18 years

18 Years ago today:

Read this Classic post for the history of

Me & the Creepy Guy.

Story I Promised

Earlier this week, my Mom and Step dad were at home, doing their regular thing when they heard a panicked knocking at the door. I should preface this by saying they live in the country in a very small community where no one ever even comes to their door. Let alone, ever beats on the door. When my Step dad went to open the door, he saw a man covered in blood, wild eyed and clawing at the door, "Help me! " he was screaming over and over.

My step dad asked if he had been in a accident and the man said yes. He went outside to help him and my Mom called 9-1-1. Once my step dad started helping the man, he realized that this was no car accident -the man had been stabbed. My step dad is a former Sheriff's Deputy, a former EMT and a member of the National Guard having served in several bouts of combat - so he is familiar to blood and triage and things that you and I are not used to seeing.
He began to apply pressure to the man's neck, where the stabbing had occurred. The man said that a man on the other side of the highway had stabbed him, but he had managed to get away, crawl across the highway and make his way to their house for help. He could not have asked for a better house to find - my step dad took care of him and literally saved his life. By the time the EMT's arrived, they said he was nearly out of blood, but he was alive.

The Sheriff arrested the man, who used the excuse of being drunk and jealous to stab the man. He initially blamed the attack on his dog, saying the dog had attacked the man. That lets you know what sort of a low life scum he was if he was willing to give up his dog instead of admitting what he had done. He was arrested and is in jail for the next month until his trial.

It all began and ended within about four hours. But that is a lot of time for small town talk to get around. the next day, the local newspaper reporter called, the mailman stopped by to find out what had happened and so on and so forth. It was on the news and in the newspapers, but there was no mention of my step dad. He probably wouldn't want to be recognized for what he did. But, he really deserves a ton of recognition. He made us all proud!






*The photos have nothing to do with the post. But, I hate photo-less posts. This is our Clematis in the backyard where absolutely no one can see it. It's gorgeous, though!

Oh, Goodness

Today I received a sweet email from the Goodness Girls over at Sweet Goodness Swaps today asking me to be a part of their swapping family. And I happily accepted. I will help brainstorm new swap ideas and themes along with Rebecca, Jodi/Lucy/Juicy, Heidi and Leigh Ann (who has a private blog) and help organize the swaps. I love doing swaps - I love learning about each new person and trying to make them a box of goodies that they will like - tailored to their tastes. I recently did a swap with someone who liked 80's wrestling and sci-fi horror movies which is so not me. But, I went out of my realm and found and created things I thought my partner would like that weren't necessarily things that I liked.

I ended up making a 1960's inspired wastebasket complete with vintage black fur trim. I decoupaged mini sci-fi movie posters all over it that I had printed from the Internet. I think it turned out pretty good considering it was a new to me craft in a subject that I know little about. But, it helped me realize that I can use this idea for endless things in endless themes.

If you've never been involved in a swap, they can be a lot of fun. It's like Christmas or your birthday when a box arrives on your doorstep. You can't wait to dig in and see your "Stuff". Some swap boxes are so divine that you cannot believe someone took the time, money and thoughtfulness to select these items especially for you. Then, there are the swaps that you say, "Eh" and they are not so much. Luckily, I have had many, many more of the former than the latter.

I think there are still a few spots open in the Hurrah for the Red, White and Blue Swap-(I'm still learning).

So, if you want to participate - head on over to Sweet Goodness Swaps and sign up!

You'll be glad you did! And, thanks again, ladies!

*I'll be back tomorrow with a story of attempted murder, a machete, the sherriff, an ambulance and my HERO stepfather that provided medical treatment and saved a guy's life. In my parents very own yard. On Tuesday. It was quite a day!

Blah-ging

I've got nothing to say. I haven't been anywhere. I haven't done anything. I am just incredibly boring right now. *sigh.* There are things I need to do. Places I need to go. But, I just don't feel like it. I am just so incredibly boring right now. *sigh*

So, what shall I talk about. Let's talk about how this song turns me on. Lionel Richie singing about "Baby, let's go - I'll prepare your meals and make your bed, while you just Chill." I used to dream of being swept off my feet. Kissing. You know....Stuff. Now the thought of someone actually making the bed for me is hot. Pathetic.

Let's see, we need a photo or two. I went through all my photos looking for odd photos.

Here's good one.

I was trying to take a photo the other day and this lady walked in front of me. I guess I should be happy that she attemped to shrink down so she wasn't completely in my way. Otherwise, I would have only gotten her butt. Ms. Oblivious.

Then there's this guy. He walked up and just stood there while I was taking photos. Uh, hello, Mr. Oblivious.

