A thing or two...or seven. Complete with photos.

And You Thought You Knew ME!!! ha ha
Maureen over at The Green Suitcase and Deb over at Dragonfly Treasure have taken the time to read my blog, leave some very nice comments....AND they are so kind as to think of me to receive this award! Seriously, if you have not had the chance to click over and browse both of their blogs ...you really should!
Thanks girls...
Now...this blog award comes with a hitch or two. If I accept it I must share 7 little things about me that I have not told you before...and that you may not know by reading my blog.
I also have to pass the award along...and let the recipients know that I have given them this honor!
I don't think I have much to share...it took me forever to come up with what I did...I am pretty boring as people go...so I'm sure this is going to be a boring post...so I decided to jazz it up with some photos...
Lets get started.
1. I have lost a lot of weight this past year or so. I have not been dieting, but maybe switching to diet pop and a lot of stress has contributed. Or maybe still....I finally lost the last of the baby fat that I carried after having three kids. My entire appearance is different. I have photos to prove it!
This is me in May of 2008 when I first started sharing with you all in blogland:I was a size 13-14.
This is me about a month ago...and at that point I was a size 6-7. Today I am wearing a pair of size 3 pants comfortably. I sure have changed a lot! My hair hasn't been this long in almost 20 years-I think...It used to be about 3/4 inch and spiky messySee? here's proof! this was taken 7 years ago... (maybe I should join a transformation post! lol) okay...enough with this one...

2. When I finally had a yard of my own to garden in...I had NO gardening tools of any kind. All I started with was a kitchen spoon, a steak knife and a pair of scissors...oh and a lawnmower that really didn't work so great. The people in my neighborhood used to laugh at me crawling around on my hands and knees with my steak knife and spoon....cutting edges back and digging in the soil. The scissors? Well they were my edger...I did not have a weed wacker...and I refused to have long grass along the sidewalk...so I trimmed it with the scissors. I also have been known to prune a plant or two with scissors...but don't tell anyone okay?
(nope-no photo of that)

3. I am fascinated by the paranormal. My favorite t.v. shows about such things are Most Haunted, Paranormal State and Ghost Hunters. (nope- no photos of ghosts either)

4. I have ZERO interest in Politics. I understand why some are so passionate about this subject...but just cannot get interested in it. I also don't believe it should determine who you are friends with. (I don't think this one needs a photo-does it?)

5. I HATE WORD VERIFICATION ON THE COMMENT SECTION OF BLOGS! HATE THEM...hint hint....

6. I wear contact lenses. My eyes are two different strengths. One is VERY weak...(and I mean that like I see 6 inches in front of me clearly without glasses or anything.) One is about three times stronger...(I see about 1 1/2 feet clearly) I have the type of lenses that you wear a month at a time for 24 hours a day...then throw away...I love them...and to think of it...don't even know where my glasses are at this time! lol I have not worn my eyeglasses in public in 12 years...and before that...it wasn't by choice..lol (what- you didn't really think I would show you a photo with my glasses on did you????)

7. My eyes change colors. Some days they are bright blue...others more of a dark blue. Then...still others they are either all gray or have a touch of green to them. I don't know why.And that's 7 uninteresting things about me.

I bet you thought you were not going to get nominated....well...if you have not already done this...you are now officially in the hot seat! I nominate anyone who has not done this...and if you have...repost it!
Thanks again girls!

Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers Nov 6/09

Fertilizer Friday is the day when gardeners from all over the world join in and share the blooms of their labors!
If you are not familiar with the winter rules here they are... For the winter months ( at least in my area) we will be sharing our indoor gardens...such as houseplants or greenhouse items...OR our favorite photos of gardens from seasons past...OR... if you are in another area that is experiencing spring or summer like conditions ...and you still have things growing...cause you are lucky to have a great gardening climate...Share your current gardens!
I hope you will take me up on the invite to share WHATEVER IT IS...."ugly" is not a word in this meme...show it...ask questions...just join in! Even one plant is better than none!
In spite of it being November here, we don't have anymore snow on the ground. It melted off and we are sitting like ducks waiting for the first huge dump of winter to get us. I am sharing a few things that are thriving inside my home and greenhouse this week.
My Jade is sure taking her time with this blooming thing. It feels like forever...but there is a little progress this week in the flower dept...
They are starting to open a little bit each day.
They are so delicate and pretty looking...
My oldest Christmas Cactus is forming a few buds.
I love it when this one blooms....I get blooms about 4 times a year on this one.
I have some new growth and a couple of buds forming on my Orange Rose. I thought I added a full body photo...but must have missed it. Oh well....there's always next week.
The Mandevilla vine is thriving with a capital T! The arms that it is sending out are just super long...it seems to like it inside.
Loads of buds on it too.
My Nico Swedish Ivy is Huge. It measures almost 3 feet across.
It is in bloom too. I have no idea where I will put it inside my house when I have to get ready to do the spring seed plant....
My small banana plant is doing well. Getting lots of new leaves.
It is even sprouting some babies.
The sad little Begonia that I brought in from the garden is thanking me with some new blooms. They are light pink, but the sunlight sort of makes the camera think they are white.
I have never had such a happy Peace Lily in my life! It just keeps sending new blooms up.
I love to look at them.
I have three small Christmas Cacti that I have never shared. I originally picked them up to put into one larger pot...but as you can see by the ugly foil, I have not done that yet...The pink one is budding up like crazy...
So is the soft pink one...
And since I have never seen this one bloom before...I am not sure if it will be pink or white. I guess we will soon find out! The three of them will be transplanted very soon to make a nice pot of colorful blooms. I just need to get some fresh potting soil.
Now...if you have not already linked in...please do. I can't wait to see what leafy beauties you are caring for!

