Consider The Lillies

three days, three moose

2012-02-14T13:00:00.007-08:00

Every so often I get the urge to draw, especially when I have a project for my home or my family in mind. I have been thinking about moose for probably the last year, but have been procrastinating any attempt at drawing one. Until this past weekend that is, when I created the picture above. I have to look at a moose photo or picture to get the idea, so I easily found some on the internet. I drew this moose head then photocopied on my printer, cut it out and then decoupaged it onto a canvas that I had painted diagonal stripes on. I made two and am giving one to my daughter Christina and keeping the other one for somewhere in my house. Guess I will have to move some things around because my walls are pretty full...
Then the next day I attempted a whole moose and did this guy. I have no idea what I am doing, I just look at a picture and try to duplicate it with drawing pencils. I also have no idea how to shade properly but I intend to check out some tutorials on the web to better learn the proper technique.
Yesterday, I watched a tutorial on how to draw a moose and then drew this fella, which seems a better likeness of one.
So...three days, three mooses (or is it three moose?) Wondering what I will do next...

anybody? anybody???

2012-02-09T14:20:00.000-08:00

does anyone else get grossed out by the Tums commercial when the food on someones fork starts hitting them? Or the guy holding the chicken leg that smacks him? Ew
has anyone else had crazy swarming black birds in their neighborhood? I remember this happening last year too. Think of the movie "The Birds"! I went on my back deck to video them today and there were so many overhead, I could hear their poop dropping on the leaves in my back yard!
does anyone else spend too much time on the computer, on facebook, etsy, pinterest,blog-land? I figured I wasn't alone! It's the reason my laundry room is a mess and dust bunnies grow in my corners!
anyone out there having a really weird winter? Like it's springtime already? Well, actually since all January too! But I LOVE winter, crisp air, hot tea at night, wearing layers, the possibility of snow! boo hoo!
don't you just love a fireplace? I've never had one, but I always loved smelling other peoples smoke in the air on a chilly night. Now my daughter Christina has a working fireplace in her new home and I danced a little when it was lit for the first time. My daughter Jenny has this talent for starting and maintaining fires even though she has never had a fireplace. One time as a teen, she sat at a drum set and started to play, although she had never done so before. Superpowers!
do you always search for the perfect jeans that don't roll down from your belly, and are light enough to keep you cool and heavy enough to keep you warm, and make you look ten pounds thinner? Any luck? None for me so far. Sadly my favorite fitting things are jeggings from Walmart that only cost 5.88. Full price.
do you procrastinate your home projects like painting all your trims and ceilings? Or is that just me? I wish we would have done it before we moved in, but now we have too much crap to move out of the way!
anybody out there eat healthy all day, but then get insanely "hungry" between supper and bedtime? Any solutions???
did you know that beavers are adorable and if they could speak they would sound british? Oh yes I think they would! I just watched a National Geographic special about them and learned how smart AND busy they really are!

the real me

2012-02-05T17:17:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I was reading a blog post by Angela from Pickles on Pizza about being your genuine and authentic self. I really enjoyed reading it and it got me to thinking about my own life and how for several whole decades of my life I was less than genuine of a person. I was trying to fit in to an image that was really not me at all.
Let me start by saying that when I was 18 years old, after being a self proclaimed agnostic (didn't really even know what that meant, but I thought it meant I doubted that there was a God, but wasn't absolutely sure about it) I discovered that God was real and that I needed Him in my life. I read the Bible and felt that the words came alive and brought such joy to my heart.
I met my husband when I was in college in New York and we were married a year and a half later. Ray also shared the same faith that I had come to know, and believe me, marrying him was the best thing I ever did! He was then , and still is, my best friend, an awesome husband, father and grandpa. He played guitar at church on Sundays and as the years went on, he was ordained an associate pastor and we moved from NYC to Florida to help start a church.
Our two daughters had a blast growing up in church with all the social aspects and fun programs for kids. Ray was also youth Pastor and working with the group we had at the time was some of the best experiences ever.
I worked in the church office as a secretary at the time also, so we were at church for most days of the week.
The thing is, that when I was home at night or on our day off, I was a pretty grumpy gal. Not the whole time of course, but my patience was thin and my mind was always preoccupied with church things. In fact, I would say that my busy-ness took the place of a simple faith in God that is demonstrated by loving God first, then others second.
I conformed to a style of dressing that was the culture of the Bible belt, TV persona, which included suits, and conservative dresses and shoes. Dare I say, "Church Lady" kind of things? At one point I didn't even own a pair of jeans! gasp!!! How can that be??? I am a child of the 70s (my teen years of course) where jeans, plaid shirts and casual wear was my thing! One day Christina as a teen asked me why I didn't have any jeans and why did I wear such weird pants?
Eventually my husband and I started a church as head Pastors and we moved about 45 minutes north with our family. Church life can be a weird thing sometimes. And BTW, Pastors are probably some of the most insecure people around. Trust me, I know. People come to your church and you feel happy, they leave and you feel rejected. People are always sizing you up and blah blah blah.
I always felt an urge to do something creative and artistic during those years, but I was too burned out emotionally to do very much of anything when I was home but veg out.
Right before we moved from Florida to Alabama, we were meeting in a small storefront with a small group of people and I enjoyed the simplicity of it all. Not having to dress up for church or trying to impress anybody was more our speed. During that time I resurrected my art-ish ambitions as I began to relax and be more genuine of a person, but it wasn't until leaving Florida that my buried creativity began to really uncover.
You see, I don't believe that an administrative life is the life for me , or for my husband, for that matter. We are basically down to earth people. We don't need people's approval to be happy. We don't need to be important people. Just plain old fashioned , kind and friendly folks who express our faith by genuinely loving others.
As some of you know, moving here almost 4 years ago was hard, because of leaving Christina (Consider The Coffee)and her husband Suj and my grandson Kavi who was only one month old. It was hard for Christina too, and that is when we discovered ETSY and began online shops. Christina started a blog and encouraged me to start one and I was exposed to so much creativity that I thought I would explode. From joy that is. ETSY-land and BLOG-world helped guide me towards DIY-ing lots of things and totally getting into crocheting. I still love it and look forward to adding a new stitch or skill every so often. And I have met Angela and her husband Aubrey which was a total blast and we can't wait until they visit our area again in August!
Now I know that my blog or my craftiness doesn't stop world hunger or cause world peace, but if I can put a smile on someone's face sometime or share something that will encourage someone else to unleash their inner creativity then I am happy.
I am tired of the church sub-culture where every waking hour is spent in a building, where greeters hunt you down to get you to fill out a form with your name, phone # and address, where there is a forced greeting time where people mechanically shake your hand to "welcome" you while never looking directly at you, where they say things like "We at (fill in the blank) do this,,,or believe that...",and where you hear catch phrases that normal people don't say. I need real, live genuine,kind, loving and unassuming people.
That's why I enjoy reading other people's blogs where they share all kinds of things creative, peppered with real lives and emotions and experiences. I have gotten so much encouragement from reading posts of interesting people from across the globe. For that I am thankful.
Thank you so much for reading this and I hope I didn't bum anybody out but possibly brought you a chuckle or a moment of encouragement to brighten your day!

Paper*Cakes Finds - Your Daily Dose of Handmade Eye Candy: Daily DIY

2012-02-01T08:42:00.000-08:00

Paper*Cakes Finds - Your Daily Dose of Handmade Eye Candy: Daily DIY: Make Your Own

This is an awesome idea from papercakesfinds.blogspot.com! Click the link highlighted above for instructions!

Baby, Baby, Baby for your weekend!

2012-01-27T08:53:00.001-08:00

<a href='http://video.msn.com?vid=8fa8109e-8c67-4c9a-8d0b-aa9a8b1df31c&mkt=en-US&from=sp^en-us_fblike&src=FLPl:embed::uuids' target='_new' title='Justin Bieber Wedding Dance' >Video: Justin Bieber Wedding Dance</a>

You gotta watch this video of a groom and his groomsmen surprising the bride at a wedding with a Justin Bieber routine! Made my day!

did you know that the Waltons are hip? well they are

2012-01-16T17:46:00.000-08:00

This past Fall I had a bad cold and stayed in bed one day watching a Waltons Marathon. I watched this series when it first was on in the early or mid 70s and loved it and I loved it even more this time around. First of all, if you are even remotely in to etsy, pinterest or blogworld, and the handcrafted, DIY movement, you will notice upon tuning in to the show, that it could very easily fit into this artsy time we live in.
They made the most delicious pies, cakes and well, everything from scratch. Hello!! Pies are very hip now along with all yummy hand baked from scratch anythings.
Simple rustic yet homey decor. Very in . Drinking ice tea from mason jars!!! Using mason jars with wild flowers in them to decorate the really cool canvas tent they put behind the house for Grandpa to sleep in so he would be able to see Walton's mountain and recover from his serious illness?? It worked, Grandpa made it! Looked like a blogger wedding site!
John and Livvy's 25th wedding anniversary where they drove to a town nearby to get professional photos taken, all the while the youngins were secretly planning a surprise party for them, saving paper bags for luminaries, and foil gum wrappers to make shiny table decorations and John making a gazebo to surprise Livvy on the mountain!!
Jason being in a bluegrass band playing in barns with hay to sit on and lights strung for decoration?? Church picnics with colorful pennant garland and PIES and home made canned goods! Yep, and when the kids grew a little older, the girls in their simple cotton 40s dresses, the boys looking very hipster in their vests with oxford shirts and ties, caps and suspenders.
Who knew they would be all the rage three decades later than when they were filmed?
I didn't know, but now I do. Next time you are going through the channels and you see this show, tune in. You may just get inspiration to do something creative or artsy!

was thankin heaven in 2011, now things are swell in 2012

2012-01-06T20:44:00.001-08:00

I started 2012 with a haircut the other day. I have been trying to grow it out and wanting to wear it more wavy like. I showed the picture on the left to my friend Rachel (hairstylist extraordinaire and close family friend) and the result is on the right. I'd say she did a great job! Just have to grow my length out more! I don't really have those cool looking highlights, I used PICNIK (photo editing )to add them just for fun.
On New Year's eve we went to a drive through lights display out in the country. They also had a building with real ice ice skating and a gift shop with a picture taking corner which is where Kavi is sitting in the picture above, and snack shop too. None of us actually did ice skate because we were too cheap to pay an additional 9 dollars to do it!
They sold s'mores kits for two dollars and you could roast them yourself over an open fire. Fun and yum! They were playing all these line dancing songs like cupid shuffle and such and my daughter Jenny used to work for the YMCA after school program in Florida, so she knew all the moves for all the songs. At one point I dared her to do the next one in an open area in the building to see if a crowd formed behind her, and lo and behold, when I came out of the porta potty there was Jenny with some people behind her line dancing with a small crowd of on lookers! They should have paid her to do that there because you could tell people wanted to dance but no one was leading, hehe. Everyone dispersed shortly after!

a small part of the mile long drive of animated lights

we baked and decorated Christmas cookies with my grandson this year

we all had fun, but Kavi had the most fun!

It has been an awesome holiday season thanks to Cristina and Suj and Kavi living here now. I am so thankful for these past few months! Next week they are closing on a house that is about 45 minutes from here, so we will have to drive longer than 3 minutes to see each other, but I am very happy about their cute house, beautiful setting and close proximity to downtown Birmingham so Suj has a short drive to and from work each day.
2012 brings the expectancy of new experiences and adventures and I am so happy to have family close by to enjoy them with! Hope yours is a blessed and happy New Year too!

another easy DIY-Leather Leaf Earrings

2011-12-26T19:51:00.000-08:00

Recently I have been making leather leaf or leather feather earrings using leather pieces from Hobby Lobby and earring kidney wires. Unbelievably easy. Just draw a template out of cardboard or card stock or paper or whatever, trace the shape onto the leather, cut out, cut fringe on the edges, use a nail and hammer to make holes for the earring wires and voila...cute earrings, really cheap to make! I made a bunch to give as Christmas gifts and a few for myself, but alas have taken no pics, so I found this link for a great tutorial on making them. The bead is a great touch I didn't do but I will have to see if I have any old beads hanging round that I can use for the future.

