Laundry Sprinkler

Mom used to use one of these for ironing when I was a kid. It was a bit old fashioned even then but when the steam button on the iron broke, she showed me how to use an old soda pop bottle and a laundry sprinkler.
Today I use it for my indoor flowers.
Mom still loves iron. I love that she's a bit old fashioned.
(Here's some laundry sprinklers on ebay)

Shoebox Nostalgia

It seems we're all saving, cutting back, using what we have...

I didn't actually save these little candle bits, even though Mr. Blessing says that I save everysinglecottonpickinthing. I just thought they were darling so I rescued them from a grandma's shoebox of "just in case" items. I don't have a shoebox like that. I'm one of those gals with the mindset of "if one is good, three is better" so I have closets of "just in case" stuff. But I'm working on decluttering ~ one room at a time this Summer. Having a graduation party to host in a couple weeks is really lighting a fire under my normally too-nostalgic-to-let-go-of-that attitude. With one room done, I'm excited to move on and get more rooms cleaned out. I'm done with the closets... done with the stacked shelves... done with the shoebox ~ Ok, maybe not the shoebox. I mean, everyone needs a "just in case" stash, right?!

What's in your shoebox?

Beautiful Living & Show-n-Tell

The Real Paris Flea Market

Time Warp Wives

Ok my little vintage homemakers, there's something I must share! I first saw this over the weekend at Brocante Home but it's so interesting that I just had to pass it along.

Have you seen this? A reality tv program (not in the US yet) depicting the real-life lives of 3 couples living today just as it was in the 1950's, 1940's and 1930's. A different couple for each decade. Although I don't think that I could do it myself, it's really interesting! Check out the video clip below... and there's a news article here too with some cute photos.

Cribs

Don't you wish you coulda been there?? There's a photo inventory HERE. You gotta see the video of her home...

MTV Cribs: Pam Anderson
Video sent by MTV

We have a rule at our house that no one is allowed to watch MTV, VH1 or other music video channels ("garbage in/garbage out" we're always telling the kids) but I saw over this over at Old Painted Cottage and just had to share. I knew that Rachel Ashwell has done some decorating with her but this is some serious vintage scrumptiousness!! (I don't know what "commerical ads" are included with the video so I apologize if they're bad). By the way, last night I learned how to change my background/wallpaper thanks to Colours for You. It's so easy - you gotta try it!

Good Clean Fun

Fifi says that every time she cleans her house, she falls in love with it again. This weeks unfamiliar pleasure: A house clean enough to make me swoon!

Summer break begins on Friday. Wouldn't it be lovely to start the Summer all tidied up?!

Wait a minute... There's a pink washer and dryer out there somewhere???

Notions

Notions countingyourblessings vintage sewing notions...

I LOVE notions! Great places to buy old notions HERE.

Sweets

"Let me kiss your chicken lips" my 4 year son says, pulling my head down toward him. He has a little bedtime routine that he made up which involves kissing mommy's forehead, each cheek, the tip of the nose, under the chin and then the chicken lips. He holds my face in his hands and maneuvers it for each kiss.

Sometimes as they're getting into bed one of the kids will ask, "Sing me my song?" When they were babies I made up a little song for each of them. My oldest was born on Valentines Day so his song has some silly sweet words ("You're mommy's little sweetheart - You're the frosting on the cake - You're the jelly in the donut - You're the fishies in the lake...")

When I found this white chocolate rasberry cake on sale at the bakery this morning, it set me thinking about sweets for the whole day! First donuts, candies and all sorts of things that are kept hiding in the "goody bin"... Then those sweet things I hold dear to my heart (chicken lips, baby songs, those just woke-up eyes...)

Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

(What kind ? How to find.)

Icing the Cookies

Mom phoned yesterday to tell me that if I'm going to bake Grandma's snowball cookies, I should wait until today. "There's a big ice storm coming and you won't be able to get out anyways."

So yesterday I sewed.

The kids played in the snow and the mudroom was full of sloppy wet snowsuits, hats and scarves even into the dinner hour. We're all pretty happy to stay inside today and bake!

And I'm definitely leaving our mailman a tip today -Even though he's crabby and all our packages smell of smoke.

A Pondering Heart

We're due for 6" of snow this afternoon and I think I'm ok with it! I love that housebound feeling (except when it involves sick children). I'm almost excited about getting the house tidied up today. What's the matter with me?

Have you been thinking of what your favorite flea market, yard sale, jumble, estate sale find was this year? I found this old quilt the other day for $25. She had about 6 others in her booth but I couldn't convince Steve that the kids would like old quilts in pretty boxes on Christmas morning.


