Merry Thriftmas

Did you have a good Christmas? Was Santa good to you this year?

I intended to wish all of my blogging buddies a Merry Christmas and plum forgot about it in the enchilada making frenzy. I apologize. I hope you know I treasure each and every one of you.

We had an excellent Christmas. I especially enjoyed my youngest sister being here from South Carolina. The only hangup Christmas day was the collective forgetting to take pictures. We have none.

Now that life is somewhat returning to normal I feel like I can go thrifting again. Yesterday I spotted the most lovely item I'd seen in a while, but didn't examine it closely and walked out without it.

Last night I didn't sleep due to heartburn, the weather, DH getting called out twice, and most of all thinking about the item.

I was dressed early this morning and sitting in front of the thrift store with my little fingers crossed that it was still there and not sporting a 'Sold' tag an hour before they opened. I managed to be the first one through the door with my money in hand and I made a beeline for the item.

My little heart nearly jumped out of my chest when I saw it was still there and not sold. I raced (okay, walked really fast and didn't knock anybody down) to the checkout and plunked down my $40 plus tax and requested a 'Sold' tag.

Isn't it gorgeous! No holes, tears, rips, or otherwise mangled places. The bottom does need a little work, but nothing a staple gun and a little webbing can't fix. The seat has springs and none are poking out or are broken.
The back frame has two repaired places, but the crack doesn't make it to the front. Who's going to see the back anyway? That white line is chalk and will clean right off.
It measures just under 4 feet long and is 36 1/2 inches tall. It's so comfy. I've sat on it off and on since bringing it home. I'm not going to recover it because it's perfect the way it is. I'll dress it up with pillows and a throw for a little color.

Quite possibly the best $40 I've spent in a long time.

Are you ready?

I'm nearly there. The shopping is done. Hallelujah!

I've got the buffet set up, ready for the snack stuff tomorrow. I'm skipping breakfast and going straight for the cheese ball and mini crab quiche. Then I'm moving to the bacon and cheddar pinwheels, deer dip, and fudge for lunch. Mid afternoon, if there's any room left, I'll have a rum ball or two and sausage cheese balls. Can you tell what I enjoy the most? Eating!

For dinner we're going south of the border and having Mexican food. Enchiladas, beans, Spanish rice, tacos, salsa, and guacamole if I can rouse myself to get the avocados before the store closes.

Have a happy holiday!

Braum's no more

Today our local Braum's was demolished to make way for a bigger, newer, snazzier Braum's.

We had to stop and watch the big equipment do it's job. Amazing! The precision of the operator is something to behold.

I'm over it

Thanks to all that commented on my last slightly deranged post. I guess I start thinking about it and the worry begins. I just need to give it to God and get on with my life.

This was yesterday. Brrr!

Today was a little better, but we had ice and snow to go with it. Silly Fuzz (the inside/outside cat) couldn't make up his mind this morning. He reminded me of a kid running in and out, in and out. I finally kicked him out. He was more than happy to come in a bit ago. I wonder if he realizes how lucky he is to live with us?

We have another trip to NM coming up on Friday. DH's family Christmas is on Saturday. The only bright spot is getting to bring my baby sister home for Christmas. It's been almost a year since I've seen her.

There's not much other news right now. I still haven't finished the Christmas quilt, finished decorating, or mailed my cards. This studying stuff is eating up all of my time. Once I get the final over with tomorrow I hope to crank some stuff out.

I hope everyone is staying warm and toasty.

No fun

Finals are looming in the not so distant future and I'm studying like a mad-woman. I'm ready to be done so I can look for a job during the worst economy in a long time.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Back in the land of the living

I feel so much better today. I'll never take boogers for granted again. I'm in the mood to do stuff.

But first, did you know buying Sudafed and spray paint on the same day in Wal-Mart causes certain people to raise their eyebrows? Just saying.

Lookie. I spray painted the back of my left hand. I must say almond does nothing for my complexion. I think a lot of lotion is called for. Would you look at that boot leather.
If the eyebrow-raising people at WM knew I'd bought glue at the Dollar Store they'd probably have locked me in a little room and called the cops. Everyone knows I'm a big old drug fiend.
These are dried mum petals glued to a thingamabob to be turned into a whatchamacallit at a later time.

I hope everyone is having a good Monday. Stay well and warm.

Back on track

DH shared his cooties with me and now I'm sick. I'm feeling better now that I've taken enough drugs to sink a battle ship.

I have my Christmas cards ready for the mail, except for one. ReRe, I can't email you. Your email isn't in your profile. Would you mind dropping me a line?

The weatherman has been saying a four letter word. He's talking snow for Monday night and possibly Tuesday. We'll see. Just in case I decided to go ahead and put flannel sheets on the bed. Penguins anyone? These are a clearance buy from 2 or 3 years ago. Who can be grumpy sleeping with penguins?

