Wednesday Rummage Sale Treasures

Today I drove!!!!  Yah, finally felt good enough, however my mom still went with me to lift stuff and just in case it didn't go well..  Hey she only lifted a case of water and a bag of potatoes.  Plus we stopped at a few sales, Wednesdays aren't Rummage Sale days around here.  They usually are held on Thursdays and Fridays.  But I'm not complaining.  This is what I got..

 Here is what is in the above photo

XXLarge thick fleece sweat shirt (keep for Son)

XXlarge Kaukauna Homecoming T-shirt 1998 (keep for Daughter.. sleep shirt)

Great smelling candle made by Black Crow Candle co NEW (keep for ME)

Pampered Chef slotted spoon (keep for ME)

Jello Jiggler Jelly Bean Mold New (sell)

Scrapbook Stickers etc (keep)

Domino Rally (Sell)

A black Boa which is not pictured (Keep for Daughter)

This black thing on the floor is a room divider.  It's folded into fourths so it doesn't tangle.  Sorry it's really hard to tell what it is.  My Daughter will hang this in the door way of her closet for a divider.  Really cool.  Here is a link where you can buy these String Curtains  Wow I only paid $3!!!  Great deal!!

Total for everything was less then $10!! Had a great time!!

Now Available at Different Things

Pampered Chef Season's Best Cookbook Spring/Summer 2007

Now Available at Different Things

Pampered Chef Bakers Roller

Vogue Pattern 7707 Retro Jacket Top & Skirt

Vogue Pattern 7746 Retro Top & Skirt

Please keep checking back...  much more to come!!

Cottage Living Magazines

Cottage Living Magazines on Ebay

Last day to bid is May 3rd!!

The Best of Friends:Me and Martha Book Review

The Best of Friends : Me and Martha By Mariana Pasternak

This book covers the majority of Martha's career, in which Mariana Pasternak tagged along.  It seems as though Mariana was just like everyone else that surrounded Martha.  She was a yes person.  Amazing how Mariana had the strength to follow Martha everywhere for 30 years.  Not only did she go into into debit she also let Martha get her involved in a criminal act.  Mariana acts like she didn't know what was going on. Please, Mariana claims she was making high six figures as a Realtor.  This prove to me that she was not a stupid person.  Even claiming that she was in debit to the point she lost her home and all her antiques, because of Martha no less. If Mariana was making a high six figure income and having Martha Stewart as her best friend...  makes it even harder to believe that Mariana didn't know what was going on and couldn't keep her debit under control.

The book was super long.  It was easy to follow, but there are many portions of chapters that could have been skipped and still got the full picture of their friendship.  It is over all very interesting and seems to hold true.

Now Available at Different Things

Vogue Retro Tablecloth Pattern

Another Getting to Know Me

1. Where is your cell phone: My Krzr is sitting on the coffee table
2. Your hair:Light brown in the winter and dark blond in the summer.  I don't dye it, no need, no gray.  It is thin and annoyingly straight.. 
3. Your mother: Lives 3/4 of mile away
4. Your father: Father is in heaven.
5. Your favorite food: Scallops
6. Your dream from last night: I don’t remember
7. Your favorite drink: Decaf with flavored creamer
8. Your dream/goal: find my talent, better myself.
9. What room are you in: Living Room
10. What is your hobby:Rummage sales, old cars, Car shows, gardening, computers, selling stuff online, refunding/couponing, finding the best deal on everything, my dogs, reading, puzzles, Movies, Music, fishing, crafts and updating my home
11. What is your fear: Heights
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years: I would love to be a grandma by then and doing the exact same things I'm doing now.. Hoping I will have time to do everything I want.
13. Where were you last night: in the same place I am right now... still healing
14. Something you are not: No talent for writing, but still like doing it!!
15. Muffins: blueberry
16. Wish List items: new living room furniture, new refrigerator and painted oven door. Lots of misc items.
17. Where did you grow up: Right here in Kaukauna Wi
18. Last thing you did: made lemon aid
19. What are you wearing: loose dress pants and a top
20. Your TV: Big flat panel in the living room.  Old big screen in the basement, mid size flat panel in my bedroom and old TV's in each of the kids rooms.  Right now the only TV that is turned on is in the living room and it's a repeat of 90210
21. Your pets: 2 Dogs.. Henry who is 2 and his breed is Havanese.  The other is Shelby who is Husky, German Shepherd and Golden Retriever mix, she is 5 years old.
22. Your friends: Gwen, she and has been my best friend for many many years..  we should be have been sisters.  I'm very close to my mom we could be best friends.  I have many other friends my circle.
23. Your life: It's good, there is very very little I would change.  More money would be good, however how would that change everything and everyone... would it be worth it??? 
24. Your mood: looking up
25. Missing someone:  My dad!
26. Vehicle: 2001 Food Windstar (winter driver) and 1969 Mustang Convertible (Summer Driver)
27. Something you're not wearing: shoes
28. Your favorite store: right now – the thrift stores..Target, Home Depot, Lowes, Menards & Joann Fabric
29. Your favorite color: Black, I know it's not a color, but I love it.
30. When's the last time you laughed: about an hour ago when the house was full of teenagers!!
31. When's the last time you cried: last week
32. Your best friend: Gwen
33. One place you could go over and over again: All Ford National Car Show in Carlisle PA.  
34. One person who emails me regularly: my Grandma
35. Favorite place to eat? my kitchen, because it's open 24 hours

