It's My Birthday!

Yes, today is my birthday. I have decided not to concentrate on the actual number *cough* , but instead enjoy my family and all the nice things that go along with being the "Birthday Girl". The Bean is here with me all day, my Dad will be here this morning, my Mom and Step Dad will come over this afternoon and when DH gets home tonight, we will go out to eat. And, of course there's CAKE.

A hint: This is the birthYEAR, not the birthAGE.

I searched Google for sweet vintage Birthday graphics for this post, but I found these three instead which speak to me for different reasons.

Appropriate, right?

Love that birthday cake. And the corner piece is a must-have. It's only once a year,right???????

This one just spoke to me. Not sure why. Enjoy, ladies.

Anyone got a pin?

Oh God, I've turned into a dirty old lady.

I've had birthday niceness and gifts rolling in since August 1st, which I will share this weekend. I still can't believe the generosity and love that I have found in this blog and my blog friends. Thank you to all of you!

Pretty Photos and A Story At The End

Here the photos that I took on the day now know as "The Day I Thought I Lost My Phone". They are completely out of order, but I have a splitting headache, so that is how they will remain for today. If you want to know why I have a splitting headache - read to the end of the post for another "Damn, I'm Dumb" story. The waterfall under the bridge on the Walking Trail. We've had an unusual amount of rain lately, so that is why the water is a murky green color.
This was in the lake. I don't really know what it is for - part of the damn or a lookout tower for the Loch Ness Monster, you decide. I just love old no longer useful, rusty buildings.

Thee are about 298,876,435,564,280 rocks at the lake, but I stopped at this rock to look at it when I saw that lizard peeking up at me. If I would have happened to have actually picked up the darn thing, I would have rolled head over heels into the lake below, never to have been seen again.

That tower is smaller than it looks it the first photo, doesn't it?!? Oh, we are a clever duo, The Bean and I. We had recently discussed people "holding" the Eiffel Tower in photos, so we decided to give it a try. Except for his bottom thumb, we did a pretty good job. Better luck next time!

Check out the lizard. HE was HUGE! Okay, maybe not, but if he would have darted into my hair or down my bosom, Lord help me and that poor little lizard.

Artsy shot of the old tower on the left of the lake Now wait, I am going to get really clever and do something very artsy. Ready?
Artsy photo of the old tower on the left of the Lake. I really should have a job with National Geographic.
Another shot of the waterfall. It really was cool and pretty up there, but in this photo that green water looks a bit less than delightful. This lookout spot is a good 100 feet in the air. Sort of freaky to see your kid just levitating there above the falls.
Shot of the waterfall as we were leaving and heading back to the car.

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Today when we got home from grocery shopping, I reached up above my head to grab the handle on the inside of the door on the back of the VUE to pull it closed. It has hydraulics, so at my 5'2" stance, I have to pull it down hard and fast to get it shut. Well, today, I grabbed it and pulled it down fast and very hard and promptly slammed it into the top of my head. WHAM. Hard. I said the "F" word quite loudly in front The Bean (he's heard it before) and a slew of neighbor kids that had run down to greet us, then I started laughing and then WHAM the pain hit and I started bawling. Dadgum that hurt. Now I have a big old goose egg on the side of my head. Several years ago I cracked my very own Mother in the head with the door. I've always felt perfectly awful for having done that, accidentally, of course, but now I feel even more guilty that I hurt her so badly because it really, really hurts. Really! Damn, I'm Dumb!

It Was Still A Great Day

Friday, The Bean and I passed by a road with a sign pointing to a "Lake" that I have seen for 25 years, but never investigated. You know about that whole "Road Less Traveled" business. So, we decided to go see that Lake. When we got there, there was a new bicycle and walking trail that had been recently completed over the dam. We walked about a mile on the trail until it took a couple turns and curves. I was very surprised when we came to a huge iron bridge with a big waterfall running underneath. It was beautiful. I can't imagine that I never knew it was right there.

Oh, the magic of Google - Here is the bridge and the waterfall. The Mall is just on the other side of the highway. I still can't believe this is right there!

(I took a ton of photos, but, alas, they are on the camera that I can't unload on this old computer). We sat on the park benches and watched the water for quite awhile, then walked the mile back to the car and went home.

