love2junk

Happy Independence Day ...

2011-07-04T16:48:00.005-05:00

...and do I still remember how to do this ? Roaming around blog land today, I suddenly realized that I started this blog on July 4th, 2007. It's been hit or miss lately...scratch that...11 months without a post is definitely a miss! I still read other blogs frequently, just couldn't seem to find the push I needed to start blogging again. I think the 4th anniversary is a pretty good push, yes? So, if I remember how to do this, I'll start with my one patriotic display, my flag. I always have had a flag flying on the front of my barn...for 15 years at least...replaced every year cause the Florida sun fades them to pink so quickly. Fast forward to 2010, when I started closing in the upstairs of my barn and one of the first things to be taken down was the flag, for it's own protection. The barn, like my blog, has been hit or miss depending on weather, finances and the health of my carpenters {2 very good old friends}. This morning I woke up and decided that the flag must fly again...so I hung myself out the window to get the flag back into it's bracket. I suppose it would have been easier to get the ladder, but this was before my morning coffee...too early for 8' ladders! This is the second floor of the barn, with the awesome Gothic windows I scored at a yard sale...$20 for all 3...needed many hours of scrapping, sanding and reglazing before they could be painted and installed. Totally worth it, right? After taking the flag picture, I cruised around and took more pictures of the other windows and doors that we have been repairing, painting and designing. The back wall has 2 of the huge windows that I curbshopped a couple years ago, an octagon that perfectly frames the sunset over the lake and a door that I think a Hobbit would love {both designed & built by my buddy Steve}. The window dormer on the side has 2 other custom built windows that have a view of the tops of the pine trees. It's like the best treehouse ever, and when we finally finish this project, it will be a loft room for my son Chris. The barn was built by my husband in 1996, and was slowly falling apart. I could not bear to see it fall, and neither could Steve. It has been a major project, costing much more $$ than I ever could have anticipated...new floor, replacing roof beams, bug lady spraying for powder post beetles...and the list goes on & on. But because Joe built this barn, it's worth every penny I've put into it...and more. His dream was to build a house on this little acre on the lake...we were unable to accomplish that, but we have Joe's barn. May it stand for many more years ...Have a safe & happy 4th...and I'll be back! *e*

Love 2 Junk...on ice?

2010-09-08T17:45:00.002-05:00

Cannot believe it's September already! It's also been way too long since I posted anything...and I still added 2 new followers any way! Amazing! Any way, I guess Love 2 is on ice for right now...or on the back burner...or any other place you put things that you just don't seem to have the time for at this moment. This summer has been so crazy...and so busy I cannot think straight most days! I have no fewer than 14 1/2 done, undone, can't seem to get 'em done projects going all at one time. Still have not finished painting the mobile home...too hot. Am working on barn restoration for a place for my son to sleep, and in the meantime, he's sleeping on the floor of my computer room. Severely cuts into my 'puter time! Have been junking & found some really good stuff, but can't seem to find the time to take pictures. Arrghhh...have I bitten off more than I can chew?!!? People keep telling me that staying busy is one of the best ways to get through the grieving process...but now I feel guilty that I have so many "UFO's" {unfinished objects} in every room of my house! Okay...alright...I know I'm whining...but I just need to let you all know that I'm still here. I miss talking to everyone & sincerely hope that I can get some of this stuff off my plate...soon. Oh, almost forgot...son Chris came home with a puppy...a very large puppy...that I flatly refused to love. Sadly, Pup had other ideas, and now I'm hooked...so add walking the dog, cleaning the porch floor of huge paw prints and mediating between the 3 cats who were here 1st and Pup...who just wants to play! So...my usual run on paragraph and no pictures {all still in the camera}...and I promise I will try harder to not be a no-show for 2 months running! Hope you are all doing well and maybe even feeling a teeny bit of fall?? I'll be back soon....honest...now where did I put that paintbrush?? *elaine*

How HOT is it???

2010-08-03T05:09:00.004-05:00

...'tis hot enough that a bolt of lightning comes from an almost clear blue sky...finds my spaghetti strand of ethernet cable that enters my modem...and goes straight into my computer & causes huge amounts of damage!! 2 1/2 weeks and 2 1/2 hundred $'s later, I have my pc back and she is so sleek, shiny and fast that I now call her my Bionic 'puter and my computer guy that fixed her is my "minor miracle worker"!! Loooong run on sentence, I know but I have been offline for soooo long I seem to have forgotten how to end a sentence! Anyway, the month of July somehow got past me and I'm not really sad to see it go. How hot is it??? Hot enough to dry the paint on my brush between the can & the house wall. Hot enough that the thermometer in my {black} Blazer read 116 degrees last Thursday. Hot enough that I leave the fan on for my cats, and when I come home, it looks like I have 3 cat skin rugs on my porch floor. Hot enough that the bolt of lightning really came from an almost clear blue sky and struck several yards from a tree that was struck 15 years ago, and is somehow still standing. Hot enough that the local Baptist church has a sign that declares "It's not hot as Hell yet"...I beg to differ...Okay, so enough of the "how hot is it", because I know I am not alone in this and most of the country is melting. HELLO...can we say global warming? What's that? Global warming is just a political buzzword to try to win an election?....wait. It's much to early to talk politics...I hear you. But we had snow in Florida in January & now our heat index is literally through the roof ....and I swear the sun looks closer this summer than I can ever remember. So this is a picture-less post because my camera is full of pictures of cool junk, pretty flower & sunrises and lots of other neat-o stuff....but I don't have time to get them out of there this morning...and deal with Picassa and other techie issues. Been so busy that I missed my 3rd Blog*A*Versary...which will be remedied ASAP...i just need to decide what I shall give away to my faithful readers...wait...I still have those, don't I? HEELLLLOOOO...followers? Where are you??? I've been trying to catch up on all you have been up to, but had to spend 2 computer nights deleting 340 unread e-mails...can you say "unsubscribe me, please?"...It's hard to catch up on a couple weeks, but I shall do my best. In the meantime, I'll be back soon with some great junk...while I try to figure out what needs to leave my house for my 3rd! Can't believe how much I have missed this thing we call blogging...stay as cool as you can, watch out for those bolts from the blue, and I will be back very soon. Happy Tuesday *elaine*

Bittersweet Father's Day

2010-06-22T17:57:00.006-05:00

So, this is the 1st Father's Day without Joe {have had 3 holidays without my husband and some of the most difficult yet to come} and I went to bed Saturday night feeling down. My oldest son Chris said he was feeling bad," cause he has no Dad". Youngest son Jason is unavailable, my father has been gone for almost 3 years, and I was getting myself into a real pity party. As I lay there trying to fall asleep, I decided to make Sunday Joe's day anyway. We have out favorite beach and when asked "So what do you want to do today?" Joe's answer would usually be "Go to the beach". Headed out at 6am, watching the sun rise along the way...what a picture perfect morning. Arrived at "our" spot at 7:15 and was walking on the almost deserted beach by 7:20. I don't know why I feel closer to the spirit of my husband while walking on the beach, but I just know that I do. Walked a ways, picking up shells & stones & only an occasional piece of beach glass. Wrote a note to Joe in the sand, walked a little more with my tears for company, and then I saw a single, solitary pelican out over the ocean. Joe was a nature guy from the day we met, and pelicans were always his favorite bird, next to eagles. Usually the brown pelicans travel in groups of 5...sometimes as many as 15...in a long line stretched out over the ocean. This guy was all by himself...just cruisin' along...not in a hurry to get anywhere...just like my Joe. Dried my tears and kept walking and feeling a tiny bit better. Walked close to 2 miles and by then I was starving, so headed into the teeny town for breakfast. Unfortunately, every one else in town got hungry at the same time...lines out the door...so I headed to our "favorite convenience store" for a Starbucks & a breakfast bar. Stopped at the local Home Depot on my way out of town, and bought a huge pot of Brown-eyed Susans which will be planted in Joe's favorite garden spot in our yard. So a day that started off pretty badly the night before, turned into a day of fond memories, and a further understanding of this path that I have been set upon. I did not chose this path, and given the chance I would step off in a heartbeat. I cannot step off...my job here is far from done. Have a wonderful week...hug your husbands, and never let your loved ones doubt how important & loved they are. *elaine* P.S. The MickeyD's billboard was spotted on my way to the beach...had to pull over and get a shot of that! {My Joe was only Joseph when he was in big trouble!!} P.S.S. My destination {previous post} 2 weeks ago was Virginia Beach..Paula guessed correctly. No prize, but thanks for reading my wanderings anyway! *e*

I'm Back!!...

2010-06-15T18:21:00.006-05:00

Although you didn't know I was gone! Decided telling the blogging world at large that I would not be home for 5 days was like good advertising gone bad :O}! Every year my boss, Carol and I go on a buying spree at a Fraternity/Sorority show called The Spirit Show. Each year it's held in a different city, and we usually try to go at least a day ahead so we can play tourist and have some fun. This year we had 5 glorious sun filled days in....no...you guess where I was. :O} We had a ball, ate way too much, walked on the beach, ordered like there is no recession {is that over yet?} and just had too much fun...nah...no such thing! As much as I enjoyed the trip, it's always good to come home...although on Sunday morning I was whining about having to go to the airport....I did not want to leave the ocean! Told my boss I'm going to be a beach bum when I grow up...she just smiled and said "I'm not going to support you"... darn...another dream shot full'o holes! Hope you all have a great week...staying cool? We had a heat index of 107 yesterday!!! And it's only the middle of June...bye bye low electric bill :O{ *elaine* So.....where was I? Any guesses?

I won another giveaway!!!

2010-06-06T18:38:00.010-05:00

Okay...so I think the storm clouds have passed and I can finally go online and show you my prize. Last week sometime, Deb a.k.a. Garage Sale Gal had a giveaway for her 300th...um, follower?...post? Damn CRS syndrom... I can't remember, but it was her 300th something! Anyway...Deb picked not 1, but 2 names, and MissElaineous me was one of them! So, I came home from work last night, in a not so good, very bad, terrible, horrible mood...with storm clouds & lightning chasing me all the way and didn't even stop at the mailbox. Got home and realized the rain had gone elsewhere, so I took a quick walk...still in a not great mood. Popped the box open, and these rays of sunshine just seemed to beam at me from the dim interior of the mailbox...a sunny yellow priority box just for moi...already my mood was improving.....I hurried home to open the package...and I've got to tell you...My bad mood evaporated like rain on the hot summer sidewalk!! This little box was filled to the brim with some of the sweetest little things ever! And, boy,was it filled...Deb sure knows how to pack a box of goodies. Sweet little card, sweet note and I just love the polka dot tissue...I seem to have developed a fondness for polka dots recently. :O} ...and under the tissue were bingo cards, and note cards, napkins, a gorgeous towel with huck weaving, tiny little parasols, buttons and other goodies galore! There's even a teeny little bag of glitter dusted shells. One of the last things in the box was the sweet little bluebird pair all snuggled up, beak to beak, wrapped in a pretty hankie. I had one very similar to this and sadly dropped it while dusting a couple months ago...it did not survive. This little pair now has a new home on a shelf with very special things on it, that I see every day. Thank you, Garage Sale Gal, for the thoughtful, happy package. I'm not in a bad mood any more! Have a great week, all. *elaine*

Weeds?

2010-05-25T19:31:00.004-05:00

Weeds are simply wildflowers...growing in the wrong place.

I have been 2 busy!!

2010-05-23T15:26:00.005-05:00

I know I have not posted in forever, but the entire month of May has been a blur. A tornado of activity, the likes of which I haven't seen in a long time! I really have to start at the beginning, when a sweet little "wicker" settee followed me home from the Habitat Bargain Barn at the end of April. Of course, it had no cushions, so a quick stop at Lowe's remedied that problem. Got it on the porch, and of course, the new cushions made the old cushions on the 2 green iron chairs look so bad...you know what's next, right? Back to Lowe's for new seats for them. Got them on the porch and all colorful new stuff made the rest of the porch look horrible!! Now, I've been wanting to redo this porch for awhile, but the sheer amount of stuff out there was daunting to say the least. Then one night my friend Steph was over, and after admiring a rearrangement of the living room, she informed me, as only a true friend will do, that the porch looked like crap! Thanks Steph...love ya too! But....she was right. So began the whirlwind month of May...cleaning, moving stuff, stuff & more stuff... cleaning some more, and finally painting! I live in a very old single wide mobile home, so I decided that I would paint the entire thing by hand, with a brush...a 3" brush, no less! I thought I would use this as" therapy"...there's something almost mindless about painting a sea of aluminum with a 3" brush. So I'm in "therapy"...and have been on every day off, cool mornings when I don't have to open the shop, some evenings when I get off work, and sometimes even in my sleep! So, it's cheaper than a shrink, or a grief counselor, and I do feel a real sense of achievement when I look at the house, but I have found and used muscles that have been ignored for far too long and are letting me know it! Now, the end of May is almost here, and all the "fun" parts of the house are painted. I'm am now facing a 60' x 8' expanse of ugly old aluminum, broken up by a shed, 1 door and 3 windows...arrggh!!! That's a whole lot o' brush strokes. Hey, maybe I'll have muscles in my arms after all this, instead of that weird thing I call the Granny Flap! Hmm...that shrink's couch is starting to sound better and better. Just kidding...I find that I feel much better when I am busy right now, and now I have the added benefit of my neighbors yelling "WOW!" at me as they walk by my house! Not bad for a 3" brush!! Boy, this post is really wordy...so I'll pop in some more pictures, and let them do the talking. My arms are getting tired...again!! Have a great week *elaine* ps...please ignore any weird, jarring elements in these photos if you look at them enlarged. The bottom of the mobile will be skirted, as soon as I can figure out a way to do it without taking out a second mortgage...oh and excuse the morning's gardening socks in 1 picture...what's that? You didn't see that? Okay...never mind. :o}

I Love Surprises!!!

2010-04-19T18:54:00.004-05:00

Heading home from work this evening, in the rain, searching for my mailbox key and thinking that it would be really nice to find something fun in my mailbox...instead of the usual bills & junk mail. Opened the box, and there was the key for the parcel box...hmmm...opened that box & inside was a surprise from one of my favorite blogging buddies, Shara @ Monkeybox. It seems that Shara hosted an egg swap at Easter, and there were some goodies left over, so she decided to send me a box of sweet Easter fabulosity! {I love that word, even if it does get underlined every time I use it!} This box was filled to the brim with some of the prettiest Easter eggs & tags & other cool stuff, all made with love by some of my other favorite bloggers! In her card Shara says "I'm told that eggs symbolize a new stage in life and new beginnings. I hope this brings you a smile if only for a second." A second?? I opened this box 2 hours ago and I'm still smiling. Thank you so much to Shara...and to all the other bloggers who added a smile to my day... Laurie, Sarah, Heidi, Jane & Wendy, Rebecca, Courtney, Sumee, Lisa, Gail & Debra...Some of you are already on my Morning Coffee Blog reading list, but those who are not on there will be soon. Thank you all for making my day...can hardly wait till next spring. You know now I'll have to put up a little Easter tree...check out all these goodies!! I love them all! Have a great week. *elaine* ps just realized this is my 1st blog post in over a month...didn't feel I had much to say so I've just been reading...Thanks Shara, for the extra little push I needed. *e*

Until we meet again...

2010-03-15T06:27:00.000-05:00

On Friday March 12, we held the memorial service for Joe. We awoke that morning to rain & gray skies that showed no promise of breaking. Perhaps just as well, as I never want to resent the sun for shining when my heart is heavy. It was a beautiful memorial, with family & many friends. Joe's mother, 2 brothers & sister were with me...and although Joe had been estranged from his family for too many years, I felt nothing but love from them all. I feel I was given an opportunity to mend some old hurts & to move on. I hope that I can continue to mend these relationships. If I have learned anything from this tragedy, it is that life is too short & too precious to waste. Your life can change in the blink of an eye, and I do not want to reach the end of my life mourning what could have been. I want to embrace & celebrate what was, and will be. *elaine*

A New Week & Thank You....

