Thrifty China and an Even Better Find

Hello my sweet friends.

I'm afraid I haven't been 'round much this week.

I've been busy gathering,

focusing on details,

and working on the big picture.

Taxes are done. What a relief. Now I can get back to playing.

I got a great deal on this china set at an estate sale last Friday but my thrifty find is nothing compared to Mona's. She spent $10.00 and got...well I let her tell you. Click here to read it in her own words. As her title says, it was "The Yard Sale Find of a Lifetime". You won't want to miss it!

Make the Commitment!

If you have come to love blogging as much as I do you know it means spending a lot of time sitting on your butt. I keep telling myself I need to exercise more but the treadmill still sits behind me, unused, as I blog. I decided to make the commitment to exercise before I blog or I don't get to blog! I made this little button to remind me every time I sit down to post or visit. I don't actually jog, yet, but it rhymes better than "exercise". Feel free to copy it for your sidebar if you need a reminder to get moving now and then .
Here's to happy, healthy hearts!
Dawn

Destination: Wash House

This is the new view from my back steps. It's strange to be able to see the wash house, the building on the left, because for years it's been hidden by a tangle of overgrown bushes. A rotted grape arbor, a fig tree and several privets had been taken over by the grapes, ivy and honeysuckle. Last weekend the last of the brush was cleared away, making way for...more clean up on the inside! I was really quite surprised. I've posted about my dream of turning the wash house into a studio a couple of times. I thought Hubby was just humoring me about starting on it this spring. Thank you Hubby!

Hubby's grandmother, Hummer, hauled her laundry out to this little building until she was in her 90's. It was also used as a potting shed and storage for her bulbs. Hubby remembers being recruited each year with his brothers to dig up all the bulbs from her cut flower stand.

Both the building and the rose bush survived the pruning shears and chainsaws. I wasn't so sure that would be the case.

A view from the inside. It's too scary for more than just a glimpse!

This is the side by the pathway. My dad has inspected everything and thinks it's in much better shape than it looks like. There is some rot, water damage in the ceiling, and other minor issues. He'll upgrade the electrical that has been disconnected for years. The biggest job is cleaning it out, then prepping and painting it. All in all he says it will be relatively inexpensive and simple. I just hope his idea of "relatively" is the same as mine! My dear mom can't wait to get painting on it with me.

I had never seen the back side until a few months ago when a chicken coop that backed up to it was removed. I hadn't even realized there were windows here. When it's all finished I hope it turns out something like this...

I've been holding on to this inspiration photo for many years. I don't know which magazine it came from. When I posted about some old doors I thought might be good for this project Karen, from Some Days are Diamonds, commented:

DO IT DAWN!!!!! I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to have a room to just "Be" in and create whatever your heart desires. While I love just having my own room, to have a separate building, a "destination" if you will would be awesome! Just imagine! Oh I REALLY encourage you to find a way! Keep me posted!!!!!

As luck would have it I went to Karen's blog to grab her link and her pups, Jorja and Harley, had snuck in a post about how Karen was doing the Happy Dance over her newly re-decorated studio! Now I have some lovely pink inspiration for the inside, and some great organizational ideas too! Thank you for all the encouragement Karen. I do think this little building could turn out to be a little diamond in the rough!

I'll keep you all posted as this project moves along.

Hugs,

Dawn

First Signs of Spring!

It's been a beautiful weekend here in central California. We've been outside working and took a little trip up into the foothills yesterday. Here are some of the first signs of spring we've seen.

Bees

Buds

Tender greens

and swings!

Vintage Valentine Party

Sunday is Joan's Vintage Valentine Card Party at Anything Goes Here. She is sharing a fabulous group of Victorian valentines from 1901. You won't want to miss the story of how she got them! Be sure to visit Joan and the other participants listed on her sidebar. I have just 3 to share and they aren't the usual red valentines we are used to seeing. These came from Hubby's great grandmother's box of postcards that I shared before

Postmarked 1913

Postmarked 1907

Postmarked Feb. 16, 1910

Now, I know you're thinking this is not a valentine card but here is what it says on the back:

"Everyone else is getting Valentines. So I send you one too. Oro"

This was sent by Oro, hubby's great grandmother to his great-grandfather, Pop Smith. Not a lot of sentiment there and it sounds like she may be disappointed she hadn't received one from him yet. I'm learning from these postcards that Pop Smith worked out of town for long periods for the California State Highway Department and he wasn't one to write often. He did save the cards she sent though and brought them home so they must have been important to him. I hope your Valentine's Day is filled with love from the people who are important to you!

The Magic Quilt

I want to share this love filled quilt before Valentine's Day slips away. I kept meaning to post it on Rednesday but didn't get around to photographing in time. My daughter won it in a raffle last year at a Valentine's dance. It's a lap quilt made and donated by the Gateway Quilter's club of Merced.

There is a Nick Jr. preschool show called "Little Bill" based on Bill Cosby's childhood. Little Bill received a magic quilt from his grandmother. Each block had things to make him happy. It had been passed through the family to help chase away monsters and bad dreams at bedtime. As soon as my daughter got this she dubbed it her magic quilt. Whenever she is afraid or upset at night she sleeps with it. It works like a charm, just like the little poem says it will!

Rednesday and Thrifty Thursday

It's our last Rednesday before Valentine's Day so I'm sure our hostess Sue, at It's a Very Cherry World, and the other Rednesday participants will have lots of Red love to share! I've got a few Valentine decorations on my mantle and they were all thrifty finds so I'm also joining Leigh for Thrifty Thursday at Bloggeritaville.

