...almost

While out saling yesterday morning, I found this cloth.  It is 'ALMOST' enough to make me wish that I was back in  college, living in a Dorm!  You know, with those BIG,Concrete Block walls just screaming out like empty palettes - waiting for a piece like this!?!!

 Okay, I guess that is a R.E.A.L.L.Y. BIG "ALMOST"!

I'm sure I will figure something out.  For now I am just admiring it "Airing out" on the back porch. (It actually had NO ODOR~  That was just the excuse that I gave J,  so that I could hang it somewhere, admire it and bond with it shortly before I decide it's outcome - hmmmm...)

 

I did pick up a few 'BIG KID' or Grown-Up type things while I was out saling too...

(NEW) mini Hand sifter (am I the only one who still sifts when baking?), mixing bowl, vintage jar, Bath & Body Lotion, 2 'RABBIT' wine stoppers, funky prism/crystal, MoMA(Museum of Mod Art) Bag...  (total $1.50)

VERA 2013 #15 ($1) VERAsheer

Hope everyone makes the !FUN! happen in their lives this weekend

...taking a moment.

 

 I had a L-O-N-G (ER) post, full of 'treasures'! and journeys! and garden adventures! from this past weekend all ready to share, but in light of what has happened in Oklahoma... I guess that it all kind of puts things into perspective ~ sorry if this post is a little 'lack-luster'.

LOTs of weekend treasures (for a change!) - ranging from the USEFUL (a few small wallets/change purses - including a Fossil .25¢  and a selection of Hallmark/BlueRidge NEW Greeting Cards selected from a HUGE assortment - 4/$1.00) 

Some 'crafty supplies' - probably headed for an ETSY store near you - aren't the mini dominoes adorable? (The larger ones are regular size, and they are all made of some sort of old glass-type material?!)

Of Course. Some 'Bling' for me.

and some 'Bling' purchased just for the chains/cords to use on my wire wrapped pendants!

and what would saling be without ~

VERA 2013 #13 $1.00

VERA 2013#14 .50¢

and,

 but what's this 'BUTT UGLY bouquet of flowers?' you ask?
J found it at a sale.
VERY proud of himself.
I was kinda smitten too. B-)

 

ROYAL HAEGER 2013 #2 $2
Knowing that we had her little sister sitting home on the Dining Room buffet!

...then the rest of the weekend was spent
taming the wildness that has become our gardens!
(GOOD-BYE Old Tree Stump!!)

...now I just reflect on how 'silly' all of this 'stuff/junk' is in comparison to what is truly important in this life.

... the verdict is in.

a 'HAND MODEL' I am NOT! (the class was FUN though!!)

...Bluejays of The Pines

I've been doing a little last minute 'Deep Spring Cleaning' before the impending June garage sale.  The latest attack has been on the depths of my attic Studio / Storage! 

I am proud to say that I have emptied FIFTEEN FEET of shelf space!!

Yes, this was a DIFFICULT purge... but I have cleared out MY FIRST TWO COLLECTIONS!

Do YOU remember your first collection(s)?? 

I

 In 3rd grade I started reading the TRIXIE BELDEN Mystery book series. Ahhhh... The Bobwhites of The Glen!   Anybody remember them? I was hooked! I couldn't get enough! Devoured them!  I think that I was only given 3 or 4 new for birthday or Xmas presents - but my girlfriends and I swapped, I borrowed them from the library, found them at garage sales...  and for the last 37yrs they have survived several moves, and finally resided once again in a prominent spot ~ next to NANCY DREW! (who's series I adored and fawned over 'almost' as much!! ...and was also purged...)

 Like I said, there was a 'group' of us who adored these mystery books!  I remember 7 of us even formed our own version of the 'BOBWHITES', except we called ourselves 'The Bluejays'.  We didn't have the luxury of a fancy Cottage for our clubhouse, just an old fort in the Pines.  We always tried to dream up 'mysteries' ~ but there never really were any...  We did have some fun Penny Carnivals though to raise money for UNICEF - does that count?!  OHHhhh, the memories...... (thanks for letting me reminisce here!) 