2010-03-07T05:57:00.003-05:00

I can hardly believe that a week has passed since I wrote about the death of my sweet Joe. Even harder to believe that I have been a widow for a week. I have spent the last 7 days in fog...I do what I must...but it feels like I am being guided by remote control. This day begins a new week, one in which I will say good bye to my Joe, and try to begin to fully grasp what has happened, and to try to get some kind of order back into my days, and not feel like I am swimming in molasses. I need to take this moment to say Thank You so very much to all who have stopped by my blog and left the most amazing comments. Your heartfelt prayers, sympathy and love have been incredible! I cannot thank you enough. When people tell me blogging is silly...or a way to escape the real world...or any other number of odd comments I have gotten from people when I say I have a blog...they really don't get it. Without this blog, I would never have had the chance to meet all of you. My days have been enriched by reading your words, and that will continue. Thank You, all! *elaine*

As soon as my heart stops breaking...

2010-02-28T05:35:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, February 27, 2010 I lost the love of my life...Joe, my husband of 35 years. On Friday February 19th, Joe was in a very bad auto accident. He was air lifted from the site of the crash to the hospital...Trauma ICU...in critical condition. Despite the very best care given at the hospital, and prayers from all we know and love, Joe lost his battle, never regaining consciousness, at 2pm Saturday afternoon. Any other words are beyond my grasp at this moment in time...and I feel that my heart will never be whole again. Rest In Peace, my love. *e*

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T17:33:00.004-05:00

Just a quick post to say Happy New Year to you all. Sorry my blogging has been nonexistent through December...been a rough month...but I'm ready to move on. Out with the old, and in with the new, and all the changes I hope this new year will bring. Found these vintage postcards stashed away...{note to self....stop hiding these goodies !}...so enjoy the sentiments & sweet art work from a much simpler time. Happy New Year! *elaine* ps...can anyone tell me why Blogger is underlining all my words, and giving me a hard time in general? I had 3 postcards to share & one of them just ...POOF...dissapeared! Heaven only knows where THAT one ended up! :o} *e*

2009-12-25T17:45:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!! See you in 2010!! *elaine*

Seven Days of Thankful....Day 7

2009-11-29T06:21:00.002-05:00

Okay folks....do I blame my total loss of memory on too much turkey?....that I turned 55 last Tuesday?...a senior moment????? I totally, completely forgot Day 7 of my seven days of thankful...where is my brain?!!!??? I'll make this short, sweet, and to the point. Sunday, November 29th, I am thankful for all of you! Yes, you!! For all of the funny, creative wonderful people I have met in my 2 years of blogging...Thank you all for being you! When I started this blog, I had no idea what or why I was doing...turns out that wasn't really very important. I have 50 followers and others who read my ramblings and take time out of their busy lives to leave comments, and that still amazes me! When I'm feeling down or out of sorts or just stressed, I can read what you all are doing, and it turns my day around. So thank you all!! Keep on blogging...you really do make a difference! Have a Happy Sunday, and bring on Christmas...it's coming...ready or not!!! *elaine*

Seven Days of Thankful...Day 6

2009-11-26T17:12:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all....Today, November 26th...I am Thankful...just Thankful. Hope you all had a wonderful day with family & friends. *elaine*

Seven Days of Thankful...Day 5

2009-11-25T07:09:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, November 25th. My seven days of Thankful would not be complete without a post for my 2 sons. These photos were taken in better, happier times...both sons are going through very difficult things right now. I miss the smiles on both of their faces and would give just about anything to see these smiles again. I can never give up the hope that they will both have better lives ahead...the joy & love they brought to my husband & I can never be replaced nor forgotten. I just have to pray that Chris will get better and that Jason will someday be able to live a full productive life...I pray for this every day. So...I am thankful for my 2 sons..I love you still and always will...*elaine*

Seven Days of Thankful...Day 4

2009-11-24T06:46:00.000-05:00

Tuesday...November 24th....it's my birthday!! Today I am thankful for my parents, Amy & Arthur, for bringing me into this world 55 years ago! I was born on Thanksgiving eve, so this holiday has always been special to me. Some years my birthday falls on Thanksgiving, and when I was younger I thought it was a holiday just for me! My Mom would always wait until 6:21 pm to wish me a Happy Birthday, and after moving out on my own, I never felt I had turned that new age until I got her call. Hard to believe that 55 years have passed, both of my parents are no longer with us...but I feel so thankful today for the life & the love that they gave me. Thank you, Mom & Dad. I'll miss my 6:21 phone call....*elaine*

Seven Days of Thankful...Day 3

2009-11-23T05:33:00.000-05:00

Monday, November 23rd...I am so thankful for my home. At a time when so many families have lost their homes, I feel so fortunate & blessed to have our little place on the lake. When we purchased this small piece of Florida sand 18 years ago, that was all it was. Sand & trees, no power or water...and this was during the recession of 1991. We bought a small camper that we lived in for 4 months, and finally found a single wide mobile home that we could afford. It's like the shoemaker's children being barefoot, as Joe is a carpenter, and we still have not given up the dream of building a small home on this land. In the meantime, it's a snug little home, has survived 4 hurricanes & a tornado, and several years ago we were able to pay off the mortgage, so it's truely ours. So...be it ever so humble, it is home, and when I pull in the driveway, I still feel that moment of peace that I am home...and that is a wonderful feeling. *elaine*

Seven Days of Thankful...Day 2

2009-11-22T13:42:00.006-05:00

Sunday...November 22nd...I am thankful for my husband, Joe. We met in 1972, the fall after graduation, and I was not quite 17! Okay...that just made me feel really old! After 2 years together, we were married in 1974 and are still together after 35 years. We have had our ups & downs, good times & bad and there are times that we wonder how we made it this far! Love is a crazy thing, and that is one thing that still keeps us together. He is my best friend, plain & simple. He's there for me no matter what and understands me when I don't even understand myself. I love you, Joe! Thanks for being you. *elaine*

Seven Days of Thankful...

2009-11-21T10:35:00.008-05:00

I have been missing blogging, and I think the best way to come back is to do seven days of Thankful. When life is hard, I tend to forget some of the important people and things in my life that I need to be thankful for. So, starting today...Saturday November 21...my sweet beautiful granddaughter's 3rd birthday. Hard to believe that 3 years ago today, we welcomed this perfect little girl into out hearts & lives. In the picture above, Alexandria Lynn is only 15 minutes old, and I was able to hold her, and give her the first of many Gramma kisses. In 3 short years, this child has brought so much joy into our lives. I have so much fun when she visits...we have sleepovers...& French toast for breakfast...& play until we are too tired to play any more! When this little girl wraps her arms around my neck, and whispers "I wuv you, Gwamma"...my heart fills with a love that I have never felt before. So, today I am thankful for you, sweet Ali. Happy 3rd Bithday! *elaine*

Bloggin' Break...

2009-11-04T05:35:00.003-05:00

Hello blog friends...sorry I have not been here lately. The last 2 weeks have been a disaster...my son got sick & spent 2 1/2 days in ICU...reaction to a new medication. While trying to research why this happened, my computer crashed...Hard!..so I was a few days without while my friendly fixit guy fixed it. So, son is home & feeling much better...computer's up & running, but I am so tired...just need to take a break for a little while. I'm still reading your blogs...it gives my mind a different direction after a tough day. Fall's here, and the change of seasons usually gives me a whole new burst of energy...I can really use that this year. Keep us in your thoughts & prayers...and I will be back soon. *elaine* Red & Purple blooms by the porch...first day of November!

HALLOWEEN...finally!

2009-10-22T16:49:00.003-05:00

Halloween finally arrived at our house last week. I got a major motivational kick when I discovered this odd plaid fabric while searching for yard sale stuff. Whipped up a quick valance for the kitchen, zigzagged on some vintage velvet ribbon, and hung BOO in my old brass stencils from a torn strip of black fabric. Then I wandered the house picking up a black cat here & there...added some silk fall leaves & a cute white & orange stripey pumpkin...and Voila! The day after my yard sale, I discovered another hour or 2 of energy, and dragged all the pottery pumpkins & other paraphernalia down from the barn. I've had the spider web for like 5 years...$2 from Big Lots, and this year had to make repairs to keep it going for one more year. Added some tree moss and a couple of fat spiders, and the front was done.
Moved onto the porch where I found homes for my assortment of pottery pumpkins. The collection has gotten rather large, but I figure since I don't carve a real one anymore, I can bring home cool ones I see them. I put candles inside of all of them, except for the teeny ones, and sit out on the porch to hand out goodies to the little monsters.
Of course, the porch had to be swept and "dusted" as I went along, so it took a little longer than usual. Was going to put up lights today, but had too many errands, chores and people stopping by to say "hi", so the lights didn't get done. Have to work 10 to 9 tomorrow, so I don't think the lights are gonna happen. Oh well... there' always next year.
Had one accident while bringing stuff down stairs...my old scarecrow leaped out of my arms, and over the railing, and promptly fell apart. I think he had just had it. When I pulled him from his box, I was wondering how many glue sticks it was going to take to put him together this year...after the accident...or was it intentional?.... I decided to retire him for good. So, I think I'm ready enough for Halloween...just need to stock up on candy...candy...candy!! Been clipping coupons for the past couple of weeks...maybe it will only cost an arm for all those goodies this years. Even though my sons are grown, I don't like to disappoint the munchkins in the neighborhood. Had some other things I wanted to blog about, but as usual, I've rambled on & on. I received a neat blog award from Betty @ Blossoms and Lace, and I need to pass it on....maybe Saturday? I'll be back! happy Thursday *elaine*

SALE'S over...Whew!!!

2009-10-18T19:20:00.004-05:00

Sooo...at "O Dark-thirty" Saturday morning Steph & I are at my boss's house dragging a ton of junk out into the driveway. We had set up the tables & other inside stuff Tuesday & Wednesday nights after work, but we still utilized most of Carol's 2 car drive as well as most of the garage! When did garage sales become so much work?? I used to decide on a Thursday to have a sale on Friday AND Saturday, and still have enough energy to chase 2 little boys around, and maybe even still be awake @ 7:30...the little boys are all grown up, the sale was only Saturday and I was asleep by 7:00 Saturday night, on the couch, probably snoring!! :o} Would you LOOK at all this stuff?!? Does it reproduce on it's own in the dark shed? Or does it need the sunlight upstairs in the barn to accomplish this?? All I know for sure is I have way too much stuff...even after the sale! Have a huge pile of boxes slated to go to my favorite thrift, the BS...Hey Jim...can you arrange a pickup for me? Still have a small pile in Carol's garage, another in Steph's husband's van and I spent most of today reorganizing & filling another box for the BS. Thankfully, business was brisk and we sold a ton of stuff. A lot of the large items went fairly early...outgrown used twice baby stroller...car seat { did my kids grow this fast?} and more stuff that I will never think of again! Farewell...parting is such a relief! :o}
Also, to our advantage, there were quite a few sales in the same area, and I know we got a lot of our buyers in clumps from those sales. We had NO early birds, cause they were all too busy early birdin' the other sales. There was an Estate Sale, a couple of miles down the street, that sounded SOOOO good Steph & I actually thought about leaving ours & going to theirs...just for a moment...just a brief thought, I swear!
More views of more junk...cannot believe Calvin, the handmade pig on the front table did not sell. He sold for $50 @ a craft show, and while I didn't pay that much, I paid more than the $10 I priced him at. I collected pigs at one time, gave 'em up...but Calvin, after being handled by everyone at the sale, came home with me.
I covered my motley collection of card tables with some of the less desirable vintage table clothes. These tables have been in my barn for years, but the humidity this year really took it's toll on all metal parts....squeeeekkkk!!!
So, all in all, the sale was a great success! Will head to the bank tomorrow to deposit a nice little bankroll that I didn't have Saturday morning. Even nicer is being able to see inside the shed AND walk straight to the washer w/o climbing over a teetering pile of boxes! Spent another hour or so in there this morning, and discovered the makings for at least 5 projects that had been buried by the sale fodder collecting frenzy! Now of course, it's only 2 weeks or less till Halloween, and all that stuff is in more blue plastic totes...up in the barn...don't know how many trips these knees can make up those stairs, but I gotta get the punkins down...and the black cats...and all the other goodies still up there. I need an elevator! Did you hear that, Joe?? No more barns with upSTAIRS...okay? :o} Gotta run...time for Gray's Anatomy...my one prime time soap-y show....oh wait that was on Thursday?....missed that...how about Desperate Housewives?....oh wait that makes 2 prime time soap-y shows... that's okay Joe's asleep in his chair "watching" the football game...I'll just tippy toe out there, and sneak that remote right out of his hand! Hope you all had a great weekend, and found lots of good junk! I'll be back in a couple of days with the punkins from the barn. till then happy Sunday night *elaine*

Reasons Why...

2009-10-09T19:41:00.004-05:00

...I haven't had time to blog for over a week. Alexandria & Gramma had lots of gardening to do...

Then we extended our sleep-over weekend to Monday to include a trip to the beach....

Then I had to switch over all my junk to my awesome new purse I won from B's Purses last week...

Then I had to figure out how to get to the washing machine with all the yard sale stuff in the shed that is stacked to the roof...

Then I had to water all the poor plants that were drooping all over my yard, because someone has not told the state of Florida that it's October for crying out loud and it should not be 95 in October...

Of course, in the middle of all that, we had one of our busiest weeks at work...the homecoming parade was today {forgot the camera} , cleaned the house, did laundry, went grocery shopping and all the other stuff that filled my week so full I am not sure where the whole week has gone!! Tomorrow is Saturday, gotta work one more day, then on Sunday try to get all the stuff ready to move to my boss's house for my yard sale next Saturday. Whew...I'm tired just thinking about it!! Hope you all had a good week and found lots of good junk. I have a couple of sales to check out in the morning...oh, wait, am I not supposed to go yard sale-ing if I'm having a sale? Oh well, a couple sound too good to pass up...just don't tell my husband!! :o} *elaine*

*RanDom...rAmbLiINgs

2009-10-01T19:31:00.003-05:00

FALL!!! It says so on the calendar, and if you look...really carefully...at the top left of my maple tree, you'll see a teeny patch of leaves just starting to turn. Joe & I planted this tree 16 years ago, when it was just a little twig, and now it is a huge, beautiful double trunk tree that drops a TON of red & orange leaves. The one true sign of fall in Central Florida...that, and the fact that I actually have the window by my computer desk open...for the 1st time since April. AAAhhh...my electric meter is breathing a sigh if relief. See...they're really red and gold...

A lonely red leaf caught on the trunk....

This has been a busy week...a good week...but busy. I have been accused by a follower of being a "bad blogger" for not posting anything new for over a week..:o}...we have been so busy at work, and I am NOT complaining, I have a good job AND we're busy. I just come home at night and want to take a nap! Definitely cuts into blogging time!! I'm reading, I'm just not writing! I have a 3 day weekend coming up...1 day to go...and I can go pick up my sweet Ali for the weekend. She loves sleepovers at "Gwamma & Gwammpa's" and so do we...so that's Sat & Sun. Monday it's off to the beach for some well deserved beach combing and soaking up a little more sun...can hardly wait!!

Things that have happened this week to make it a GOOD week? On Sunday, I was given the Honest Scrap award by Gail at My Repurposed Life, and I have been too tired to pass it on! As far as I can see, every blogger on my morning coffee blog list deserves this award! Thank You Gail! On Monday, I found out that I had won the grand prize in a blog giveaway! I found a neat blog, and can't really remember how I found this blog...but this lady named Beth was having a giveaway to launch her new business of selling B's Bags. I had never heard of them, but the pics were cool, so I entered. I WON an awesome prize, and was told to look for it UPS next week! Thank You Beth!!

As if all this neat stuff was not enough, I read that 3 of my blog giveback winners had received their packages, and were very happy with their prizes. Debbie, @ Talkin Trash is still missing from that list. Has anyone talked to her? I know she did a big show, and is probably still recovering, but Miss Priss the Fish is all ready to head to Texas, and I need an address! Debbie!!! Where are You??? So, once again, I have rambled on...and on...etc. and haven't shown one piece of junk! I have found good junk, but getting ready for our sale on October 17, I have been hiding the new good stuff away, so it doesn't end up with a price tag in a box!! I had to dismantle my cool junk window & do a football/homecoming window for the 10th...all THAT junk is in the back of my truck...and needs a home...pronto, cause there are more sales tomorrow, and my usual stop @ the BS for my Friday dose of cool junk and "her assment" {b.clinton} from the proprietor...:o} Goodnight folks...I'm going to post this w/o proof-reading...and I'm afraid to see how long this post has become! Have a great weekend, finds lots of cool stuff...and enjoy the start of FALL!!!! *elaine*

Mossy Monday on a Thursday Night...

