More Heirlooms and Thoughts About Camping...

We're gearing up to go camping soon, but I wanted to show you my start of re-decorating in our bedroom. Steve rearranged the furniture for me and I've been playing with displaying. This is the top of my dresser. The tea service is from my dear friend, Laura's, mom. Laura is not a "tea person" by nature and when her mom announced she was getting rid of her silver pieces, she thought of me and told her mom (thanks, Laura!). I was so touched to have such beautiful silver bestowed on me! Besides what's shown, I have a coffee pot and another tea pot! I've known Laura's parents as long as I've known Laura (years) and they feel like family to me. So I treat these as heirlooms, too! I will treasure them and if by chance one day Laura's daughter may want them I'll pass them on to her. But until then I'll have fun with them!!

As I mentioned in the beginning we are going camping with our kids and friends....I'm talkin' CAMPING--in a tent--in the middle of nowhere (by a lake) -- with no 'facilities' if ya get my drift. ;-) Just recently I brought up to my husband the possibility of maybe owning a RV someday. We've always tent-camped. My husband is a purist that way. But I got a taste of 'the good life' early in our marriage when Steve's parents took us camping in their motor home. We took a few trips back to see family in South Dakota and I have such fond memories of that! I'm hoping by the time we have grandkids, we'll be more serious about an RV.

But Steve loves getting out in the wilderness where you can't drive a motor home into. And I have to admit, it is lovely, quiet, peaceful and serene where we camp. But maybe someday....

So I'll be back in a few days with pics to share, I'm sure. I feel like I've gotten off the "artsy" part of blogging, but you guys have become friends and I'm enjoying sharing my life with you as I'm enjoying reading about your lives! I'll be getting back to creating and decorating soon and sharing that!

Thank you for your kind comments and well wishes about our anniversary! It really warms my heart to read your comments!!

TTFN!!

Our 30th Anniversary

My husband, the romantic that he is, planned our 30th Anniversary. He took me to the place where we honeymooned called Heritage House in Little River, Ca. It's just a few miles down the road from the darling community of Mendocino.

We motored up the 1, stopping occasionally at points of interest..places where Steve camped with his family when he was young, and places that were just breathtakingly beautiful. Northern California has the most amazing coastline.
This is the front lobby/restaurant/mainhouse of Heritage House. On 43 (?) acres lies cottages all with an ocean view.
This is the view from our place...the weather was perfect--while Sacramento sweltered in the 90's, we were comfortable enjoying 70 degree weather. Each room has a fireplace..which we used every evening! Another unique thing about Heritage House is it has no TV, no radio, no phones. They do have an ipod, and we listened to music while we played games, or talked...
Here is the view of the lobby/restaurant from where we were staying...


We'd breakfast there every morning... enjoying the view, and each other's company.

Caught glimpses of deer, quail, ducks meandering around the grounds....We walked out to the gazebo overlooking the ocean, and at sunset, renewed our wedding vows to each other...



.....Sigh....! :-)

Another day we ventured up to Mendocino and frequented the little shops and lunched at the Mendocino Hotel--and old Victorian Hotel decorated in period style.

Also went into Ft. Bragg where we visited Glass Beach...a place that used to be a dumping site in the 30's and 40's...as a result the "sand" is really small bits of glass that have been smoothed and rounded by the ocean...hence the name "Glass Beach."

More God's creation.....
Remember the movie "Same Time Next Year" with Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn? It was filmed just six months before we came here on our honeymoon...this is the cottage that was built for it and is available to stay in.We were 19 years old when we met, three months later we were engaged, and six months later we married.... Wow! 30 years and I'm still madly in love with Steve!! I am so proud of that man! He's my biggest supporter and makes me feel so protected and safe. He's always willing to listen when I need to talk, has wise counsel that I can trust and a great perspective on life that I need from time to time. He has a steadfast love for God and his family. I am honored to be his wife.

Here's to the next 30 years, Sweetheart! I love you!

