Fun at the Beach

Last Sunday my family and I, along with my daughter's boyfriend, took a trip to the beach for a little fun. We started off at Lincoln City where we bought a bag of day old bread to feed to the seagulls.

We really lucked out with the weather. It didn't rain all day and even though it was a bit overcast, it wasn't really all that cold either.

After a little stroll down the beach we decided we should drive on down for a yummy lunch at Mo's. If you are an Oregonian, you already know about Mo's. I always get the same thing, bowl of their yummy clam chowder, dinner salad with shrimp and garlic cheese bread. The Mo's restaurants are famous on the Oregon Coast, plus it is a tradition in our family. A day at the beach = lunch at Mo's.

We stopped at Depot bay and watched the waves breaking. There were some pretty big ones. Mesmerizing to watch.

My two favorite dudes.

After lunch we decided to go to the Newport Aquarium. It was fun to see all the cool sea life. My favorite were the sea otters. Isn't this little guy cute?

Cute puffin. A little camera shy though.
This octopus was huge. He was moving around a lot and it was hard to get a good picture of him behind the glass.

Cool jelly fish.

After the Aquarium we decided that we needed a little bit more beach time so we headed on down to Nye Beach in Newport. It was fun strolling on the sand. I just love the beach. Must be because I'm a water sign (Cancer). Every time we go to the beach I always say the same thing, "I want a house at the beach." I actually say it several times and I'm sure it drives my hubby nuts.

Here's a picture of my daughter and her boyfriend. They just celebrated their 3 month anniversary. It was his first trip to the Oregon Coast and I'm glad he was able to come with us.

You can tell that she's smiling in this picture.

This was a really cool old house/hotel in Nye Beach.

One of my favorite things to do at the beach is walk on the sand and check out the neat houses along the beach. The older and funky ones are my favorites.


After awhile we decided to head home. It was a very good day.

Thank You Dear Friends

If I haven't mentioned it before, I have some of the dearest friends ever. They really are the best and not just because they give me stuff either. They truly are wonderful people and most importantly, they "get me."

Recently, my BFF Timi, gave me this sweet blogging award. It's the "Proximidade" award. "This award focuses not on the glory and fanfare of blogging, but in the PROXIMITY to one another through this on-line world (kind of a Six Degrees of Separation sort of thing)."Blogs who receive this award are 'exceedingly charming' say its authors. This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement." I am so honored that Timi feels that way about me and my blog as I never imagined all the wonderful friends I would make as a result of starting this blog back in July of 2007. To all of you who read, comment and support me and all that I share here, I am truly grateful.

On Monday I was suppose to go to Martha's house for a little get together with her, Isabel, Joy and Diane. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it as I had to take my dear hubby to the airport. Yesterday Isabel dropped off a little surprise for me from Martha. Look how adorable this little box is.

I couldn't believe it when I opened it. Just look at all this wonderful goodness inside. I was overwhelmed with her generosity and am always in awe of Martha's talent and creativity.

To make it even more special, Martha gave me something else. A sweet blogging award. The lemonade stand award which is awarded to those blogs that have great attitude/gratitude. Thanks so much Martha!

Since I'm sharing the love and sweet things/awards I have been given, I thought I would also share with you some other gifts I've been given recently.

Isabel, my dear friend and partner in crime, came over before Christmas bearing gifts. Unfortunately, I have put most of the little treasures away, or ate them, but I wanted to show you this beautiful square of barkcloth she gave me.

Isabel has a wonderful collection of gorgeous barkcloth and has always been so generous to share some bouquets with me for pillows. In fact, I think most of the barkcloth pillows I showed in my last post were made with fabrics Isabel has given me.

Last October I was at the Portland Antique Expo and I had commented to Diane who was also there that I hadn't found any good barkcloth (like Isabel, I'm always on the lookout for pretty barkcloth to add to my collection). She mentioned that she had some smaller pieces perfect for pillows. We tried to get together before the holidays, but never was able so I decided to call her on my way back from my in-laws at Christmas to see if I could stop by and pick up the fabric as we were going right by where she lives. Okay, I know this is getting to be a long story, but I'm almost done. I was in heaven when I saw what she had for me.

Look at this lovely fabric! Some of the prettiest I have seen. I told her I wouldn't be greedy and would share some with Isabel and I would make her (Diane) a pretty pillow with some of it too.

I want to end this post with an gigantic THANK YOU to all of my wonderful friends (you know who you are). Your support, encouragement, ability to listen to my constant ramblings and just the time you spend with me is something I could never put a price on. I am and will always be grateful for you and hope I can continue to be worthy of your friendship. Okay, enough gushing.

I got some fun posts planned so come back soon and have a great Wednesday!