2009-09-24T18:58:00.004-05:00

Or...A rolling cat gathers no moss. This is my last "Mossy" post for this year. Autumn is approaching, and the moss is fading, soon to be replaced with other sights that make this part of Florida a pretty neat place to be in the fall. I thought I'd take the time to introduce you to my 3 feline rescue kittys that share my mossy garden with me. This is Snowball, our newest addition. The name fits, although she is a "Firepoint" with lots of soft orange markings. She was also a feral baby, born in the woods, and for the first few tentative approaches, we thought she had a snowball's chance of survival. She has now been with us for 5 months, has been spayed...quick! before she multiplies!...and has decided that she {almost} likes me.
This is Queen, momma of Snowball, abandoned and twice pregnant before the age of 1. She has the most beautiful blue eyes,which she passed on to her kitten, set into an Asian face that may never be called beautiful. Also spayed now...double quick!!...she has decided that Joe & Elaine's is not such a bad place to live. She has many additions to her Queen title...Queenie Beanie on good days, and when she's feeling grumpy , the Queen Bi*#*. She can be very mean to both her daughter, and her "kitty daddy"....

FattButt. This is Snowball's daddy, and was actually the first abandoned guy to claim squatter's rights at our house. He brought a brother with him, who moved on quickly, but FattButt has remained, and he is almost my favorite. He is now neutered, and has a tatoo on his left ear to mark that fact. My cat has a tat! The mossy yard is his domain, as well as the roof of my black Blazer, which sheds white and orange fur as I drive down my driveway! He is the most affectionate of the 3, and I think has finally forgiven me for the horrible ride in a cage, in my truck, and the leaving of some extra parts at the vet's office! He is now in excellent health & weighs almost 12 pounds...hence the name FattButt. :o}

So, Ill leave you here with my last 2 mossy pictures. Above is the base of the trunk of my favorite magnolia tree, with the moss, of course on the north side. And below is one more piece of antique paver, saved from our streetscape, that has been completely frosted with my favorite velvety moss. Hope you've enjoyed the pics, and tolerated my ramblings...I cannot seem to do a short post for anything!!

Enjoy the Greenery! *elaine*

And the 4 winners are.....

2009-09-20T17:28:00.006-05:00

My husband, Joe, agreed to be my name picker...although he still can't quite figure out why I'm doing what I'm doing most of the time! I think I almost explained it to him, so he said "Sure, I'll pick 'em" He didn't know I would take a picture of each draw, but his smile says it all. He gets me, you know? And the winners are...drumroll... please! :o}

PRIM goes to Vintage Sue @ http://junkinlady.blogspot.com/

FISH goes to Debbie @ http://talkingwhitetrash.blogspot.com/

FOWL goes to Laurie @ http://magpieethel.typepad.com/

and last, but not least...{I had the most picks for this}...PROPER goes to Cherry aka Kudzu Kween @ http://kudzukween.blogspot.com/

Congratulations to all my winners!! This has been a fun week, reading all your comments, and meeting up with new followers. I'll be popping over to the winners blogs to tell them in person, but I just want to say Thank You to everyone who took the time to read & comment, and all the really nice 100th post congrats & compliments. THIS is why I blog!! You gals are great...can hardly wait till my 200th!!!!! Hugs!! MissElaineous Trouble aka *elaine*

Getting ready to pick 4 winners...

2009-09-20T17:04:00.004-05:00

So...this is where we spent Sunday morning. My favorite beach, at high tide, with the waves crashing on the shore. Lots of seaweed, but still my best place to spend a Sunday morning!But...last night, before going to sleep, I spent some time getting together all the comments for the giveback. Had 4 containers, which were labeled, one for each giveback...
Couldn't quite figure out how to get all these names together. Finally decided to print out all the comments...12 pages{!!}...and cut them apart, fold them up, and put them in their respective containers. Took a little while to accomplish this, but it was fun reading all the comments again. I know there is a much more "scientific" way to do this, but, hey, it worked. Finished this, got our stuff together for the beach, and toddled off to bed.

Now, I had planned to put all of this together on one blog post...but for some reason Blogger will only let me do 5 pics at a time. Darn Blogger!! So, I'm doing this in 2 installments. We're home from the beach, had an early dinner and picked my 4 winners right after I finished the dishes. I'll be back in a few minutes with my 4 lucky winners. Can you stand the suspense??!! :o} *elaine*

GIVEBACK's ending...

2009-09-19T07:10:00.004-05:00

"My Beach"
Toot...toot...giveback giveaway train is leaving the station! Alll Aa-Booard! No tickets required, but you only have till midnight tonight to leave a comment. "After midnight, we gonna let it all hang'...oops... wrong song! "My bags are packed, I'm ready to"...oops that's leavin on a jet plane. I do not move that fast on a Saturday morning. So go look at the previous post!! Whatever...sales are calling me...gotta run...see you...4 of you any way...sometime on Sunday. Hubby & I are off to the beach...serious high tide, and we may only have enough beach to stick our toes in the water, our "a*#es" in the sand...have you heard that song by the Zach Brown Band? {Too funny} ....but I need some R&R that only "my beach" can give. See ya Sunday *elaine*

GIVEBACK!!!

2009-09-14T19:09:00.003-05:00

And now....the moment we have all been waiting for!! Misselaineous Junk's 100th post!!! It only took me 2 years to get here :o} !!! When I started this blog, I had no idea why I was even doing it, let alone not knowing what on earth I would blog about. In this 2 years, I have met some of the coolest people ever! They blog about junk & family...good days & bad times...funny stuff & sad events...oh, and more junk! I have acquired 34 followers {!} and this blog giveback's for you. Below, you will find 4 very distinctive & unique "packages". Each has a theme and a name, and to put your name in the hat for that giveback, all you need to do is be a Love2Junk follower, and leave me a comment telling me which giveback you would like to win. Simple, yes? The commenting closes at 12:00 pm Saturday night, and with my husband's help, on Sunday we will choose one winner for each of the 4 giveback's. Oh....if you just happened to stumble upon Love2Junk, add your name to my follower list & leave me a comment!! And...just to keep things really interesting...I'm preparing for a yard sale in October, and between now and Saturday night, I will add other goodies to each package, as I unearth them in search of yard sale fodder. Sound good? Ready? Check 'em out! PRIM... for the primitive lovers among us.
PROPER...for those with a love for the softer side.

FISH...Miss Priss, the chalkware fish & a few of her special shells.

and last, but not least, FOWL...a sweet quackin' assortment of ducks & birds all in one nest.
So there they are! Prim & Proper...Fish or Fowl Choose your fav, leave a comment, and we'll pick 4 winners on Sunday September 20th. Oh, Mossy Monday will return next week on it's regular day...2 more M.M. 's to go! Have a great week, y'all! *elaine*

September 11, 2001 - September 11, 2009

2009-09-11T06:01:00.002-05:00

No Words...Only Sadness...Never Forget.

Fun Funky Finds for Friday

2009-09-10T21:27:00.002-05:00

This has been a week for interesting finds...I didn't find them on Friday, but I missed my Wednesday Wanderings post, hence the new name for this later post. The week has been busy beyond busy, so I'm posting this on Thursday night, instead of Friday. Confused? So am I !!! This was my first find of the week...last Sunday when I was supposed to be grocery shopping, I decided to pop into Lowe's...for just a minute and one quick pickup of tile grout. I always park at the garden center end, just because...:o}...and as I parked, I noticed a big rolling cart filled with these gorgeous Bouganvilla. When I got closer, I realized they were priced @ 2 for $10.00!!! Normally a beauty like this is $25.00! In the middle of the bottom shelf, I spied this HUGE 2 color one that was screaming my name! Had to have it, and as I loaded it into the cart, I thought maybe my friend Steph would like one also. Quick phone call, and I was searching for another one for Steph. Didn't find another 2 color, and no others were this big, but still found her a really nice one. Of course, I decided I needed more potting soil so I could repot this in a huge empty clay pot that was waiting at home....so $44 & change later, I was finally out of Lowe's and on my way to Publix. Needed just a "few" things...so $147 & change later I was finally on my way home...
On Tuesday morning, I discovered the Granddaddy of all fungi growing under the bench in my side yard. Was trying to figure out how to show how ginormous it is, and decided that my "delicate" size 9 Croc would be the perfect scale! ps...the Croc's were another funky find at my favorite thrift shop..$2, never worn, and they came from Disney, complete with "MickeyMinnie" buttons that I had to remove. These retail for $50 @ "MickeyMinnie" world, so that was another good score.

Now, this little stool was truly a find! Was heading into town on Wednesday, driving over the draw bridge that crosses the river, when I suddenly spied, on the very end of the bridge, this cool old stool laying on it's side. By the time I register what it is, I'm past the easy u-turn road...so I drive on to the next one, turn around and drive back to the bridge where I carefully pull over, jump out of my truck, toss the stool in the back and casually drive away while the bridge tender looks at me like I am insane!! Little does he know!!! :o}

Just look at this adorable stool! Worth risking life & limb to rescue? Definitely!! I think if you click on the first pic, you can see the wonderful layers of paint & great chippy finish. It has one cracked rung, possibly from it's leap out of someone's vehicle, but a little Gorilla glue ought to fix that right up.

Last, but not least....someone...can't remember who...had a post about the Martha Stewart goodies that were appearing at Big Lots. I liked her stuff well enough when it debuted @ Michael's, but thought the prices were a bit much. Now they're $2 each or less. Plus they had recently added a ton of scrapbooking stuff, so $24 & change later, I was finally on my way to work...with maybe, almost ,enough $$ for lunch. Now that I'm thinking about this, I think it was Shara @ Monkeybox who passed on this tip...so Thanks, Shara, even if I did spend too much!! Oh, and where are the coconut M & M's???? I have searched high & low, can't find 'em, and now I'm craving something I have never even tasted! Argghhh!! So, I guess that's it for the finds for now. I'm one post closer to 100, and am still "home shopping" and looking for the rest of the perfect items for my giveback. This is harder than I thought it would be and I want to make sure I do it right! Time to sleep...I'll be back soon! Have a great Friday, all *elaine*

It's MOSSY Monday!!!

2009-09-07T05:03:00.004-05:00

Well, my fearless readers, summer is waning and the raining season is ending {say that 3 times fast!} so the moss in my yard is beginning to fade. Fear not!!! I took lots of pictures in August, so Mossy Monday will have a couple more posts. For some reason, I only had 1 shot of this instead of my usual 2. Under all that moss and the adorable fern is a brick. Have old reclaimed brick edgings around a couple of my plant areas {I hesitate to call them gardens}.
So, can you guess what this shaggy moss is growing on?

You're right!! It's another brick!! In a long line of bricks! Interesting sidebar to these bricks is that I lugged them through the streets of town, during our streetscape several years ago. Whenever they uncovered old brick or other odd stuff, the construction super would walk by our store & holler in the door, "Got some more junk for ya!" It was actually very cool, considering we have salvage guys here that would even have paid for said junk....hmmmm. :o}

Okay...back to the mossy...love the shape of this piece, and at one time we discovered a small toad living in one of the holes in this. Natural made toad abode!

It is a coquina stone, which is about the only natural stone we have here in Florida. The little girl singing next to the stone is Amy...she has a twin sister to your right that got cut out of the pic, also named Amy. I found these 2 at a moving sale several weeks after my Mom {Amy} passed away, and the people who were having the sale had recently lost their daughter to cancer {also Amy}, so it seemed fitting that I bring them home and name them both Amy. So, that's MOSSY Monday for this Labor Day! There is fodder enough for several more, but in the meantime, it appears that I am getting closer and closer to post number 100...so that would mean that the time for my giveback is almost upon us. I've been planning and "home shopping" and have come up with some very interesting items for this giveback. So...nuff said for now, but I believe I'll be back on Wednesday, which will put me one step closer to 100...can you stand the suspense??!!!! One thing I do know for sure...I would like this giveback to be open only to my followers, which is not a shameless plug for more followers, but a way, I think, of keeping this manageable for me. I've seen giveaways that have like ,900 responses, & I know I can't handle that hugeness, kay? I'm off to have morning coffee with hubby...make that morning coffee with no cigarette...I'm trying...thanks for all the great comments, btw. Enjoy the greenery. *elaine*

Scrambled Saturday...all over the boards!

2009-09-05T05:19:00.003-05:00

Was not going to post today, but woke up at the crack of dawn, and could not get back to sleep! Looked on my photo program & found some pictures that I haven't had a chance to post...so in no order, other than random..Above is "Time in a Bottle"...made this a couple of days after our 35th anniversary, with shells & beach glass & some other odd stuff, and put it all in an old cream bottle I dug out of the mud on our lake. The lake almost got my shoe that day, but I won out! :o} I think if you click to enlarge the picture, you can see the tiny rolled up pics of Joe & I, & 1 of the beach morning glory.

These were a few neat, super cheap items from a partial Estate sale, last weekend. A couple of these items will be going out for MY sale, coming up in October. Actually, now that I look a little closer, the only thing going back out will be the Pyrex butter dish. Already found homes for the rest of the goodies! Cannot wait to see the ad for the remainder of this sale...the lady is so nice, and is taking her time going through the house where her Mother lived for like 40 years. Hard job, that.

Found this odd little wood organizer at a sale 2 or more months ago, and have been tossing really random stuff into it as I clean up my creating space for upcoming creating. Those little bluebirds are no bigger than a jellybean..too cute!

I'm on week forever and seven, or 8 or whatever of still trying to quit these nasty things. Had to stop the patches, they were making me sick to my stomach...can't stand the gum..like chewing on a piece of drywall...and the cold turkey keeps biting me in the butt!! For those of you who smoke, or have, you know what I'm talking about. For those who never have, move on to the next pic, or leave a comment telling me what a dumb butt I am to even think about wanting to smoke! Come on...leave a comment...I can take it and maybe it'll help with this newest attempt!

One more close-up of "Time in a Bottle" My husband thought this was too cool and it was a lot of fun to make. I've gotten back into beachcombing this year, when I realized I can still find beach glass, and great shells...and get great exercise, and get tanned....all at the same time! A win-win situation all the way around. So.... I've been to a bunch of sales this week already & hit my favorite thrift shop several times, and all the goodies are still in the back of the Blazer. 3 good sounding sales for this AM, before I get to work, so I guess I'll get this out into blog land, and get ready for early leaving! Have an awesome weekend...*elaine*

MOSSY...early...Monday

2009-08-30T20:22:00.003-05:00

Decided to get the Mossy Monday post up tonight. Had several photos instead of the usual 2. The pic above was altered & "messed around" with on Picnik. Fun site, but I thought I had lost this photo...thrilled when it popped up, right where it should be. {Click to enlarge & check out the cute little tree frog on the column!}

So many layers of moss on this...can you tell what it's growing on?

It's on the crossed trunks of 2 Saw Palmettos in the front yard. They're very rough, & the moss has really covered them this year.

This looks like the surface of another planet...but it's not.. :o} Do you see the cool little fern on the left?

It's the trunk of another Saw Palmetto. This one grew so long & heavy, Joe had to prop it up...with a recycled galvanized pipe. They flower in the spring & then get berries, which folks around here still harvest for $. They use the berries for medicinal purposes...but you gotta pick a LOT of berries to make a buck. Enjoy the greenery, & have a great week. *elaine*

Random Wanderings...straight to the heart!

2009-08-27T05:14:00.002-05:00

Just realized I missed my Wednesday wanderings, & it's Thursday already. Also realized the pic of little Tigger was almost 2 years old & I haven't "gramma bragged" sweet Ali for quite awhile! This was last Sunday, Ali in her new "bavin suit" that she'll probably outgrow by Saturday. {note to self; buy bigger!} We don't have a pool & the lake's too hot, so Ali was quite happy, for 2 hours!, filling up her little vintage pitcher from the sideyard spigot.
Also washed the rubber ducky in a chippy old enameled tub...cannot get away from my junk!! But this sweet girl thinks it's all "o-tay". Has a little problem with "K" at the moment, which is really cute when she calls our 3 felines...that she calls the kitties...am I being juvenille? :o}

The whole purpose of filling the little pitcher was so Ali could help Grammpa water the plants....

