We interupt this summer for the FLU

Dang it all but Mark and I have confirmed as #3 & 4 Flu B.  The flu vaccine isn't even available in our area yet but they reported 5 peds cases and 4 adult cases so far.  Have you ever had the flu test done? I swear the nurse ran that swab up into my brain and even after 24 hours I can still feel it. We're on tamiflu so hopefully it'll help end our misery soon. Right now we're surviving on red Popsicles, Wendy's Frosties and cup of soup and doing a lot of sleeping.  Dang!

World's longest yardsale

Well I survived shopping the world's longest yard sale without too much bloodshed, cash spent or damaging the truck.  Seriously it was a fun thing to mark off my bucket list even though I didn't buy a lot but what I did buy I love.  It was just crazy traffic and crowds but really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I got to explore the countryside.  I shopped from Jamestown, Tn to the Georgia/Alabama border so I covered a lot of ground and it was hot, dirty, muggy, humid, horrible rain storms, ect.  I came home every afternoon just wiped out and so ready for a shower but  I can't wait until next year:)

I wanted to buy a pie safe or step back cabinet to display my ever growing yellow ware collection but couldn't find that one piece that just would have been perfect.  Don't get me wrong, I saw a lot of cabinets and some of them had hefty price tags but most were priced about right where I thought they should be.  Still just couldn't commit to anything because they all were just not right....one smelled like mouse pee ;(  really, really  bad and the guy had even painted the interior in hopes of killing the odor but it didn't do anything but make it smell like mouse pee paint fumes. 

Another had the right patina but replacement glass,

 another had great red paint that the dealer swore was original but it just didn't feel right and I seriously think it was not original paint so went with my gut feeling and passed on it.

 the last one I seriously looked at had original wavy glass but had been refinished so the patina was gone and if I learned anything from Antiques Roadshow, it's that refinishing ruins a piece!  The guy wanted $900 and it was refinished so way overpriced in my opinion.

But I did pick up some great items and spent less than $100 including lunch all three days.  Oh and I even had a funnel cake so score!

Huge stoneware pitcher $4, Red Wing stoneware soap dispenser $9, silver porringer $2(which I'm hoping will tarnish up so it'll be more prim) and prim doll/pillow $5

Ironstone Platter $3, vintage rickrack/seam tape $1, mini butter pat plate was free and vintage needlework scissors Free, pewter mug $5, silver loving cup $5

Bottom of the pewter mug is engraved Cape of Good Hope which is in South Africa but I'm having trouble dating it

The loving cup is heavy and it's engraved New Orleans Sugar Bowl which I thought was just way cool

Most expensive purchase was this huge dough/noodle board and soap saver for $55

 

Mark asked that I restrain from buying any chairs since the dang movers told him that they lost count of all my chairs after 38.  They also suggested that I might just have a chair problem.....which I admit but fortunately until that time Mark hadn't really noticed.  So apart from no chairs and don't wreck the truck I was unrestrained to shop!  While at one stop,  I happened upon this sweet little girl that was free with any purchase so I jokingly sent Mark a picture of what I could get for free by purchasing just one more chair.  I carried her around the entire field of great junk before I dropped her back off because my lease states specifically that the house is rented to Mark and Donna Harris and One Cat.  Mark was very quick to remind of that fact!

 

I also wanted to buy this pet stroller but figured walking a cat on a lease is probably about as Crazy Cat Lady as I want to be besides it was $100

 

Wahoo now I can't wait until next year!!!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica

Yes before the vacation I walked around singing that all the time.  This was the best vacation because we did NOTHING!  We stayed at The Royal Plantation which we stayed at 7 years ago and it was everything we remembered it to be.  There are only 70 suites so it's very personal.  It's all inclusive so no worrying about what drinks and food cost and we just relaxed.  You can do as much or as little as you want and we chose the little route for 10 days :)  We were on the beach from 9-4 every day just napping, drinking, swimming and I even did some reading  (yep I read 5 books and started #6 on the last day)  The tv stayed off the entire trip,  limited internet access and cell phone service so we were off the grid and loved it!  You are assigned a butler for your entire stay and given a cell phone to call them 24 hrs a day so they can fulfill your every wish but we felt like that was too much pressure so we left the phone in the room the entire time.  The only request we had the entire trip was get mint for mojitos at the bars.  Come on, we're in Jamaica so we must drink rum based drinks and mojitos are refreshing in the heat.  Our butler, Chase was just surprised that we really preferred to just be left alone and no requests or demands.....I guess some people abuse them and the services but we truly just wanted to not be followed around or even interaction except making us dinner reservations.  It was heavenly and Mark finally just relaxed.  I hated to leave but I sure was missing Clarice a lot and I knew she missed me so I was ready to get home to her.

 

 

The most interaction we had was with the peacocks which begged for treats at breakfast and lunch.  You had to be careful because they'd steal your french fries off your plate if you weren't paying attention.