~ A LUCKY SATURDAY'S SHOPPING..

Hi.  How are you?  We are doing pretty well. 

We haven't been doing the garage sales lately..so this Saturday we decided to get out there and see what they had to offer. 

These photo's are not ...um...staged well at all which I guess is pretty evident.  Hand lotion, printer, my little desk cases that I keep "junk" in that I'm just not ready to get rid of..but I know you don't mind.

After we had a delicious breakfast of belgium waffles at Jammin' Bread bakery, we began to work our way home..and then I got lucky... 

I found this beautiful leather Junior Blake handbag, approximately 16 inches from top to bottom, 15 inches side to side and about 3 inches deep..perhaps four.  It is a beautiful gray with blue trim.  Gathered pocket on one side and....

 A leather pull with a lock on the other.

Lots of detail..braid stitching and pleats...

 A print gray and very light gray lining..

The leather is butter soft.  Lots of inside slip pockets and zipped pockets.

...and not a single smudge or mark.  Gorgeous!

This bag is a Liz Claiborne bag with double zip pockets on one side..

 Can you see the stitched inset on the side?  Beautiful workmanship..

 You cannot believe how soft the leather is.

 The interior of this handbag was perfection also!  Not a mark..lots of slip pockets and a zippered pocket.  Large enough to carry a lap top computer I think.  Gorgeous..

This bag is by Kenneth Cole of NY.  Also in perfect condition.  The woman said she only used this one once.  I believe her.  The hardware on all the bags is perfect...and high quality.

Pouchy and soooo soft.  The color is a pretty dark brown.  It looks gray in the photo but it isn't.

Lots of pockets and a light lining of soft cream. 

What is wonderful about these bags was the price.  I bought all three for $19.00, total for all three!!   All were so lightly used..exactly what I look for!

All of these bags are so comfortable to carry..

Of course they have all found homes with Granddaughters and a daughter!  Two Grands are going to college..and my daughter..well...she just fell in love with the Luggage tan bag..so..you know. :)

Gotta love those garage sales.

With love,

Mona

Note*   Our family is hanging in there...thank you so much for the encouragement.  This is not a good time but it will be alright!  It has to be!  Some of the most wonderful bloggers in the world are praying for us...how can we NOT come through this?  :) 

~NOTHING SPECIAL...

Just a bit of lace...

I have fun playing with this old swing of mine.  I cover and recover it.

I've wrapped in in quilts...decked it out in plaid and checks...

Add crochet to the bottom..sometimes fabric...and of course it started out in  a dark hunter green.

 

Recently I covered the top, for winter, with an old quilt..made it cozy..big pillows and afghans..

 but, Summer is here and I love the look of the delicate floaty lace..

I think my poor patio changes daily.  The plants at the back of the swing..and the old gate had to change...so just let the back curtains drop and ran the side curtains over the top.  Made a new slip cover and washed the crocheted tablecloth..and lined the underside of the cushiions. 

Wonder how long this will last.  ?? :)

I am thinking of doing the canapy back to matching the cushions..but...we'll see.
Keeping busy..occupied.  Great therapy, isn't it?  :)

Those of you who know Desiree of Driftwood Ramblings and even those of you who don't, she has something to say that I found very thought provoking..you might want to peek in on her.
One of the dearest people I have ever met while blogging..

I want to thank all of you for your concern.  Life is happening to all of us...and sometimes other things take presidence over blogging..or we just get tired..

As much fun as it is, blogging can become very demanding...and we all need to step back and take a deep breath.  I've often wondered about the attraction that blogging has...
I know those of us that blog are people lovers and lovers of life, of family and feel things very passionately. 
I am fine.  Not to worry.  My heartfelt thanks to those of you who care so much. 
I am just slowing down a bit ...on blogging.  One day at a time...:)
Love,
Mona 



~BREAK TIME...~

But just for a couple more days. 

Hi...

I'm taking a tiny break from blogging during a family crisis.  Nothing that won't be fine.  Just a couple more days.  Can't think straight right now but I will probably visit some in the evenings.  See you soon.

Have a wonderful week.

Much love,

Mona

~RULES ARE TO BE BROKEN..~

This is my pretty daughter-in-law.  She is married to my eldest son and is the one who owns the bakery and keeps me supplied with CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING.  Why is that all in caps?