So cute watching Ali follow Grammpa like a little duckling, while Grammpa decided which plant needed watering! Too cute! Takes so little to make a small child happy...wish I could freeze her at this age for just a little longer...but I cannot. "Fish gotta swim...birds gotta fly"...& little girls grow up too fast! Have a great Thursday! *elaine*

Mossy...Late...Monday

2009-08-24T14:12:00.003-05:00

What moss encrusted thing is this?
It' a tree stump & a pillow for a very unabashed froggy! {Flea market find $1.00}

Mossy Monday almost didn't happen today! Very full, crazy, busy day...arrived home and sat down to read my Morning Coffee Blogs with my afternoon Iced Coffee with a twist. Saw my own blog & realized I had not "mossed" today. Enjoy the Greenery! *elaine*

Another scrappin' "Eyecandy" giveaway

2009-08-22T05:10:00.004-05:00

For some reason, I keep stumbling onto these great scrapbooking blogs that are having awesome giveaways. I do Love2Junk, but another passion for years has been scrapbooking. Started 9 years or so ago, when I realized all our family albums were those nasty PVC pages & the pics were being ruined. 13 albums later..I have to admit, I'm hooked. Of course, the Kissy-faced Tigger in the pic above had nothing to do with my decision to keep scrapping!! :o} Any way, Arlene over @ http://butterflykisseswithlove.blogspot.com/ is hosting a giveaway of mammouth proportions! Talk about EyeCandy? I would rearrange my whole scrapbooking system to accomodate all the goodies this talented lady is giving away! I think it ends Sunday, so check it out! She has massive amounts of comments...I'm 302!...but there's always room for one more. Better odds than the Florida lottery!! :o} Have a great weekend *elaine*

Scrappin' giveaway

2009-08-19T20:53:00.003-05:00

I don't know how many of you junkers scrapbook too, but I found this awesome giveaway, being done by Melissa at http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com/ This lady does some very original and sweet scrapping projects, and she is giving away a "bucket" of stuff...for no special reason at all! Pop over & check out her blog...she's a very creative lady! Enjoy the eyecandy! Goodnight... *elaine*

MOSSY Monday

2009-08-17T05:10:00.004-05:00

" Velvet" rock...

in my garden.

This is part one of a fresh series. If you didn't read my R*E*A*L*LY long previous post, I noticed a lot of very neat green stuff popping up all over our property recently...I guess with all the rain and maybe deeper shade due to more mature trees, I have a ton of moss. Started snapping some photos, and in a matter of minutes had discovered enough for 10 or 12 MOSSY Mondays. I played around w/ macro and think I am finally getting the idea. So...enjoy the greenery! *elaine*

LON*G Sunday multi-purpose post...

2009-08-16T15:12:00.007-05:00

Blogger finally updated...after 2 days of "old news"... I was able to read today & check out everyone's great weekend finds! If we could get all of us together in one place for a sale, what a sale it would be!! Actually, that's part of the reason for today's post. My shed overfloweth, my barn is groaning and I'm almost feeling guilty going thrifting & sale-ing. Not a huge problem, but here is THE problem. When we lived in downtown Orlando, I would have a sale 2 or 3 times a year, and do really well $$-wise w/o even running a print ad. Now, we're out in the boonies and my last sale, after paying for the Pennysaver ad, netted me a whole $4, for all my time, sweat & backaches. Need I say, NOT worth it. Okay, so I keep reading about these "Occassional" sales, and I'm intrigued. Steph & I have great stuff to sell, but our last place of re-sale ended sadly with little profit & having to lug all the goodies home to be stored again. So...I'm asking for your comments, advice...whatever you can tell me that can help us figure out how to best approach & solve this dilemma. If your help seems too long for a comment, feel free to email me...els54@earthlink.net. We know a couple of antiques people that may be able to assist w/ a space, but I'm a little shy about approaching them. {I can hear my husband in the background saying..."YOU, shy?!!? HA!"} Any way, I'd love to hear what ya'll have to say ... My next part of this is to show off my "Old School" Vintage Back 2 School window that I put together for the shop I manage. We had a big Merchant Open House last night to welcome back our local university & try to get local school parents out of "Wallyworld" for at least a part of their back to school shopping. Also had a downtown Cruise-In for classic cars. And, if that wasn't enough, our local newly reno'd theater, "The Athens" was hosting a Woodstock 40th bash! All of this was under the heading of "HOT August Nights". We were all hoping for a great turn-out, and it was good, but the weather had other plans...Rain...Rain and then some more Rain...We were joking about doing the Woodstock chant of "No Rain. No Rain. etc" We all know how well THAT turned out! When it rains in Central Florida in the summer, it washes out outdoor events w/o a worry or care. On a happier note, my window was a huge hit, although my boss was a tad skeptical...she's still not sure of the appeal of cool old cra...er...stuff. I'm slowly winning her over, either that or she's just tired of my yakkin' about cool old stuff. If you click to enlarge those pics, you can see how much stuff I lugged from home!! The 3rd, and final {I think} reason for today's ramble is to give a little hint of a new Monday post I'm going to start tomorrow, which, by the way is also our 35th anniversary. Joe & I were married in a beautiful little church in Marion Massachussetts on August 17, 1974. I'm going to try to find a pic that's not scrapbooked already, just to remind myself how incredibly young we were then. Okay...hint for the Monday post...I recently noticed I had a lot of a particular "thing" showing up in my yard. I started to take some pictures, and ended up with fodder for at least 10 posts, and that was just in the front yard! Last part of the hint...it starts with the letter "M". Actually there is a 4th reason for my Sunday ramble on... I noticed this morning that I am getting very close to my 100th post. Only took me 2 years to reach this lofty #! With all the talking I do, I should be closer to 200! Also, I saw that I now have 30{!!!!} followers! I'm in shock & awe!! I know there are plenty of blogs that have so many followers they can't count them all. I'm just thrilled that there are 30 folks out there that actually read my ramblings, check out the pics and are still interested enough to leave a comment. So...without too much fanfare, I will be having a giveback {yeah, I 'borrowed' that from some other blog, I just can't remember whose}. It may take a couple of weeks to reach 100, but rest assured, when I get a teeny bit closer, I will announce all the details. In the meantime, I have been wandering the house, & the barn & the shed in search of the perfect goodies. I think there will be more than 1 winner, mainly because I have so much cra...er...stuff!! I'm not gettin' any younger & it's really past time to lighten the load. I'd like to keep this giveback just for followers and folks I have "met" this past 2 years. Are you on my Morning Coffee bloglist?? Keep reading, okay? You read, and I'll keep "home shopping". This could be a lot fun! So...I think that's it for today...are you still with me? Tell me I didn't put you to sleep at your computer desk. I'm off to post some pics, probably in the wrong order :o}, but I'm gonna give it my best shot. I'll be back tomorrow with "M----- Monday" Joe & I are off to the beach early in the morning. That's one of our favorite places to be together, so seems fitting for our anniversary...can hardly believe that it's been 35 years, actually plus 2...we were together 2 years before we got hitched! Okay...that just made me feel ancient! Sorry about the crazy color combos...just felt like trying something different today! Wore a rainbow swirl tie dyed T-shirt for the open house last night, so it must be a residual effect from that! :o} Happy Sunday evening to ya'll...see you Monday! *elaine*

Wednesday Wanderings

2009-08-12T05:01:00.005-05:00

Hippy-dippy , chippy 70's flower photo holder. Does the base of this look sort of like the bed spring things we seen recently? $1

Hippy, chippy flower holding, what else, hippy trading cards! Didn't know they existed! These were apparently freebies from some brand of cigarettes, cause there's one card that says "Smokin' Moments "..I kid you not! You can hack & cough at the Barbeque, or walking the dog, or my personal favorite...while on a hike!!! Hello...can you say defibrillator...STAT!!!

This is the stack of hacker's, and I've been one, collectors cards.$2 for the pack...cheaper than the smokes!! Click to enlarge and read the white one on top...13 of the best times to light up! Moving on...how bout the Uncle Wiggley game board...no pieces included, but I love the graphics!!! $1

Sweet little oranges mixing bowl...w/o my glasses I thought it was Universal pottery, with the glasses realized it's Made in Japan. Even better...$2 The tong thingie is Silverplate, but cute enough when semi-polished $1 Cute bright bandana .75

And last, but not least, is this awesome Moksha-Patamu game board...from India...no pieces, but once again the black and white graphics rock!! $2 Apparently Moksha-Patamu is the great grandpa of our own Chutes & Ladders. The board does not fold, and I can't find a date, but for $2 it made my morning. Miss Priss Fish is not impressed, but she's cute anyway. .75 So that's all folks...didn't do the math, but I know I have enough $ for lunch today, and maybe even replace some of the gas I used thrifting and drifting up & down the highway on Wednesday. Have a great week *elaine*

Good morning, all...or good evening, whatever time 'o day it may be. Time for installment 2 of Wednesday Wanderings. Didn't think about there being a 2nd, but here 'tis! Now this week my Wed. Wanders actually happened on Tuesday...but this time I didn't just wander the house clicking pics of junk that need dusting. My sweet kitten Snowball..the subject of future posts, had to go to the vet to be spayed. We live in a big, oddly shaped county...look up Lake Co sometime...designed by impaired drivers trying to get away from bird size skeeters!! But I digress, as always. Upshot is that Snowball's new doc is 40 miles away on the other side of the County. Not a hardship...she's worth the drive...twice...in one day...yeah, she's worth it. Also...and here's the goodie part, the small town we traveled to has a very large amount of thrifts, that I don't get to visit very often....Yipppeee!! Cut to the chase...drop off sweet kitten @ the doc's...and head out to plund...er, shop the thrifts. Fly in the ointment...these thrifts all have banker's hours!!! 9:30...even 10 AM! I've dropped kitty off @ 8:30. Okay, I can deal w/it...I'm starving, I'll hit MickeyD's and grab a b.fast croissant. The line of cars in the drivethru is OUT the parking lot...down the street...they may still be in line for all I know. I don't do big drivethru lines...burns my gas & my patience. After checking several other fastfoodies on the same road, I hit the ever popular "Citgo", convenience store that is, for a Starbuck's Mocha Frappucinno, iced is fine, and a pack of Nilla wafers. I'm saving my big $$'s for the thrifts. Dined in the truck, and spent the next 2 hours hitting all I could find, which would be 7. There are more..but after 7, my big guy son ,Chris...oh did I forget to mention he went along for the ride ?...Chris says..."Mom, if you stop at one more thrift shop, I'm walking home. I love you Mom, but I can't take anymore!!" Ok, remember we're 40 miles from home and the temp, in my Blazer, with all windows open, is 96 degrees. So...I can't say have a nice walk, and I won't leave the truck running with the a/c on, so I headed home. Long story short...yeah right, I heard someone say that!! :o}...I spent very tiny cash, met lots of new TS managers & helpers, and found some really cool, neat, new 2 me, junk!! Insert big happy dance! Took friend Steph on the return trip to keep me company...yup had to pick up sweet kitty the same day...her HMO doesn't allow for overnight stays ;o}....and I pointed out all the thrifts, as we drove by them, all closed. Good thing she's my best friend, huh? We're making plans to go back in a couple weeks...let 'em restock, right? Now for the goodies, which you've already seen, cause I can't seem to figure out how to post the pics below my posts. Talkin' Trash...You out there, girl? You told me how to delete the "oops" double pics...any advice on this matter? Got to run..enjoy the goodies, whatever order they may be in!! Have a great week *elaine*

What is cobalt, enameled and fabulous?

2009-08-06T19:37:00.005-05:00

I promised pics of my Wednesday morning find and here it is...well, a little piece anyway. Can you tell what it might be?

How about now? Look at this lovingly worn glass knob...what could it be attached to?

Starting to get an idea? look at the fabulous shade of cobalt blue...and the sweet daisy chain and the remains of some white or cream paint...

Taa Daa! Here it is, finally out of my truck, with a bungee still in place to hold the leaves down...Is the table absolutely Fabulous, or is it just me?? Do you love the curve of the leaf? And the way the daisy chain echos the shape?

At home at last, well sort of...until I can find just the right spot for it, my sweet table is staying in my friend Steph's shed. She told me this morning I have visitation rights, but she's going to be sad to see it go! Now for the rest of the story. You're gonna love this. I was running super late to town yesterday on my way to work, but decided I had to check out Our Father's Closet, my favorite thrift shop. I usually go on Monday, but my truck was in the shop and I had NO time on Tuesday. Maybe broke a speed limit or 2 getting there...didn't want to be late for work. Pulled into the parking lot...and there...right in front of my truck, outside, sat THE table! My heart literally was beating faster as I jumped out of the truck saying "please don't let it be sold"...No sold sign. I cut off 3 hispanic women getting to the front door....I did say excuse me...all the while saying "please don't let there be a dealer in there with her wallet in hand buying my table"...No dealer in sight. Lady who works there was sorting stuff...right by the door, so I sort of skidded up to her, trying to look nonchalant (Yeah, right) and said " The little table out there...how much?" She got that look on her face that thrift ladies get when trying to come up with a price on something that;'s unmarked...you KNOW that look! I held my breath, preparing to be given a price that I truly couldn't afford and spending the day feeling all sad & depressed cause I couldn't buy this sweet table...you KNOW that feeling! She turned and said...are you ready for this???...Twenty dollars! Yes, that's right, $20.00!!! Still trying for nonchalance, my left hand is trying to rip my wallet out of my overstuffed purse so I can hand her a twenty before she changes her mind!! So, gals, was it worth it? Yes!! Is this the sweetest enameled top table you have ever seen? Yes!! Am I thinking I got the deal of the day...week...month...maybe even the year? YES!! Will I be able to find a home for it in my single wide mobile, even if it means busting out a wall?? YES!!!! So the sweet table is in my best friend's shed until I can find room...and I'll probably be stopping every morning for a visit...I just hope I don't have to sue for custody when it's time to bring it home. :o} Have a great Friday...there are quite a few sales this weekend. Am I going to hit some on the way to work? YES!!! *elaine*

Wednesday Wanderings

2009-08-05T20:03:00.004-05:00

Sweet, chippy, tall & skinny 5 panel door. FREE!!! from the curb...Oh happy day! Needs some TLC... I can do that!

Detail of altered journal front. Added this butterfly at the last minute...forgot I bought the stamp @ the thrift shop the week before. .50, never used, original price on package $15.00! Huh? Like my price better...

Added a green satin ribbon as a page marker, with a vintage mustard seed charm on the end for some weight. Found this in Mom's jewelry box after she passed away & remembered her showing it to me when I was little, and telling me the meaning of the mustard seed inside...

Wrong order, once again...arrghhh! But here is the new & improved Journal cover. Can't wait to start writing...something...in it.

My version of French Cupboard's (what is this lady's name?) vintage sewing notions display. I have mine on the bookcase next to my work table and it makes me smile. The tiny green sock darner is for darning baby socks, and is one of a collection that I treasure. My Mom gave me my 1st one in a sewing basket she made for me when I turned 8. She sure saw potential that I didn't...aren't Moms wonderful? She taught me to sew then and I'm still enjoying it today...quite a gift. Now on to the rest of the wanderings....

