Saturday, June 15, 2013

061513 Five Minute Friday: Listen…




I love to be home alone.
I love the quiet. I can hear the birds. I can hear my thoughts.
When the kids came over last week Chuck noticed right away how peaceful it was with no tv.
Lincoln is calm when he is here, in the quiet.
It’s refreshing to not have some kind of “music” blaring at me, unless I want it to be.
I think we have too much clamor – too much noise - and it makes us more aggressive & less kind.
When I get quiet enough to hear the dog’s tummy gurgle, I notice it.
I notice things when it’s quiet.
But it’s really not quiet. The icemaker drops it’s load with quite a racket.
Even the geese flying over make a cranky sound, although I find it delightful anyway.
The worst thing for me that breaks the quiet is the alarm clock – ugh.


This was written as a part of 5 minute Fridays over at Gypsy Mama Interested in linking up? Go over there for more information and to link up, but these are the rules: 
1. Write for 5 minutes flat on the word of the day – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
Hope to see you on the Linky!!

061513 Date Day - Antiquing in Ohio!

We needed a little road trip, so we headed south 
to Springfield, Ohio, for the Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market.


 The show was only about 1/3 as big as prior years :~(  
Close by is Heart of Ohio Antiques - 8 buildings all joined together. It never disappoints.
Although time didn't permit, another terrific place within just a few miles:
Springfield Antiques & Collectibles with over 450 dealers.
You can make a wonderful day of antiquing in Springfield!

Lunch was delicious barbeque at Rudy's Smokehouse - oh, my...

I brought home a few little goodies: an old packet of needles with a great graphic rocket & an old card of hooks & eyes - both slated for scrapbook page embellishments; a new but distressed doorknob escutcheon for a future altered project; a whimsical wooden bolt, and a lovely little charm bracelet (my latest collection item.) I haven't decided which of the charms will stay or go... 

This little guy came home to join my mom's collection of Pen Delfen figurines.

Greg found some more items for his ordnance collection. The larger is 7 inches tall!

 But these were the big score of the day. The box is 2 layers deep with
vintage blocks to add to the grandbaby toy stash - makes me happy.
And these appear to be the original "legos" - they latch together for building tall towers.
 

It's always good company when we can get away together.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

060813 Let's Take a Little Tour...

I'm happy to report that we are back in the kitchen on the final phase of our rehab! 
More on that later, but the second piece of anagalypta paper is up on the ceiling and looks great.


It's that inimical season of the cottonwood seeds here.
As if we don't have enough snow during 1/2 of the year!!!
Please - not in June - even a counterfeit is an unwelcome reminder...
 



 Better late than never, the peonies are on the verge of a spectacular explosion 
of blowsy extravagance that may be unprecedented in the history of our garden.
 

 

Terrible photo, but the columbines are going to be yet another color this year!


Although on the wane, the forget-me-nots have crossed into new frontiers once again.


 Forgot again to get out early enough in the season to get unfurling fern photos 
(say that fast five times, lol)


This is another beautiful blooming fern - a gift from Alex's violin teacher
from her elementary years. Thanks, Micki! It's still thriving.
 

Without unearthing my garden notebook I can't name this plant 
but I love the spotlight effect of those chartreuse leaves.


Garlic chives - yummy...


It's obvious that I have an affinity for the cooler spectrum of color in my garden!
These were a gift from another dear friend many years ago.



As good as this all looks in photos, the beds are full of encroaching grass, my favorite lily-of-the-valleys actually went to mush from a frost just as they came into bloom, there are a few "volunteers" that may need an excavator to remove them if not dealt with soon, and at some point before July I would like to get some annuals in & the windowboxes planted!

Thursday, June 6, 2013

060613 - CKC Kit "Pinky Swear"

 First off, Happy Birthday, Sunshine!
 It was a dark & stormy night when our precious baby girl was born 23 years ago. 
We hunkered in together, just the three of us, getting to know each other.

Now on to scrappy things...
This month we have a GREAT selection of four inspiration kits at the 

I chose the Destination Unkown kit for the 
bright & happy pink & yellow color scheme.
  
My first thought was this gorgeous MME The Sweetest Thing paper...
...just the jumping off point I needed!

Next? Let's counterfeit the Studio Calico 
Sundrifter Dream Weaver paper - easy peasy!

And how about those Echo Park Happy Go Lucky Photo Freedom cards?

 
I love how these turned out!
Although I think I may add some stitching as I go along...

Throw in some Idea-ology wire hanger clips, 
Studio Calico feathers, pennants & a tag punch...

 ... brightly colored floss, Echo Park Photo Freedom cards & a 
perforated title Jillibean Polaroid frame.

What else will we find in the Magic Blue Box?

Introducing...
Pinky Swear!


The papers:

And all the goodies!
That little jar of perfectly sweet goodness from Art-C
is full of teeny tiny pink heart confetti *sigh*
Can't wait to spread THAT around these pages!

Saturday, June 1, 2013

060113 Date Day Midland Michigan Antiques Festival


The festival includes a classic car show & sale

 awww...a baby horsie like Lincoln's!

love this peacock

 peekaboo! I see...Lynnette!

 ooooo...bling!

 peekaboo! I see...Dani!

 love the grumpy bully

peekaboo! I see...Lynnette again!

 peekaboo! I see...Jean!

 Peekaboo! I see...Lisa D!

 Love architectural salvage

This guy does AWESOME altered art! Roger Reichman, Altered Artifacts

Isn't this FAB??? I feel a scrapbook embelli inspiration!

 Love old tin toys - this has the original box.

 This had a motor so the puppets were moving.  This dealer challenged me about taking photos 
but when I explained I am an amateur blogger he told me about someone who took photos of 
items, posted them on Craigslist, people paid with PayPal & were directed to collect them
from booth #such & such at the show!!! Total scam - creepy people are everywhere...

 More creative cuteness!

 This adorable stagecoach continues to haunt me year after year! Still no takers, I guess...

Back again this year!

 Bouncy seat made from an auto leaf spring!

 oooo...adore these urns

 peekaboo! I see...Lynnette!

oh, man - this is the deal that got away!
We decided it wouldn't fit in the car until we measured, but it was sold when we went back :(
I have wanted one to use as a display for a lot of vintage kitchen tools that I have. 
The black spots are where they patched holes in the screen with fabric.
Stay tuned for an improvised substitution!

 Their lamb gyros are always SO yummy

 After an unplanned stop at an RV dealer to look at travel trailers for our retirement, 
we needed something sweet! DQ to the rescue!

 Last stop at the Coleman outlet store at Birch Run.

 Only purchase today was this cutie for the grandkids:

 And Greg added the large shell to his collection.  It is Russian, and the gentleman who sold it to
him swam the Yellow River to a Chinese ammo dump to collect it in the war...

And a good time was had by all!