My room re-do's

The first room I did was the bedroom. I went from patchwork quilt to a coral reef. Love the peach, pink, mint green colors.

Ted E. Bear is displayed on the bed in his sweater that has a kite on it. Hubby bought that sweater for the bear years ago when we had just gotten back from the beach. My husband loved to fly kites. He has several and he would take them every time we went to the beach. He got them up extremely high. 

I found some cute pictures at Hobby Lobby at 1/2 off that are really beachy and go with my color scheme.

I gathered extra beach stuff from other rooms or from my storage boxes. I put them on my little shelf.

I love my little tray for my rings and watch when I'm not wearing them.

A lot of the beach stuff came from the beach bathroom. It is still beachy only more nautical.

I love the pattern in the curtain and it is followed through on the bath mat. 

And in this little hand towel.

Believe it or not, but they had the toilet seat with the same pattern on the lid so I bought that but didn't take a pic. It also had a starfish soap dish and a shell toothbrush holder.

I didn't have to do much in the kitchen except put my new tablecloth on.

I love making flower arrangements and so much fun with this one because of the number of different flowers.

I had a tall book shelf in the living room but wanted it in my office. So I found this little one for $10 online. It was so easy to put together. That was the only real new thing I did in the living room.

I found this little shelf locally for in front of the kitchen window. The bottom shelf is a set of four cook books all geared in cooking in the copper skillets. I am going to try a recipe out of one of them this week. I love my copper skillet.

Next is my new centerpiece with my new little rooster. This is on my kitchen table.

This is my Baker's rack of my browns, golds, yellow, orange and red Pyrex collection. It is contantly upgraded as I get more pieces. If I get much more, I'm going to have to get another shelf.

This is my little display rack that has my new pitcher and some of my sandwich glass collection.

I put my new rooster teapot on top of my little stand in the kitchen.

And this is all my  beautiful blue and white Pyrex in the dining room on the wine rack.

That covers everything except for my Steampunk room. I have some more things to do in there and hope to get them done this week. That's my wrap up of all the changes around the house. Hope you enjoyed the visit.

To blessed to stress

Our world has been struggling through these past couple of months with everything hanging in limbo. Yes, it is horrible. And yes it is stressful. So I have been finding joy in the little things in life.These are just a few things that have made me smile this week.

I love to put patriotic displays out in May - July. That way I cover Memorial Day, Flag Day and Fourth of July all at once. Here is my new one this year for the kitchen table.

I had some biscuits with dinner the other day. I saved a couple for a late night snack. Mixed dark Karo corn syrup and butter to make this caramel tasting dip for the biscuits. If you have never had this, I urge you to give it a try. It is delicious.

I got some new rummy cards the other day. These are from Margaritaville. I love the facecards. They are so vibrant. My favorites are the queen of hearts and the king of spades.

I got one of my Thirty-One orders in. Love my new cups.

This is my new Organizing Utility Tote. These colors are awesome.

My daughter ordered the straw shoulder bag for summer. It is adorable.

Went with my daughter to her niece's house and got my hair cut. You just gotta love getting a new hair cut and snuggles from a little baby boy.

In the pic above is a set of glowing eyes to the right side of the picture. That was the other "baby" in the family. He was a beautiful black German shepherd. He was so beautiful and loveable. 

She cuts my hair clean and dry because of the natural curl and that way it never is too short when I wash it. I came home and washed and dried it and I am super happy with it. 

As we left her house, we pulled into Home Depot for a minute. Check out the spectacular sunset from their parking lot. What a view.

Now this is strange to me, but the above pic is the sunset that night. This next picture is the sunrise over my little woods in the view from my porch. Is that not amazing. I have always heard and old expression that said "as different as day and night". Well, I don't know about you but I don't see a whole lot of difference in Tuesday night to the west and Wednesday morning to the east.

But I will say they were both beautiful and I couldn't help but take pictures.

Hodge Podge Wednesday

Hooking up today for Hodge Podge Wednesday at From This Side of the Pond

1. Ever played the game Farkle? Are you a risk taker? In games only or also in life?

I have never played Farkle. I am somewhat of a risk taker in games. But mostly analytical, trying to watch what moves others are planning. I am very competitive in playing games. As far as life, yes I have taken a risk or two in my time. Thankfully they always paid off. I tend to go with my gut for the most part.

2. What's your favorite thing about your yard or whatever outdoor space you may have?

Sitting on my front porch and watching all the activity. Birds are always so active. We attract quite a few smaller bird like house finches, yellow finches and blue birds as well as wrens heavily in the winter. We also have rabbits all summer and squirrels all winter. And deer in the field across the road year round. And on a clear day in the other direction I can see some of the Smoky Mountains.