Planned on posting this early this morning, but got working in the yard...it was actually cool & my morning just slipped away. It's still Wednesday for a couple more hours, so I don't have to change the title. These wanderings are mostly in my head, or around the yard, clicking the camera on this and that. I did wander to a favorite thrift shp on the way to work, and I found a treasure that still gives me thrills & chills when I think about it. I can't show it today, as it's still sitting in my truck, but I'll try to show it tomorrow...promise. Remember the windows I saved from the curb a week or so ago? Well, I picked up another piece of the garden shed puzzle. Hubby & I were killing time, while my Blazer was getting a new catalytic converter installed. Arrgghh...I had other plans for that $$, but life happens. We turned left at the bank and I spied chippy paint, and yelled "Pull over!" as my sweet, but tunnel vision-ed hubby drove right past! When he saw what I was pointing to, he did a quick u-turn and helped me load it in the back of his truck. Needs a good scrubbing, but I have my 1st door, or shelf, or whatever it may turn into. It's from a home that was recently rehabbed that was built in the late 1800's. Not old by other state's standards, but not bad for Florida! Next on the list is a thank you to The French Cupboard for the neat altered journal fronts shown a couple of days ago. I had that green Record book that I showed a couple posts back, so I redid the front before writing a single thing inside. Quick fun project and a good way to use up some of that odd ephemera that seems to follow me home from estate sales! Last, on my wanderings..the same blog mentioned above had the sweetest little arrangement of vintage buttons etc. in an old teacup...shown on the sidebar. I have shamelessly borrowed this idea, with a twist or 2 of my own. I don't collect teacups, but I had that sweet green bowl, plus the little brown transfer ware dish I bought a couple weekends ago. Since I collect vintage sewing stuff, I had no problem figuring out what else to add. The thimbles on the plate are my favorites. All but 1 is sterling silver...all bought for a song, or next to nothing, in jumbled up box lots. The 1 that's not silver is huge and possibly brass. Either the lady of the house had gigantic hands or this was a man's thimble. Anyway...thanks, French Cupboard, for the inspiration! Well, got to run and get these pics posted, hopefully in the right order for a change! Have a good Thursday, and I'll be back with my find of the week...month...maybe even the year. Got you curious? See you tomorrow. *elaine*

August...first evening

2009-08-01T19:12:00.002-05:00

Wedgewood Sky...over "our" lake...enough said? *elaine*

LAST weekend's finds

2009-07-31T20:03:00.005-05:00

Bumper pool balls? Great red & ivory color! 10 cents each. Frames, record book & tea tin...50 cents each. Funky green pencil sharpener for my workbench $1

The balls ended up here, after a good cleaning, in a bowl made by oldest son, nestled among the pinecones.

The 50 cent mirror, before cleaning and adding ribbon...great green color on the record book...another 50 cents...I thought "Journal!" as soon as I saw it. It has lined pages that are alphabetized, missing A & B, but all the rest of the pages have no writing...a fresh blank slate!

Mirror in it's new home, in the company of a great red framed beveled mirror from a trashed train case, and my favorite framed photo of my Grandma Amy as a young woman. Click to enlarge...the dress she's wearing is just amazing.

I am so behind on posting my junk finds, I don't think I'll ever catch up. The sales have been pretty good lately, not awesome, but good. I usually lug the treasures home & stash them in the shed until inspiration hits. But this week a lot of the new finds have found their perfect places in the house or yard almost immediately! We have a new Thrift Shop that just opened last week, and it's been wonderful! I told the manager that I'd probably be there every other day, as it's right on my way to work, and so far that's how often I've stopped. New stuff every day, and true low thrift shop prices. All proceeds benefit a local residential home in town that cares for physically & mentally disabled kids and young adults. Great cause...don't feel quite so guilty when I'm buying another pile of stuff. None of the stuff in the pictures is from the new shop...I'll try to get some pics of those things tomorrow. In the meantime, all of the goodies were from one yard sale and one church sale. The prices were sooo low...less than $5 for all. I love the mirror...old, handcarved and very unique. All I did was give it a bath and add the wired green ribbon to hang by. It seems quite happy in the arrangement on the wall in my "studio". The tall skinny 6 drawer chest came from a sale the week before,$3, and holds all my chipboard letters for scrapbooking. I've been getting so organized lately. Not usually a summer project, but it's just been so hot this summer. A couple hours in the morning is it for me to work outside, and then it's back in the A/C for most of the afternoon, so organizing stuff in my room is almost fun!! Okay...my eyes are getting tired & I keep making typos, so I'm off to post my pics, and early to bed. Have a great weekend!! *elaine* PS I was thrilled to click on my blog tonight and see that I have 28 followers! I know there are many other blogs that have many more than that, but when I started this blog I didn't have a clue where it would lead, and it's just really gratifying to have all these folks follow my meanderings! Still not sure where I'm going, but the trip is never boring! G'night!

Mirror Re*do...Part 2

2009-07-29T20:19:00.007-05:00

Finally got the little green mirror hung in it's new home, and remembered my camera so I could take some pictures. It fit great in the oak bookcase, and now I'm just waiting for our sorority sunglasses and displays to come in so I can finish putting the whole thing together. My boss loved it...especially the word PeRfEct! on the glass. I think she finally gets it! Also snapped a couple other pics of a few junk pieces I found and dragged to work. It's given me a whole new place to store things!! LOL :o} In the pics above the mirror are some vintage In baskets I found in the junky area of a local thrift shop. I was going to paint them for the shop, but decided if I bring them home again to use, I'd want them in their unpainted state. They worked perfectly for the new paper items we'll be carrying this year. In the final 2 pictures, which are actually the first 2 pictures...(I get so annoyed with blogger for the way it posts pictures at times)...but I digress...is a badmitton racquet I found at another thrift & added some ribbons & "pearls" and attached to our key chain display that was looking a little tired. We have a lot of high school & college age girls in and out the store, and so far, they all like the new look...I think I may be on to something good. The shop has been in business for 29 years,and I know need to be a bit more creative to keep things fresh and appealing. What better way than by more JUNKING!!! Yah!! Have a good week...happy junking. *elaine*

Whoops...time for profile update?

2009-07-27T06:22:00.003-05:00

Received a couple of comments on my last post, and was wondering why folks thought I had a junk sellin' space. Light dawned...checked out my profile and realized it has't been updated since July 2008. Steph & I had to close our space down in December, sadly. We didn't want to, but our sales were getting worse by the month, and then the owner decided to relocate the shop. She had a nice spot (read high rent$$$) in the heart of downtown;moved back to a spot in the next town on the side of a busy state road where the traffic is horrible! Since we were just barely making the rent, we made the decision to pack it in...literally...pack it in the sheds, pack it in the barn...you get the picture. Sooo, until we figure out a new venue...we're stuffed to the rafters. In the meantime, I continue to manage a small sorority/fraternity/t-shirt shop in the same historic small town. I redid the mirror for that shop...I've been there for 17 years, so the owner lets me do just about whatever I want when it comes to display. This summer I'm sneaking in a few junk pieces, and so far she likes them. I'll have to bring my camera with me this week and get some pics of the mirror in it's new temp home, and some of the other stuff I've added. I'm thinking of making up some tags that say "NFS..on loan from the MissElaineous Museum of Crusty, Chippy Junk" Do you think they'll get it?? I have to get ready for work, so I'll try to fix my profile when I get home tonight! Have a great Monday *elaine* was planning on a picture, but can't seem to find my shop file...#**7?!)){ photo program...or is it the operator? Nah!! So no pics today...i'll be back!

Mirror Re*Do

2009-07-26T16:39:00.004-05:00

Had several ideas for posts today, but you bloggers have been so busy posting, and I've been so busy reading, I'm running out of Sunday! Went to quite a few yard sales on Friday & Saturday, and found some good stuff, but haven't had time to get pics taken. So, instead, I'll show you my project for today...I had a cute framed mirror I bought awhile ago, that needed some help. Decided to redo it for a prop at the shop where I work. We're going to be carrying more sorority jewelry, as well as sunglasses, and I realized these girls are going to want to see how great they look before buying! This morning I went searching in the shed for the mirror...AArrRggGHHh!!! Wouldn't you know, it was in the VERY back corner, behind at least a ton of stuff! I moved 1/2 a ton and then contorted my poor body over the remaining 1/2 ton, and finally extracted the mirror. Ta Dahhh! After 2 Advil, a rub of BenGay and a wee bit of Khalua in my coffee, I was finally able to clean, paint and even *bling* this little mirror back to life. I added the word PeRfECt ! in rub-on scrapbook letters found at Big Lots for $1. It's hard to see in the picture, but then it's hard to photograph a mirror anyway! I think it turned out pretty well...can hardly wait to see it hanging in the shop tomorrow...not that I'm rushing to get to Monday, mind you! I know the girls will like it...maybe I'll be able to *bling* up a couple more and sell 'em. Of course, that would mean more yard sale-ing...and thrift shopping...and curb picking...I think I can handle that!! :o} I'll be back in a couple days with some of my neat finds, and what I've already done with them. Until then, have a great week. *elaine*

Touched by Blogging Angels

2009-07-21T16:56:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to take a moment to say Thank You! to all of my newfound blogging friends who took time from their busy lives and left such heartfelt & inspirational comments on my last post. I was feeling so shattered the day I wrote that, but your almost instant responses lifted my spirits more than you can imagine! Prayers, hugs and reassuring words that made me feel so much better! Our crisis is still brewing, but I know I can find the strength that I need to deal with it as it comes my way. It's funny...when I tell people I blog, they look at me a little strangely...and sometimes ask why I would spend my time on the computer talking to folks I've never met, & may never meet, about junk...and life...and more junk, or whatever. I don't really know how to explain it...but I do know one thing for certain. Since I have been blogging, I have "met" some of the most genuine, caring, talented women I have ever had the good fortune of "meeting"! Thank You, Ladies...I'm not naming names...ya'll know who you are.... *elaine*

Lemonade?

2009-07-19T14:38:00.005-05:00

I was not sure if I would be able to post anything this week...my family has had a terrible week, and I am still under a black cloud of mammoth proportions. I won't go into all the gory details, but suffice to say due to poor decisions made by our youngest son, a hole has been torn in our family that may never be able to be mended. I've been walking around in a fog all week....crying and wailing and wondering where we went wrong in his upbringing. Now that I am literally cried out, I know it's not what we did, or didn't do. Once our children reach adulthood, they make their own choices & decisions, and we have to hope that we have given them a strong foundation, and the wisdom to make the right choices. In many cases, despite our guidance and stability, they still make the wrong decisions. The ones made by our son will affect us for many years to come. In the meantime, I cannot, will not allow his mistakes to put me under. I know I am strong and I have to continue to figure out how to be stronger. We have all gone through difficult times, and we have asked others for their prayers & support...so I'm asking for that now for my family. We need all the strength and help that we can receive to get us through this terrible situation. On a somewhat lighter note, I found this lemonade sign at a yard sale on Friday. The family having the sale had lost their wonderful country home to foreclosure. So I bought several things, and probably paid too much, but my heart was breaking for this lovely family. It reminded me of all the blessings in my life that I am so grateful for, and also was a stark reminder that just when you think life can't be any worse, you find some one who is suffering even more. So, this morning I hung my lemonade sign on my porch, and painted the "Lemons?" sign to add to it. This will be my mantra for now & in the future...as I try to pull my family back together, with a smile on my face...not tears... during this crisis. *elaine*

Minimum Junk...Maximum Wildflowers!

2009-07-10T06:58:00.005-05:00

Front fence gone wild!

Gloriosa lily & Honeysuckle

Pretty isn't it?

Love the colors!

Check out the adorable birthday baby in the old photo! I'm seeing a cute vintage birthday card in the making with this one!

Happy Friday everybody. Once again, I have an unusual day off...am never home on Friday, but my part-time lady can't work tomorrow...this time of year, I'll take what I can get!! Had hoped there would be some good sounding sales in the Pennysaver, but the best sounding one is on Saturday! So, I'm spending the day at home. Did get to one interesting sale on Thursday, but I think I missed most of the good stuff...too late. Managed to find the cute little piece of metal garden fencing...old? Don't know, but I like the patina on it. Also got the 1946 book "Drawing Dogs"...falling apart, but nice little pencil illustrations. As I walked down the driveway, spied the little brown transfer ware plate under some trash...spent a whole 1.60 at this sale. Still had $ to spend :o} so went to my favorite thrift shop. Found this cute red tablecloth for 1.00...too bad I missed the 4th of July with this one...It's so red and picnic-y looking...Oh well, there's always next year! The rest of my pics, as well as my new header, are pictures of my front fence gone wild. We live out in the boonies...my hubby built this fence years ago, and this year the wild honeysuckle & the gloriosa lilies have taken over! I'm really enjoying the flowers...no watering, no fertilizing and color every day. My kind of plants!! So, enjoy the colors...check out the macro shot of that lilly...I think I finally figured out that setting on the Canon...I'm amazed at the detail! Have a great weekend! *elaine*

Almost Forgot This!

2009-07-05T15:24:00.004-05:00

I had one other item I was going to include in my 4th of July post...unfortunately, I couldn't find it when I was taking pictures. This morning, while vaccuuming our bedroom, I remembered that it was under the bed...don't laugh...and please don't tell me you have nothing under your bed!! :o} I found this amazing piece...under my mother's bed (like mother, like daughter?)...and planned to have it framed. So far, it is carefully sandwiched in 2 layers of acid free mat board. Just haven't found the perfect vintage frame for it. New won't do, it has to be old. Anyway, this piece was presented to my great grandparents after their son, my great Uncle Ambrose, was killed in WW1. We had many relatives who served our country, but Ambrose was the only one who didn't come home. Notice how it says "the World War"...in that innocent age I imagine they never thought that there would be another World War. The art work on this is awesome, and look at the handwriting where they wrote in Ambrose's name & rank. Do you suppose that is Woodrow Wilson's real signature...or did someone else sign for him, as they do today. So, in honor of all the men and women who have fought for our freedom, and to all of those who are still fighting, I say Thank You & may God Bless you and keep you safe from harm. You are all heros!! *elaine*

Three Cheers...

2009-07-04T09:38:00.004-05:00

for the Red,White and Blue!! And a Happy Independence Day to all my blogging friends. Today is also the 2nd birthday of my blog!! I cannot believe I have been doing this sometimes rather odd thing of blogging for 2 years!! I have to say, though, that it's FUN, plain & simple. I have "met" more of the neatest, most creative people that I have ever run across in one place! Bloggers who are funny...and make the most amazing things out of what other people consider junk. Bloggers who are serious...and find the most amazing treasures that other people consider junk,and reuse & repurpose these things in amazing ways. There are so many awesome people out there, I may have to change my Morning Coffee Blog list to..."2 Cups of Coffe and Can I Eat My Breakfast While Reading Blogs?" list!! To all the folks that are already on my list...thank you for always making me smile, or laugh, or wonder, "How the heck did she do that?". And also for making me want to go out & find more junk!! You're all amazing!!! Okay...enough gold stars & accolades. Have a great Independence Day and I'll see you all again Sunday morning...with my coffee...and maybe a bagel & cream cheese?? *elaine*

"JunkFunk"??

2009-07-03T05:46:00.006-05:00

Saw this term on a couple of blogs this week...and I think that's what I'm having! It's been sooo hot, the few sales I've been to have been dismal, and I'm in a funk of massive proportions! Did not get my 4th of July stuff up, my creativity is at an all time low, and I still have a day of work to go before my 2 day weekend. Am I whining TOO much?? Sorry! :o} There are actually 3 sales listed in the Pennysaver for today...so I'll check them out and hope they have something exciting. Maybe that will cheer me up? It's not supposed to be as hot today...only 94 and good chance of rain. I have a post planned for Saturday...hopefully I'll be able to get that together before Sunday...LOL. In the meantime, since I don't have any new goodies to share, I thought I'd show some pics of my rather large collection of red white & blue funky stuff. Never set out to really collect it...just kind of found me! Can you guess which room of my house this collection lives in?? Have a great Friday *elaine*

FREE!!! Curb shopped windows!

2009-06-23T10:13:00.005-05:00

Cool chippy, rusty catches...

Cool chippy, rusty...times 7...

Cool chippy, rusty...still in the truck...

TOOO cool chippy, rusty, still in the truck, times 7...am I repeating myself??...

Don't usually post on Tuesday morning...normally at work by now. I just had to share what I found on my way to work yesterday. Now keep in mind that we had another heat advisory for Monday, so by 9 AM it was already 94 degrees with humidity at about 1000%...So I'm driving down the street and out of the corner of my eye, on a side road that I'm passing, I see chippy white something. Hit the right blinker...hit the brakes, go around the block...and pull up to a pile of chippy old windows sitting by the trash cans!! They have all their glass...only one has a cracked pane...and they are mine, all mine! Spent 20 sweating minutes getting them in the Blazer...I love that truck! I left one frame behind, had no glass and some major rotting. A man pulled up behind me as I was loading the last one, and said, "So, you gonna take all of those?" A true master of the obvious since they're already in the truck...so I said "Yeah, all but the broken one" He looked a bit sad as he got back in his car...windowless. I got into my truck feeling sweaty, a bit grubby, but really happy...insert happy dance here. My sweet hubby, who usually rolls his eyes when he sees my latest junk aquisition, was thrilled when he saw these! We've been talking about building a greenhouse/garden shed for years. I can just see these windows in that structure...now all I have to do is find railroad ties...utility poles...and lots of other "miscelainous" lumber...oh, and a really cool door...and an old kitchen sink...gotta go...tomorrow's trash day !!!! *elaine*

Rock, Paper, Scissors? Nope! Metal, Fabric, Glass!