Bench Makeover

  This is a little bench that I've had forever, it fits perfect under a desk that I have..  I painted it just before my surgery...  doesn't it look better??

Before..

After!!

As soon as I can get back to painting, the desk will be painted too.  Before I painted it I thought I would be replacing the fabric on the seat.  But now that it is done, I like it just as it is.

I Found Some Photos

Remember on Easter I showed you my early blooming tulips, well 2 days later this is what they looked like

 Isn't that amazing how it can be warm one day and snow like this the next...

The weather is back to "normal"  the highs around 50-60 degrees and the lows hover around freezing at night.  The flowers, trees and grass is loving it tho...  Here's some of my newest blooms ...

Oops!!!  I didn't plant these, but there are many out there!!

Someday this whole bed will be full!!  The sun and camera really washed out the beautiful color and they aren't in full bloom yet!!

As you can see there is a lot of work to be done on my beds.  And it will be 4 more weeks before I can do anything!! Man!!

Wednesdays Deals

Wednesday's Deals this week weren't much.  But I will do a short run down...

Pick  n Save: spent $28 and saved $34.  Kemps milk was $5/2 and I had a $1/2 coupon from PNS ad that was doubled.  International Delight Quart size $5/2 and had $1/2 coupon from Sunday inserts doubled.  Hillshire Farm  polish sausage $5/2 and $1/2 coupon  from Sunday inserts doubled.  2 Scotch Bright Greener Pads $1.87 used 2 $1/1 coupons printed from their website, however this coupon has now changed to $1/2, but here is the link Scotch Bright Coupon  Barilla mini pasta on clearance $.69 and I had a $.55/1 coupon from Sunday inserts which was doubled and I got the overage.  Purex Liquid $3.19 $.35 coupon from last Sundays insertsdoubled.  Pasta Roni $1 each and I had $1/3 coupons from Sunday inserts that were doubled.  I bought several items that I didn't have coupons for..  Can you believe I was out of Ketchup???  First time in 17 years!!  I couldn't wait for coupons and sale because this weekend is Jefferson car show and swap meet.  My son is leaving today and I'm going tomorrow just for the day.  Anyway the boys need to eat.  So I bought some stuff they needed and I didn't have coupons for those items.  But I still saved more then 50%!!!

Walmart I didn't have any price match items and I only used 2 coupons.  The total is nothing to brag about.

Walgreens has Colgate Total Whitening $2.99, I used $1/1 coupon from All You Magazine and I received a $2 Register Reward for next time..  So free!!

Thats it for this week...  I should be driving next week so I will be doing more deal shopping..  I still have a lifting weight limit, so I will still need help.  Darn it!!  LOL!!  I feel better everyday, so I have to stop whining!!
'

Cyst

My cyst journey is just about over, there shouldn't be any direct posts about my cyst.  I went to the doctor today and had my staples removed! Yah!! Every exciting.  It didn't hurt as much I thought it would.  The pulling of the staples and the itching is over too!!  So I'm well on my way of being myself.  The doctor said that I'm healing fast, so I just have to keep doing what I'm doing... as being careful and increasing activity as I feel comfortable.  I will still be off of work for 4 weeks.   I know I should enjoy it because it has been 14 year since I have been off for this length.  However I can't help but feel guilty so enjoying it is tough.  Plus I'm not feeling the greatest yet.  All the biopsy's were back and everything is clear no cancer.  So lets all move on to funner things!!