 Through the years, I kept collecting these books - the 1950's series, 1960's series, 1970's series...  The artwork changes, the content stays the same.  AMAZING that some books can be so timeless that they can appeal to 'youth' for such a long span of time!

 

NOW, with a bit of heavy heart, but with much FREE SPACE 8-), they are on the auction block!! You can go check some out HERE if you know a little one that might like some summertime reading!!

 

(okay, so maybe I haven't parted with my 'FAN CLUB FOLDER' - complete with membership card and Bookmark - just yet!  ...baby steps...)

...HAPPY DAY to ALL!

We are supposed to have a frost with a chance of snow tonight, so I have to enjoy them while I can 8-) !!

..."STONES or SHELLS?"

"STONES or SHELLS?" (curious passerby at the shore on a recent sunny afternoon)

and my reply...

"SEAGLASS."

I have been busy creating a selection of colors and styles to take home (Parent's 'home' that is...) in time for the annual 'MOM's Day' outing - which was this past Wednesday (SHE was busy today!!).  This year her 'handmade' was to be a choice of a pendant...

 

SO WHICH ONE DO YOU THINK SHE CHOSE?
(Oh, and she also had the options of the first couple I made!)

The piece on the far left with the silver Sarah Coventry chain was the winner - she claims it was because she would have the most to wear it with, I think it was because she could see it the best 8-) !

Now there are a few pieces of clay~brick that I think just might look kinda nice with some silver wire wrap... ,
That is after I hit a couple of quick garage sales ;-)

 

...Yummy Cobbler.

Looking for something 'special' for Sunday? (psst: it's Mom's Day, just in case you forgot!!)  here is a quicky that I just stumbled upon that I thought I would share.

This dessert speaks of SUMMAH TIME, spur-of-the-moment gatherings to me,  something to whip up quick-n-easy!!   These ingredients are usually handy...

Frozen berries, dry cake mix, and 1 can of sprite.

Yummy Cobbler.

 It sounds so easy - and it is good and weight watcher friendly!

 Ingredients:
Two 12-oz bags fro...zen mixed berries (good way to use up some of last Summer's berries from the freezer!)
1 box white cake mix (no pudding)
1 can of diet 7-up or sierra mist (clear soda pop)

Instructions: Place frozen fruit in a 9x13 baking dish. Add dry cake mix over the top. Pour soda slowly over cake mix. DO NOT stir the cake mix and the pop - this will give you a 'crust'. If you stir the two, you will have a cake like topping.

Bake 350 deg for 45-50 min.

You may be able to use frozen peaches instead of mixed berries.

Serves 16

Weight Watchers: 4 PointsPlus

...sticks! and stones! and fish bones?

Don't mean to brag, but this doesn't happen often ~

WE (as in 'UPSTATE NY') have been having B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. weather lately!!

 J & I decided it was FINALLY time to take my Christmas Gift (Sherlock) out on his Maiden Voyage - destination: a yet unopened State park on a neighboring FingerLake.  You see I didn't even know I wanted Sherlock until I opened this large present Christmas Morning to discover... a Metal Detector!!  Now, I have SOOO much to learn about him!!  Let's leave it to say, that all Sherlock helped me discover on our first date were 3 metal can pull-tabs and one rusted out can bottom...

~BUT~

My tote bag was NOT empty when we left the park... after a Picnic Snack in the sun, we packed up Sherlock and just did a little beach combing the way we know best B-)...   

Lovely lake stones washed smooth....

In additional to the usual search for seaglass, I was also searching out driftwood and flat stones for a couple of other 'projects' I had in mind...

ANCHORS AWAY!

STONES - eh - MUCH  better BEFORE I got my hands on them, oh well, I can always flip them over!

Love.

more Love.

and then of course there is seaglass drying on my counter.  Came out this morning and the prism that sits on my windowsill was reflecting perfectly onto the white pieces.

HAPPY CINCO de MAYO!