2009-06-21T10:31:00.003-05:00

Pyrex: .25 for the small, .50 for the large and they even match! Tins .50 each and the rusty green plant hook was free!

Nice, lightweight upholstry fabrics and I love the colors...$2.00 for all!

My $10.00 splurge...brand new...well worth it...and it looks awesome on the front of the barn, especially with the 4th of July right around the corner.

Almost forgot these 2 little guys...ok, they're not glass, but they are breakable and they were wrapped in a little piece of newspaper and stuck in the drink holder in the truck so they wouldn't break. .25 each and just too cute to pass up!

Finally got to go yard sale-ing on Friday & Saturday before going to work. Friday...slim pickins'...Saturday...many goodies! I seemed to be on a roll with all things metal,or fabric, or glass. No wood or baskets, no kids clothes or toys, no shoes, no plants...interesting morning. In all, I spent $14.50, with $10.00 of that going for the brand new flag I found at my 1st sale. Still in the sealed package. Looked at one at Lowe's last weekend, and they wanted $40.00 for the same flag. I needed a new one for the barn, but decided I needed the $40 in my pocket even more! So...all the rest of the junk only set me back $4.50...not a bad shopping trip. Went to work happy...it takes so little to make me happy! :} I love the pile of fabrics...great reds & blues & mustard-yellows. They're all lightweight upholstry fabrics, and I'm thinking some fresh new pillows for the couch, but kind of junkin' style...no one solid pieces of fabric allowed! The Pyrex pieces were soooo cheap, I couldn't pass them up, even though we no longer have our re-sale space. We sold a ton of Pyrex at the shop last year! Doesn't take up that much space, so I'll just save for the fall, when we will hopefully find a new spot to sell our jun...errr...treasures! So, that's all for this weekend. Got to get out & get the grill going...hubby has requested a BBQ for Father's Day...AND a homemade cherry pie. I make lots of pies, but cherry is one I've never tackled. Made it this morning, and it's looking pretty darn good! I'll let you know how it tastes another time! I cannot believe I'm baking on one of the hottest days of the year...heat advisory and all...Lord, I must love that man! Have a great Sunday...see you all next week. *elaine*

Back from Georgia!!

2009-06-20T18:50:00.004-05:00

Cut pink pig sculpture in Marietta...couldn't quite figure out how to get him in my suitcase...not even sure if he was for sale!!

Town Square, Marietta GA...all decked out for Flag Day. The fountain was one of the few we saw with water in it...still a bit of an H2O shortage there. This one uses reclaimed rainwater.

Skyline of downtown, just visible to the right of the construction crane. We had tremendous thunder & lightning storms Friday & Saturday night...but I can never click fast enough to catch the lightening.

Just some paper stuff that always seems to come home in my suitcase on every trip...making my own ephemera...I love that word! :}

The hotel where we stayed. Very, very nice place to stay, especially on the business expense account!! My budget runs more to Holiday Inn or even...Motel 6!!!

Hello! Actually got back home last Sunday, and have been in a blogging funk of massive proportions! I've been reading and lurking and commenting, but could not seem to get it together enough to do a new post. I'd blame it on jet lag...heehee...but it only took 63 minutes to go from Hartsfield to DAB! We think the pilot had the pedal to the metal, as there was a screaming 2 year old on the plane...2 rows behind me...arggghh!!! Anywho...I'm home. We had a great trip...quite a bit of work, but with a bit of fun mixed in whenever possible. Stayed at the fab Renaissance Waverly...very lux , with beds to die for!!! I'd like to check in another time and spend the whole weekend in one of their beds! The show didn't start til Friday night, so we had some time to play tourist. Went to Marietta on Friday, spent the whole day wandering this sweet little town...took the trolly tour(!)...went to the Gone with the Wind museum...did you know Margaret Mitchell was killed by a drunk off-duty cab driver while crossing the street?? All kinds of memorabilia, and little tidbits that you may or may not want to know about GWTW...but a neat little place. We shopped...there are antique stores galore, but I couldn't find one single junk shop...and ate...and made it back to the convention center just in time for the opening of the show. Worked HARD all day Saturday, and most of Sunday morning, and then it was back to the airport, and back to the real world once more. That's not such a bad place to be, though....glad to be home. 4 days go by so fast when you're somewhere else. I am happy to say that we're already planning next year's trip. Virginia Beach in 2010...with a hotel right on the beach...WooHoo...can hardly wait!! Didn't take a lot of pictures, but I'm sharing them with you all anyways...Have a great Sunday...and I'll be back soon with some of the neat junk I found Friday & Saturday. You know, I didn't see one yard sale sign the whole time we were in Georgia...what's up with that?? *elaine*

Back to Georgia....

2009-06-11T07:17:00.003-05:00

Happy Thursday morning! No real posts today, no junkin' this weekend. Heading off to Atlanta for a business trip. Should be fun, but I really wish I could stop by and see LuLu @ Scott's Antique Market this Saturday!! Sadly, my boss doesn't really understand my obsession with all things chippy & funky!! So, I'll be back Sunday night, and I'm sure I'll have lots of good stuff to read when I get home! Have a great junkin' weekend all!! *elaine*

Favorite Finds For Less Than $5.00

2009-06-04T10:25:00.004-05:00

Very cool plumbers galvanized tool box...$2...now home to my metal flower frog collection.

My all time favorite chippy red metal stool...$5...bargained down from $8. Saw one in a Junk book years ago and was thrilled when I found this one!

Fabulous green glazed yellowware bowl...$3...yep, $3! Lady at the yard sale said it was her Grandma's, and the color was wrong for her house. HUH??? This bowl is in perfect condition...no chips, no cracks, no flea bites...wrong color? No Way!!

My all time favorite yellowware bowl...huge, one tiny flea bite on the inside & cracled glaze...$5. Found this at a yard sale wrapped in a plastic WalMart bag. Thought at first that it was a big plastic bowl, but when I opened the bag I was thrilled to see this, with a little orange price tag that said "five dollars" in spidery old handwriting. Be still my heart!!

Adorable little chippy green shelf...$1...apparently it used to have a door, but minus the door served my purpose better. My family is from the New Bedford area of Massachussetts, and my mother collected many things nautical to reflect that. All of these things were hers, except for the scrimshaw piece that I found here in Central Florida.

Had an unexpected day off today...WooHoo! Thought we would go to the beach, but we have a 70% chance of severe thunderstorms. So scrapped the beach, and decided to clean...not something I do with any regularity! :} While dusting, I came up with this idea for a new post when I realized that some of my favorite things have come from yard or estate sales and cost $5 or less. So, with no further rambling...here are some of my very favorite finds. Do you have some all time favorites that you have paid less than $5 for? Maybe a good topic for when you're having one of those blah blog days and you can't think of anything fun to post about...have a great Thursday. *elaine*

Junk shed explosion....

2009-05-31T15:50:00.004-05:00

Junk...as far as my eyes could see!

Inside...during reorganization...whoops! Buried the washer...again!

Cool junk...I forgot I had that little red table! Oh, and that adorable child size folding chair...still needs a seat!

New piles...at least now I can see what's there!

My little work area...I can actually find a phillip's head screwdriver!! I'll show you all the goodies in that old muffin tin in my next post...junk heaven!!

Well, it didn't really explode, but my hubby said that was what the back yard looked like when I got this out-of-the-blue burst of energy on Memorial Day. Actually on Sunday, I had to get a suitcase and a potty chair out of the shed, and risked life & limb to do so! The suitcase was W-A-Y in the back and I thought I could just dig down to it...yeah, right! The piles started to shift and slide, so I grabbed the case and slammed the door...until Monday morning when hubby asks "Are you doing laundry today?". Long story short, I headed out to the shed with said laundry in basket, and opened the door , only to be reminded that I could not get to the washer! Damn!!! So...it was either reorganize the shed, or toss in one short stick of dynamite! Within 15 minutes it looked like my shed had exploded, spewing furniture and junk all over the yard! Spent 3 hours emptying, tossing and restacking, while along the way getting reaquainted with some pretty neat things that I had totally forgotten about...one of the bad parts of being a packrat AND getting older, you forget what you've dragged home! Took a whole load of stuff to Goodwill on Tuesday , and put out a pretty good pile by the side of the road for trash day on Wednesday. My hubby was impressed, although he still thinks there's way too much stuff in the shed....but hey, it's my shed and now I even have a place to work on some little projects...I'm impressed!! I found all kinds of neat little things that were tucked here and there, and I can hardly wait for my next day off so I maybe can actually create something instead of just messes! Hope you had a great weekend...bye for now. *elaine*

Blog Awards...finally....drumroll, please!!

2009-05-31T09:13:00.004-05:00

I know I said I'd be back last week with my list of 10 bloggers to pass these 2 awards on to. The week kind of got away from me, so here I am, finally with my list. Not easy to pick 10...I have so many favorites! To these 10 bloggers...thank you for making me smile...or laugh...or even cry with your posts. You inspire and amaze me with all your talent! Now you need to pass this on to 10 of your favorites, and tell us 10 things about yourself that we may not know. 1. Sharon @ Sweet Repose 2. Sue @Vintagesue 3. Shara @ Monkeybox 4. Sher @ Old Time Me Artist aka Grinnin Grandma 5. Ki @ Junk Camp 6. Cherry @ Bits & Pieces 7. Lulu & Laurie @ 2 Chippy's 8. Margo @ Margo's Junkin' Journal 9. Sue @ Vintage Rescue Squad and last, but not least, Debbie @ Talking Trash (back at ya, girl) Gonna end this right here, as blogger is giving me fits this morning, and I don't want to drive myself totally nuts!! I'll be back later with the shots of my shed explosion...er, reorganization.... Have a great Sunday morning!! PS I don't quite understand the "linky thing" , but you can check out any of these great blogs from my sidebar. They're all there!! *elaine*

Memorial Day Thanks & Prayers

2009-05-25T10:59:00.004-05:00

I just want to take a moment, on this Memorial Day, to say thank you to all the men & women who are putting their lives on the line for this country and our way of life. I realize this has been, and continues to be, a difficult time for many citizens...but these times will get better for us. For those in other countries, their hopes of things ever getting better are so small. So my prayers and my thanks go out to all the folks still fighting for freedom and those who lost their lives while fighting for the same goal. We salute you, and pray for your safe return to the arms of your loved ones. Happy Memorial Day! *elaine*

Ten Things About Me...

2009-05-22T19:27:00.002-05:00

In 6 months, I will be...OMG...55!! Isn't that just a number on the speed limit sign?? I know they say you're only as old as you feel...and age is just a number... and all that other stuff...but some mornings I look in the mirror (note to self...don't look before coffee!!) and I see the wrinkles and the not-so-brown hair and think "What the heck happened!!"
2. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. I was born on Thanksgiving eve...weighing in at a svelte 10 pounds and change...sorry Mom!! So, Mom always called me, fondly I like to think, her Thanksgiving turkey. What I really like about it is that every 6 or 7 years my birthday falls on the same day. This whole turkey thing has given way to a batch of new junk...i LOVE turkey plates, and old chalk ware turkeys, and have a nice assortment of vintage turkey planters...guess when that number went over 12 it became an official collection!! Gobble, Gobble!!
3. I live in jeans...maybe a holdover from my "old hippie days"or just because I really like denim. I like it new, or old and faded and patched, straight leg, boot cut, shorts or skirts...I just like jeans. Fortunately my job allows me to wear whatever I like, except shorts, so it's jeans and T's or funky Hawaiian print shirts. I'll never be a "fashion diva"...give me comfort any day!
4. I love to curb shop. In a previous post I blamed my Mother for this quirk...but I think I have to take responsibility for this all on my own! I cannot drive down a street on trash day without scoping out the piles! On Monday, I make sure the back of the Blazer is clear of junk...just in case I find a big treasure! I know I embarrassed my sons when they were younger by pulling up to a promising pile a block from school...and my sweet hubby definitely does not understand. With all the "Going Green" going on in the world now, I think I'm actually being a responsible re-user!!
5. My favorite food for the midnight munchies has got to be "Moosetracks" ice cream. Love it!! Have to buy it in small cartons, cause I don't even bother with a bowl. Don't want to be accused of eating a whole half gallon while watching reruns of Law and Order at 12 AM !!!
6. I adore the beach, but I don't like to swim in the ocean. I'll walk for miles at the edge of the water... sit for hours soaking up the sunshine and watching the waves crash on the shore...but swimming? Nope...not happening! This has actually developed as I've gotten older...no good explanation that I can think of...fear of sharks or jelly fish? Maybe it's fear of the dreaded bathing suit! HAHHH!
7. I've never been out of the US...unless you count 2 very brief visits to Canada. I would love to go to Italy (hubby's Italian) and eat my way through every region. Love Italian cooking!!
8. I am married to a carpenter, but like the shoemakers children who go barefoot, I live in a mobile home. I'm not a big fan of manufactured housing, but buying our property during a recession dictated our decision. We still dream about building a cute little house on the lake, but now we're in another recession...depression??!!? On the back burner once again.
9. I'm secretly (not any more!) in love with Keith Urban. I know... he's young enough to be my son, but hey, a girl can dream can't she? If I was 20 years younger I would give Nicole Kidman a run for her...Oh who am I kidding? I just love his music, his guitar playing, his energy on stage...the wrist tatoo...oh get over it Elaine!!
10. My ultimate dream...the big one on the bucket list...is to win the lottery..quit my job...buy a camper and just take off across the country. My hubby and I did a cross country trip, in a VW bus, in the 70's and it was one of the best times in my life. Meeting new people and waking up in a different place every day...just the freedom and experiences we had along the way makes me want to do it again!
So, that's my 10 things about me...got to be the longest post I've ever written! My 2 typing fingers are tired and my eyes are crossing...so my list of 10 favorite blogs will have to wait till tomorrow. I'm off to rummage around the freezer. I know there's a pint of Moosetracks in there somewhere!! *elaine*

Two..count 'em..2 awards in one day!!

2009-05-22T10:00:00.005-05:00

After a couple of hours of PC frustration, I was finally able to access most of my morning coffee blogs. Imagine my delight when I got to one of my all time favorites...Talkin' Trash...and found that Deb had given me two very cool awards. And not only that, but my name was one out of 10 that Deb picked for 1 raffle ticket in the Bella Bucks Raffle!! If you haven't heard of this, you need to check it out on Junk Sistas blog. The only thing I have to do is pass the awards on to 10 other deserving gals...and post 10 things about myself...and this could be harder than I thought! I'm having a crazy day off, so I think I'll tackle this project in 3 parts...show the awards first, and after picking up my 2 cats from the Cat Protection Society where they were neutered and spayed on Wednesday, I'll post my list of 10 things about me. Part 3 will be choosing 10 bloggers to pass this on to. I have so many favorites, picking 10 ain't gonna be easy!! Off to pick up the felines, and I'll be back soon. *elaine*

junk bonanza!!

