HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Happy Halloween, from our spooky house to yours! I thought I would share a few pics of our outdoor decorations today, and I had a little fun with Pic Monkey while I was at it!

I often wonder if people think: "There's The Crazy Cat Lady House" as they're walking or driving past our house during the month of October! I decorate "cute", with pumpkins and black cats, instead of gory. Lots of cats up on the porch railing, strolling along "Black Cat Crossing" this year!

Another black cat, in the garage windowbox!

Still more cats, this one by the back door.

The back porch.

I didn't realize Cupcake was watching me the whole time, until I uploaded the previous pic! I have a feeling that she's wondering what's the deal with all of the cats out there, and why can't she be out there too! 

A vintage plantstand, full of sparkly pumpkins.

I guess this is more Fall than Halloween, but there is a crow lurking in the background. If you've ever seen Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, you know how a couple of birds can lead to total chaos. I remember having nightmares after seeing that movie! 

More Fall decorations. When I bought that picnic basket, I remember thinking that even though the red had faded to orange, it would work perfectly with the Fall decorations. So I packed it away in the shed,  and that's how I have so much junk! 

Recent flea market/estate sale finds.

The only indoor Halloween decorations I managed this year. I recently brought home that movie from my Mom's house. I remember when my Dad would put that movie on the old projector, it was equal parts terror and excitement. That spider is HUGE! 

Our pumpkin, carved by our very artistic and talented daughter Liz. I think she could tell that I'm obsessed with owls this year! I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween! It looks like it's going to rain all day and night here, so I guess we won't get alot of trick or treaters. We usually have 100+ kids come to the door, so it's looking like we will be returning candy to the store. Tricked Ya!! I've already called dibs on the Reeses Peanut Butter Cups and the Twizzlers! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! 

MY WEEKEND FINDS

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of My Weekend Finds, the continuing saga of one girl's quest for more junk!

I have wanted one of these picnic tins for years, but could never ever justify the price they would go for on Ebay. I think I even had a dream once, about finding one at a garage sale. It was sitting in a little old man's garage, holding nails and screws. Isn't that pathetic, to dream about junk?!?  This one came from Ebay, and it's in really rough condition, so I could totally afford it! You can barely see the red and white stripes anymore, but that's ok. I still love it!

The addition required a little rearranging of the tins on this bookshelf. Remember, this is only a portion of my collection!

It's the most colorful spot in the house!

I was really excited that this round tablecloth and light-up snowman were both waiting for me on the 2nd day of an estate sale. Half price day too!

Those old gift tags reminded me instantly of Christmases spent with my grandparents in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. It was magical! I'm pretty sure the tags are from the 60s, because there's no barcode on it, which was invented in 1973. There's a history lesson for ya! I already shared that December angel awhile ago. She's only in the shot because I'm leaving her in plain sight so that I don't lose her when it comes time to decorate for Christmas!

A cement blue jay, bought at an estate sale in what was probably the stinkiest house I've ever been in. A combination of mold and many cigarettes having been smoked in there over a long period of time.  I only darted inside, held my breath, grabbed the statue and one other thing, which I'll show you in a minute, paid and ran outside, gasping for breath! 

I was shocked that I missed this cement shroom on the 1st day of another estate sale, but I did see it the 2nd day and got it for half price! Oh how I'm going to miss those flowers in this shot. We're having a hard freeze tonight.......

This Easter blow mold is the other thing I grabbed while holding my breath at that stinky sale. I was sure I would be sick the next day, as I'm very allergic to mold. Pyrex lovers might not like to read this, but if I could have held my breath for just a little bit longer, I could have grabbed a bunch of  pretty pink and aqua Pyrex that I saw as I was darting towards the door. I'll do alot of things to get some good junk, but getting sick is not one of them!

I'm crazy about this little chandie, and I can't wait to hang it on the porch next Spring!~~~~~~~Well that's it for my finds. All in all, I would say that this year has been pretty awful in the junking department. I come home from garage sales feeling like I can never get back the time and gas that I just wasted. Thank goodness for the flea market, estate sales and Ebay! What about you? Has it been a good junking year for you?~~~~~I'M LINKING UP TO A NEW PARTY, "WE CALL IT OLDE". IT'S HOSTED BY DAWN AT WE CALL IT JUNKIN.  YOU CAN SHARE YOUR VINTAGE FINDS AT THIS PARTY. CHECK IT OUT!

MY WEEKEND FINDS

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of My Weekend Finds, the continuing saga of one girl's quest for more junk!~~~~~~Is it just me, or has the junking been really awful this summer? Or is it that I've been trying to be more selective and not bring home so much junk? No question about it, the sales have been awful! The junk I'm about to show you was accumulated over a period of about a month and a half, and I don't have much to show for it! 

I fell in love with this bird cage stand as soon as I saw it at the flea market. But I'm not going to use it to hold a bird cage.....

It's going to hold a flower basket!

Anything aqua colored seems to catch my eye these days, so I was immediately drawn to this old picnic jug.

And when I saw the label, I had to have it! It's packed away now, but I can't wait to decorate with it next summer. 

Even the box is cool!

I've always wanted one of these birdcages with the singing birds in it. I like it, the cat hates it!

A huge, super-grungy flower frog. Definitely needs a good soaking and scrubbing.

A big fat crock for the front porch.

A Norcrest owl planter, bought weeks ago for a quarter. Proud of myself that I actually remembered where I put it for safe keeping until it was time to decorate for Halloween!

Holiday decorations. I knew the poinsettias were all chippy and her arm was broken when I bought that Lefton angel.....