I've been trying to quietly read a little bit of the Christmas story each night. Flipping back and forth between Matthew and Luke. I've noticed a few details in one book that aren't in the other. Matthew gives the lineage of Jesus while Luke tells the lineage of John the Baptist. Matthew talks about the visit of the Magi and Luke, the shepherds visit. The Magi followed a star but the shepherds were directed by an angel. The Magi came bearing gifts. The shepherds came with nothing but they spread the word of His birth. After seeing the Christ child, both the Magi and shepherds worshiped. Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. There's something to be said for being still and knowing that He's God... no matter what we come to Him with.

6" of snow and ponderings in my heart...

P.S. Here's a free download...Notebook pages and verses to go with the Advent story. Matching booklets for an interactive notebook. Christmas cookie recipes.

Not a view in sight

This was the scene at my house last year on December 1st. Well this year there are piles of things but they aren't nearly pretty things! I just can't seem to get my sewing self moving. Today is the day!! I'm going to sit at the sewing machine if for no other reason than because the view from the sewing room window romantically spectacular!

Ok, so from this angle the windows appear so dirty that you can't see the view but, of course, they aren't really dirty =) Hmmm... it's oddly symbolic of the fact that I'm simply unable to stay focused on work!

I just need to buckle down - put my nose to the grindstone as grams would say! It's always gratifying when the job is done, right?! I read this quote the other day on my little desk calendar: When nothing seems satisfying, we may be looking for satisfaction in something other than God. It was a bit like cold water in the face for me! My holiday spirit is ca-poohy but I don't have any good reason for ca-poohy instead of fa-la-la. Perhaps my view has been inward rather than outward (here's the verse).

At the funeral that I attended last week, one of the relatives spoke of how "papa always picked Shirley to work in the fields with him because she sang while she worked." I'm not usually one to sing while I work. In fact, I'd say I do my best house cleaning when I'm angry. Though, it's very likely that we won't be able to find things after I've put them away when I'm in such a dither! Many a lost spatulas that way, I'm afraid.

There is, afterall, something snuggly comforting about a night by the fire after a busy day of servanthood.

Let's do more than our own chores! Let's turn our eyes from the monitor and turn our ear to the Christmas caroles. We CAN sing while we work if we want to (maybe not at the office, though). We can even laden ourselves with someone else's packages if we choose...

102) Your son, the king, was a servant! What's this list about?

Whiling Away

Is it a happy Monday for you? We're creeping about rather slowly around here. After a solid week of grocery shopping, cooking/baking, 3 Thanksgiving meals to attend and the gift shopping, I need another weekend to recover from my long weekend. Hubby and the kids put the tree up for me so all I had to do was unclump the ornaments and add some trimmings. All in all, the pre-lit tree from Big Lots didn't turn out so bad.

I'm going to be spinning about the house later today with various projects in my path. (photo: 12/88 Victoria Magazine. Shoes: Peter Fox) I have some sewing to do and I'm working on a giveaway too. In the meantime, let's try to slow down and enjoy a little piece of each pre-Christmas day.

I whiled away a few spare moments in the library over the weekend and came across this sweet vintage homemaking book. 110 pages of lovely old black and white illustrations. There's a link in the library to purchase from Amazon if you're interested. Books are always a tempting way to slow me down =)

I've started a list of snuggly Christmas ideas that I plan to investigate:

1) Breakfast in the barn (how to stay warm?)

2) Ballet with my daughter (theatre or school? or maybe make a home movie?)

3) Picnic sleigh ride (what if there's no snow?)

4) A pinecone treasure hunt

5) Put together a Holiday picture journal to share with my blog friends (oh my, I'd better not dilly dally!)

So our first step into this holiday is going to be finding peace! Seek Peace And Pursue It...

101) Peace that guards us

What's this list about?

Punny Stuff

Still recovering? Thank heavens for a few more days. ... and then we'll be full swing into shopping, wrapping, decorating and all sorts of frippery. I love fun words! Like "cattywompus" and "scrumdiliumpcious". I've decided to be fun today... Tomorrow I shall be serious. There's something about a Saturday that makes it impossible for me to williningly be too mature. Sunday, however, is whole different kettle of fish. (Exactly what would be like a kettle of fish?) So... first off you should watch this YouTube clip and second you should take a look at the retro-fun recipe book over to the left (Kitchen Delights). One of our local churches put it together and I just love it!! I have a couple copies (you know me, if one is good, three is better)...

Contagious Construction

As I prepare for blog construction tomorrow, it seemed to fit right in that our church at home would be about construction in our homes. This one is good enough to pass along, so please feel free to post the photo and link in your blog too. Blessings...

(After you read the article, check this out. There are a few different paintings that you can enlarge to see incredible detail. All I can say is WOW!)

p.s. Did you remember to turn your clocks back last night? Here's some interesting information on daylight savings

Brocante Tool Shed

I'm freshening up - - putting on some accessories - changing (but don't close the drapes just yet)... For a gal who changes the house around every couple of weeks, I'm loving that I can switch things up on the blog just by clicking buttons =) If only the sofa were so easy to move!