That's all I've got for now. I need more tea. I hope everyone is having a good weekend and looking forward to the coming week.

Happy December!

It's December 1st and I'm excited. There are only 24 days left until Christmas and 30 days left in 2008. Would anyone like to exchange Christmas cards?

I have Annie, SchnauzerMom, Humble Origins, and Beemoosie's addresses.

It's only Saturday

If you have time could you spare a good thought and a prayer for MamaKoch's daughter-in-law. I know the family would appreciate it.

All of my weekend decorating plans went straight out the window when my sick husband came in from hunting last night. Phooey! Every time I try to sneak off and do something he calls out wondering what I'm doing and can I bring him a tissue/Vicks/a cough drop. I've done good though. I haven't smothered him...yet. You'd think he's the only person on earth to ever have a cold/allergies/etc.

The good news is I got my desk cleaned off, watched the last episode of Grey's Anatomy, and am on my fourth cup of Holiday Peppermint coffee. Oh yeah, the laundry is all caught up too.

I've only had to chase L.T. out from under the tree twice. Those shiny, dangling things are just too tempting. Half-pint thinks it's a great place to catch a nap.I hope everyone is doing well and has a wonderful weekend.

It's beginning to look a little like Christmas

In lieu of the insanely early Black Friday madness, I slept late and stayed home most of the day tinkering with my toys. I'm not a decorator and don't play one on the Internet.

The mantle arrangement is a bunch of wooden spools, a little bit of velum, package garland, and battery operated tea lights. I stole this one from my mom. She did the same thing on her TV cabinet. Very cute.Every year I buy us each a new ornament. DH always seems to get Santa fishing.This is what I ended up with on the treadle. I'm not sure I'm 100% happy with it yet. Since taking this picture I put the rest of the package garland around the base of the hurricaine.
This bucket came from the inlaws. I don't remember where they had it in the house, but I thought it would look okay holding fake poinsettias.
My favorite this year. The candle holder is an old lamp shade made out of heavy glass. The runner is old and smells like starch. Well it should, I starched it. LOL! This mess is sitting on my $2 coffee table (an old tool chest from a garage sale nearly 15 years ago).
Another decoration from years past. I'm not sure if this is one I got for DH or for myself.
Have you started decorating?

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that today is Thanksgiving Day and that I was able to spend it with family. Even if I did eat too much.

I'm also thankful for the raindrops I hear hitting the windows. We need the rain and I'll take every drop I can get.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving. I hope your day is wonderful.

The pumpkin pie is in the oven and yeast dough is rising. I'm ready for some turkey.

The best Spam slicer, ever

I admit it, we like Spam. I've struggled to slice my Spam evenly for years. I've used knifes, cheese slicers, and a cake leveler. Anything to get even slices. I just don't like wonky Spam sandwiches.

I finally found the tool for the job. Introducing the handy-dandy butter slicer.
It sliced 15 perfectly even pieces in less time than it took to open the can.
Perfect!

Hideousity

If Kimora Lee Simmons can have fabulosity, then I can have hideousity.

Be prepared to chuckle.

These are the lamps that my in-laws gave me. I thought, "Hey, those are kind of cool. I can use them in the guest room."
{Insert hideous music}

Then my FIL drug out the shades. Gasp!What the heck! Those tuley-gold-braidy-ruffled things turned perfectly respectable lamps into some kind of French fashion disaster. Ack!

I tried to not take the shades, but FIL insisted.

DH made comments about those ugly shades for 300+ miles while bringing them home. I even tried to dump them at a truck stop, but DH caught me.

There's no way I'm using those shades unless they undergo a complete overhaul.

Otherwise, I love the lamps.

I think I'll dance a little jig

It's Monday! Not just any Monday either. It's THE Monday before Turkey Day. It's the best Monday of the whole year. Of course that's just my nutty opinion. Pardon me while I dance a little jig.

We made it back from NM, again. Every time I go it seems like I come home puny. This time my allergies really did a number on me. I felt lousy most of the time and now I've got a fever blister forming right in the middle of my lower lip. Pretty!

I'm done with class for the week and it feels really odd. Another reason to dance a little jig.

I started a new quilt this afternoon. I'm doing the Turning Twenty design #1, but I'm only turning 12. Trust me, it's legal. This is a Christmas quilt and I can't decide if I'm going to keep it or put it in the family gift exchange. I may wait and see how it turns out.

In sort-of-thrifty news (the in-laws gave them to me), I have a couple of really ugly lamps to photograph and share. You're going to love them. I just know it.

I hope everyone is having a glorious Monday!

Thankful Thursday

This week I'm thankful that my shoulder feels better even though it's still not great.

I'm also thankful that this is the last trip to NM until December.

