Monday's **snap**

ferrys criss-crossing at Alki

...just a snapshot from my weekend.  How was yours?

making milk glass...

...I love milk glass.  I want milk glass.  Knobby, bumpy, hobnaily, milky milk glass.  I search for it where ever I go.  Thrift stores, antique malls, consignment shoppes, the internet(s).  Some of it is easy to find, vases for instance are quite plentiful.  I have found that compotes are also fairly easy to spot.  Often though, anything worth having is well beyond my thrifting budget.  Enter the world of faux milk glass!

I was perusing the internet looking for some history and relavance to a certain type of milk glass.  There seem to be many different patterns on them and I was searching to find out why.  Different manufacturers?  Perhaps, but what I found that was so hysterical to me were the tutorials on how to make your own.

First off we have the "do it yourself milk glass using white paint."  (Of course, why would you use any other color?)
First you pour some of the paint on the inside and while holding the vase, cup, bowl, whatever you choose, roll it around so the paint covers the inside.  Then paint the outside.  You do this a number of times until you achieve the correct "whiteness."  Let dry for two weeks.  And viola...

The second tutorial I found was much more exciting and would give you the look of "real" milk glass at a fraction of the cost.  First you find a vase, cup, bowl, what ever you want to use.  Then you'll need a bag of split- peas.  Carefully glue the split-peas onto the object of desire.  This will achieve the popular hobnail look.  When finished, let dry, then cover with several coats of white paint.  Again, viola...

I hope to grow my collection a little at a time but keep in mind that a resourseful, frugal woman would simply create her own.

Have a good weekend...I'm off to paint...the rest of the kitchen.


photos courtesy of Google Images

White Wednesday...36 (5)...

...last fall we went to a yard sale that was being put on by our town.  It was located at the Meeker Mansion (Ezra Meeker home) where the vendors set up their booths on the grounds, under the old oak trees among the fountains and benches.  It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm, with just a hint of fall in the air.

It didn't take me long to spy this little baby and make my way over to the table.  It was laying under the table, slightly hidden, calling my name.

by the way, this is the same yard sale where I found the infamous chair!  This is quite heavy and made of plaster with a waterproof finish on it.  It's quite small, only 9" x 14" and 5" deep.

from the top...

I just love the details and for $2 I think I got a pretty good deal.  The only problem I am having, that I need all your wonderful help with, all your fantastic ideas, and creativity, is this~~~what to do with it?  What would you do?

Linking up to White Wednesday at Faded Charm.  Head on over there and check out all the other White Wednesday fun!

All the pretty primroses...

...when I went grocery shopping last week, I noticed, as I was walking in the door, primroses by the six pack for $6.99.

ohhh pretty, I thought, but a little early.  Then I noticed that they were on sale for $4.99.

ohhh pretty, I thought, but it's just too cold yet.

then I realized that I had a coupon for $2 off any flower purchase.  Really~~how could I resist?  And they look even prettier in my milk/green glass containers!  Happy Monday y'all.

Calling Dorothy Hamill...

...thirty- four years ago, this evening, I was due to give birth to my second son. It was a planned delivery, a c-section, due to my health complications and the stress that we had recently been through with the loss of our first son.  He was due to arrive at 5pm, shortly after the doctor had finished office hours for the day.

The chatter began early in the afternoon and began to grow.  First the patients, then the nurses and finally the doctors.  Would she or wouldn't she.  There was excitement in the air that had not been felt for many years.  Was it possible, could this really be happening?

Finally 5pm rolled around and I was ready to go to the operating room, all prepped  and anxious at the thought of meeting this new little son of mine.  He was much anticipated and it was hoped that he would bring some well sought peace and comfort into our lives.

Would she or wouldn't she?


The doctor was running late, wanted to get some dinner, take a little break and be at the ready so I was wheeled back to my room and rescheduled for 6pm.  We went back, waited and prayed for our boy, and waited some more.


The chatter grew.  As did the excitement, the anticipation...it was only minutes away.  Could she pull it off?


The nurses complained~~they didn't want to miss it.  The anesthesiologist exclaimed~~he didn't want to miss it!  When would it happen, what time?


Dorothy Hamill was about to skate for the GOLD.  Any minute now she would appear, smiling and bubbly, with that cute haircut that everyone envied at that time.  Not many of us could pull off that haircut and although I liked it I knew better than to try.   Waiting, waiting, and waiting...when would she skate?  No one wanted to miss this historic event.   


Finally, she hit the ice.  Cool, calm and ready for the time of her life~~~ she skated her little heart out~~~perfectly~~~GOLD.

As soon as she left the rink the nurses, who had been watching t.v. in my room, rushed me to the operating room.  It was 7pm and  eleven minutes later...my most beautiful son was born.  All 9lbs 15 1/2oz. of him.  Five weeks early.  Our little man.


Dorothy may have won the GOLD that day but I have no doubt that we won the PRIZE.  Happy Birthday beautiful boy.

White Wednesday...35 (4)...

...I don't believe that it is Wednesday again, how did I manage to fly through another week?  Do you feel it too? 