As you can see, we've got a new, ongoing, up to the moment, prayer list. Please feel free to add your own requests or for your friends, loved ones, etc. (they can be anonoymous if you choose). Just click on the photo to the left. The list is already growing so please take a moment to stop by and pray for one or two of the requests on the list.

I've been trying to organize all the posts into into a functional shed where "everything is in it's place". Again, I can't help but daydream... If only the dishes got to their respective cupboards the same way =)

I hope that you enjoy the Lovely Award sites as much as I do. Every week, I can't wait to go scouring about looking for these beautiful places! This week our receipient is French Garden House. Her home page alone is just stunning! You have to go see the Autumn scene.

Antiques & brocante items

AND a blog full of just the kind of projects we love! Be sure to clickty clack over and pay Lidy a visit.

It's here! It's here! Alison has put together such a lovely book for us. It's only $10 (usd) and you can download it TODAY!! I can't wait to start using her new A Very Brocante Christmas!! Oh, if I had half the imagination this gal has... Maybe she can come up with fix for those dishes...

(p.s. Don't hate me - I got a whole box of the new Victoria magazines yesterday! I'll make it up to you for being the nasty tease that I am... I accidentally bought the November Country Living this morning at the market and then remembered that I've already subscribed to it and, of course, the subscription copy arrived in the mail this afternoon. I'll give my extra copy of CL plus a new Victoria to the first request for them left in the comments)

Paved Paradise

LOOK - at who's in our Lovely Award spot this week!! The Frock Shop, because she has an amazing website with clothing, shoes, jewelry...

a blog...

AND a separate line of handbags! She's just recently married so be sure to wish her well when you stop over.

While you're out and about, stop by and download the Meal Planner that Alison has added to the Vintage Housekeepers Planner.

The Apple Orchard was fun - the weather was perfect right up until we were walking to the parking lot to leave and then it poured. Since it's apple orchard & pumpkin patch season, I thought I'd share a bit of my past with you...

My grandparents owned an apple orchard. My mom was raised picking apples every Autumn and I was blessed to have such a wonderful place to explore when I was growing up. My parents were married in the orchard (that's my dad tossing the garter). Several years ago after my grandfather died, the property had to be sold. "They paved paradise..." for a 4 lane highway. However, as God often does, my husband's parents (when the moved here from Chicago) purchased a home just a mile or so down the road from the old apple orchard. When I was grandma sitting a few weeks ago, I drove by what used to be the "grove stand" (veggies, fruit, etc.) and I was sad wishing that my children had that orchard for making memories in. God gently reminded me that their own grandparents live on that very same road with such big hills it used to make my stomach do flip flops... that when I sing "over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go..." at Christmas time, it's the same path and the same song that my mom sang to me. Although we know that there will be streets of gold in Heaven, isn't is assuring to know that they won't probably be 4 lane highways?!

Vintage Home

We have a new Lovely Award receipent! Country House Antique Textiles - because she has the yummiest vintage sewing items, fabrics (some back all the way to the turn of the century), curtains and quilts! I know Frills, Frocks and Fancies should have another day up on our award board but Miss Michelle over at Vintage Pastiche is highlighting them too and I'm going to have a full schedule this weekend so I thought I'd do it now.

Because Country House got me thinking on all things for the home, and you know how I love all things for the home, it seems appropriate to deem today "All Things For The Home Day". (Boy, that was a real twist of poetic words, wasn't it?!) Found this book that I'm so tempted to buy (but know I'll rarely use) on Amazon for $28. Of course, we all know that the vintage tips work the best (though I'm not giving up the magic eraser!). In fact, my grandmother is the best cleaning consultant I know! But since Grams isn't available for consults 24/7 (she has a better social life than I do), this treasury of skills seems like a good thing to keep on hand.

Now this one I might really use! It's also at Amazon for $11!! No, I don't live at the Amazon website. But I do love, love to read. In fact, I can't wait to finish the book I'm reading now so I can share it with you!

Though I have a dishwasher, I'm loathe to say that it rarely actually CLEANS. But it's great for getting the dishes out of sight! (except in the case of my parents... they long ago gave up on getting the dishwasher to clean dishes and now they use it for storing the bags of garbage. I thought it was gross at first too but I got used to it.) Most days, I fall back on good old classic Ivory Soap! And here's my dirty dishes tip of the day: Don't use a slow cooker whose pan is not removable - and then don't let that cooker sit on the counter for 2-3 days after having made a pork roast (not that I've done that because, oh heavens, that borders on disgusting)!

Hurry, hurry this darling book is on ebay (ending later today) and it has 141 receipes!

And if you like to be organized about it, Brocante Home has a free daily planner sheet!

One last thing... I'm so humbled to have been given the Blog With A Heart award by Southern Ladys Vintage. Though there are TONS of blog friends that are deserving, I'm going to pass it along this time to Vintage Pastiche. Have a wonderful weekend. Blessings...