Snow of January 2010

For most people snow is no big deal. Some people find it annoying. But, when a little snow storm hits southern Alabama--pandamonium sets in and we get giddy with excitement! There was a LOT of hype over this snow event. It snowed at our house for about an hour.

I had to go to work so I missed the heavy snow. But hubby was kind enough to take pictures and video and even made me an iddybiddy snowman.

No, it's okay, really. It only snows like once every 20 years. Really. Don't worry that you didn't give the snowman a face. Or a scarf. Or even a baby carrot nose. All joking aside, hubby was sweet to document everything for me. He's thoughtful like that.

So, by the time I get home like 3 1/2 hours later, every. single. flake. had melted.

Oh, and about my snowman.....

Chapter 3012, Why I Love Thrifting

I was recently browsing the furniture section at the Goodwill and happened to run across this little play kitchen. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT! I had this exact same kitchen when I was little! Okay, so it probably was not "this exact" kitchen-- but one just like it.

I can remember every little detail of this cute little play kitchen: the paper thin plastic sink, the sliding doors on the bottom, even the cute little shelf on top. Apparently at some point in my life I actually liked to work in the kitchen! Not so much anymore. (smile)

Play kitchens have come a long way since the 1970s. I found a modern play kitchen not too long ago for our church nursery. That one has a beeping microwave and a dishwasher! Gotta love technology.

I couldn't help but smile when I saw this. It evoked such sweet memories. Christmas was--and still is--a wonderful time in my family. Our gifts from Santa Claus were never wrapped. I can remember running down my parents' hall and finding my gifts. Precious memories!

I'm happy to report that I did not buy this. I did not even look at the price tag. It's all part of my plan to REALLY narrow down my purchases. I have too much stuff and not enough space. Now if it's still there next week--all bets are off!

Dresser Before and After

A lot has happened since my last blog post of JULY! Where to begin? There was another Old Times Day, the starting of a sunroom addition and so much more.

Today was our annual trek to Monroeville for shopping and to Peterman for the annual craft festival. The festival is held every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. We packed so much in and still had a little energy left when we got home. So...we turned on our Christmas music and made some pralines. OMG! To die for!

Earlier in the summer Jacob and I ran across this dresser at a yardsale. It was priced $10.00. I have a special place in my heart for lonely furniture. EVERY piece wants to come home with me. (Smile). This is the before:

The before pictures make the dresser look like it was in better condition than it actually was. I have seen so many nice transformations where people have painted pieces black. So, I was itching to give it a try. This is the result:

I am so pleased with how it turned out! Here it is all decked out for Thanksgiving:

The drawers are a generous size and will be the new home for all my gift wrapping supplies. It will be great to have all my wrapping supplies in one handy place.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Psalms 107:1

O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Thrifty Finds For The Dining Room

Since I haven't been able to yardsale in a couple of weeks, I decided to share some finds from a couple of months ago. This particular Saturday, I stopped at a sale in a very nice neighborhood not too far from my house and found a ton of great things! These are some of my finds:




All of these beautiful teapots were $2.00 each. I bought them to re-sell but decided I couldn't part with them! They look great in my china cabinet. I'm afraid I've started another collection!

At the same sale I found this cute faux arrangement:
It was either $1.00 or $2.00, can't remember which.

Finally, when I decided to use this color scheme in my kitchen, I scoured eBay for calendar plates from hubby's and my birth year. Do you remember these calendar plates? I was happy to find these:

Thanks, once again, to Rhoda for hosting and allowing others to share their thrifty finds. Please visit Rhoda at Southern Hospitality and see all the great finds!

Happy 4th of July--And The View From My Kitchen Window

Happy 4th of July!

I'm thinking on freedom in a different light this morning. I'm glad that I live in the best country in the world. I'm thankful for the sacrifice of the ones that have kept us free. Even with all our problems right now I would not want to live anywhere else. But, this 4th of July morning, why am I most happy? Because I have the ultimate FREEDOM! I am saved and Jesus Christ is my Savior. One of my favorite patriotic hymns:

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.

