is my hippie showing?

When I spotted a little Boston Fern at the grocery store last weekend for $3.99 I knew I needed it for my favorite 1970's pot that sits in the middle of the living room table.

Then my son showed up to visit and he brought his mama sunflowers.  Yup... "Right on."

Later, my husband and I stopped at a tag sale and found this fabulous stereo console (with excellent sound) for just $20.00 and I knew I had stepped into a blissful time-warp.  When we were told that the box of albums was part of the deal and the one on top happened to be the John Denver (and just below that, Seals and Crofts) that I sang to in my adolescent years... deal cinched!

The painted trash can?  Picked it up at this adorable little weekend shop to hold our chicken feed (it will live in front of the chicken yard).  

The sun tea is on the porch and a summer breeze is blowing!  Tell me someone can relate?

Blessings, Debbie

quilted heart ornaments

A trip to the thrift in late summer turned up this quilt.  One of the things that really upsets me is how this particular store defaces merchandise by writing prices on everything with black marker.  They are convinced that everything they sell is treasure and people will either want to steal it or pull off stickers so they can lie about the price.  I've frequented this local shop for over a decade now and it's always been this way... the people that work there too, for the most part, treat customers like probable felons.  If it weren't for the fact that I turn up the occasional overlooked true treasure, I wouldn't grace them with my money. Hmmph.

This may not be a true treasure, but I was delighted to find this cutter quilt.  There is a bin where blankets of little value are tossed.  This was peeking out the top, properly defaced of course.  Seeing as I'm just using it for crafting, I'm o.k. with it.

So, I whipped out some ornaments tonight and used only a corner of the quilt!  Did I mention that I'm really enjoying the season?  I am.  I really am.


Joining Creative Friday
Blessings, Debbie  

2 bargains and a cake

I told you that I would share some of my purchases from this weekend.  Today I'm showing 2 of my yard sale finds. I love going to antique stores.  But, I don't love shopping at antique stores.  They are just where I do some of my research.  After I remind myself how expensive the things I love are, I have a better idea of what I'm looking for at yard sales, estate sales and thrift stores.

These .50 cent vintage bark cloth pillow covers, I like!  They will keep me cozy when I'm lazing in my tree swing.  They will be stuffed with 2 feather pillows that I will make from a brand new one purchased for $2.00. Had I bought something similar at the antique store it would have been the equivalent in cash to at least 2 days food for my family.  I just wouldn't do it.

This is the .50 cent apron that jumped into my hands at the first sale as we were leaving town.  Cute huh?

It's a good thing I grabbed it because this afternoon Audrey needed to protect her clothes when she decided to make and decorate a cake for prayer meeting.  I'll share more finds from the weekend later!

Blessings, Debbie    

the 'girlie' part of our day

A lovely resting spot in the middle of town.

Yesterday we did things that my husband enjoyed too.  I'm just sharing the best part because I think you'd rather see it. For the past 3 years Larry and I have spent our anniversary in a cute little town about 45 minutes from here. It's become a tourist destination since I first met it about 30 years ago.  It has an old west facade and is known for its antiques, fiber arts, and homemade ice cream.  Definitely a fine, fine town.

Every year, the second weekend in July this town becomes a mecca for quilters.  Literally thousands of people crowd the streets for a huge open air quilt show.  Last year that happened to be the weekend that we chose for our daughter's wedding.  Monte lived on the other side of the Cascade mountain range, therefore, so did a good many of our guests.  There are 2 routes to central Oregon, one being through the little town of Sisters.  Those who chose to come this way had a huge stress on their time.  It's a fabulous affair, so long as you are wanting to be a part of the festivities, not get through them!

The Stitchin' Post is where it all began.  I used to visit this store when it was in an old house in downtown Bend and I was 15, before it moved to Sisters.  I loved to go in and look at all of the beautiful fabrics and creative projects that were displayed among the antiques.  It was my earliest inspiration.

My sweet husband also really enjoys this trip.  The Stitchin' Post has guy stuff too.  Like the really cool hand forged door handle that he gets to use when he opens the door for me.  He loves that.  And then there is the manly trout bench out on the porch that he can sit on while he's waiting for me to finish inside.  He loves that too.

Yes we had a lovely time.  I'll be sure to share with you the purchases I made this fine day.  Some of it will pop up in my kitchen, and some will be jumping onto my wheel and my needles!  That's all I'm sayin... for now.

Blessings, Debbie

out to pasture

I get my frugal ways from my parents.  It's how I was raised.  There may have been times when I thought I was deprived.  I think every young person feels that way at some time, doesn't matter how much they are given.  But the older I got, the more I appreciated the waste not attitude I was raised with.  Now that I'm really old...

The less that we can survive on the better.  Clarice at Storybook Woods describes this attitude toward frugality so well that I'll just direct you there.  I'm curious about one thing.  Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?  Does frugality lead to creativity, or are the creative drawn to frugality...  I'm sure it's a bit of both.

