Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Many Years... Old Candy Boxes









As Valentines Day is approaching I thought I would once again share a few of my very old candy boxes with you... I have always loved these and always keep a eye out to further my collection but haven't seen any for several years now... The last one I did find I wasn't willing to pay 75.00 for it but it was lovely... I think the boxes showing lovely ladies of the past are quite desirable.. and have come to sell for quite a sum of money... Delicious chocolates have been desirable for years and years although chocolate was once more bitter ... through the years have changed drastically through new technology.. Mainly today we enjoy more milk chocolate candies.... YUMMMM...
Many of our older company's are celebrating 100 years or more being in business ... making it known that we all seem to respond to a wonderful piece of chocolate confections... Amazing these wonderful old boxes have survived the test of time but are loved and given TLC at my little home in the country..... I do hope someone will love and care for them after I no longer can....


Saturday, January 28, 2012

Using What Is At Hand




Received a small amount of snow this morning but sun is out right now but very windy...

Last evening Tom and I attended the Tinora Guys High School Basketball game and it was just AWESOME.... I mean AWESOME.... The astounding fact that they hit 16 - three point shots... yes I said 16... We had 2 of the boys on the team going for the school record at once... Congrats Jake... you broke it by 2 more... Cameron... you have 2 more years to try and I am sure we will see more excitement from you... and the rest of the team were just great... Team ... that's what it is all about... Also had a young man inducted into the hall of fame for 2 state titles in track ... Allot of RAM pride... So wonderful to see your youth succeed... so many times we hear the negative....

This morning still searching for zero dollars ways of adding touches to my little nest in the country I went to the rec room and took a couple very old books with me and wrapped them in scraps of fabric I had used for pillows ... Hand-writing some french and wrapping with cord and a very simple tag completed this little ato do project... I love the simple look to coordinate with other grain sack pillows and cloths I have scattered about my home... I want to purchase another drop cloth for some other projects to create with... The canvas drop cloths are a great way to make pillows... curtains and tablecloths among other things.. They are particularly lovely when linens are set atop for tablecloths... I want to create a pillowcover for a bed pillow for supporting my back as I sit on the love seat in the living room and relax and enjoy reading... I have been enjoying several good books the past couple weeks as the temps are very chilly outside... Finished a Nora Roberts this week and now reading a Nicholas Sparks.... I did bid and won a Nora Roberts book lot with free delivery on Ebay.. What a great way to have entertainment at a budget friendly price... I will read them and pass them to family and friends... Buying lots on Ebay is a fraction of the price of purchase at the store...

Later this afternoon we will be traveling to Ft. Wayne, Indiana to meet up with another couple... friends to enjoy our evening and partake of a lovely dinner at a nice restaurant... We do this a couple times a year with them.... I hope you have some plans for this weekend and of not relaxing at home is just not too bad of a choice either.... Just enjoy what you are given....




Monday, January 23, 2012

Home







Awaiting to be opened and used for the first season... Our new pool we had built this late fall.... The grass has all been seeded and came up wonderful before winter arrived....and grasses and landscaping were completed since this picture... The building built by the Amish now has been completed and painted and shutters added.... I will post a pic this spring when the grass is green and the pool is once again open.....


Living in the country is all about embracing simple pleasures and staying in touch with the earth and all it's beauty... The countryside a kaleidoscope ... just as yesterday was white with snow cover everywhere while nighttime hours changed the appearance as rains melted the snow away and green grass appeared once again... Tonight the winds are showing their mighty strength as
it whistles through our home...

Yesterdays gathering of my family and sharing of food... stories.. and laughter made life as one loves it to be and the wisdom to realize it...and enjoy... For awhile wrapping paper was flying everywhere and toys when trying to travel from room to room were danced around as my granddaughter enjoyed her 4th birthday. But soon all was quiet and things back in order... Laughter disappeared and time for relaxing and watching a movie on TV completed the day... It was a great day...

Being true to myself these are the things that I hold so dear... my family... my home... my gardens and wonderful outdoor spaces adding the contentment and pleasures one should enjoy the most... I so love the thought and feel of comfort and having other feel the same... To achieve this however, I think our homes must be tidy and have charm.. The way you feel about things always shows on the way you do things...Doing little extra pleasures and touches for yourself as well as others always adds a reward.. Though it may be humble charm, there is no place like home....

