Weekend Finds & Reclaiming My Garden

I must say, this is probably the weirdest assortment of things I have ever found! The garage sales were awful this week, so all of this came from antique stores. Every Thursday, my Mom, sister and I go antiquing. I found this old wrapper from a loaf of Wonder bread. There is a thick piece of foam in there to keep it's shape. Does anyone remember when loaves were sold like this? I just love the colors, and it looks great in my kitchen!

Next is a little red transistor radio. I set out on Thursday with a mission to find a transistor, after I saw Nicole's cute blue and white one. I couldn't believe my luck! I don't think it's real old, maybe the 70s? I don't care. It's RED!

I have been looking for barkcloth in my price range, and Thursday I found 3 panels for $6 each! I love the pattern, and the colors are perfect. Only problem is....

I don't know if I want to use them for curtains, or to use to make covers for chair cushions. So I have one panel hanging along with the current curtain. I don't think this is helping me decide at all, and is probably confusing me. And it looks stupid! I need to put the other barkcloth panel up there!

I found this Bill Shakespeare figurine. I wish I could find out more about him. I spend about 30 minutes online trying . He has alot of what looks like silver hallmarks on the bottom, and it also says "D Whitton" on it. Does anyone know anything about him?

For those of you who read my previous post, about being scared and intimidated by my neighbor, and afraid to work in my back garden for almost 2 years, here is what I did on Friday.

Come take a little walk with me, through the arch, into what was once my Secret Garden, and which I am now reclaiming.

I put a little picket fence, reclaimed from another neighbor, between the yard and the thug's garage. I wish it could be an 8' fence. Normally, you are supposed to put the good side of the fence facing your neighbor. As you can see, I didn't do this, and I DO NOT CARE. I saw him yesterday looking at the fence, and I must confess, my heart still races when I see him, from fear, but mostly I think it's anger at myself for living in fear for so long. My garden is going to be cute again, I swear it!

Finally, say hello to my little friend, Chester the Cicada! I found him in the garden, and alas, he was dead when I found him, so he is going in a frame, to be preserved forever. He won't be alone though, and I'll show you some time. Because I like bugs!

My Very First Award!!

I was so excited to receive my very first award in blogland the other day, from Nicole at The Armchair Housewife! I was so happy the first day I discovered her blog. Not only does she love all things vintage, but each and every post is so inspiring, and you won't find a nicer person! If you don't believe me, check out her blog yourself! Well, now I'm supposed to share five things that I am obsessed with right now, and that's why it's taken me so long to do this. I had a hard time picking just 5 things!
1. I am obsessed with ripping apart my back garden! I know that sounds crazy, but I'll explain, and it'll all make perfect sense! Almost two years ago, I went to my neighbor's door, to ask them to stop their dog from barking at 2AM, like it had for the previous three nights. I was yelled at and threatened, and I have been too scared and intimidated to go back there ever since, because I found out he is in a gang. So that's 2 years worth of weeds to contend with, but I am determined to take my garden back!

2. I am obssessed with Masterpiece Theatre on PBS! I am so excited that Sense & Sensibility is going to be on Sunday!

3. I am obsessed with magazines! I love all of the BH&G special publications, like Country Gardens, Flea Market Finds, 100 Makeover Ideas, etc. I mourn the loss of Home Companion and Country Home!

4. I am obsessed with reading other blogs! It seems I find a new one every day to fall in love with, because I like all styles of decorating, and I really like the ones written by women who find the humor in day-to-day living!

5. I am obsessed with reading at least 1 good book every week! But it's so hard in the summer! I am the type to slog through a boring book, because I hate to not finish one! I've recently read the lastest one by Maeve Binchy(my favorite), Firefly Lane, The Other Queen, The Constant Princess, any about Henry VIII.

Now comes the really hard part. I get to choose 5 blogs to pass this award to! Sooo many great ones, it's hard to choose. I'm listing the blogs that are making me happy right now. Here goes:

1. Tammy's Sweet Life- I love checking in with Tammy every morning, because she is the sweetest lady there is! She always leaves the nicest comments on my blog!

