Last Week's Goodies....

The answer is YES.

I was asked today if I was happy. Truly, really happy. Without hesitation, I gave my answer. What's yours?

Nashville Flea Market Part I

So, here are a few of my favorite things...I was only able to get out and about for about an hour on the last day....but it was fun, even though I was missing having my PiePie with me...it's always more fun to browse when he is with.

Old printer's stamps...LOVE those. Always have. Always will.

If I had had an extra $45 laying around, this awesome cross stitch piece would have come home with me. It really hurt my feelings to leave it there.

And you KNOW I wanted to purchase the Mingo set. Just look at them in all their milky perfectness! *want*

These babies DID come home with us! A bread sack full of buttons...old ones...for a whopping $3.00. Makayla is *the* scavenger of all scavengers!

I have a few more likes to share with you, but maybe tomorrow. Definitely not tonight.

My Grandma Said....

"Cleanliness is next to Godliness." I remember her saying this more than once. And I concur. Today, I spent cleaning the bathroom and bedroom. I feel so much better knowing it is done. Funny how just knowing something exists can cause you such stress and energy.

Something about a freshly made bed (again, something that Grandma always had), and in my case, one with mismatched sheets and pillow cases (the more the merrier), makes me extremely happy. Another happiness to me is laying down every night next to my very best friend, and falling asleep talking about the day. Mushy, maybe. True, yes.

On the burner for tomorrow is the kitchen and the living room, some re-decorating, just for fun, and some painting with the Nanna. We also have to make a field trip to the grocery store and we want to fix supper...complete with desert. We have high hopes...we'll see what actually gets done. My thinking is finish the house, then on Thursday (next day off), we can do the grocery and the antique booth. Plans around here are non-existent, though, so we'll see. (Existant? I dunno right now.)

I think tomorrow in bloggy land, I'll take you on a trip to the Nashville flea market, and share with you a few things I would have liked to purchase had I had the extra dough.

Today.

Today She's Five.

She turned the world as I knew it upside-down, and I wouldn't go back to the way it was before her for 5 million dollars. We are so lucky to call her ours. What a healer and lover and caretaker and joy she has been to so many on so many levels. God has richly blessed us with her life. I love you, Anna Lucia Key! Happy birthday!

I am addicted.

To this blog: http://www.betterafter.blogspot.com/. Why? I think because she shows old things made new again...and we all know I have a "problem" with loving old things...and I do enjoy making them new again! Here is an example...this was an old, ugly lamp. Brass, maybe? I dunno, cuz I didn't save the before photo...but look at it now in all its glory! It is fab-tabulistic, is it not???

I'm back to 2009, and plan to scroll through her whole blog. I may cry when I get to the beginning.

Happy Friday, friends!

Just a Teaser

of a table I started and finished while home with the Nanna earlier this week...photos to come of finished project when I locate the disc from the camera. Joy.

Influence.

As I was driving to work this morning, I was thinking about this word. I couldn't tell you why. Really, I couldn't. But I knew I wanted it to be my post for the day...as in...what kind of influence are YOU? Are you a positive influence? Do you uplift? Do you expect the best in the people around you, therefore influencing the kind of person they strive to be? I try. Probably, a lot of days, I'm not that successful, but I try! :) I am thankful for those people in my life that have chosen to be positive, happy influences, giving me expectations to rise to, rather than to fail, fall, or frown. Is there someone who is helping influence YOU in the right ways? Take a minute, and thank them. It can never hurt to say thank you. :)

Ahhhhhh.....

Soooo......

(You can't tell, but this would be PiePie carrying the whole 1/3 or so of the swingset to the truck from the people's yard that we purchased it...PiePies are handy people to know.)

what a productive day I had today! Even with having Kaylee and Anna here, I was able to get a few things done for this coming weekend, which would be the flea market in Nashville.



First of all, I was able to sleep until a little almost-5-year-old nose was bunny kissing me at almost-9:00! Score! What a fabulous way to start the day!



Next, I had a very nutritious breakfast...brownies, left over from Kate's late-night craving last night. I was also able to enjoy this breakfast with said bunny-kisser above.



After that, we looked out the window to see what was different, and we were able to come to the conclusion that it *had* to be the large swing set in the back yard...the perfect birthday present for any almost-5-year-old, no?



Kaylee came to play after that, and since she is scared of our doggers and because Anna's ear is still border-line well, we stayed indoors most of the day, enjoying the sunshine from the house. While the girls played and colored, I painted one three-shelf bookshelf (all shelves) and also one round end table. I would be happy to show them to you except Gmail is being its normal self, and it will not load for me. Boo!