NOTE... I must admit I am starting to yearn for summer retreat and the birds and the bees! But till then I will enjoy what is offered.....

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Saturdays Musings

We received snow late yesterday afternoon and over night leaving it a perfect day for children to go out and make forts and snowmen till their little hearts are content... Many a wet boots and wet mittens will be scattered over entry ways... For myself I will be content to spend my time indoors... with the aroma of freshly baked cake just minutes ago taken from the oven fills my home... Meat has been fried for making a very large pan of lasagna tomorrow in the celebration of my grand daughters birthday... I will make ready as much as I can today...
This evening we have plans to make our way to Stryker for a guys Tinora basketball game as it looks the roads will be cleaned and cleared by snowplow of which is just going by our home as I type.
Blogging really has been a God sent for me.. I believe it expanse my thoughts and my heart as it is pure bliss for me to be inspired by little things... The reading if others thoughts and trials of life and awareness of viewing of wonderful objects and home and acres of beauty produces layers of experiences... I always must keep in mind the simple pleasures are very abundant here with blogging as well as surroundings and one must just take the time to notice and enjoy... We share snippets of our passions and our styles.. I would like this year to learn how to add more things to my blog that would serve as eye candy to my readers and new expanding circle of friends... I do encourage comments.. It is always rewarding to hear from other bloggers.. I know many times I frequent a blog and don't leave a comment but I am going to try and do better on that... For quite a period of time last year however I had a hard time leaving comments on blogger... I seem to be ok now but have been reading others are having that same experience I had... Just keep trying... As for me I love spending my mornings visiting blogs for daily doses of vintage and inspirational words and thoughts all keeping with enjoying moments on a zero dollar budget...
Being retired .. my daily blogging is like choosing a parking place when I went off to work everyday... I choose the same parking spot in front of my picture window that the view can be seen from all directions... in the same rocking chair with the laptop in hand... Blogging bliss.
Wishing you all a lovely weekend and find a but of something to create or cause joy.....

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Thank God For Small Blessings

Snowing in the country in Defiance, Ohio today... I haven't left the confines of my home for 5 days now except for a quick walk in the back yard or to the mail box... This makes it a very good thing that family and home is what it is mainly about for me. That's my life... When you enter my home you can see that I have been a collector and have love for the unusual and re purposed objects... yet some very lovely mixed in... I do plan on leaving tomorrow however to do some grocery shopping as I have a small family gathering planned on Sunday for my sweet little grand daughter birthday...
Many thoughts have filled my mind this week with all the news headlines of the week from cruise ship wreck to gas prices.... The projected gas prices have my mind as stir... This will effect so many ... many of us that do not fall in the rich and famous category.... Everything will rise... My already rubber band tight budget will stretch and eventually break... Plans for sole enjoyment to take place in my back out door living space will be taking place once winter subsides... Embedded deep in thought I am so thankful to be blessed to have those outdoor acres..... with having voids to fill for enjoyment....and lack of other expensive treats... { I am worried about 5.00 gas as they have D. Wades new 230,000 car flown in for his birthday } opps the world is a bit uneven isn't it.... Not to be on a downer just facing true facts...every bill we have had come in has went up... Tom's farmland real estate taxes have doubled... yes doubled ... We got a small raise in social security.. mine amounted to 20.00 dollars but the medicare and my supplement raised 50.00... hum short again.... I am aware this makes me very scared but I am also determined above that to enjoy every little blessing and lovely thing offered to me... Passions can still be sought out on a rubber band budget... God still offers many... We must be aware and enjoy... I have had several talks with God lately ... asking if there would be some wonderful ways of full-fillment in these retirement years and have ask him to help show me the way.... Keeping in mind the saying when doors close... windows open and I do know this through personal experience over the years...
Encouragement and inspiration comes through my blogging experiences and sharing... For today however I am about to watch it continue to snow and go finish cleaning m home as I am posting as I wait for mopped floors to dry and search out more little dust bunnies..... Ps... I wonder if I could borrow that little girls horse in above pic for transportation this spring....LOL... just gotta have some humor as we make this journey we call life.....

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Ramblings





I do not remember the source of this picture to give credit..... I also thought it may be from Tracey at French Larkspur.... I always love her belongs and lovely inspiration....



