Time to catch up

I have not posted since the 26th. Tomorrow is a new month and I need to get back on track with my blogging. It's not that I had a lot going on or that I was spending a lot of hours at work. I just got sidetracked with getting some major cleaning/organizing done at home and I would think "I need to blog tonight". Then when night came I would decide to catch up the next morning and then the pattern repeated itself until today when I decided that I needed to get back on track. So let's go back to last Friday. My granddaughter Shelby wanted to get her best friend Megan a trip to Dolly Parton's Stampede for Megan's birthday. Since Megan's mom was going to be out of town, Shelby asked me to take them to the Stampede and let them stay all night with me. So that was what we did. 

We stopped out from for a picture with a couple of our Southern princesses. 

Then we went in the saloon to watch the live band for the pre-show. Of course, I had to get us a bucket of popcorn because I love their popcorn. I usually get a bucket a couple of times a week when I work. 

Our server turned out to be one of my dearest friends, Bryan. He is such a sweetheart and a fabulous server. The girls wanted their picture with him.  

Afterwards, they walked around the arena to meet the riders and pet the horses. They had an amazing time. 

Another highlight earlier this week was the fact that my nephew, Christopher, arrived back home after 260 days in Afghanistan. We are so relieved to have him back in the U.S and home with his family. 

I was off work Sunday and was able to attend worship service. Our youth has a praise and worship team and they led the service. Only instead of being in the regular sanctuary, we had the service in our old sanctuary, which is now the education building. We had 178 people ON A SUNDAY night. That is almost double our normal Sunday night service. The music was amazing and very uplifting. The pastor brought an awesome message about getting out of the shallows. Afterwards, we met in the fellowship hall for sandwiches, brownies and ice cream. I am so glad I was able to attend.

I worked Monday so nothing new there. But I was scheduled off for Tuesday and Wednesday. And they were calling for snow. And we got some. So I didn't leave my house from 5:30 Monday evening till I went back to work today at 8:00. I stayed in p.j.'s both days and only opened the door long enough to get a couple of photos. 

It wasn't a HUGE snow, but it was big enough to be able to enjoy it. 

I have been really cleaning and tossing out stuff at home. So on the snow days, I tackled the sock drawer. You know, that place you hang onto every single sock on the off chance the mate will show up some day. Well, I am bad about just tossing them all in one drawer and finding a matching pair when I need them. Please don't judge me, but I threw away 38 single socks that did not have mates. Gasp!! That means somewhere in the universe are 38 MORE single socks that don't have mates as well. I am convinced the missing socks ran off to Vegas with all my Tupperware and Rubbermade lids that disappeared. But the good news in now my socks are matched and neatly arranged. Between socks and soft slipper socks I now have 31 matched pairs in my sock drawer. I am beginning to think I have a sock problem. 

Even though there was a lot of snow still there yesterday, I did get a beautiful view of the mountain range from the back porch. Then I ran back inside really fast because it was COLD.

Today, it was back to reality as I had to return to work. I have the morning shift today so I had to be up and at it a lot earlier than I've been used to this winter. But half way to work, God put on a light show that took my breath away. If I had not been put on the early shift, I never would have seen this amazing view. So there is something good in every thing under the sun.  

I started to hold the sunrise picture for tomorrow's Friday Foto Friends but it was just too beautiful not to share today. So that brings me up to speed. 

I gotta be me....

I have decided that there is no use fighting it. I am what I am and I need to have things around me that make me smile. There are many styles to home decor. You have have Shabby Chic, Farmhouse, French Country, Americana, bright and bold or grays, black and whites. Over the years I have considered many different decorating options, but I always tend to stick with things that go good with flowers. There is nothing that makes me happier than a vase or container with a floral arrangement in it. Flowers are the epitome of spring, happiness, rebirth after a cold, bitter winter. I love flowers. I really do. 

In my small 2 bedroom, one bath home I didn't realize how many flower arrangement I have. I often think about downsizing on them. But other than the occasional family gathering and a friend stopping by to drop something off or the grandkids coming to visit, nobody ever sees my home but me. And if flowers make me happy, then happy I will be. And if somebody doesn't like all the floral in my home. Oh well, their loss. I see the beauty in them. They calm me when I'm stressed. And make me smile when I'm feeling down. Let's stroll through my "garden" and my current arrangements I have. Fair warning....half of them have daisies in them somewhere since that is my all time favorite flower.

This pitcher is a vintage McCoy pitcher that my cousin and I bought for our Mamaw Eden when we were in our early double digits (around 50 years ago.)

This was my new recent one on the dining room table. When I was cleaning closets this week, I finally found my little African Violet covered egg pill box. Now I am happy with the display.