I'm dreamin of a...white Christmas

2011-12-18T20:41:00.000-08:00

friend Rachel, daughters Jenny and Christina outside the Alabama Theater in downtown Birmingham

me, Christina and Jenny

absolutely gorgeous inside!

the concession area

Today, I went to downtown Birmingham to see Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" with daughters Jenny and Christina, and friend Rachel. The theater was absolutely beautiful, very ornately decorated with a huge tree in the entrance, lights, marble floors, very art deco!
It was a capacity crowd of eager folks looking forward to a festive time. A pipe organ rises from beneath the stage with a cheery man playing it, with words on the movie screen as a Christmas song sing a long warms up the audience.
At the end of the movie when they sing White Christmas, the audience started to sing along! Then the organ player rises from below, also playing White Christmas as the crowd filtered out of the Theater.
As Jenny and I were standing in the lobby area, an older lady passed us and remarked to us that she enjoyed the movie just as much as when she first saw it in 1954. People were full of Christmas Spirit as they left the Alabama, posing for pictures just like we did! A good old, warm feeling, old fashioned Christmas memory that we will treasure for years to come!

2nd easiest Christmas DIY...Snowglobes!

2011-12-05T13:12:00.001-08:00

empty fridge of old jams, pickles, whatever in glass jars
remove labels and of course, wash
hot glue tiny trees and plastic figures that fit, to the inside of lid
put epsom salt or glitter in jar
close lid
flip over!

That's it! The hardest part was getting glue off the jars (put some canola oil on them and scraped with butter knife) A great gift idea that is unique yet inexpensive!
Love them!

easiest Christmas DIY ever!

2011-12-04T21:04:00.001-08:00

Get some small dixie cups.
Poke holes in bottom with scissors.
Stick on twinkle lights.
Done!

I love the Holidays!!

2011-11-23T10:05:00.001-08:00

I am very happy about this Thanksgiving since my daughter Christina and her husband Suj and my grandson Kavi are currently living a half mile from here! The first holiday since we moved to Alabama where we didn't have to make a 9 hour drive to Florida (nor Christina having to make the drive here) We are also having some friends over as well, and they are some of the nicest people you could ever know. We knew them in Florida and they also made the move to this area in the last few years.
Life has changed for the better for me as you can imagine! I have seen Christina and Kavi almost every single day since they moved here.Fun, fun, fun, let me tell you! Kavi is very happy to be living so close to us too, you can tell. He loves seeing us all the time and he has two good little kid friends that live across the street and around the corner that he loves to see and play with. Every so often I say to him in an excited voice, "Kavi, guess what??" "You live in Alabama!" to which he adds, "FOREVER!!" and gives me a really big hug!!
My crafting has been on the back burner for the past month with excitement directed towards the family and also having a sinus infection that knocked me for a loop. Actually, it was the antibiotic that made me feel worse than just the sinus problem. Way to many trips to the little girls room and exhausting dizziness. Not cool. I am all better now, though and raring to go with Thanksgiving and getting some hats and scarves listed in my etsy shop and mailing some to an awesome blog friend (who I met in real life and LOVE her) Angela, in Mississippi, who has a booth in an antique mall.
Hope you have a wonderful time this Thanksgiving! I am thankful for all your encouraging posts and comments through the year which has been such a blessing to me! Hugs to you all!

Christmas Decor Inspiration

2011-11-15T12:44:00.000-08:00

Source: lisaottosson.tumblr.com via Darlene on Pinterest

Source: domesticease.com via Darlene on Pinterest

Source: ebay.com via Darlene on Pinterest

Source: pinterest.com via Darlene on Pinterest

Thank God for Pinterest!

2011-11-08T16:16:00.000-08:00

Hopefully, you have all discovered the joys of pinterest! I guess, for those of you who never heard of it, it is like a virtual bulletin board where you can post various pictures and recipes that were found on the web. Believe me, it is fun and addicting.
I have especially enjoyed the recipe aspect of it, as I am always looking for inspiration to liven up our family's dinner time. Several years ago, the acquisition of cable tv and the newly formed FOOD network helped me out of the cooking doldrums, then a few years after that, allrecipes.com came my way, followed by just plain googling for ideas for simple dinners. And, as of late, pinterest has rocked my world.
Last week, I found 4 new recipes to try out, heavy on crock potting and surprisingly they were all a big hit! Of course, I tweak just about everything I make, looking at recipes as more like guidelines rather than hard and fast rules.

Source: 365daysofcrockpot.com via Darlene on Pinterest

Zuppa Toscana
Today I made this, only in a regular pot rather than a crockpot and it was absolutely delicious. My husband raved about it and I really loved it as well! I used half and half instead of heavy cream and mustard greens instead of kale!

Source: crockpot365.blogspot.com via Darlene on Pinterest

Crock Pot Falafels
I made this last week and also loved it! I would season the falafels a little more than the recipe called for next time with fresh garlic, onion and cilantro, but they really crisped in the crock pot and I made a yogurt sauce with onion, garlic powder, parsley and lemon juice and it was a good accompaniment.

Source: thecrockstar.blogspot.com via Darlene on Pinterest

Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff
This was also yummy! I substituted neufchatel cheese for the cream cheese to lower the fat in this recipe! And added half a bag of peas!

Source: thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com via Darlene on Pinterest

Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings
made crock pot chicken and dumplings, adding a bag of mixed veggies. delicious!

Source: williams-sonoma.com via Darlene on Pinterest

Smoky Red lentils
I used Tandoori spice mixture from an international market instead of the paprika and it was scrumptious!

So... get your butts over to pinterest and get some inspiration of your own, you won't be sorry!!

Thrift Store Crochet / Knit World Video

2011-11-05T08:45:00.000-07:00

http://vimeo.com/31424892

Seventeen Evergreen - Polarity Song from Lucky Number Music on Vimeo.

An owl in a tree and tea kinda day

2011-11-03T19:30:00.000-07:00

tea art print

Owl in Tree Shadowbox

Today was one of my favorite kind of Fall days. It was rainy, windy and chilly and it made the leaves on the trees even more vibrant yellow and orange. Right before dusk, I drove to some nearby stores and on the way there I had the thought that it felt like the kind of day to spot an owl in a tree. A few Autumns ago, my daughter Jenny saw a big one in a tree on our corner with the street light shining right on it. It was gone by the time I ventured out to take a look but I thought it was pretty cool that it was right in our downtown neighborhood. Last year in the Fall I spotted an owl in a tree as Ray and I were driving on the highway and it was right before dusk that day . (umm...I never saw one , but I still could imagine seeing one on a day such as today)
I love dusk in the Fall because of how the golden hues of sunset enhance the warm colors of the foliage. For some reason I find that time to be so warm and cozy
We have officially transitioned into the hot tree drinking zone in this house and I just love it. The heat in our house hasn't been working too well (waiting for the heat guy to get a part he ordered for us) so several steaming cups a night help warm the bones. Our favorite around here is Twinings Decaf Irish Breakfast tea with some fresh ginger and local honey. Just hits the spot!

Sweet Home Alabama

2011-11-03T09:17:00.000-07:00

Kavi having fun at the Corn Maze

Christina's neighborhood

That's her house on the corner!

So, it has been almost three weeks since my daughter and her family have moved here from Florida and I have been pinching myself everyday to make sure it is not a dream. For the first six months, they are living only a half mile away, so I have been able to see Stina and my grandson everyday! Last weekend we all went to a Pumpkin Patch/Corn Maze and Kavi had a blast! The ride up there was gorgeous with all the fall colors on the hills and we stayed until the golden sunset.
I am really enjoying this Fall, which is already my favorite season, but having family here has been the icing on the cake!

Woodland Wonderland Themed Shower

2011-10-22T17:26:00.001-07:00

So sorry that it has taken me so long to post! The day after our friend's baby shower, my daughter Christina and her husband and son moved to Alabama from Florida, making my days delightfully busier! I will post more about that awesome subject in my next post, including pictures of the adorable and cozy house (only about a half mile from here!) that they found to rent before looking to buy a home closer to where my son in law works. (don't worry that is only about an hour away!)
Back to the baby shower! I was so happy to be able to help my daughter and friends decorate for this shower since I love the couple that it was for and the woodland forest theme was right up my alley. Thank the good Lord for Pinterest, because they were numerous pins in that category, from food to decor.

hanging some of the clothing gifts from a clothesline adds to the decor with some squirrel and hedgehog silhouettes!

the favors were S'Mores pops we made by dipping giant marshmallows in melted chocolate then rolling in crushed graham cracker crumbs! They were really delicious! Thanks pinterest!!

Burlap tablecloth, planks of wood bought at Hobby Lobby usually for wood burning stacked on cans that were covered with wood grain scrapbook paper! I made the name garland out of small wood squares and twine, stencils and a wooden owl! Saw forest animal plaques on pinterest, so I made some for the wall above the cupcakes (coming in a later pic) Oh, and I also made the air dry clay mushrooms to brighten up the area! Fake moss rocks and acorns added to the theme!

bare branches in mason jars were the centerpieces

acorn paper garland and twig garland with paper forest animals

with the delicious cupcakes decorated to look like mushrooms! The dots were m n ms!

pinwheels made from gift tissue paper adorned a long wall

two long paper pennant garlands made from forest theme scrapbook paper and twine

food table with mushroom decor made from brown paper sandwich bags! So easy, just google it and you will see!

closer view of the pennants!
I have a few more pics to download, so my next post will also have them in it!
Also, I have had a cold since the day after my family arrived making it all the more difficult to focus on a blog post but I am almost all better now! It has been like a dream come true having them so close by and in a few minutes I will be watching my sweet and adorable grandson while Christina goes grocery shopping!! Fun times!!

things are happening!

2011-10-16T20:01:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the day that my daughter Christina, her husband Suj and their son Kavi after 3 1/2 years apart will be moving to Alabama! Suj got an awesome job in Birmingham and they will stay with us until they find a house closer to his workplace. I am so thrilled, I cannot believe it!!! My husband flew down to Florida to help them get ready for the move and also assist with driving the truck they rented.
I know how stressful it is to make a move like this and since they are renting out their house they wanted it to be extra clean for the renter. We are prepping on our end too, with my daughter Jenny moving to a back room we have, so Stina, Suj and Kavi can share the bigger room, so rearranging of certain things need to happen. I only know this, that I want them to feel cozy, at home and comfortable so they can relax until they find the right place to move to. And it is also important for Jenny to be able to function in the back room with every thing she needs to get ready for work each morning! Too bad that my plethora of yarn takes up so much of that back room. Looks like I need to start crocheting some big blankets or something so a little more space can be cleared for Jenny!
A lot of work will be done tomorrow since we have been helping with a friends shower this weekend, so pray we can organize things quickly! I will post more about this shower soon, since it was a super fun Woodland theme shower for a sweet couple we know expecting their first child!
The Alabama adventure begins for our sweet family tomorrow and we couldn't be happier!

(sort of) City Living

2011-10-07T14:23:00.001-07:00

OK, so this vintage postcard is taken in our downtown which is only about a half mile from here. It looks pretty much the same now as it did back then. I like it, it reminds me of where I grew up. Now, don't get your bloomers all in a knot (is this really a saying or some mutant saying that evolved from my head??), if you are a southerner and I have just compared this town to of all places, NEW YORK CITY! (said like the salsa commercial)
It really looks like and reminds me of Bell Boulevard in Bayside Queens. Stores that you could window shop at, that were decorated for the seasons that had mannequins standing in them adorned with the latest new inventory. An old 5 and 10 with creaky wood floors, reminiscent of the Woolworths down Bell where you could shop and eat lunch. Coffee shops, cafes, florists, gift shops along with banks and many local businesses.
My daughter Jenny and friend Rachel work at the Moxie Hair Salon in the downtown and if they wanted to they could walk there every day. It's in a historic building that was once known as The Printup Hotel and has an inviting front with some benches and flower planters.
Every month the Downtown Gadsden group organizes a "First Friday" when they close off Broad Street to vehicular traffic, fill the streets with live music, food vendors, antique cars and the stores stay open extra late with special sales going on. I must admit that I avoid it like the plague during summer months because I get too hot, but love it in the Fall and Spring. Barbecue sandwiches taste so good on First Friday.
Also, schools have a half day when it is Veteran's Day so they can go to the Veterans Day Parade in town and when it is Homecoming Parade where all the area high schools marching bands take over Broad Street. Nice!
Christmas is great around here with an annual (you guessed it!) Parade and Noccalula Park has an amazing Lights Display through the park.
The population of Gadsden is only around 40,000, so I know it isn't exactly a bustling metropolis, but it is just the right kind of small city to make it interesting, and only an hours drive to Birmingham for more variety of shopping and food choices.
And, we are only a short drive to some of the most beautiful mountains and scenic roads to refresh the soul. (when I lived in NYC, a traffic jam always seemed to begin and end any drive to and from the country)
Needless to say, I have enjoyed this small, homey city and have some of the nicest and most interesting neighbors to boot!
Hope you like your town or city and can enjoy some treasures there too!

where the wild things sometimes are

2011-10-07T11:10:00.001-07:00

perhaps you can make out the two deer by the trees in the foreground?

