Garage sale finds

Jason and I usually go to a few garage sales each summer.  We really like estate sales.  Not fake estate sales.  Real ones.  The newspaper ads all claim to be estate sales but they aren't really.  Hard to find the real deal.  Some Saturday mornings we head out.  I do love these types of outings with Jason.

Here are some of the items we found. 

 

This box opens up!  We got these boxes for 5 dollars each.  Not too bad. 

 This cute lamp caught my eye, only three dollars. 

  I have been wanting a dutch oven of my own. Now I have one! I have been looking into how to season it.  It was 16 dollars.

 These glass insulators are so beautiful.  I have seen them here and there online and have always wanted some.  These were two dollars each!  

The experience involved in getting the glass insulators and the next two items was unforgettable.  We headed for this sale not far from our house and as we were getting closer I said to Jason..."I wonder if it is at that one place with all the stuff in their yard?"  As we got closer I got more excited.  This place was straight out of American Pickers.  When we pulled up I was surprised to see how many cars were there for being in the middle of the woods.  Nothing was priced at this sale.  If you wanted something you had to go up to this man in bibs sitting on his four wheeler with a huge white/gray beard, sunglasses and a baseball hat.  I was a little nervous.  He was very nice though and let me name my own price.  He had some cool stuff.

  Jason picked out this milk jug thing.  I wasn't sold on it at first but it is pretty sweet.  The thing I like about this sale was that you just can't find this stuff out there in an average store.  It has character.  It has a story.

Now this is awesome.  I got it for 5 dollars!  It is super heavy.  We looked it up and it was made in the 1930's.  We have plans to clean this guy up and have it sit somewhere around the house.  It would rock if we could get it working.  Just dreaming.  More to come on this find.

Garage sales are kinda cool because it gets you out there in your community, talking to your neighbors.  When you live out in the country like we do it can sometimes be hard to chat casually with the people you live near.  How do you connect with your neighbors?     

Current knitting

I am loving this simple project.  My mom has been doing this project for a while now and after months on seeing how beautiful it is I asked for the patten.   

It's a blanket.  Kinda strange to be knitting a blanket in eighty degree weather but it isn't heavy on you when your knitting since it is done in sections.  I have made knitted blankets for other people but never for our home.  I was looking around at our boring throw blankets and was thinking... 

"Hey!  What in the world?!? I knit.  Why don't I have a knitted blanket around here?"  

Time to change that.

It is all knit stitch with decreasing and picking up stitches.  Pretty easy to do while watching a movie or riding in the car.  It is done is squares and then assembled.  I think I need ten squares.  I have now finished three.  

It is knit with Fisherman's wool and Noro.  Who doesn't like Noro?  I find myself spurred on just so I can see how the colors of the Noro play out.  

I need to start another project too.  One at a time is not enough.  I am thinking about doing this one.  Jane Richmond is one of my favorite knitting designers.  Check out her blog, she has links to her patterns there.  Ahh...so many options. 

Oh, here is the link to the blanket pattern, you can buy it on Raverly.  It is call the Mitered Crosses Blanket.  Not sure if that link will work since I found it signed into Raverly.  But if you don't have an account you should.  It is a great site for the knitting and crocheting community to get free patterns and buy ones you really like.  Plus you get to see lots of other peoples projects.  I need to put some of mine on there.  My Mom just told me about an app that makes it easier to upload your project pictures right onto Raverly from your phone/ipod.  I will let you know how it works.

             

Keeping time

I enjoy seeing the seasons change and the passing months. I use lots of different calenders to stay organized. 

I enjoy these calenders that my Mom discovered.  It has become a family tradition to receive these each year at Christmas.  I get pretty excited to see the next years illustrations.  There are made by Linnea Designs and can be found here.  There are a lot of great calenders on this site, I haven't really explored it much.  Hmmm...may have to get some other Linnea calenders. 

Here is one from Target.  It helps with changing schedules.  I admit, I sometimes write down happenings after they have happened so I can look back at all the great times the month held.  It is on our fridge door.

This is a fun one my Mom got for me for my birthday. It's a knitting/farm themed one.  A great addition. 

This one stays in my purse, it's my on the go calender.  Another Target buy, only a few bucks. 

I have been working on being more focused.  This helps. 

How do you mark your days?

Six years old.

The birthday girl. 

 

I remember when I turned six.  I think it may be the first birthday I remember.  I have seen pictures of my other parties but for six years old I have my own memories.  Delaney, my niece, turned six last month.  I wanted to provide the picture memories but I am hoping she has her own memories from this party for years to come. 

The birthday brother. 

Some of the party goers. 

When I turned six our family was living in Virgina.  My memories include getting overalls as my main gift.  Awesome.  I also remember going to the circus (in my overalls) and getting called down to the center ring with all the other kids that were there for their birthdays.  I remember being slightly shocked that I shared my birthday with other kids.  What?!?  I thought I was the only one born on that day.  Weird.  Oh, how narrow our view of the world is as a child.  

Delaney taking some time for a picture with me.  Sure love this girl! 

All the kids are checking out each others donkey tails.  Nothing like some old fashioned "Pin the tail on the donkey." 

 Here are the results. 

 My rocking sister made these sweet cakes. 

 

And the cool Mom (my sis)  that put it all together...

Stop and smell the lilacs

Usually I show the finished projects and not the work part.

It's not always pretty. Even though there has been much work going on here at home now that the outside has now become liveable, everyone has to stop and smell the lilacs, right? I don't have roses, yet. My grandma had a beautiful rose garden. Green thumbs are inherited, I hope.

Here is some work.

Now...smell those flowers.

Back to work.

There are those moments that make you pause and look. I am always saying to Jason, "Take it in, take it in!" when we see something that is special. The way the sun shines through the trees, when we are just sitting around the house eating dinner, or when we are in the car and we hear a song we both love and we crank it up. Those are the stop and smell the roses/lilac moments. Don't miss them.

I take those moments to thank God. Thanks God, for creating a world that invokes wonder. Even in the small things.

 

Life worth celebrating

My brother and my niece have birthday's only a day apart.

Gabriel turned 21 and Delaney 6, we now celebrate their birthday's together.

This pizza was awesome.  Aubree's does it right.  Balsamic vinegar on pizza?  Yes please.  

 Here is Delaney opening her gifts.  Don't you love the joy of opening gifts?

Gabriel was very gracious and allowed Delaney to steal most of the spot light. 

This does not look like a 21 year old's cake does it?  

Just noticed they spelled Delaney's name wrong.

 Oh Shane.  Such a ham. 

 A girl and her doll.  Classic.

Great family.  Great food.  Great day.