When we got home and I had brought in all the purchases of the day, I went to put my purse and keys up. That's when I noticed that I didn't have my cellphone. Crap. I called it, but I couldn't hear it ring, so we went to the car and tried again, but it wasn't in there either. Crap. It had to be on that darn trail. I grabbed my purse and we went back to the lake, not bothering to change out of our "stay at home" not so attractive clothes and shoes. It was Friday afternoon - a few minutes before 5:00 pm and I had to drive completely across town including traveling on the Interstate, which I just do not do. Especially at Rush Hour. But, I wanted to get there, find the phone and get home. Along the way, I commented that I wish I would have at least grabbed my watch, I felt naked without it.

We got to the Lake and retraced our steps. All our steps. But, no phone. We called it to see if maybe it would ring in a ducks mouth or something. I really don't know what our logic was at that point. We even visited the Bait Shop at the Lake to ask if anyone had turned in a phone. The aging bald headed (but very nice) man said he hadn't been there long, "But, let me call Mama." He called Mama, asked her about the phone, thanked her, added in an "I love you Mama" and told me no phone had been turned in. (It was worth the whole trip back just to hear that little chubby bib-overall wearing guy tell his Mama he loved her).

I decided to give up and hope and pray that someone had found it and would call me later to return it. We drove home, checked the messages to no avail and called the parental units to let them know that I no longer have a cell phone. DH came home and we discussed what to do because my contract is just about to expire and my plan isn't available any longer so we are trying to stay under the radar until they figure that out and raise my bill. I didn't mean to lose it. DH recently dropped his cellphone in the toilet as it was swirling in a flush. That cost us a cool $50.00. We decide to give it until the next day before we cancel the phone, just in case someone calls to say they have found it. I mourn for my photos that I never learned how to download and I wonder how I will find all the lost phone numbers in my Phone Book.

I walked into the bedroom to take off my watch, but as I remember I am not wearing it - I look on the dresser and there is my watch with my cellphone laying right beside it. Seriously.

I don't usually do many dumb things. But, when I do, Man, they are dumb.

That's About Right

You Belong in 1986

Wild, over the top, and just a little bit cheesy. You're colorful at night - and successful during the day.

What Year Do You Belong In?

Have you taken this quiz? I was definetly a child of the 80's. Well, not so much a child, of course.

1986 ROCKED!

Head's Up, Thrifters

We took The Bean Back to School shopping today for an array of skull encrusted/guitar emblazoned shirts and cargo shorts with pockets and loops and hoops and chains for what, I do not know. We don't normally do the whole Back to School Shopping Spree. I pick him up clothes here and there all the time, so he normally just gets a few things before school, then I hit the after school sales and buy him more new things. Plus, I pick him up shirts at the thrifts. I write a lot about my thrifting and yard saling but a retail shopper, I am not. Hate it. After three different stores and three different men's departments, I was truly in need of some thrift therapy.

We stopped at a thrift that I rarely shop at due to it's incredibly high prices. I have seen more times than I can remember, items clearly labeled from the Dollar Tree for $5.00. Their "magic"price is $8.00. Everything is $8.00. They do have good cheap prices on their clothes, but as far as knick knacks and household items, they are expensive.

They do have a big glass case full of jewelry, vintage hats, and expensive pocket books on display. They've had two vintage ladies Cosmetician Mannequin heads in the case for years. They put vintage jewelry, old hats and scarves on them and dress them for the holidays. They have little signs under them that say, "Not for sale. Display Only." I've always thought they were pretty neat.

Once a year, they pretty much clear out the store and have a huge parking lot sale complete with "All You Can Eat Mexican Food". Yes, you read that right. Mexican Food and Garage Sale shopping are not really two things that I necessarily put together. When we got there today, they were already starting to pull most of the things off the shelves and started lowering the prices for the parking lot sale. They had also filled random boxes with random things, covered the box in clear tape and written $1.00, $2.00, $3.00, etc. on them. I looked in the boxes and decided to buy this one:

Hmmmm...$1.00 for two big plastic mugs and some other things. Hmmmm...what's that under the mugs? Anything I might want?
My vintage mannequin heads. FOR ONE DOLLAR. Why would they use them all this time, make a point to say that are NOT FOR SALE and then one day decide to sell them for a mere $1.00? Actually $1.00 for two mannequin heads, eleven glass bar glasses , a linen napkin and the giant mugs. I'm just glad that I found them. I told DH that I had a calling to go there today.
I realize that they are a bit creepy in their "As Is" status. But, with a little combing and teasing, an old vintage hat or a neat scarf, they'll be tres chic, no?