If you have followed my blog for a while, you know about my morning walks at a park a few miles from my home. I especially love the trails and seeing the deer habitat and barnyard animals.
Well, a few weeks ago a terrible tragedy happened at the deer habitat. Loose dogs from surrounding neighborhoods killed 24 0f the 29 deer including several fawns after digging under the chain link fence surrounding the area. It happened during the early morning hours before opening and was a terrible shock to the workers when they arrived that morning. The few deer that survived have a stressful look on their faces and seem skittish when I see them now. When I started my Autumn walks there I noticed how many adorable fawns there were, but they were no match for a red chow chow, a black Rottweiler mix and a Labrador mix . The red chow is till at large.
Of course this made me a little jumpy as I was walking the other day. A rustling in the bushes up ahead happened to be two of several wild turkeys that roam the park. And today along a trail I saw some movement off the road and was pleasantly surprised to find two does out in the wild who happened to make it into the Park!
I still love my walks there as I feel renewed and refreshed by the crisp air and the way the sunlight filters through the trees casting dancing shadows along the path. It is a time of thinking and contemplating life and some prayer and some solace, which is a lovely thing indeed!
(the bottom picture has the two deer in it but it is hard to make out with having taken pic with my cell phone)

so much excitement!!

2011-10-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been so long since my last post but my mind has been distracted in the most wonderful of ways. Last week my daughter Christina and grandson Kavi were visiting us from Florida, so fun days kept me from focusing on posts.
The best thing is that after 3 1/2 years of living a 9 hour drive apart, and numerous trips back and forth, in a little over two weeks they are moving to Alabama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My son in law Suj got a wonderful job in Birmingham which is only 1 hour away!!!! One hour!!!!! They are staying with us at first, until they can find a good house in a good location to move to, and I don't mind that at all. In fact I am thrilled about it!!!! Christina (my daughter) will be here right before her birthday! PAR TAY!!!
There are several families that we knew in Florida that also relocated to this area and they happen to be awesome people that we were all friends with in Florida too. So we are not the only ones they know here, but many of their long time friends as well!
I am so happy that they will be living here and experiencing Autumn! Living in Florida makes one miss all the gorgeous colors of Fall and maybe even a little snow will fall this winter so Kavi can experience the magic of it all!

some fall fashion from etsy Vintage shops

2011-09-24T14:14:00.000-07:00

a two chipmunk and wild turkey day

2011-09-18T19:26:00.001-07:00

This morning I went to Noccallula Falls Park near my home for a morning walk. I have often mentioned in my blog how much I love it. There is something so rejuvenating about walking there. Today the wind was a little chilly when I started out, but I didn't put my sweater on because I wanted to feel the nip in the air. It made my steps a little quicker and soon enough I warmed up. The trail goes up and down little hills through the woods and meanders around pioneer buildings, farmyard, through a covered bridge and a small zoo area, in addition to the waterfalls.
This morning, I showed my family pass, got my hot pink paper bracelet, used the little ladies room, then started on the path through the park. Right at the entrance, I was greeted by four old friends. Wild turkeys that I had seen throughout the park last Fall! This made me feel so happy and in a weird way, honored! I mean how many people do I actually know who get to see wild turkeys in the morning?? Not many! hehe
I have always loved seeing chipmunks, maybe because they were so common to see when I was little, at my Grandpa's farm in a small town in Pennsylvania, and I have many happy memories from that place. I rarely see them around here even though my husband has seen some when he leaves for work early in the morning. Well, I was startled today when on two different occasions a cute little chipmunk crossed my path. I felt an instant rush of emotions and stopped in my path to observe the little creatures rustling about some leaves on the forest floor. I actually whispered "thank you" out loud because I was so grateful to the Lord for seeing them and to be enjoying such a wonderful morning.
As I walk through each and every area, I find that my problems become small and the simple yet powerful love of God becomes great. As I breathe in the fresh air, smelling the smells of nature including manure-ish odors past the deer habitat and farmyard, I think about how us human beings can complicate life so perfectly. I want to keep it simple and learn to appreciate the little things in life while casting everything that weighs me down on the shoulders of the One who created this world that we live in.
I highly recommend that you find somewhere that you can go to to be refreshed, somewhere away from your hectic schedule where you can feel the breeze or watch the light cast shadows on the leaves making them look like they are dancing. Watch the birds, watch a crazy squirrel. I'm not talking about a wilderness vacation, mind you. I am talking about sitting on your porch or deck or walking in a local park or even just gazing out a window. It is the littlest things and the simplest things in life that can touch you the most and give you clarity.

Psa 96:12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it; then the trees of the forest shall rejoice

Let The "Fall-ification" Begin...

2011-09-17T20:21:00.001-07:00

A few months ago I bought some flickering candle Christmas lights with a 40 percent off coupon at Hobby Lobby. I had in mind to put them in our non-working fireplace and then layer twigs around them to give the illusion of a burning fire. And if you're not standing really close, it actually looks kinda real!
I am looking forward to a wonderful and cozy Autumn season this year. Today, Ray went into the scary attic and found my Fall decorations, so you better watch out if you are anywhere near my front porch tomorrow. Foliage (albeit fake) will fly, scarecrows will dance, and crows will "caw, caw", my friends.
You see my daughters and some good friends have been on a cruise out of Tampa this past week and Monday they are coming home along with Christina and Kavi! (oldest daughter and my grandson in case you don't know)! Monday is my birthday and this will be the first time in three years that we will be with each other on that day...and...Ray's birthday is Thursday!
So, happy decorating shall commence! Happy Fall Y'all!

soon...

2011-09-14T07:09:00.000-07:00

Summer is giving one last hurrah before handing the reins over to Fall. I won't miss you Summer, cool mornings and golden afternoons await me along with the handiwork of God among the leaves. Vibrant red, cheerful yellow and rusty orange...

2011-09-09T09:39:00.001-07:00

sunlight glistening through the trees at Noccallula Falls yesterday morning

the falls are gushing after tropical depression Lee passed through this area last weekend

hello old friend!

the old girl at the farmyard

Yesterday morning was the start of my cooler weather walks at Noccallula Falls Park , and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Oh how I love the trails there as they weave through the woods, gardens, past the waterfall, the deer habitat which had several new fawns, the farmyard with the donkey, llama, chickens, roosters, sheep, and goats, and the covered bridge that crosses a bubbling brook. A nice cool breeze, hearing the leaves rustle, birds flurrying, squirrels scurrying, butterflies visiting the last blooms of summer. Need I say more?
It is a short season since the park closes after Halloween so I plan to utilize it as much as possible. I guess I need to send my "dear John" letter to the YMCA to cancel my membership there!

Ulyana Sergeenko, Russian Fashion Designer

2011-09-08T14:09:00.000-07:00

Source: treee.tumblr.com via Darlene on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Darlene on Pinterest

Makes me proud of my Russian heritage and makes me want to wear a babushka!!

first neighborhood walk this season

2011-09-07T09:25:00.001-07:00

there are still some flowering shrubs in the neighborhood

oh, and here are the completed mushrooms, the shorter ones with white stems are the clay ones I made, the taller ones are the paper bag ones I made from this super easy tutorial

a tree fell over across the street from us the other day and the city is finally taking care of it

This morning was cloudy, gloomy and in the low 60s when I left my house for the first outdoor walk of the season. As you may know, I have been holed up inside during the sweltering summer with my trusty exercise bike, dreaming of the cooler days to come when I could reacquaint myself with the outside world. There was a lot of debris and a few fallen trees along my route due to tropical storm Lee, but in spite of the grey weather and disheveled look of things, I enjoyed every minute of it!
It was very quiet though, no scurrying squirrels or fluttering birds. They must have been weary from the heavy rains and winds we had been having and having a slow start to their day.
I hope, wherever you are, that you are experiencing some refreshing changes in your life,whether it is through the weather or some other means!

anticipation

2011-09-06T08:43:00.001-07:00

I can't explain to you the feelings of joy I have when Fall approaches.
A cool breeze on the front porch,
sipping coffee, watching the crazy squirrels leap among the tree branches as they hoard the pecans for winter

thinking of the happiest season to come,
while visions of pumpkin spice everything
tea with ginger and cream
and family gatherings dance in my head.

mushrooms on my mind

2011-09-04T13:11:00.001-07:00

click here for tutorial to make mushrooms from a paper bag!

I made the ones above from air dry clay
I will be painting them after they dry!

For over a month now I have been thinking about making some clay or paper mache mushrooms. I know, the weirdest things run through this brain!

I actually, finally made some clay ones this morning out of air dry clay I purchased from Hobby Lobby with my 40percent off coupon. Then I saw this tutorial for paper bag mushrooms and was quite intrigued to see how they would turn out. Well, I did it and it was incredibly easy!
If you have a fall party coming up or a woodland forest theme one, this is a great and inexpensive way to add some earthy decor! I will post some pictures of my clay and paper bag ones after they are completed!
top of the mushroom to ya!

Fall Fashion Dreamin

2011-09-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

Oh, I love the colors, shape and pattern of this dress along with the cute ankle boots. Sophisticated but not stuffy!

This Fall I really want to get a pair of ankle boots that have a small heal (not totally flat) and can be worn with dresses. Similar to the two pictures above.

Of course I love the vintage look and shape of these dresses

Now this is a dress which makes me drool. I love the shape, the colors, the bag, the ankle boots! A perfect retro yet modern look!

sweet September

2011-09-01T14:33:00.000-07:00

ahh, sweet September, the promise that summer will soon end and the days of crisp air and opulent beauty are just around the corner...

summer doldrums...autumn hope

2011-08-30T11:15:00.001-07:00

a rough sketch of friend Rachel, daughter Jenny and daughter Christina I did from a photo about 10 years ago!

Do you ever feel like you are just floating along, not making much headway? No breeze, no movement? Well, that's me during the summer! Stagnant, hot, blah!

Well except for three glorious weeks this month which made August fly by, when my daughter and grandson visited us from Florida. Even though it was mega hot, I was refreshed by Christina being with me every day and energized by my grandsons cheery disposition! Each morning I would hear "Nannnnnnny!, Nannnnny!" and Kavi would come to my room and climb into bed to watch cartoons. Grandpa was already gone for work and Christina relaxed a little longer in bed while Kavi snuggled on Grandpa's pillows in the room with me.
At the end of their visit, my son in law was able to fly up for a few days and then drive back home with Christina and Kavi.
Now that they are gone it's like...crickets...crickets...
But I am so thankful for the time together and look forward to the next visit with them!

Now, this summertime business...I am over it! This week's forecast includes several upper 90 days, but some high 80s are in the near future and they better be right about that. I need it to be ''non heat wave" weather to really get in to crochet projects and I need to start preparing for Fall etsy sales and an upcoming craft fair in December, which I hope to be doing with Christina as well!
I also have a hankering to start drawing again after being inspired by talented Erika from
A Tiny Rocket, who did a gorgeous painting a day and shared them on her blog and also a facebook friend who just started sketching and is super talented at it. I haven't sketched for several years, but I did enjoy it and it is a fun way to make gifts or home decor for your own home.
Even with all this "not fun for me" weather, I am hopefully looking forward to what Fall may bring our way. Cooler weather, brighter colors and new adventures, I believe!!

