Monday, August 31, 2009

The Violet Burning

If you have never heard of this band, I feel real bad for ya, cause their music is just wonderful:)! Everyone has different tastes I know, but give a listen to this heartfelt song, you might just love it! Did you ever have a hard time in your life, and music was a key factor in helping you get through it? I had a miserable summer several years back where I felt like I was an unlovable person or something, going through a period of feeling rejection and gloomy and the words and music from this band's songs just brought healing and joy back to my life! I have never had a blue period like that since, because I really experienced an unconditional and pure love that can only come from our Maker who created us and thinks that we are precious.
Here are the lyrics from their song, "There is Nowhere Else"...

There is Nowhere Else

Not the jewels of a thousand kings
Not the waves of the mighty seas
Not palaces of gold
Or castles by the sea
Could ever separate me
From your love

When you ask me to be near you
And you say, "come, take my hand"
I say, "be near me, be near me"

For there is nowhere else I'd rather stay
Then in your arms

Not the sky, or the stars above
Not the treasure of a thousand loves
Not palaces of gold or castles by the sea
Could ever separate me from your love

There is nowhere else I'd rather stay
Then in your arms
There is nowhere else I want to be
But in your arms


Sunday, August 30, 2009

Just My Type....ETSY Finds

I love the old school style of vintage typewriters! Ah... Remember the ink ribbon getting jammed? keys sticking? correcto tape? Throwing the whole page away when you catch a mistake? I remember, and don't miss those things, but the iconic look of the typewriter is way cuter than the computer icon! Anyhow, you sure do have to hand it to all the countless authors who fashioned their novels, biographies and such with such archaic machines!

Friday, August 28, 2009

Sneak peek at My Fall and Winter Hats!






This is a sneak peek of my new hats that I have just finished crocheting in order to get ready for fall and winter. The brown fuzzy hat is crocheted from a polyester and acrylic felt blend and is especially cozy feeling. The other four are from a chunky wool and acrylic blend. I love the textures of these hats, and I know that they will keep you warm in the days ahead! Each hat comes with a crocheted chain cord that is woven through the edge, so that head fit can be adjusted accordingly. I learned last year that my head is bigger than my daughters and their friends heads, so I thought this would help with various size noggins! I will be listing them soon for 18.00 each. I know that it is still August, but some areas of the country start getting chilly soon ( I wish this was one of those areas).
Also, some of you out there might actually start preparing for Christmas soon, so check back with my etsy site considerthelillies.etsy.com for more additions like scarves, cowls headbands!

Here In Gadsden






These are some pictures from the town in Alabama where we now live. It is located in northeast Alabama, at the foothills of the Appalachian mountain range.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Down Upon The Suwannee River....



These pictures are vintage images of different areas in Florida, where I lived for 25 years! I am sorry that I was not a fan of the brutally hot summers or the flat landscapes, but there was beauty there to be seen and enjoyed too. I have always loved the vintage postcards from days gone by. It seemed to be a simpler way of life at that time.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Little Meadows 18830







Wow, the internet really amazes me sometimes! I have been a little nostalgic lately as I wrote in my post about New York City a few days ago, so I thought I would look up the small Pennsylvania town my grandpa lived in. When I was a little girl, my mother, older brother and I would drive about five hours from the city to Little Meadows Pennsylvania where my Grandpa lived and we would stay there for a visit for the entire summer. And I mean, entire, because we wouldn't drive back home until the day before school started!
I remember absolutely loving the drive there and feeling more and more happy and relaxed the closer we got! His old farm was on a dirt road that had no name, in fact his mailing address was: Elias Sivokon, Little Meadows Pennsylvania, 18830! That's it! There was only one mailman at that time and he knew exactly where my grandpa lived! There was a town tavern, two gas stations/grocery stores, a post office, a bank and some churches!
At one time during my childhood I lived there for three years, year round and got to experience all four seasons country style. Each season was very distinctly felt and appreciated, especially fall with all it's resplendent beauty, and spring, where the spring thaw caused all the streams and creeks to overflow the dirt roads causing cars getting stuck in the mud and the blessing of warmer days. I spent a lot of time outdoors playing, and watching the deer grazing at sunset, the rabbits hopping about near dusk, chipmunks, woodchucks, pheasants, grouse and beautiful birds. My time there was difficult due to issues my mother had, but the natural surroundings seemed to soothe my soul and I know that God was bringing me His grace and peace, even though I didn't know much about Him yet.
I have posted some pictures from that small little place, and I am so happy to see the lake we would go fishing and swimming at, and the gorgeous scenery of that land!

