My Shopping Trip Last week

Last week I went shopping while my Dear Husband was at the dentist. Oh, I should have sat in the lobby with a magazine BUT, what fabulous shops I found downtown. I found a flea market mall and a Fabulous Shop I had never been to on 2nd Avenue, North.

Oh, In viewing the slideshow it continues on, kinda scary, but It also continues to an estate sale I found great items from, our two rescue cats, Blk and Blu, My Dog Emma and Grand-dog Barkley, both Golden Retrievers and some photos I took of our garden before it went crunch form the heat.

It also gets some shots I uploaded to flicker for the Bonanzle group and my shop " Frstyfrolk's Boutique there. It also shows Items in my Etsy Vintage shop, frstyfrolk's Vintage Treasures Well, I hope you enjoy the slideshow!
Smiles, Cyndi

Something Magical

Beth Maynor Young's photos
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/07/cahaba_lilies.html







'Something magical'

On a recent return to the river, Young recalled her first trip.

She camped on the bank of Caffee Creek in what is now refuge land. She rose with the morning light.

She paddled a canoe out to a patch of lilies and set up her tripod in a current of shallow water and began clicking away.

Then, there came that moment, when the sun began to lift the dew off the flowers, when the mist began to billow off the gurgling water.


Emma Tannenbaum/Birmingham News
Beth Maynor Young's photos of the Cahaba lily helped change perceptions of the Cahaba River and its assets.On a morning 20 years later, the same things happen. Fish break the surface of the water, mussels and snails are visible under the clear current. Dragonflies and the damsel flies hover. Water bugs skitter on the surface.
"Something magical happens here every day, whether we are here or not," Young said. "Ninety-eight percent of it is just showing up and being present when the magic happens."

She is modest about whatever role her pictures might have played.

"My job was to fall in love with the river, and that isn't hard. The people working to protect these places. They have the hard jobs."


See the story in the Birmingham News

My Blog Post from the Junk Gypsies, My Yesterday!

This post got too long for the word # limit so I share it here also, Smiles, cyndi


Good Morning Sister Junkers!

I found some awesome VINTAGE yesterday. The day started out with a visit to my DH DH back Doctor about the back fusion he had, they may decide to take out the screws from fusion to see if better relief form pain.

Then he had a dentist appt in downtown Birmingham and he usually drives himself, but with his new meds he asked me to drop him off and then pick him up for no far walking from parking garage. Oh, I just hate going downtown. NOW, I WILL live to take those words back. I think I love downtown!

There are tons of old empty buildings now and many have been renovated to lofts that no one can afford unless you are an attorney and what a space to stay overnight before a court appearance.

Anyway, I dropped him off and said I was going to a new flea market mall I had heard of with the hopes of securing a new site for my garage full of stuff! Well, I found this place and it is rough looking but has hope! The folks there were so nice and wanted me to sign in right then and there. They even said they would keep an eye on my booth since I live so far away. Well, what to do?? But, I left with a buggy full of more Stuff! Oh No, that was not the intention on the visit. I have done it AgAiN! I Have spent $$$$ , Oh, ShaMe on ME!

Well, he called me he was done early so he had to wait in me to return to get him, which he did patiently. He knows me to well! I should have stayed close to the downtown area, as I wanted to find a gallery I had read about that has photographs of our Cahaba River lilies. IT is Ca-Ha-Ba- with long A’s to pronounce it. Many not form around it say it wrong. Well, these lilies grow in several places on the river and are very rare to find The first photographs this artist did was 20 years ago when she camped by the site to see the morning dance that happens every day but, you have to be there to see it. With my love of dragonflies, this just encourages me to be there! Maybe if not in person, in a photograph she has taken.

Well the story continues of my day as after I picked up my husband we decided to see if we could find the gallery, as I knew it was on 2nd Avenue. But, we have a 2nd Avenue North and a South also. SO, we tried the North one first as it was the closest to. It goes One Way -> so we drove on 3rd Avenue <- another one-way street to get past where we thought it might be and then get on the one–way street 2nd Avenue and looked at shops. This is not really the gallery area but I found this shop with all this STUFF outside like you have to go inside to see what they have.I parked right by the front door and DH stayed in the car. I was just going to be a minute.