Glory, glory hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,
Since God is marching on."

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
While God is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave,
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,
Our God is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

My patriotic tablescape:

Most of the items came from yardsales.

Now for the view from my kitchen window:

I'm trying to stop taking things for granted. I'm trying to be more thankful. I'm thankful, that on a hot, sunny July afternoon, I can look out my kitchen window and see one of my Dad's mules in the pasture.

Yard Sales at 95 Degrees

I am joining in the fun at Rhoda's Thrifty Treasures party. I love when Mondays roll around because I get to see all of the great finds!

You know you are a yardsale junkie when you will roll out of bed early on a Saturday morning and brave Mobile humidity and near 100 degree temps just to find treasures! The sales this Saturday did not let me down! My nephew Jacob went with me. At our very first stop I found this footed pink glass bowl for...wait for it.....$1.00! It looks great in my kitchen.

I've already put it to good use:

This was probably my favorite find of the day. This came from an estate sale at a sweet mid-century modern home:

We are about to re-decorate our master bedroom and needed a mirror for a small reading area that I'd like to do. This mirror was priced at $10.00. I asked if she could do any better on it and she said yes--$8.00. SOLD! I was so excited! I've priced mirrors at Hobby Lobby and even with their great 50% off sales it still would have been around $80.00 or so. It has beautiful detailing and is so heavy!

Found these great marble topped plant stands for $3.00. On one of the tables the marble has come unglued and needs to be repaired but since I have such a handy hubby this will not be a problem!

Finally, we ran into Hobby Lobby (can you tell I love me a H. L. ) and I found these iron candleholders for $6.00 each. It's hard to tell in the picture but the oval sections in the middle are mirrors. They are gorgeous and so heavy! They were originally over $30.00! They are also headed for the master bedroom.

We had a wonderful day! I found so many good deals and managed to find some items for Ebay too. God is so good! When we started the day I told Jacob that I would like to find a mirror and find one I did. It was like God said "Here Jackie, this one is for you!"

Head over to Southern Hospitality and join the party!

Flag Week and 4th of July

Since the President extended Flag Day into an entire week, I decided to go ahead and decorate my porch with some patriotic things I'd picked up over the last couple of weeks. As my neighbors will attest, I'm not always quick to take down holiday decorations--so stretching Flag Week into the Fourth of July is NOT A PROBLEM! This is how it turned out:

All of my regular blog readers (all three of you - shout out- love you guys) will probably recognize this chair from here:

I've had two cans of blue spray paint that have been sitting on my kitchen counter forever just waiting to make it onto this chair that I found at an auction. Check! This was a collaborative effort:


My two fine painters doing a wonderful job. Why are we painting in the foyer, you ask? Because it was so hot outside, even at almost 8:00 p.m., that we could not stand it! Mobile humidity.

This chair turned out so cute. Originally it was going to be solid blue. But then Jacob said..."Why don't we paint a star on the seat....then DH said......you should have painted the two wrungs red.....and the chair was born. It turned into a nice little before and after project.





The USA hanging on the mirror was a yardsale find from a couple of years ago. The flag plaque on the far side of the door was a dollar store find, as are the stars on the right of the door and the larger blue star hanging on the outer door.



Hello Brady Bunch door. Really? Three windows? You gotta love the Seventies.

The door is one of the things on our house that I would eventually like to replace.

Jacob whipped out this arrangement after a brainstorming trip to Hobby Lobby. We couldn't really decide on a vase. He suggested the terra cotta pot and I think it turned out perfect. We found the blue sparkly things at a yardsale for .50 cents a package. I think he used two packages. Hobby Lobby had their flowers 50% off so my best guess is the arrangement cost around $20 including the flag. Not too bad. And remember, it will give me weeks, ok months of viewing pleasure.