August began with a Treasure Hunt

Sunday afternoon I went thrifting with two very sweet young women.  It was wonderful, but we wore ourselves out!  Thanks Shannon & Catherine for a very fun day.


Some of my finds:

a rainbow of yarn;
 

 
Three dollars worth of fabric equaling 25 pieces measuring from 1/4 yard to 2 yards each, plus two pieces of batting 

an old bottle with the bottom removed- creating a wonderful chimney for a candle;

lots of old buttons, more yarn, some tiny
clothespins and an embroidery hoop; 

Now I just need to figure out what I am going to do with all of it!

finding treasures...in the yard, at the thrift stores and on other blogs

It has been a good season for treasure hunting.  We have a LOT of flowers blooming in the yard right now and each one is a treasure.

 

A few weeks ago I found this spice rack at a thrift store.  The rack is a carousel; the bottles had labels and corks which smell of the spices. I couldn't decide if I should leave it alone or re-purpose it.  With Easter coming and flowers blooming the decision was easy. I removed the corks, scrubbed the vials and filled them with pastel colored water.  My sweet daughters-in-law insisted I post a picture of it. 

 

On Saturday the kids were all here and we all went treasure hunting.  We visited the Green Pea Boutique first.  It is the best antique/boutique store around!!  Both girls found treasures there. We also went to another antique store and a thrift store.


My favorite find is this egg gathering basket , I am anxious to fill it with "grass" and "eggs", I just don't know yet what that will look like.  

We all brought home new (to us) treasures.  The best part was 50% off everything at the thrift store.  This silver plated teapot was only fifty cents!

I also love treasure hunting on all the wonderful blogs out there in cyberspace.  I found versions of these sweet birds on a few different blogs and had to try making them.  I love the paperclip feet! 

And this morning I found the sign below and couldn't agree more.

What to do...

Yesterday, at Goodwill, I found this:

 

It is an eight panel photograph of Central Park; each panel is 6 1/2 x10 inches.  I paid $2 a panel (each one is a well constructed chunky box with a nice hanger on the back).  My intention was to re-purpose it with a picture (or poster) that would better fit our decor, and reconfigure it in a 4 by 2 rectangle versus the 1 by 8 layout.    

Then I found it on line at Z Gallerie  (they have since removed the link) and thus the quandary.  It originally sold for $279 before being marked down to $195.  Seems a shame to deface it...what to do, what to do. 

I would love to hear your suggestions?

Hatiora salicornioides

Common Names:  Drunkard's Dream or Dancing Bones.

This plant is well over 60 years old.  My mother  remembered seeing at her parents house in the mid 1940's.  Grandma moved in with Mom around 1975 and brought the plant with her.  Mom came to live with us in 2008 and again, the plant came too. 
I transplanted it soon afterward and because we have a milder climate it became on outdoor plant.  It is thriving.

It now measures about three feet from top to bottom and a little over two feet across.

I have been cutting it back to get new starts and will share them with family members who want them.  (We will be taking a road trip in September, so let me know if you want one.)

   

 I loved how the first "start" looked in a vase that I had, so began looking for more pots and vases in thrift stores.  I now have a small collection.

Here are some that I have planted over the past year that seem to be doing very well. 

And another
batch that I
planted today.   

Plus the ones in
water waiting for
roots to appear. 

August

There has been a lot going on but my brain has been too tired to blog. Work is finally getting to the point that I'm not on overload learning new things, now it is just a matter of organizing and prioritizing.

We had a wonderful trip a couple weeks ago. Mike and the boys went fishing in Dunsmuir; Shannon and I went on to Oregon for some thrift shopping and visiting. It was a lot of driving for a three day weekend but well worth it. The guys caught just a few fish but we are all enjoying the smoked trout! Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures on this trip.

It has been a year full of new family members. We have had two great nieces and three great nephews born this year! Two of them were born in the past week. And there are at least two more on the way. So much fun to see the family grow.