A tale of two mixers

I inherited the green Sunbeam MixMaster when DH and I got married. His mom dumped it on him when they sold their house and decided to live life on the road.

I've used it a time or two and liked it. Since moving to OK though it's been in a box in storage and I haven't really missed it. Until today.

Today is fruitcake making day and I needed something to help mix up the batter. I drug out old greeny and then couldn't find the beaters. It dawned on me that I'd probably donated them sometime during a cleaning frenzy. I try not to have too many cleaning frenzies because I end up getting rid of stuff I might need later. Like the beaters.

I decided to try the thrift store here in town and see if they had some. Normally there's at least a couple of pair hanging around. Not today though. The only beaters to be had belonged to hand mixers.

I ventured over to small appliances and spied the white mixer. It's the same brand as the green one, but older and it had the beaters. I figured for 3 bucks I could take the beaters off and if they fit the green mixer I'd re-donate the white mixer.

I brought it home and sure enough the beaters fit. Unfortunately, old greeny decided to give up the ghost after a steady stream of black smoke started billowing from the head. I couldn't get it out the door fast enough.

I finished up the fruitcake using the older white model and it runs like a champ. It even has a speed for fruitcake. How's that for serendipity.

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that the holiday season is almost upon us. As crazy as it sounds.

I'm thankful that Mom is hosting Thanksgiving this year.

I'm thankful that my baby sister is coming home for Christmas. It's been a year since I've seen her and I miss the little snot.

I'm thankful that this year I have the holiday spirit early and I'm looking forward to being with friends and family.

Fruitcake

Do you love it or do you hate it?

I love fruitcake that has been embellished.

That said, my mother-in-law always orders one from Collin Street Bakery, every year, in October. By the time Christmas rolls around you could use that thing for a curling stone. It's hard and dry. She goes the unembellished route being a teetotaler, which is fine. I hate that fruitcake. Blech!

I've been talking about making one and today finally got the ingredients. Sadly, I've hit a snag. I can't find my embellishments. We cleared out the cabinet over the fridge before my in-laws came in May and honest to Pete, I can't find the booze anywhere. I don't know where we hid it.

Does that tell you anything about our drinking in this house? It's pretty much nonexistent. I cook with it and that's about it.

So far I'm missing a couple ounces of tequila, a good bottle of 14 year old Brandy, and a couple ounces of rum.

I guess I'll have to ask DH when he comes in tonight and see if he remembers. In the meantime I guess I'll go put away the fruitcake stuff until I can find it or replace it.

Update:I found it! It was in the "Oh crap a tornado's coming" room. Because, you know, when a tornado's coming you should get sauced. :)

Jars

I love old jars and use them for everything. They're perfect for holding what-nots.

Mom and I ran across a steal of a deal on old jars at the thrift store a couple of weeks ago. Most were 30 cents or something ridiculous like that. I couldn't pass it up.

Here are the ones I got.

These three are half gallon jars and came with the lids. L to R: Presto, Kerr, and Ball. The Presto is clear, Ball is turning purple, and Kerr is more grey than blue.

These are quart jars and didn't have lids, but I think I have some somewhere.L to R: Ball, Drey square, Drey round, and Pine. I'd seen Drey before, but only in antique stores. I'd never seen Pine before and can't find anything out about it. The Ball is a lovely blue.

These are four old jars that I've had for a long time. I love the aqua in the big square one and the purple in the one next too it is gorgeous along with about a zillion air bubbles. The little round one should have a bail on it. You can see the spots for it on the neck. The last one is a square Atlas with ribbing and has an Atlas lid.

So what do you have in your old jars. Besides beans and bullets. :)

Thankful Thursday

I can't believe it's Thursday again. Where do the days go?

This Thursday I find my self thankful that my shoulder is improving and that it was only dislocated and not something worse. While I'm at it, I'm thankful the box of dishes didn't hit my FIL in the head, although his head is certainly harder than my shoulder.

I'm also thankful that my husband is leaving to go hunting again tomorrow. I love the man dearly, but if he doesn't get his deer this year it's going to be miserable around here.

I'm thankful that the elections are finally over and we can resume our lives. You win some and you lose some, but in the end working together to make the situation better despite your differences is what it's all about anyway.

Doors!

Look what my mom bought me for Christmas! (Yes, I went back and took pictures.) :)
There's a pair and they measure 6'7" tall and are 2 feet wide. Perfect for my dining room. I'll have to find hinges since there's only half of each one there, and I need a door knob.

It's not going to hurt a bit when I scrape off the painting in the lower panel.

I'm getting excited about tearing up the front of my house and living in a construction zone. Until then I'll just keep collecting bits and pieces.

Thanks Mom!

Rest in pieces

We awoke this morning to find that our beloved coffee maker had expired sometime during the night.