Now, this guy, he was fun. He spotted me in a crowd and decided he liked me. He laughed, he waved, he had a conversation with me. He wasn't oblivious. But, his entire family was. I could have unstrapped him and walked off. No one would have noticed. The Oblivious family.

Hmmm..what other boring things have I done lately?

I counted my crocheted watermelon potholder collection.

I'm up to 56.

In case you were wondering.

I am seriously boring.

Tomorrow I am going to the Super Cheap Thrift, to the movies to see Night at the Museum 2 and out to eat at Golden Corral with my Mom and Step-dad. That ought to give me something to blog about.

But, then again, I think I just proved that it is possible to blog about absolutely nothing. Don't think you need to leave a comment on this post. Really, it isn't necessary.

Memorial Day

Hope everyone is having a nice Memorial Day Weekend. After decoration, we will cook out today and go out to eat tomorrow with my Mom and Step Dad. It's raining off and on, so we can't make a lot of outdoor plans. Be careful and have a safe holiday! Remember what it's all about.......

The Mailman Cometh

Actually, the Mail Lady cometh. And she bringth Happy Mail!

First, I won a giveaway at My Vintage Soul a few weeks back. Linda's town has a Spring Clean up that sounds as good as our local clean -up - Treasures abound.

Actually, her town's might be better because I never found vintage ornaments or vintage reflectors. But, Linda did and she was nice enough to give away some of her finds. And, I won!

Not only that, she included two little tin eggs for my vintage Easter collection. Thank you Linda!

I had mentioned gifts from a male Blog reader (yes, the do exist!) and here they are. These things are from Nick (the Firefighter) who is a member of the Yardsalequeen boards. He sent me some things from his Grandmother's Estate items and some things he had found and thought of me.

Two sweet embroidered linen tea towels. A flamingo even!

A slew of sweet embroidered hankies - love that little banjo playing girl!

And lots of fun things including an old candy tin, matchbooks, tokens, coins, a key, a bottle cap and lots of fun little things. I adore that carved bottle opener in the back. He provides me a smile every time I see him. So, thank you Nick!

The last piece of Happy Mail is partly one I bought and a gift from another blog friend.

I finally got my miniature toasting glasses that had wanted so badly. The ones my Great-Grandmother had were plastic and were just the little bowls that stuck in the cake. These are glass and are really itty bitty glasses. I love them so much!

The framed ad behind the cake came from Melissa in KS who found it while looking through some old magazines not too long ago and was sweet enough not only to think of me, but to send it to me too. Thank you Melissa!

I dreamed of pink iced cake with the toasting glasses in it for years now. So, when they arrived, I had no choice but to bake a full-on Birthday cake and slathered it with pink icing. Really! No one is even having a birthday at our house. But, we have a pink Birthday Cake, just the same.

Thank you and Cheers to all my Blog Friends!

Junk Car

When we were in Branson, I spotted this car sitting by the road. It was positively covered in junk. Everything for marbles to casino chips to collector's plates to toys to - well, you think of it, it is probably on there. We drove past it many times, but it was on our way out of town that I had to stop and take some photos. I mean, really, a car covered in Junk!

What do you see?

Shara Sees Seashells.

Java anyone?

The Bean was distraught to spy several original Transformers and Teenage Mutant Turtles adhered to the car.

The whole enchilada. There probably is an actual enchiliada on here somewhere.....

Does anyone have a pen? Or a button? Or a spoon?

7-Come 11!

Finally! A use for all those collector's plates I see at every sale.....

Did anyone get the license plate from that thing?

Wow. Look at the junk!

Hardware Store gone wild.

Leapiin' Lizards!

Head on over to Heidi's to see photos of a Junk house that she found last week!

Junk, Junk, Glorious Junk

Today, I thought it was going to rain. It did rain this morning, but by 10:00 it had cleared up but it was still cool and breezy. I thought I might see if anyone had set up sales later because of the rain. And, to my delight, there were a lot of sales getting a late start. Which meant I got the 7:00 am stuff at 11:00 am! I wish every Saturday could be that way!!!!

Now, I warn you. This first photo is a doozy. I got all artsy with my junk. Much to the wonder of most of my neighbors. "What's she doin' with all that JUNK? Takin' pitchers?" *I don't really live in Hillbilly-ville.*

My finds for the day. I wish I could just leave this set up and enjoy it like this. It looks fun this way! Where to start - the blue painted chair was 25¢. I know! It is a bit bright for my decor, but I put it in the backyard by my mantle and hung a flag over it.
I'll add a rusty bucket of red flowers and instant Americana. Mother Nature will weather it to pure perfection in no time. She weathered last year's chair right to the garbage dump.

