Weekends...

Weekends...it's a chance to catch your breath...a chance to just sit back and enjoy...a chance to recharge with things that are simple and uncomplicated. Today's post is dedicated to just that...

I love flamingos. They just make me happy. They make me smile. I love the fact that they get their coloring from their diet - isn't that cool? They just seem so graceful, so elegant.

Ok - I'm going to admit that I even like the cheap plastic flamingos. They just say "fun" to me. My son gave this one to me as a joke {I think}. I put him in my lilies...I think he's happy there!


My mother gave me these two. They're very friendly, don't you think? I love them. They're always looking for their next meal in my pond.

Have you ever heard of being "flocked"? It's a fund-raiser. The group covers your yard with pink flamingos and you pay to have them removed. How fun is that? Heck, I'd pay to have them flock my yard!

I hope you have a terrific Saturday!

Show and Tell Friday

Welcome to Show and Tell Friday. {Thanks to Kelli for hosting this event.} Grab a second cup of coffee and visit her and the other participants as they share pictures and stories about their treasures!

My grandparents were very special to me. I was lucky enough to be able to spend quality time with them as I lived only a few miles away. It was fun to listen to their stories and watch their eyes light up as they relived their past.

Both my grandmother and grandfather were from a time where nothing was discarded...things were not wasted. Because of this, they both had collections of all sorts. My grandmother, being quite the seamstress, tended to keep things she "might" need for her next outfit. My grandfather like to collect keys, watches, clocks, or other small mechanical objects. He was quite an inventor. With some of his findings, he'd construct an entirely new item. Thrifty would be the word that comes to mind. Hm...looks like it's gone full circle. I've always been conservative, but since I've become a blogger, I've become even more so {...but that's another post...}

The item I'd like to show you today is something I've made from my grandparents' collections. It's a pin that displays buttons from my grandmother. She kept a jar full - it included all sizes, colors, and styles. They'd be recycled from garments that were no longer needed and reused on new pieces she lovingly made.



Also included on this pin is a skeleton key from my grandfather's collection. I just love the shape of these keys - aren't they neat? As mentioned above, my grandfather also tended to clocks. He had drawers upon drawers of the internal and external workings: gears, faces, hands, etc. These too were all sizes, shapes, and designs. I can still see him today, hands ever steady, working diligently on his next project.


I proudly wear this pin, it's always a conversation starter. I love telling the story of my treasured grandparents.

Tablescape Thursday

It's time for another Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. Be sure to visit, you'll be inspired by all the creative and beautiful tables.

The tablescape I'm sharing today was put together with a current find at Marshalls. I found these salad plates for $1.99 each. I loved the colors - especially the pinks and greens. I have promised myself that if I love it and can find a set of 6, it's a done deal (well, and the price has to be right too!)

I thought the little plates would look pretty with a few vintage pieces that I have from my great aunt's collection. It's not a perfect match, but I think the colors blend nicely.




The plates were layered. A charger from Hobby Lobby, white Lenox dinner plate, and the new salad plates. The silverware was a purchase from eBay. The stemware was a wedding present - Lenox. I had only four striped napkins, so I used two solid green napkins for the end settings. It worked!




Thrown into the mixture was a small green depression glass sherbet dish. This was given to me by my mother.

For the main centerpieces, I used a ceramic "boot" and an anniversary clock. I wanted a little bit of height, so I raised the clock with two books. They just happen to be two volumes of "Who's Who".

The finials are part of a set purchased at Stein Mart several years ago.



To close this post, I wanted to include a great shot of a candle holder on my buffet. It was taken by my son, who enjoys photography. Thanks Jake!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

If you'd like to visit other Wordless Wednesdays, check out Simply Joyful Photos.

2nd Time Around Tuesday

Ok, I've been bitten by the "thrift store shopping bug". After reading and reading everyone's wonderful blogs and all their "treasures", I just had to try it for myself. I'm a bit jealous of some thrift store shops some of you have in your area...

Being a novice, I've had my trials and triumphs. I've learned a few lessons already - if you like it - buy it. That I learned the hard way.

Yesterday I went out on a search for, well, anything. I had a little spare time so I thought I just stop in for a minute. We'll, here's what I found. I think I spent a total of $5.35. I LOVE this type of shopping. Now, I just have to decide where I'll put my new treasures...

Be sure to visit, 2nd Time Around Tuesday, hosted by Diane at A Picture is Worth a 1,000 Words.

Three or More Tuesday

This is my first post to The Gypsy's Corner's Three or More Tuesday. Please visit her for all kinds of collections!

My first "three or more" is based around a clock from my grandfather's collection. It is proudly displayed next to three frames. The two smaller frames are birth announcements for my children. The third frame is one of my favorites...a picture of a guardian angel watching over two children.



My second "three or more" shows another of my grandfather's clocks - it's another favorite. Beside this iron clock is a small collection of books. This vignette is sitting on my television cabinet. I enjoy seeing these things while my husband enjoys his television!



I hope you are enjoying your Three or More Tuesday!

Blue Monday

Today is my first post on Smiling Sally's Blue Monday. I wanted to join this blog, but blue is not a color that I think of when decorating my home. Well, after closer inspection and more blue "awareness", I've found that I do have blue! And I like it! Thanks Sally for being so inspirational! (I love her Blue Monday logo! - Isn't he beautiful?!)

This post is about a gift from a group of children that I taught several years ago. They surprised me with flowers in this neat planter. I loved the mosaic on the sides and the rich blues.

"Imagine" is the word for this side...do you see anything else?

I've had this planter for about three years and I hadn't seen the butterfly before...

Here's the second side... "forget me not".

See the flowers? Are they "forget me not" flowers?

This is the third side. The word for this side is "dream".



Notice the stars...

And the final side.