Dear Black & Decker VersaBrew,

You have been a good and loyal friend for the last four years. When we moved into this house you were just a youngster. You brewed your first pot in this house. You have given us coffee daily, sometimes twice, without complaint. You have tolerated my less than stellar cleaning schedule and even survived your wild leap out of my soapy hands which landed you in the floor.

I knew you were feeling badly when you began to groan when asked for a pot of coffee. You began to chug and your desire to retire was coming across loud and clear.

Sadly, your replacement is not of your model. I suppose you have been upgraded by a new and flashier version of your very nifty self.

Rest in pieces my friend. You will be missed.

Voting, baby showers, and tacky SILs

I voted today. Did you? I hope everyone that is able went and made their choice known. If you didn't, I don't want to hear any complaining. You had your chance.

We're home from the pinkest "NO PINK!" baby shower I've ever seen. Here is a picture of part of her goodies. Lots of pink.

I have to tell you a funny that happened at the shower.

Back history: My SIL doesn't like me because I'm the second wife. Her loyalties remain with the first wife and that's fine with me. The first wife and I get along fine, especially now that the girls are grown and we're going to be grandmas.

At the shower my SIL leaned over and asked me what I brought for the shower and I told her a handmade quilt. She told me I was supposed to buy something from the registry and not bring some little arts and crafts project I'd thrown together. I was good and ignored the jab. I asked her what she brought and she told me a crocheted baby blanket. (I'm not sure why a handmade quilt is arts and crafts, but a crocheted blanket isn't.)

Anyway, about half-way through the gift opening she whispered that I still had time to run to Wal-Mart and pick something up so I wouldn't be embarrassed and to get some hair dye while I was there. (Cheap shots are her specialty. She knows I'm going natural and at this point gray hair is in.)

SD opened the quilt and loved it. She opened the crocheted blanket and loved it. She laid them aside and continued opening gifts. SIL's granddaughter went over and picked up the blanket and the next thing we know there isn't a blanket, instead there's a pile of yarn. The little darling had found a string and started pulling on it and unraveled the whole thing.

I leaned over and very nicely told her she still had time to run to Wal-Mart and I was really sorry, but she must be so embarrassed to have her gift unraveled like that.

She left the shower and went to Wal-Mart. I was gone before she got back, but heard she thinks I told her granddaughter to unravel the blanket.

Sometimes being tacky sure can bite you in the butt. LOL!

In other news, I managed to dislocate my shoulder on Saturday while attempting to keep a box of dishes from landing on my FIL's head. No good deed goes unpunished in this family. I put off going to the doctor thinking it would get better and today I decided I had to go. The doctor told me I was a tough old broad and I have to assume that was a compliment. Otherwise, I might have to go back and poke him in the nose. Anyway, everything is back in place and hurts worse than when it was out.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week.

Finished at last!

Here's the front.
The back with it's little label. Okay, so it's not little, but it's still cute.
I finished it on Thursday. I really hope the recipient likes it and more than anything I want her to let the kiddo use it. I'd love to see it in four or five years with the binding worn plumb off and faded from repeated washing.

Okay, I've got to go pack and finish up some laundry. For some reason DH thinks he needs socks for this trip. Men!

Thankful Thursday

I remembered!

This Thursday I'm thankful that I'm finally finished with the baby quilt. I'll post pictures tomorrow.

I'm also thankful that this is the last trip to NM until December.

Happy, Happy Birthday Baby

My baby sister is 24 years old today.

From a little squirt that would laugh at the drop of a hat...
to a bigger little squirt with curls. Would ya' look at those curls!
Now she's all grown up, going to culinary school and working in a fancy restaurant 1800 miles away.
Duck confit, anyone?
She's miles away and I miss the little squirt.

Happy Birthday, from you meanest big sister. I love you.

How flat thou art

Eastern New Mexico has it's own special beauty.
You can see for absolutely miles.
On a good day on the way to Roswell, you can see the Capitan mountains. They're still a long, long way away.
A little bit of that New Mexico sunset everyone seems to love.
See how different the dirt color is compared to Oklahoma. Really it's just sand and will be gone and replaced in the next big wind.
This is peanut farming country. I love to see the peanut trailers lined up.
You don't see many trees around here.
This old building is on the way to Roswell.
Flat, flat, flat.
This is the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail line. I can remember when it was just the Santa Fe and they still used a caboose on the trains.
This is also dairy country. Every where you look there's a dairy, sucking up what little water there is. There are enough dairies to support a cheese plant.
Dry, dry, dry. The average yearly precipitation is 17.17 inches.I've lived in Oklahoma almost four years and daily I'm reminded of how blessed I am to have this opportunity. I love the trees, the water, and the landscape. Every bit of it in sharp contrast to what I lived with for 14 years.

Would I ever move back to NM? Not willingly. I really think it's a nice place to be from and a visit every now and again isn't too bad, but Oklahoma is my home now.