The 25¢ chair, an old squirrel feeder for 25¢ and a fabulous old rusty tool box for $1.00. When I asked about the toolbox, no one at the sale had ever seen it before even though it was sitting at the edge of their driveway. Maybe someone set it out to load something? Or where they just forgetful? Either way, I scored it for $1.00. It is in front of the bay window awaiting some red geraniums.

A nice old doughbowl. I've always wanted a doughbowl for displaying things on the coffee table. It was $5.00 which is really a good deal, but it took me quite awhile to decide to pay $5.00 for it. That is on the high end of my spectrum! Now, that thing to the right, is, I am sure, some sort of mortar mixer or grout tool or something. But, you have to admit - it looks like a giant potato masher. Even the old man that sold it to me referred it to as "his giant tater smasher." *Again, I really do not live in hillbilly-ville.* I'm thinking of hanging it on a the wall as sort of a picture hanger and sitting a vintage cookbook on it. Ideas are still in the works...(It was $1.00). Above it, although it isn't in the photo, is a great old 25¢ frame that needs a coat of white paint.


Shall we discuss the cabinet now? I got it at the sale with the giant tater smasher. I saw it and basically ran to it, hopping over an Exersaucer and an old treadmill.

It is rusty, crusty, shabby, chippy and every other glorious word in my vocabulary. I have cleaned it up a bit since I took this photo. Just to get the actual dirt off of it. Not that awesome patina.

It is so me. I adore it. It was only $5.00. The Breadman (he's still on vacation) was with me and was surprised that it was still there late in the day at that price. That is because I see beauty in old junk and it truly looked like old junk sitting at the edge of the yard. But, you can see in the first photo - it has an awesome green color inside with shelves and all sort of hooks here and there. It will go in the living room full of my holiday collectibles. *Bought myself a lot of stuff today, didn't I?*

Shelf #1: An old candy jar with a string of colored Indian Corn inside, some vintage Christmas items, an old blue glass Noxema jar, an occupied JAPAN bird and a sweet girl with a parasol planter. Total for everything: $3.35.

Shelf #2: Two pieces of pottery for my collection, a great old book, four glass knife rests (from Pukesburg Sweden), a Russ Gardening figurine, a honking cast iron button, rusty carpenter's box, a Boyds Bear and a chippy old metal lightswitch box. Total: $4.45.

Shelf #3: A Hull vase for 50¢, gingham paper tablecloth, old rusty sprinkler, amber Blenko vase, fox string holder and a miniature thermos bottle. Total: $1.50. Now, before you get too excited about that Hullvase - it has been broken and reglued in two places. But if you place it just right on a certain shelf and hold your head to the left a bit - it looks like new! You can't tell can you? Neither can I. I would never be able to afford a perfect one anyway. I forgot to photgraph Shelf #4: A fishing reel pencil sharpener and a cast iron apple. Total: $1.30.

Two cool old Sunshine Biscuit tins for 50¢ each. Destined for swaps or ebay - I'm not sure yet.

I couldn't believe the luck I had today! It makes up for the lack of junk on our trip. We hit several thrifts and a huge road side yard sale and I only bought two things! A huge red handled biscuit cutter and that Garage Sale license plate. The Bean found it and told me, "You have GOT to get this!" So, I did. But, it will not go on the car.

I'll be back on my next post with a giveaway that I won and a surprise box full of goodies that I received from a blog reader. A male blog reader! A male firefighter blog reader! Ladies, did you know guys read our junking blogs? And, this guy did an awesome job sending me things that I love! Stay tuned....

"Where Were We?" Contest

I'm baaaaaaaaack. I'm tired. I have mountains of laundry.

We had fun. We saw lots of cool stuff. We ate lots of good food.

The Wi-fi didn't work at either hotel, so I was not able to host my "Guess Where We Are" contest.

Here are a few photos - first correct guess gets a prize from my massive prize vault aka my junk room.

We went to the top of this - all fifteen stories.

We saw fire, smoke and water here.

We saw everything from here.


We found Mary Poppins made of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans.

We went in here - even though it looks dangerous.

Way up high - 15 stories, in fact. We could see nearly 100 miles to that mountain range.
We went to an Old Fashioned Five and Dime where they had these fantastic old collapsible shopping baskets. Don't you lurve them?

Three red headed turkey buzzards coasting in the winds over the lake. Maybe even two lakes.

We saw a big boat. A famous boat.

We saw the World's Largest Ball of Twine - 6 Tons. *Aded to note - It was just a regular 6 ton ball of twine - not officially "The World's Largest".

Okay,

Where were we???????

*We have a winner. The very first guess was right. I guess I showed too many photos and made it easy! Congrats Theresa, I'll email you!

I'll be back with lots more photos and some stories too including how we had to check out of our first skevvy hotel because there were signs that illicit behavior had ocurred in the room......ick.