Is This Where It All Began?

This is a treasure I have had for many years. Tucked safely either inside a picture frame or inside my cedar hope chest. I found it today while cleaning out a closet...I am kind of tickled at how much is the same today as it was then...and then there are those teensy differences that make us smile...It made me wonder if this is the start- or if it goes WAY back....or did it skip a few decades and then start all over....take a look and you'll see what I mean.
Yep...it has survived all these years...and the pages are not even creased!
A girl just can't buy a magazine that is 11x14 inches in size and thick these days for 50 cents!
I think I saw some of these the other day in a ladies clothing store...
Loving these fashions... and those figures!!! (okay maybe not the hats-ha ha) When I imagine Anita A.K.A Blossom at work....I sort of have this vision of her with a customer! lol
Aren't these sweaters cute? And just look at how tiny their waists are!!! How is that even possible???
Anyone know what a centennial party is? And where I can get a waistline like that?
Ahhhh....now it all makes sense...I have to wonder how they managed to smile with that on! Maybe that is where the phrase "smiling through the pain" came from. lol
After they put the slimmer on...they added a nicely knit belt to match some hand knit sandals. WAIT-did I say hand knit sandals?
You bet your girdle I did! (did you notice the model foot?- nice toenails!!! lol) Has anyone seen or made these?
The funny thing is that my grandmother made my son a sweater very similar to this when he was born! Not much in kids sweaters has changed....
Love these illustrations...and look how sweet the outfits are!
And the well dressed gentleman will be wearing...
There's some stenciling...in a seashell motif! This seems a little familiar to many of us today...I know someone out there has done something similar.
Hey TABLESCAPERS....take a look! It makes me think of Blossom!! Maybe it is because it is just so ladylike!
Anyone make a candle like this before? Darla??? I think if you click the photo the directions are readable on this and many of the following projects... I wish it was in color...it kinda looks a little like a flaming turd-hey I'm just sayin'! lol
HMMMMM...this is not a new trend? lol- and here we thought we were being original!
Miss Janice!!! Do you have this book???
I wonder if these are hard cover books? I'd love to get my hands on this one. I have done a sofa or two...more than likely the hard way.
Well we all should get this one! Faye???? didn't you mention a need for a new wardrobe??? hey-"I'm just sayin'" lol
Gift suggestions....Hey Gloria...check out those plates! Didn't someone post that candle holder a few weeks back?
Hey Dirt Princess!!! I bet your education cost way more than this did!!! lol
I need this one for my ugly sofa set...AND the slipcover I tried to make was a disaster!
I actually own a sewing machine like this one...only it is a singer. And I have a treadle one too...lol Why don't I smile when I am sewing...maybe I need a "slimmer" to bring on the grins!
Check this out Trash Talking Debbie!!!
I have seen this ad....in a recent decorating magazine...I wonder if they "borrowed" it?
This is a very cute idea...never seen it before...maybe not large enough for the amount of socks and undies in this house...Busy calls her leotards "lady tards'-not stalkings...lol and there are NO hankies here...G-R-O-S-S!
What on earth is vegetable glue? The original mod podge?
Doodling on an apron...
Look at the Easter egg decorating ideas!
How neat is this one?
A MUST for every knitting lady... looks very similar to fish tank tubing...but hey-that's just me.
Anyone have one? Faye??? Maybe one of you or your "Woolies" has one?
OH PUH-LEEEEZE!!!! I almost choked on my Dr. Pepper tonight when I read this one...I had not noticed it before...but can you say OFFENSIVE???? You'd never see an ad like this today!
"Enclose coin"? Now that's definitely not happening today...not only do you not send coins or cash in the mail....but exactly what CAN you get for 25cents? Not even a stamp where I live!
Well...I hope you enjoyed and possibly got inspired by some of the little ideas in this post...I do hope to see you all right back here to join me for Fertilizer Friday!!! QMM....Are you listening??? hint hint!

A Little Paint Goes a LONG Way!