Monday, August 24, 2009

The East is up, and the Battery's down....



Sometimes I get a little nostalgic about the places I have lived, like Queens, New York where I was born, and lived until my mid twenties. My husband Ray and I moved to Florida with our two little kids about 25 years ago, and I have often wanted my daughters to experience some of the things I did by living in such an active city. Like....walking "around the corner" to get milk or bread. In Bayside, Flushing, College Point, Queen's Village (all areas I lived in) there was always a grocery store, pizza place, deli or bakery within a short walking distance. When I was a teenager, the thing to do after school was to go "up Bell" (Bell Blvd, an area with stores, pizza, candy stores, etc.) to get an italian ice or slice of Pizza before dinner! Or going to a corner candy store for a pretzel rod and an egg cream, or to Woolworths, where for a few dollars you could buy a grilled cheese AND a bottle of nail polish! Well, a year and a half ago, we moved to Alabama, and the funny thing is that even though Florida is filled with New York people, it is here in Gadsden that I feel more at home. The downtown area is just like Bell Blvd, with less stores of course, but it has an old variety store that is just like the Woolworths I remember and I feel endorphins released in my brain when I am in there! Sidewalks, and people talking to their neighbors and the change of seasons all bring back nice memories and familiar feelings! I hope you enjoy these great etsy finds with a New York City theme!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Vintage Paper Doll Finds on Etsy



In my previous post I mentioned that I loved playing with paper dolls when I was little, so.... I found some etsy things with that theme!

Child of the Fifties





I don't exactly know why I love all these vintage images so much, but I guess they remind me of books, magazines and paper dolls from my youth. Does anyone ever see paper dolls anymore? It is rare and they seem to be kinda pricey. I personally LOVED playing with them as a little girl. My favorites were the bride and bridesmaids ones and the Petticoat Junction series with Bobby Joe, Betty Joe and Billie Joe! Soooo many pretty dresses to change the flimsy and delicate dolls in to! Thank the Lord for scotch tape which extended their lifespan for a few weeks!
Also, in the pictures I posted, the women look so happy to be all dolled up and cooking in their colorful kitchens! Maybe it will rub off on me, cause I am a little spazzy in my kitchen. I get the job done, but I am no Food Network host, that's for sure. I make a mess, usually am missing an ingredient, drop things, and break out in a sweat! And I hate the clean up part! Maybe if I had the right outfit, it would all magically change, but then again, I don't think so!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Ukraine Inspiration

I attempted to post about my Ukrainian roots and some etsy things in that category a month or so ago, and something went screwy, so I thought I would try again! These are some lovely Ukrainian inspired things that are beautiful and unique! My grandfather was from Kiev, and moved to New York City in the early 1900's as a teenager who learned to be a tailor and worked until retirement making beautiful garments for men and women. My mother always looked rich in her old pictures because her dad would bring home scraps of expensive fabric and make her the most fashionable suits and dresses!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

That Old Block Magic...

I have selected some unique block printed items with a few of my own popped in! The technique of block printing involves carving a piece of special linoleum, or soft carve blocks with any image, then transferring it onto paper or fabric with special inks! I am expecting some new image inspirations for the upcoming cooler weather! I am always more inspired during Fall and Winter!


Friday, August 14, 2009

Summer Refreshments!



I think these things are lovely but way too expensive....can be done for way less using color combinations, paint and Thrift Store Finds!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Turkey Cranberry Croissant


A few years ago, in Old Hyde Park, Tampa, my friend Nancy , her sister in law Sue and I ate lunch in a cute old house turned cafe and ordered their Turkey, Cream Cheese and Cranberry Sauce on a Croissant and loved it! I have since incorporated it into our dinner menu when I don't feel like heating up the house with a hot oven!

1 package cream cheese, softened
6 croissants, split ( or 4 large croissants)
1 pound Honeysuckle White Turkey Breast (deli meat)
3/4 cup whole berry cranberry sauce

1. Spread cream cheese mixture on both halves of croissants.
2. Layer turkey, cranberry sauce on bottom half of croissant.
3. Top with other half of croissant.
4. Eat cold, or grill on a Georg Foreman type grill or in a frying pan!

Makes 6 servings.

Tip: This recipe is works great with leftover turkey.
You can use any type of bread of course and it is just as yummy! I have served it with a side of stove topped stuffing with gravy, but tonight I have corn on the cob and sliced avocado!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends...








