Thrifty Treasures - Monday, August 17, 2009

Lately, my daughters and I have been going thrifting. I thought I would share some of my treasures that I found at yard sales this week.



Forgive my photography skills! The cut glass cake stand in front I bargained with the owner and got it for $3. She wanted $10. It swivels.

The fish platter was 25¢, the blue and green platters (have fish around their borders) were 10¢ each. The twin turntable was a bargain at 25¢. Turntables are so useful! I already own 5 of them and can always use more.

Lastly, the rusty brass candle holder was 50¢. I'm pretty sure I owned one of these 20 years ago or more. I'm going to spray paint it, probably black.

Next, I found a corningware casserole dish for $2. A baking dish that I think is the perfect size for baking a row of enchiladas was also $2. It's not corningware though. I can't find any manufacturer markings at all.

This picture doesn't do it justice, but the big glass canister jar has fruit embossed all around it's circumference. I paid $2 for it. The cookbook stand was 50¢ as was the ivy plate stand. I'm thinking of painting it black also. The small cut glass bowls was 50¢ for the set of 5. I'm going to use them as condiment cups. Oh, the amount of honey-mustard sauce, ketchup, and sweet and sour sauce we use around my house! At least they will be presented nicely from now on!

It was a lot of fun, although it was getting pretty hot by the time we quit at 11 a.m. I can't wait to go again!

If you'd like to see more yard sale treasures, visit Rhoda at Southern Hospitality.

The Simple Woman's Daybook - August 17, 2009

FOR TODAY, MONDAY, AUGUST 17th EDITION...

Outside my window... sunny 80° weather
I am thinking...that it really hurts when I receive criticism. Even more, when I can see a grain of truth in it ...
I am thankful for... life ...
From the kitchen... homemade pizza for tonight, chicken enchiladas tomorrow.
I am wearing... my favorite brown pants and cool and comfortable beige top.
I am creating... a scrapbook page idea.
I am going... nowhere extra this week.
I am reading... Ephesians and planning on doing some extra reading in Colossians this week.
I am hoping... to feel more energy soon.
I am hearing... the hum of the a/c still. I'm looking forward to fall when I don't have to run the a/c.
Around the house... I need to do some rearranging in my cabinets.
One of my favorite things... pictures of my daughters!
A few plans for the rest of the week: I've got several projects at the office this week to work on. I also need to make an appointment to get a haircut.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

My daughter's first day as a teacher!

If you'd like to read other daybooks, visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Friday's Fave Five - August 14, 2009

Happy Friday, everyone! Time to join the gang over at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story and share my Friday's Fave Five, a reflection on the highlights of my week.

1. Right after posting last week's FFF, my hubby and I joined our friends on a trip to Nashville, TN. I really enjoy doing things with this group of friends -- most of them are also my students in my Sunday School class.

4 of the 12 traveler's are missing in this picture taken at the Welcome Center, Paducah, Kentucky.

Time spent with friends: priceless!

2. Of course, one of the highlights of getting out of town for a few days is the joy of eating out! We visited Cracker Barrel at least 3 times, Shoney's, and the highlight - Cock of the Walk Catfish Restaurant in Nashville. Talk about delicious! After eating fish, we gathered in the lobby to take silly pictures of everyone in the giant rocking chair:

What's Virgil done to make Mary suck her thumb?

3. Then it was on to the Grand Ole Opry! I took pictures of everyone, but decided that I need a new camera with a better zoom! I'll share a few with you:

Little Jimmy Dickens

(You'd be surprised how many younger women dug out their cameras and came up to the stage to get his picture!)


Darrell Worley

Mark Wills



Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius

(Mom always liked him!)

Connie Smith

(Sorry, it's a little blurry. She never would turn and face my direction!)

And the star of the evening: Charlie Pride.

The best part? We had front row seats!

4. Next day, our group headed to Opry Mills Mall. I had a great time going to stores that are not at home: Bed, Bath and Beyond and Kirklands. I love stores that feature home furnishings! I bought some cereal bowls at BB&B but then I had to lug them through the whole mall. I didn't love that part so much ...

5. Then we went over to visit Trinity City, TBN's broadcast studio in Nashville. The studio is located on the former estate of Conway Twitty. We took a tour of his home. It was very beautiful. My camera battery chose to die then, but I did get a few shots of the inside.

Here is his dining room:

And here is his office:

I love taking tours of fancy houses!

And a bonus favorite: getting back home! Aah... It's good to be home!

So, how did your week go? Share your week and link up at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story.

The Simple Woman's Daybook - August 10, 2009

FOR TODAY, AUGUST 10th EDITION...