3. Tell us about the most interesting building you've seen or been in.

Definitely Wonderworks in Pigeon Forge, TN. It is an upside down house with all kinds of fun hands on activities you can do. My favorite is standing on a "island" in the pool of bubbles. You raise up a hoola hoop with a robe and it makes a giant bubble that you are stanind inside. Then there is the dancing room 

4. In this current season of social distancing, what's something you've come to realize you take for granted in more ordinary times? Do you think you'll make a conscious effort to appreciate whatever that 'it' is once normal life resumes?

I have come to realize who my true friends are and which ones that are my friends simply because I am always the one cultivating the friendship. My real friends have showed me how much they care by staying in touch and checking up on me without me have to initiate it. And yes, I will make a more conscious effort to not get sucked down in the mire of the ones who have shown me they are very self-absorbed.

5. Share a favorite song with a springtime flower in the lyrics somewhere.

Every Rose has it's Thorn by Poison. Brett Michaels has been one of my favorite "bad boys" of rock for 4 decades.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I find it funny that my #1 genre of music is Southern Gospel and Country (old and some new). But the song I picked above is a 1980's rock band. I am a closet rock and roll addict and most people have no clue. LOL

Weekend Wrap Up

I had a fantastic weekend. It started off with me trying a new recipe. A Milky Way poke cake. Chocolate cake with holes poked in it, drizzeled with caramel syrup and chocolate syrup. Chocolate frosting with Cool Whip folded in. Chopped up Milky Ways and then drizzeled with more caramel and chocolate syrup. I took it to my friends house and it was just about all gone by bedtime. It was a big hit.

The next day, my friend and I went antique shopping. Imagine my excitement when I found a dish I had been looking for in the first place we went and for just $10. These are normally $20 - $29 when I find them.

In the same place I also found another dish I was wanting for also $10. Again it is normally in the $20's.

I found a pretty blue salt dip to add to my collection for just $4.00

We went to the next one of my favorite antique places. He had never been to that one and couldn't believe how much they could cram in some of the small spaces. You feel like you never see everything in that store. But my eyes sure picked out this cute little feller for my rooster collection. He was $5 which was a good price.

But my favorite find for the day was a rooster tea pot. I have been looking for one for awhile now and at $15 I snatched it up without thinking twice.

That night my son and his family took me out to eat for Mother's day. We went to the diner. I love eating there and always get breakfast for supper. Got to spend some good time with them all. Here's a pic of me and my first grandchild. He is 21 now and still one of my pride and joy.

The youngest grandchild usually doesn't try to smile for me but he can't help himself. Didn't notice till later that even though I got a smile, I didn't get the eyes open. I think he only smiled because my oldest granddaughter held his head. I love all my grandbabies but I wish they would quit growing up so fast.

And wonders of wonders, they really surprised me with my gift. If you have been reading my blog for long, you know that every so often I talk about the Arcopal France company version of Pyrex and how I want this particular pitcher. Well, they found me one. I went back on my blog and it was 11 years ago that I first posted how much I wanted one in this exact pattern and I finally got it. I was thrilled.

I got to see my daughter and her family over the weekend as well but didn't get to get any picture. But this is the shirt that they got me. I love the bold colors. I can't wait to find someplace to go to get to wear it.

Sunday was nothing but a day of rest. I really enjoyed just laying around the house all day and not doing much of anything. 

Happy Mother's Day

I love my mom. She is such a wonderful, loving mother who would do anything for her kids. We were blessed to have her home with all four of us. She never worked outside the home, but she sure worked hard to make our house a home. She washed on a wringer washer and hung clothes out on the line to dry until sometime after I got married. We had well water so she couldn't have a washer and it never entered her mind to get a dryer for years. She brought the clothes in off the line and sprinkled them, wrapped them in a tablecloth and put them in the fridge. The next morning she set up the ironing board and did her ironing while she watched TV. She fixed 3 meals a day and got up every morning at 5:30 to make Daddy homemade biscuits for his breakfast. Our varied depending on what we wanted. Sunday's after church were always big dinners. Usually fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. And there was always cake or pie for dessert.