Yesterday, my old friend Karin sent me these pictures from our teen years and I was thrilled because I only have about five pictures from that time and always wanted to show my daughters a view of my past! My friends were a real lifeline to me back then, since my mom had many issues that made my home life stressful. I can't help but believe that it was "Divine Providence" which led me to these particular people because they filled my days with fun, laughs,and a sense of security that my home didn't supply. Their parents and siblings were nice to me too and I went along with some for a few family style vacations. And I believe God used that time to show me that He was real and that He loved me and was looking out for me even though, at that time I had doubts.
Don't these pictures make you think of "The Wonder Years"? (one of my all time favorite shows!)
These were taken around 1973!! Yep, I'm ancient!!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Clothes That Put A Smile On Your Face




I love the playfulness and fun colors and textures of these outfits!

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Score!!!!!!








Yes, friends, I finally did it! I scored the perfect chair for my living room for only......are you ready? Fifteen dollars!!! That is twenty dollars under my maximum used chair amount!!! My husband spotted it first, then I laid eyes on it and confirmed a rapid pullover! No offense to the guy who sold it to us, but he mostly just had rows of junky stuff with two wing back chairs at the end. I thought I would wait in the car, cause I figured that a good condition and good looking chair was out of our allotted price range. I told Ray, "If it's marked 50, offer him 40" ( I know that is five dollars over!) He sat on it and mouthed to me what I thought was 50, but in fact it was only 15!!! The guy even said we could have the other wing back chair for free, but as tempting as it was, it had rips on the arms and didn't match our stuff! I also snagged a nice solid wood bench for 15, and two vintage floral pictures for 2.50 a piece! Not bad at all, huh?

The dusty orange chair is the one we got, the burgundy color one was marked 125.00 and it was very comfy, so we had agreed to really splurge if the lady took 75.00, but she didn't budge. It's just as well though, cause that was way before scoring the 15.00 gem!!

Friday, August 7, 2009

I Just Learned How To Make This on Slide.com




I saw this effect on someone's blog and I had to go and make one right away! I love the old timey film look to it, but there are many choices of effects and styles! Looks like I found a new pastime! I just chose these pics to try out the site and it was easy! Try it , you'll like it!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

My Little Bungalow







When we purchased our home in Gadsden, Alabama 2 years ago, we fell in love with the huge front porch which runs the entire width of our house. We wondered what architectural style it was and began to look up old house pictures on the internet. We figured that it was the closest to the Bungalow style which was very popular in the early 1900's. ( our home was built in 1913) We looked up the definition of the word and found:
A bungalow is a type of single-story house that originated in India. The word derives from the Hindi baṅglā (or perhaps the Gujarati variant baṅglo), meaning "Bengali", used elliptically for a "house in the Bengal style".[1] Such houses were traditionally small, only one story and thatched, and had a wide veranda.[2]
Our house is the one on top, the other four were images from a google search on Bungalows.
I find that each picture evokes a feeling of home and coziness and I bet the insides have tons of character to them!! Sometimes I will take the long way home from the grocery store just so I can drive by the similar style homes in our neighborhood. I have been known for taking the "scenic route" on my little journeys around town! Well, I look at it as smelling the roses along they way! Smell some roses today!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Just Call Me Mugsy....



You probably don't know this, but my nickname in high school was Mugsy, based on a character from "The Bowery Boys", called Mugsy McGinnis who later became Slip Mahoney when the show turned into "East Side Comedy" Well, you probably have never heard of such shows, because you aren't ancient like me! The funny thing is that the nickname suits me cause I LOVE coffee mugs! I must have a hundred of them which I have gathered over the years and they all get a workout when I am too slow with the dishwasher thing! Of course, I have my favorites that I look for when I open the cabinet door. Seems like everything just tastes better in a cute mug! I know that I have passed this obsession on to my daughters cause Christina has a blog (Consider The Coffee)and etsy shop (Coffee and Cream) where coffee cups and coffee are major themes! And my daughter Jenny has never been able to resist a cute mug especially if it is on sale!
All of these choices are things I would love to sip out of on a cool morning on my porch, except the candle which I would light and look at a lot!!

Saturday, August 1, 2009

World's Longest Yard Sale Reminder!


A few months ago I posted about this event and I wanted to remind you since it is only four days away!
August 6th thru 9th ,654 Miles
From Gadsden, Alabama to West Unity, Ohio along Highway 127


I have gone the last two years, since it starts in my town, about three miles away! This year's strategy is to drive by highway to Chattanooga, Tennessee and take the yard sale route back to Gadsden! Pray for good weather (not too hot or rainy)!