It rained over night... the sun was shinning for 5 minutes and now it is grey and more rain expected... according to the forecast... I am thinking of heading to the basement rec area for creating a birthday card for my sweet grand daughter and a couple Valentines for a couple friends... I feel the need for some "ME" time... I hope once down there I don't suffer from creative block of which happens every one in awhile...especially if I am sewing... I have had many ideas traveling through my head as of last as a desire for some change seems to be occurring... I have this one spot in the kitchen-dining area of our home I would like to change out... I have been thinking I would like some unique blackboard there that I can write some beautiful French words on to add some romance to that area... This idea may take awhile as the search takes place... A trip to the antique stores or flea markets will most likely be needed and I am not sure that is in the budget right now... Just maybe a old cupboard door or window may be somewhere to be found that can be re purposed with some blackboard pant... I did search the Internet and found the one... but 249.00... Loved it but you got to be kidding me right.... no way is that in my allowance.....Finding a way to transform a object for re purpose will bring meaning , pleasure, and purpose. Creating with what I have or a found object may not allow me to have the 249.00 blackboard but it is also important that I don't find myself disappointed not being able to allow myself this sort of luxury... I actually can honestly say the challenge of creating and searching out something presents something I find rewarding...
REMEMBER...
Believing when you follow your heart... dreams can come true.. Creating even on a tight budget shouldn't stop you from doing something that you love or you find important to you.... With these thoughts always embedded in mind, many lovely things have been created.....






Monday, January 16, 2012

A Little Change

After viewing the edging I created from aged book pages all day yesterday and last evening I decided it was too long... It hid the detail of the custom mantle on our fireplace... I just got the scissors and cut about 4 inches off and cut to peaks free hand without taking it down and it looks much better.... I don't mind that it isn't perfect as most of the time when I work with altered art I always try to make it too perfect... The tearing and grungy is the look I try to achieve and sometimes it is really difficult to get there... When creating especially with paper I think it is much better not so perfect.... I may try to create a little edging for the antique pie safe with the inches I cut from the original edging just to salvage the gluing of the pages together.... Working through my little home with some chores this morning... The main one was to clean and sanitize the fridge..ugh... but completed... mopped and 2 loads of laundry... just everyday Monday chores....maybe this afternoon some "me" time , even if it be a nap... I will be making ham and scalloped potatoes for supper along with a veggie.... Yesterday I made a wonderful pineapple upside down cake as a couple of you viewed on my Facebook .... It was scrumptious....
I am still going through the old copy of "Where Women Create" and getting the urge to not really antique shop but rather search for embellishments that may be with a shoestring budget... I will never be able to create on the level that many of these talented women do as they have a thousand times more supplies and goodies than I could even think of... Many of these things make me drool to be able to have all this to create but I have to remember this doesn't fall in my category.... Guess I will just have to stick with old book pages ... glue... and scissors and some vintage jewelry and a few tidbits.... and count my blessings.... I can still make my nest very sweet and comfortable as I am very content to work my my tight budget most of the time causing more creating ....... For the most part I am a very visual person...and find creations of other to be very inspiring and using put my own twist to things.... All the years of my career as design and floral I always had to be such a person of perfection but with retiring and just creating for myself I find I truly love if all things are not perfect as I have learned not much in our journey of life is... I do not mind a object is not perfect or shows age... in fact I seem to love it more.... Making all the dreams as I had as a child not at all true today... Funny how time changes our desires and thoughts.... Wishing you all a wonderful blessed day...