This evening, PiePie and I enjoyed a real, cooked meal...we had sauteed shrimp and mushrooms with wild rice, cauliflower, and well...that's it. It was good. It was what we had available. And...it was quick.



Next, we spent the remainder of the evening outside, working, working, working, and working. We finished the Nanna Baby's swing set since we lacked a few bolts and such yesterday to make it to PiePie's safety standards, and then we went to the garage. While PiePie worked on his trailor, I worked on an old, yucky end table. Yesterday, it was a dingy, old brown thing, sitting on Lindsey's porch. I saw it, called her on the spot, and asked her if I could have it, to which she was more than willing to reply YES, because she wanted it off her porch. When she sees it now, I think she will be sad she gave it up...PiePie says I can only sell it if I get $50.00 out of it because he likes it that much. Again, I'll show photos when gmail decides to work. After I painted, stained, and put a poly coat on the end table, I started in on the next project: a telephone stand that had seen its better days...or so it would seem. I sanded, I used PiePie's muscles (and his nail gun), and I sanded some more. Then, I primed. Tomorrow will be the fun part...deciding the right shade of paint, and seeing the end product.



Tonight, I also made some plain, old, brown candle sticks into some real beauties...we now have a pink pair, and a red one. I want to keep all this stuff that I am working on! It's way too cool!



On the horizon is a pair of end tables, some TV trays, another 3-shelf bookshelf, a couple of chairs, a set of four chairs, a child's rocking chair, an old, full-sized mirror, a dressing table, and who knows what else is out there....lots of fun nights with the PiePie are coming up! So glad that it is summertime now!

The View from Perry's Paradise...

This is my happy place. My safe-haven. The place where I can shut the rest of the world out, and all of its problems and troubles. This is the view from our front porch. See that rocker? It holds two people. It is sitting between two trees that are in full bloom and are just beautiful, and it looks out at the pond we have in the front field. If you look to the right, you'll see our horses. Cotton. Roxy. And the inherited one we got when it roamed into our field and never went home...Anna calls her Flicka. So original.

I look forward to the day when I can walk around barefoot all day here at Perry's Paradise, answering phone calls, being a mom, cooking, cleaning, painting, and smiling. I never knew that I wanted to be a mom and a wife when I grew up. I never knew that being at home and cooking and cleaning could be so fulfilling, so perfect.

Tomorrow, I will be painting and preparing for the flea market this weekend, and I will be cleaning. And doing laundry. And cooking. And did I mention cleaning? There will be lots of that. Hopefully, there will be some sewing and some painting thrown in there, too. And did I mention cleaning?

I hope you have a fabulous week ahead. I hope I do, too! :)

Excitement.

"Be anchored with some ideal, philosophy, or cause that keeps you so excited you can't sleep." ~Brian Koslow

Did I tell you?

This is Anna's first time *ever* to be on antibiotics, which is really sad because if we had had the money to take her to Dr. Fisher, that would not be the case...but *anyways*...she ended up with a terrible ear infection over night last Saturday night. Of. Course. So on Sunday, she got to go to the ER, poor baby. She is just now feeling better...it's been a rough go for her! She's been such a big girl, taking her medicine all by herself, and she is such an adult...she knows when to take what and how much she gets. And she is just 4. OK, almost 5. But still. Oh...and I didn't tell you. She is allergic to Amoxil, so that cuts out all penicillans for her. Did I spell that right? It doesn't look right. Oh, well. I'm tired.

In other news, Kate's car quit in the middle of Gallatin. *Stink.* BUT...some lady that I cannot thank because I do not know who she is stopped, kids in tow, and PUSHED Kate's car out of the way. THEN...she took her to work. This was in the middle of a 5-lane road in the city. With her kids. Helping my kid. In a big way. *JOY* Now, to get the car fixed....

And, to top off all topppers, I learned that my friend, Lissa's, husband has unexpectedly passed away. Please pray for her and her family as she deals with the loss of her very best friend, Kevin. Thanks! :)

OK, on that happy note, I'm going to get a few more things done around here (like the load of laundry on my bed) so that I can sleep before tomorrow gets here.

Just an Image For You Today.....

When I Grow Up...

I wanna make a valance using big, huge rosettes like those up there ^^^^^^^ all by myself.

The End.

Busy! So busy!

