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.

 

 

Home again, home again jiggety jog!

I'm home....finally!!!!!  The laundry is finally all caught up, Clarice and I are settling back into our routines and I have even cooked twice so vacation time is officially over.  It's nice to be home again because I am such a homebody and nothing makes me happier than to putter around my home and play "house". 

The trip to DC was just the best and most challenging vacation that I've taken in the last few years.  Traveling with teenage girls is both so much fun filled with laughter and drama filled, hormonal meltdowns but those meltdowns were mine!  My poor daddy had to deal with all four of us women so he really deserves a medal of honor for not strangling us all.  We laughed so hard and made so many new family memories but it was the little things that I loved the most.  These girls are just my heart and soul so getting to spend time with them just thrilled me and of course, spending time with my momma and daddy is always wonderful. 

We did all the normal stuff that you'd expect to do while in DC but watching the fireworks on the 4th while sitting on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial was just breathtaking. Yes it was crowded, hot and everything else you'd expect but it was also so cool to being sharing it with everyone that was brave enough to wait out the heat and crowds.  And being at Arlington on Independence Day was just so very special uplifting and heart wrenching at the same time.

And it just cracks me up when I see Josi's expression of just one more picture.  I can't say that I blamed them because you can see what my response is to the picture taking.

 

Then we were off to Virginia Beach which was so relaxing compared to DC. 

 

We went to the Cheesecake Factory one night to celebrate Rachel's graduation and there was a brass band playing in the square so we stopped to enjoy the end to a perfect vacation! The girl's spontaneous dancing on the street was a highlight for me just seeing the smiles and joy on their faces made all the other petty stuff not matter one little bit.

 

The packing fun started and keep in mind this was the girl's stuff only!  So funny trying to cram it all into the trunk of the car

 

 

 

It was a fabulous trip and I loved every minute I got to share with my family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Way overdue post but it's gonna be short

Hi everybody and hope your summer days have been sunshine filled.  This is a very, very short post because in spite of long summer days, I never seem to find a spare minute.

I just returned Wednesday night from family vacation with my folks and 2 nieces.  Rachel graduated so her gift was a trip to Washington DC to watch the fireworks on July 4th then on to a few magical days in Virginia Beach.  We watched the fireworks from the steps of the Lincoln monument and what a magical night that was.  I'll share all the details and pictures later.
My family left yesterday and arrived home safely late last night in Arkansas.  Did I mention this was a driving trip so 5 of us crammed into my folks car along with all the "stuff" the teenage girls brought along?  They had suitcases, shoe bags which were duffel bags, makeup bags, beach bags, pillows, blankies, ect..... UGH!  I packed for the 8 days in a overnight bag and still had room to spare.

Anyway, I got back just in time to do my laundry, clean my house and love on my Clarice before Mark and I leave on Sunday for Jamaica for 10 glorious nights!  I'm only packing the overnight bag's worth of clothes but I have to take huge vats of sunscreen since this beautiful freckled skin just don't tan.  I'm so looking forward to taking this vacation to recover from the other vacation.  I just hate leaving Clarice again but Jamaica only allows animals from the UK or Ireland into the country and they must be unvaccinated....huh...go figure!

So off to start downloading many, many books to get ready to leave in the morning and I'll post more after we return.

Do something today that makes you smile my friends!

Family Treasures

I don't know if I ever showed this tool box before but it's one of my favorite things in my whole house.  It belonged to my grandfather and possibly was his father's but it is still full of all the machinist tools with dirt, oil and all.  Every time I look at it, I think of my Pa and what a special relationship we shared.  I was the first grandchild and he called me Pa's Doll my entire life.  He used to pick me up when I was a toddler and take me to get an icee which I still love to this day.  

On top on the cabinets is the Owl cookie jar that belonged to my Mamma and sat on her kitchen counter since my daddy was small. I see it and just have to smile.

 

This table belonged to Mark's Grandmother Harris and I just love it.  We have painted the bottom 3 different times in the 27 years we've owned it and it makes the best bedside table ever because it's huge!  It also holds the lamp I made out of a crock jug that belonged to my PaPa's family.

And here's my Pa's toolbox again and it's sitting on Mark's Granddad Harris' old trunk which he's has since his university days.

 

 

 

Here's one of my favorite things which is a 4 year old Mark with his Granddad Harris and dog Cuddles.

 

 

 

These are Mark's bunny slippers

 

I have so many favorite family treasures so I'll post more pictures really soon. 

 

 

 

 

Finally starting to take shape (Pic heavy)

Well guys and dolls, I think I may actually be seeing this becoming a home that we can enjoy.  Wahoo the boxes are dwindling and I can breathe a little easier.  Clarice is getting settled in and just full of playful mischief again but still a little unsettled because she's a lap kitty in the evening when we are watching tv.  She's always been my snuggle bug in the bed but not a lap kitty so this is a little different but I'm enjoying the extra love.

So here's a few pictures of things starting to look like home:

 

 

 

 

I just got these awesome strawberries today from Karen at My Colonial Home.  Aren't they just perfect in this yellow ware bowl?   

alright all my Canadian friends, why haven't I ever heard of Crown Jars? I found this at an estate sale the day before we moved from Atlanta and I love, love it!

 

Also found these 2 butter molds at that same sale.  It was an amazing collector's sale.

 

 

This is my favorite spot right as you come up the stairs.

This is a split level house so there is a lot of open space which is wonderful for light but it's difficult in furniture and décor placement.  Ignore the orange squirt bottle which is Clarice behavior method.

 

Master bedroom

I was gonna move the Hot Flash fan out of the picture but decided to keep it real!  I need for Mark to hang the huge mirror above the dresser.

My laundry closet which has been a huge adjustment to me but I do like that it's in the master bathroom so it's convenient to do laundry.  Oh and I got a new washer and dryer after 20 years it was much needed!

Alright I've bored y'all long enough so I'll get back to unpacking now or maybe I'll just watch trashy tv instead.