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. ~George Eliot

easier than your average DIY

2011-08-26T10:47:00.000-07:00

diy chinese lantern vases

Um, this is truly a DIY for DUMMIES kind of project! Click on the link above to see how simple! Thanks again Martha Stewart!

Sunshine and Carousels

2011-08-23T16:27:00.000-07:00

I came across this awesome etsy shop and I fell in love with the vintage vibe of these accessories!
Click on any image to be directed to Sunshine and Carousels etsy shop!

work hard...

2011-08-17T18:48:00.000-07:00

...and be nice to people

Source: prettystuff.tumblr.com via Heather on Pinterest

Picnic and a train and a zoo

2011-08-17T07:06:00.001-07:00

we had a fun time the other day as the temperatures magically dipped in to the high 80s, and took Kavi to Noccalula Falls park near our house.

the farmyard has deer, goats, sheep, a donkey and chickens and roosters!

we had a little picnic in a shady and beautiful spot before riding the train around the park

gotta love these cut outs!

a very happy little boy riding the train!

a porch swing without a porch is still fun!

These past few weeks...

2011-08-13T09:45:00.001-07:00

...have been awesome!

we (my daughter Christina and I ) got to meet our awesome blog friend Angela from Pickles on Pizza and her husband Aubrey from Mississippi! They came to Gadsden for the World's Longest Yard Sale and we had the best time getting to hear their stories and getting to know them in real life!

I bought my first vintage dress from an etsy shop and with a wide belt it was cute! I had hoped that I didn't look like a sack of potatoes (one of my main goals in life), and my husband and daughters told me I didn't look potato-ish so I just believed them and wore it out in public!

At the end of the Yard Sale , Angela and Aubrey stopped by our house and she gave me this awesome vintage crib spring thing! (I had always wanted to get one of them)This is not it's final resting place though, I am brainstorming on whether or not to paint it and hang it in my bedroom for putting all my grandson's photos on!

This is Kavi, my adorable 3 1/2 year old grandson pushing a mini shopping cart at Whole Foods in Birmingham. We had lunch at their amazing buffet and it was mmm,mmm good!
But the very best thing is that Christina and Kavi have been here for almost two weeks and are staying until a week from this Tuesday! My son in law will be flying up towards the end of their visit to drive back to Florida with them, so I am super happy to get to see him soon too!

dixie cup string lights

2011-08-12T09:11:00.000-07:00

click here for the tutorial

nailed

2011-08-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

Source: moredesignplease.com via Erin on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via Venus on Pinterest

Source: apartment34.blogspot.com via Dianne on Pinterest

Source: blackeiffel.blogspot.com via hanna on Pinterest

please pass the mustard...

2011-07-31T07:57:00.000-07:00

Source: calivintage.com via Darlene on Pinterest

I love this color sweater for Fall ( it's coming guys, it really is!) I have an old one that I will never part with unless I find a replacement.

Source: google.com via Darlene on Pinterest

Oh...mustard and teal sooo pretty...

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Darlene on Pinterest

As well as mustard and aqua...

Source: etsy.com via Darlene on Pinterest

hey, I own this! Got it from Christina for mother's day!Love it!

Vintage Style

2011-07-29T08:48:00.000-07:00

Source: lettersofvintage.tumblr.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Source: thesartorialist.blogspot.com via Jason on Pinterest

Didn't people look oh so different in the old days? I can always tell when a photo is really old or is just a modern picture edited to look old. Even with the best vintage hair and makeup, there just isn't quite the same essence. It must have been a lot of work to get hair coiffed just so, not to mention achieving the perfectly arched brow. Part of me loves the style from days gone by but mostly I like that we don't have to constantly wear dresses and heels to fit in. Although I must say that I would like to wear dresses more often, especially since I never wear them! I have ordered my first vintage dresses from etsy and really hope that I don't end up looking like a sack of potatoes in then! Wish me luck!

Next Week Will be AWESOME!!!

2011-07-28T18:53:00.000-07:00

I am so incredibly excited about next week!! "Why?" you ask? Well, I'll tell ya! My daughter Christina from Consider The Coffee, and my grandson Kavi are coming for a visit here in Alabama!! It is so much fun when they come here, only more fun when Stina's husband Suj gets to visit too. We are dreaming that he will make it here towards the end of the visit so they can drive home together!
The World's Longest Yard Sale starts right after they arrive and we are going to get to meet Angela, from Pickles on Pizza!! Me and Stina are both blog friends with her and can't wait to meet in real life. I love her blog because when you read it you feel like you are right there with her hearing her funny stories and drooling over her awesome vintage finds! I feel like I know her already and have had like three dreams about it, all good ones where we laugh and talk and have fun yard sailing together!
So...Kavi, Stina, yard Sailing, meeting an awesome person and her husband just makes for a memorable time I am sure!
Oh, and The Help movie comes out on August 10th while Stina is here and we are for sure going to see that together.

Thanks Anthony Bordain!

2011-07-27T10:24:00.000-07:00

Do you ever watch a TV show about food that makes you obsessively crave the delectable delights showcased? Well, it happens to me all the time. The sad thing is that it is near impossible to find fresh made, good quality food in our town which results in hour long drives to Birmingham where there are several places we love.
That being said, however, we have not had any good Pizza since we have lived here. Pizza Hut? Nah! Papa John's or Little Ceasars? Ummm, NO! I grew up in NYC where Pizza parlors galore dotted the neighborhoods and even the crappiest NY Pizza was multiple levels above what can be found here.
So, the other night, Anthony Bordain was in Naples, Italy eating the most amazing, decadent yet simply made pizza I have ever seen. Burnt bubble crust...sigh...fresh mozzarella...gulp...brick ovens...oh my.
The next day, I had to make some home made pizza, so I made sure to get some fresh mozzarella, basil, calamata olives and artichoke hearts.
This recipe for whole wheat crust was very good ( I am trying to eat more whole grains) and I could only imagine the texture if it was baked in a brick pizza oven. The fresh cheese made all the difference. If you make some yourself, I highly recommend using it over the regular stuff.
The crust was a little soft , but delicious, and if you go to the recipe link you can read reviews and see how people tweaked it.
I made one with sauce which was left over from the day before pasta dinner and used some chopped shallots, the olives and artichoke hearts, topped with crumbled mozzarella , basil leaves and lightly drizzled with olive oil. I made the second pie the same except with basil and evoo mixture instead of the sauce. I baked them at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes, but might pre-
bake the crust slightly next time to make it a little crispier.

felt flower tutorial

2011-07-25T20:56:00.000-07:00

Get the tutorial for these adorable flowers here

Don't you just love the color combo? Makes me feel fall-ish!

Birmingham Sunday

2011-07-25T08:49:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a nice day. We went to church in the morning and decided to drive to Birmingham for lunch afterwards. We can never think of where to eat in town, especially on Sundays, so an hour's drive is well worth it to avoid blah and boring chain restaurant food. We ate at Taj India, one of our favorite places and then did a little downtown exploring.
Ever since we have lived in Alabama, we have been wanting to go to the Civil Rights Museum. Growing up in New York City during the time frame of the Civil Rights Movement, I saw the images of hatred and violence on the news. It was a horrific time of mistreatment and crimes against people that I shall never forget.
The 16th Street Baptist Church was the sight of a bombing that left four beautiful little girls dead, the news of which shocked the nation. The museum is located directly across the street from the church, which is a beautiful and stately building. We were happy to see that it was open and found out that on Sundays, you can donate any amount you wish for entrance.
Several times my throat closed up and I fought back tears as I listened, and read through the exhibits. We left the building feeling impacted by what we saw and observed. The Birmingham Airport is named after Fred Shuttlesworth, the Pastor of the 16th Street Baptist Church and a Civil Rights leader. A street in our town, Hood Street is named after the first African American male who attended the University of Alabama, who was from Gadsden. Richard Arrington Jr, was elected as the first African American Mayor of Birmingham only 15 years after the civil unrest of the area, and he served for twenty years. A street downtown is named after him.
As you can see, this museum was an inspiring experience for us yesterday. After that, we drove around the downtown finding the newly constructed park ,Railroad Park, and a vintage store that we have to visit when it is actually open and a few other areas we wanted to see.
A good day, indeed.

why the Y?

2011-07-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

So...the other day me, my daughter Jenny and friend Rachel joined the YMCA in town. It's less than a mile from our house although it isn't the most modern one you'll ever go to. I had shared on a previous post that I had checked out the Y along with another place that is open 24 hours and was 10 dollars cheaper per month. The drawbacks were that it is about 6 miles away and was filled with very young and buff people. The Y had all ages and sizes so it won out as the better choice.
We tried out the equipment after paying our dues and I quickly learned that an elliptical is a lot harder than an exercise bike and I get a little motion sick on a treadmill. Ha!!
A young man showed us how to use all the fitness gadgets and asked if we had any questions, but of course we didn't because when you are fitness center illiterate, you can't think of a single thing to ask. It was a little warmish to me in the workout area even though there were ceiling fans throughout the room. And it was mostly teenage boys in the weight lifting area so we determined to NEVER, no NEVER venture over in that direction. The regular strength training machines would have to do.
After struggling to do 5 minutes on the elliptical, I began to rethink my decision. The Y requires a written cancellation 30 days in advance when you want to quit, and I began rehearsing the letter in my mind.
"Dear YMCA, I am afraid that it is not going to "work out" between us. I am too self conscious, too old, too fat, and way too HOT!!!!
Thanks,
Darlene Franchi"
Well, today I went by myself for the first time and used the exercise bike for one hour. If you know anything about me,you know that I have an exercise bike at home and usually do an hour a day on it. So...weird way to make use of my monthly fee, huh? You see, I am taking baby steps with this health club stuff. I need to get used to just being there before I can tackle all the new fangled machinery. Like the elliptical. ( I managed to do 6 minutes and 35 seconds on it the second time there )
Hopefully I can last there until the cool mornings of Fall begin and I can return to my beautiful and refreshing walks at Noccalula Falls or in the historic neighborhood nearby.

mmm,mmm, good salad ideas

2011-07-20T14:19:00.000-07:00

I have been enjoying some nice fresh salads lately. If you have never eaten arugula, you should give it a try. It has a distinct almost peppery taste that gives life to any salad ingredients. I have enjoyed an arugula,strawberry,shallot, walnut and blue cheese salad, which tastes just as good with sliced peaches instead of the berries. I made a dressing in a small jar with evoo, about half as much water, a shot of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, salt and pepper and a touch of honey to mellow it out. I sometimes add a shot of dijon mustard for variety. Don't be scared to try this yourself, you just have to keep tweaking until it reaches your desired flavor. I haven't bought pre made dressings in months!
Today I made quinoa and added chopped cucumbers, sliced shallots,chopped greek olives,feta cheese, oregano (mexican oregano), then added salt, pepper, olive oil,fresh lemon juice to taste and it was also fresh, healthy and delicious.
I don't usually measure, I go by taste, but that is easy when you start with small amounts, and keep tasting and adding until it tastes right.

more hair love

2011-07-19T15:11:00.000-07:00

Source: your-hairstyles.com via

Source: softspoken.blogspot.com via Darlene on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Darlene on Pinterest

Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com via Darlene on Pinterest

healthy and simple foods

2011-07-17T18:09:00.001-07:00

Well, I have been moving along nice and slowly with my weight loss. I have lost 11 pounds in 8 weeks by counting calories with my phone app, myfitnesspal, and using my exercise bike for 60 minutes most days. I have been eating a lot of the same things for lunches, like Lean Cuisines and such, but now I am getting bored with that and want to find more healthy, tasty, and simple meal ideas.
So today, my daughter Jenny made this delicious cucumber, feta cheese toasts for a light dinner and I absolutely loved it. It was perfect in its simplicity of ingredients and freshness of taste. She mixed feta cheese with a little lemon juice, salt and pepper and a touch of extra virgin olive oil and spread it on one side of split french baguette that was toasted in the oven at 350 degrees until crispy. Then thinly sliced cucumbers were layered on top, sprinkled with salt and pepper, a little lemon and olive oil.
Mmmmmm, mmm, mmm, it was so tasty! Now I need about, oh...ten more simple ideas like that!

vintage dress love

2011-07-15T17:39:00.000-07:00

Source: flickr.com via Darlene on Pinterest

Darlene on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Darlene on Pinterest

mason jar mania!!! recipes!!!