Tomorrow my mom will be taking me shopping, to help with lifting, opening doors and pushing the cart.  I'm hoping I will have some deals to report.  But no worries, I will be back driving next week and I'm hoping not only will I have shopping deals to report, but I will also have rummage sale deals too!!  The 1st of May is the first community rummage sale of the season.  I so want to go.  So I have to work at being good and strong enough to enjoy the day.  Last year it was rained out.  Well I should say the sales went on, but the shoppers were the craziest people I have ever seen.  I'm shocked no one was run over, the drivers drove like crazy people...  fighting for parking places and every one was in a hurry to get to the next sale.  No one walked because it was raining.  My daughter and I gave up early, we were fearful because the drivers were not using their heads.  Hoping for better weather this year and hoping I will feel good enough to really enjoy the rummaging!!!

I'm looking forward to Lost tonight.  As much as I used to love the show, it really lost something this season.  So the count down is differently on for the final show.  I will be happy not to be tied to that show.  Everyone says to me, why are you still watching if you don't care, well.....  I have 6 years invested in that show, plus I have to know what the ending is.  But I'm certain that it's not going to be total jaw dropper as the first and second seasons were that got me so hooked.  That is the kind of ending I'm looking for..  the shocked, oh my god feeling.  I don't want to wonder or have questions when it ends.  If there is a little bit of thinking at the end thats ok.  But I don't want more questions.  I want the 6 years of questions, answered.  Yes anyone that has been following that show will say there is no way that all the questions will be answered...  I know, but I want what I want!!

Well I'm hoping that my blogging will get back to normal now... 

Getting to Know Me

 A different set of getting to know me questions!!

 Shot a gun Yes
Gone on a blind date Yes
Skipped school Yes
been  to Canada No
been to Alaska No
 been to Cuba No
Been to Europe No
Been to Las Vegas No

 Been to Disney Land No 

 Been to Disney World No

 Been to Mexico No

 Been to Florida No
Been on a plane Yes
Been on a Cruise Ship No

Served on a Jury No
Been lost Yes Twice!!!
Been on the opposite side of the country Yes
Gone to Washington, DC-- No
Swam in the Ocean No

Cried yourself to sleep Yes 

Played Cops and Robbers Yes when I was a kid, but not with my kids
Played Cowboys and Indians Yes when I was a kids, but not with my kids 

Recently colored with  crayons No 

Sang Karaoke No 

Paid for a meal with coins only Yes 

Made prank phone calls Yes

Laughed until some beverage came out of your nose Yes 

Caught a snowflake on your tongue Yes

Danced in the rain Yes

 Written a letter to Santa Claus Yes

Been kissed under the  mistletoe Yes 

Watched the sunset with someone Yes

Blown bubbles Yes 

Gone ice skating No 

skiing No 

Camped out under the stars  Yes 

 Seen something so beautiful that it took your breath away Oh Yes!!
Are or have been married Married 21 years 

Have children Yes 2 Boy 19 years old and Girl 14 

Have or had a pet Presently have 2 dogs~ Henry and Shelby and I've had other pets throughout my life.. no way I could list them all.  I love animals!!!

 Been skinny dipping outdoors No

 Been fishing Oh Yeah!! 

Been boating Yes 

Been water skiing No 

Been hiking and or mountain climbing Yes/No
Flown in a small 4-seater airplane Yes 

 Flown in a glider No

 Been flying in a helicopter  No

 Been flying in a hot air balloon No
Been  BUNGEE-jumping No

Jumped out of a good airplane No

Gone to a drive-in movie Yes

 Done something that could have killed you Yes 

Done something that you will regret for the rest of your life Yes 

Been to Africa No 

Been to Asia No 

Ever ride an elephant No 

Ever eaten just cookies for dinner Yes 

Ever been on T.V. No 

 Ever steal any traffic signs No

Ever been in a car accident No 

Have a nickname Yes 

Met a celebrity No

Run out of gas while driving a car Yes
Favorite drink:  coffee

Body piercing: no
Tattoos: No

 Did you ever drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle: yes

  Driven a manual shift car: No

Favorite number: 2
Favorite movie: Titanic
Favorite holiday: Christmas
Favorite dessert: Cheese Cake
Where do you see yourself in 10 years:  Being a Grandma

I hope you are all getting to know me better.  I will do another get to know me questionnaire sometime, I enjoy doing them!!

Cyst

I'm feeling a little bit better every day.  I know I will feel better once the staples are removed.  They come out on Tuesday, then count down is on. 

