Competitive Thrift

I told you I was competitive, and it has its drawbacks. My desire to win comes out when shopping the curb, a yard sale or Goodwill. Sometimes I compete with myself and sometimes I pit myself against the seller, but add another shopper to the equation (if I even suspect they might want what I want) and the will to win kicks into overdrive.

Protect The Right That Protects All Your Rights

Home...we talk a lot about it here on our blogs. We discuss our makeovers, our families and our latest finds. We lament home maintenance, and we obsess just a wee bit about our sense of style and all things pretty. However, HOME is not only a place to adorn and organize and updo so that we can keep up with the Joneses or enjoy the view; it is THE place to which we retreat, THE place to which we run for solace and safety, THE place where we protect our families from the world outside, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

If you've ever experienced someone violating the boundaries of your home or threatening you or your family, you may understand why across the nation, citizens are on guard not only against other people who might intrude upon them, but against a government that is increasingly over-stepping its bounds, one that appears to be in the process of unhinging itself from the individual's right to life and liberty outlined in the U.S. Constitution.

Sorry about the blurry shot.

From Trash Heap to Trash Heap

It's hard to let go, even when you've only known a cute new piece of junk for an hour. 

Today was free trash Thursday, and I went looking...just because, you know...stuff might be out there.

I happened upon a pile of chippy green wood, and this little matching table was sitting upside down on top. It was filthy, but I liked the scalloped edge that went all the way around. It was going to make a sweet little back patio table.

I hauled it into the backseat where I promptly got mud and all manner of filth all over the passenger headrest and the seat. Who cares, I thought. This little sweet thang is worth it.

Fun Finds on the Fly

I want nothing.

I need nothing.

I have room for NOTHING! (My son just arrived home from California and told me it seemed crowded in here (or did he say cluttered). Number one: He doesn't know clutter, and number 2, Eh, hem! I beg your pardon! This is the random treasure of the world carefully stacked, arranged, or otherwise crammed into place for maximum visual effect. He also had questions about the giant pickle. Who doesn't.



Imagine the nerve of him not seeing the junky/beautiful splendor of it all. Apparently I have some work to do on that front. But if he would hurry up and get a place here, I'd be able to unload all the excess onto him. I'm waiting! I got most of it for HIM, after all.

The Whirlwind & The Storm

I'm still in my pink accent phase.  Bear with me...

You have to give PINK credit for a positive attitude. Pink is rarely in a bad mood. A little showy sometimes, a bit obnoxious when she and her friends gather in large numbers, and she is definitely one of those who needs a lot of attention, but let's give her, her due. The room does light up when she walks in.

Aqua Blue and Party Pink

The time has come for the "after" shot of my tall brown chest of drawers (and the little tray I bought last week), the painting endeavor whereby I threw out my back while standing in front of said chest holding one of the drawers out to my right. That's all it took. The back is much better, I'm no longer leaning like the tower of Pisa, but my back is only happy with constant movement or when lying down. I thought I was healed but this morning, it is still sort of calling the shots.

Brown Chest of Drawers Turned Blue

Now, I didn't despise this chest being brown. I stay on good terms with my furniture whenever possible. There was no animosity toward its dreariness. Its rustic look had a certain charm. However, I was in a mood and tired of the brown wood with the terra cotta floors. And mind you, there is also an Ethan Allen desk of a similar color wood to the left just outside of the picture. There was enough of that golden/orangey tone going on, so my other list of paint to-do's got tossed and paint gave this a similar look to the little chest in my kitchen that I also painted.

Hey Girl - As You Wish

Bliss Ranch is hosting a Hey Girl Valentine Link Party over at her place. 

Link up your own Hey Girl and share it.

"Link on one, fun on all five"

Here is my Hey Girl:

or for the less wordy among us:



Check out the fun parties this week at:

Give us This Day - Dressed in Pink

For many years I've relished the Lord's prayer and the daily bread kind of surrender that counts on God to give me what I need for each day. He encourages me to have an EVERYDAY trust in Him. He knows what I need, He likes me to ask Him for it, and He even tells me how to do so. You know me and decisions; I like not having to wonder. So I take the prayer He offers:

Saturday's $6.00 Haul

Despite my aching back, I just had to go out and see what was out there this weekend. My car was still being uncooperative to an extent, so I headed back closer to home and found these two mirrors. The woman wanted $4 for the bigger one. That was too much for me, so I checked out the smaller broken one. (The top peice was just resting there and wasn't attached.) She said $1 would take the small one home, and that if I bought it, she'd throw the bigger one in free. Well...okay! Two for $1.00? If you insist. 

When The Back Goes Out

I have NOT fallen, but even so, I can't get up. Absolutely nothing happened and out went my back anyway. I'm immobile, and it's even more the pity because I was in the middle of painting my tall chest of drawers when it happened.

This one.