2. Shiny Red Houses-Sara is one of those funny women I was talking about, who can find the humor in any situation!

3. Susie's Country Cottage and Garden- Susie's blog satisfies my love for everything British! It's fun to watch her and her brother renovate their country cottage, and her gardens are GORGEOUS!

4. It's A Very Cherry World- This blog always puts a smile on my face! Sue loves cherries, the color red, and all things vintage!

5. Penniwig's- This gal has got a different graphic for you to use, every day, for FREE! That's right. FREE. And they're gorgeous. And she's hilarious!

Whew! That was hard! Thanks again, Nicole, and YOU'RE FABULOUS!

Vintage Thingies Thursday!

Please join me at Coloradolady, where Suzanne is our hostess, to see vintage thingies! After I found my pink dollhouse last week, I started to get nostalgic for some of my old dolls.

So I dug out my old Barbie lunchbox, and my Barbies. I had ALOT of Barbies when I was a little girl, and I would line them up all along the front porch, playing with a couple of them at a time, then moving down the porch to play with the others. I wish I knew what happened to the rest of the dolls I had.

This Barbie has wigs. I wish I had taken a picture of her without a wig. She always kinda scared me when she was wigless. Maybe that's why I bit off a couple of her fingers!

Here are all of the clothes that are left. My Mom knitted alot of clothes for them. Can you see that my name and room number are still on the lunchbox?

I also found these in the lunchbox. Very disturbing...Now for this next doll, if you have a weak stomach, you might want to look away, because she is U-G-L-Y!!

This is Poor Pitiful Pearl, or Poofalah as I called her, because I couldn't pronounce her real name.

Is she not the ugliest doll you've ever seen?! Yes, yes she is, but I loved her!

Here are the Liddle Kiddles that I have left. I remember having more, but I guess they went to dolly heaven. The one on the left is Sweet Pea, which is the flower for April, and she still smells faintly flowery!

Does anyone remember Dawn Dolls? I loved these dolls so much! They had such glitzy clothes, like they were made by Cher's designer, Bob Mackie! Remember Dawn, and Angie, and Gloria? Don't they look so fashionable, and put together, like they're doing a photo shoot for Chico's?

When in fact, they are complete slobs!
Did you enjoy seeing my vintage dolls? If so, then go to Suzanne's right now, and see more vintage thingies!

It's Rednesday!

It's Rednesday, so if you love the color red, join me over at It's A Very Cherry World, where Sue hosts this fun party!

First is this cute metal thing that you can hang your vintage red potholders, like I did, or your keys or rings, which doesn't sound like a very good idea. Why would I want to hang my rings up on the wall?! I like the little saying on there, but you'll have to click to enlarge it.

I have (am stuck with) a little washer and dryer in the kitchen. The washer is now broke, so that cute fruity curtain hides a multitude of clutter. I call the dryer on top my circular iron. I just spritz my husband's workshirts, through them in the dryer, and voila, they are wrinkle-free. I love my circular iron!

Sue, this is for you! I found this cookie box at a grocery store in Wisconsin, and I couldn't pass it up!

Finally, let's go outside and see what's blooming. The garage windowbox is looking pretty good. But what is that red thing in the middle?

Why, it's my red rooster! All nestled in amongst the flowers. A friend gave him to me for watering her garden a few years ago. I change this windowbox for every season, and he is always a part of the decor! Now, if you enjoyed seeing my red things, bop on over to Sue's to see more!
Added at 6:30 A.M. : Is anyone else having trouble with Blogger? According to my dashboard, I am not following any blogs! I've lost all of my blogs that I'm following! I've cleared out my cache, and still nothing. Help!!

Little Pink Houses

Garage saling was a big, fat dud this weekend! We went to at least a dozen, but it was mostly baby items. Not that there's anything wrong with that! I bought ALOT of things for my daughter from garage sales when she was a baby.
First, I got these plaster thingies. The artichoke- shaped one is now a bookend, and the other thing I would like to paint to make it look like concrete, and then it will go on the porch.

I love these dishtowels! One for every month, and only the January one looks like it's been used.

And I bought I pink dollhouse. I don't know why I bought it, because I have three others, sitting vacant in my attic. All I can say is, it was PINK!!

It's a lovely Victorian, with sweet gingerbread trim. The house has been sitting empty for about 10 years, according to the former owner.