Because I'm SHOUTING it!  That's why! 

(sorry..I just get carried away when  Bread Pudding is the subject!)  Thank you, sweet girl!  For everything.

And...here is a flagstone walk way that leads to.. (she would hate this if she saw it because she was complaining that she hadn't be able to find the time to get out and work on the yard.

Since this photo was taken...the yard has been all redone...new grass..etc.

.. this little arbor where a garden is in progress..every single year.  Ohhhhh..I want a garden too!!

I really, really do! 
What I love about the way this garden is done..is that the gate and arbor is right at the corner of the fence.

 This was taken early last month when the new plants were going in.  The corner of their lot is where they situated the garden.    Perfect.  If I can't have a garden at least my daughter has one. :)

There are so many little nooks and crannies in this yard..

My daughter works full time as a high school counselor so she is very busy but loves to get out in her jammies in the early morning and work..or on the weekend.  She is the reason I have roses.  We share the love of our yards. 

She is the fifth of my seven children and put herself through college.  Has her Masters.  Graduated with honors.  I am so proud of her.

Now she is going to become a Grandmother..where have the years gone??

My precious granddaughter...and her soon to be, baby boy!  She graduated from college last year and is now a teacher also.  I had to show you just enough of her face so that you can see how beautiful she is.  Can you see? (I'm not a proud Grandma!  I'm not bragging!  Not at all..I'm just being "real" here and telling the truth!)  heh heh.. :)

My daughter thinks there should be gardening pajama's...so do I.  I guess all of my pajama's are for gardening.  Must be because I wash a pair a day and they always have a bit of dirt on them by the time my first cup of coffee (with vanilla creamer) is gone. 

Memosa's with our brunch...ahhhhh...so nice!

I would show more photo's but we have a privacy thing in the family going on..so.. :) .. you know.

That's our "baby boy's" soon to be grandpa  there to the right in the background.

And..to the left is another of my grandson's.. :)  The very sweetest young man in the world!

You wouldn't recognize him if you saw them on the street, now would you?  OH, please say you wouldn't.....

Love,

Mona

~SEARS HOMES FOR SALE....the old days..~

Some years ago I worked in an acute hospital..and came across an very old Sears Catalog.

The very "wish book" that used to come to our home every year when I was a child.  Something we waited for, watched for.  

But this catalog was something I wish I had saved...Oh, how I wish I had saved it,

because..it had homes in it. 

http://www.searsarchives.com/homes/images/images

Price's began as low as $400.  This one was $1294 to 1906 complete!

This one sold for $2978...

Ok...so prices were probably a lot for the times.. but certainly nothing compared to what eventually happened. 

"Entire homes would arrive by railroad, from pre cut lumber to carved staircases, down to the nails and varnish.  Families picked out their houses according to their needs and tastes and pocketbooks.

Sears provided all the materials and instructions, and for many years the financing, for homeowners to build their own houses.  Sears homes stand today as living monuments to the fine, enduring, and solid quality of Sears craftmanship."

*********

Now..would you believe that when I moved to our town..there were A few Sears houses along our main street.  1972.  One day as I was driving by, I was shocked to see them bulldozing them to make way for a strip mall..AND a Bank of America!  Arrrggg...

I pulled over and watched..I could see the beautiful old rose covered walls..winding staircases..and I felt like crying.  They were still beautiful..but in the way of progress.  Tree's were cleared and the yards dug up. ..and soon stores were built..stop lights put in.  A huge shopping mall and today..it's different.  So different.  The small town look is almost gone completely. 

In 1962 my husband bought this little home (not that tiny any more) for $11,000.  Can you imagine?

We were still a little sane back then.  He can't even remember when he paid it off it's been so long ago..  Smart man, my husband.  I've tried to contribute by having my son-in-law put in curbing, patio, walkway..and there's more to come. 

 Soon there will be a stone walkway right there between the Crape Myrtle  and the flower bed and it will run from the edge of the driveway the full length of the home and around the corner to the back gate...

The front porch has become such a cozy place to gather.  This yesterday morning three of us gathered and visited to  WAY too long ..but it was fun!  So nice.. such a beautiful morning.

Behind that gate is stacked the stones for the walkway...  Oh..can you say "HI!" to the gardener??  heh heh..:)  Yep..that's Patient Husband in his gardening hat.

  It's our home sweet home.  Almost a cottage.  It's a cottage wannabe.

Bye now... and hugs,

Mona

~NEVER TAKE LIFE FOR GRANTED~

Saturday my baby girl took a plane and flew down to spend the weekend with us so she could attend  her nieces baby shower.  How wonderful it was to see her.  She is the youngest of my seven children.  My 20th grandchild, a little boy is due in just a few weeks.

Daughter #6 baked these adorable cookies..

Not sure which dipped the strawberries but it may have been my daughter in law...or then again, maybe it was my daughter.  (If she recognizes her dipped strawberries...too bad!)  :)

These little red velvet mini cupcakes..with cream cheese frosting...YUM!

I think Mr. PH ate the onces I brought home!  AND the strawberries...and the cookies.  I did get one. :)

This morning...ahhhh yes..this morning..HOW I do love our yard.  Every morning finds me out  looking at all the weeding I have to get done.  It certainly isn't the most beautiful yard..but I feel so fortunate to have a nice yard for Mele to play in.  A place to grow my roses and a few fruit trees. 

I know so many folks don't.  I do feel fortunate to have my wonderful family.

I have lost two precious husbands to cancer...

So...every single morning is a blessing to me.  Every day that I have my dear ones ...I am so grateful.

Yep...just wanted to say that.  :)

Thus the cancer candle burns on my blog.

Love,

Mona

P.S.  Have you ever written a post..put it out there, gone to read it and ran back and deleted a whole bunch of it.  I tend to get wordy.  You never noticed that, did you? :)

HUGS!

~MELE N' ME~

What a GREAT day!

Oh..hi Mom...

I was just laying here thinking...

oh...well..you know...



... how GREAT it would be..

..to JUST THROW MYSELF ...

onto your lap..

and lay my head on your knee...cuz I LOVE you sooooo much!

Yep, just another lovely day....

:)

 

for Mele and me!

~TINY THIS AND TINY THAT..~

My tiny  little kitty finally arrived today. 

 See tiny yellow kitty?  She is all curled up on a moss filled flower pot. 

I tried and tried to get a good photo of her..but being the GREAT photographer I am..

this is about the best I could do! 



And then...FINALLY....not bad!  :) 

For pity sakes, you would think this kitty was alive and difficult to photograph.  But finally...what do you think?  I think for a little one inch kitty..she is wonderful.  I was surprised.  I was not quite as thrilled with the Fairies.  (shhhh..do NOT tell them that...ok?)

So...

...here is my little arbor.. (a wee blurry.) 

Ahhhh ...this is better.  Yes!  I really am happy with the way it is coming along..bit by bit.

Ok..'nuff of this!  (LOVE the sunshine on the kitty!)

Your comments..you've NO idea how much they mean to me!

The photo yesterday was NOT the one from the post before.  It was the first one taken while I begged them to wait just a second while I got my cookie swallowed.  I have a lump in my jaw ..you all can't see that???  I look like the Godfather for pete's sake!!

:)

Love,

Mona



~BLOGGING SINS AND LOOSE ENDS~

My gosh, but it's nice when someone takes your side.  Every one of you are just so nice and so open!
Part of my dilemma is my own fault for raving on about how wonderful you all are!  I talk about your cooking, your decorating, your wonderful families, how much you all share..how clever and funny you all are..it never occurred to me that blogging would ever cause a problem...

Whatever the case..I waffle back and forth on how I feel.  Today, why...yes.  I will not post any photo's  of the food they cook at our family parties, or the adorable homes they have, etc. etc. but then the following day I get my back up and decide to post any darned thing I want...when I want.

I do understand them not wanting their photo's posted.  Some that have been posted on facebook of me by family are nothing short of terrible, but that's how I see them.  They don't.  ...but...if I didn't check on facebook I would not see all the photo's and know very little of what is going on.  Which might not be a bad thing.  It's just that I am so nosy where my kids are concerned.

So..I will just be very careful and continue using code names (when I remember to do so!)  I usually do.

My big yellow frog makes such a great book prop when I read at the table. 

Here's the thing.  My kids worry.  I don't think they are absolutely sure I know the right thing to do..Not sure when I lost my ability to make wise decisions..but somewhere along the way it happened.  Their view of me changed.  When did they stop thinking I could fix everything and that I was wonderful??? 

In my chippy little wheelbarrow where my Fairy Garden lies, I found a stone that shows the name.

The arbor and miniture climbing fig arrived.  No tiny curled up kitty for the flower pot yet. 

The Fairies aren't afraid of this little kitty because it belongs to them you see. 

 So..tomorrow the climbing fig vine gets planted beside the tiny arbor.  A bit of baby tears needs to be added in front of the stone sign.  Something to soften the edge.  Don't you think?

The little garden was a hit with my family.  It's a work in progress..every day snipping dead blooms off it...straightening this here, tucking that there... :)

 I get frowned at when I take photo's even of food.  And...I've even been strongly confronted about it...but...as you can see...I'm risking my life here.  Ah well...

banana bread...LOVE it!  It was wonderful baby girl. 

I...believe that is chocolate bread pudding there beside the pancakes. Amazing stuff chocolate bread pudding!  Have you tried it?

Just to show what a wonderful brunch my daughter and daughter in law can throw! 

(if I get in trouble...*shrug* I get in trouble)   Cheryl....shhhhhhhh  :):)

Memosa's

Frittata

hashbrowns (of course!)

It was all so wonderful..

NOT too organized..but..it's a post.  Right? 

(yes, yes, I 'm a little nervous...just a little!  Darn!  After all I AM THE MOTHER HERE!!) grrrrrr

I am off to bed.  I wish I could share more..but it's all my own fault and I've no one but myself to blame.   I should have kept blogging to myself.  HOW I wish I were a more private type person.

I never have been and doubt I am going to change now

What great comments you left me on my last post.  See the courage you've given me??

But...I'm keeping to the rules.  So far...

Luv'n hugs,

Mona

ok...here is a couple of reasons people don't want their pictures posted.

Me with a cheek full of sugar cookie trying to smile and swallow at the same time.  They took me off guard.  Darn near choked!  See the cookie crumbs on my mouth?  :)  Piggy piggy!   What if someone else had posted this picture on facebook with my face all stuffed with cookies.  Soooo...I get it!  I do!

Here is another  example.  To use this photo..and it was cute of my husband, sister in law and daughter kidding around while we said our goodby's..but I cut her out so I could use the picture because of how she feels.    I have others but no good ones. Now...see that spot on my sweet man's  shirt???  :)   Ok..now I am beginning to understand daughter!  :)  A little. 

But..you see, pictures are not all of it.  It's just blogging in general that she disapproves of. :(

~SIBLINGS~

I had a wonderful time seeing my baby brother and sister.  We had not been together for years so Sunday was a fantastic day for me.
I had other photo's but my children do not approve of my blog..so I can no long post anything about them.
I am not sure they really even understand blogging, or have ever done it...but no matter.  It isn't worth the fight.  This is a very public place...so caution is the word.

~just a reminder that you can click on any of my photo's and make them larger...~

This is a photo of  (left to right..me) and my baby brother and sister taken on Sunday when they were leaving. 

  I carried them both on my hip once.  My brother traveled three thousand miles to see his family again and my sis..just a couple hours away..but it was the first time we had been together in many years.  I have another brother in Texas and would have loved it if he could have  been with us. 

So, tell me, am I the only one whose family does not want anything posted about them?
Am I now the child and my children trying to take on the role of parenting me??
Perhaps I should be grateful that they care enough to do so. 
To my blogger friends...YOU are the greatest!  Without your approval and kind words I wouldn't even try to do this.  To me, blogging is such a wonderful way to express yourself, talk about what bugs you or what gives you joy.  It's a very blue day for me....
Hugs,
Mona

P.S.   And I don't do facebook except to answer if spoken to..and would you believe I got into trouble there also.  Yep.  I managed to do that.  I answered what I thought was a private  email and it went to facebook and was public!  NO more even answering comments on facebook.  Nothing! Zip!  I left once. Time to leave again.  I don't know how that whole system works so best to distance myself from it.  *sigh*