Well, I walked in the door and the woman was phone. I did eyes big and WOW in silence to not disturb her, but waved to let her know I was amazed. What a Place to dig around while DH waits in the car for me. Oh Me, Oh My! I connect with these shops, it had so much to look at, things were everywhere and it went three stories high.

I started down the left side of the shop and told myself I would return on the right side so I would see everything! Oh, I found so many beauties! Inside the front door was the beautiful glass hook like knobs. Very art deco and maybe they are knobs. I make a mental note to ask her when she gets off the phone. So, I continue. So many old vintage things…. Everywhere, up, down, all around! My eyes scan the shelves, the floor, all over! They have lots and lots of postcards and vintage photos of Birmingham from long ago. This will have to be another trip; I will just look at the shelves, floor, ceiling hangings, the little stuff that is inexpensive.

When the owner lady got off the phone she came over to me and said HI. Of course I rambled on like I do always. A RaMbLer is a good name for me! (Grins) to the Junk Gypsies, I am a member of the Blacktop Rambler Café.

Well, we chatted and she told me her other half used to travel for a lot of the Great things they have and now it just comes to them. The have 95% of the shop as theirs’ and a little artist consignments. I recognized them as I saw them, mostly handmade art. I did take a few photos with my phone but I wish I had started out taking a whole lot more from the entrance and cks, my chome; I know I shouldnever leave home without it.. It turns out the little art deco glass knobs I saw are really form the chandelier above which I had not noticed, Awesome Beautiful, SO glad she showed it to me, but I didn’t even ask a price. Just enjoy the moment with it.

I ended up leaving with many great finds, and some vintage magazines with beautiful ads and photos.

I will be sharing them as I get to look through them. I met another woman up on the third floor looking for a magazine from a certain year. She explained that she gets them as birthday presents when she can find them. What a fabulous idea! She was looking for 1957, and I bet she found it as when I left she had an armful of photos and magazine with a few books to leave and come back tomorrow, (That would be today) to get for here husband birthday. She also was getting a vintage cigarette outdoor thermostat sign for him. She said he had stopped smoking but this was his gift. Thanks goodness he had quit.
Somehow, I made it though life NOT smoking. I suppose it did due to my DH not like it, Thanks DH, Bob!

I am so excited to get to look through my bags today, as I left them in the car last night. We stopped for tacos to bring home and I was beat. I went to sleep watching TV and woke up this AM to the cats playing in the bathtub off the bedroom. IT has several things in the TUB to keep away from Emma, well, now the cats find it so I have another job today. Cleaning out the bathtub!

Later, Cyndi

Have a FaBuLouS Fourth of July Weekend!

I have been up and down trying to decide what to do about my Mother's 79th Birthday on the 4th of July; yes she is a firecracker baby! Everyone celebrates her birthday!

She lives 12 hours away from me and I really wanted to go see her since the visit for my brother " Randy's" Memorial so was short. I know she misses him dearly and so do I, when we talk on the phone we both end up in tears.

But, we have to go on, as he would wish us too, even thought it is so hard to do. After we lost him, he got approved for $16.00 worth of food stamps a month. Can you believe that? How can anyone be expected to live on that? I know he participated in the "Angel Ministries" with my Mother that helped a lot and he hunted and fished for food. Well, I hope she can keep participating in that gift with my other brother.

I really wanted to take her birthday presents to her and be with her for this special day. Life says NO! Too many things have been happening lately to even go into but my husband is on medical leave again from his job and is to go for a cat scan on Monday. This way they can see his back more with more dimension and see what to do and what is happening with it. He was discovered to have severe osterioposis when he was in surgery and that alone is causing his delay to get back to work without restrictions. We will see...

