TG Friday

This week I thank God for... cupcakes, watermelon, cuddly cats, my silly husband, the act of prayer, air conditioning, a clean house, a made bed, my job, inspiration, motivation, a project list to keep me on track, checking items off the project list, ephemera sorting, reading stuff I wrote years ago, remembering who I used to be, and being thankful for how much I've grown and changed, for people to lean on and people to lift me up, for lavender sunsets, for love, and for faith.

Blessings, Happy Friday, and Happy Weekend!

Ephemera Junkie

Wow, I've been quite overwhelmed the past few days with things I really want to be working on (ha, past few days, try for practically forever). So many projects, so little time!

There is one project in particular that I'll probably start tonight, and that is sorting through the ephemera I have accumulated over a period of several years. I love paper, so it kind of makes sense that I would have all this stuff saved up.

Some of the stuff shown in these pictures isn't actually ephemera, and although a lot of it probably could have been tossed a long time ago, some of it is going to find a new purpose in life through use in an ephemera journal.

Ephemera is defined as "those bits of throwaway paper of every day life," meaning they aren't really meant to be kept, but a lot of it is sentimental to me- like concert tickets, play bills, and so forth. I used to keep such things to use in scrapbooking, but as you can see, a lot of the scrapbooking hasn't been done yet.So I'll be sorting through all this (and other piles I probably have elsewhere) and will likely throw away (aka shred/recycle) some of it, but the rest will be honored as paper tidbits of memories of events gone by.

I think it will be a cool creative project and maybe I'll share if things turn out well. I've got some old yearbooks I'm planning to use as the journal/base part of it, so it will be an adventure in book altering as well.

Book altering, art journaling, scrapbooking, and the added bonus of decluttering = potential to be a really awesome project!

Blessings and Happy Thursday!

A little adventure...

Last week before I went to Vermont, one of the Captains that eats lunch in the breakroom at the same time as me said he read an article in the Travel Section of The Washington Post about a place in Vermont. I found the paper in dispatch and read the article, finding that the place was Bellows Falls, or more specifically, Vilas Bridge in Bellows Falls. I told him, kind of jokingly, that while I was home I would go to the place and take a picture for him.

Well, I happen to have family in Bellows Falls, but it's also kind of on the way to Manchester, where Sister and I went to Smirkus. So, after the circus on Thursday, sister and I took a little trip to Bellows Falls to find this place and take a picture for the Captain.

Once we got to Bellows Falls, we drove around in all directions trying to find the bridge because we kept seeing signs that the bridge was closed and there was a detour.

Finally we decided to park, near where we thought was close, and walk to our destination.

After a false alarm that we had found the wrong bridge, we kept walking and finally made it to the right bridge where I was relieved to find the bridge was only closed to vehicle traffic and that were able to see what we were looking for.

What we were looking for specifically were petroglyphs that were mentioned in the Washington Post article. The photo below is taken from the south side of the bridge when standing next to the above plaque.

If you look closely in the lower right corner of the photo below, there are some rocks that have yellow "blazes" on them.

Go ahead, lean on in and look a little closer.

Or just look at the next two pictures, which make it a lot easier to see.

It was a pretty cool place to look out over. On one side were the petroglyphs, and on the other was water rushing and crashing the way in which water rushes and crashes after the amount of rain Vermont had apparently been getting in recent weeks.Of course I had to have a picture of myself on the bridge, you know, to prove I was there. Not that you can really tell this is me because I look so miniscule!Aw well, at lunch on Monday they looked at the photos, never questioned if I was actually there, and we all agreed that it was probably just some bored fisherman who carved the petroglyphs, rather than the more far fetched stories of myth that were stated in the article.

It was a fun little treasure hunt and it felt good to say I was going to do something, even if it was kind of jokingly, and then actually do it.

Blessings and Happy Wednesday!

Running away to join the Smirkus... but just for a day!

On Thursday while I was home, my sister and I went to Circus Smirkus. My sister worked for Smirkus for a couple summers in concessions and those that know her and are still there miss her very much- if it wasn't for the apprenticeship in Philly, she'd be touring again this summer.

Although Smirkus is internationally known, it only travels through New England and parts of New York. The big kicker about this circus is that all of the performers are ages eighteen and under.

It's awesome to visit Smirkus. It's a fun and casual atmosphere, plus they are always located in beautiful locations, such as the one we visited on Saturday in Manchester, VT.