Before my surgery I was a pack a day smoker.  Because of the surgery I couldn't smoke and I haven't.  It has been 9 days.  I'm doing ok with the withdrawals.  When I get stressed and need the comfort of smoking is the hardest part.  And of course there is the habit part which is also difficult.  When we built the house 17 years we came up with a rule that there would be no smoking in the house.  So every time I wanted a smoke I would go outside or in the garage.  So the complete mindless act of lighting up isn't there.  But the pull to go out to the garage to have a smoke is hard.  Stressful times I want to smoke really bad...  but I haven't.  I was really surprised everyone said that I would smell the old stale smoke on my clothes, jacket and vehicle, but I don't.  Is it too soon??  I haven't tasted the difference in food either, everyone said that food will taste better... it hasn't.   I wanted to quit, first the attitude of people when you light up was getting harder and harder to deal with.  Plus come July the state of Wisconsin will be smoke free in all public buildings.  I wanted to be smoke free myself by then.  It's looking I will be!!   It's exciting and to keep the excitement alive I have decided to buy something I wouldn't normally get myself.  I will be saving a lot of money by not smoking and I feel I deserve something.  So what??  I was thinking about a smart phone so I could get data/internet service while I'm at rummage sales.  I really don't know much about them.  Will I be able to find prices from ebay via the smartphone???  Does this work well??  I also want to keep lists and organize using this phone.  Will a Blackberry work for what I want to use it for???  My contract with Verizon is up in August, however I will be switching cellphone companies at that time.  I think I will be going with US Cellular.  First they have the best prices on cellphone serve in the area and second so many people I know are moving from Verizon to US Cellular.  I still thinking about what would be best..  if you have any input let me know.   More posts will be coming this week....

Cyst

Surgery went fine on Friday.  I was released Sunday before noon.  I'm very sore, but doing well.  I can have the staples removed on the 20th. The doctor removed both ovaries, uterus and cyst.  The doctor said I had endometriosis on both of my ovaries.  I had mood swings on Saturday they upped my hormone patch and I feel lots better.  So we'll see what other menopause symptoms come my way.

Time to relax!!!  Henry is loving all the time together!!!

Wednesdays Deals

Walgreen's Deals: There was only one deal today at Walgreen's Kotex U is on sale for $3.49 and I received a $2.40 Register Rewards.  I used a $1 from coupons.com so this item was free.

Pick n Save Deals: Tide HE was on sale with coupon $4.98.  I had a $1/1 coupon from the Sunday inserts, doubled.  McCormicks Pepper $1.75 and a $1/1 off coupon printed from coupons.com and doubled that makes it free.  Airwick Odor Stop spray was on clearance for $1.25 I used a $1/1 coupon from the Sunday inserts doubled, it was free plus I got the overage.  GE CFL light bulb on sale for $1.50 used a $1/1 from the Sunday inserts doubled makes free plus I got the overage.  Fisher Peanuts were $2.89, these were not sale, but Hubby wanted them.  I used a $1/1 off from the Sunday inserts, which was doubled.  Also bought Ragu on sale for $1.48 and used a $1/2 coupon printed from coupons.com and I bought Tortellini noodles which were on sale for $1.69, I didn't have coupons for these.  Oh one more thing I bought was Turkey oven bags, Hubby is making a turkey for his fishing trip and wanted these.  I also received $2 off from Pick N Saves Personal Perks program.  I spent $13.41 and saved $28.54.

Target Deals: Air Wick Ultra on sale for $6, used $4/1 coupon from Sunday inserts and $2 coupon printed from Target I bought 2.  Easter Bliss $1.74, I used a $1/1 coupon printed from Target website. 2  Easter Twix $1.44, no coupon for these, bought these for Hubby's fishing trip.  Reveal light bulbs $2.54 used a $1/1 from Sunday inserts and $1.50 printed from Target website.  GE CLR light bulbs  $2.99 used $1/1 from Sunday inserts and $2/1 printed from Target website.  Garden solar light, I got one of these a few weeks ago.  They are $3, but I used a $2/1 coupon printed from Target website.  So now I got 2.  I could only print one of these coupons in March and then the coupons were reset at the beginning of April I could print another one.  Normally you can print 2 coupons of these from the Target website.  But the coupons for the solar lights you can only print one.  I spent $5.33 and saved $42.63.  Today the Easter stuff was only 50% off, but it should be going 75% any day.  My Target had a ton of stuff left about 3 full aisles!!!