2011-07-13T14:06:00.000-07:00

CUPCAKES in a mason jar!

fruit crisp

fruit pie
click on picture to get the recipe!

I have a major obsession with all things jar! Perhaps mason jars evoke some sort of innate urge to can things. I don't know, but even for vases, drink glasses, and candle holders and someday for a light fixture, my love lives on. Put a straw in one, or roses, or daisies. Or just use them for single serving pie or bread or crisps, or muffins, or soups, or chili!! Or CUPCAKES!!

Lantern love

2011-07-13T07:51:00.001-07:00

I love paper lanterns, especially when they are hanging somewhere in my house. I found these lanterns on line and had to have them to brighten up the fireplace for summer. I purchased them from Luna Bazaar for 1.95 each and they have many varieties to choose from!

Red, White and...ooooh....

2011-07-08T17:27:00.000-07:00

Source: ppebble.blogspot.com via Kim on Pinterest

Source: redonline.co.uk via Kyrie on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Ivy on Pinterest

Source: housebeautiful.com via Charleigh on Pinterest

Ever since I was little I have loved the red and white color combination. I still remember a red and white dress I had when I was three. For real, it was my favorite dress and I always felt happy wearing it! So these pictures made me feel happy also so I had to share them with you!

Nashville...Franklin...Leiper's Fork

2011-07-07T16:05:00.001-07:00

delicious Lebanese Food at Mediterranean Cuisine in downtown Nashville
best falafel and hummus I ever had! Everything made fresh!

Bombay Bistro had a delicious Indian Buffet near our hotel! absolutely scrumptious!

Riff Burgers in downtown Franklin had delicious salmon burgers! Found out that there are two Riffs in Birmingham ( an hour from home)and will definitely try other burgers like turkey, lamb, chicken and veggie. Rays beef burger tasted gourmet!

Leiper's Fork had horse drawn wagons!

decorated for our daughter Jenny's birthday after we returned home!

I will try to share a summary of our road trip last weekend. Basically we learned that the Fourth of July weekend is the busiest weekend all summer. We don't like sweltering heat or shops that are purely tourist oriented. And did I mention that we aren't big country music fans? What do we love? Food! And coffee! And air conditioning!
Our hotels were very nice, one near Opry Land, for no real reason except it looked nice and was a good price, although we could not find a blessed coffee shop in the area and settled for...gasp...McDonald's coffee...quiet sobs...
So, downtown Nashville was very crowded at the touristy Music Row and it was humid and in the high 90s so even though it was a nice looking downtown it was kinda exhausting navigating on foot in a place we are unfamiliar with. Parking garages were a necessity, so after paying to park at one you didn't want to leave it to spend more at another lot.
The Nashville Public Library was gorgeous with several levels, marble floors and a fantastic Civil rights exhibit that made the trip worth the effort. The Library has a cafe called Provence Bread and Bakery that had tasty healthy lunches and pastries and coffee.
We decide to stay in Franklin the next night and to check out it's historic downtown. We made the mistake of going there already hungry and also not knowing where to eat and it being Sunday many places were closed, so off we went back to our hotel area to eat at the Bombay Bistro which had some of the best Indian food we have ever had at a restaurant.
The next day was the Fourth when we decided to give historic Franklin another try and although there were craft vendors in the streets and a festive atmosphere, many places were closed and it was super crowded and steaming hot again. We did however really enjoy eating at Riff's Burgers where the food was fantastic!
Now, about Leiper's Fork. We wanted to go there because I had just watched the Judds reality show and saw that they lived there and it looked nice and was just outside of Franklin. It was pretty small with only a few eateries and shops, but also kinda tourist oriented, so without any Judds sightings it didn't seem worth the effort to drive there. There were some gorgeous properties and farms there though.
It is funny to me that the highlights of our trip to Music City were all food oriented! Lebanese food! Indian Food! Hamburgers we could have eaten nearer to home! Oh well, I guess we are a little weird!
It was our youngest daughter Jenny's birthday after we got home and I had a super fun time decorating for it! Her birthday dinner food request was Philly Cheese-steaks made by Ray and she loved every bite!
(lanyard lady, if you are reading this, I miss you! Hope you return to Blogville soon!)

This past week...road trip

2011-07-07T12:00:00.001-07:00

First of all, our home pc has a virus so I am posting from my phone. We went to Nashville for the 4th and returned home to celebrate my daughter Jenny's birthday
I will post more when my husband's laptop is home later

touches of crochet

2011-07-01T19:39:00.000-07:00

Source: happylittletrees.tumblr.com via Nina on Pinterest

Source: sarahjwinward.blogspot.com via jessica on Pinterest

Coconut Mocha Frapp (healthier than you know what from you know where)

2011-06-30T08:52:00.000-07:00

Coconut Mocha Frappe

The deluge of seasonally flavored frozen beverages continues. Today's swap takes us to the caffeine fiend's haven known as Starbucks, celebrated for its strong brews but feared for its selection of over-caloried drinks. While many incarnations of the Frappuccino are available year-round, limited-edition fancy flavors are always popping up. This summer, it's the dastardly blend of coconut, chocolate, and coffee. What freezy-java lover can resist such a concoction? One who knows what's best for them. At its worst -- a giant Venti made with whole milk and topped with whipped cream -- this drink has 550 calories and 18g fat. ACK! Even a seemingly reasonable Tall Frap made with nonfat milk and finished off with whipped cream has 300 calories and 9g fat -- too much for a sippable treat. Considering how tasty our version of this rich drink is, there's really no reason to spend hundreds of calories on this thing. Blend it up at home and chill out, people!

THE FATTENING VERSION

Serving Size: 16 oz. (Grande) with toppings, made with 2% milk
Calories: 400
Fat: 14g
Sodium: 210mg
Carbs: 66g
Fiber: <1g
Sugars: 62g
Protein: 5g

Wake Me Up Before You Coco...

This new recipe is a major eye-opener, and not only because it's made with coffee and chocolate -- it will open your eyes to just how easy it is to make Starbucks-style blendy drinks at home... YAY!!!

Ingredients:
2 tsp. shredded sweetened coconut, roughly chopped
2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp. fat-free non-dairy powdered creamer (like the kind by Coffee-mate)
1 tsp. instant coffee granules
1 tsp. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 no-calorie sweetener packets (like Splenda or Truvia), or more to taste
1/8 tsp. coconut extract
2 cups crushed ice or 10 - 16 ice cubes
2 tbsp. Fat Free Reddi-wip
1 tsp. light chocolate syrup

Directions:
To toast the coconut, bring a skillet to medium heat on the stove; add chopped coconut and, stirring occasionally, cook for 2 minutes, or until lightly browned. (Or, if you have a toaster oven, just toast until lightly browned.) Set aside to cool.

In a tall glass, place cocoa powder, powdered creamer, coffee granules, chocolate chips, and sweetener. Add 1/2 cup very hot water and stir until ingredients have mostly dissolved. Add coconut extract, and transfer contents of the glass to a blender. Rinse the glass, if needed, and set aside.

Add ice to the blender, and blend at high speed until completely mixed and smooth. Pour into the tall glass.

If you like, add additional sweetener to taste. Top with Reddi-wip, drizzle with chocolate syrup, and sprinkle with toasted coconut. Enjoy!

MAKES 1 SERVING

Serving Size: entire recipe (about 16 oz.)
Calories: 120
Fat: 4.5g
Sodium: 24mg
Carbs: 21g
Fiber: 4g
Sugars: 8g
Protein: 2.5g

THIS ARTICLE WAS TAKEN FROM THE HUNGRY GIRLS NEWSLETTER

a hat and a bike

2011-06-28T13:40:00.000-07:00

Do you ever get obsessed with a certain item that you don't have and are constantly looking in stores or on line for, until you either purchase said item or move on to another one? Well, I do all the time. Like adult trikes that I have posted about a lot of times, retro travel trailers, vintage dresses, shoes, etc., etc.
Lately I have been imagining myself actually owning a trike which I would have found at an" I can't help but buy it" price and start tooling around the neighborhood. Only problem is that in real life it's sooo hot out, so if my daydream comes true I will have to wear a hat to shield me from the hot sun. So I start looking at straw hats everywhere I go, like Target, Walmart and Old Navy. I found a cotton Gilligan looking hat on clearance at Old Navy for five dollars just so I will be ready to live my dream come true. But for now, my only modes of transport are my Ford Focus or my two feet! Maybe I will try my hat out in the car or out walking while pretending to be getting a great workout on my trike!

(I couldn't find any cool trike pics so have resorted to the two wheel variety!)

Source:

Source: daydreamlily.com via Louise on Pinterest

Source: thetulip.tumblr.com via Joscelyne on Pinterest

Country Living Oilcloth Clutch Tutorial

2011-06-26T08:01:00.000-07:00

Step One: Print two copies of our template and cut out. Leave one template intact; cut the other along the dotted line (as shown) to create a total of three patterns.

Step Two Use the resulting patterns to cut three shapes from half a yard of oilcloth ($8.99 per yard; fabricdepot.com). Place the largest oilcloth shape on a table, right side up. Twist a hair elastic into a figure eight, with the bottom loop larger than the top (as shown). Center and tape the elastic atop the oilcloth. Baste in place a quarter inch from the edge; remove tape.

Step Three Align the two smaller oilcloth shapes atop the larger one (as shown), right sides facing down; tape in place. Stitch around the outer edge, leaving a quarter-inch seam; remove tape as you go.

Step Four Use scissors to make small slices about every inch along the bag’s seam allowance (as shown) to allow for easy turning.

Step Five Turn bag right side out. Topstitch along the flap’s edge, then finish by hand-stitching a button onto the bag (as shown in photo).

Family weekend

2011-06-22T14:28:00.001-07:00

We went to Florida last weekend and had a grand time seeing family and friends.
We got to meet our new baby great nephew Elijah who was just a little doll! Our great niece Lilly has gotten to be such a lovely young lady and her mom Chrissy ( my niece) and her husband look like they are a very happy and blessed family!
And of course we got to hug and kiss and play with our grandson Kavi who brings us so much joy with his loving and happy ways
Our daughter Christina looked oh so sweet with her new bangs and her husband Suj looks even leaner now since he is a runner!
I managed to eat healthy while there and have lost about 8 pounds in the past 5 weeks. Yippee for Angela who has also lost 8 pounds! Woo hoo! I have been eating meat only a few times a week, and have only been having fruit or raw food bars made of dates and nuts as my sweets, occasionally having frozen yogurt as a special treat within my calorie allowance. An app on my phone called My Fitness Pal has helped me tremendously. It calculates my weight, calorie intake and exercise to help me lose a pound a week. I have found the most obscure items in their calorie data base and find the app very easy to use. I still have a long way to go and I will probably be joining the YMCA so I can use more than my exercise bike this summer!

My daughter Jenny with Lilly on the left, Elijah in her arms and Kavi on the right!

Kavi with a balloon car that was made for him at a restaurant on Sunday

Christina and Jenny my two beauties!

What I'm working on now

2011-06-17T10:49:00.001-07:00

I found a tutorial for this Afghan pattern and have enjoyed working it. I plan on making a lot of these to use up my surplus of yarn:)

i want, i want, i neeeeed

2011-06-14T06:57:00.000-07:00

Source: nancysvintagetrailers.blogspot.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Source: decrenew.blogspot.com via Dana on Pinterest

Source: pclouse.blogspot.com via Paula on Pinterest

Source: nancysvintagetrailers.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Sigh...You know how I daydream about touring the USA in one of these with my husband...by golly, one day we will! One day we will!! A Tin Can Tourist is what I want to be when I grow up!

on the way home

2011-06-12T07:57:00.001-07:00

the tree that snapped

Yesterday, Ray and I made a trip to Target in a town about 45 minutes from here. The weather was bright and sunny and I wondered when it would rain again since it has been so hot but no usual afternoon thunderstorms to cool things off. Well, on the drive back home we noticed it looking rainy and misty up ahead, but it was more like a blinding torrential rain that made it so hard to see, we pulled over at a gas station to wait for the storm to pass. Several other cars did the same thing and we noticed that electricity was out at the station. The wind was whipping like crazy as we gazed from under the shelter of the gas station overhang and Ray kept pointing out how one of the trees nearby was bending really low from the force of the wind and the next thing you know, the tree was down, snapped apart from the force!
We were only a few miles from where the April tornado had passed through and I am sure many of the residents of the area were anxious about this fast moving and powerful thunderstorm.
When the storm passed through we got back on 431 to come upon a roadblock probably due to a fallen tree or something, so we followed a line of cars down a narrow country road figuring that those drivers knew how to get back on the main road. Apparently Aprils storms had been down this road before us because both sides of this road had uprooted and broken trees. A little surreal for sure.

the detour

Home sweet Home

2011-06-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

Source: flickr.com via Angela on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Angela on Pinterest

Sure do love these sweet home things I found on PINTEREST! Last year I bought some embroidery hoops, floss and funky embroidery patterns yet never tried them out. Do you ever do that? Get inspired to do a new craft but never quite get it going? I did some embroidery when I was in my 20s and really loved it but I guess I got too busy to keep it up. Maybe this summer I will revive it. Or maybe Fall. Or at least winter...Oh I am such a procrastinator!