This year's tour is called Smirkus Ever After: A Big Top Fairytale and one of the prizes upon entry into the Big Top were clown noses. My sister and I look just fabulous as clowns... hmm, I think that says something about our general nature.
At any circus I attend, my favorite acts are almost always the aerial acts.

I think it's amazing how they wrap their limbs up just right and then pretty much fly around the ring, sometimes wrapping themselves way up and then dropping back towards the ground below.

Not to mention the ways in which they contort their bodies while they're flying through the air!Smirkus is totally a family friendly atmosphere. It's casual, fun, and interactive. The performances are great and are even better when you remember that these are just kids doing all these things!

Sister did a little showing off of her own, proving that making cotton candy is just like riding a bike- even if you haven't done it for awhile, it all comes right back to you.

It was a fun day at the circus, followed by a bit of a treasure hunt, which I'll post about tomorrow.

So, if you're ever in New England in summer, see if Smirkus is stopping in a town near you. You wont be disappointed!

Blessings and Happy Tuesday!

A fanstastic few...

One of the main reasons I went home to Vermont this past weekend was for the annual Flea Market in my hometown on Saturday. I hadn't been to it in a few years and was excited to see what I could find within the parameters of my developing "decorating sense."

Sadly, I didn't end up with much... at least not material wise. The day was filled with good times with family, so that made up for my lack of things to share.

Mom, Grama, and I started the morning yard saling. This place below wins for the best view from a sale.

After we had practically filled Mom's car with loot, more hers and Grama's than mine, we made our way to the actual Flea Market. On this day, traffic is hectic in the small town I grew up in...

And the two town greens are filled with people selling their wares, from average joes to dealers.

Before we walked around, Mom, Sister, and I made a very important stop to the Fish and Game chicken BBQ. It's a Flea Market tradition. Members of the Fish and Game, including my Grampa, sell tickets and people line up to pick up their half a chicken, salad, chips, roll, and lemonade.

It is one delicious tradition.

After we finished our BBQ, we made our way around the Flea Market. In general, I didn't see anything that really rocked my boat. And if something just tipped it a little, it was priced to high for my taste. I can be frugal, but really I just don't see the sense in buying something you don't really, really want for more than you'd like to spend.

Though I do wish I had $75 to spare because there was a GORGEOUS set of three fire king jadite bowls at one of the last tables we passed. I was sad not to be able to shop them up, especially because I really, really wanted them, but look forward to some day having the extra cash to purchase such items. $75 for three bowls just isn't in my budget right now, no matter how much I loved them.

Below are the treasures I did end up with: an AWESOME lamp and a couple of "knick knacks," as my husband calls them.

I'm especially fond of this knick knack, which was fifty cents, as was the little bowl above.

This lamp is like ones I've loved in other people's homes and am so glad to have! I bought it from someone we knew- actually it was our first purchase- and we got it at the great price of $2. I'm not sure if it works, she hadn't used it in years, but it's just a lamp kit so I think I can fix the mechanical part quite easily if it turns out it doesn't work.

In total, I spent $4 - $3 for the stuff above and a $1 on a basket for my Mom to replace one she had that she had given to me.

EDIT: I paid three dollars for the stuff above, 50 cents for Mom's basket, and 50 cents on a plastic organizer thingy. I don't know how I don't remember such things, but fortunately I was reminded when I went to put the plastic organizer away today!

Now because my prizes are few, I'll share one last thing, which my Mom almost drove away without, but after Grama asked her "are you going to wish you had bought it?" and I assured her we could get it in the car, she got back out and paid the $10.

It's a great old desk, which needs just a little sticker removal and some paint on the inside, and she already has dreams of filling it with crafty items for when future grandkids come to play in her sewing palace with her. I think it's a great investment and it certainly wont go unused.

So that was my weekend in terms of thrifting. I'm super happy with my finds, even though they are few.

Head on over to Southern Hospitality for more thrifty finds and stay tuned to see if I ever get somewhere to buy all the lamp shades I'm finding myself in need of!

Blessings and Happy Monday!

TG Friday

Thank God...

For making good time on my trip north.

For lots and lots of trees... and deliciously fresh air.

For a fun trip to Circus Smirkus with Sister.

For setting out to do something and doing it.

For my bed at my parents' house; it is soooo comfy!

For driving where there is little to no traffic. Ahhhhhhh.

For girls night tonight and Flea Market tomorrow!

For trips to Vermont and the hope that one
day it will be my physical home again.

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Blessings and Happy Friday!

On the road again...

Today at noon I will be hopping into my little Civic and heading north for a long weekend in Vermont. My insides are about to burst because I'm anxious with excitement, which is the norm before a trip to the glorious place I call home... even though I don't physically live there.