Top Ten Projects for 2008

I saw a few blogs that posted their top 10 projects for 2008 and I thought I would do the same. I, like a lot of bloggers out there, love a trash to treasure project and last year I did quite a few.

In no particular order, here are some of my favorites.

Simple barkcloth pillow. I kept all of these. Some are on my living room sofa and some on the day bed in my front room.

Vintage spoon lampshade. Got this idea from Isabel who got it from someone else. I love it on this little lamp I bought at the Silverton Antique Show. Another keeper.

This was an old mail cart Joy got for me from the auction. This was a super easy and fun project. Sold it to a lady at the Coburg Antique show. She said she was going to put it at the bottom of her laundry shoot.

While I made over a dozen shopping cart liners for sale last year, this is the first one I made for myself. I love it. I used some of my most favorite barkcloth era fabric and and adorable tiny rose fabric I got from Jo Ann's. This particular cart is kind of wonky with a funny shape and wobbly wheel. It squeaks too, but I love it.

This dresser was an ugly brown when I found it at the Salvation Army store. Another dresser which I bought and kept was the inspiration for this one. This cutie sold in the last minutes of the Farm Chicks show last June.

Another different laundry cart. My friend Debbie helped me make this one. It was challenging, but I think it turned out adorable. It also sold at Farm Chicks.

Inspired by a cute banner I saw at Joy's house, I made my own. This was one of the first collagy type things I made and I really enjoyed using things from my stash. It currently lives on the window in my sewing room.

I bought this folding screen on craigslist and spent a couple hours covering it with a lovely patchwork of vintage wallpaper. I was inspired by Pam Garrison who got the idea from Alicia Paulson. Pam did an entire closet and Alicia, the back of a door. I love how it turned out. It is currently for sale in my booth at Monticello.

This mirror was something I found in a box lot at the auction. It didn't look like this at all. I love how it turned out after I attacked it with paint stripper. Now that I think about it, this may have been a 2007 project, but it is definitely one of my favorites. Here is what it looked like before I went to work on it. Who would do this, I ask you? Ugh, it was hideous, but I could see the potential. On the back of the mirror is a tag with an 1883 date on it so I'm glad I could make it look presentable. It now has a place of honor on my mantel.

This vanity bench was one I bought from my friend Karen at her garage sale. It was brown and ugly. Amazing what a little paint and fabric can do. This one sold at the Fall Harvest Sale at Monticello.

My first attempt at crown making with Joy. Another fun project using what I already had in my stash.

And finally, a cute little trunk that I used sheet music and miscellaneous vintage ephemera on. This cutie also sold at Farm Chicks. Now I'm wishing I had kept it.

Well, that's it. I think that was a few more than 10, but who's counting, right. This post has inspired me to get busy working on some new projects. Better go get started!

A Good Read and Fun with Friends

I have mentioned my love of reading before and you already know how much I love junking. So, when I found out about a series of novels based on a character who is a junker on Sue's blog, I just had to find out about them. The books I'm taking about are by the author Mary Kay Andrews and they are called Savannah Blues, Savannah Breeze and Blue Christmas. If you can, read them in that order as it will be easier to follow the characters and story line. I of course read them out of order, but still enjoyed them immensely. Mary Kay Andrews has her own blog as well and is a self proclaimed "Junker." My kind of gal for sure!

Yesterday Isabel and Joy came over to work on projects and have a little lunch. Joy and I decided to make an apron while Isabel ironed some of her vintage linens. The aprons we worked on were from a pattern Joy brought with her that I absolutely loved. It took me all day to finish my apron, but I loved how it turned out.

Joy has some pictures on her camera that I'm sure she will show on her blog. Her apron was adorable made from the cutest vintage ballerina drapery fabric.

Today after dropping off the kids at school, I decided to do a little thrifting and headed down the road to Goodwill. I was so disappointed when I got there and found out that they have changed their hours and now open at 9am (instead of 8am) so I just turned around and went home. Since I still had all my sewing stuff out, I decided to go ahead and make this.

This one is a little different than the one I made yesterday. No pockets and the fabric is lighter weight. I'm going to just wear this one like a smock over a white t-shirt and jeans. This one only took me a couple hours to make instead of the whole day. Now I want to make a bunch more. They are so fun and easy to put together when you finally figure it out.

Finally, here is a little something I want to show you. To thank me for inviting her to Thanksgiving dinner, Isabel gave me the sweetest little card with a hand painted rose on it. I dug through my stash of vintage frames and found a perfect one to hold the little painting and now it sits proudly on my little shelf in my bedroom with my other mini rose paintings. I just love it!

Wishing you all a very happy Thursday and a great weekend!