I've Been Tagged!

Jann at A Vintage Heart has tagged me and it's my understanding that the rules are as follows:

The Rules of the Tag Game: 1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog. 2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird. 3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs. 4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Allrighty then, here goes:

1. My favorite food is sushi...I could eat it 5 times a week. When Steve asks me out to dinner, he says "Where do you want to go, and don't say sushi!" He loves it too, but just not as often as I do!

2. I am a decorating magazine junkie. I need to join a twelve-step program for it... ;-)

3.I have had a life long crush on Donny Osmond. I used to keep it a secret as it just wasn't cool in the crowd I hung out with in High School. One of the great things about getting older is you don't care as much about what people think of you. Also, about Donny Osmond...when asked, I know his birthday in lightening speed response..December 9, 1957. But when asked about my husband, I always pause and think a minute...is it 3-4-58 or 4-3-58?? For the record, it is March 4, 1958. Sorry Steve! And I love you way more than Donny Osmond!! :-)

4. I take a lavender scented bubble bath almost every night. In the summer I have a fan blowing on me. I LOVE the scent of lavender--real, not artificial. If it IS artificial, it has to smell really real...does that make sense??

5. I read Proverbs every day. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs, so I read the same chapter as the day of the month.

6. I was a big fan (still am) of the artist Susan Rios. I was in an Art Show with her in San Diego called Designing Women. She was the featured artist and I was showing my painted glassware. I was so excited to meet her and we had lunch together. One of the biggest compliments from her was when she bought one of my pieces (a covered cheese plate). I wonder if she still has it...

7. and....hmmmm, what else..I secretly admire and wish I could be June Cleaver--wear a shirt-waist dress and pearls and keep an immaculate home. I really do love being a 'homemaker'--love the idea of the 40's & 50's housewife...

Okay, so now I tag the following:

Marietta at Sweet Old Vintage
Tiffany at Beyond The Vintage Path
Denise at Pink Pomegranate
Ceekay at Thinkin' of Home
Karla at Polka Dot Rose
Joanne at My Little Cottage in the Making
Becky at Just Bee 'n' Me


Also just wanted you to know after getting on antibiotics I am feeling MUCH better! Thanks again for your words of encouragement and prayers. I may be out of the loop for a few days as I have much to catch up on that fell by the wayside while I was sick.
TTFN!!

Happy Birthday Susan!

I just wanted to wish my dear sweet friend, Susan, a Happy Birthday today---She lives in San Diego and we've known each other for 20 years. She has seen me through some really rough times in my life, always has an encouraging word for me and is THE most thoughtful and compassionate friend. She recently told me that she gets her morning coffee and sits down to read my blog every day!! It made me feel so blessed to know that!She is an amazing wife and mother....one of those women who can 'do it all' and with such grace!

She's a wonderful cook, gardener..she even has chickens!! A husband who adores her (probably because he knows how good he's got it!) And 3 terrific kids. And, oh yeah, she's gone back to college to become a nurse--one of the most grueling vocations you could choose! I don't know how she does it, but she is and always will be an inspiration to me. And I am honored to be one of her friends!!

Happy Birthday Sue!

I love you.....

Relapse

So yesterday I was feeling so lousy that I went to the doctor, who announced that my cold had turned into a sinus infection....and prescribed antibiotics and lots of fluids (isn't that what they always say?) I am cooperating--drinking water by the gallons and resting. I'm even going to watch a movie, which I think is so decadent to do in the middle of the day. Anyhoo--I covet your prayers, please, as hubby and I are going on a trip on Monday and I want to be well for that, not to mention Father's Day!
Well, I'm going back to bed...hope you have a wonderful day!

I'm back...

I'm getting better--just got an annoying head cold now..
Thank you so much for your kind comments, emails and prayers! Wow! I feel so blessed that you took the time to wish me well--You are becoming very dear friends of mine and we haven't even met! I was touched by your thoughtfulness...

