Sisters, Sisters...

If you are fortunate to have a sister, then you'll be able to relate to this post. You see, I have only one sister. She is six years older than me and has always had the role of my "big sister". With that title comes a lot of responsibility. She has to look out for me and love me no matter what.

Now, I will admit, we didn't always get along. Especially since I was the little sister with "cooties." I'm sure that I was always in her things, always playing in her room, and always embarrassing her. {Wasn't that my job?} As the years have progressed, our age difference has disappeared and now we rely on each other for just about everything. We are best friends, truly.

This week is my birthday and for my present, she found the sweetest things, two flamingos. They are absolutely gorgeous! They are the work of Brad Keeler. I hadn't heard of his work before, but since have read quite a bit. He studied art at USC and opened his own Glendale studio where he created naturalistic figures of birds and animals. His work is air~brushed and enhanced with hand~painted details. Especially popular were the flamingo figures. Now, I'm the proud owner of two!!

Sadly, in 1952, Keeler suffered a fatal heart attack. His company didn't survive the loss and closed its doors in 1953.

The second gift from my sister was a book she put together about our beach cabin. After Hurricane IKE, trips were made to the area to look at the property and to recover any items left from the storm. She had taken all pictures of the disaster and complied them in a book for both my mother and me. You see we all had a hand in building the cabin, however, it was the dream of my father and mother to have a weekend getaway. It is missed.



This is a picture of my father on the back deck of the cabin overlooking part of his land. He loved his cabin and the beach.
We miss him too. {1931~1987}

Thrifty Monday

I'm officially back at work, so my available time for thrift store shopping has been dramatically cut. However, after my question and answer session, I've learned a lot about everyone's thrift store shopping strategies. My favorite was to just go when you have the money! Loved that! However, now I'm also more keenly aware of the thrift store's discount days.

Here's my plan: I'm going shopping on Monday afternoons. By Friday afternoon, things are very picked over and the traffic here is horrendous!!! On Monday, I think that people will have dropped off their things the weekend before and by the time afternoon rolls around, the workers will have had time to process the things and bring them to the floor. I'll try this and report back.

Here are a few things I picked up this past week. We'll begin with these white plates.


I will freely admit that I don't need any more white plates, but these were priced at $0.79 each. I liked the basket weave around the rim and there were 8 of them. I just couldn't resist. They are Williams~Sonoma Marketplace ~ I think this is their outlet brand? If anyone knows, please let me know.

I also picked up these cups and saucers.




There were six in the set. They are so sweet and delicate...I think they'll be nice pieces to put with pink depression glass.

I also picked up this large pitcher. It's the color that caught my attention.

{It isn't spotty like this picture shows, it's actually a solid color.}


Here's my favorite part, I love the handle.

This is a glass picture frame. The back part was missing, but I thought I could use it for a tray or pedestal for an arrangement. For $0.49 I took it.


And finally, I picked up this easel. I loved the scroll work and the color. I'm planning on using it in my kitchen to hold my favorite cook book.


I hope you have enjoyed looking at my treasures. Be sure to check out Southern Hospitality for her weekend update. Here you'll find other participants as well and their finds while treasure hunting...you'll be amazed at all the terrific items!

Peaceful Blue...

This week, I'd like to share something from my church's courtyard. In this tiny space is a reflecting place with a mosaic cross. It is so pretty, peaceful and calming for anyone needing a bit of solitude.


If you'd like to see more amazing blue items, head over to Smiling Sally's Blue Monday.
Enjoy your Monday.

Summertime...

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






Thanks for visiting, have a wonderful Wednesday!

It's All About the Flamingo

Yes, I'm participating in Susan's Tablescape Thursday. But the post today is not so much about the table, but a flamingo. You see, he has quite a story, he's a survivor.

If you want to see "real" tablescapes, head on over to Between Naps on the Porch for creative and beautiful settings ~ all carefully constructed.

Here's his story. Last summer we had a beach house on a small sleepy peninsula near Galveston, Texas. It was the perfect retreat ~ a weekend getaway ~ and filled with seashell crafts made with little, loving hands, and gloppy glue. It also housed sea glass, well loved books, and of course a flamingo.

One stormy summer evening, IKE hit with a mighty blow. He struck with such force that homes were destroyed like matchsticks. One knew that building on coastal land was always a gamble, but a gamble that many took.

Here are before and after shots:

These pictures were actually taken by the United States Geological Survey. They were the first pictures we saw of the area. It was devastated. For comparison, USGS used yellow arrows. Our house is in the first picture, in the middle, and it's yellow. In the after picture, you can tell it's completely gone.

After it was safe to approach the island, we trekked our way through miles and miles of debris to try and recover any of our belongings. Guess who we found?

So this post is for my flamingo who survived IKE. He's a little battered, but still makes a memorable table.


He's a little rusty and his tail feathers are a bit crumbled...


...and he's missing a wing......but his feet are in good shape.




I think he's happy that he was found and brought home...

...to be the centerpiece of this summer table.

Mmmm....watermelon...a summer favorite. No longer eaten at the beach house, but enjoyed just the same.

Feathered Friends Party

Today is a Feathered Friends Party with Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage. At this site you can share anything that has to do with birds, which includes art, or even the real thing. After you've visited my post, won't you just twitter over to her site?

I'd like to share a unique birdhouse that was actually constructed by my mother. She made it from scrap wood, cut out the "bird doors", and made the roof from a license plate. I don't know too much about the plate but the state and date is meaningful...any guesses?




You're absolutely right. I'm a Texas girl, BITS {Born In The State}. The date...I'll just keep you guessing...


Have a terrific Wednesday!

Thrift store shopping and a few questions....

If you've been following me, you know that I'm a novice at blogging and everything that goes along with it. I've been up and running for 4+ weeks and have loved every minute. I've been inspired, touched, and have learned so many incredible things from all the wonderful, creative people and their adventures!

Thanks to blogging, one of my favorite new pastimes is thrift store shopping. It has been so much fun and, well, addictive! I just love wandering and looking, thinking about all the possibilities of what could be.

Here are a few things I've found this week:


This silver plated platter was so pretty ~ I loved the handles.



This piece has delicate roses around the edges, the pattern is Camille.

I had always wanted to pick up a few of these pieces to see if they were worth it, and I was presently surprised! They cleaned up very well. I think they'll be pretty used in different settings.



Ok, I'd like to ask a few questions to all you experienced thrift store shoppers:

1. What in your opinion is the best day{s} to do your shopping?
2. Is there a better time of year?
3. Does the time of day matter?
4. Do you have any other words of wisdom about thrift store shopping?

Please share your thoughts, I'd truly appreciate it!
Thanks!

Be sure to visit, 2nd Time Around Tuesday, hosted by Diane at A Picture is Worth a 1,000 Words. Here you'll find many participants and their treasures! It's definitely worth the trip!