But how could I miss the fact that she was missing her left arm??? Although the masking tape price tag was conveniently covering her nonexistent arm,  I think somebody needs to wear their glasses while shopping inside a dark garage..... 

A bunch of vintage trick or treat buckets.

And finally, a Santa blow mold that spent way too much time in the back of the van, or the shed on wheels, as I like to call it. Why did it live in the van for a few weeks? Because I had to sell a snowman blow mold at our garage sale in order to make room in the shed for the Santa. If you're a true junker, that made perfect sense to you. There's no arguing with a junker's logic!~~~~The garage sale and flea market season is drawing to a close, and I am sad yet strangely excited. I want to learn how to quilt, so that I can make one out of a quilt top that I found at a garage sale, and I'd also like to finally learn how to crochet. It's going to be a looonnnggg winter!

KEEPIN' BUSY

Well Hello There! Where have you all been??? Oh that's right, it's ME that pulled the vanishing act! It's been kinda busy around here, and obviously I'm not the type who can enjoy summer and blog at the same time! But I just had to pop in and wish everyone Happy Fall, and share what I've been up to these last several weeks.

1. JUNKING-No matter how busy life gets, I always try to make time to go junking. The garage sales have been awful, but I seem to always find a treasure at the flea market. That's where I found this picnic tin. It fits in perfectly with the Fall decorations!

2. SEWING-New curtains were long overdue in the living room. I didn't know exactly what kind I wanted, but I did know that they would have green in them, and I also knew that I would be making them. I love using sheets to make curtains, because how else can you get so much yardage for so little? As soon as I saw these sheets at Walmart, I knew we had a winner! 

I like how they turned out. And I love the price. Two windows, four panels, all for under $8.00. You can't beat that! And if you're curious, the tinfoil in the flower pot is to keep the kitty from digging in there. Oh, and I didn't dust at all before I took this shot. Not apologizing, just stating a fact, so don't enlarge this or you  might sneeze just from looking at it! 

3. GARDENING-I started this project, and I'm still not done with it. I've since dug up all of those plants, laid down the weedblock fabric, and am slowing replanting. I have a crazy feeling that this project is going to carry over into next year.......

4. WE HAD A GARAGE SALE-This is what happens when you buy everything that you like, but it won't fit into your teeny tiny house! If it's sitting in the attic or in cupboards, I'm not enjoying it and I need to get rid of it. The worst part about having a garage sale? I can't go garage saling!  

After the sale was over, I only kept a few things, like this tray. I figured, why not decorate my porch the way that I decorate the inside of the house? 

So now I use trays on the porch too!

Nobody bought this poor little picnic tin at my sale. OK, OK, I actually pulled it from the sale before it ever got started! It's received a makeover, and I'll share it when it's completed!

5. CUTTING OUT OWLS-I hate it when I've got an idea in my head, and I can't find it in any stores. So I had to make it!

We've got tons of wood in the garage, so my only cost were those big buttons and an aching back from lots of time using the scroll saw and jigsaw. 

I like it!

6. CURB SHOPPING-This umbrella is in great condition, and the colors are so perfect for Fall. Thank You Mrs. C for throwing away this gorgeous umbrella. I've been admiring it from afar, or rather, right across the street! ~~~~~~~~~I'm hoping to get back to blogging on a regular basis, and trust me, once we have our first frost, alot more of my time will be freed up. Gardening is my passion, but this has been one long dry summer. It will be a relief to pack the hose away! Looking forward to catching up with everyone and seeing what you've all been up to!    

TO PAINT OR NOT TO PAINT MY WEEKEND FINDS!

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of My Weekend Finds, the continuing saga of one girl's quest for more junk!~~~~~~~My Mom has been in the hospital and is now in a nursing home rehabbing, trying to get strong enough to go home. Anyone who has been in this situation knows how stressful it can be, and that it's also important to make time for the things you love, so I've been squeezing in a little junking!

I was seconds away from spraypainting this curvaceous bird cage white, but something stopped me.  

You see, I want to hang it where that Stars and Stripes sign is on the front porch. Will it just fade into the front door if it stays black? Does it need to be white to give it that cottagey feel? Please help! I know it's just paint, but I'm trying to avoid wasting paint and time! 

I think I'm going to make that pink quilt top my winter project. Wish me luck! And I'm going to see if my sister, who is an amazing quilter, can do anything with all of the pieces in that little black suitcase. Got all of this for only $6!

Whenever I can, I like to show what I've done with my finds. In this case, that Napco canary plate is a new addition to the bird room bathroom. A couple of years ago, our daughter asked "What's with all of the birds in the bathroom?". I hadn't realized I had so many in there, so since then it's become The Bird Room!

New additions to the holiday decorations.

A heavy metal Abe Lincoln bookend(?) and a huge flower frog. That thing is bigger than my palm! I think I'm going to start rubbing Abe's nose for good luck, like they do at his tomb in Springfield, Illinois!

I think I've been watching entirely too much Downton Abbey! My sister bought all of the seasons and let me borrow them. I can SO picture one of these tiny silver bud vases in one of the ladies' rooms!

Pardon the mirror reflecting the chalkboard on the other wall. This is by the back door and that's where I've hung my newest vintage camera.

More old Girl Scout stuff for my budding collection: A collapsible cup, compass and pocket knife. Still hoping to find my old uniform and beret packed away at my Mom's someday!~~~~~Did you find any good junk over the weekend? And could you please help me decide whether or not to paint that birdcage?!?