Summer Scents I love

2011-06-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

honeysuckle, gala apple and stephanotis

purple passion fruit, Shangri-la yellow peony and vanilla orchid

Stella by Stella McCartney

soft rose and amber

I don't know about you, but I have an aversion to strong pungent perfumes that so many ladies seem to engulf themselves in. Standing in line with a super drenched in scent lady makes me wish I had used the drive through! Then there are the times when someone walks by and you get an ever so gentle waft of something light and refreshing. That's where I want to be. Gone are the days of Jean Nate cologne as the go to gift for an office Christmas gift exchange. No more Poison or Shalimar attacking our senses in the elevator. Those days are gone my friend. Embrace the clean fresh fragrances that just make you feel like you smell clean and happy!

I actually prefer body mists for their light and refreshing smells, like Victorious Secret, Secret Charm and Bombshell. There are many varieties at VS so you can choose floral or fruity scents. Bombshell also comes in a Summer edition which has a citrus edge to it but I prefer the floral regular Bombshell.
Stella is a long time favorite of mine with a modern soft rose scent, not at all like your granny's rose perfume. There is also a Stella Nude scent which is also so lovely and light!

Hope you have a fresh and cool summer!

hair-rific braids

2011-06-07T16:45:00.000-07:00

via Crystal on Pinterest

Source: hiphipgingin.com via Sharleen on Pinterest

Source: fuckyeahfashionn.tumblr.com via Kayla on Pinterest

Source: abeautifulmess.typepad.com via Jenn on Pinterest

I am trying to grow my hair longer so I can do a braid "do"! Well, actually for many reasons, braids being one of them. I haven't had longer hair for a while and want to have it before I am too old for it :)

more my style

2011-06-05T08:24:00.001-07:00

Source: tumblr.com via Summerside on Pinterest

Source: gleefulthings.com via BooksCrafts on Pinterest

Let's be honest. A few posts ago I featured a make it yourself canopy for a backyard. I will probably never attempt such a task even though it was described as easy. These pictures are much more a reflection of what I would do. Some rope, some old blankets and some trees or branches. More colorful, fun looking and easier. I especially get a kick out of the crochet tent. Now that would be a statement piece at the old State Park campground! Just pray it doesn't rain!

Rise and Swine!

2011-06-04T07:17:00.000-07:00

Last night I watched "The Shark Tank" for the first time and became an instant fan. Successful business people have money to invest while inventors and creators of various ideas and gadgets make their pitch asking for money to help them start up their businesses. One woman had an idea of starting a club like Netflix, only for kids toys, where you pay a monthly fee for used but sterilized and shrink wrapped toys which are delivered to your home for your kids to play with, then send back when bored. Each month you get a new batch.
But by far the most unique pitch was for an alarm clock that starts cooking bacon ten minutes before you get up, so the smell wakens you AND you get to eat the bacon when it is done. Needless to say the investors were amused by it, but passed on it due to safety hazards like setting your bed on fire while you are sleeping!

click here to read more about this piggy idea!

make your own shade on a sunny day

2011-06-03T09:39:00.001-07:00

This is an interesting article from Martha Stewart on making your own backyard canopy. If you are daring, you can give it a go!

from Martha Stewart Living, July 2004

Create a cool spot for summer living with one of our easy canopies.

All by itself, a simple canopy can turn an empty space outside into a "place." While trees might take years to grow, an expanse of cloth goes up in minutes, providing shade wherever you need it most. When the outdoor season ends -- or a storm whips in unexpectedly -- you can take it down, quick as a wink.

Unlike a pricey pergola or arbor, which demands a permanent surrender of ground, a canopy requires scant commitment or expense. For the most basic version, spend a few dollars on a drop cloth from a hardware store, and a few more on the supplies you will need to suspend it overhead: a grommet kit, tent poles, stout cord, and sturdy pegs. These ideas can be modified for other settings and styles.

You can sew a canopy yourself, or have one stitched by a seamstress or sailmaker. You'll need a few things from a hardware store, garden center, or camping-supply store to put up the fabric you choose. The way you erect the canopy depends on where you want it to be -- it can be suspended from poles, or stretched between a wall or roofline and poles.

Tools and Materials
- A grommet tool makes it easy to punch sturdy holes in the corners of your fabric.

- Plastic tent pegs anchor lines from the tops of poles into the lawn or planting beds.

- An inexpensive canvas drop cloth can serve as a fine canopy.

- Stout clothesline or venetian-blind cord will keep a canopy in place.

- Wooden pole with dowel pin or bamboo pole with dowel

- Adjustable aluminum tent poles can be raised or lowered to fit your setting.

Attached to a Wall or Fence How-To
At a corner of the canopy near the house, a short length of cord extends from the grommet to a screw eye on the house. At its apex, the tent is anchored to the center pole; two cords tied to the top of the pole are pegged to the lawn. There is also a cord anchoring each of the shorter poles that support the sides.

To fashion a patterned tent, sew together two full-size lightweight cotton bedspreads, creating a reinforced 2-inch overlap in the center. Punch grommet holes in the corners, and one on each end of the center overlap. Cut a third bedspread to make full-length, 6-inch-wide border strips. Stitch one to either side of the fabric, which adds hanging borders. To put up the peaked canopy, use a tall pole for the center and shorter poles for either side; attach screw eyes in corresponding spots on the house.

Free-Standing Canopy How-To
If you don't want to secure the canopy to a wall or fence, create a free-standing one with four poles. You'll need four people, too. Start by installing a metal grommet at each corner of your canopy fabric. Stand four poles with long, thin tips (use tent poles; drill a wood pole so it holds a dowel pin or fit bamboo, which is hollow, with a dowel) on the ground. Hook the grommets over the tips. Then have each person simultaneously loop sturdy cord around the tip of his or her pole and stake the other end of the cord into the ground several yards away.

- Grommets at the corners of the fabric fit over poles in front and are tied to screw eyes on the house

- Loop cord around the poles to keep the fabric in place and attached to pegs in the lawn for added stability

- Tie extra fabric to the cords to make them more visible so no one will trip over them

- Canopy poles get added stability by fitting them into lengths of PVC pipe and sinking the pipe into soil-filled terra-cotta pots

- Painted wooden dowels and colored cord make the canopy's mechanics part of the picture

- Take the tent down when not in use to discourage fading

Tips

- Cut openings that allow wind to circulate through

- Grommets at the corners of the fabric fit over poles in front and are tied to screw eyes on the house

- Loop cord around the poles to keep the fabric in place and attached to pegs in the lawn for added stability

- Tie extra fabric to the cords to make them more visible so no one will trip over them

- Canopy poles get added stability by fitting them into lengths of PVC pipe and sinking the pipe into soil-filled terra-cotta pots

- Painted wooden dowels and colored cord make the canopy's mechanics part of the picture

- Take the tent down when not in use to discourage fading

Summer Survival Iced Coffee

2011-06-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

Cold-Brewed Iced Coffee

With thanks to the New York Times and a bunch of web sites.

2/3 cup ground coffee
3 cups cold water, plus more for finishing
Ice cubes
Whatever you take in your coffee

Place the ground coffee in a pitcher or bowl. Cover with 3 cups water. Let stand at room temperature for 12 hours or overnight.
Using a fine-mesh sieve, strain the coffee into a small bottle or pitcher. (Here is where I split with the other sources. Some suggest a double-straining method, using a sieve and then a coffee filter or cheesecloth to get the last bits of ground coffee. A single straining works fine for me, because any ground coffee left in the mix will settle to the bottom and can be avoided. Up to you.)
Refrigerate the mix until you need it. To use it, pour equal amounts coffee and water over ice. (Use less water if you like, but remember that the coffee mixture is very strong.) If you really want to get fancy, you could also make a batch of ice cubes out of it, but that's more trouble than I can handle in summer.
Add whatever you need (while I usually drink coffee black, I do like a little skim milk in iced coffee).
Drink. Feel cooler.

thanks to those who have served so we can have picnics

2011-05-30T10:40:00.000-07:00

Picnics

by Marchette Chute

Sunshine and wieners and pickles and ham,
Not enough salt for the eggs,
Marshmallows cooked on the end of a stick,
Ants crawling over our legs.

Candy and cookies and peanuts and cake,
Finding the frosting has run,
All of us knowing we've eaten too much---
Picnics are certainly fun.

Hope you day is wonderful as we remember those who have fought for our freedom!

shoes and trike...same price

2011-05-29T08:31:00.000-07:00

One day I am gonna get one of these, I really am!

around 260 dollars for a similar one at Walmart

I think these Swedish Hasbeens handmade shoes are so cute...they cost the same as the trike! Too much for me, I just got the nerve last year to buy shoes that cost 30-40 dollars. Since that took over 50 years to do, I doubt very much that I will ever fork over such a large amaount for shoes even if they are cute, comfortable and hand made in Sweden!
Can you say "knockoffs"?

vintage bikes

2011-05-26T12:05:00.000-07:00

Cute aren't they? I know people who find the nicest old bikes at thrift stores and and with a little tlc they are road ready. These pictures make me imagine tooling around the Irish countryside.

click here to see more pictures of vintage bikes

Beautiful Spaces from Pinterest

2011-05-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

Pinterest has this awesome bulletin board of Beautiful Spaces. I love all the colors in these images.

click here to view more lovely pics

keepin it real in a random manner!

2011-05-17T08:26:00.001-07:00

the babies have hatched!!

the best barbecue in town!

my new stove! I want to marry it!

morning walk!

Where do I begin?! Well, the other day I went to the Drs office and they did blood work and called me in to the office to discuss it with the Dr. I about had a panic attack, because that never happened before, but the Dr just wanted to talk to me about the results instead of playing phone tag if I had any questions. My cholesterol was high which I expected and he told me that I had three months to lose some weight before medication would be prescribed. My blood sugar was sightly elevated and since no one in my family has had any Diabetes, he said that even a 10 percent weight loss would normalize that. He nicely told me that when you get to be around our ages we can't just have this extra weight on without it affecting us. So, I need to increase the intensity of the exercise I am already doing and I have been thinking of joining the YMCA or a gym. This morning I walked to the Y and got some brochures with the prices and hours. When I walked in it was hot and stuffy so...I wasn't sure I could survive a workout there. Then later on I drove to a nearby town to check out Absolute Fitness a 24/7 gym which was 12 dollars a month cheaper and much nicer. When I pulled up in front of the place I had to tell myself, yes, I can do this, I can walk in to a gym as a chubby old lady even if all young buffers would be wondering what on earth I was doing there. Two men in uniforms ran past my car, yelling in a drill sergeant manner at a young guy in gym shorts. Yikes, is this what it is going to be like in there?? Boy was I re leaved to see them go in to the army recruitment center.
Of course, a young athletic man greeted me giving me the brochure and pointing out the pricing and gave me a quick tour of the place. I never felt fatter and older. The only people I saw were young, thin , muscle-y people, but I was hoping for the Biggest Loser kind of crowd. There was a Women's Only Area that was in a separate room, small but OK I guess!
I just don't know what to do... maybe just try harder on my exercise bike or do my DVDs again this summer...I just don't know...
Another keepin it real subject I want to tackle today is my neighborhood. See the picture above of a sketchy looiking convenience store with bars on the windows? It is two blocks away from my home and has the best BBQ in town! You see, we live two blocks away from the historic district which is where I take my walks, and we also live two blocks away from a more run down part of town. Apparently that is the case when you live in a downtown area. We don't really mind that though, we love our street and our house. Friends live on the other side of the street that we knew in Florida and our next door neighbor on one side teaches art at the Community College and our neighbor on the other side is a dean and Phd that works for the University of Alabama branch in Gadsden. With that being said, the two houses directly across the street from us have been empty for over 6 months with the grass majorly overgrown and being a total bummer to look out at from our cozy porch. Well, today they were both finally mowed by the city because a few of us called to make a complaint about them and the city will mow if the owner doesn't do it after two weeks notice. Now ,we are not picky, anal people about yards or anything but these houses had mini trees and shrubs taking over their yards. Now that they are freshly mowed, I feel like throwing a party!
Another random fact is that we finally got rid of our 1970s relic stove and got a brand spankin new one that brings joy to my heart when I use it! I am in love with it!!
And the baby birds hatched, all 5 of them and they are the cutest lil guys!
I really do love our little corner of the world with all the trees, flowers,birds, bungalows and eccentric characters. It has character and charm which makes the little annoyances seem small!!

