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Showing posts from June, 2012

Dashing in the Thrift Store

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I went for one thing only.  Spoons & such for a project.  But I found these: About ten pounds of polished stones.  How could I resist when they were only $3.99? And For fifty cents.  :-) It would be so boring if there were not any thrift shops! Yes, I found the type of spoons I needed too! Linking to:  The Charm of Home

Wordless Wednesday II

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"Oh, hello." shared with Wordless Wednesday Blog Paws 

A Review: American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

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This is my Goodreads review.   Goodreads rating:  1 star  I found the book to be well written and one that is hard to put down, but I would never recommend.  It's a dangerous precedent to be writing about real people as fiction and recreating them to spur ones own convictions.   This is why it's a one star rating.  If this had been a future president unassociated with anyone living, it would have received four stars.  The liberal author has simply created a way to give her political views credibility.  She pretends that her views are the real views of Laura Bush.  To call this a work of fiction is a cover.  You cannot read it without imagining and believing it is George and Laura Bush she is writing about. The clever use of truth amongst the overwhelming fabrication she indulges in will almost certainly color the readers impression of these two very real persons forever.  People who are not unlike them, but who most assuredly are not them. The aut

Tropical Storm Debby

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Our first major storm since we moved to Florida.   My rain cup has been awash and overflowing for hours now. The view from our front door Steady rain hasn't flooded us yet. Just don't walk up to my front door The view from the back  A tiny bend in the gutter has been overflowing right onto the patio screen. I could not get outside with the camera to show you even with the overflow here, the water is still gushing out of the drain spout on the corner.   Our cat, Mohawk abandoned the patio he loves for the dry comfort of the living room. Looking unperturbed, but the fact that he is inside speaks volumes. High tide is in a half hour and is apparently wreaking havoc along US 19 since the water can no longer drain off into the Gulf.   However.. ..so far, so good at Tortoise Cottage.  We are only spectators watching the drama outdoors at this time.  No limbs down, no damp spots on the ceiling and the electricity is working fine.  Maybe I'll bake. Update: It's

Postcard Haiku

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Karan and Michael Traveling around the world Include us, always I just had to be a part of: Sensational Haiku Wednesday   Art and Tree Chatter of Aquariann

Summer Thrifting Treasures

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I just love to thrift shop and once again I came home with a treasure to keep and some dishes I have other plans for.   It was half price for Seniors Day and I pretty much stocked up.  The girl at the register gave me an additional discount at the register for wrapping all the dishes.   Here is a sampling: A Homer Laughlin egg cup in my favorite color! Some pretty dishes A tiny souvenir plate A plate marked Japan (in the old way...a black stamp) This had a crumbling sticker for $1.99 from many years ago.  It's in beautiful shape and I have a plan for it! A tiny hand painted cup A solid glass eagle A salt glazed folk art pottery jug.  Yes, it does have some paint that needs to be removed. And there is a story behind these tarnished pieces of silver I have been cursed today because of this silver crossing my palm. This is the story.   A woman at the Salvation Army store was rifling though the box of stainless and I listened to the clink, rattle and crash while I

Visitors

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It never fails to astonish me to step out my front door and see these visitors.  Walking ever so gracefully, not at all afraid of me. See the one on the far right?  He is trying to shoo me away with a loud squawk.  Usually it's just Jack and Jill that come around, they always come in pairs.  Today they brought their friends from Mom's block around the corner, Fric and Frac. Linked to: Top of the Pecking Order   (isn't that soooo appropriate??) Curb Alert (this is what is on my curb!) 

Wordless Wednesday

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A Day at the Beach Bliss! Partying at: Pimp Your Stuff Wednesday Jillzy  Rednesday  And then she snapped  Sarah Halstead  Instant Vingnette

Miniature Gardens

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I tried my hand at a couple of miniature gardens.  One is in a large pot outside my patio door.  It started out as a moss garden and I happily found rocks and branches and arranged them.  Then I had to break off a branch of a Schefflera in the front garden.  The branch was so large I didn't want to just toss it away so I stuck it in the soil  in my moss garden to enjoy until it died.  Much to my surprise, it rooted and is now thriving. A feathery plant took root and some clover, so it is much more attractive than when it was only mossy items. The cute bowl I purchased while in South Carolina did indeed become a tiny birdbath.  Instead of being a birdbath though, it is a place for the tiny frogs who found their way into this garden.  How appropriate!  The other tiny garden is much smaller, measuring only 8 inches in diameter and it resides indoors  It boasts a double walkway, one leading to a "salt celler" pond, the other leading to a rock sculpture where a tre

Weekend Thrifting in Sultry June

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Ohhhh it was a lovely tropical day and especially nice to be out after several days of rain. My local Goodwill had, of course, raised their prices.  I think it's because of the massive amount of shopping I have done there over the last year.  They must feel like if I will pay $0.78 for something, surely I wouldn't object to paying $1.06. The $1.06 price tag was on throw away bud vases, grocery store plastic storage, individual teaspoons, knives, forks etc. I'm simply stunned as I walk through and see the prices.  I don't think there was anything lower than $1.06 But there were bargains to be had.   My favorite item to buy is a pottery mug and this one was especially nice...the aqua and brown is gorgeous, the handle is large, the rim TIPS OUT...and the line drawing takes me to someplace interesting.  I loved having my coffee in it this morning,   $1.06 Tie Dye Coasters! Not just any coasters, but the coasters that actually absorb all liquid but doesn't get th

Nancy Keeps House by Helene Laird

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I wonder how many of you grew up with Nancy in the book Nancy Keeps House.  Did you learn your housekeeping methods from this book as well as your mom?  It was published in 1947 just a few years before I was born so it was still quite relevant when I was growing up in the 50's.  I read it often and have always remembered the instructions as I went about cleaning the next fifty years!  I found a copy when my children were still small and encouraged them to read it.  By then it was far too dated for them to enjoy and alas, they ignored it completely.  It sat on the bookshelf for years.  Then the other day I saw an illustration in a blog and it reminded me of this book.  I looked online for illustrations to verify it and could not find a single illustration, not even of the cover.  It is listed on Goodreads and Amazon with a blank in place of the book photo.   I did, however find the authors real daughter making a comment through Amazon which I have copied for you. ****************