The Night The Lights Went Out

The other night, I was standing in the shower all shampooed up (well, just my hair anyway)with my eyes squeezed shut when I realized it suddenly was very dark in the room. I got the shampoo out of my eyes and peeked out the shower door. The night light was still on so that meant the power was still on. I did the old "Shave and a Haircut" Knock*knock*a*knock*knock* on the shower wall which is code in our family for, "Help," "I forgot underwear," "I forgot a towel," "I forgot my underwear and my towel." The Bean came to my rescue and asked through the door (you can't see the shower from the door, don't worry)why I was showering in the dark. I told him that I hadn't been. The switch was in the "On" position, but was clearly "OFF". We had been having problems with having to flick it after turning it on to keep it on. I knew we would have to have an Electrician come out and rewire it one of these days. When we had the Electrician come help install the Air Conditioner, I was sick that I still had a tricky light switch even after paying him $350.00.

So, I decided to take matters into my own hands. The next day, I flipped off the circuit breaker and took off the switch plate (dropping my beautiful porcelain switchplate and smashing it to smitereens in the process). I tightened up the wires and the screws, but when I turned the circuit breaker back on, it was still wonky. And, maybe even a bit more wonky than it was before I looked at it. I decided it needed a new switch and not just tightening.

That required a trip to Lowe's. Simple enough. Ha. When I got to Lowe's I found the blue sign that said "Electrical" and entered an aisle with nine eight foot long sections of electrical switches. It was also packed with men in white t-shirts and painters pants with drywall sticking on them and paint in their hair throwing around fancy terms like "Two 20" and "One 10" and "copper wiring". I felt a bit overwhelmed. I came close to pushing that "NEED HELP" button, but I decided to close out the world and read the descriptions on each and every one. This was a difficult because on the other side of the aisle was the Doorbell demo area and The Bean proceeded to demo each and every doorbell in the joint. Including the one that played the entire "Hallelujah" Chorus.

But, I prevailed. I finally found the switches (there are light switches and lighted switches, which light up and would be helpful, but we are not wired for those) and sorted out the heavy duty switches from the regular switches and the dimmer switches and the three way switches and the zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Wait, what was I looking for? Oh yes, Single Light, Single Switch, Copper Wire Switches.

Finally, I found the single switch for a single light switch, found copper wiring switches and found a white switch. Wah-lah! Perfect. But, wait, we have a bathroom fan switch under the same plate. And, it's almond. "Oh what the heck, I'll replace them both!", I said. Obviously the pretreated lumber fumes had gotten to me at that point.

On the way out I ventured by the switch plate covers and saw that my fancy bathroom plate that I had paid nearly $15.00 for was on Clearance for $2.98, so I grabbed a new one. What the heck.

I returned home, got my trusty Phillips and Flathead screwdrivers and pliers and turned off the circuit breakers once again. I even rigged up a lamp on an extension cord and ran it down the hallway so I had full-on bright light instead of trying to hold a flashlight. (Smart, right?) I unhooked the old light switch, rewired the new switch, unhooked the fan switch and rewired it too. Went to the garage, turned on the circuit breaker and guess what?

Light!

Light that stays ON!

*Pat*Pat*Pat* That's me, patting myself on the back. And, I'm not bitter, but the old DH didn't even say "Good job" or "Wow" or "Thanks!". Not a word. Jealous, is my guess. Something about "manhood" and "testosterone" or some other crap.

Isn't it pretty? New white switches. New white porcelain cover. And, it works!

I'm like a proud mama.

I wonder if I could have installed that new A/C unit?

In the words of Reba, "Craaaaaaaaaaaap."

Too Hot to Junk. I Quit. Possibly. Maybe Not. We'll See.

