treasures found while being thrifty...

the last couple of days
i've been able to do a little hunting...
i spotted some european pillow shams
($1.99 each)
soft brown corduroy,
white cotton
and another pretty set in a floral linen.
i was pleased to say the least. 

also made a bee line for this granny square blanket.
it's large and thick...
won't it lovely this winter?

looks like i am officially collecting vintage dogs...
(made in japan)
so far i have 3.
i love the crackled finish.

also found this sweet little bird.
at first i left it...
but something told me to bring it home.
see the number 2 on it?
if anyone knows what this was used for
please let me know!
(also from Japan)

here is my big prize!
it is old and rusty...
chippy and dented.
it has a pink roof.
I LOVE IT.

i looked at the price
and then held it tight...
close to my heart.
i made a wish
that the number i read was right.

it was.
i did a happy dance.
i love to shop the thrift stores...
a perfect summertime activity,
don't you think?

i love the hunt...

now that i am feeling much, much better
i have been on the go...
i have a long list of things to do,
people to see
and stuff to gather.

yesteday, while out and about,
i heard a little voice in my head...
"go to the thrift shop"
before i even parked the car
i had a feeling that something in there was mine to have.

$4
...love...

lately i am so into granny squares
and bright colours.
you know, someone's grandma or mama
made this with love...
and i completely appreciate it.

lazy days...starry nights and ducks...

what a summer this has been so far...
hot sunny days and clear cool nights
have been repeated over and over again.

visits to the cottage
have been the icing on the cake

even if sometimes just for a few hours...

this was "the day it rained"...
it was fresh and dewy and appreciated.

we needed a day to catch up on laundry
and tidy the mess that happens when you're too busy
having fun.

...i try to never miss this show.
i watch to see the colours explode
and each time i am running for my camera...
because each sunset looks more beautiful
than the last.
and then right before it's time to hit the hay,
i go back out and stare up into the sky...
amazed.

oh and the ducks...
how cute are they?
from the antique shop in town.
the ducklings are smaller than a penny.
i scooped them up in a heartbeat.
they paddle around on my kitchen windowsill now
and they make doing the dishes just a bit more fun.

...hope you're having a wonderful summer too...
xox

cherries and the thrift shop.

i told elsie not too worry...
i wouldn't eat them all,
but i did. 

this afternoon we poked around the thrift shop
and i was so excited to find this framed painting.
this photo doesn't show how lovely it is.
it will look so sweet unframed
and up on the wall this winter.
($8)

this vase i was unsure of
for about 33 seconds...
it is a beautiful shade of aqua.
it looks softer in real life.
it's old and crackled.
($4)

i also love old dog stuff...
this guy was hiding amongst a bunch of junk.
he is old too.
made in japan.
i was feeling like that woman in the ikea commercial...
"start the car!!!"
i felt the need to run because...
it was only $2
i was very lucky to find this treasure!

elsie found this trivet.
she knew i'd like it.
($2)

for some reason we did a second loop around the store.
i apparently missed this the first time...
probably because i was so loopy over the pooch.
it's a plant stand from ikea.
not old, but that's ok.
i will paint it and make it look old...
was it a deal at $15??
i think so.
xox

i don't crochet...

a little while ago, while thrifting,
 i found a blanket for emma...
the one on the right.
it's soft and cozy and she loves it.
looks so sweet on her bed.

now mind you...
i felt so bad coming home empty handed for  elsie.

so can you imagine how tickled we were
last week to find one just for her?
it suits her..
meant to be.
i love raising thrifty girls.

welcome february....

exams are over for emma
and elsie had a snow day...
instead of just hanging out at home
they begged me to take them
to the secondhand store...
and look who i found there!
sweet little love birds...

$3
why were they still there?
who wouldn't want them?
i always feel like the luckiest girl
when i find a treasure like this...

also today, the girls were in the mood to put up hearts
i love february.
it's another month on the way to spring...
it's short.
and then it's march.
and march it almost spring.
...spring is a beautiful thing...

i think my mantle is kinda pretty too.
{thanks boo xox}

after the hearts and lovebirds
we'll bring out the chicks
and bunnies,
because it'll be spring...
i know, i said it again.
*just a note...
i am grateful for this blog
because it helps keep my mind busy
and got me through that long month of january.
oh the days are getting longer my friends!!
xox

wordless wednesday...around the house

i hoard fortune cookie fortunes..

for probably 10 years
i have kept every fortune.
my refrigerator has 34
on it.
(yes, i just counted)
when we moved from the last house
they were carefully packed and unpacked.
so often the fortune has been bang on.
at times it has known more about me
than i knew about myself...
or were unable to admit.
tonight's fortune is a perfect example.
this one is so "me"...
afraid to go out of my comfort zone and take a chance.
i never did steal any bases as a kid either...

we had a nice dinner with dad
(hi dad!)
wow it's cold out there...
the house is snapping and popping.
the air is more chilled than you could imagine.
-29
windchill...makes it feel like -37.
oliver can get his "business" done in about 11 seconds.
poor pup.

nana and grandma moses

i finally got a little job done.
it took minutes.
why didn't i do this years ago?
my grandparent's farm holds
far too many wonderful memories to recall.
i always loved the curtains in a little room
at the front of the house.
i had no idea then what they were..
i just loved the pictures of the people, the horses,
the houses and barns.
...grandma moses...

at some point the curtains came down
and i became the happy owner of them.
having a bit of it hung in my home,
finally....
makes me happy.
thank you nana
xox

just for you link lurkers...

here's a favorite re-do
we had this wood screen door leftover from
a past reno.
couldn't part with it because
it was a gift from mom and dad.
poor hubby had to drag this thing here to the new house.
it is HEAVY.
so i asked him to cut the bottom off
add a mirror
turn it upside down and mount it to the wall
attach some hooks
and a shelf under it
(there are brackets and  more hooks under the shelf)
i love it
and there's not another one like it.

p.s.
my blog is turning 3
i think i should have a giveaway!

still in the making...

our little space for creating
got a bit of a switch around

we took everything out
and started over

stuff finally went up on the walls

our smiles grew as things just kind of came together

there's more than a few nooks to fill

and i have more than a few boxes to sort through

but this room is becoming...
a bit of a dream come true

and we're not done yet...
ok, back to Christmas...