2009-05-16T12:01:00.007-05:00

Ohh...the yard sales were good to me this week, and I wasn't even trying. Didn't look any ads up in the local Pennysaver...and left the house on Friday morning with very little cash. I hit the jackpot at my first sale...1st sign said "yard sale", but the sign out front said "Estate Sale"..hhmmm. Little old house with lots of junk...er...cool stuff in the carport, so I hit that, the laundry room and the back shed before I even went into the house. All the good stuff was in the shed!! Found the red & white enameled basin, the galvanized milk box, and the turpentine pot...$1 each!! Score! Now, in case you're wondering "what in heck is a turpentine pot?"...it's the tall clay pot that looks like a flower pot, but it's not. It has no hole in the bottom, but does have a hole in one side where it hung from a nail on a pine tree and collected sap, which was then made into turpentine. They were made of very poor quality local clay, so very few have survived intact. This one is in beautiful condition! I saw my first pots like this at a small museum of Lake County history at our local court house. That was about 18 years ago when we were buying our property, and I decided that I had to find at least one of these pots. In 18 years, I've only come up with 6...so they're not easy to find. Most were left behind in the woods, and many of them ended up in bits & pieces. So... there's a little Central Florida history for you! The other goodies in the photos were found at my favorite thrift shop...the checkers and the cool dice...$1.00...and at one yard sale that I went back to a second time this morning, cause he said he'd have more out today. Don't usually do a second trip to the same sale, but was glad I did...found the cute Noddy Elve books, the metal milk crate, and the old rusty iron this morning. Spent a whole $4.50 at this guys sale...oh, also the little cardboard boxes with vintage dividers, and neat letters. Two sizes, 2 colors with punctuation and stars, They were originally marked $3.50 a box and I got both for $1...fed my letter obsession and saved some cash! Takes so little to make me happy! Oh...see that rounded rusty thing on top of the green and brown pot?? Anyone know what that might be? It has holes in it, so I was guessing a strainer of some sort, but it doesn't have much of a handle to hold onto. Whatever it is, it's wonderfully rusty and a steal at a dime! So that's the junkin' for today! My son's coming over for chicken on the barbie with homemade coleslaw, and some wonderful candy corn that's been popping up at our local market...Yum! If we don't get the grill going, we're gonna be eating just the coleslaw for dinner!! Time to fire it up! Hope you're having a wonderful weekend...Enjoy! After dinner I'm going to play with my new letters...I'm seeing maybe a sign for the 4th of July...with the red and blue letters and the stars? Now I'll have to go raid the chippy, peeling wood pile in the shed. I'll let you know what I come up with!! *elaine*

Happy Mother's Day!!

2009-05-10T09:06:00.002-05:00

Just a quick post to wish all you Moms a very special Mother's Day! I've met so many awesome Moms on my trips through blog-land. As far as I'm concerned, you are all amazing, incredible & talented women...and I hope all your kids know just how lucky they are to have you for their Mothers!! Okay...enough gold stars! Check out this poem "To My Mother". I found it years ago at a flea market, and was going to give it to my Mom...never had that chance, so I'm sharing it with you. Have a great day, ladies! *elaine*

Sunday Planting Project

2009-04-26T11:27:00.004-05:00

Here's my project for this Sunday morning. I have this great old wheelbarrow that my youngest son brought home years ago...does he know what his mother likes, or what? The elderly man he was working for said he was going to throw that "rusty old thing" away, so Jason put it in his trunk and gave it to me. Over the years it has held many different plantings...this year I decided to go all pinks and burgundies. The little green gnome hollered at me as I was walking by him, and said he wanted to move into a new home...so I elevated him from under the azalea bush into the wheelbarrow. I think he looks quite happy there...what do you think?? All the new flowers are perennials, so hopefully this group will last for a very long time! Hope you're all having a great weekend...the weather here today has been awesome!! So, getting this posted, and I'm back outside in the sunshine & the breeze for a little while longer. Happy Sunday! *elaine*

Cool Finds

2009-04-18T11:36:00.004-05:00

Yard sales...rummage sales...trash piles...and boxes galore at the local thrift! Must be Spring in central Florida...Yeah!!! This is the best time to be in this area of the country. Everyone seems to be cleaning & organizing, and the sale signs are popping up like weeds in my garden! Only got to 2 on Friday morning...had to work, and got caught in road construction that took at least a 1/2 hour off my "shopping" time. One sale was so worth the stop, and made me wish I had been there earlier...all the above goodies set me back a whole $3, and I am loving the sweet little Singer sewing machine!! Found it in a box of junky old curtains, and the guy running the sale said .50 cause it was rusty. I have the shining perfect condition twin to this, including the box, that a friend gave me several years ago. Too cute to pass up! Got some neat pieces of barkcloth, small but I love the colors...and the tablecloth and piping at the same sale. The cute little strainer came from the TS, and as soon as I saw it I knew it had to be a planter. Has a small Penta in it now, and I think it'll look even cuter whe the plant gets a bit bigger. Well...I certainly have rambled on about next to nothing, but at least I'm posting again. Still feeling a bit blah...but am working my way out of it. Hubby & I are heading off to the beach this weekend, and that never fails to recharge my spirit. Have a great weekend. *elaine*

Easter

2009-04-12T07:44:00.000-05:00

Just a quick post to wish everyone a very Happy Easter! I've been away from my blog for a couple of weeks...when I saw this beautiful single hibiscus bloom this morning, I knew I had to share it! The plant isn't much to look at...got hit hard by our frosts & freezes...but that single flower is just too pretty. So Happy Easter to all. Hope you're having a special day with family and friends...just don't forget where you hid the eggs!! :o} *elaine*

Bluebird!

2009-03-28T06:11:00.000-05:00

Opened my mailbox last night and the sweetest little bluebird came flying out to say hello. Shara, over at Monkeybox, had a "Meme" giveaway awhile back, and this little bluebird is my gift from that. So...thank you Shara! The bird is really sweet and she has already made herself at home on my message board...junk board??... in my really messy "studio"...HAAA!!! I really need to get in here and clean stuff up...I have no room to create, 'cause of all the piles of stuff to create with! I had 2 gals respond to My Meme, and I have all the parts of my creations on my work table...just need to clear a spot so I can actually work on them! I have too much junk...no, wait...one can never have too much junk....right??!!?? LOL Have a great weekend, all *elaine*

Whoops...

2009-03-15T19:24:00.000-05:00

In the shuttle post I seem to have loaded the wrong picture for the fuel tank separation...I'll try one more time. sorry...the pictures come up so small, it's hard to see if you have the right one...wish I still had my 30 and 40 year old vision...this 50 stuff is for the birds!! LOL *elaine*

10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1......LIFT OFF!

2009-03-15T19:06:00.000-05:00

30 seconds after launch.

3 to 4 minutes after liftoff.

Up, up & away!

Fuel tanks separating from shuttle.

The trail lingers for about 10 minutes.

This is one of the last times I will be able to see this sight from my driveway...lift off of the space shuttle. I've always loved the night launches, and to be able to see it this clearly from my own front yard is very cool! It was a clear night, and the sun was just going down, which is where the orange in the trail is coming from...normally it's all white. God speed, Discovery, safe journey and safely back home again. *elaine* {if you enlarge the pics here, you should be able to see the little white dot that is the shuttle, and even the separation of the external fuel tanks}

Spring is popping out all over!!

2009-03-15T15:19:00.000-05:00

Traditional, all over Florida Azalea

Caught a visitor on this magenta bush

Bush that almost died last year due to drought...coming back stronger!

Carolina Jessamine...a weed in Louisiana...but they smell SO good!

One lone Jessamine bloom that landed perfectly in the salmon azalea beneath the pine tree..

Last of the Camelias...this bush was so full in January I had to prop it up!

Spring arrived in full this week. We have had temperatures in the 80's all week, with nights in the high 50's and low 60's! It's been wonderful! Have all the windows thrown open wide, and every window I look out of, I can see a huge splash of Azalea color. The bushes themselves are not a thing of beauty...need to get a bit more serious about trimming when they are finished flowering...but the blooms have been great this year! I have several different colors in the yard, but I think my favorite has to be the deep magenta. My husband bought me 3 of those several years ago, and after almost loosing them to near drought conditions last year, they have rewarded us with fabulous color! so...while my creative mojo seems to be absent, I can at least share some spring color will all of you who are winter weary and ready for green shoots coming up through the snow! Enjoy! *elaine*

Cool Award!!! WooHoo!!!

2009-03-10T05:40:00.000-05:00

Good Morning, all! I've been missing for over a week and spent my morning coffee time trying to catch up on all the news fit to blog! Imagine my huge surprise when I clicked over to Cherry's blog...aka Kudzukween...and found she had bestowed upon me this very cool award! Thank you, Cherry! After the last week and a half I've had, this made me smile more than you could know! I know there are some questions I need to answer, and then I have to pick 5 of my faves and pass it on, but I have no time left this morning. I have to take my sweet award and head to off to work...thanking God that I have a job, and that I made it through all the trials and tribulations that came my way last week. So...it's a brand new day, the sun is...or will be soon...shining...{don't like this time change}...and I'm up and ready to tackle whatever comes my way!!! Thank You again, Cherry, for the sweet award...I SHALL return! *elaine*

Monkeybox Junk!!

2009-03-01T07:52:00.000-05:00

BIG junk box!!

Just a portion of the cool junk!

This cigar box is loaded with goodies! Letters, and game pieces and strings of rusty hearts...oh my!

Some of the paper goodies!

And look at this awesome name thing Shara did with metal tags, letters and ribbon. Love it!

Finally have a quiet moment to post this...the past week has been insane, and I'm still getting over that cold/flu that hit me me 2 weeks ago. Anyway...on Tuesday I arrived at my mailbox and found the usual bills & junk, but wait...there in the back...is that the key to the parcel box?? Yes it is! Pulled out this BIG box from Shara over at Monkeybox, who had a giveaway in Febrary that I won. Opened it as soon as I got home, and all I can say is WOW...and WOOHOO...and look at all this cool junk! There's fabric, and junk, and old postcards and greeting cards, and junk, and ribbon and embroidered things, and junk and so many cool things to inspire junk creations!! I took several pictures, but they don't even begin to show all the cool stuff! I'm so happy that I won this giveaway...although my hubby was looking at me like I'd lost my marbles...LOL...so Thank You Shara, for all the goodies, and hopefully I'll be posting some cool junk creations very soon! Have a great Sunday! *elaine*

A Gift from Me 2 You!

2009-02-24T06:44:00.000-05:00

I just came across this neat idea on Shara's blog...Monkeybox. Check it out and see if it's something you'd like to do... the first 5 people who respond to this post will get something made by me...it will be my choice, but made specially for you. This offer does have some restrictions & limitations... *what I create will be just for you. *I make no guarantees that you will like it...but I hope you do! *you will receive this item before the end of the year...or sooner *you will have no idea what the item will be, or when you will receive it. The BIG catch is you have to repost this MEME and put together something to be sent out as 5 surprises of your own. These surprises can be anything....a piece of art, a photo. a poem...whatever you like...let your imagination go WILD!!! Now, just in case I have totally screwed this post up by retyping rather than copying & pasting, go check out Shara's post @ http://mydealoftheday.blogspot.com/ As usual, my heart's in the right place, but my PC skills are sometimes lacking!!! :o} so....come on post a comment...oh...and leave me an email address so I can get your snailmail! *elaine*

Missing You, Mom

2009-02-23T06:33:00.000-05:00

Last picture of Mom & I ...taken on her 79th birthday...9.27.2002

My mother at 23...she hated her glasses, and her name, and her fuzzy hair...I think she was beautiful and really did not even know it.

Today marks the 6th anniversary of my Mom's passing. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of her, and wish that she was still here. I can look at pictures, and see her face, but after 6 years, I can no longer hear her voice. I miss that voice. I miss my Mom. *elaine*

Whoops...

2009-02-20T08:21:00.000-05:00

My link to the Junk Revolution message boards seems to be broken... sorry it's not working. You'll have to get there on your own.. *elaine*

ANOTHER giveaway!

2009-02-20T07:17:00.000-05:00

My shameless rerun of my meeting Ki at Renninger's in Mt Dora Florida last month!! I couldn't find a picture of the bag, so this will have to do!! :o}

Have you ever checked out the message boards at Junk Revolution?? It was started up by Ki Nassaeur...and has quickly become a cool place to hang out and check what other junkers are up to. Anyway...Ki's sister puts together these great junkin" bags that are great for shopping at the flea market, or anywhere else for that matter. Ki is giving away one of these bags, which I'd love to win, but I'm not greedy...so go check it out...and post a comment, and get your name entered! Good Luck! *elaine* http://junkrevolution.com/

Giveaway at a great blog spot!

2009-02-19T07:20:00.000-05:00

Just a quickie Thursday morning post, on my way out the door, back to work! Theresa, at Time Worn Interiors, is having a giveaway for her 100th post. This lady has a real gift for putting together totally, seemingly unrelated bits 'n pieces, and coming up with awesome interiors that pull you in!! Check her out @ http://cottagegardens-theresa-smith.blogspot.com/ gotta run...back later! *elaine*

More Vintage Sweetness

2009-02-15T08:12:00.000-05:00

Front

Inside

Back...how cute is that?

Outside

Inside...love that shade of green!!

Here are a couple more really sweet vintage Valentine's...they're so cute...front, inside & back on some! Enjoy! *elaine*

Valentine's Day greetings...a little late.

2009-02-15T07:16:00.000-05:00

This little cat is mechanical...his tail is on a grommet so it can be moved back & forth.

I think this little guy looks sort of like Charlie Chaplin? Silly, cute face!

I deleted my Valentine multiple posts from yesterday..was using, or attempting to use, a different photo program and was not happy with it at all!! So, I tracked down my good ol' Adobe, and I'm much happier with the scans of the vintage cards I'm posting. My Grandmother, Grandfather & Mother collected all sorts of ephemera, including cards, postcards & stamps. Most of my vintage cards came straight from them...and they had some goodies!! So....Happy Valentine's Day, a day late. Enjoy these cute greetings and I'll post a couple more later when I get them scanned. Have a terrible cold, so I'll probably spend the day snoozin' on the couch or playin' on the computer...don't see myself accomplishing anything more than that with this nasty head cold. till later *elaine*

I WON!!! I WON!!!

2009-02-07T07:29:00.000-05:00

I LOVE JUNK!!!

I'm very happy this morning. After a rather poor start to the day, I went online to read my "Morning Coffee Blogs" and discovered I had won a giveaway from one of my favorite bloggers! I have several favorites, but Shara, over at Monkeybox http://mydealoftheday.blogspot.com/ never fails to make me smile! She has a very unique outlook on life, a neat sense of humor AND she collects cool junk!! Great combo! Any way, Shara had a giveaway for her 600th post and I WON!! I don't know what I won...but you can be sure I will be sharing that with you all as soon as possible! I do know that the junk will be great! Are we silly or what? It takes so little to make a junker truly happy!! Have a great Saturday! *elaine*

Red Handle Project...finally done!

2009-02-01T13:50:00.000-05:00

Had the weekend off, and planned to finish this project on Saturday. Saturday started out cold and icky, so it was real easy to procrastinate...and then my son called and said my granddaughter was in the area and wanted to see her Gramma. Her Mommy & Daddy have been going through their version of "War of the Roses" and, as a result, I haven't seen my sweet Ali since October...so I had NO problem dropping everything on my To-Do list for Saturday! We had a great afternoon, and when Ali left, Gramma needed a nap...know what I mean? Where do 2 year olds get all that energy...and how can I get me some of it?!!??? Anyway...finally got my faucet thing done this morning, and in between cooking goodies for Super Bowl munching, and laundry and all the rest of the stuff that seems to pile up so fast....I got it hung, I think, where I want it on the porch. Of course, that involves rearranging everything on the shelves around it, and wishing we could have gotten the outside of our ancient mobile home painted before it got cold! So, ignore the "fugly" wall behind it...painting will hopefully be done on our 3 days of Spring...before the rainy season starts. I was concerned that my hubby was not going to like the new arrangement...although he does tolerate my funky junk and peeling paint. As long as I hung the fishin' hole sign, and kept his wooden fish on the shelf he was happy. 'Course I had to explain that it's a work-in-progress...still need to finish up the chicken wings and just maybe find time for a shower and a couple hours sleep before Monday & work is here again...Still didn't win Lotto, so guess I have to go back to work! Oh well, I'm grateful that I have a job to go to, especially one that I enjoy {most of the time} & where I am appreciated..{most of the time :0}... Have a great week and I'll see ya'll next Sunday. I'm thinking of a post about cool stuff that's been rescued from the curb or other odd place that now resides in my home. Have to get the camera crankin' again! *elaine*

Red Faucet Handles...what will they be??

2009-01-29T05:36:00.000-05:00

Test fitting the handles...need a few more chunky brass plumber-looking screws..off the Ace Hardware before I head to work.

Pegs inserted into the old cedar by Steve. We reused some old oak chair rungs, and he used a drillpress to sink the rungs...even predrilled the screw holes for me! What a friend!

Old "Pickwick" cedar novelty siding, or paneling, found in an abandoned shed, just before the demo crew arrived! Love the silver gray color and the chippy blue and peachy pink paint left-overs!