Friday we went to a Benefit Sale to help pay Medical Expenses for a local couple hurt in a recent Vehicle/Pedestrian Fatality. A man was driving along a windy narrow road, when he rounded a corner and hit a young 23 year old girl that was jogging, then crossed the center line and hit another car head on. The driver that hit the jogger was unharmed (a DWI was issued later), the jogger was thrown an ungodly distance, knocked out of her clothes and shoes, and died on impact. The couple in the other car each have broken legs, broken arms and broken wrists. They are in Rehab and getting better from their injuries, but having great difficulties not seeing that poor girl fly over their car as they were getting hit as well. It was such a terrible accident, killing the girl and affecting her family, affecting the family of the Drunk Driver and affecting the couple and their family. It was an accident that could have certianly been avoided.

The sale was held a few doors up from our house at the house of one of The Bean's friends. It is her Aunt and Unlce that were hurt in the wreck. They had publicized the auction for a few weeks, so I knew it was coming. The night before, we did a drive-by to see if they had much. And, they did. Tons! It took every fiber of my being not to stop and have a looksie. When I did get there on Friday, they said, "We saw you drive by last night - you should have stopped and shopped!" Doh! After we left, we hit a few other sales, but the heat was gastly, so we headed back home until we took a trip to Sam's Club later in the day where I purchased enough pickle slices, croutons and jelly beans to feed an army. (Seriously, what gets into your head at Sam's? Did we need a bag of croutons as big as a bed pillow? Will we eat 6,000 pickle slices before February 2010? We dang well better!)

So, here's the loot from Friday. I do think it's interesting when I go to six or seven sales and randomly buy things and then discover when I get home and look at it all, that it has a theme of some sort. Friday's theme:

RED

Two old Maple Syrup Buckets for 50¢ each. I bought these at a sale that only had all new items and kids stuff, so I was pleased to spot these under a table. They've been painted red, but the red is peeling, so I may be able to get them back to the original patina. The two trays were 25¢ each. They were extremely grungy and now they are only slightly grungy.
Today's treasures - A giant glass Miracle Whip jar full of carded buttons for $2.00, a vintge Santa Salt Shaker with cork stopper for 5¢, an old framed "Mother" postcard for 10¢, mini glass shakers for 25¢, mini clothespins for 10¢ and the old wooden clothespins were 5¢. The snap card was int he jar of buttons. The o ld garden shjears were today's, "Where did you find this?" item. It seems nearly every week I find an item at a sale and no one having the sale has ever seen it. They hem and haw over where it came from who it belongs to and what to charge. This time the magic price was 25¢. There's a photo on the side over there with my old garden tool collection.
I spotted a big bag with a couple rolls of Sahseen ribbon in it, so I asked how much. It was only $1.00, so I grabbed the entire bag. I was really surprised when I got home and discovered that the entire bag was Sasheen Ribbon. There is Pale Pink, Purple, Coral, Hot Pink, Gold, Hot Red, Metallic Gold, Nile Green and two spools of Shocking Pink (which is a rather namby-pamby pink and not especially shocking). There are 250 yards on each spool -some aren't completely full, but close. So, that's about 25,000 yard so of ribbon. That's 75,000 feet. That's a lot of ribbon!

Today was Kid's Day at the local grocery store, so we headed over there and of course, had to hit a sale or two (or three or four) along the way. DH calls on the store, so the Asst. Manager had made The Bean a special bag of loot to pick up. We went to a Boy Scout Sale where everything was $2.00 a bag and a Foundation of some sort where everything was $3.00 a bag.