Today's adventures

2011-05-14T18:27:00.001-07:00

Today, Ray and I explored further up Antique Alley after all. We drove about 60 miles north along highway 11, only finding a little birdcage planter and a retro looking vase. When we were back in our neck of the woods we visited Attalla, a nearby town with several antique shops where we found the best deal of the day. The metal cabinet painted white which was just marked down this morning. I am always trying to think of ways to de- clutter our kitchen and this cabinet fit the bill!
The drive is really pretty and refreshing though, so we don't really mind going out of our way, but it has been a trend for the last three years that the best finds have been in our own backyard.
I managed to clean my fridge today also, which is an adventure in itself for me. I hate cleaning the fridge and I must have groaned with disgust about 20 times during the ordeal. But it does feel mighty good when it is done. I am sure many of you are thinking "What's the big deal it's only a fridge?" Well, I usually tackle it when I am fed up with not being able to fit anything in it anymore yet still can't find anything to eat in it at the same time! So... a lot of throwing away and mopping up!
Tomorrow, my husband promised to help me tackle the pantry which is a hazard just to walk into. He seems to have good organizational skills as he is always rearranging his work trailer so that he can work more efficiently in it. Wish that would rub off on me!

goings on...or...daily dullness

2011-05-11T08:33:00.000-07:00

Don't you think that most of our lives are routine day in and day out kind of times with a few exciting, out of the ordinary occurrences peppered in? Well I do. The secret to true happiness to me, is to have joy and contentment whether we are embarking on a great adventure or cleaning our toilets. Although I must admit the toilet part is a real challenge!
Nothing too exciting going on around here. Our internet keeps going off and on at unexpected times and we have had two modems/WIFI units sent to us with my husband spending hours on the phone with our son in law who is a computer genius and AT&T technical support. "3 2 1, 1 2 3, what the heck is bothering me?" would be a good chant for Ray during these times of frustration.
( from "Family Matters", when Urkel was driving Carl Winslow crazy and he was trying to stay calm) It still is working intermittently so I am striking while the iron is hot!

Also, this week my yearly Drs visit is coming due but I am trying a new Dr that my husband and daughter go to, hoping for a less humiliating time. I have only lost 8 pounds in the last year but I have been walking more consistently so hopefully I won't get yelled at. Last year I blogged about my rude-ish and weird Drs visit and this year I don't want a repeat! ugh!!!

My niece in Florida just had a sweet baby boy named Elijah who was 7 pounds 9 ouces and I am looking forward to meeting him sometime in late June. My daughter Christina was on her way down to see them yesterday when she became nauseous and had to turn back. It seems she has a gross virus and I am sad that I am not nearby to help. If we lived near each other I would pick up my adorable grandson and entertain him while he entertains me so Stina could rest. I would bring her chicken soup and crackers. Sorry I am so far away!

Oh, and I made home made ice cream two days in a row since getting my Ice cream maker, but don't worry, I won't go overboard, just was excited to try it out. Results were totally delicious and I will be looking for some low fat recipes on line. I made vanilla with toasted coconut and almonds, and strawberry the next day!

We have an exterminator come to our house every month to keep unwanted pest guests away and you wouldn't believe the cleaning frenzy that causes! It is humbling and embarrassing to have a stranger come and go in to every corner of your house. I am afraid we are not one of those spotless house keepers from days gone by. The public places are acceptable, but just a little deeper to places like the pantry, back room or closets and...well..oh dear. The frenzy begins. Today when I called to check when he was coming I was thrilled to hear Monday! It felt like a governors pardon from the electric chair!

Counting my blessings along the way!

I Love Mayberry...or...ode to my porch (again)

2011-05-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

city slicker in Mayberry

All that is missing is Barney,Aunt Bea, Andy and Opie, or we would think we were living in Mayberry, North Carolina!
We have a similar looking downtown, we sit on our porch for hours, we drink iced tea on our porch, I just got an ice cream maker for mothers day, we watch birds ( I also just got a Birds of Alabama book for Mom's day too) and my husband has been known to play his guitar on the porch also!
There was an episode where a hyper busy city slicker guy's car broke down on a Sunday and he was impatiently waiting for Goober or Gomer or Wally or somebody to fix his car when Andy invited him home with him for Sunday dinner. He couldn't relax at first, but by the end of the day he was missing the simpler life of a small town.
The front porch has been a dream come true for me. I always wanted a big front porch to be able to sit on with friends and family and now we have one. The spring and Fall are my very favorite times to sit there, with cool breezes, beautiful trees and about a zillion birds. There is a constant concert going on outside and after a few days you start to recognize the birds. Like the intense Mockingbirds, three bright red cardinals who are always together, house finch male and female who have eggs incubating in our hanging basket, and two newcomers, (brown thrashers)who swoop in at dusk.
Sometimes a neighbor will come sit and chat with us, sometimes we eat our dinner out there, and now that we have an ice cream maker, we will be eating some new creations out there as well.

“The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch swing with, never say a word, then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation that you ever had.”

Eggs!

2011-05-07T16:54:00.001-07:00

This picture was taken of the inside of a hanging basket on our front porch today! They are house sparrow eggs and we watched the mama bird tend to them while we sat at the other end of the porch. I swear it is so rejuvenating to sit out there!

massive amounts of mason jars uses

2011-05-06T12:00:00.000-07:00

mason jar mania

I must be the last one to hear about pinterest! I came upon it on a blog I follow and have loved browsing through the multiple pictures of themed items! If you click on the link above you will see what I mean, hundreds of mason jar uses in pictures!

One year ago...and blah blah blah...

2011-05-06T09:48:00.000-07:00

First of all, I am sorry for being MIA in the blogosphere! We went to Florida last weekend and I have been having WIFI trouble at our house and our PC runs real slow and frustrates me when it comes to posting. Not to mention that I can't seem to think of anything to blog about. Although I had several almost posts that just fell by the wayside. I am sure that my MOJO will be back soon though because I really love posting and reading all the inspiring and entertaining ones that you all make too!
So it was a year ago that I decided to become more active and started going for morning walks around my neighborhood And yes, I know that is a dumb time of year to start since I hate heat and humidity and May is a month on the verge of those things. All year long since then, I have done some sort of exercise,at least three times a week whether it was my stationary bike, exercise DVDs, or my favorite, walking outside in the fresh cool air, listening to the birds sing and taking in the sights. Too bad, it has not resulted in my becoming skinny. I seem to have lost about 8 pounds since last year, but believe me I have a long way to go. You see, I have this problem...my favorite quote is Jack Black from "The School of Rock"..."So I like to eat...is that such a crime?" I have always liked eating and I have become much more enamored with healthy foods, but perhaps I can partially blame my pre-menopausal hormones with my intense cravings of carbs. I will keep plugging along, although I am bummed about summer coming since last year was the hottest one ever. Indoor routines will have to do but I am hoping and praying for some more cool days to come before Summer takes its nasty toll on my restorative outside walks!

"People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy." ~Anton Chekhov
I am hoping to find that level of happiness this year!

What a beautiful morning

2011-05-04T07:49:00.001-07:00

Think that I'll just go outside for a while and just smile...

Love that song and loved my morning walk!

april's fury

2011-04-29T09:20:00.000-07:00

This past wednesday was a strange and scary day here in Alabama. The tv weather men had been talking about possible severe weather since last week,but I don't usually pay too much attention since springtime thunderstorms seem to be mostly what it is all about.
My husband went to work as usual, the girls also were working at the salon in town, I went to the store, my usual routine. The air was very heavy, warm and windy outside, so I wondered if something was really brewing.Earlier that morning some surrounding areas had wind damage and loss of power, but nothing too close to us.
I turned the tv on and the local weather was on talking about the storms in Mississippi, but still didn't pay too much attention, until around 2PM. My husband came home early from work because of rain and we watched together as a live camera on top of a bank in Cullman, a town about 53 miles from Gadsden, happened to be filming a forming tornado. We watched it go from a maybe tornado to a large , scary and powerful force that decimated the historic downtown. Last year Ray and I went to a large craft fair in Cullman and went to a cute coffee shop in the downtown. The entire downtown was wiped out.
Then a few hours later we watched a bigger one head through Tuscaloosa,destroying everything in its path which is a two hour drive from here. The same tornado ripped through Birmingham, an hour from Tuscaloosa and an hour from us. It then followed a path directly towards our town , first going through Trussville and Springville (only 25 miles from here). As we watched it approach on TV, we began to discuss what we should do. Our next door neighbor Beverly lives alone, so we wanted her to come with us, whether it was to our hallway bathroom or to a friend's house a half mile away that had a basement. Our other single lady neighbor had a small basement and has mentioned before that as soon as the sirens went off, she headed down there with her dogs, so we knew she would be ok.
Well the news said we had about 25 minutes until it reached Gadsden area, so Beverly was fetched and our friends said to come to their basement just as the sirens went off and it began to rain hard.
For some odd reason, I grabbed a gallon of home made green iced tea, the bananas I had bought earlier and we ran to our car and to our friends. We never lost power, so we could see the live report from the local news and within minutes it has passed about 8 miles south of us. I am thankful to have friends with a basement since this crazy tornado was the same one on the ground since Tuscaloosa, eventually making its way to Rome Georgia!After a few minutes we returned home and just watched the local news all night. The devastation of the areas all around us is heart wrenching.
My husband didn't realize that the towns north of us were so badly affected because because we are at the edge of the TV viewing area, so he drove to a town for some work to find that there was no power at all there or at the neighboring town. His gas was low and he thankfully made it to another small town that had only 2 gas stations with 1/4 mile long lines. He spent 1 1/2 hours on line before making it back to Gadsden. He called around at the car dealers he works at and found that power was out for an expected 4 days. Which is why we headed to Florida to visit our daughter, son in law and grandson! On the way out of town we saw where the Tuscaloosa tornado crossed the road just south of us, and another place like it just north of Macon, Georgia.
Many lives were lost, entire neighborhoods or towns destroyed, but also a lot of thankful people whose lives were spared.
When we return home, we want to try to do something to help towards relief efforts because there are thousands of hurting people around and we have been blessed to be spared from it.
Hope everyone out there in blogland has been safe, I need to catch up on posts since we were driving all day yesterday!

Just ducky

2011-04-26T10:53:00.001-07:00

This morning as my daughter opened the front door to leave for work, she startled a mama duck and ducklings that were on our front porch! Which is really amazing because we live in our small city's downtown where there aren't any ponds or pools and the Coosa river is a mile away.
The mama scattered and inadvertently left the panicking ducklings behind. The poor babies were frantically waddling back and forth trying to jump over our porch ledge which was too high for these little ones. The whole time they were making peep sounds and the mama was cautiously lurking in bushes nearby, also peeping the whole time.
Rachel,who hadn't left for work yet,and I didn't want to scare the lil ones by trying to help them, when they suddenly made a run for the front step, and spazzily tore past us while one ducky didn't get the memo and was separated from the rest!
Stress!
Happily, the lone duck made its way out,finally catching up to its siblings,and finally with mama duck!
I swear, they were so cute, it made me want ducks for my backyard, but I remembered that duck "fertilizer" doesn't smell that good!
I am thankful for this little touch of nature right on our front porch!