The porch is cute, but a little small. The flowerpots definitely need replanting! Be careful, watch your step, and come on in.

This is the living room. The "carpeting" will eventually get ripped out, as there are nice hardwood floors underneath it. The walls could use a coat of paint.

The fireplace is just perfect, and I love the mantle clock and the plates. So nice of the previous owners to leave them behind ;)

This is the kitchen. Please ignore the cobwebs! The icebox is ready to be filled, and they took the kitchen table with them, so I'll have to find another one. The braided rug is nice!

This room is up in the attic, and I guess it is a sewing room. I love that chair, but the shag carpeting has got to go!

This is the bedroom, and more shag carpeting.

As you can see, the critters have taken over! A cat and a mouse have taken up residence. As you can see, I've got my work cut out for me. But I think I'll have fun redecorating! Did you find anything fun this weekend? Please stop by Southern Hospitality, where you can see what others found, and Rhoda is our hostess!

Yay! It's Rednesday!

Guess what?! It's Rednesday! What's that, you ask? Why, it's when everyone who loves red gathers at It's A Very Cherry World, where Sue is our hostess. Today I'm sharing some red things from the kitchen. Let's take a gander....

I found these bowls at a thrift store, and they were only 45 cents each. I enjoy my Cheerios so much more in these bowls!

These bowls were also purchased at a thrift store. They are Corning Ware, so they're nice and heavy. I'll eat pretty much anything out of these beauties!

These plates are my most, most favorite. They are melamine, and they are from here. And I think I need these, and possibly these. Yes, definitely those! Now head on over to Sue's, and see some more red!

Thrifty Treasures

Please join me over at Southern Hospitality, where you can see the treasures that everyone found this weekend, and Rhoda is our kind hostess!

The garage sales were a bit of a dud this weekend. Nothing earth shattering, but I'm grateful for what I found. Actually my cup runneth over, and I've had to start rearranging things. We live in a tiny house, which can be a good thing, as it forces me to have only the things that I truly love out on display. I love these frames, because they look like all of the vintage, etched mirrors that I have been collecting. They were never used, and $1 each. Originally they were $12.99 each at JoAnn Fabrics.

I was glad to find another apothecary jar to add to my collection. At the time, I didn't know where it was going, or what to put in it, so I just stuck it up on a cabinet.

Then inspiration struck, and I stuck some moss and a vintage bird, one of a pair, in it and put it on the dining room table. It will do for now.

I found this clock a couple of weeks ago, for $1. It's very heavy, solid wood. But it didn't work, hence the $1 price tag. Well I've seen enough transformations on other blogs, that I knew right away I could redo it.

I stripped all of the clockworks out of it, painted it Heirloom White, added fabric to the back, and a pink glass knob.

And added the other vintage bird from the pair. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of the gold stencilling on the door? I'm not crazy about it, and would like to remove it if I can safely do it.

I also got this old cement goose and her three goslings for $10.

These are all vintage cups, Glasbake and Federal, 50 cents each. I love the red plaid ones so much, and I had to get the Chicago one. Our daughter is going to college there, and it has a picture of the Sears Tower, soon to be called something else, but it will always and forever be the Sears Tower to me!

Just don't tell Kevin, Wayne, and Donald that I have their cups.

And they go with the other Kevin cup I had.

But no one will know, except you, that the cups have names on the other side!

I also found this old states tablecloth for 50 cents. Illinois has a cow,

and Rhode Island has a chicken! When I got home, I realized it only has 24 of the states on it! Ah well, after a good long soak, it will be perfect for the 4th of July next year!

I found this Mary Emmerling Country book for $1. I've got several of her books, and you would think that it would be so dated, being published in 1991, but it's not, and could just as easily be called Cottage, instead of Country. I'll be trying the Cucumber Sandwiches recipe this afternoon!

Finally, this wasn't a garage sale purchase, but I'm so excited to dive into it! I love all of the BH&G magazines, don't you? Like Country Gardens, and Garden Ideas and Outdoor Living. I was hoping to find the Flea Market one, but they didn't have it at JoAnn's. I'm hoping to get inspired. I want to paint a couple of pieces of furniture, but I'm experiencing a lot of resistance from others in the family! So, what did YOU find this weekend?