It took three Boy Scouts, two Moms and one Boy Scout Leader to come up with a price for these old white bee boxes. "What'll you give me for them?" was the final answer. I was about to leave when they told me I could have them allt hree for $2.00. Sold. What will they become? Haven't a clue. I just liked the white chippy wood. I didn't even realize they were bee boxes until they told me so.
Here's the view inside - they don't have bottoms, so they are more like shadow boxes. You can see the honeycomb and beeswax residue on the sides. I really, really, really want to get a flea market booth, so I think these will go in it as display when I do.
This the worst photo I have ever posted. Sorry. This is a box about the size of the palm of my hand holding 24 little gold blown glass ornaments. I've never seen any so tiny - they are fabulous!
Another crazy bad photo. Sorry again. At the Foundation Sale, everything was $3.00 for a big brown grocery bag full. Well, it was so incredibly hot that I didn't even want to look around much. I spotted a small box full of old wedding cake decoartions, paper/foil leaves, plastic translucent clumps or grapes and other old wedding items. It wouldn't have filled up the bottom of a paper bag, so I asked how much for it and they told me that it was $3.00 since it would have fit in the bag. Meanwhile other people had bags so full and heavy they couldn't ever carry them. The man tells me it's all for charity, so I shouldn't mind. But, I did mind. I know it's charity, but to me, charity is just giving them money. Not buying less, but paying more than everyone else. I ended up paying it, because it wasn't that much and I'm not a total b!tch. I got plenty, and really $3.00 wasn't bad to as much old stuff I found. There's thousands of those foil leaves.
The photos just don't seem to be getting any better, do they? This is a printers box filled with "Old Metal Type Cuts and Engravings with Obsolete Foundry Type" (that's what it says on the back). It says, "Old Lawyers Never Die, They Just Lose Their Appeal". I don't like it the way it is, so the plan it so attempt to pry off all the old metal letters and use them in another fashion. I love old printer's blocks.

Here's a sweet apron made from feedsack material. I just cannot seem to leave an apron when I find it, even though I really don't even collect them (although I do have my fair share of them on display).
A red ginghman apron with a sweet pocket - both in a $2.00 bag along with all this:
A very large piece of feedsack material with sweet children on it.
A very large piece of sweet robin's egg blue floral feedsack material.
And a big piece of rosey feedsack material. This one is actually a big feedsack that has been cut into a flat peice of material.
A variety of new sock monkey themed fabric that is so cute,it almost makes me wish I could sew. It would make a fabulous monkeybox Junkin' bag.
And, on the resale front, a nice and minty 1970's Sunshine Family. Complete! Mom, Dad, Baby, furniture, clothes trunk full of clothes, dishes, pans, sleeping bag, shoes, booklet of ideas to make for your family and on and on. I had the Sunshine Family when I was little. Oh, who am I kidding! I still have them. My little baby is nearly bald in the back because she was my favorite and I carried her in my pocket most of the time. The Sunshine Family is sort of the opposite of Barbie. They are all about family, nature, spending time outdoors and together, not spending money, etc. You were encouraged to make clothes and items for the Sunshine Family. My Mom crocheted my Barbie a Poncho and I nearly got laughed off the playground with that.

(Dear Mumsie, I liked it and I still have it. Love, Your Daughter).

The heat is expected to hit 107 this week. He have horrible humidity, so this will seem like 150! The Bean and I checked out an arsenal of movies from the library, bought the 36 ct. box of Microwave Popcorn at Sam's and plan to hunker down and enjoy the new Air Conditioning and enjoy our last two weeks of Summer Vacation. I might hit a thrift now and then, but I think I am done junkin' 'til the heat breaks. It is just too hot, makes me cranky, makes the Bean horribly cranky and just isn't that much fun in the long run. Come on FALL!!!!

Eye, yi, yi!

Going to the eye doctor is the strangest experience. Unlike regular doctors, where you go in sick and come out with medicine, feeling better, you go in the eye doctor's office seeing great and leave blind as a bat. Now, mind you, my eye doctor is super sweet and the nicest most caring eye doctor that I have ever had. They just make you do odd things. You put your contacts in to get to the office. Then they make you take them out, then ask you to read the chart on the wall. I always respond with my same witty remark, "What wall?" Ha ha ha. I'm a real pistol when I am blind. (This might be a good time to mention that I am a -9.50 in one eye and a -8.50 in the other. I literally am, practically blind.) Then they shine a really bright light in your eyes, then shoot big painful puffs of air in each eye. (Hate that part the most of all.) Then they ask you to walk down the hall to the exam room. Again, Miss Witty says, "What hall?" ha ha ha. There I go again. Then they test your eyes. Put in your contacts so you can see if the prescription is correct, then take them out again. Then the Dilating Drops OUCH Those suckers hurt. Three drops in each eye - just enough to give you Tammy Faye Bakker eyes, then they leave you in a dark room with no one to talk to and nothing to do. Hum dee dum. Back she comes- shines a 8,000,000,000,000 watt light into your eyes while saying "Look up to the left, down to the right, up to the center, over to the left, down at your knees" It's like the world's worst pop quiz. "My left, or her left? Her knees or mine?" Once she is done, you can put your contacts back in and leave. But, wait, you cannot see. It is blindingly bright. You have to attempt to sign the receipt. You accidentally sign the clerks forehead instead. "What receipt?". Ha ha ha ha.