Thanks to Kathleen at Faded Charm for hosting our Wednesday get together.  For more whites, head on over and check out her blog...believe me, you won't be disappointed.

when my daughter was growing up she wanted to collect something 'different.'  Something that no one else (at least no one that she knew) would think of collecting.  What she came up with was, beaded purses and hand-held mirrors.  It has been a very interesting time trying to find these things to add to her collection.  She now has approximately a dozen purses and half-dozen hand-held mirrors (vintage only!).  When she left home many years ago she left a few of them for me to enjoy.  

these gloves and the below hankie belonged to my mother.  I have been told they were worn/carried at her wedding in 1945.

one of the beautiful hand mirrors...

I hope you enjoyed the whites as much as I did.  Check back next week to see what I can come up with...it is beginning to be a challenge to find the whites, but it is so much fun looking for them everywhere I go!  Have a good Wednesday.

Heartfelt Friday...

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
 We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?  Actuallly, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to shine, as children do.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.  And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."


this quote is from Marianne Williamson but is often credited to Nelson Mandella who celebrated twenty years of freedom today.


We are all meant to shine!

White Wednesday (3)...

...today I thought, since we are having freakishly mild weather here, that I would take the White Wednesday show on the road.  So after the hubs got home from work I bribed offered to buy him a coffee drink if he would take me to the nursery.  No problem!  I am ever more anxious for Spring now...let's check it out:

I am linking up with Kathleen over at Faded Charm~~~check it out and see all the wonderful Whites.  Now what are you doing with your Wednesday?

You've got the P.O.W.E.R...

...February is the month of l.o.v.e.  It is the chocolates, flowers, hearts and sweethearts month.  It is also Heart Disease Prevention and Awareness Month.  A subject that is very near and dear to my heart ( heart! get it?)  On August 26, 2003 I survived a heart attack, (a 100% blocked artery heart-attack) hopefully my first and last one.  To say it was frightening does not give credit to the emotions.  There are no words...I could have died.  Please, get all the information you can, don't think it can't happen to you (I had only one of the risk factors), go with your instinct~~your intuition.  Knowledge is power and you have the power...right now.

Did you know? Right now 8million American women are living with heart disease. When it comes to heart disease there are many factors that can influence your risk, some of them you can control, some of them can control you.

Risks you can control:
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol
Diabetes
Smoking
Being overweight
Being inactive

Risks you cannot control:
Family history : if your father or brother had a heart attack before age 55, or your mother or sister before age 65 you are at a higher risk.
Age (55+ for women!! ) after menopause women are more apt to get heart disease in part because their body's production of estrogen drops. Women who have gone through early menopause because of hysterectomy are twice as likely to develop heart disease as women of the same age who have not yet gone through menopause. Middle age women also tend to develop other risk factors ie: obesity.
Race/ethnicity African-American, Hispanic and Native American women are all at greater risk and are also more likely to have other contributing risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

It is vital that you know your numbers: (believe me I know that which I speaketh)
total cholesterol---<200mg/dl
LDL "bad"---<100dl
HDL "good"---50mg/dl or higher
triglycerides---<150mg/dl
blood pressure---120/80
fasting glucose---<100mg/dl
body mass index---<25

waist circumference---<35inches

Take the Go Red Heart Check-up here. (goredforwomen.org)

A peek into my insanity...

this morning when I came out to the kitchen, this is what I saw...

my most beautiful, pink, Amaryllis had broken off at the stem...even though it had been staked...

and the blossom was already wilted and crying for help.  Sadly, it could not be saved.

I really didn't feel well enough to go out today even though the sun was shining and it was quite warm  (sorry, rest of the country!).  The trees are budding and the bulbs are up and ready to pop with color~~~it's so confusing.

We have had many a snow storm in mid to late February so I am cautiously awaiting an early spring.

As I said, I really didn't want to go out but had to run to the grocery store for some more fever reducing, cold, cough, headache so you can rest  medication. Greeting me at the door were these little lovelies~~just calling my name and begging to come home with me. (I'm pathetic).

notice the pinecone, that is not part of the boquet but a left over Christmas decoration.  Really, it's time to put it all away.

and that bowl? Not a cereal bowl but a 'tulip' bowl.  I've never really figured out how to use it although it is quite pretty.  I'll have to show you one of these White Wednesdays.

I spent the rest of the day recuperating and even slept through the Super Bowl (I'll get over it). 

 I still haven't had a chance to put my kitchen back together since painting it two weeks ago but I'm starting to get used to it this way.  It's like being in a constant state of chaos and right now that feels like home.

Aim high, that's what I always say and you can interpret that any way you like!  Good Monday to you...

White Wednesday 33/2...

...if you are like me, and you enjoy your whites, then head on over to Faded Charm and check out all the other White Wednesday posts this week.

I am a little lite on the whites this week.  I've been sick with the head clanging, ear ringing, nose running, headache, sinus pressure, fever, chills, aches,  misery of a major cold/sinus infection.

Once I roused myself from my nesting place on the sofa, it was late in the afternoon, and, I had already lost the best light of the day to take the photos.   I had no choice but to use the flash but the pics were just awful. 

So, I'm wishing you a happy, healthy Wednesday and leaving you with a little preview of next week.

take care y'all.