Good friday for a walk

2011-04-22T09:33:00.001-07:00

I love easter time because it brings memories of a happy time in my life. When I was younger this week was filled with movies about Jesus resurrection, shopping for a dress,hat, gloves and purse, wondering if Easter would actually be warm, and anticipating my waxy chocolate bunny!
By the time I was 18, I enjoyed the bible story the most and it is still the case today.
Hope your weekend is filled with resurrected joy!

In between the raindrops

2011-04-21T09:17:00.001-07:00

we have been having a lot of rain and storms lately but this morning I managed to sneak in a nice walk. It is so much more refreshing than my exercise bike!
I must take advantage of the great outdoors before the high humidity takes over and I resolve myself to indoor exercise!

Crafting Therapy

2011-04-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

You have no idea how crafting has helped me in the last three years! It was very hard for us to move away from my oldest daughter Christina, her husband and our grandson. We had hoped that they would be following behind us within a year or so, but circumstances have made it very difficult. We are very close, so it is hard to only be able to see each other every 6-8 weeks, especially as our grandson Kavi is only three years old and is growing in leaps and bounds. We talk often on the phone and try to do video chats to fill our void. I am thankful though that my husband is self employed which enables us to travel to Florida as often as we have, but there are more days with a gnawing feeling that reminds us that we don't live near each other anymore.
Shortly after moving, Christina (in Florida) started an etsy shop and inspired me to do the same. It is funny how we evolved our shops in to more of the type of crafting we liked, but we both started with different crafts than we do now. At first I did some paintings and got color copies made to sell, but they didn't sell at all. There are soooo many amazing artists on etsy making it hard to stand out. Then I started making scrabble tile pendants, but didn't really enjoy making them so much. Then I tried making simple jewelry, but it bored me.
Finally, I rejuvenated my crochet skills as cooler weather here in Alabama inspired me along with all the creative ideas on etsy. That was my niche, and has remained my favorite thing to do. I also enjoy doing many other crafty things around the house like decoupage, art, fixing up garage sale finds, making paper pennants, collage, yada, yada, yada!
Working on a project helps me to temporarily focus on something other than missing my family and fulfills a creative need that lies within me. Sometimes I think about how I am such a late bloomer in this whole thing. After all I was 50 years old when I opened my etsy shop! I guess it was a latent gifting that was below the surface all my life, but I was distracted with being what I thought I should be. I spent many years doing administrative type things and many years being very busy all the time, all the while loving decorating magazines and looking for ways to decorate my home on a budget. I also loved seeing someone who didn't fit the popular mode of home decor or fashion, being an individual and expressing their own personality in their surroundings.
Well since moving, I have found distraction and satisfaction in making and creating . I know that this has also helps Christina get through this season , and I thank God that he led us to this avenue of life. Even now, as warmer weather approaches, it becomes harder for me to focus on crochet projects and I find that the days are more challenging. I need a goal, a project to sink my teeth into, to brighten my day. I also feel God's peace while I am crafting, knowing that He is working things together according to His pattern and His timing and that in the end, we will look at a lovely finished project. He wants me to enjoy the journey though, not just the end!

The view from my back deck

2011-04-19T13:06:00.001-07:00

Ever since we switched cell phone companies and got new android phones, I have enjoyed the camera apps the most! And I can post on my blog from my phone too! I am doing that right now, yippee!

foiled project....check!

2011-04-16T09:35:00.001-07:00

before after
I did it, I finally did it! I foiled my nightstand! I have wanted to paint my garage sale nightstand for years, but procrastination is my name, so the relic stayed the same! Then last week I found an amazing tutorial on foiling with modge podge and posted it on my blog, hoping to one day do this treatment myself.
So yesterday it was a dreary rainy day and I had aluminum foil, modge podge, silver paint, and black paint , so what the heck, I thought I'd give it a go.
Above you see the piece before I started the process. It took me most of the day to finish, but I didn't work non stop on it with breaks waiting for it to dry between steps, eating lunch, watching the news, etc. So, it took longer than I thought and I am not the most patient when it comes to tiny details like using small foil pieces around the curves, the legs, the front. Happily my husband came home and helped me finish the small details of the foiling. (basically just decoupaging technique)
after applying the foil by applying modge podge under and over it, one more coat of modge podge after first application dried
this is my after picture, phase 1. applied a silver metallic paint randomly to add variation to the finish
Final phase...added black paint at first mixed with water to add more depth, then finally just random brush strokes of black acrylic paint with no added water, then blotting off, to give it a more aged effect.
I am really pleased at how it turned out and think that it compliments my bedroom theme of black and white against a cool aqua wall color!
Click here to see the original tutorial post. I used the directions as a basic guideline since I didn't use the same paint or glaze, though I did use modge podge as she recommended.

A crochet project I just completed

2011-04-15T19:28:00.001-07:00

Green Tea Revisited

2011-04-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

Every spring, I begin the iced green tea obsession. In fact, my very first blog post ever was about the health benefits of matcha green tea powder. At that time, I had a home made green tea latte every single day and I loved it. Unfortunately, the caffeine in it, although relatively mild, made sleep time more challenging for me, so I sadly discontinued my favorite treat.
Now, for the last few years I have been buying decaf green tea bags and making gallon pitchers of it for a cool and refreshing treat. I add sliced lemon or lime to my glass and fresh mint if I have it, along with truvia to sweeten it. Everyone in my house loves it except my husband, who simply never got into the flavor of the green tea although he loves regular iced tea.
And, not to bore you but...there are many health benefits to the green tea variety...

To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:

cancer prevention
rheumatoid arthritis
high cholesterol levels
cardiovascular disease
infection
impaired immune function

Just do a google search on the subject and you can find many sites offering the scientific benefits of it!

The Ballad of the Salad...

2011-04-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, my Jane friend visited and inspired me by making fresh salads with lots of ingredients and making homemade salad dressings. After she left I continued the tradition and have enjoyed it so much. I have also switched from using prepackaged lettuces to buying real live romaine lettuce that I cut up myself. I know it doesn't sound so dramatic, but let me tell ya, it tastes way better, fresher and crisper.
I have been adding sliced radish, shallots,carrots,walnuts,avocado,blue cheese or feta cheese and making my own dressing by mixing 3 parts extra virgin olive oil, 1 part organic apple cider vinegar, a squeeze of lemon or lime, salt and pepper and some honey to balance the tartness. Just use any empty glass jam jar or something so you can shake to mix it. The possibilities are endless. Just look up some ideas online or invent your own combinations.
Spring and summer are the perfect time to add a filling, nutritious and delicious salad to accompany a main dish, or add grilled chicken to make it more of a meal in itself!

IKEA FAMILY LIVE Spring 2011

2011-04-12T08:29:00.000-07:00

IKEA FAMILY LIVE Spring 2011

A wonderfully made on line magazine featuring products from IKEA in a home setting!
IKEA has so many reasonably priced pieces of furniture and scores of accessories. It is worth a trip to check this store out. We live two hours away from one, but when I visit my daughter in Florida we are only one hour away!

I love creative people

2011-04-09T18:57:00.000-07:00

Isn't this nightstand just beautiful? It is covered with aluminum foil and modge podge! For real I am gonna HAVE to do this to my mismatched bedroom side tables and dresser! Unbelievable what people can come up with!

click here for the tutorial

This talented blogger, Mandi, of Vintage Revivals was a guest on the Nate Berkus show last month and showed her house full of amazing ideas!

Mandi also had these acid mirrors with fabric backing in her home! Click here to go to her blog Vintage Revivals for the tutorial.

I am gonna have to try this one too. If you go to her blog you will see many DIYs to inspire you and keep you busy!

HAPPY LOVES ROSIE: Vintage Caravan ....

2011-04-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

I found this blog post with this adorable vintage caravan camper! Can you say "I want, I want, I neeeeeed"? Click on the link below to see all of the pictures of this dreamy camper. I can sooo see me and my husband pulling this baby to all the state parks that are a tank of gas away! sigh.... maybe one day....
HAPPY LOVES ROSIE: Vintage Caravan .... Done!: "Well here we are! The sun was shining today and I was able to get out in the garden and take these pictures of our 1952 Vintage Holivan......."

more yarn bombing

2011-04-06T13:53:00.000-07:00

my idea of a sweet ride!

the biggest battle was choosing the colors...my kind of ground war!

silver white winters that melt into spring...these are a few of my favorite things

2011-04-03T18:02:00.000-07:00

Oh how I am loving spring! The older I get, the sappier I get about things like the seasons changing. The way all of creation is on a rhythm each year and how there is so much joy that we can receive from it. Well, except summer, which I often mention in my posts as my least favorite time because of the hotness of it. (Sorry to keep repeating myself on that matter!)
I am sad about the fact that I missed so much of the seasonal stuff by living in Florida for 25 years and my kids grew up with nary a blossoming dogwood tree or fall colors. Of course I know that we were there for a reason and a season and if anything, I appreciate what many can take for granted now,living in a climate that changes every three months.
This winter was a cold one here in Alabama, with a snow that stayed on the ground for almost a whole week in January. Me and my daughter and friend watched out the window for hours before the forecast finally came true and a porch party with a fire pit burning and hot dogs and marshmallows ensued. When the snow began to stick, the outside world, even in darkness began to glow. A warm, soft, silent glow that made me think that I had never seen such a beautiful sight before. Even after succumbing to the cold and retreating inside, periodic trots to the back door and front door were to check the progress and look at how sweet the flakes looked falling in the glow of the porch lights. Then we would turn the inside and outside lights off and see how nicelythe snowfall looked against the evening shadows.
Endorphins released in my body during that night giving me a warm happy feeling inside. Snow is just so pure and silent and covers all the drab and ugly places, the great equalizer.

'' Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.''
Psalm 51:7

When spring began to awaken the trees and plants, everything took on a new and joyful pace. Robins eagerly searching for the worms, cardinals flitting about more lively, mockingbirds seemed to be smiling as they flitted their wings in the puddles in the gutters. Sitting on the front porch again, feeling the cool breeze, it seemed like the world had just arose from a long slumber and was happily getting on with the fun things in life.
I have never lived where there were so many flowering trees and shrubs before. Not in New York or Pennsylvania or Florida. Here there are forsythia, dogwoods, cherry trees and pear trees to name a few. And they all bloom at different times so that we can enjoy it's beauty over a period of time rather than just one big explosion of color that is here today and gone tomorrow.

And Spring arose on the garden fair, Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere; And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.

~Percy Bysshe Shelley, "The Sensitive Plant"

Here's to hoping that spring will enliven your heart and release those endorphins whenever you feel the breeze or smell a flower!

Trade Day Treasures

2011-04-02T13:47:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted one of these planters but was looking for a good bargain in order to get it. It is inspired by one of my all time favorite shows "The Gilmore Girls". Lorelai, the main character had one on her beautiful porch and I wanted one too! It was only 22 dollars at Collinsville Trade Day, about half an hour from here. I have seen many vintage planters for 50-80 dollars before, so I was happy to snatch this one up.
I have always wanted a big old vintage typewriter too, but was also too cheap to pay more than 20 dollars for one. On etsy, there are several of these but with shipping added to the price (these old guys are pretty darn heavy) it would usually be close to 100 bucks. This morning, I spotted one and asked the price and when the girl said 8 but you could make an offer, I was so startled, I didn't even make a lower offer, I just said, "I'll take it!"
(the planter was marked 25, I offered 20 but she would only go as low as 22!)
This is the outside of the booth I got the typewriter at. The yellow wicker furniture set was only 60 dollars for two chairs, a settee, coffee table and a hutch (not in pic)! It was already sold or else my husband and I would have been sorely tempted to get it even though we have absolutely no room on our porch or deck for it! Plus it wasn't likely to fit in our Ford Focus!
This scene was behind the parking area and it was such a perfect spring day, I had to snap a shot of it!
Not a fancy setting, but beautiful mountains are all around making it a very refreshing time!