So I had the urge to paint...just not a BIG enough urge to do my walls...
Diane over at A Picture is worth a 1,000 Words is our host today...She calls her party 2nd Time Around Tuesday...and it is meant for us to feature our thrifted, second hand or re-done items!
I am also joining in on the Three or More Tuesday meme over at the Gypsy's Corner...I think Tam will let me get away with it as I have three or more projects I am sharing with you all today!
I am sharing a few little projects that I have been working on for a few days, in between all the other things I have on the go.
I shared this cabinet a few times...it is in the sunroom. It gets made over on the inside on a regular basis. Remember that I told you all that I found it in the alley behind our house a few years ago? I made the doors and shelves, and gave it this paint finish. It is one of my favorite pieces in the house...but...it needed to be fixed up a little. So...I whipped out a rag and a can of stain...and went to town refreshing the bones of this old girl. I also had to re-glue one of the curtain rod holders that I used as door handles...as I knocked it off...lol
A few short hours later...she still looks a little worn, but much much warmer! I also later removed the huge key and opted for some cute pictures on the side...(which I will share at a later date)
I like the darker tone a little better...I think the sun faded the old finish..so it was time to "re-dress" the old girl. (so to speak) Do you see my second project in this photo?
Yep! You guessed it...I made a tea cup lamp inspired by my Mom-Gloria. She shared the how to a while ago...so I made this one...and 7 others! (Christmas is coming you know...they make wonderful gifts)
There are two of these little side tables in my house. I got them at a yard sale about 3 years ago. They were stark white and had that detail of wallpaper in the drawers. I added a little burnt umber paint to them in a wash to soften the harsh white color and that is how they stayed...until today...
Paper gone...see the original white???
A few coats of black paint and there you have it! One is in the kitchen in a corner vignette...
The other (for now) is in my bedroom. I sprayed the tiny handles chocolate brown. The only thing I would have done differently is not used eggshell paint. It has a little sheen...and I used it so that they were washable (I have kids ya know) I wish it were not so shiny...but such is life.
another view...see the little speck in the corner of the drawer? that is not a missed spot...that is a sheen!!! grrrr. I suppose there is always another paintbrush loaded with mat finish...lol
And finally....this is another table I got at the same garage sale. It also was stark white...and the paper was on it. I had darkened this one a little too....
Just look at it now!!! I love the black with the brown knobs! (ha ha...you can see the towels inside through the space in the drawers!- I never noticed that until now! )The black gives these small tables some weight ...and adds a little more versatility to where they can go in my house... OH-and for the record...the amount of time it took me to paint the three little tables....I could have done an entire room!!! lol...so much for a little urge...
Well...that's it for me today...another grossly busy week is ahead...I am doing my level best to get around and read you all...be patient...I will eventually get there! Now...for a look at lots of other participants...and a load of inspiration...head over to Diane's and Tam's to see who else is playing today!

This is HILARIOUS....Makin ya Smile on Monday

I think that this is one of my all time favorite jokes...it's not clean or dirty...just stupid...Sunday's joke post got me on a tour through my stash of silliness...and with not much else to share yet (my projects are taking longer to do than I planned) I'm entertaining with a joke!

Drunk in the Toilet.
A drunk gets up from the bar and heads for the bathroom. A few minutes later, a loud, blood- curdling scream is heard. Minutes after that, another loud scream reverberates through the bar.

The bartender goes into the bathroom to investigate why the drunk is screaming. "What's all the screaming in there? You're scaring the customers!"

"I'm just sitting here on the toilet and every time I try to flush, something comes up and squeezes the hell out of my testicles.

With that, the bartender opens the door, looks in and says..."You Idiot! You're sitting on the mop bucket!"

Happy Monday!

The Zipper...Get Ready to Giggle!!!

Okay bloggers get ready to giggle...I nearly had a little accident when I read this! I thought that in this life we only have a few opportunities to laugh together....so I wanted to share a smile with you this morning. I posted this once before...but thought it was worth a second publishing, so I am joining Chari at Happy to Design for Sunday Favorites! Thanks for hosting this party girl...it gives us a second chance to see posts that otherwise we may have missed!

"The Zipper."
As the bus stopped and it was her turn to get on, she became aware that her skirt was too tight to allow her leg to come up to the height of the first step of the bus.
Slightly embarrassed and with a quick smile to the bus driver, she reached behind her to unzip her skirt a little, thinking that this would give her enough slack to raise her leg
She tried to take the step, only to discover that she couldn't.
So, a little more embarrassed, she once again reached behind her to unzip her skirt a little more, and for the second time attempted the step.
Once again, much to her chagrin, she could not raise her leg
With a little smile to the driver, she again reached behind to unzip a little more and again was unable to take the step.
About this time, a large Texan who was standing behind her picked her up easily by the waist and placed her gently on the step of the bus.
She went ballistic and turned to the would-be Samaritan and yelled, 'How dare you touch my body! I don't even know who you are!'
The Texan smiled and drawled, 'Well, ma'am, normally I would agree with you, but after you unzipped my fly three times, I kinda figured we was friends.'

Now once you stop laughing, click Chari's logo and visit the other participants.