What a Difference a Week Can Make and Some Other Random Stuff

You're probably tired of all the snow talk around here, but I promise, this is the last snow picture I will show. This picture is of my backyard fountain a week ago.

This is what it looked like when I got home from our trip last weekend.

Fortunately I don't think it broke. The top fell off and landed on a nice soft pile of leaves we never got around to raking. See, sometimes being lazy pays off.

My trip over to Monticello Wednesday was pretty quick. I had sold a cabinet to Sue and she had graciously let me keep it in my booth until I could bring in a replacement, which I did today. I'll be going back to do a little more work on the booth on Monday. I did however, find a little cutie for me. Guess whose booth I found it in? That would be Sue.


I saw this cute little pink drawer before, but today when I saw that it was still there and 15% off, well, I decided to treat myself. I already put a little scrap of some vintage wallpaper inside. I love this wallpaper and wish I had a lot more, but unfortunately this is the very last piece of this particular paper. A perfect fit in this cute little drawer now residing in my bedroom.


On my way to my doctors appointment the other day, I allowed a little time to stop at the Goodwill. It has literally been weeks since I have been thrifting and I was really needing a fix. I found one thing I just had to have. This adorable (or will be when I'm through with it) buffet.


I love the smaller size. This one will get the shabby treatment with some creamy white paint, vintage glass knobs and a little distressing. The best part is that it was 50% off! Yippee! The bad part? Bringing it home and stuffing it into my already crowded front room. Normally I would just put it on the front porch until I have time to "work my magic," but I really don't want to get another letter from the HOA.

A couple months ago I briefly mentioned that my 15 year old daughter got her first boyfriend. I have been pestering her for weeks to let me take a picture of them and she finally relented when he was recently over watching movies.



Pretty cute picture, I think? She of course doesn't like it much and wish I had taken a better picture to share with the world. ha ha

And finally, say hello to my new little friend.

I have been wanting one of these for a long time and I finally got one from my kids for Christmas. Of course, they had to get me a pink one. I'm not sure how many songs it will hold, but my daughter was nice enough to help me put a bunch on, so now I'm in business. The only problem is that now that I have it, when I use it, I want to sing along which is always met with protests from my family. What? I'm a great singer, really I am. (Not!) I always joke that I may not be a great singer, but what I lack in singing ablility I make up for in loudness.

I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! Looking forward to a fabulous and fun 2009! Make sure to head on over to Isabel's blog. She is doing a fabulous giveaway for something I'm sure you will love.

No More Snow/A Year in Review

Not much to report, but I noticed that I last posted a week ago so I thought I would check in with y'all. We are back from our trip over the mountain to visit my in-laws. We had a great time eating and loafing around. I managed to finish one book and catch up on my magazines too.

I was so happy to see that my car was no longer buried and I could actually get it out of my driveway. We are now back to our regularly scheduled rainy Oregon weather which is just fine with me.

Time to put Christmas away. A job that always makes me a little sad, but it will give me a chance to do a little rearranging too.

A couple weeks ago we got a letter from the Home Owners Association in our neighborhood stating that I could not use my front porch to store furniture. What the heck? Well, I guess I was surprised that I didn't get a letter sooner. So, I finally cleared off the excess furniture on my porch and I have to admit, it does look quite a bit better.



Hopefully they won't take issue with the furniture I am using to "decorate" my front porch.

This is the last week the kids are home from school. I'm sure by the time they go back, their brains will have turned to mush. Three weeks off from school is just too long if you ask me, but I have say that I have enjoyed a lot of lazy mornings these past few weeks.

Heading over to Monticello tomorrow for a much needed re-stocking/re-arranging. I have a pile of stuff ready to go. I guess with all the snow it has been a little quiet over there, but now that the weather is better, hopefully people will be coming out to shop.

Cindy, has invited everyone to do a "Year in Review." As usual, I am late to the party. Here are some of my favorite pics from my 2008 blog posts.

They are kind of dinky and hard to see. You can click on them for a better view.

Hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday!

More Snow

Wow, it's been over a week since I last posted. Not much is going on here except the snow. It is the main event in our neck of the woods. I wish I could say I've been getting lots of projects done, but I can't. I've been pretty lazy to be honest. Watching movies, cooking, reading are my main activities this past week. But yesterday we decided to brave the snow and headed to the mall to do a little last minute Christmas shopping. Before we went shopping I did this

The first time in my life that I have ever shoveled snow. It was kind of fun.

Here's a picture of my car.

And, if you're not sick of snow pictures here are some more just outside our house.

This weather is just crazy. Hope you are all staying warm and cozy this week! Not sure if I'll be back before Christmas, but in case I'm not, I want to wish all of my blogging friends a very Merry Christmas to you and your families.