I don't usually do a post midweek, but I picked up part of my faucet handle project from my friend Steve, and I am so thrilled with what he did, I cannot wait till my weekend off to finish it up!! You all remember the red rusty crusty handles from a couple posts back...I saw a pic in a well known gardening publication, and thought...Ooo...I can do that!! So, I'll freely admit this is not my original idea. In scrapbooking, we call the using of someone's layout "scraplifting", and it's encouraged by most....so maybe we can call this "junklifting"...or not...it doesn't have quite the same ring, does it? Oh, well,have to work on that. In the meantime, here are some pics of the pieces that I'll be assembling on Saturday...and then of course, will have to figure out the perfect spot to hang it...and then...I'll show ya'll on Sunday. till then *elaine* PS. The pictures are actually in reverse order...guess I need to remember that when uploading. Gonna leave it as, though, cause Blogger's acting real tempermental this morning!! Technology...when it's working right, it's amazing! When something's not right, there is nothing SO aggravating!!

The Old Woman...do you have one??

2009-01-25T14:42:00.000-05:00

Is this her???

All this stuff, & I went out and bought more!!

You tell 'em, Maxine!!

I've spoken to several women recently, and we're discovering that there is an old woman who is slowly moving into our homes. Maybe you've seen her....she's the one who hides the Christmas cards that you bought for 75% off at last year's after Christmas sale. She's the one who makes you forget what you went into the kitchen or upstairs for. When she's really misbehaving, she'll try to make you forget why you went into the darn bathroom!! She'll hide your glasses, your car keys & anything else that you're going to need when you head out the door in the morning...and she'll never even apologize for hiding those things in the freezer! Case in point...last year I went to Dallas, and while packing, started to look for the small sample size toothpaste, deoderant etc. that I KNEW I had! I looked every where...finally gave up, and went to CVS to buy more. Fast forward to this morning...I'm vacuuming & dusting the bedroom...go to move a large lidded 3 gallon crock , and am thinking it's a little heavy. Pop off the lid, and yup! you guessed it, there are all my sample size things including all the cool little Burt's Bees stuff, and even the clear bag I bought when the airport security was beefed up years ago. I KNOW I didn't put this stuff in that crock... so it has got to be that old woman!! Steph & I had a good laugh about this today, and decided that we need to make a list of where we put what, and then each give our list to the other . That way if the list gets lost, we have another old woman to blame it on!! LOL Happy Sunday *elaine*

Thrift Shop "Treasures"

2009-01-24T06:49:00.000-05:00

Cool red faucet handles for a new project!

Textiles for my bag projects...an on- going project that I can't share just yet....

Wood pieces...one for a sign for a friend and one for a Father Christmas base. The gerbil feeder will be repurposed for a hummingbird feeder using a vintage bottle....

My biggest stencil set yet...5" tall from the late 50's and never used! It takes so little to make me smile!!!

This was the basket of stuff...junk...from the one thrift...$3 and change, including the basket...the faucet handles came from Habitat...different stop...for .25 each....

Hit my favorite thrift shop on Monday morning, and was not at all dissapointed! Our local yard sales have still been kind of sad, and I'm wondering if people just aren't understanding the kind of junk I look for...which is fine with me...means I find even more goodies in the sale leftovers at the thrifts on Monday, or gasp...even in the curbside piles I've been checkin' out...don't tell my husband, okay? It's in my blood, dang it!! My mother & I, when we lived in Massachussetts 40 some odd years ago, used to go out on "patrol" in her black 'n white Chevy station wagon, looking for chairs that she could re-cane the seats of, or other wood pieces she could refinish . How I loved those evenings when she'd say, "Get your coat and your boots on...we're goin' for a ride!!" Thanks for the sweet memories, Mom...and for the junkin' pack-rat gene as well! Any way....did I get off on a tangent, or what?? So here are the goodies from the one thrift, plus and this time I'm going to try to get captions under the photos for clarification...if I can! Have a great weekend! *elaine*

WooHoo!! My very first blogging award!

2009-01-22T19:04:00.000-05:00

KudzuKween of Bits 'n Pieces has given me the Lemonade Award ...my first award, ever!! Thanks, Girl! I'm told this award is given for bloggers with attitude & gratitude...How cool is that?? I'm supposed to pass the award on to 1, or 10 or 100 people...think I'll start with 1...drumroll please...Margo of Robolady fame. Hers was the first blog I ever posted a comment on...or sent a picture to, and she really opened my eyes to cool stuff on the computer I was not aware of. So thanks again Kudzu, and Margo, here's a Lemonade Award just for you! *elaine*

Happy Tuesday Morning

2009-01-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good Morning! I've blogged with several very special women this morning, and some of them are feelin' pretty bad. So, I'd like to send prayers & get well wishes to Deena, @ Pretty in Pink, and Margo, who of course, we all know and love as Robolady. And to anyone else in my rather limited blogging sphere who isn't feeling great today...feel better soon!! Winter won't last forever, the sun WILL come out and we can all warm up and loose the SADD faces. That's one of the reasons I live in Fl...where we literally melt 7 months out of 12...I must have my sunshine!! *elaine*

Renninger's part 3...Ki & Me & Stephanie

2009-01-18T14:31:00.000-05:00

Okay...I'm sure you've all been waiting for my final installment on the EXTRAVAGANZA. A couple weeks ago, I found out that Ki Nassauer of Junk Camp & Junk Revolution, and formerly Junk Market style and Country Home Junk maven was coming to Florida. I've loved her stuff since I saw the premier issue of Junk Market Style in 2006. So, I commented on her blog, cause I live just 30 minutes from Renninger's where Ki planned to be on Friday. Long story short, if I can, we planned to meet there and after a few calls back and forth my friend Steph & I tracked down Ki at one of those cute little trailers where they sell HOT coffee & bacon 'n egg sandwiches. Most definitely our high point of the day!! Ki has got to be one of the most down to earth, real women I've met in a long time. After Hello, and a hug, you feel like a friend. We spent close to an hour talking, taking pictures and feeling like I had my own private meet 'n greet. So...the last couple of pictures are self explanatory, and the pie birdie and the rusty star were my only 2 purchases of the day. Renninger's has so much awesome stuff, great dealers and a wonderful site for a market like this...but a lot of the antiques and even collectibles were a bit out of my price range for the day. That's okay...we had a blast, and maybe, just maybe, on an upcoming junk quest I'll run into that familiar smile again...after all, we're in Florida, where the yard sales go on all year and the flea markets are abundant, even in January!! I'm blogged out! Gonna upload some photos, and go pull some weeds...they're abundant too...even in January! *elaine*

Renninger's part 2

2009-01-18T11:58:00.000-05:00

Okay, had the second cup of coffee and a quick visit from Steph & her hubby. He wanted to see the pictures, so quick time out for that! Next set of pics is just some of the neat things and people we ran into. I'm saving the best person for last...so that'll be part 3 of the Renninger's thing...after lunch perhaps? This has got to be some kind of record for me...I don't recall 3 posts in a week, let alone 3 in one day! *elaine*

Renninger's in Mt Dora Florida

2009-01-18T09:22:00.000-05:00

Went to Renninger's on Friday...had a whole other post written about it, but somehow hit the wrong button...again...argh!...why do I do that??!!!?? Anyway, lost the whole post to somewhere! So, I'm going with my original plan of letting my pictures do the talking...let's see how that works out. *elaine* okay...don't really love the layout on this & blogger will only let me upload 5 pics at a time, so I'll do another after my second cup of coffee!

Cool finds of the New Year

2009-01-13T17:17:00.000-05:00

Yard sales have been woefully sad this new year, but the thrifts seem to be picking up! Hit one of my favorites Monday AM, & was rewarded for my early arrival. I know Christmas is over, but no one told this sweet little family of Japanese snowmen...do they do snowmen in Japan? The Papa is the biggest @ a mere 2" tall, and he came with his wife & son & daughter...for .50! I grabbed a shopping basket, something I seldom do @ this TS, but I was afraid I'd drop one of these little guys on the floor. Glad I did. At the end of 15 minutes, had a whole basket of goodies, and a 3.00 and change total at the register. Needed a new pastry cloth...still make my own pie crust...and this one even came with a rolling pin cover. The "paper" apron cracked me up, especially when you read where it was made! Typo, or is there a place called Chian that I've not heard of?? Was this made to be worn over the short-lived paper dresses of the 60's?? The rusty keys, sadly no skeletons, and the teeny little pony shoe will be used in an upcoming craft. Since I stopped smoking...13 days ago...TaaDaah...I seem to have tons more energy and my brain seems to be coming back on-line, creatively. Now, if I just stop sleeping , maybe I'd have more time to create all this things swirling in my brain!! Scratch that..I get too damn cranky with too little sleep. I've saved $40 by not smoking for 13 days, so I'm treating myself, & best friend Steph, to Renninger's Antique EXTRAVAGANZA this Friday! I've not been there in forever, and it's supposed to be really cold {20's...BBRRRBbRRr!} on Friday, but we're both from Massachussetts and we're really excited about it! I know I still have a pair of gloves here somewhere, and 1 remaining winter coat ...1400 dealers are calling!!! Can hardly wait!! There also may be a little surprise there on Friday, but that's all I'm saying for now. Don't want to jinx it...my luck has not really been the greatest lately...bring on the JUNK!! See ya'll soon! *elaine*

Hello... 2009!!!

2009-01-04T15:37:00.000-05:00

So, last year I kept saying 2008...it's gonna be great! This year, I am trying very hard not to do any obvious rhymes for 2009...2008 started out great & ended up being a pretty terrible, horrible no-good year for so many people & their families. My heart goes out to the folks who have lost jobs & homes & hope...also my prayers & my belief that things can & will get better. I ended off my old year by beginning my third attempt to quit smoking, in as many years. I'm not a stupid individual by any means, and I know how bad it is, but I also know how hard it is to stop. So, any of you who may read this, and have any good advice for making it stick this time, post it here! It's been 4 days of semi cold- turkey, and I'm feelin' okay....but then again the sky hasn't fallen yet, this week, which seems to happen quite often in my sometimes dysFUNctional family!! I'm saying semi cold-turkey because I'm only using the patch during work hours. I work in a very small, very busy sorority/fraternity shop, and my boss really frowns on my dragging customers into the back room or using my sometimes sarcastic, non-nicotined sense of humor on customers that may piss me off!!! I can't imagine why, but I guess I'll have to follow her rules... I've worked for the same great lady for 17 years, so I really don't want to piss her off!!! And she just happens to be one of those people you love to hate...she quit 10 years ago...no patch, no gum...no bitchin' & has never looked back! I am in awe!!! Okay...enough of the smokin' stuff. I'm ending this post with some favorite Christmas stuff that got put away today, and for some reason, I felt like I would really miss them until next year...so here are a couple of my faves...until next week, or the sky falls...Happy New Year!!! Bring on 2009....I think I'm ready!!! *elaine* PS The Father Christmas was made by moi...12 years ago. I made them for 5 or 6 years and sold all but this guy. He was still sitting in the shop on Christmas eve, and I brought him home...so glad I did as that was the last year of production! The tiny little nativity was found, for .25, @ a yard sale the day before Christmas...who has a yard sale the DAY before Christmas!!??? Even worse, who GOES to a yard sale on their way home from work on Christmas eve??!!! I do..I do, apparently! The nativity is the size if a deck of cards, made in Japan, and the tiny figures are so sweetly painted...I just love it! I had to re-moss the roof, and also added the star...the extent of my "crafting" for December 08...told ya it's been a rough year!! :o}

Farewell 2008

2008-12-31T21:58:00.000-05:00

Only 2 hours to go for this old year. It's not been a good year for so many people and I know we're all hoping and praying for a much better year ahead. My family, personally, has had some major problems...and here we are, ready for a new year, and the problems haven't killed us yet, so I guess they're just going to make us stronger. I'm praying for more strength, patience, tolerance and understanding to survive in this world of ours that gets a little more confusing as time goes by. Walked outside tonight to find this beautiful sunset over "my" lake...seemed like the perfect image to end the year. I've heard that happiness is seeing a sunset, and knowing who to thank. So... Thank you for the beautiful sunset ,Lord... Happy New Year and may 2009 bring peace and blessings to you all ...*elaine*

Ch-chhh-cchhh-changes...

2008-12-28T12:59:00.000-05:00

I know it's not 2009 just yet, but I'm thinking of changing the look of my blog for the up and coming New Year. There are not a whole lot of choices here on Blogger, but I think I'll try out this one and see if I like it. It still has the greens & orange that I like, with a little purple (from my old hippie days) thrown in! Actually, I kind of missed the hippie thing by a few years, but that didn't stop me from wearing a dress handmade from an Indian print bedspread, and water buffalo sandals to my Senior Prom..circa 1972! Gawd...what was I thinking? I'm sure my mother wanted me to wear something pink...and frilly...how we must have butted heads on that one! So I'm going to end the old year...and I have to say I'm not sad to see it go....with some odd, old stuff and a new look to my blog. Back soon! *elaine*

Where are you, Christmas?

2008-12-14T16:45:00.000-05:00

Have ya'll ever heard the song by Faith Hill that goes..."Where are you, Christmas? Why can't I find you? Why have you gone away?" That's my theme song for this year...I have always loved Christmas, but due to many circumstances beyond my control, my spirit is low and I'm having a very hard time finding it. Today is the 14th...only 11 days till Christmas...and I've done 2 decorations...no shopping, no cards and still no tree, and have only given a passing thought to Christmas dinner. Seems there is so much bad in the air these days, I just can't seem to shake the blues. So, with that in mind, I'll post pics of my 2 decorations, and go sit by the lake, and try to remember the true meaning of Christmas. These bad times shall pass, but the true meaning is always here, we sometimes have to look a little harder to find it. Merry Christmas everyone...I'll be back in 2009. Until then...peace on earth, and prayers for a better year to come. *elaine*

WHOOPS!

2008-11-27T19:34:00.000-05:00

Ignore the previous post...was trying to do something and hit a bunch of wrong buttons! When will I ever get the hang of this computer thing??!! Time to pull out the "PC's for Dummies" again? :} elaine

love2junk

Happy Independence Day ...

Love 2 Junk...on ice?

How HOT is it???

Bittersweet Father's Day

I'm Back!!...

I won another giveaway!!!

Weeds?

I have been 2 busy!!

I Love Surprises!!!

Until we meet again...

A New Week & Thank You....

As soon as my heart stops breaking...

Happy New Year

Seven Days of Thankful....Day 7

Seven Days of Thankful...Day 6

Seven Days of Thankful...Day 5

Seven Days of Thankful...Day 4

Seven Days of Thankful...Day 3

Seven Days of Thankful...Day 2

Seven Days of Thankful...

Bloggin' Break...

HALLOWEEN...finally!

SALE'S over...Whew!!!

Reasons Why...

*RanDom...rAmbLiINgs

Mossy Monday on a Thursday Night...

And the 4 winners are.....

Getting ready to pick 4 winners...

GIVEBACK's ending...

GIVEBACK!!!

September 11, 2001 - September 11, 2009

Fun Funky Finds for Friday

It's MOSSY Monday!!!

Scrambled Saturday...all over the boards!

MOSSY...early...Monday

Random Wanderings...straight to the heart!

Mossy...Late...Monday

Another scrappin' "Eyecandy" giveaway

Scrappin' giveaway

MOSSY Monday

L*O*N*G Sunday multi-purpose post...

Wednesday Wanderings

What is cobalt, enameled and fabulous?

Wednesday Wanderings

August...first evening

LAST weekend's finds

Mirror Re*do...Part 2

Whoops...time for profile update?

Mirror Re*Do

Touched by Blogging Angels

Lemonade?

Minimum Junk...Maximum Wildflowers!

Almost Forgot This!

Three Cheers...

"JunkFunk"??

FREE!!! Curb shopped windows!

Rock, Paper, Scissors? Nope! Metal, Fabric, Glass!

Back from Georgia!!

Back to Georgia....

Favorite Finds For Less Than $5.00

Junk shed explosion....

Blog Awards...finally....drumroll, please!!

Memorial Day Thanks & Prayers

Ten Things About Me...

Two..count 'em..2 awards in one day!!

junk bonanza!!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Sunday Planting Project

Cool Finds

Easter

Bluebird!

Whoops...

10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1......LIFT OFF!

Spring is popping out all over!!

Cool Award!!! WooHoo!!!

Monkeybox Junk!!

A Gift from Me 2 You!

Missing You, Mom

Whoops...

LON*G Sunday multi-purpose post...