Rednesday ~ Grandpa N.

The little boy in the red shirt is my son about 12 years ago. It was a cool Thanksgiving day as he followed Grandpa N. around the barnyard. He still remembers riding in the corn chopper with Grandpa N. and tasting corn right off the stalk. I took a number of photos of them together and framed them for grandpa and grandma. Grandma chose to paint this one as a gift for my hubby. Grandpa N. passed away a few years later on a warm October day. My kids still remember him and talk about him often. He was a hardworking, quiet man but quick to laugh. He lived by the cowboy code and his handshake meant as much as any legal document. He was tough as nails and kind as a kitten.


We miss you Big N.

Sorry for the edit. I just wanted to clarify Grandpa N. is my hubby's dad and my dear mother-in-law painted the water color. I know she will read this so Thank You for such a warm memory. I hope you enjoy the two songs that come with this post. The first is Little N.'s favorite, "This Cowboy's Hat" by Chris LeDoux. The second is "Amarillo Sky" sung by Jason Aldene and makes me think of Big N. every time I hear it.

Love,

Dawn

Did Someone Say Scrap?

My friend Connie at The Cottage Loft recently bestowed the "Honest Scrap" award on me and I must say it fits my place to a T because... honestly, there's a lot of scrap around here!

In fact, Hubby and the neighbor boy have hauled off about 10 trailer loads of it this summer.

Now that's

What Connie didn't know was that I also received this award a while back from Laura at Amongst the Oaks. I'm thrilled that I have two now because they look so nice on my mantle. That is where you keep your awards, right? I would take an Honest Scrap award over an Oscar any day! I'm so proud of them 'cause I do believe in keeping it honest!

As part of my acceptance speech I'm supposed to tell you 10 things about me you don't know. I think I've already given you two:

1. I have an acre of sss-crap.
2. I'll collect and display anything.

so here's the rest

3. Did I mention Hubby and I both come from a long line of hoarders. I mean collectors!

4. I'd like to learn how to do that strike out thing that makes it look like you made a mistake.

5. I'm seriously thinking of hiring a professional organizer. Do not laugh. I am being totally honest.

6. While I'm at it, I could use some time management help too.

7. I can NOT multi-task. One thing at a time please.

8. I have a degree in Journalism. STOP laughing! This is my blog and the one place I can throw rules out the window. So what if my participles are dangling.

9. When I was about 13 I used a special bag I had been saving to decorate the back of a small bookcase in my room. The paper was from Cuttings Golden Horse in Fresno, CA. They had a giant golden stallion statue rearing in front of the western wear store. Their bags were navy blue with gold rearing stallions. I proudly showed my parents and Dad asked if I glued it on.... No. I taped it on. It can come off... I lied! I had glued the heck out of it, just like wallpaper. (Do I have to give the awards back? It was a really long time ago...)Where ever that little book case ended up I'm sure that paper is still on it! Sorry dad, but you have to admit, it was much prettier with the golden stallions!

10. I often get sidetracked and don't get a projects finished for a long time.

Now, I'm supposed to pass this on to 10 other bloggers but since I recently did that and I'm crunched for time I'm going to leave it on my left sidebar for all of you to admire. If you know anyone you would like to give it to please take it and pass it on. I love seeing what 10 things people tell about themselves!

Edit: I almost forgot I wanted to mention that Connie lives in Big Bear Lake, CA and has a vacation cabin she rents out. She also has a 2nd blog on all the activites you can find going on near Big Bear Lake. It sounds like a great place to visit. Please stop by and say hello.

They're Out to Get Me!

I'm afraid I didn't get around to visiting much the last several days.

It seems there's been a grass roots movement taking shape around my home. I didn't see it coming. Oh, there were clues, but I didn't think the little stinkers would band together like they have. You see, a while back hubby and I were watching TV and saw a news segment on a rehab facility for Internet addiction. You get to stay in nice mountain resort with no computer for 45 days and it only cost $45,000. Yes, 45 thousand dollars to not go online. Well, I thought it was hilarious but hubby wasn't laughing. In fact, I looked over and he pointed at me then hooked his thumb toward the door!

He's not the only one complaining. Darling Daughter keeps saying things like "Are you blogging again?" and "I wish you would stop blogging and cook dinner". Ooops, my bad!

There have been several times I tried to go online only to find someone has disconnected the DSL wires going to the phone jack under the desk. All this time I thought Sunny was on my side, I'm the one who feeds him after all, but noooo, he wasn't really napping under the desk, he was sabotaging me!

Then there is Patches, a barn cat who only loves me when it's convenient for her.

No, Patches, you can't play with my camera strap. Get down.

Back again? I told you to go away. I'm trying to take photos of this block of wood for my blog! Don't you give me those evil cat eyes!

That's better you just stay over there and pretend you're not interested anyway.

When I find out who kept hiding the computer mouse this weekend, they'll be sleeping on the porch with Patches!

A Mystery from the Attic

I came across this block of wood in the bottom of a box in the attic. At first I thought it was just a piece of crown molding someone had saved.

Then I realized the sides and back were painted too. I'm guessing it was crown molding because the ribbons on the laurel wreath should be hanging down, but I think it was used as something else.

The top corners are really worn, like it was picked up a lot. Maybe a paperweight? Hubby's great-great grandfather was a judge. I can just imagine a dark paneled office full of law books with this on the desk holding down stacks of legal documents .

The bottom and back are quite worn too. My mother-in-law suggested it might have been used as a door stop. It's got a little weight to it but I'm not sure it's heavy enough for a door stop.

The bottom edge is unpainted and has some holes and marks that look like someone used it as a hammer at some point!

Whatever it was used for, I love the dark olive green color.

Do any of you have any thoughts about it? Have you ever seen any fancy old molding with this design?