This Weeks Super Finds

This has been  an exciting week as far as snagging some SUPER FINDS! I have been searching for LARGE terra cotta pots for the past few years. My patience has certainly paid off. I just knew that someday, somewhere I would come across some that I would be willing to pay the price for ~ and that day was yesterday! We had a little time to kill before my hubby's Dr. appt so we stopped in at a thrift store and found these treasures there ~

The "small" pot is 18 inches across and the "big" pot is 22 inches across.

You can tell by the recycle bin (another steal at $1.50) and cooler setting behind them that they are not your ordinary little terra cotta planters. Now here's the deal ~ the small one cost $9.99 and the big fella was only $14.99.  I've searched them online and these exact same planters cost as much as $75.00 to $250.00!!!! These are some heavy duty planters we're talking about.  And if that wasn't enough to give my big strong man a good workout - we stopped at an antique store and he found himself something he's been hoping to find for some time - an antique cast iron bell.  It needs a little sand blasting but it's a big fella too at 18" across and it comes with the original clapper (very important you know) and with the ringing arm! A true find.

Then this morning we had a little shopping to do at the local hardware store and they happened to have some things on sale in their greenhouse. Lucky me ~ we got this wonderful huge fuschia plant for only 20 bucks.

There is a 12" pot hidden in there somewhere and it's just loaded with buds!  But the absolute best part of this week was finding out that my dear husband Thom continues to be cancer free! 

Super Week of SUPER Finds!

This has been a super week of super finds for us. It was like running into non stop deals ~ unbelievable deals.  Check back tomorrow because I plan to have pics posted ~ and you won't believe the treasures we found!

Hot and Humid

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?? 
THIS IS UPPER MICHIGAN AND WE'RE HOTTER THAN TEXAS!!!

5/24/2010
Crystal Falls, MI 49920

Temp 91.0°F
Wind 8 mph
Heat Index: 95°F
Dew Point: 67°F
So Far Today:
High: 92°F
Low: 67°F
Rain: 0.00"
Gusts: 25mph SSE

YES ~ I got an Award!

I'm so excited, I got my first blog award!  It's not gold, silver or bronze - but that doesn't matter. What matters is that I GOT AN AWARD, even if it's plastic. lol  How does one thank someone for such an award other than simply saying Thank You to the giver: TheWhiteFarmhouse.  As a recipient I am to name 5 sexy characters from either movies or TV. So I have to think this out carefully ~ put on the thinkng cap and pick my faves or at least the ones I can think of at the moment.

The first on my list would have to be the timeless Sean Connery. Is it proper for a Grandma to say Mmm... Yummy when oogling a hunk?! You have to admit he's aged nicely~ just like a fine wine!

                        

Then there's another heartthrob: Viggo Mortensen from the Lord of the Rings series. He played Aragorn, aka Strider. Excuse me people as I dabble my drool.

There outa be a law ~ oh wait, maybe there is!!

You know this is harder to do than you would think.  I usually just enjoy the scenery and secretly fantacize for brief moments, but through this award I'm asked to share my inner thoughts of men I don't even know, but find sexy - and truth be known; sometimes beauty is only skin deep. 
  Next: Kevin McKidd - he plays on Grey's Anatomy now but I loved him in the tv series Rome when he played Lucius Vorenus for 22 episodes.  Maybe it was his sweet ruggedness that I liked.

Johnny Depp ~ strange but true, there is just something about him (or his characters) that I find sexy. Okay, so maybe not all his characters but a few.

YES:                                

BUT: the sexiest of them all is this guy: my husband Thom. And yes he is quite the character too. Just ask anyone who knows him, they'll agree. AND he had his moment on the set, he did a walk through on a the TVseries Mannix. He'll always be my shinging star as he plays the number one role in my life.

Now I need to pass this award on to 5 fellow bloggers:

Mel @ Up North With Mel

Dar @ Dar's Stuffings

Cathy @ Yooper Yarns

Suzanne @Chickens in the Road

Julie @ 47and Starting Over

~ carry on girls, carry on  ~

Bummin' and Bakin'

We spent a few days sharing time and laughs having a mini family reunion with some of my husbands side of the family.  They put on many miles doing one of their favorite things ~ casino hopping!  And I mean hopping! They jump in the van and visit casinos to and fro as they travel up from Tennessee, and Illinois to North Central Wisconsin .  We had a ball, won some money, lost some money, won some money, lost some money.  Final tally ~ we had some  winners and we had some losers!  But a good time was had by all.
We also visited the local park where our sweet Aunt who's 80 years young showed us how she's still a kid at heart.