I have always loved this planter...now I have a new appreciation for it!

Enjoy your Monday!

Book Bus

I was on the road the other day and I saw something that I hadn't see in many years, a Book Bus. (Is that what it used to be called? I can't remember.) I took this picture (while driving) so it's not the best picture but I wanted to document that these mobile autos are still bringing literature to the masses!


I have such fond memories of visiting one of these when I was in elementary school. Our teacher had the arrival date on the board and we all waited in anticipation for it to arrive. And when it did, we would line up "single file" and venture inside the wonderful world of books where anything was possible. I can practically smell the booksy aroma this little library held - and the promise of something new and exciting.

Where was this bus heading?...oh the possibilities...

(post edit...it was called a "Book Mobile" - thanks, Ralph

A Lesson to be Learned...

Ok all you thrifty shoppers...I learned a lesson today that I'm sure you've already mastered: When you see something at a thrift shop that you're interested in, GRAB IT!

To begin my story, let me begin at the beginning...
I have had the best time reading everyone's blogs. AND I've been inspired to do a little thrift store shopping myself. So, today I took a little trip to visit my mother and we went shopping. That's right, thrift store shopping. As luck would have it, the first store we explored had a lot of things - but, nothing really caught our eye - until we were leaving. Sitting upon a little white shelf was an antique oak mirror. I looked at it, turned it around and thought, "This is just too good to be true!" but then I reasoned, "...you know, we're just beginning our day, I come back and pick it up later."

Well, do you want to finish this story?
I'll bet you can.
We went back to get the little mirror and....that's right, it was gone. I was so disappointed!

As it turned out, the day wasn't a total loss. I found these cute things and my mother and I had a great time spending the day together.

These will be so versatile.


This is the beginning of a new collection.

And these little guys are just cute!

I wasn't even thinking about Christmas yet these little drums just jumped into my cart - all four for $1.00!



It was a good day - lesson learned.

Tablescape Thursday

Welcome back to my blog!
A big THANK YOU to all of you who have stopped by just to have a look around or have left a comment or two. It's fun for me to open my dashboard and see the message, "...# of comments need moderation"! It's kind of like, "...you've got mail"!

Today my post is about a tablescape in my dining room. I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her Tablescape Thursday. If you enjoy tablescaping, be sure to join her on her blog. Just click on the link to the right on my sideboard and you'll be there in a jiffy! You'll find a multitude of links to visit. Grab your favorite beverage and browse away, you won't be disappointed!

Before I share my post, I want to state that I have been a faithful follower of many creative blogs. One thing just about everyone does is share where they've found their treasures! So, to return the favor, I'll list the places I've found a few bargains as well.

My tablesetting began with my new chargers. These were found at a Marshalls Home Goods Store. I have two of these stores close to my home and it amazes me how very different they are. One is nice and orderly, it's my favorite. The other, I have to go in with the right frame of mind - it's going to be a mad treasure hunt. The store itself is always in disarray. I just have to be prepared.

These lovely chargers were found at the "nice" Marshalls. I love the scroll design. It's simple, yet elegant. I really needed 6, but they only had four... shucks... (I'll keep my eye out for the other two.)


The next plates were ones that I had been admiring for quite a while. I love the detail. They are Opal Innocence from Lenox. As I was searching the internet, I found a great website: http://www.mytableware.com/. I was able to snatch these plates at a very reasonable price, so I purchased a set of 6. Happy birthday to me!


Again, I love the design - it's so feminine! From there I placed white cloth napkins in a fan design held by a napkin ring. These I purchased for a song on eBay.



The silver sterling is Prelude from International. I received the set for a wedding present.


The glassware was also a wedding present. I don't remember the pattern, but it is also Lenox. Can you see the small candle holder? It has crystals around the rim - it's just precious! I found four at Tuesday Morning's clearance shelf for $1.00 each!

Scattered around the table, I placed various pieces of crystal and such I have from friends and family. One of my favorites is the bunny sitting atop a candy dish. He's a little Lladro from my great aunt's collection and now a gift from my mother.


See the mama and baby bird? They were a Hobby Lobby find - 80% off. I think I picked them up for $1.05. They had a blue "outdoorsy" tint - but I thought they'd be great painted white. So, with my trusty can of white spray paint, I have a cute addition to my table.

If you've seen my previous post, you know I have a collection of clocks. Here I have a sweet crystal clock given to me by my friend who lives in Canada. It holds very special memories.

In the pictures below is another piece from my great aunt. It's a piece from Austria, a ladies shoe. It reminds me of Cinderella!


My centerpiece is a pitcher that was my grandmother's. Among it's many uses, it was used to carry water for my mother's baptism. When it was given to my mother, she used it for many things too. Out of necessity, it had to be used to fill up their radiator with water from a resaca (waterway) on a long hot trip. Later, she used it as a vase, for my father loved to give her red roses. As you can see, it's holding one my favorite types of flowers, tulips.


I hope you enjoyed my tablescape of special treasures. Thanks again for visiting!

Surprises....

Don't you just love surprises? (Well, good surprises, not the kind that embarrass you.)

I live in a small suburb outside Houston and the summer weather is usually very warm...ok, HOT. It takes some getting used to, but overall you learn when to venture out and when to stay indoors.

This morning, we were blessed with another glorious sunny morning. I took a morning stroll and had a few nice surprises! Even with all this heat, I had caladiums still standing. I thought for sure they wouldn't make it, but they did!

Upon closer inspection, my azaleas, butterfly plants, and containers are holding up very well too.
What a wonderful surprise!




An finally, one last special surprise...can you spot it?

Look closely in the fork of this small crepe myrtle...


Can you see the squirrel peeking through the leaves? He's being so still... I guess he was stopping by for a morning snack.

Some days, it's just the simple things in life that are blessings.