That's all the good deals for today.  I won't be shopping next week, but the following week Wednesdays Deals should be back!!   

Getting to Know Me

15 Questions: 1. What makes you smile?  I smile when I think about how proud I am of my kids. 
2. What are your favorite things to do in the past? What about now? My favorite things in my past are still things I love to do.  It this is a funny thing about me.  I never give up anything once I start something.  It kills me to give anything up.  Carshows, gardening, puzzles, couponing, rummage sales, reading, music, movies and crafts. I still enjoy everything I used to do 20 years ago.  Back 26 years ago when I started waitressing, I hated it.  But through the years I learned to love it.  The thought of quitting and doing something else upsets me.  I would miss my co-workers, the regular customers and routine of the job.
3. What activities make you lose track of time?  Working on the computer makes me lose track of time.
4. What makes you feel great about yourself?  My kids.  I'm so proud of them.  Rarely do I feel embarrassed by their actions.
5. Who inspires you most? (Anyone you know or do not know. Family, friends, authors, artists, leaders, etc.) Which qualities inspire you, in each person? My mother and Mother inlaw inspire me on how important it is to have a family and a home life.  Blogging inspires me to be creative.  My best friend is a deeply caring person and I learn so much for her.  My daughter also is a caring person she teaches me new ways in caring everyday. My father inspired the love of cars and how I can be just like him.  My husband inspires me to try new things.  My son inspires me to continue to be his mother even at his age!!!
6. What are you naturally good at? (Skills, abilities, gifts etc.) I don't think I'm naturally good at anything.  But I challenge myself to work at things until I get it right!
7. What do people typically ask you for help in? Computers, waitressing skills and of course my kids asking questions all the time.  Their questions are now mostly life experience.  I can't believe that I'm now old enough to qualify for life experience.  When did that happen??
8. If you had to teach something, what would you teach? I could feel comfortable teaching about waitressing and couponing.  I think I could teach computer but it would be limited.  Right now my daughter is interested in learning to cook.  So I have been showing her the few things I know about that!!!
9. What would you regret not fully doing, being or having in your life?  Really I don't regret much in my life.  Maybe not having a larger circle of close friends.  I my close circle of friends I hold very tight and rarely let casual friends into that circle. 
10.What would you change about your past?  As a teen I didn't experiment with new things.  I was very cautious.  I see myself holding back my kids, because I'm still too cautious.  I want them to experience things we don't do... like sports and hobbies, however I'm always warning be careful.  I know my words hold them back from enjoying new things.
11. What are your deepest values? This is a very hard question, hard to talk about my values.  I can't really put them in order.  But there goes.. faith in god, trust, friendship, loyalty, strength, fairness and truthfulness.  I think I covered the ones that I have mastered.  However I believe I can always work on improving all values in life.

12. What were some challenges, difficulties and hardships you’ve overcome or are in the process of overcoming? How did you do it?  I haven't had continuing struggles or hardships throughout my life.  I have had deep difficulties that lasted a short time in my life.  Such as my fathers illness and passing.  I over came that with faith and strength.  I think love for him, his love and my families love got me through this.  I'm not completely over his passing but I can deal with it in my own way, it's getting more manageable. 
13. What causes do you strongly believe in? Connect with? I don't have one cause that I'm completely devoted to.  I will do what I can for any cause. 
14. If you could get a message across to a large group of people. Who would those people be? What would your message be? My message to all is buy and support American owned companies.  Thinking before we purchase all items.  Even if it will cost us more money or we have to give up a little leisure to do it. Such as buying a new car.  Buy American made, it will put people back to work.  The price might be slightly higher or it doesn't have just the right accessory, but it will get you to point A to point B and keep our fellow American's working!
15. Given your talents, passions and values. How could you use these resources to serve, to help, to contribute? ( to people, beings, causes, organization, environment, planet, etc.)  This is also a very hard question, first it seems as though I'm bragging.  So I will give a very simple answer...  I'm willing to help anyone that needs it in any way that I can.  Being time, friendship, money or items. 

Coffee Table Scarf

Another DIY!!

I had left over burlap from my photo frame project.  I love the color and the texture of burlap, so I just had to use it somewhere else in my home.  