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Magazine Inspirations








Winter has arrived at our little nest in the country... Desires for inspiration and projects to keep one busy heightens as confinement to ones home is here....
I have resorted in finding older books and magazines in storage that I keep around the house that have lovely ideas in them... Sometimes when you first look at a book it may not have what you are looking for at that time period but other times it is just perfect... Just kinda sorta happened that way for me today... I thought I would share a couple zero dollar ideas with you.... I broke out a older copy of "Where Woman Create" that I do not normally buy too many due to the price of this magazine is not in my budget just like Jeanne d Ark Living... Once I put the money out there I do not part with them, however... Anyway back to the words, I found a couple pages of inspiration... One being the pages of the wonderful works of Elizabeth Maxson... I am a great fan of hers and love her style and words on her blog http://www.elizabethhousestlouis.blogspot.com Looking at the lovely page's I saw inspiration using old men's collars as little frames and via I have a old box with some in here at home... She had used 3 of them hanging on the wall... I may need to make my stiffer to get the look I want and hunt for some older keys to complete the look... Then on another page they had a cut out heart shelf edging made from old newspaper I believe... I do not have any newspaper that was aged so I resorted to aged old book pages and glued them together... It turned out rather cute for something a touch different to look at... Maybe one made for Easter in the dining area would be clever for Easter decorating with no money spent again... This idea came from Cindy Petters http://www.cindypetters.blogspot.com I find it so rewarding when I can find something to do that I can shop my own home.... Blogging has expanded my heart and my mind and to be much more inspired by little things offered and not always going out and spending... there is no guilt if you rid of something then that you may tire of......
Since I decorate for myself I don't mind if it somewhat quirky in fact I love it....Anyone can just go purchase from a store and set it in the home... I prefer to go much beyond that.... as many of you do that offer interesting inspiration...

Our ground is lightly snow covered and the temps are very cold so today will be spend indoors searching for more inspiration and I have a book I want to read through again..... Sending blessings and best wishes your way....


Thursday, January 12, 2012

Little Tucks

Glass cloche on fireplace mantle filled with a men's antique shirt collar... a antique photo and a old pipe belonging to my father......



Glass cloche on dining table filled with lovely lace collar ... a old compact.... old roll of lace and vintage rhinestone and on the back a lovely antique valentine....










Old book pages with covers torn scattered about... Love the texture and coloring with objects I have in my home.....



Little tucks of Valentines with a romantic flavor have replaced holiday objects.. Different little tucks of antique and vintage have been placed in glass cloches or set about... As I sort through objects around the home in a effort once again to add eye candy to my home for zero dollars... Small pages of books with the hard covers torn off and used for altered art projects have had vintage cord and embellishment added.. I have a small altered art book started that I will be working on as the weather become more severe... I have the cover finished and the pages ready for embellishment... the fun part... I also plan on adding some hand written little words of inspiration to the pages to pick up on a day that is in need of a small pick me up..... I will share when completed... It is going to be sweet...


I have found that small little treasures to make layers of beauty offer the inspiration and contentment I seek. These inexpensive little objects offer creative expression and often when changed up visitors think I have purchased new and I have not spent a dime... just played musical spaces with the objects... Winter is my most favorite time for blogging, the wonderful place for sharing and caring... Summer months I spend do much time out of doors but this morning as I peer out to my back yard over the covered pool and rain and chilly and temps about to drop down according to the forecast.... it doesn't seem very inviting... but I do know what awaits in the spring... The back outdoor space will once again come alive with many lovely hours spent there.... the idea of finishing a couple spaces in the yard that it was too late to do in the fall is even exciting thoughts... The grass seed came up and we have a lovely stand of grass where the yard was dug up and had to be redone... I was sure we would have nothing but dirt for a period of time next season but it looks like it will be fine...


As you my friends know ...I love being surrounded by a world of yesterdays... Excitement come when I view something that someone has re purposed... Love for dressing up { oh not me the country jeans only gal } but objects... from prim to girly... I love it all. Especially if it comes off deliciously quirky.... Sending best wishes to all.
PS..... I wanted to share the news of the day... My daughter just called and confirmed she indeed pasted her bar and is now offically a RN... I am so proud of her... she worked so very hard studying... many time ready to admit defeat but didn't.... Now her rewards can follow.... I am a proud mama.....



Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Musings

The weather in our area is about to change to colder temps and some snow... We have had some pretty mild temps for this time of year of which has been very enjoyable.... If you are like me you may be searching for inspiration to change up your look in your home after the holidays... All the little extra objects are nested in storage boxes... This morning I have taken the icicles and snowflakes from my windows and have replaced them with some simple hearts made from scraps I have around the home.... I changed up my larger cloche and took down some pine.... Little tucks of Valentines will be added here and there... creating eye candy as we spend much more time inside the home... It will be there for a few weeks and then replaced with thoughts of spring of which I know is quite a time yet... Thoughts are pleasant however... As thoughts travel toward Valentines I just wanted to add charm and thoughts of not spending.... It is very simple to make your someone special with something from the heart... not the pocketbook... With everything once again being over done in our world it is time to get back to basics... For years we have all learned it is the thought that counts and if we haven't we missed out....
Simple thoughts.... 1 exquisite rose and 1 delicious piece of chocolate.... plus I written note can be powerful......
If you love to create..... http://www.robertsabuda.com/ has ideas for pop up cards......


