Lovin the Lilacs

I love lilacs....in fact when someone talks about their favorite flower and I think about it, I can never come up with just one flower that is my favorite.  I think that would be like asking me if I have a favorite dog or child.   Each season I have a favorite and right now it's lilacs.  Mine are starting to bloom.  Seriously, is there anything better than having bouquets of lilacs giving off their lilac fragrance in every room of the house?    I'll be picking bouquets tonight!

Yard Sale

This weekend we had a yard sale, yard sales are yearly events with my family. My mother happens to live on a fairly busy road and so we schlep everything over there for more traffic!




This year my sister participated, her daughter-in-law, my mother and my daughter all joined in the fun….. If you are not a seasoned yard sale haver, I’ve got a few tips for you.



1. Location, location, location. If you aren’t on the beaten path, make sure you have signs marking your location.

2. Have all your items priced ---remember it’s a yard sale, what you don’t sell you either bring home or donate somewhere…. Let’s get rid of it!!!!

3. Keep a box in your home that is designated for yard sale items. As you put things in the box, price them right away so the day you are getting ready for the sale all you need to do is put the priced items on the tables. If you are having a sale with others, don’t forget to initial all your tags so you are sure to get credit for all your quarters!

4. Advertise at all the free newspapers, bulletin boards, etc. or even better, pick the day your community is having their community yard sales to guarantee lots of customers.

5. Have plenty of change, dollar bills, fives and tens. It seems everyone has a $20 to start the day.

6. Wear sunscreen. I’m adding that since most of us got sunburned!

7. If you are using a canopy to protect yourself or your merchandise from the weather, make sure you tie it down! We had one gust of wind in two days that took both canopies up in the air. One of the canopies landed in the tall shrubbery along the side of the house. The other one knocked over a very nice glass coffee table that belonged to my daughter, it shattered!  It ruined the whole day for her and could have been prevented had we had the forethought to think that even one gust of wind can be a disaster!

8. Talk to your customers, at the very least, say hello!

9. Don't forget to have a free box.  It's amazing how many people love to dig around in those.

10.  Pack a lunch and snacks and something to do!   There will be slow times so if you don't have friends to entertain you, bring something to do so you don't resent the time you are sitting there not doing anything.  We stayed open on Friday night till almost 7 pm and had customers all day.

We had a successful weekend, got rid of a lot of stuff and blessed a lot of people with good quality clothes, etc. that were all reasonably priced.   Let me know if any of my tips are helpful for you.

Have Fun!!!

May Day Basket

Happy May Day....  I thought this day would never get here, but here in Central PA we finally have some beautiful spring weather.  Being the first day of May, what better time than to pick some flowers and gift them to a special friend. 

Our Women's Ministry at church exchanged names and are remembering each other each month with a little surprise.  My "secret sister" received this May basket today!   Shhhhhhh, I don't think she reads my blog. 

I made the bloom box out of some old wooden fencing designed to go around a border.  The pieces of wood were just the right size to nail together to form a little box.  I then added a wire hanger and a plastic drinking cup to contain the flowers.   The tag you can find at Skip to my Lou. I have one of these hanging on my gate all summer and I cut whatever's growing in the garden at the time.

Happy May!

Weekend's Project

A few weeks ago I was browsing at a shop and found this interesting piece.  I could hardly wait to start its tranformation.  I took off the hardware and removed the glass from the door, got out the Annie Sloan paint and painted and waxed....  Friday night we took it over to the shop. 

Next project is a dresser with a great mirror!!!  Unfortunately the wood around the mirror needs repaired and I'll have to wait for Mr. Kay to be in the mood to decide the best way to repair it.  Stay tuned!

Quote of the Day!

Beautiful day today, and the temps are sorta supposed to rise..... slowly.  I pulled some weeds in the garden over my lunch hour today, hoping to make a dent in it this weekend.

Here's a quote that speaks to me!  Give it some thought this week. 

Signs of Spring

I can't wait for spring weather to get here....  I've seen the signs, so I know it's coming,  but I'm getting impatient with mother nature this year!

Anyone else as anxious as I am?  I am watching the bulbs emerge from the ground and I have heard my friends talking about having seen robins in the area.  One thing I look forward to each season is purchasing a bunch of pussy willows.  I remember my mother having a pussy willow tree for most of my childhood and when we moved to our present location, I also planted a pussy willow tree. A few years ago it died and hasn't been replaced yet.   They are so easy to root in water and I'd love to have another one, so if anyone has one and can cut a piece for me, I'd be really happy!!!

Yesterday while I was out I found a bunch of pussy willows which brought back memories of spring and I purchased another hyacinth for this season.  Hycinths are my favorite flower this time of year.  I LOVE their fragrance.

What are the signs to you that spring is just around the corner?

Happy New Year

One of my New Year's Resolutions this year is to do more blogging!  Here it is the 2nd week in January and I am just now getting to the blogging part of the New Year's Resolutions!  On a positive note, I have been exercising and going to the gym so I'm on track with that one. 

Another goal is to learn how to use my new camera.  I bought a SLR Canon Rebel a few months ago and I'd really like to improve my photo skills as I do more blogging. 

I'm looking forward to a new year and a new chance to get my life organized, and to make all those little changes in my life that will make me a better person.

Here's to a Happy New Year for everyone!!!

Christmas Cookies

It took all weekend,  but we have cookies!!!!  Molly came home on Friday for a weekend of shopping and baking.   That was the plan....    

Friday we started off with lunch and shopping in Williamsport, about an hour from home.  On our way home we met Molly's best friend, Amy and we went to the Christkindl Market in Mifflinburg (my first time).   Arriving home by about 8 pm we mixed up a batch of sugar cookies so that we could begin the process Saturday morning. 

Saturday morning came and we started off with brunch then we mixed up some Chex mix and decided to go shopping.  We needed more decorating stuff for the sugar cookies so off we went.  We did manage to bake the cookies Saturday night so instead of baking all day Saturday, the plan was then to frost them on Sunday.    The cookies Molly found on Pinterest were beautiful and we were excited to make beautiful cookies to give as gifts, unfortunately Molly lost interest when she realized that it was going to be a bigger project than she was prepared for and I am a perfectionist so less than perfect cookies did not hold my interest until completion either. 

We never did make the peanut butter cookies or the chocolate chip cookies that were on the list.  I guess we should have started with those.  Next year I'm pretty sure we won't be quit so ambitious! 

It's in the Details!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     I've started getting ready for Thanksgiving!  I will have 16 at my table(s) this year.  My favorite part about Thanksgiving is the planning and getting ready.  Not so much about the cooking and clean-up!This weekend I am ironing tablecloths and napkins, polishing silver and making sure I have enough serving pieces and dishes.  

This afternoon I have been finishing up with the silver. I enjoy polishing silver (not in a bring your silver over for me to polish sort of way, but like in a I like the sparkle and imagining previous Thanksgiving's that my vintage silver may have attended sort of way.    Even ironing is enjoyable most of the time....I guess it's the details that I enjoy.  Any one else identifying with me? 

I love white Ironstone!

I'm such a delinquent blogger, it's been August since my last post!!! 

Last weekend I was at an estate sale looking for some things to add to my booth and as is often the case I found a couple things that I will be keeping for myself.  One of those keepers is this covered dish!!  I love it.  I love that it is perfect with very little wear on it.  Don't ya just love the top with the big round ball, and those handles!!  I'd love to use it for my Thanksgiving dinner, but I'm not sure I want to risk putting it in the oven.  

As I begin planning for the big day, I'll have to figure out how to add this lovely dish to the fesitivities!!!  Cranberry sauce?  How would  you use it?