Well I know my family they are not what you'd call careful in any sense of the word.  So I knew I had to put something down on the newly painted coffee table... but what??  Vintage dresser scarves just didn't seem right.  So as I was folding the left over burlap, I thought this would be so cool on the coffee table.  So I looked through my fabric and found some black... yeah I know, I have need a 12 step program for the color black addiction.  I measured the length I wanted and cut the burlap, then measured the black fabric but added about 1 1/2 inches on each edge.  I folded about a quarter of an inch under and finished the raw edge of each side of the black fabric.  Then I laid the burlap in the center of black fabric and folded over the edges and sewed the together.

This is what my finished edge looks like

I love it!  Oh wait whats missing???  The latest copy of Mustang Monthly!!

Uh...  that's more like it!!!

Grandma's Hope Chest Repurposing as a Coffee Table

Back about 12 years ago my grandma on my mothers side passed away.  She is greatly missed.  I inherited her hope crest.  This is what I know about it.  These hope crests were produced between 1920-1930.  Grandpa had bought it for grandma sometime about 1933.  Grandma used it up until she passed away.  It showed it a lot of wear on the outside.  The was stain that was rubbed off in spot, lots of scratches and some of the veneer is missing.  I always wanted it so that was the one thing I got from Grandma.  I used it right from the start as a coffee table, just as it was.  After the house makeover was done I felt I wanted something different, but what would I do with the Hope Chest?  I really didn't know, except I wanted to keep it.  So after some thought I decided I wanted to paint it, however I didn't know if my mom was ok with that.  If I painted it would the value decease??  Was there any value to this piece???  So I asked mom and she said it's mine and I should do with it what I wanted.  However when I was getting ready to paint it, mom came over, she seemed leery that it would turn out well.  So after she left I went on ebay to check to see if I could find one and what the condition was.  Well there was auction that was completed for one exactly like mine.  It was painted and distressed.  I emailed mom the pictures of the auction.  I loved it and the selling price was $425 plus $100 for shipping.  That sealed the deal for me.  I started painting it on the spot.  Later that night mom called me she looked at the auction and she said paint it!!!  I had already started.. LOL!!  

Before

This is with primer

This is finished

Of course Henry had to get in the photo.  Don't you just love it!!  I wish I had painted it long ago.  I did not distress it.  I might distress it after it starts to show wear.  Sorry folks I won't be selling it any time soon!!

My Picture Frames

It's a DIY people!!!  I love them!!

This is the view of my hallway.  Half of these frames were white, as were on the walls before the makeover.  I bought a few more at thrift shops and I had a few in the basement... just waiting for a cool project like this one.  

First I removed the glass (you won't need the glass) and the backs.  Next I sanded some of them that had a glossy finish.  Next I spray painted them black, what else??  I then took the backs and cut out cardboard from any old box, the same size as the backs.  I cut the burlap1 inch larger then the cardboard.  I folded the burlap over the cardboard and hot glued it to the back.  I only glued it to the back of the cardboard so you can't see the glue, any discolored areas or hardness of the glue.  I bought the burlap at Joann's with 40% off coupon.  3 yards came to about $8.   Because I won't be using the old backs I had to find something to use as" hangers".  What to do??  I took soda can tabs and bent them out a little and hot glued them on.

The backs should look like this!

  You might want to wait on adding the hangers until you have the photos in the frames so you know the direction of the frame, if it will going the long way or side ways.  Once the paint is dry and you don't need to do any more touch ups, put the backs in the frames.   Please keep in mind the burlap and cardboard aren't acid free, so I took the photos I wanted and scanned them.  I didn't want to use the original pictures because they could be ruined by the acid.  I had to edit all the photos.  It took awhile to find the right photos and them crop, center and print each one in black and white.  I bought upholstery pins at Menard's.  They have containers of 30 pins for $.99.  They have brass, antique brass and silver.  I chose the antique brass.  The pin part is very long, so I took my wire cutters and cut off a quarter of the pin, other wise the pin will stick to far out and make your frame stand away from the wall.  Next I used 4 pins from each of the photos, the arranging of the photos in the frames is a bit of a challenge but worth the time to get it right.   

 

Finished product!!  Your asking how did you spray paint this frame without losing the Sisters plaque?  Well I couldn't get it off without ruining the frame and I couldn't tape it off, too many curves.  So I took car wax, smeared it on heavy over the entire plaque.  I was careful not to get it on the frame.  I put the wax on thick, I didn't wait for it to dry. I just sprayed the frame as I did the others.  When the paint was dry, I took a paper towel and wiped off the plaque.  The paint came right off with the car wax.  I love it!!  There is scratches on the left side of the plaque, well it came that way.  I bought it last week at the thrift shop for $1.  It wasn't perfect but I really liked the frame.  I'm not that fussy.  Now for the people in the frame.  Well the bride is me, 21 years ago and the the maid of honor is my very bestest friend.  Some how we should have been sisters, but god had different plans as to who our parents were going to be!!!  We have been close friends for nearly 30 years and we are still close!