My first eye appointment was when I was nine years old. I could see fine at school, and then one day, quite literally, I couldn't read the chalkboard. Not even from the first row. Mandatory eye test day rolled around and the nurse tested my eyes. She asked me to tell her what I saw on the screen and I probably said "A Goat" instead of "E A J G B" because I couldn't even see the screen, let alone what was on it. So, off we went to the Opthamologist for an eye glass prescription. He looked in my eyes and said, "My god! You're as blind as a bat!" And, being the strong women my Mom and I are - we burst into tears. He said, "Uh, I was kidding". Not funny, Mr. Goober. I got my eyeglass prescription and went back to 4th grade. I was greeted by Mr. William Burkett, one of my fellow classmates (who happened to already be in trouble and sitting in the hall) who greeted me,"Hi, Four-Eyes". Much to his surprise, my Mother rounded the corner right after that statement. He never called me that again.

******This photo borrowed from Google Images - IT IS NOT ME. Although, I did wear a mean hair doodle. ******

I never liked my glasses, but I always wore them because I was pretty much useless without them. One day in Junior High we were pushing this giant ball around. I mean that ball was about seven feet around. There were two teams and each team was trying to push it to the opposite side of the gym. Something happened, (certainly nothing to do with my swift athletic ability - ha ha ha) and a bunch of us fell down. My glasses flew off, just out of reach, but I could still make them out. One of my team mates was someone I deplored and she deplored me even mored (I had to make that rhyme, I just couldn't help myself). In was like slow motion, I saw sneakered foot coming down hard, right above my glasses, sure to smash them to smithereens. That's when my enemy grabbed them out of they way and handed them to me. She said, "My Mom would have killed me if I broke my glasses." So, for one millisecond, we shared a special bond. Then it was back to hating each other like good old 7th graders do. (Or rather, did, The Bean is headed to 7h grade and I am sure they all just adore one another).

My eye doctor refused to give contacts to anyone under the age of 16. He was a cranky old fart, in retrospect. Before I started High School - which was 10th grade - I was granted permssion to get contacts. Yeah. I have worn them ever since. I've never had an eye infection, never lost a contact or any other horror stories people have told me that has happened to them.

This photo is my actual eye. It's blurry to me, and to you probably, but really blurry to me.

It is now 2.5 hours since I had my eyes dilated, and they are still pretty much all pupils. I am typing this without spell check because I can't see the screen, let alone the keys. I'm probably a row off and it will look like a one armed baboon typed it. I don't recommend using the flash when your eyes are dilated. Not one of my smarter moves.

Hey, aren't you glad I went to the Opthamolgist today and not the Gynecologist?

One, Two, THREE

The Bean had his test today. The counselor said it would be surprisingly easy - more along a 5th grade level. It's just a State Mandated test - no biggie. The Bean finished in 15 minutes and we were out of there. So, he is officially a regular kid with a regular school schedule once again. *****Crossing fingers and Knocking Wood*****

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The Super Cheap Thrift is open on Tuesdays, but I never go on Tuesdays. But, since we were out and about, we made a quick run. I was still thinking about all that jewelry that I didn't get to sort through last week. I usually look at the jewelry last because it's by the register, but today I looked through it first. I did find a little bag of charms for 50¢, a giant safety pin for 25¢ (weren't these for those wrap around skirts back in the day?) and a cool onyx carved sharks tooth necklace for The Bean.

We were going to the movies later in the afternoon* and I wanted to run into Hobby Lobby afterwards to grab a bag of beanbag pellets for my felt food/birds I have been creating. But, what did I find on the craft area for a whole quarter?