So, I've painted and painted over the last few days. I've completed a little square table and a chair. I have another table that is complete except I don't like it yet, so I'll be adding more to it, no doubt. I also have another chair almost finished, and while I like it, it didn't turn out in real life like it did in my head. Bummer when that happens. And...I had a custom request to paint a three-tiered cupcake stand for a baker-friend of mine. I will be sharing her information on here when I post the finished photo. I've also done laundry, dishes, cooked supper (I even remembered how!!!) and many other things, and all whilst entertaining the Nanna. She has had, as you know, a very bad ear infection. It amazes me that she knows when she needs her medicine, and she knows which one she needs. Also, she takes allll of that medicine that is really nasty all by herself, and is so proud to be a big girl about it. I, for one, am certainly very proud of her. I'm sharing with you the flower that we drew while waiting for our good friend, Dr. Kastner. He's saved the day for us on so many occassions...I feel very lucky and blessed to have a Christian doctor who cares as much as he does for my childrenn that has their health in his hands. I'll be falling asleep tonight in my comfy bed beside my own personal heater very shortly.

Happy Tuesday!

The Furniture Bug...

http://www.twicelovely.blogger.com/

So, I was going to share with you some furniture I have been working on this afternoon, but my gmail is being cantankerous, so I will share with you a blog that has inspired me to continue to give old furniture new life.

The Nanna is on the mend. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for her!

A First for Anna

Maybe you can't tell, but she is showing you her {very expensive} new bracelet that was "purchased" today. It would be none other than a hospital band. Yep, she had to go to the ER, because NO ONE that was open on a Sunday would see her with the type of insurance that she has. How's THAT for crazy, huh? I'm sure you are wondering why she had to go, right? Last week, as you know, she had th croup and was pretty sick with that. Apparently all that junk decided to go to her ear canal and settle, giving her one terrific ear infection. She screamed for hours this morning and afternoon until she could be seen, poor baby. She is doing much better now, thanks, except for I think she is allergic to something that she was prescribed, and as strange as it may sound, that something could ONLY be the Amoxil. Weird, eh? So that would be the first. The first time she has had to take an anitbiotic. This is also the first time that we couldn't take her to see Dr. Fisher when she has been ill, and I do fully believe if we could have, she would not need them now, either. So, there you have it...a busy day for the Nanna. A trip to the hospital, itchy itchy itchy medicine, and hopefully, on the way to mending and being as good as new.

What kind of adventures did YOU have this beautiful Sunday? I hope they weren't quite as adventurous as the Nanna's were.

At the Mule Sale...

Below are some of the things I found...and I'm too tired to say more tonight....

Tomorrow, I will be at a sale for these: Yes, friends, a mule sale. Who knew? I will not be selling mules, since I don't have any, but I will be (hopefully) selling pillow cases to those who are buying and selling mules.

>>>THIS SHOULD BE INTERESTING<<<

Go here: www.reesemules.com, and click on the history tab on the left. This place is about 8-10 miles from us, and I remember all the mules that they raised for the soldiers. We drove past them many times a week. I had no idea then that they were supplying our soldiers with things that they needed while they fought for our country. I just thought it was a neat thing to see hundreds of mules there at the mule people's farm when we went to Gallatin. Funny how all those small pieces are not so small, eh?

A Riddle...

What do you get when you send a PiePie and a Nanna on a date for some Guinneas???

Flowers, of course! And we know what FLOWERS make!!!!

They make SMILES!

A few other items of interest about this date:

While they were able to wrangle 6 birds, there is still one on the loose. Anna cannot for the life of her remember what they are called, so she keeps referring to them as "them chicken thAngs".

Little girls who go on dates with PiePies come home with blue lips, and huge smiles. (There also might be a blue Gatorade lagging behind the lips and smiles....)

After the lagging Gatorade, the PiePie will come, trying to hide *his* excitement at helping the little one "buy" a big ole flower for her Mommy.

Just for the record, I'll be keeping them both around for a long time. (And the flower, too.)

Buttery Cups.

So, every year, there has to be a post on my blog about these yellow smiles personified. Oh, how I love them! I think they are just the best way to cheer up ANYONE on ANY DAY. They are such promises of hope for a brighter future, what with all the brown and yuck left from winter...yet there they are, letting us know that happy, colorful times are ahead because SPRING is here...or as is the case, it's not far off.

I wonder if anyone could guess my favorite flower!!! :)

I wasn't there....

but this is *close* to better. Let me explain:

This was their first "game" of the season; a scrimmage against Portland. It was cold, and the forecast said rain. Anna has the croup. All that mixed together is a recipe for Mom staying at home with the baby. I felt a tad bit sorry for myself, but then, not really, since sitting around and loving on Sicky Pants was at the top of the agenda. (And if you know me at all...you know that *nothing* is at the top of the agenda when there is a baseball game.) Imagine my delight to find out that I could see the highlights of Kevin's hand in the game from the comfort and warmth of my own house!!!! Hmmmm....I think that is quite a dealio!!!!!

