Danita with my 9 year old attacking the cookie dough!


Too bad I forgot to take pictures of our finished products--we made Peanut Butter Balls, Gingerbread Cut-out Cookies, Sugar Cut-Out Cookies, Pecan Tassies, Peanut Butter Star Cookies, and a new one for us Walnut & Brown Sugar Rugalach--which was my favorite, they were seriously DEEE-licious!


Bonnie(my 17 y/o) takes a break to lull Nora(my baby) asleep. Note the vintage apron! Then she slipped off for a nap of her own--teenagers--
Happy Advent to you all!

Shadow Sunday

I made this "Christmas Tree" a couple of years ago. I inverted a tomato cage and wired the prongs together to form a point. Next, I wrapped it with grape vines that grow wild on our place, wired them to the cage, and then added white lights. Our grapevines were green and easy to wrap, but if you wanted to, you could soak a grape vine wreath and then take it apart to make one. It could use an anchor; in a strong wind, it topples over. Oh well-- you can't hurt it and the cord from the lights keeps it from going too far!
Click the Shadow Shot Sunday button in the sidebar to see more pictures over at Hey Harriet!

Vintage Wonderland

Don't forget about the $10 gift certificate give away over at the Etsy Vintage Street Team Blog! Just click on the button over there on the left and it will take you there with all the directions. For newcomers to this blogging world, check here for more detailed instructions. Keep checking back, each day until the 21st is another gift certificate for a different shop. My shop's day is the 12th of Dec. You can win more than one time!

Just an Idea For You

I just love the old pop crates--any old box actually--always grabs my attention!
I have filled a couple of them with dried flowers for decor in my home.


First, fill with Spanish Moss, then the drieds--you can't go wrong!


All the books and magazines will tell you to pick flowers at their peak to hang and dry----I say enjoy the flowers in a bouquet or in your garden until they start to wilt then hang to dry--but I like to get the most bang for anything! Really, I've hung some almost dead flowers--and once their dry you can't tell! Especially roses, their heads can be drooping-just hang them upside down and when they are dry, I think they're beautiful.
Ask friends if you can have any of their flowers when they are ready to toss them, and before long you'll have enough to fill a box!


These are just dried grasses from our place (not the garden)! Try anything, you have nothing to lose. I've had weeds that have dried beautifully.

Shadow Sunday

This is the shadow cast from the spools I posted about earlier in the week. We were backing out of the garage and I noticed how awsome the shadow was!

Don't forget to check out the contest I posted about Fri.! So far there are only 3 entries!

Also, you can find more shadows over at Hey, Harriet!

Spools Aplenty

I found a big box of these old wood spools at a garage sale last weekend. Yes, it was an indoor sale! They've been out on our porch "freshening up" for the past 5 days. I can't believe we haven't had wind to blow them over!


One of them was made into a kaleidascope, so now I have visions of doing the same with some of them with great collage work and embellishing on them. Of course, will need to file that with "Some Day".
Two aren't actually spools at all, but tubes to hold Edison round phonograph rolls, and one actually has the roll in it!
For now, more fresh air.

Through My Window

This morning this is what we saw through our window. We frequently see deer here, but I was finally able to get my camera before they ran. If you look REALLY CLOSE you can see a second one in the back. There were 3 of them this morning.

This is my old ratty sweatshirt in the window my dear friend Shelli gave me 20+ years ago. My two oldest girls have laid claim to it when I die.

New Necklace Contest

Wow, Rachel is giving away a very sweet necklace this week. All you have to do is come up with a fun, catchy phrase to go on the back or a word for the front. Be sure to check it out--you may win! Except the word is compitition will be stiff this week from Jenny!
Go here to play--do it--go now--

Shadow Sunday

Getting our mail from the end of the lane--in shadows.

When it's nice, my little gals and I will walk out for the mail. It's always an adventure. I wish I could have posted all the pictures. There was more mail on the ground!