This container was full of the lavender. But I came across the purple tulips and added them to it. It all goes perfect with the dining room colors of blue and purple.

Just a few bright yellow in a chicken coffee cup in the kitchen on one of my shelves.

My recent pitcher that a friend bought for me. Obviously, I loved daisies in it.

These are some pink fabric and lace flowers I bought at Walmart years ago. I just adore them.My grandson Caleb bought me the milk glass vase at a flea market when he was about 11 years old because he knew I love milk glass.

The pitcher and bowl belonged to my mother-in-law. I had bought it for her in the 1980's from Home Interior. When she passed away, my father-in-law gave it back to me. 

And one of my all time favorites that has probably been used in just about every room of every place I have lived since I got them. I love the vase and the flowers and they go good anywhere. 

My Fenton glass flower baskets with some pretty pinks for my bedroom.

Another white milk glass vase. I love these flowers. I got them for .25 cents for the bunch at a yard sale and they are some of my favorites.

Thank you for visiting "my garden" with me. I do not have a green thumb so this is the best I can do. Hope you enjoyed it.

Fabric flowers......

All it takes is one pic of something that catches my eye to send me off and running to Pinterest. Today's obsession is with fabric flowers. Mostly tulips. But any would interest me. Here are some that caught my fancy, 

Here is a little different style. And it even has picture step-by-step instructions.

I love the assorted patterns in this one. Looks just like a beautiful spring bouquet. It has very detailed directions.

Of all of them, I think this is my favorite. I love the yellow fabric.

But this one comes in a close second. I'm not normally a purple person, but I do love these. I am sure Ms. Debbie at Jeremiah-2911 will love this one because of all those beautiful shades of purple.

These would make a pretty bouquet to give someone for Valentine's day.

So would these. I like the way they are shaped. 

These are not fabric flowers but this is one of my all time favorite centerpiece/tablecloth ideas and I am going to keep searching until I can find a tablecloth and be able to do this.

It's 18 degrees here today and I am tired of winter already....and it's January. So if you have the cold weather, stay warm. If you are blessed to have hot or warm weather today, invite me to dinner. I could sure stand a heat wave.

Tupperware

I miss the vintage Tupperware. There were some favorite pieces I used to have that I wish now I had kept. I checked the new books and they either don't carry them or have modified them and I liked the old better. Here are a few....

The canister sets. I just loved these and the bright yellow color.

Now they are bland. Available in black and white. Just because times change doesn't mean my taste does. I like options and black and white is not necessary one of them.

My favorite thing ever and I was truly shocked that they don't carry it was the ice cream container. Perfect for a half gallon of ice cream and it never got freezer burn.

The bread keeper. A nice container that kept your bread fresh longer AND kept it from getting squished by anything else.

The little shredder/grater thing was great. I had mine until about 2 years ago when the grater cracked and broke in half. It was a sad day. I used this constantly for onions as I do not like big chunks in my baked beans or potato salad. I really miss this.

My favorite bowls ever. Just over the years they got so stained and scratched up that I just pitched them. Regret that now.

They do have some similar ones but I'm not loving the colors and the price was outrageous.

I also loved the deviled egg tray. You could take the slots out and it became a relish tray or a double dish for fudge. I used this a lot.

And I loved the lunch box. It was hard plastic and you didn't have to worry about your sandwich or chips getting mashed. I really miss this.

They did come out with a new style and it is pretty. But it is twice the cost of a similar one from Thirty-One so I won't be ordering a lunch box.

As a matter of fact, I could probably find knock-off of Tupperware on Amazon for a lot less money. I need to check that out some day. Especially to see if anybody still makes the ice cream container.

Sunday's songs

Pretty in Pink

I love colors. My whole  house is full of color. I have always loved anything pink and I find myself being more and more drawn to pink. Here are some pink things I am loving today.

Well, you had to know vintage Pyrex is at the top of my list. 

While I like the solid above, I adore the Gooseberry pink bowls.

And the pink daisy has always been a favorite of mine. 

Check out this gorgeous pink Fenton glassware.

And the pink rose Fiesta dishes.

I fell in love with this quilt. It is something like I want for my bedroom.

A friend of mine owns a floral shop and this was a new wreath design featuring old country roses. I love it. 

I commented on it on Facebook and next thing I know Marketplace popped up on my side bar and recommended these pictures. 

And last but not least, I am slowly falling in love with flamingos. I have incorporated a couple into my beach room and beach bathroom decor. Check this out. It is a rose gold necklace with a flamingo. I am in love with it.  

Well that's it for today. Have a great Saturday.

Friday Foto Friends

I love my drive to work. No matter which route I take, when I get close to work I have mountains in front of me and a river beside my car. And even on an overcast day like this morning was, I have some beautiful clouds to look at.