Monday, January 9, 2012

Deep In Thought

As I travel through my Monday chores my mind and heart feels oh so heavy... I read the blog of Sandy Foster http://myshabbystreamsidestudio.blogspot.com/ and her complete honesty of what has taken place this past year in her life.... as she explains her life has went up in smoke... her so loved dog Belle and her marriage... all gone... A reminder of feelings I felt so strongly over the holiday and was glad to see the new year come and objects be placed in storage... We are so programed that all is magical and so perfect during this time and through the wisdom of many years I know this not to be true for many more people than we would like to imagine... I am so praying for a recovery for for Sandy and others that may be going through difficult times... Another constant reminder to enjoy the lovely precious moments as they happen cause there will not last forever... I will anxiously follow her lovely blog and genuine words and cheer her on as she sorts and pieces things back together... I am so very positive that wonderful inspiration and lovely thoughts will continue to flow from this very gifted woman... As soon as I post this I will be taking some private and quiet moments to reflect on the blessings I am surrounded by... Does this mean everything is perfect in my life... of course not, but I can tell you after hearing Sandy's loving and honest words it seems pretty darn good....


Thursday, January 5, 2012

This Happens Every Year.....

Winter is in full swing here in our area of NW Ohio although we haven't had a major snow storm as of yet ..... The Christmas decorations are all stored except for a few winter objects that will stay out through January at least.... Every year at this time period I am pretty much in all the time and get the urge to push furniture around in different locations....This is a rather hard task at my home since objects were not purchased special for the home rather merged together when Tom and I decided to be partners... Many items do not fit together as nicely as if they were purchased new for the home and are not the right shape but I do the best I can.... He is not one that will say go out and buy everything you want rather believes you use it till it can't be used anymore.... Coming from a family of 10 children I can well understand his thinking and it works well with my always on a shoestring budget.... All the furniture in my living room has been moved and cleaned behind and I am still making little adjustments this morning after moving around in it for a day.....
The next couple months I will be coming up with some projects to keep me busy as we will not be traveling this year and the long months are still to come.... Most of the time I am content to spend all my time at home... Once in awhile I just have to have a change however.... I can honestly say I am very glad the holiday season is over.... I seemed to run out of the ho ho ho the last week heading into Christmas itself... I am not so proud to say but it happened... I not am keeping my mind on thoughts of spring and the opening of the new pool we had built last fall that we didn't get to enjoy and the use of my new area in the back yard... It is my haven.... I just love it there.... So with those thoughts in minds I am spending time with my blogging friends and hopefully finding some new inspiration to share with all.... It seems to take me a bit to get my self organized and back to everyday thinking as we place so much of the way it should be on the holidays and most of the time they really aren't as we are programed they should be....
I am off to take care of the laundry and later this afternoon we will be heading out to eat and attend a out of town Tinora guys basketball game....

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Sharing

Ahhhh... The New Year arrived as we shared it with two other couples last evening after partaking of a prime rib dinner and returning to our home and a evening of playing cards and having dessert.... Apple pie and ice cream....
Today weather wise really is not a good start to the new year... It is very windy and rain blowing everywhere and chilly... here in NW Ohio... Inside our home, however, it is warm { something I am thankful for.. believe me.} and a traditional pork and sauerkraut is in the oven baking for this evenings meal....
Last year is now in the past and certainly not without it's troubled moments.. It is refreshing to look forward although sometime can be scary with the unknown... The wisdom to enjoy what is given to us however is key to contentment... Sometimes we let those small blessings and moments fly right on by us... I made no New Years resolutions as I am not good at keeping them but I made a promise to myself to enjoy all the small blessings and moments given as they are most of the time the best ones.. the ones that cost us nothing... Not a dime... This is what I want to keep a top and fresh in my thoughts....
Happy New Year... everyone....