And...not because I am bragging, but because I think it is cool...this is the first year that Coach Troutt is the head baseball coach. We foresee many awesome years to come under his supervision as he is full of knowledge and love for the sport. This was the first game that he coached as head coach, and Kevin was his first baserunner of his first game as head coach. How cool is that!?!!?!

It's funny how these years seemed so far away when he was 3 feet tall, playing tee ball...and here he is, Junior year, starting for the high school team! Where did all the time go?!?!? I have to dig out the photos of him sliding, just like those above, determination on his face....ah....baseball, how I love thee!

Lookie, Cookie...

Found these the other morning on our pond. Took the photo with the mega zoom from the front porch. Not shabby, eh? I had plans to edit these, but like most of my other high hopes, it got stuck on the burner and something "better" came along. BUT....I think they look great just like this, no editing needed. This was maybe last week, late in the week. This week, we found a flock out there (yesterday morning???) and Anna was here with me to enjoy them. Everthing is much more funner when it's shared with someone, you know?

The photo says it all.....

Today.

Today, I have no patience.

I have a lot of sneezes.

I have not a lot of energy.

I am not as thankful to have my children all up in the house under my feet, and I surely didn't entertain them to the best of my ability.

Today, it started with the hubster sucking out 98% of my energy, and then having my children suck out the other two percent in .01 seconds after the hubster. Even the dogs got on my nerves today. Heck, I got on my own nerves today.

I'm going to go and get my blanket and my pillow, and I'm going to curl up on the couch, earplugs in hand so as not to have to listen to the roaring t.v., and I'm going to check out for the rest of the day. After all, tomorrow is a brand new one.

Where in the world....

was Abby this evening? Can you guess if I give you this hint???

"Hey, pretty lady won't you give me your sign? I'd do anything to make you mine, all mine..."

I bet someone will get it just from that....

And here is today's photo, randomly picked with my eyes closed. I will also give you this hint: the photo has nothing to do with where I was. That would be LouAnn there, looking at us. :)

Just nothing.

I thought I would share the awesomest of all awesome pillow cases that I've done...this one was for Anna, and it was the start of the pillow case madness that has become my passion and my passtime. Just thought I'd share so there was a photo for today. In other news, I am painting a bookshelf that I will likely sell when it is complete, if I can bring myself to part with it. Already, I have spent a good 10 hours on it, and its nowhere near done. Crazy, I know.

I worked on it last night and tonight while watching IDOL, where I am happy to report that my very top picks made it, and I could really care less about the others. :/

Um....I was going to post a photo of sugar skulls as my post today, because I am wearing a too-fun necklace, thanks to the Crystal Couture store, and it is of the sugar skull variety. I am uber excited to wear this piece. :) Maybe I'll take a photo and share it someday, when the blogging bug comes back to visit me.

That's all for tonight, folks.

Flea Market Find

I found this lil baby last week at the flea market, and for the low price of {not very much} I was able to call it mine. See the eagle? That is Kevin's mascot....and ball season is coming up. No one will know I am wearing an eagle on my finger except for Kevin and me, but that is a-ok. I wish I could find a "6", but alas, that has proven to be very difficult over the years, so I'll settle for the remains of a spoon with "Mexico" written around my finger. :)

My Favorites

I'm fairly certain that at least where pairs of pillow cases are concerned, these are my all-time favorite ones. I was giggling as I made up our bed this evening, because guess who doesn't have a single stitched pillow case to their name????? Yup...you guessed it. ME! I should clarify....some of my favorite pillow cases are the pair my mom made me years ago with flowers embroidered on them, and then one that Jessica made me years ago, too, with a pretty purple flower patch on it. Then, of course, I have some vintage ones that are just way awesome, but I do not have a single case that I've made. I guess because if you make it for yourself, the value of it is just not the same.

I've made a case for Anna with a huge, beautiful rose on it, and it resides here in our home, but it is not mine. I've made one for Kevin. I have not made Makayla or Katie their own yet. And I think I will make a set for the camper that are special for us to have....and maybe, just maybe, at some point in time, I will make another set similar to the one above for us to have, just because I like them that much.

Again, I have not words...or no brain with which to write the words roaming in my brain, so I am signing off with yet another lame-o post. I'll get there, and I thank you for hanging in there with me until I do. Gracias.