Outside my window...
sunny and 82° right now, hot and humid predicted for this afternoon.
I am thinking...
I am ready for fall! My kids start school this week and that always makes me think it should be autumn weather.
I am thankful for...
my job. So many don't have one!
From the kitchen...
oven-fried chicken tenders and a peach cobbler
I am wearing...
beige capris, pink cami, brown tunic
I am creating...
nothing right now, but I'm planning some scrapbook pages for my Nashville trip.
I am going...
to make some changes in the way I do things.
I am reading...
nothing right now, but my library just got in some new books. I'll probably check out something today!
I am hoping...
to accomplish a lot this week.
I am hearing...
silence. Silence is good.
Around the house...
time to clean out that refrigerator again ... :(
One of my favorite things...
going out to eat!
A few plans for the rest of the week:
Well, there's that refrigerator ...
Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Gardens at Trinity City, Nashville, TN

Peggy Hostetler from The Simple Woman's Daybook is the creator of this meme. Join in with the other daybook-ers here.

Today is an exciting Friday for me because in a few minutes, we'll be leaving town for a trip to Nashville with 5 other couples. We're going to the Grand Ole Opry. It's not that we're such big country music fans (they're not even having anyone at the Opry that I'm excited about seeing), it's just a great chance to be together, eat out, and do NO housework!

Before I go, I must participate in my favorite meme - Friday's Fave Five. FFF is the brainchild of Susanne at Living to Tell the Story. We are to share 5 favorites from our week. I always think it is good to reflect back on our week. Times goes by so fast, reflecting helps you to remember what has happened.

1. Fruity favorites - Saturday and Sunday we enjoyed some of summer's best perks - fresh fruit. I got some good deals at the grocery store - grapes for 99¢ a lb., peaches 78¢ a lb, and watermelon (seedless) for $3.50. We devour fruit around here, so it didn't last long!

2. Yard Sale-ing with my girls - Again, the gang and I went around to all the yard sales. This time, we also took my long-time best friend, Cora. We had a lot of fun together and wore ourselves out. Most of what I bought were clothes (I even found some for me) but I didn't take pictures of those. Here are a few treasures I found - a couple are destined for makeovers:

This picture did not do the casserole dish justice. It's a beautiful light green glass dish with fruit embossed on the bottom.


I'm thinking of re-doing the tray, although it is in excellent shape.

3. New author: For some reason, I love to read novels about the CIA or FBI or even CSI. If I can find books on those subjects written by Christian authors, so much the better. This week, I read "Against All Odds - Heroes of Quantico" by Irene Hannon. She's definitely a new fave author.

4. Fave body lotion: I love Bath and Body Works Classic Honeysuckle. Unfortunately, they discontinued it (I don't like their new honeysuckle scent at all), but I just opened a brand new bottle that I had saved back. For one more year, I will be able to smell my favorite scent. If only I had bought more!

5. New fave song: Although I have many favorites, recently I came across a new (to me) song by Poet Voices - "For All the Days that End in Why." A great song that makes you think.

It's almost time for me to leave for my adventure. I won't be able to check in with you till later, but have a happy Friday!

To read other FFF posts, visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

Thankful Thursday - Joy

This week's Thankful Thursday hostess, Iris, has chosen the subject of joy. (Welcome back, Iris!)

When I think of joy, I think of the song I learned in children's church:

Jesus, and

Others, and

You,

What a wonderful way to spell joy!

If we put others first, will we have joy? Yes! The bible says we'll be full of joy:

"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." John 15:10-12

It sure isn't what the world teaches. We Americans feel that we have a right to the pursuit of happiness. Happiness is fleeting but joy is enduring. If we live to please ourselves, that happiness can't last long. We just weren't made spiritually to indulge ourselves.

His word promises us that if we will love each other, God will fill us up with joy! I don't understand it. Humanly speaking, it doesn't make sense. But He said it, and I believe it.

I'm thankful for the family and friends that the Lord has put in my life to love. It would certainly be a lonely life without them, and I am a better person every time I put them ahead of me!

To read what other thankful hearts have to say today, click over to Iris' blog, Grace Alone.

The Simple Woman's Daybook - August 3, 2009

FOR TODAY, AUGUST 2nd EDITION...

Outside my window... a little bit of fog

I am thinking... that God made such a beautiful world!

I am thankful for... life - it is precious!

From the kitchen... oven fried chicken tenders.

I am wearing... gray slacks, fuschia top with gold trim to the office today.

I am creating... a decorative plate from a yard sale treasure.

I am going... to Nashville, TN, this weekend. My hubby and I are joining a group of friends going to the Grand Ole Opry.

I am reading... "Christy" by Catherine Marshall. (I know I said that last week, but I stopped and read a couple other books, now I'm back to Christy. I usually have a couple books I'm reading at a time.)

I am hoping... to ride my bike some this week. I didn't ride at all last week!

I am hearing... occasional traffic passing by ... the sound of Joyce Meyer on the TV.

Around the house... I'm still needing to do some intensive dusting ...

One of my favorite things... looking at nature. It's so peaceful to sit near a lake or walk by the seashore, or even just sit in my swing in my own backyard and gaze at God's creation.

A few plans for the rest of the week: I have to get all my work done by Thursday so that I can leave Friday for Nashville with a clear conscience.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

This is a picture my daughter took on our 2005 trip to Florida. I love the color in this picture!

Would you like to see other links to daybooks? Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook.