~TEACUPS AND ROSES ~

I know I am not the only one that does this but every year when I unpack the same things I have had for at least 58 years, I think, "It's time to get rid of some of this stuff.  I don't want my children to have to deal with all this junk when I am gone"  and I start sorting through what I want to use.

What I want to get rid of, or so I think, I put back into the cartons..and then never get rid of it.

 

I did it again this year..but I plan on being strong and as I put Christmas treasures away for another year I will definitely send those things off to Goodwill.  Yes!  This IS the year!

 

So..when I unpacked my little silk tree this year, which is new from last year..I suddenly decided to put it in the living room and ....

 

 ...decorate it with all the teacups I have collected from garage sales.  Some have no saucers..and what a perfect way to use them, and...

 

..I added the white roses from another garage sale find.

 

 

I am the absolute worst photographer ever!!  Sheesh!

Will I thin things out this year?  I'm really going to try hard.  It's just that ...it's so hard to let go.

Maybe because it's something I can control and that's why I hang on. 

(OH GOOD GRIEF!  Does that make me a ...HOARDER??)  Ok..that does it!  If I don't use it this year it goes! 

 

Much love this Christmas season,

Mona

 

P.S.  I am going to change that bow as soon as I find the one I am looking for.. it's..GOLD. :)

I am NEVER satisfied!  Pink?  WHITE???  :)

 



~A CHRISTMAS BEAR MYSTERY~

Some of you know that I was widowed a couple of times.  I was married to my first husband Patrick for 43 years.  I married him at seventeen years old.  He was my life.

Patrick was not one for much gift giving but every now and then he would surprise me and when he did his gifts always showed so much thought and usually something totally expected.

One year, I think it was Christmas 1993, Pat did one of his surprises. 

This little bear turned up on Christmas morning with my name on his little crocheted hat..and I was amazed that Pat had thought to do such a thing as order this for me! 

 

I love this little bear!  He represents  HOPE.

 

See my name on the little hat?  It says "Mona's Christmas Bear"

 

You cannot see it in the photo but he has a little red heart on his chest that used to light up and blink when you pushed it and it played a lot of Christmas Carols. 

In 1997 on December 15th at 3:30am...Pat passed away.  He died of a massive stroke.  He had lung cancer that we knew nothing about and it went to his brain killing him.  He was in a coma for ten days and then he died.  I didn't get to say goodby, it was sudden. 

That Christmas I tried to get some things out..but I just could not...but I did take my little bear down from the closet shelf and I kept him close to me. 

But he had stopped playing..his little red heart stopped beating.

I thought it was the batteries...I checked them..put in new ones..nothing!!

I thought it must be in the wiring.  I ended up taking the batteries out..I kept him in a large Christmas shopping bag on my closet shelf.  I could look up there and see him every now and then, the tippy top of his little red hat..and it was comforting.

 

Four years went by and I remarried and moved to Bakersfield California.  The shopping bag went on my closet shelf as always.  The closet was huge with high shelves I could barely reach and the bag sat there for several years.  I didn't take him out for Christmas.  Now and then I would think about it but I didn't.  And time went by.

One Christmas several years later I went in the closet for something...and suddenly the entire shopping bag fell off the shelf.  AND MY BEAR BEGAN TO PLAY CHRISTMAS MUSIC!  HIS LITTLE RED HEART BEATING AWAY!!

You will not believe this part...and I understand...but it happened.  I picked him up and began crying and when I could think straight I remembered...he had no batteries..or did he?  I unzipped the back and sure enough...empty!! 

 

No one has been able to give me an explanation.  I asked my husband and he didn't have a clue..I even called some dear friends long distance and told them...very old dear friends of Pat's and mine since high school..

I cried off and on for a few days...I didn't understand.  I  wanted an answer.

 

Sometimes..I just think there are those little Christmas miracles that happen.

 

My Christmas bear comes out every year now.  He is sitting in the living room among all the toys...I hug him when I walk by... and he has new batteries (I am always hopeful) but he doesn't play when you push on his little heart.. 

The end of this story is that my little Christmas bear plays only now and then.....all by himself.  I will suddenly hear that tinkling Christmas music coming from the closet..and then it stops.  No one has pushed his little heart..and I wonder. 

 

Merry Christmas ...and may this month of Christmas joy...and sadness...  be full of miracles for all of you.  I am sure you know the miracle I am praying for.

 

With love,

Mona

 

 

 

~OH GLORIOUS GARAGE SALES..~

I accomplished NOTHING today.  It was overcast and rainy out all day but PH did.  He did get the garland up. Tomorrow the lights.  I hope.  I usually have my tree by now..but...you know.  I've been lazy...BUT on Saturday...I did good.  Not much..but GOOD!

 

 At the first garage sale I found this lovely little Nippon teacup.  I gave the woman the dollar she asked for it because it was worth every cent!  I didn't quibble (which I usually do!)  Holding it to the light you can almost see through it.  Not a chip!!  Just beautiful.  No saucer, of course, so I paired it with this pretty but lonely little saucer.  It works for me.  Would you just LOOK at that sweet little rose? :)

 

 Then I added this little Christmas spray of pine etc.  I love it because my end tables are very old and narrow.  Unfortunately I painted them..but I after 30 years I was so tired of them. 

They are very narrow so this little bit of Christmas cheer is about all they can handle.

 

 The next thing I found was the silver water pitcher filled with exactly what you see in it.  However it also had several very dirty cream ribbon on floral sticks.  I cut off all the broken berries with the white showing through..gave the velvet poinsettia's  a bath along with the greenery.  (not the berries!)  They just got a good dusting..  When everything was nice and dry, I put it all back into the pitcher I had shined up.  I like it.  I really do. 

 

This little cream iron basket is made of heavy iron.  My daughter had a garage sale  and this was in it.  She wouldn't let me pay for it..just said she was tired of it..so..I brought it home, filled it with tiny pinecones and another little Christmas spray like the one in the teacup.  Yep...this is good too! :)  Daughter keeps looking at it...and of course she can have it back anytime.  DARN!  :)

 

Everything on this coffee table are garage sale finds.  The cloth is heavy and lined.  There was also a lovely runner at the same sale and I bought that too.  The bookends are little owls.  The red book has a velvet cover.  It's a childs story. 

 

N i c e Saturday's shopping.  Total spent?  $6.00.    I had to use flash, unfortunately, because when I didn't everything was a strange yellowish color and very blurry. 

 

Tomorrow...new dishes, new bedspread and shams.. :)

Ok..back to decorating...

Love'n hugs!

Mona



~OFF AND RUNNING~

I finally got started on decorating.  To be honest, it was difficult.  This has been a strange year for us.

Keeping busy and going through the motions helps.  Making things pretty, using my imagination and trying to put old things in a new ways...

 

The mantel...is done.  At least for now.   

I had trouble with blogger this evening..so I am giving up.  This photo is not clear but out of 20 some odd pictures, this one is the only one even half way showable.  I'm sorry. 

I have antlers in my home because my late husband was a hunter and fisherman.  I know some do not approve..but everyone's life is different.  Frank loved the outdoors.  That's who he was.

So..back to decorating tomorrow.  This picture was taken in th middle of the day with no flash.

Strange. 

 

We are getting rain for the next four days.  I DO love rainy weather. 

We did the garage sales on Saturday..I have to share my finds with you tomorrow.  Ok?

Just wait 'til you see! :):)

 

Love'n hugs,

Mona



~SHE AND ME..MAKING MEMORIES~

Oh dear, the longer I go without posting the more difficult it gets. 

I know I have been MIA but I have good reason.  Heaven help me..I've had a bad bout of the flu, up for three days and a relapse!  Back up and running though!  I have been trying to visit but haven't done very well.  Been trying.  Honest.   Those little email reminders are really nice.  I can keep up with those..
 

Wrenna Dawn and me. 


Wren's plans fell through but I am not certain what happened yet.  I admit I am relieved.  I am hoping she is on her way home soon!  She is such a little adventurer that I doubt she is any rush to get home.  I am hoping she has an open ended ticket.  I admit I am very nervous. 

I went out and did a tiny bit of shopping today.  Bathroom rugs for both baths.  Mine are pale pink..and PH's are a pretty green.  Looks nice but I was worn out in a very short time.
Back on the vitamins tomorrow now that the tummy can handle them.   

I'm too lazy to see if I have already posted these.  I hope not.  I want her home, NOW! :)

I was never as brave as she is and I am still not.  She takes after her Grandpa, not me.  He was a warrior and out to conquor the world.  I wish she remembered more about him.  She remembers him, but not really very well.  They would have had so much to talk about!  Her mother is like her too.
Independent and lives life to the fullest! 

That's good, isn't it? 

  She is so patient with her Grandma.

Well, she does have my coloring, or what USED to be my coloring.  *sigh*
Is it true your nose and ears keep growing when you get older??!!! 
Yikes! 
 I think maybe they do!!  :)
Patient Husband did such a good photography job!  Thanks hon!

Love to all,
Mona


~POSITIVE THOUGHTS~

I am so concerned about my dear blogger friends who may be in harms way.  Please know you are everyone's mind. 

Take the best care possible.

Everyone is praying for your safety!

Love,

Mona

 

My precious granddaughter, Wrenna, and her Dad came to visit and spent the night.  It's been a long time since I've seen them..and I hated to see them leave.  She was on her way to Venezuela to join a crew and learn to sail.  Adventuresome young woman.  Exactly like her mother (my daughter) and her father.  I know I hugged her too tight when she left..and bit my tongue (to some extent) to keep from giving out warnings to her right and left.  She is such a tiny little girl..and to me, seem so vulnerable.

She told me, with her arms around me, "Grandma, picture me in a golden light out there with my arms reaching up, shouting "I LOVE MY LIFE!!!"  I smiled and said I would. 

Her father gave me a link so I can track the  movements of her boat..does that calm me??

No!

When is her return date?  That is the hardest part.  She has none.  No cell phone contact.

I am hoping there is another way of contacting her..and since they SAY the boat is very modern..and of course the photo's show this..just maybe we will be lucky and hear from her.

*extremely HEAVY sigh!*

 

Love,

Mona

 

 

 



~THE JOY OF OCTOBER FARM~

 

 I don't cook like I used to, I've gotten lazy and I admit it.  BUT..now and then I find recipes that are so simple and this blogger makes it so easy to follow them, that I just can't help myself.   
If you love to cook..and like to try new things..AND old things...visiting Joyce is recommended.

October Farm

 

 

Of course she always takes photo's as she goes along..very specific..and so  easy to follow.

Wonderful..

Here she is showing how to make a ghost cake.  :)  Not a flat one ..not a cut out one, but one that is standing UP!!  Neat? 

 

 

 Even though it is easy enough to go back and see the recipe's..because she keeps them all listed on her sidebar...SO convenient!   I found this wonderful loose leaf cookbook that has been great for keeping Joyces recipe's in.

Really heavy paper with nice pockets to store things.  I've removed all my stuff  so you can see.

several pockets through out the binder..makes it so easy to tuck things away and not lose them.

Lots of places to write in recipes also..but I like printing them and adding them to the binder under the right tab. 



See? :)

Thanks to Joyce@ October Farm for sharing so much with us..not to mention her lovely home.
I don't think there is anything this woman cannot do.  Sincerely!
There are other cooking blogs out there..but October Farm knocks my Autumn socks off!!

So..that's it for now. 

Lots of company..the pace is stepping up...October has been a busy month and we are thinking of planning a Halloween party for the family...something easy...
I mean really easy! 

Sending you love,
Mona

P.S.  I found this treasure at Costco..but I'm sure book stores carry it too.


 



~WICKED?~

  

Who...me??

NEVER!!!  

 I found this on Etsy.  On the lid in lovely script (I should have taken a pic of it) it says "This is what happens to Fairies that don't believe in Witches.'

Since I don't have tiny ones to frighten (it's high on a shelf) I got a kick out of it. 

I just thought it was..funny.  So...am I bad? 

 

..and on the Autumn side of things..to think of tiny mice babies cozy in a nut shell...Ok..yes...I have a thing for tiny mice! 

(I have a feeling I'm not making any brownie points here! )

So anyway...

 

 ..scarey black cats...(wha! Pink flowers??) 

oh well..

 

 Skeleton heads...and pumpkins and a spell book there in the corner of the picture..

(sheesh..why didn't I think to take a picture of that??)

 

I DO love my fireplace this Halloween.

 

We found that old corral post out on the ranch and rescued it..and made a mantel out of it..

Oh..wait..I already told you about all that...and showed you the mantel.  

Didn't I? 

 

Well, shoot, I am plumb out of stuff to show you I guess.  How many days do we have left until Halloween? 

A road trip?  Naw...

Vacation time is over..and we took ours in the back yard...

Lets see...I don't cook that much...or anyway I would rather visit Joyce at October Farm...OH..wait that reminds me.. I DO HAVE something else to show you... :) Later..

 

I forgot..( I hate getting old!!) but maybe there's enough time to

join Marty's Table Top Tuesday  party..  love Marty's blog! 

 

Wishing you love,

Mona 

 

 



~GIVE ME SOME SUGAR..~

Yep..that's what I am all about.  Things that taste good and look cozy...but first the sugar!

 

My sweet daughter came to visit me.. and brought me these 6 inch sugar cookies that she makes.
 

Many years ago I gave her my sugar cookie recipe and she has tweaked it to make it her own.  They positively melt in your mouth.  She doesn't say..but I think they have lots ...and lots...of butter.

 

 

 

Believe me, I've asked...all she says is that she will make them for me.  Bless her little bakin' heart!

 

 

Spice cupcakes made from scratch.  It could not have been a better birthday. I was...so happy.  She does such a great job.  

I have a bit of a thing about bows.  I tie them on everything..almost. 

 

Am I bragging about my next to youngest child.  YES!  I am! 

I am so proud of her.  I have great kids..and would you believe that all seven of them cook and bake?? 

 

Restaurant owner-son

 Cabinet maker-son

 Cabinet maker and student-son

Office manager for 5 doctors and homemaker-daughter

 High school councelor and homemaker-daughter

 Homemaker and manager of their own construction business.-daughter

 Masseuse (and a fantastic one!) and homemaker-daughter

Is that seven...yes.   

No doctors or lawyers... :)   Sooo...anyway..where was I..??  Sorry, my mind wandered....Oh yes..

 

 I love my Halloween table this year...even if it is a bit messed up.  Perhaps I'll set it with china for Marty's Table Top Tuesday.  ???   :)  IF I don't forget.  Do you think it's my age?   Shhhh...never mind.

 

I couldn't help it.  I know I said I wasn't going to buy anything this year..but I had to buy another black cake plate.  The BIG one.  I had one but..bakin' daughter sort of borrowed it and then ..um..owned it!  It happens with daughters. 

 

(yes...that's birdie feathers on the floor in the background...  HEAVY sigh..

 

 and then I saw the tea pot.  Both are by Rosanna Rococo Noir.  There were offered on Amazon. 

I ordered the creamer and sugar too.  I found those on ebay..but so far they have not arrived.  They are in the exact style of the teapot.

Cute?  :)

Thank heavens daughter's aren't into black decor...  Yet!

 

This is the post I did a couple of days ago..and it wouldn't work.  Fellow blogger Sandie

@ Chatty Crone helped me..figure out this complicated situation by telling me to.."just erase the whole thing and start over!"    It worked.  She is SO smart.  Is this where I say "DUH??"  :)

 

Sending you love,

Mona

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



~SEE THAT CHAIR?? ~

I fell off mine when I saw this picture of Maine's recent QUAKE! :):)

 

Well, I will try to post once again.  The last one ended up in trouble and I lost a couple of comments. 

It just was not showing up...so this is sort of a trial run.

 

My sweet brother in law sent this to us...and PH called me in to look.   I burst out laughing and I think the laughter from California could cause us to have an earthquake!!  Is this too darned funny or not!!

 

 

(end of trial run)

 

Wishin' you love,

Mona

~YEAH...I'M A PARTY ANIMAL...~

Cloches are something I have very few of...but...since I want to join in Table Top Tuesday..

this is my tiny contribution...

and yes...

I'm just a PARTY ANIMAL at heart!  You heard me right.
 

I did my post last night...and then this morning..found this little cloche.  Very Halloween.
A tiny Fairy that the Wicked old Witch caught,  or so they say. 
I found this little Halloween treasure on Esty. 
 

and then there's ...

 

...there's this little one...and..

 

Tha...tha...tha's all folks!! 

 

Now I'm off to see some REAL cloches... :):)

 

Wishin' you love,

Mona

 

Joining the only meme I ever join...MARTY'S  @ TABLE TOP TUESDAY...

Join her to see some REAL cloches... :)



~HALLOWEEN FRONT PORCH?~

...but of course! 
 

This spidy is very old.  I've heard spiders don't live long, but this one has followed me to three homes.  She doesn't even scare me anymore, except for one..tiny little thing... 

 



She doesn't look so big from here...however...

 

...my living room window looks right out on her and..well...it's sort of startling! 

plus...

I can see her clear from the family room, through the kitchen and clear through the living room...which is kind of unnerving ...especially after we just had our home sprayed...four times in a row trying to get rid of ants.  Sort of like a horror film where you kill all those ants and it ends up something that makes SPIDERS GROW HUGE!  *giggle*

 

I have this active imagination! 

 

And so on to the mailbox....um...

it's...red??  :)  PERFECT!

 

 

 

(yawn...) 

 

  

 

Used to be a terrible rusty black...very old.  Probably like...40 years.  PH NEVER throws anything away!

NOT if its working..(or holds mail) .ah well...  so...I painted it...(it's a much deeper red than this photo!

and..

it has a magazine holder at the bottom which is perfect for holding baskets of blooms!! 

Yeah??  :)  neat huh. 

 

 

 Ok...so...now this year..my witchy shoes came out on the front porch...

That's all I have to say about that.

 

This huge pine tree in the front yard gives off tons of beautiful pine cones...those have been there.....never mind..but I really do need to do something with them.  (trash can?) 

 

ok...so.. 

 

uh huh..uh huh.  Lots of stuff..lots of stuff...

 

The heat killed all my ivys...and..listen..WHO would design a home with the bathroom window..right next to where guests knock on your dingy dang door??? Sheesh!

The door bell rings...then the toilet flushes...you get the picture.  Terrible design! 

 

 

 ...and who the heck hung that sign on my front porch!!  :)  Me of course.

 

My mother and my brother bought that for me one Halloween many years ago.

My mother has been gone for nearly 14 years now...I treasure that sign.. 

 

Too long of a post?  I try not to do that... :)

 

My love to all of you,

Mona 

 

 

The End