Here is the H for our last name!

Yup it's not centered, but oh well.  My daughter used a Sharpie Marker to make this H.  I like it!!  So what if it's not perfect!!!

Now I just have to figure out how to get my daughter to stop slamming her door, which is causing the frames to be crooked!!!!  Kids!!!

Repurposing a Picnic Basket

Some years ago I received a beautiful picnic basket from Butterball as a premium.  It sat in the basement for a few years.  To be honest I had no idea what to do with it.  We live in the country and "going on a picnic" isn't something we do.  Well one day I was sitting down to sew and I looked at my sewing accessory container, it was sad.  It was green cheap plastic.  However while looking at it I realized that the picnic basket was the same size!!  Well that got me thinking.  Could the accessory container tray fit in the picnic basket????  You bet!!!  It fit perfect, almost like it was made for it.  So I moved everything from the ugly green container to the beautiful picnic basket!!!  Everything fit, plus I had lots of room in the bottom.  The tray is still plastic, but I don't care!!

Yup it's messy!!  Just keeping it real people!!  I could have straightened it all out and said oh this is what it looks like all the time!!  However staging, then lying about it just isn't me and there is quite enough of that going on in blogland already!!!

Def Leppard Ticket Stubs

A few weeks ago I talked about For The Love of Def Leppard  well I found more of my ticket stubs.  Still can't find the stub from Alpine Valley.  But I did find the stub from the very first Def Leppard Concert in July of 1988.  

 Do you see the price??  $16.50!!!  Now a days the service charge is almost the price of this ticket!!!

Very Early Spring Flowers

Some of my Tulips are early blooming flowers.  However they have NEVER bloomed this early... ever before.  The weather has been just amazing.  Last Thursday and Friday temps were in the mid to upper 70's.  We never get that in April.  Maybe for a day and then back to cold, rain, snow and wind!!  It is the first early Spring we've had for 10 years and even then it wasn't this early.  I'm loving it.  Spring is my favorite season.  Too bad I won't be able to get out and start gardening early because of this surgery.  Oh well!!

But you want to see my Tulips...

Aren't they pretty.  A few of my Daffodils are blooming too

And the Grape Hyacinths are just starting

As you can see I haven't had a chance to clean the leaves from the garden!!  It probably won't get done for a while!!  Really hoping for a major wind, that might take care of the stray leaves!!

And guess what else is blooming!!  These darn things (darn isn't exactly the words I'd use if I was talking to you..)

I hope your weather is good as mine!!!

This Was A Great Last Year

I wanted to show you the great find from last year.  It's new home is the front porch.

I paid $8 at a Rummage Sale last May!!  It's it fabulous!!  Last year I also bought new patio furniture at an Estate Sale.  I will take a picture of it when I bring it up from the basement!!  You won't believe this set and a great price!!  Now I love my front porch, I need really liked to sit out there until I got the new furniture.  I bet your anxious to see it.  I will get on that this week!!

Friday's Rummage Sale Treasures

Didn't find a whole lot, but there was only 4 sales.  It's still very early in the season.  

Aren't these the cutest Thanksgiving Candles?  A quarter a piece!!

This is a plant stand that I bought for $7, it's a little more then I like to spend.  However it will be fabulous after I paint it black!  It is wrought iron!

Yes, it does need a good cleaning!!

I also bought a Domino Rally game, it is close to being complete.  And a Spirograph both were $.50 each.  Sorry no pictures of those, I put them away already.  Oh yeah I bought 2 large garbage cans with covers to put my packing peanuts in.  Boxes and bags just don't work very good.  I can't stand packing peanuts all over the house.  So these should work well.

Happy Easter!!!

HAPPY EASTER!!

 Hope you have a wonderful Easter Celebration!

We are going out to eat with my mom, her brother and his wife.  We all enjoy being together so it will be a very sweet relaxing holiday.  Then we are going to my husbands side just to visit.  So there will only be one meal today!!  This is a good thing!!