She and I had a love books so we would set sometimes for hours reading. Other times we would play Scrabble, Rook or Yahtzee. Once I got my license, I would take her on Sunday drives. She loved getting out and enjoying the scenery. Sometimes my baby brother, Andy, went along. As I got older we would take my twins and do the Sunday drives. I love my mom and miss getting to see her because she lives in WV and is a nursing home now. She uses a walker and a wheelchair but for all intents and purposes her health is still fair, but dementia is starting with her. But she usually always knows who I am on the phone but gets a little confused. She will be 90 in one month from today. We are truly blessed to have her. The most wonderful think I love to tell about my Mom is when she got saved when I was 16, several women at my church were shocked. They said Mom was such a good woman and always took us to church that they assumed she was already a Christian. That is a glowing testimony to give about someone.

I also love being a mom. My kids have brought me great joy from the moment they wheeled me into the delivery room and the doctors first words were "Get another warmer nurse. I think we have twins." What a shock and what a blessing. I cried happy tears the whole time. They are my life and I don't know what I would do without them.

They are 42 now and I can depend on them for anything. All I have to do is called. I think they get a little aggravated with me sometimes because I have an independent streak so I don't always ask for help, but if I do they are there for me. I wouldn't trade being their mother for anything in the world.

My heart goes out today to the women and men who have already lost their Mom. To the women who have babies or children in heaven. I know this has to be bittersweet for them. But I do wish each and everyone of you a Happy Mother's Day.

Just a quick catch up....

If you wonder where I have been for the past week, I have been home and I have been busy. In the past two weeks, I have given each room in my house some type of overhaul. Some were as simple as a new tablecloth and some were as elaborate as and entire new theme of decorating. Starting Monday I will feature a room a day to show you what I've been doing. In between all that, I suffered a horrendous sinus infection that drained to my jaw and cause my whole bottom of my face and neck were swollen like mumps. But on my agenda today is to bake. I got my new mixer in yesterday.  

I am looking forward to using it today to see how it does.

And what am I going to make? 

I am taking a little break today and tomorrow so I will be back on Sunday to kick off the week and getting on schedule. 

Hodge Podge Wednesday

 Today I am joining From This Side of the Pond for Hodge Podge Wednesday

1. Question day this week lands on Cinco de Mayo. Are/were tacos on your Tuesday night menu? Hard shell, soft shell or just gimme all the tacos? Are you even a fan of Mexican food? Do you like your salsa mild, spicy, or somewhere in between? Margaritas-Frozen, on the rocks, or no thank you? Have you ever been to Mexico?

Yes, I had tacos. Soft shell, mild, with cheese. Not a big fan of Mexican but I am working on it. Just ran to Taco Bell for Cinco de Mayo this year. Closest I ever was to Mexico was on a Captain Anderson charter tour out of Panama City, FL. When we got to the turn around point he said we were 400 miles from Mexico. 

2. What's something you may do this month?

I may start getting back out and going walking everyday. I have been in so much that I gained 6 of my lost 15 pounds back. I'm not happy. Too much time on my hands to read. And when I read I like to snack. Thus the 6 pounds I gained back. 

3. Tell us what's happening in your state or town as far as restaurants/salons/parks/beaches/businesses opening up. How do you feel about it? Are you out and about or hunkered down? Do you wear a mask?

Some businesses are opening back up. Such as Hobby Lobby, Waffle House (with every other booth blocked), McKay's Book Store (limit how many people at a time and how many totes of books each person can trade in). Other than that, I haven't been checking or following anything. Right now, I'm still just doing my few things like the grocery, post office and Walmart. But this week I did make one Hobby Lobby and Lowe's run. I can't do a mask. I get claustrophobic and feel like I am suffocating. But I don't go down aisles other people are in and if possible, I carry my purchases and don't use a buggy. And I Clorox wipe and Germ X like a wild woman. When I get home, my shoes come off at the door and my clothes go straight in the washer. 

4. Mother nature, everybody and their mother, mom jeans, like mother like daughter, soccer mom, mother hen, mother lode, necessity is the mother of invention, stay-at-home mom...pick one and tell us how it applies to your life right now.

Like mother, like daughter. Since my kids are grown and married not many of the others applied to me. But while I have been forced to be a non-working woman right now, I have caught myself doing things my mom always did during her days...cleaning house first thing every morning, keeping the laundry caught up AND (this is a big one) I still get dressed most days. Not in my p.j.'s all day like I am sometimes on days off. 

5. April showers bring May flowers...what's blooming in your yard or garden today?

I just planted some flowers from Lowe's nursery yesterday (and let me tell you these hips and legs used muscles that are screaming at me today.) I have a new Boston fern, a peace lily, Gerber daisy, dahlia, day lily, maragolds, and rooster combs.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I am not sure when we will go back to work at the Stampede. It was going to be May 9th, then they rescheduled it until May 23rd. Now we are scheduled for June 5th. I miss my peeps from work and I love my job. But I sure am spending more time at home.