I had got her some beautiful Paula Deen dishes from Cracker Barrel on my trip to Louisiana last fall when my nephew got married. These restaurants are wonderful bathroom stops and to walk and stretch my legs a bit. Mother adores pink in anything, so I know she will adore them. I was just a plate, saucer or bowl and coffee cup but I hope she uses them just for herself. I meant to just take them to her on my next visit when I got them but that won't happen anytime soon so I just sent them UPS to her along with a beautiful flower arrangement of orchids I found at Michael's and I added a ribbon and some lace, pearls, jewelry finding to them for a kind of wedding like bridesmaid look and she can lay it on a table. She used to grow beautiful orchids when she had the desire. She even got me into them and we went to our Birmingham Botanical Garden shows that I have tons of photos from somewhere. I will have to find them and add to our new photo picture frame. It is mainly dog photos now but we have lots of room to add more.

I also saw a very pretty cotton shirt last week in Sam's Club and I got her the pink and me the blue. I hope it fits her, I know she will love the colors and it has faux lace on it. SO, her Birthday present is in the UPS truck on its way to Memphis and then on to Missouri. She will probably get it Monday but she knows it is coming.

Well, life has to change, I have been running all the errands and taking my husband where he needs to go, as he is not to drive with some new medications he is taking. I don’t mind, I just want him out of pain. I do know about chronic pain and I am urging Congress to look at the RX medicines that are available to us. Some people just need them and most do not abuse them like in the news.

Also I would like to remind everyone about being VERY CAREFUL with your 4th of July Fireworks. In 1984 when my daughter was 16 she took my 1973 White Corvette; my Treasure, up our street to watch fireworks with her friends. She had been up with her car a Fiero, remember them, Anyway, a bottle rocket were haywire and my car caught fire, Instead of going UP in the air, it went sideways down the street and caught my gas tank on fire. We had just filled it with gas that day and it was full, evidently leaking a little fumes. Well, I got this phone call; your daughter is hysterical and your car is on fire! I still get chill bumps just thinking of it. So, you just never know where they will go!

We now watch the fireworks on TV with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops. I adore Keith Lockhart! They have an awesome show on the river and I think this year Neil Diamond will be there. Oh, I adore Neal Diamond too! Check that one out! It is best to keep your animals inside too, Emma will be and the cats too! I heard fireworks go off in the distance on my way from from the grocery store last night

Happy Holiday Weekend!
Smiles, Cyndi

My 2 for $30 Summer Warehouse Clearance Tee's!

Oh my Goodness, I am so excited, I Am dancing in my tippeytoes! , Oh, In My Head, I wish I really could, I tried too also yesterday when Kayce Kayne WON the Nascar Race in Sonoma, CA! I love him as a good as a good fan can!

Anyway, The UPS man rang our bell and Oh, Yes! The Box form Gypsyville arrived! It was stamped with crowns and ther darn UPS tag was right over it! Shucks! Anyway, the 2 for $30 shirts had arrived. I am too excited too open them. SO, I take my gifty picture like I do in art swaps! Ahh, wrapped in orange tissue with a GOOD gypsyville stamp ( I Love it already!

Ok, carefully opening the tissue to peek at what might be inside, remember I talked to Lindsey and asked her to do good for me. OH, NO! I can’t believe this! And she has no idea, LOOK! ByLightOfMoon T-Shirt from the prom for me! I AM ByLiGhtOfMoon! And they don’t know this, they only know me as frstyfrolk like I post on Gypseville.
I have my blogger here

http://bylightofmoon.blogspot.com/

Oh, How GOOD can this GET! I LoVe IT BiG TiMe!
Okey and on for more, it is pink, Love it already! And it is
JunkYard DoG, the bull dog with the CroWN! I am singing in HappIneSS!