My sister's birthday is actually today, so I hope to make good time so that I can celebrate a bit with her when I get there. I also hope to make good time because if I don't, it means I've spent the day stuck in traffic... by myself this time because Hubby is staying home... ugggh.

Not ugggh are the events planned for the weekend, including but not limited to:

• Going to Circus Skirkus with my sister tomorrow. If you don't know what Smirkus is, you better ask somebody... or just click the link.
• Girls Night In on Friday, to include good food and lots of chit chat.
• Annual Flea Market in my hometown on Saturday, which means Fish and Game grilled chicken, fried dough, and plenty of treasure hunting!

I'm really looking forward to each and every moment I'm there. I may post using my Mom's computer tomorrow and Friday, but if not, I hope everyone has an awesome weekend!

Blessings and Happy Wednesday!

Let it be.

I am not very good with plants. I want to be, but I'm not. I've tried to raise some herbs and at one time had a prayer plant.... though the demise of the prayer plant was mainly because my cats wouldn't leave it alone, not because I didn't love it and tend to it.

Anyways, last year I got a beautiful flowering plant on Administrative Professional's Day as a gift from the detectives I work with/for. It was beautiful all through the summer, living on the balcony, blooming, and adding cheer to my days with it's pretty petals.

Then winter came and it had to come live inside. It stopped blooming. Some of the leaves turned yellow and others just withered away. I tried watering it as directed. I tried opening the shade to let in as much sunshine as possible. But it still looked like life was over for the beautiful plant.

I didn't give up hope, though. When the warm weather came back around this spring, I put the plant back out on the balcony. I didn't water it, I just left it there. It rained on it a bunch and then some algae type stuff started to form on the dirt. Pretty much all of the leaves fell off and it looked even worse than it did in winter.

But then it happened. I looked out there at my little plant last week and saw a few buds had formed. I thought maybe it was a fluke, that they were there but they wouldn't turn into anything.

Then a few days later I looked out there and saw this:

Those buds had turned into beautiful flowers, and they have a couple other bud friends that are currently waiting their turn to bloom.

"In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:10)

Sometimes you just have to let it be.

Blessings and Happy Tuesday!

Something different...

For the past few weeks I have been participating in the Thrifty Treasures party over at Southern Hospitality, but this week I'm going to try something new: Metamorphosis Monday, hosted by Between Naps on the Porch.

Before I share the “metamorphosis,” first let me share a definition that I think fits very well: a striking change in appearance or character or circumstances.

The change in circumstances in this “metamorphosis” is that my sister moved out this weekend. She’s visiting Vermont for a week or so and then she’s back to Philly to start her apprenticeship at Walnut Theater and live “on her own" again.

The change in character is that the guest room went from a place mainly used for sleeping to a place that contains a workspace that will be used for (hopefully) lots of creating.

The change in appearance occurred in two ways- a smaller project and then a larger, more general area clean up.

First I’ll share the smaller project. When Hubs and I lived in an apartment, I bought three photo boxes to store various photos and craft supplies in. The boxes all “went” together then, but as I’ve developed a theme in the guest bedroom, I decided they needed a change.

The project involved two green boxes (I had already painted the third box, a purple one, awhile ago) and a can or so of white spray paint.

It took a couple coats...But finally, after the painting and some rearranging, the photo box storage went from this...To this...

The "general area" change refers to the desk area. I had made quite a mess in that corner a couple weeks ago when I took away a set of shelves that was there to use in the master bedroom, leaving what was on the shelves strewn about the desk and in the chair. Plus there was some other stuff that was being "stored" there and some stuff Sister left behind for me to bring north for her this weekend.

This was that area yesterday morning...

And this is my new workspace after the cleaning and organizing. Some of the office-type desk stuff remained on the desk, but most of it went elsewhere because we don't use it much. Now there is plenty of room there to spread out a creative project and I've already got a list of things I'm ready to get started on!

It was nice to have my sister around, but I'm glad she's found such a great opportunity for herself... and I'm also glad to have this space back. Now the problem is deciding which project to work on first!

Blessings and Happy Monday!

TG Friday...

Thank God...

For a visit from Dad for the weekend.

For a trip to the zoo with sister today.

For grilled chicken and corn on the cob for dinner...

And strawberry shortcake for dessert!

For golf, because it gives something for Dad and Hubs to enjoy together.

For the second of three long weekends in a row.

For independence and freedom, and especially for
those who protect us and such privileges.

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Happy Friday and Happy Fourth of July!