So here's what I did whilst recuperating.....went thru thousands (it seemed like it) of magazines..(I am a magazine junkie) and clipped favorite photos and crafts, organized them by categories (bedroom, kitchen, etc) slipped them in protector pages and added them to my Idea Binder. I've had one going for years and had to chuckle when Dawn had posted about her Binder--well, you know what they say..."Great minds think alike!" ;-)

I just finished this last night...had bought the platter at a thrift store, the "Rest in the Lord" plaque at a local antique mall...recently purchased a box 'o' buttons (OLD!) at a garage sale..along with lace trim that I dyed in coffee. Do any of you use coffee instead of tea to give an aged look to white lace? I find I like the color better and it dyes faster. I dyed my lace curtain panels for my living room in coffee and loved how it turned out. Of course, my house smelled like Starbucks for a few days, but nobody seemed to mind...
And this is how I'm displaying the collage platter in my family room. I've been so attracted to brown and white transfer ware lately and have been picking up a few here and there if the price is right, meaning, cheap!

Oh Yes! I just checked out Marietta's blog this morning and whatdiya know--SHE did a collage platter too!! It's that "great minds" thing again!! ;-) Check it out--it's beautiful!!

My daughter-in-love, Kristen is off work this week and asked me to go out with her...she's discovered a neat consignment shop she wants to show me, then off to a new Antique Store Mall that recently opened. So we'll do lunch and hit the shops....I let you know if I find any goodies!
Have a good day!

HOPE

Just wanted to let you know I'm a little under the weather and have been laying low for a couple of days....I HOPE to be better soon, and will be posting a little project I worked on for our family room.

Thank you, too, for all of you who left such wonderful comments about my porch! You brightened my day and made me feel so blessed!

Invitation..

To a Front Porch Party!

Rhondi, over at Rose Colored Glasses

is hosting her 1st. Annual Front Porch Party tomorrow, June 5, and I'm participating.

I don't have much of a front porch--it's more like an entry way--so I asked her if I could show my backyard balcony and she graciously agreed! Check out her blog--she will have a link to everyone who's participating.

And please stop by and visit me--I'll have Iced Tea waiting for ya!

Musings and Garage Sale finds...

I love this tag! I've made it a few times in one form or another for friends and to sell.
Years ago my friend Toni asked me if I would like to assist her in organizing and having an estate sale for a 90-something year old lady who passed away and, having no relatives, left her house and it's contents to her church (the same church Toni attended.) When she asked me I told her, "Ya know that's like asking an alcoholic to a bar!!" And I quickly accepted!
What fun Toni and I had going thru all this lady's 'stuff'. Her name was Hazel and she was a devout Christian since girl-hood. I have cards and letters that she saved..even the ones she had sent to her parents, apparently she got them back after they died. In the cards to her parents she thanks them for bringing her up in a Christian home, and for being wonderful parents..
There are also cards from her best friend, Mabel, who thanks Hazel for her friendship and the biggest gift she could ever receive, introducing her to the Lord!
I've enjoyed going over the cards and letters from time to time..She seemed to have had a happy and fulfilling life....I found that Hazel had become a nurse and volunteered in Sunday School and traveled a lot. She attended numerous weddings, because she saved not only the wedding announcement, but her place card at the dinner! She was a gal after my own heart--she saved everything!! The graphics are so beautiful--these had to be in the 30's! Sometime I'll scan a few for you to enjoy.
I don't think the above picture is Hazel, but it is one of her relatives...

Many of the vintage wedding pictures in my guest room came from Hazel as well as a few trinkets and treasures scattered about the house. So she's remembered--by someone who never even met her...





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Speaking of the guest room, I wanted to share with you what I found at a recent garage sale....

a duvet cover and shams--queen size--for $4.00!! Got 'em washed and thew them on the bed--a nice change from all the white, I thought.

Also, in the picture, is vintage bed tray--also $4.00!!

Don'tcha love a great deal??

Have a great day!