The Motherload...

I love my little vintage booth... I will never become rich because of it, but it does help justify the inordinate amount of time cash I spend at estate sales.  A couple of weekends ago, I grabbed several large sturdy tote bags and trudged through a grueling 7 estate sale marathon... attics to basements and back again.  In the end, I came away with a partially-filled bag of... well... not much.   And while there are no guarantees with these treasure hunts... it was particularly disappointing (not to mention humid... and dusty... and sweat and dirt/dust look awfully "attractive" after about the fifth attic). 

This Saturday there were only two sales and "last day" sales at that... so armed with one tote and low expectations, I set out... and hit a photography motherload.  I've had really good luck selling vintage cameras... but I was down to one lonely box camera in my booth and hadn't run across any in months...  And then... well, take a look... brownies, boxes, books, old adverts, oh my... initially, I took pics of my monster haul as it completely covered my dining room table... but it was after midnight and although I appreciate ambient lighting, my persnickety little Canon does not... so I re-snapped part of the loot I took to the shop... (and a few of my new artsy projects while I was at it).

 

 



 

 

By the Sea... By the Sea...

just made my annual trip back to to the lake to bask in some of my best childhood memories...

sunny skies and roller coasters on the horizon...

waves and water... shells and sand...

the lighthouse... (and breeze)

the hollyhocks... (and bees)

popping in at my old "swimming hole"

before grabbing dinner at the diner at the lake...

fish and chips style.

The One That Got Away...

Needed a replacement plug for the bathtub drain.  Found one.  Just hope the cats don't see it...

Do Not Lick the Pages...

I'm not even two weeks into this healthy lifestyle... eating more organically and exercising... I even figured out how to set up my pedometer (I only ordered it two years ago) and I have to say... I'm over it.  My poor legs are in shock...  previously, their most strenuous exercise was trying to remain completely covered by the throw while lounging on the couch... currently, I am taking them out for a walk... daily.  Mealtime has totally lost its charm... right now, I would absolutely kill for a carb... and not just any carb mind you, a bad carb... a very bad carb...  In fact, make that a bad carb topped with a bad carb... Like buttered egg noodles over mashed potatoes or butter pecan ice cream over sticky toffee pudding...  no, wait, sticky toffee pudding over cheesecake... much better.  Everywhere I turn it's salted caramel something.  So, I am rebelling the only way I can... while still staying the healthy course.  I'm reading my way through my collection of comfort food cookbooks... on today's menu... an oldie, but goodie... see if your local library has a copy... the photographs are grab-a-fork-eat-the-page amazing.

      

Is Your Cupboard Wearing a Sweater?

Based on an early review of My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag...And Other Things You Can't Ask Martha, a new book by Jolie Kerr, I initially decided to buy two copies to sock away for some newlywed/first place housewarming gift giving.  But after a quick "look inside" at Amazon, I convinced myself I needed my own copy.  Even though it seems geared toward a housework novice, it could definitely benefit the more experienced cleaner as well.  That would be me... experienced... a regular domestic goddess... (I typed that with a straight face too.)  I hate cleaning and all the time it sucks out of my day.  Unfortunately, I also like shiny surfaces, crisp sheets and windows I can see out of...  So, a little household advice alongside a little irreverent humor... this I'm up for... 

 

p.s. I had cupboard sweaters once... scary those... the disgusting result when dust bunnies adhere (over... ahem... time) to the fine film of grease on top of your kitchen cupboards... In my defense, I'm very short... and only climb up onto my kitchen counters (on my tiptoes) to access the very tops of the upper cupboards once a year... to rescue my great grandmother's holiday turkey platter.  I can't remember how I cleaned them... a mix of several toxic cleaners and some freaked out adrenaline-driven elbow grease, I think... I do know that right after that cleaning frenzy, I unrolled wax paper before putting the assortment of bowls, platters and big heirloom breakables back in place.  Now there's something I can get behind... wax paper (someday I'll devote an entire post to its uses and virtues) but in this case, suffice it to say that it is cheaper than shelf liner and I always have some on hand... very handy when the cleaning urge strikes (yeah, like that ever happens)...

Free Style...

My Mom and I have been meaning to get together for a "girls day" since January... and while the weather was pretty foul this past Winter, this outing was still long overdue... This Saturday the planets all aligned and we were finally able to meet up... we started out with no set plans... no timeline... just a day spent shopping, lunching and reminiscing...  In the midst of the shopping madness, we took a break and treated ourselves to a very nice lunch in a very nice restaurant... Later, we popped into a little local bakery and had dessert on the fly in the car with plastic salad forks... Each was an equally yummy experience... Maybe next time we'll mix it up a bit and stop at our favorite seasonal chili dog stand and drop in at a five star for a creme brulee finish.  The important thing isn't the where... it's the who... Grab someone you care about and make some memories... 

 

    

Fresh From the Heartland...

Yesterday, while flipping aimlessly through what cable has to offer... I landed on Food Network.  Imagine that?  (Probably not the smartest place for a foodie with a few pounds to lose to roost... but, oh well, I took one for the team... it's research.)  What I found was Heartland Table ...  Amy Thielen is your host... it's like sitting in your best friend's kitchen...  truly... she's not spangled and sparkled within an inch of her life... she not only offers great little nuggets of information in the course of conversation,  she also shows you how to repair mistakes and roll with the unexpected (a real plus... for someone like me anyway, who has been known to occasionally have a slight kitchen crisis)...  She films in her kitchen... in her cabin... in the woods... rather than a studio made to look like a kitchen in a cabin in the woods.  I really liked everything about this show...  

And, lucky us, she has a book out too.  It's already in my Amazon basket.  Check them both out... you can thank me later!