So, dad and mom hit a yard sale last weekend and found a prize for me.  While I was putting it in the backyard today my dad called.  I thanked him (mom brought it over so I hadn't had a chance to let him know how much I loved it) and he proceeded to tell me that he had 'just' taken it home and made it stable.  He wasn't out any money.  "If it falls apart just throw it on the junk heap"... yea right!!

I got to thinking about how much I love old things that were used for a purpose.  I'm not big on fussy adornment.  I like things that are useful now or were useful and have been 'put out to pasture'.  Some of my favorites are pieces that show where they were mended with bailing wire or solder, extending their work life. So, thanks mom and dad.  This old workhorse has found its final resting place.  I'm not letting anyone sit on it and if it does start to fall apart, I'll mend it with baling wire and move it further out to pasture...

Blessings, Debbie

2 amigos hit the trail

This past Saturday was the home school used curriculum sale for central Oregon.  It's tradition that the 3 amigos take to the trail this day.  One of the amigos lives in the valley so she first begins her adventure the day previous.  It is imperative that she be here the night before, because as every bueno amigo knows you don't keep the rest waiting on this morning of mornings.  Sadly, the valley amigo had a last minute change of plans that left her in the awkward position of disappointing those this side of the mountain. Tradition has officially been broken!  It's a good thing that we are the forgiving sort or we may have had to send a bounty hunter...

Not to be discouraged the 2 remaining amigos (the ones who are true to tradition) gathered at 7:00 am, mocha and chai in hand, to forge forward with the standing plan.  On the 45 minute drive to the city we considered the world's problems, and laughed.  Not that we think that the world's problems are funny...

So, tradition states that the first thing we do is yard sale.       

doll $1.00, coloring book .25 cents immaculate woven rug $10.00

Polish pottery $5.00 ea.

big vintage children's picture books .25 cents each

large pint size sourdough crocks $1.00 each

On the 45 minute drive home we solved the world's problems, and laughed.  Because our solutions... they are funny.

*The curriculum sale wasn't as good as usual.  I did get the one thing on my list but it wasn't cute enough for   the photo.  ;)

**Khonda, you are forgiven...  But we may not be so generous if you pull this again!

joining The Thrifty Groove

Blessings, Debbie

angel vs. devil

Can you guess what we did this weekend?  You know you have too much stuff when it begins to ooze out of the cupboards and drawers and take over residency in your main living area.  Maybe some of you know way before that, but that's my criteria.  So the last many months I've known that I needed to do something before I got the dreaded telephone call informing me that I would be the next featured 'guest' on Hoarders.  

Anybody else out there wrestle with the whole good steward vs. just get it out of here issue?  One day I get the flush it bug.  I decide that our quality of life will improve vastly if I just make a trip to the local thrift store drop off.  As soon as I get to rounding everything up I get this little devil/angel thing going on my shoulders.

• angel/devil:  Good for you!  
• angel/devil:  What do you think you're doing?
• angel/devil:  This is good stewardship.
• angel/devil:  Is this good stewardship?
• angel/devil:  Life is going to be so much simpler if you just haul it off right now!
• angel/devil:  Shouldn't you recoup some cash for the household budget?

You may notice here that I didn't indicate who (devil or angel) says what.  If only I were sure, it would make everything simpler.  What do you think?  

You may think from these pictures that I decided the angel was pressing for the cash.  No, I just had a friend who needed to supplement her household budget after a surgery left her 6 weeks out of work.  She had lot's of stuff that never made it out of boxes after she moved last summer.  I had the better location so she showed up with helpers, and her yard sale morning survival kit.  Orange juice, muffins and mochas a la Mindi.  

The more I think about it, I guess I am leaning more toward the angel/sell it theory.  The sun was shining for the first time in a good while, people came in droves and Mindi successfully closed shop praising God for His provision.

Maybe the devil says sell it if it just keeps you from quickly handling what you should be handling.  And the angel says sell it if your cash will benefit someone else...  Again I ask, what do you think?

Blessings, Debbie

a matter of style

I went to the thrift store a couple of days ago.

Just thinking today about individual style.  I'm not talking about good verses bad taste, I'm just wondering about personal preference.  I visit homes where everything is flower-y and cottage-y and the woman of the home is wearing a flow-y, air-y skirt...

someone had cleaned out their vintage restaurant ware!

Then there is the 'Easterner' where everything is oriental and lacquer and the woman is wearing a long, straight, simple lined top with slim pants.

10 of these...10!

I remember when I was in high school and I drove my mom (the flowery type) to distraction leaving the house in overalls with my hair in french braids!  So, now I'm thinking that through the years I've tried other looks, both on me and on the house but the default was always country farm-girl.

you can't see the wooden chunky dp knitting needles but they are there
~all for under $10.00...

I suppose that's why my in town, double lot back yard has been cross-fenced for farm animals... ; )

Joining Like Mother Like Daughter for pretty, happy, funny, real

Blessings, Debbie