What a doll!

EDITION:  When I originally posted this yesterday I forgot to add my Bakin' stuff. So here it is. While we were gone our rhubarb grew and was needing harvesting on our return.  So it was time to bake up a Strawberry Rhubarb Custard Pie and a small batch of Strawberry Rhubarb Jam; 3 jars and bowl for quick use.  The rest went into the freezer for later use.

Thanking our Military

First and foremost I'd like to thank all of our military for serving on our behalf. Those serving now and those who served in the past. Just a few on my personal list include my present husband, son, father, brother, deceased husband, uncles, cousins, second cousins, inlaws, friends and the list goes on into present day. 

 

click on image to enlarge

My husband Thom served for 20 years in the Air Force. We spent some time compliling some of his momentos into a shadow box and poster, and believe me, this isn't all of it. Because I came into his life after his military days I requested that he write down something about his world wide travels while in the service. He's shared so many stories, but I'd like it put in chronological order of dates and places. I also think it would be great to have it in writing what each of the medals represents. It would be nice to have a record in future years in case our memories begin to fail us.

                       click on image to enlarge

So although my part of this project is complete, and he put in his 20 years of service (thank you Love); his part of this new "project" has just begun.

It's Done!

Thanks for your patience as we worked on this project. And wouldn't you know it ~ once it was completed, our internet connection went ka-pooey! So now that we're back in working order its time to share:

Bed Gone Bench

The Story:

We were given an old bed with a broken leg.

But the scrolled legs and slat back were so neat

I immediately saw the potential for a bench.  I even had the perfect fabrics in mind ~ they were too good a deal to pass up and I just knew that someday I would find use for them ~ and I did! I just love the eclectic look of mixed fabrics!

Then the hunt for cushions began and within a week I found the perfect ones! .

The fabric was very worn and they needed to be cut to size but did you know that an electric knife to foam is like a hot knife to a stick of butter?! It worked like a dream.  

then the fun began ~ I hand stitched the fabric to the cushions to ensure a neat,secure job.

The most amazing part of this whole story is that the total cost for this bench was less than $20 ~ that's right less than twenty dollars!!

I love it, love it, love it!

Mother's Day Dreams

Happy Mother's Day!

 May all your dreams come true!

scrapped by CherShots

please do not copy

Sneak Preview

Okay ~ I'm beginning to feel a little bit guilty about the delay in my suruprise project so I'm going to share a few snippets to hold your interest and to tease just a little.  Don't hate me I'm just trying to hold your interest through intrique. Is it working? Please say it's workng and that you'll stick with me to the end. I'm so excited and I just want to share it with you.  Still smiling!  

Patience my Friends

Oh how I hate to
slip the news

but my "surprise" project

is taking longer to finish

 than I had hoped! 

But believe me,

it's pretty cool. 

~ Thanks for your patience ~

I'm still smiling!

Yes ~ It's My Happy Face!

We completed our newest rock garden last week. I still have some seeds to sow but because of our growing season, I won't plant until the end of the month. I'm just so tickled that some of our projects are moving right along!  I can't get the smile off my face. It's like it's plastered on! And today I found "something" that I've been searching for to complete yet another project.

Happy dance, happy dance! Thom said that when I came out of "St. Vinny's" he knew I found "something special" just by my huge smile. I actually felt giddy but after all it was such a great deal.  So I told him to back the car up to load up my find ... 

but you'll just have to wait for the "rest of the story."  

Now don't forget to check back in a few days. It'll be worth it ~ well at least it put a huge smile on my face!

Morning Glories

Last year was my first attempt at planting Morning Glories. I was hoping for better production but I plan to try them again this year. I also picked up some 4'oclocks to plant alongside them so when the "glories" get tired and close for the day the 4'oclocks should take over and show their pretty little blossoms. 

Happy May Day!

I can not tell a lie.
I borrowed this picture from

"Life in the Carolina Mountains"

I believe in giving credit

where credit is due. 

She has a wonderful

"May Day"

posting up today.

Check it out!

Inspiration

Thank you for inspiring me!

Inspiration: –noun

1. an inspiring or animating action or influence: I cannot write poetry without inspiration.

2. something inspired, as an idea.
3. a result of inspired activity.
4. a thing or person that inspires.
5. Theology .
   a. a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul.
   b. the divine quality of the writings or words of a person so influenced.
6. the drawing of air into the lungs; inhalation.
7. the act of inspiring; quality or state of being inspired.

Where do you find your inspiration?

Who inspires you?