Cyst

I received a phone call yesterday from my doctors office.  They had to reschedule my surgery because my insurance company won't approve the surgery without a review.  Man!!!  I know the way it looks, I'm 43 years old and having a hysterectomy, which is young.  So I'm hoping that once they read and review my report they will approve the surgery.  I can't think of reason for them to reject the surgery.  My goodness there is a 10 cm sized cyst on my ovary.   I know I have no history with this problem until 2 weeks ago, but that should tell them that this is something that needs to taken care.  Believe me if I didn't feel I should have surgery I wouldn't be going through with it.  I know of a lot of other things I would love to be doing.

I'm not exactly happy to post pone this surgery 5 days.  First that gives me 5 more days to be nervous.  Next this messes with my husbands annual fishing trip.  He leaves on the 16th.  I will only be home a few days before he leaves.  I know I have the kids, mom and my best friends (should be sister) for help and support.  However I would feel more comfortable with him here with me.  I don't want to tell him he can't go either, so he can be here to hold my hand.   And finally this messes with my work schedule too.  I was hoping I would be back to work for Mothers Day.  Now that doesn't look like that will be possible either.  I dislike that I have caused my coworkers more stresses and force them to pick up more hours they may not want.  This is all because my insurance company has to review the reasons for the surgery.  This is wrong.  Health care really does need a over haul.  Is the new law going to work out this major wrinkles in my insurance..  probably not.  Why do insurance companies get the last say in health care???  If insurance companies have the right they need to be required to sit in on the decision making.  Hear what the patient is going through, their situation and hear what the doctor is advising.  Plus they need to know what the alternative is.  I run the risk of this cyst twisting and rupturing.  There is always the risk of infection.  If they would wait with this there would be more tests and scans.  Wouldn't these things cost the insurance company more money via doing the surgery and having it over with??? 

San Marco Chaise

This is my new chaise Mom and I saw this chair on Tuesday and I loved it.  The store didn't have any in stock.  We since my doctor is in Green Bay and I knew there was a store there.  I called there last night to see if they had them in store.  And yes they did.  So after the doctors appointment we stopped there and picked one up.  It's is awesome.  It looks great and it is so comfy!!!!!  I love it.  It's mine, mine, mine.  I have every few things I can call just mine.  Well my computer and this chaise that's it that I call just mine.  Everything that should be just mine seems to open season for everyone else that lives in this house.  Except of course the mop, no one else touches that!!!!   I'm not going to share this chair with anyone, except maybe Henry.  There is plenty of room for me and Henry!!   I will be able to recover in my new chaise.  This is my very early birthday present from my mom.  Let me tell you this is the best birthday present ever!! 

Cyst

It was a long day at the doctors office.  This new doctor seems really nice.  I will be having surgery on Monday.  They will be taking the cyst and that ovary, plus the uterus.  He will be looking at the other ovary to see what condition it is in.  It is looks healthy he won't take it.  However he will take it if it looks like it will cause me trouble in the future.  So hopefully I will still have a ovary after the surgery so I don't have to take replacement hormones.

The doctor is 99% certain that it is not cancer.  But he won't know for sure until he's in there and they test the cyst and ovary.  I feel better about the whole situation.  And I knew there would be surgery and I wanted it soon.  Well now that I have a date and I'm scared about the surgery.  I'm sure everything will be fine.  I will be in the hospital for 2 to 4 days.  I will be off from work for 6 weeks.  This comes at a very bad time at work.  We are short of help.  One of our waitresses quit and we were hoping that we wouldn't have to hire someone new until fall when the college kids start school.  But with me being off we will have to hire someone right now.  I'm sad that I have put them on the spot and I was scheduled a lot of hours in April.  The others will have to cover my hours which means they will have to work just about everyday.  I will owe them big time.  Last year and the year before when my father was ill, I had to take off a lot and they covered my hours without complaint.  Now again they have to cover me again...  man I feel terrible about that.  3 years in a row!!  But at least I will be back on my feet by June.

I will post as much as I can before Monday, then the next week I won't probably be away from the computer.  Then after that, when I'm recovering....  watch out I will be probably driving every crazy with posts!!  Lucky you!!!!

Now Available at Different Things

Vogue Knitting Magazine Fall Winter 1982

Vogue Knitting Magazine Fall Winter 1986

Vogue Knitting Magazine Spring Summer 1989

Vogue Knitting Magazine Fall 1997
Vogue Knitting Magazine Fall Winter 1986

Vogue Knitting Magazine Fall 1998

All these great magazines are now available at Different Things
Vogue Knitting Magazine Fall Winter 1986