I've Been Tagged

OK this is new to me--I've been tagged by Leah over at Moxie Photo & Design.
I'm to reveal six quirky, but boring details about myself.
Ha-seriously-the boring would be easy-but quirky?! hhhmmm...hhhhmmmm.....

~~One time my husband and I dressed up (kind of) to go out to a Christmas Party, but as we were backing out of the garage I told him the only reason I wanted to go was because I was famished and I knew the food would be good. We were absolutely exhausted from many nights up with sick kids. He admitted he didn't want to go either because of fatigue. So we headed back in and changed immediately into our "lounge clothes" . We felt so pathetic. Here's the quirky part: I had one of our girls take a picture of us in our pathetic PJs with our pathetic faces on and of our pathetic feet. (we both have ugly feet)
~~I have ugly feet: one toe is blue from varicose veins.
~~A while back I spent over two hours washing out old bottles from a garage sale while the kitchen was overflowing with dishes and the laudry room was over flowing with laundry. AND I didn't care one bit that I'd wasted the time.
~~I have trouble remembering names-five minutes after meeting someone I'll forget their name but I had a patient in Dell Rapids SD 17 years ago that I barely got to know, but will never forget her name-Selma Zelmer-still love to say it! I'm laughing even now...
~~On my husband's and my first date I asked him if he minded leaving a movie I had chosen--(it was awful!)
~~I really like junk- or should I say junque?

Now I have tagged:

jenny at theredbulletinboard
mary at theginghamgirl
margo at robojunker



Here are the rules:
* Mention the rules on your blog.
* Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself.
* Tag three others
* Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they are tagged.

Neglected--Again

A few years back (seven maybe?) my brother made this rabbit hutch for my kids. We were going to have pet rabbits, and did for awhile...



I wasn't really thrilled with the bunnies much, but I loved the hutch! It was made from old wood, wheels, scrap from my Dad's junk pile.
Recycle, Reporpose, Reuse--I know a mantra maybe being overused, but oh how sweet is this?!


Yes, this scrap pile turned hutch is being neglected again, but it will have new life- sometime-hopefully this spring in my garden. And, if my little gals are like the older kids, it will probably hold bunnies again someday.

Shadow Sunday

Visit Hey Harriet for more Shadow Sunday images!

More Leaf Skeletons!

It's wet outside! This one is hanging on for dear life, but soon...

I'm obsessed with these.

Play The Game!

Yeah! Now that I have figured out how to add links to my posts, I can tell you all about a fun contest that Rachel from Two Dog Pond has going on. Check it out here. Be sure to look at the past contests and winners. There's some serious wit/charm out there in blog land. Do enter and win a necklace! I'm still thinking about an entry, sick kids this week has slowed my brain!

AND thanks so much to Leah for helping me learn how to link, how to list on Etsy, how to...the list goes on. More about her on a later post.

Impulsive Buy

Sometimes you go to an auction and make spur of the moment decisions.--Sometimes you regret them--you try not to. Regret ruins the whole auction experience. (I call it auction remorse-and choose to not allow it) BUT Sometimes you make a spur of the moment decision--an impulsive buy--and it's pure excitement--No auction remorse here!


Even when you have to call your husband to bring the other vehicle because "It's not all going to fit in the pick up." And he makes it even sweeter when he gets there and says "I loved playing pinball when I was a kid!"

No remorse here--especially when you get to tell your son you've brought him a project. Something he can take apart (but must promise to put back together-restored)

He even went out to the barn to take pictures of it to post about it on our family blog. You can see this gem here tucked (crammed?) between my drill press and our pick up.

It does work--just needs some tweaking, and oil, and rewiring, and keys. Keys would definitely be good! My son put me in charge of finding the keys or a locksmith.

The day was fun--met a couple who drove all the way from Denver just to come to this auction. No family connection at all--just found it on a web site. Really enjoyed visiting with them. And their only remorse was for not having a trailer with them to fill also-their car was packed!