I picked up a package of 12 vintage style Valentine cards at Ross for a dollar and some change. I'm afraid I was thinking LOVE and not thrifty so I don't remember the exact prices on some of these. The pug love shack was my favorite of the designs. You can just see the edge of the mosaic plaque that I posted about last Rednesday. I have it on a gold scrolly stand, of course! My green rooster from yesterday's post is also on the mantle and was from Big Lots a few years ago.

Here are some tins along with the footed flower bowl I shared on a previous Rednesday. Everything here came from Strawberry Saturday, my favorite thrift store. The small tins have hinged lids. They fit nicely in my kind of English Cottage living room.

I absolutely fell in love with this tin that looks like an open book. The pen and pocket watch are raised off the surface. The watch is scratched but I don't mind. I think I paid 3 or 4 dollars for it.

Finally, here is another romantic little vase with roses, butterflies and cherubs. It also was a few dollars. As often happens at Strawberry Saturday I go up to the counter with an arm load of stuff thinking I may have to put something back and then I'm surprised when the bill is much lower than I figured. Cheryl likes to keep her customers happy and coming back so she will often discount things. I never even try to bargain with her because her prices are so low to start with but she does it anyway! She is such a sweetie. I even saw her offer to deliver items to a lady in a wheel chair who had ridden the bus to the store and had too much to carry home.

If are ever in the Merced area make sure you stop by Strawberry Saturday on Yosemite Parkway and Marthella Ave. Along with her "gently used" items Cheryl also stocks items that follow the latest trends at cost to "class the place up" as she says. I didn't set out to do an ad here but most of these items came from S.S. and it really is a great place to dig for treasures. I mean that literally, she has a lot of stuff! Sorry for being so wordy today, didn't plan that either!

Il n'est plus tout jeune!

He may not be a spring chicken but he's put his heart into delivering a bit of spring to you via Kathy's Cottage. Like the U.S. postal service, he delivers through rain, sleet and snow! Thank you Kathy for offering your wonderful original designs in your Etsy shop. I "Y" my heart!

Title translation by WordReference.com.

Information, Please

Thank you, ladies, for all your well wishes regarding having a nice family move in across the street. That is my wish as well and would be wonderful, especially given the recent history there. I should have given you a bit more information in my previous post but I'm so annoyed at the big sign in my face that it didn't cross my mind.

When this area was developed in the 30's it was 1 acre lots. Many of them were small farms. As time went on many owners built other homes on the lots for family members and some lots were completely subdivided.

The lot across the street has the original 2 bedroom home, plus two 1 bedroom homes and a studio apartment above the garage. It's being sold as a four-plex. During the height of the housing boom it changed hands faster than a hot potato. Each time an out-of-town investor would make a few cheap cosmetic changes and walk away with a nice profit. Then the bubble burst. The last investor couldn't sell it for a quick profit and got stuck with it. Old tiny houses combined with a lack of real maintenance didn't attract nice people. We actually probably saw more of our local law enforcement officers than our neighbors for the last few years.

So I was quite content when the bank took it over and fixed it up a little. I hope the new owner is in it for the long haul and fixes it up enough to attract some nice people! For now it sits empty, staring at me with that big yellow eye...

Sign of the Times

Imagine waking up late one lazy Saturday and opening your curtains to this...

Ugh!

This is what we get to look for the next month or so. Remember, objects in window are closer than they appear! It feels like it's right in our living room. In fact it's visible from the dinning room, kitchen and sun room too! I can't escape it.

Maybe it will rain all month and I can just keep the curtains closed! Or I can whip out some black and yellow spray paint and change my decor to make it blend in...

Come. Sit. Stay....You don't want to miss this giveaway!

If your a dog lover you won't want to miss your chance to win this great version of Monopoly ~ It's Dog-opoly and is the cutest game ever. Much better than the Spongebob Monopoly version my kids force me to play on a regular basis! If you've got a smart dog like a Lab they can play too, just don't let them be the banker, the money gets all wet and slimy!

Now RUN over to Murphy Grace Home and fetch a chance at this wonderful prize Gwen is offering. The giveaway closes Sunday, Feb. 7th, so don't waste time scratching or chasing butterflies! Go!

It's a Gold Scrolly Thing

It's a mixed bag here today and I'm linking up with Sue for REDnesday,

and Leigh for Thrifty Thursday.

Please visit these lovely ladies to see more fabulous Red and/or Thrifty things!

I couldn't resist this mosaic "Love and Romance" plaque. It made my heart go pitter patter at a mere $1.50. Okay, so it's really Home Interior, no one knows but me...and all of you!

Now here's some silver scrolly things. This Frenchy shell platter for $2 was the first silver piece I've bought. I didn't have any silver till this came along and although I've always loved scrolly things, I think this purchase was highly influenced by fellow bloggers sharing all their beautiful silver.

So I had no alternative but to buy more scrolly silver things. The details on these spoons are just so pretty, even the backs look good.

Ah, here's the gold scrolly things. $2 for the pair. I know, I know, they're that awful gaudy gold but...

I like scrolly gaudy gold things.

But if gold's not your thing, by all means, paint them!

Just don't get suckered in by someone else who paints them then tries to pass them off as antiques! These are the exact same as mine. I know because I checked the back for the markings. Not so thrifty at $32! Don't buy something like this just because you don't think you can find it and do it yourself. It's being dumped into the thrift stores by the barrels. Whether you like it old and gold or want to freshen it up with paint, it's out there! Just ask Kammy!