Happy Valentine's Day

Since I had Friday afternoon off due to the BIG HONKING ALABAMA SNOW STORM OF 2010, I decided to do a little baking. I used my Wilton mini heart cake pan and made some cupcakes and little heart cakes.

I whipped up a batch of buttercream icing in my trusty KitchenAid mixer and I was all set. I heart my KitchenAid mixer. I recently splurged and bought myself, at Jacob's insistence, a work bowl with a handle. What took me so long? Instead of the old political adage "A chicken in every pot," what about A KitchenAid in every kitchen?

Some of my sweets:

Little heart cakes

Cupcakes

I lurve this platter. It is huge. I found it in Pensacola one day when I went thrifting with Diane and Ralphie. I have used this thing time and again! It's on display right now on my table.

Here it is with more pretty cupcakes:

Now boys and girls.....it's random picture time! I don't believe I've ever posted a close up of this tole painted lamp. The detail is beautiful.

Just call this my faux flower Valentine vignette. Do not pay attention to the husband's foul weather parka on the chair at the end of the table. Stop looking at it. Maybe I should call it the faux flower foul weather parka Valentine vignette. Say that quick three times!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Tacky Clock Valentine

I was in my favorite thrift store the other night and ran across this clock. It was necessary that I purchase this clock for two reasons. First, it was the week of Valentines. The week of love. How could I walk away and leave it on the shelf? Second, I knew that it would make the perfect Valentine gift for my friend Traci. We have the same sense of humor and I knew she would appreciate it as much as I did. And, it didn't hurt that it was .99 cents. So, when I went to work yesterday, in the middle of the snow storm, I whipped it out of the garbage bag in which I had carried it, and presented it to her. She loved it as much as I thought she would!

This has to be the most HIDEOUS clock I've ever seen. This clock has so much going on inside of it. I can't pick a favorite part. Is it the overall heart shape? Or is it the variety of fake flowers beneath the plastic protection? Or what about the tarnished plastic boy and girl plaque in the corner? This clock screams romance. NOT! Imagine some poor wife or girlfriend accepting this little gem. Tacky with a capital "T". So for .99 cents we had several good laughs.

The eighties called. They want the clock back.

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.