A nice big two pound bag of bean bag pellets. Unopened! (But don't think that kept me from Hobby Lobby later....oh, no, no, no!).
I always make a walk-through of the toy department looking for old children's books and vintage toys. Sometimes I find some, mostly I don't. Today I found this sweet Effenbee sleepy eye doll. Her little felt pockets say, "Stop, Look, Listen" and the little ribbon has cars and trains on it. She is so cute. I need to research her to find out how old she is - I am guessing mid 1950's or early 1960's. If she's worth anything at all - she'll be ebay bound this Fall.

But, where I hit paydirt, was in the laundry basket with the "Tablecloths" sign scotch taped to the front. They roll up tablecloths and wrap making tape around them with the price written on the tape. I spotted one vintage looking tablecloth marked $1.50, then another one off to the side of the basket, and then yet another that had fallen behind the basket.

This one is a bit faded, but I still like the design. At $1.50 each, I just decided to take a chance and buy them sight unseen.
This sweet blue and green floral one is lightweight and in perfect condition. I cannot explain the darkness of these photos. It was bright sunny and 103 outside when I took them this afternoon.

Pretty, right?

But what about THIS ONE?

Oh, she's a beauty! Nice pale yellow with brown an array of flowers in a circle in the center. Absolutely perfect and no flaws at all.

It's funny. I had quite a few tablecloths, but then I told myself I was going to cut down on so many collections and concentrate on my favorite collections. Vintage tablecloths moved up to the top of the list because they are not often found in my circle. Since then, I swear, I have found a tablecloth (or three) every time I leave my house. Maybe I need to set my mind to finding Monet's or copies of the Declaration of Independence.

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No thrifting or much fun on the schedule tomorrow - I have an eye appointment which means I will have to have my eyes dilated which I hate so much. It takes my eyes about 4-5 hours to get back to normal. They say it will wear off in 20 minutes or so, but it's always at least four hours. Oh well, what are you going to do, right?

*We saw Hancock - it's good. Not what I expected, but good. I don't like Super Hero movies. He's a Superhero - but not like any other.

This, That and Those

Here's a post with no rhyme or reason. Sometimes I just have things to say and photos to post.

Saturday, The Bean and I made this Chocolate Walnut - Zucchini Cake. Yes, I said Zucchini. It's awesome. We planted way too much zucchini this year and I literally had a drawerful in the fridge. Sure it's chocolate and sure it's cake, but there are vegetables in it, so I am sure it's healthy.I found some oranges in the bottom of the crisper that were getting pithy, so I threw them out in the backyard for the birds to peck at for some water. Later that night, I went out and noticed the oranges were black - covered in what DH called JuneBugs (Hello, it's July!). There were hundreds of them on those oranges. I did not get too close. Shudder.

I got The Bean registered at school today. He has to take a short test in the morning to see if he needs any special classes (because he was homeschooled, they have to make sure homeschool kids were properly educated...Don't get me started). Anyway, the Principal and Asst. Principal both said hello to him and welcomed him back. He has a new Counselor (today was his first day) and he seems very nice. I am happy to have a completley new person to count on that doesn't know "the story" and have any hangups about The Bean. He is happy to be getting back to "normal" and being with his friends. He's always been a good student in every way, so I know he will do well. (This is a photo from 4th grade with one of his buddies.)

This Spring I sent out various packages of Zinnias to a lot of my blog buddies. The ones I planted are flourishing - they are about chest high and all blooming in the brightest colors. I plant mine specifically to pick. Some people think you should never pick flowers, but I just love them in the house to brighten it up. These are in the kitchen to make my boring chores a bit more perky.
This sweet little notebook was sent to me by Cheryl, who doesn't have a blog yet, but does sell on Etsy. She asked me about a vintage coloring book I had bought at The Sale of Sales becuase she had the same one when she was a child. I sent it to her as a gift, and she made me this sweet little Red Riding Hood Notebook as a thank you. Thank you Cheryl!



Tune into tommorrow for more miscellaneous random ramblings. Like we are going to the movies tomorrow and I am going to the Eye Doctor on Wednesday (Oh, how I hate having my eyes dialated) and getting new brakes on the car later in the week. Ys, it's just one fascinating event after another!