Monday Morning Musings

Vacation Bible School started last night. My job is to teach the song and moves for Zip Zoom Zing to the 3, 4, and 5 year olds. It was an interesting experience. Being three different ages, they are in three different classes.



First , we had the 3 year olds. We zipped, we zoomed, we zinged. Three year olds are very enthusiastic. They are ready to learn and willing to try anything. We had a lot of giggling and a lot of new motions added simply because of their zest for fun. They kept on dancing even after the music stopped. After the first time, I asked "Do you want to do it again?" A chorus of YES echoed around the room while they jumped up and down in excitement.



The four year olds were a little less exuberant, but they watched studiously as we showed them the moves then they proceeded to follow along and sing and dance. When I asked them if they wanted to do it again, I got a couple of resounding NO's, a few looks of "Are you crazy?!? and several dramatic sighs at the thought of having to do it again. So we let them go back to their other room.

The five year olds were a whole different story. As we read the words and showed them the motions, we saw no excitement and not a lot of interest. They simply stared at us as though we had lost our mind. Once the music started, they did very well and you could tell they were used to following directions. They nailed it. I was so pleased. I asked if they wanted to go another round. Silence. Not one smile. No jubilant yes. No resounding no. Just a room full of little faces looking at me as it to say "Seriously? You have got to be kidding me." Apparently we had a room full of 5 years olds going on 13. So we stopped at one run through.

It's a catchy little tune. The ladies who are teachers and helpers in the various classes seemed to be enjoying themselves. Some of the adults who walked by would pop in and join the fun. Several of the 16-18 year olds asked me if they can come by our class tonight and dance along with the kids. We are thinking of starting a new jazzercise group and calling ourselves the Zip Zoom Zingers.

Looking forward to tonight to see what it will bring. 

If I can Dream

Amazing finds from Friday

I had to go into town yesterday morning and it was pouring the rain. It had slacked off some and I decided to stop by this church that was having a yard sale. They just had a few items out since it was raining, but they had a couple of tables that had some old dishware so I headed to that. The lady working the tables was telling me she had taken care of an elderly gentlemen who had passed away and the family gave her his belongs to get rid of so she donated them to the church for the yard sale. Because of the rain, she had only put out a couple of tables of dishes so people would know to come inside the building as well. She advised me to come back today since she still had a travel full of his belongings to put out this morning and she thinks there are more dishes and glassware. I will be heading back today, but in the meantime this is what I found yesterday.

A snack plate with no cup. I've been wanting a snack plate with a cup, but this was too cute to leave their just because there was no cup. It was .50 cents.

This little bowl was just .25 cents and I couldn't pass it up. 

I love restaurant style dishes. I picked up this set of little cereal bowls for me and hubby. They are made by McNicol for Chas. C Cullem & Company hotel and restaurant equipment company of Knoxville, TN. It must have existed a long time ago because their is not much info on it on the internet. Best I can figure these were made in the early 1900's.  They were just .25 cents each. 

This next little restaurant bowl is Homer Laughlin which I am a HUGE fan of. I have platters, saucers, cups, little bowls, big bowls, etc. So if it says Homer Laughlin, I am snatching it up. I read on one blog that a lady in Colorado buys everything from Homer that she can get her hands on. I found a bowl similar to this on the internet for $56.00 and I only paid .25 cents. My find of the day. 

This little bottle was just so cute that I couldn't pass it up. You could tell it was old and that the lid did not come with it, but I fell in love with it. I brought it home, cleaned it up good and filled it with Jergen's Lotion for my bathroom counter. 

But the best deal of the day was also the dumbest mistake of my life because I walked away from it and didn't buy it....TWICE! Check out this beauty.

It is vintage late 1800's to early 1920's when they had drawer locks on the dressers. The lady know it has been in her family since the early 1900's at least. It was in great condition, just some minor nicks and scrapes that gave it character. Every single drawer was in working order and didn't stick. The price.....$20.00. I was sold. But I was in my car. I debated and debated and debated some more and finally asked her if I could go home, get the truck and come back and get it. She said yes and was holding it for me to pay for when I came back. She even marked it sold. Well, I went back. And I looked at it and looked at it and looked at it some more. I wasn't sure if it would fit where I wanted it to go. So I thought about it and decided I would just keep looking for a dresser. Waking up this morning my first thought was that I couldn't believe I passed this up. Oh well, live and learn. But I am going back to that same yard sale today so maybe she will have some other pieces at a good deal when she gets everything out of the trailer. 

Excitement is building.....

This week it is my Fed Ex lady I love instead of my UPS guy. She delivered my new Thirty One Top-a-Tote. It is awesome.



They are available in gray, black and brown. I ordered the gray to go with my new large utility tote in the Spirit gray. Simple place your storage or travel items in your large utility tote.

Lay the lid on top of the tote (notice the see through PVC window)

There are slots in the long side of the Top-a-Tote, just reach down and pull your straps through the slots. 

Straighten the sides and the corners to pull securely down on the tote like a lid. 

And you have an awesome tote to use for storage or to take with you for camping, shopping, vacations, beach trips, picnics, church dinners....ANYWHERE!

And the best part? The Top-a-Totes are just $10.00 for the entire month of July. I am going to get one for each of my large utility totes. The June special is to spend $31.00 and order a large utility tote for just $10.00. Then add on a Top-a-Tote for another $10.00 and you are ready for summer.

I've got a busy day planned today. My daughter-in-law found me a place that sells Swedish Ivy. I am so excited. I was heading to look at it yesterday while I was running errands, but ran out of time and had to get home for a phone appointment so I am going to go look today. 

A couple of months ago, I left U.S. Cellular to go with ATT for my cell phone. I thought I was going to save all this money, have a little smaller phone and being happy with them. Well, I have not been happy. I have missed my Motorola Electrify. So I did some research and found a plan at US Cellular that was a better plan than I had before AND it was cheaper and it would work for my Motorola, so I am back with US Cellular and am a happy customer. ATT did not pick up hardly anywhere in my house and the roads I travel on a lot have many dead spots with ATT. That was never an issue with US Cellular. Let me add that the Electrify is by far the best phone I have ever owned. 

(Garret giving his sister Alexis a hard time)

I'm going to Garret's ballgame tonight. There is nothing like watching your grandchild out there on that field playing ball unless it is watching your son being the one doing the coaching. They have a good team and the games are always interesting. It takes me back to all those years I watched my son play ball. So many good memories. 

Well, time to get started on, ..... oh I even hate to say the word .... but time to get started on cleaning house. I have a lot going on next week so I want to get the housework done and out of the way. Hope everybody has a great weekend. 

I wasn't going to blog today....

....but just got home and thought I'd add a post. 

Well, our trip to Home Depot was a bust. Couldn't find what we were looking for. Lowe's didn't have it either. I have been to every HD and Lowes in our area. I have been to the gardening area of Walmart, to the floral departments in our local grocers, to the local Co-Op, to the mom and pop greenhouses and garden supplies and I can't find any Swedish Ivy anywhere. Has it become extinct? Does it not thrive is East Tennessee? I want four hanging baskets for my front porch, but want plants not flowers. And I really, really want Swedish Ivy. Any thoughts on where to get it?

If I can't get Swedish Ivy, I will settle for ferns. Ferns always make me want to relax and isn't that what front porches are for?

I have one more place to look that I haven't checked yet, and if they don't have my Swedish Ivy, I will get some ferns. I sort of like Spider Plants but I really thing the fern is my second choice and I'm pretty sure that is what I will end up getting.

And so we giggled....

...and giggled...and giggled some more.

(L-R: Me, Daddy, Rachel around 1958 or 59)

Do you have a sister? Do you remember growing up and sharing all those little girl secrets. Knowing things that nobody else new, sharing things that nobody else shared. My sister and are were like that and still are. When we are together, about 50% of our conversations start with "Do you remember the time...." and then we scream YES and burst into a fit of giggles and nobody else has a clue what we are talking about. Mom just shakes her head and laughs at us. 

(L-R: Me, Mommy, Rachel)

Just a little over 13 months apart in age, we were as close as twins. Rachel was the oldest. That closeness has never changed. We still share our secrets and have our little giggle fests. We can get so tickled at the littlest things and laugh for years over it. To this day, I can look at my sister and say Barbara Bush and we both will erupt in laughter. (It was one of those "you had to be there") stories and it cracks us up every time.

(L-R: Me, Rachel)

I used to drive her crazy growing up. She was "the neat one" while I was ....well, let's just say I was not." So glad that changed though.

(L-R: Rachel, Me)

We have always been close and have always shared so much. Love, laughter, tears, pain, happiness and of course...the giggles. 

(L-R: Daddy, Jack, Rachel, Me)

The worst part...

The worst part of taking a long weekend off is having to get back into your groove on Tuesday. I had a pretty uneventful weekend. I did make it to Old Time Pottery and am beyond thrilled with all the new items. The linen section was unbelievable. There were some good bargains on cloth napkins.

And I fell in love with this set of dishes. The picture looks more plain blue, but they were actually a really light turquoise/aqua color. 

I fell in love with tall the dish towels they had.

Especially these bright colors. 

They had some adorable quilted throws that would be perfect for those cool fall evening or cold winter nights. 

They had a large assortment of tablecloths. i will probably visit that section often. A woman can never have too many tablecloths. And they actually carry the 104" long ones. Most places have the 102". You wouldn't think those 2" makes much of a difference, but on a table that seats 8 it does. 

They had so much to look at that it just boggles the mind. Saw lots of glasses, serving bowls, kitchen storage, lamps, pictures, trunks, wicker, and so much more. I have to go back again soon and again soon after that. I only made one purchase yesterday since I was so busy taking everything in. But I am so happy with my purchase. I have been looking for a half cloth/half lace tablecloth since October and finally found one at Old Time Pottery. The cost? Just $5.99 for the 104". I can't wait to put it on today and do a different centerpiece for the table. I am pretty sure the results will show up on a blog post later this week. 

Since hubby had to work last night, I was responsible for my own dinner. So I decided on home made pizza bread. My favorite is sausage so I made some for my supper.

The funny part was, I only had to pick up the bread and sausage. I already had the cheese and pizza sauce. You would think I could just run in a store and get two items. But then I thought, "Well, I'll need something sweet for dessert." Yes, you guessed it. I got carried away.