Oh, ThAnK YoU Junk Gypsies, Annie, Jolie, Amie, and Ashlyn…
No Way, could you have done better! And I also got to use my Rambler of the Month gift certificate! SO, know the world knows,
I am frstyfrolk and ByLightOfMoon alter egos
and
Cyndi when I have to be!
(((Huggies))), and Thank you Gypsies!
PS: The first Tee you see is Southern Symphony with the fireflies and a dragonfly! And I have that Tee also from when I was in Texas, too!
Yippeeeee, P Yiiii Ohhh ~ Go Cowboys! as they say in Texas

Smiles, Cyndi/frstyfrolk/ByLightOfMoon
COme see my Black Top Rambler Cafe page I am so honored to have been made a Rambler of the Month for June and got my Gift Certificate I used

My Estate Sale Finds last weekend

These are photos of the things I got last weekend at an estate sale close to me. I arrived around 1 PM and she closed at 2PM so I thought I Might find some fabulous sales, NOT! She did give me some bulk discounts on the table linens and extra 2 bucks off all three, But, She was set in her prices. She is not yet moving, just downsizing she told me. I was the only one there and oh My, what a goldmine!

We chatted as I looked around and she had fabulous wood furniture, tables, hutches with fine china, all very well taken care off, even three butter churns. I wish I could have just bought the truckload and had room to keep som eof it or a showroom for the rest. This time I find a really found a nice estate sale with really nice items! If Only!

But, I did not plan to spend alot as I am trying to curb my buying but we chatted and she told me the history of many items. She gave me the book on The Village Blacksmith since I had not read it but when I brought it home, my husband was aware of it. Nice find!

Many of the small ceramics, she had bagged up in zip lock bags , so I ended up getting several when she said she would take a check,. Oh, I should leave my checkbook at home. The little blue and white shoes were on a hutch and priced indivually but I loved them, and I almost forgot them, they were on my second check along with Santa Clause her ex- sister-in-law had made for her many years ago. I hope she remembers me when she really does move. Her house was an old Vintage Arts and Crafts style like being built around here in new subdivisions. This is the real thing. She lives right in main downtown area of a small town I love, and she wants to get closer to her son. He must have helped her with the sale and pricing but, she was a whip with memory and better than me.

She used to travel and collected the small ceramic pieces of dogs, cats, etc. in the bagged lots. They were all just too cute! She also had the most beautiful green vase and it was a known brand like Wedgewood or Majolica and $95.00. I am not good on brand names but It was beautiful. I loved it and should have got that one item instead of many small but I loved the tablecloths and extra pieces too much. Maybe I can go back and get it one day.

I wanted to show you since I featured the small ceramic shoes in the Junk Market post I did last week and sent it in to be published. I love Sue Whitney and saw her on my visit to Round Top, Texas last spring. I also got her two books and am inspired. See my post below for the links.

Well, I better get going; the sun is rising and the day is starting.

Smiles, Cyndi

Our Rescue Animals, Blak, Blu, and Emma

Blak, now has purple dragonfly collar



Blu has Blue collar




Barkley on Sofa - Nine year old grandog Golden Retriever(of my Jordan and Megan)



Emma, One year old Golden Retriever ~ We got from Petfinders.com 8 months ago



Emma checking out the kitties paper bag




Blu and Blak, They are sleeping together!



I wanted to update the kitty situation around here for you. Blak and Blu without the other letters is how I have their names at vet for now. It is just the easiest way to refer to them. They are both really coming around now and thank goodness for Blu being so adaptable. Emma (our Golden Retriever) and Blu play paw-boxing a lot now. They lie together and just swat at each other. Of course, Emma has to have her mouth in everything so Blu is wet usually when they are done. They are even playing with their toys bells and squeaky’s together. I do have to keep Emma away from their tiny mice Bob got them; I quake at the thought of seeing one on the floor.

Blak is still sleeping a lot in the daytime and is up at night but generally a lot more comfortable with us as each day passes. He is into EVERYTHING now while exploring his new home. He has to check out things a lot more that Blu cares too.

We have to be reminded that their whole lives have been turned around again, with everything they knew gone and all we have is NEW to them. And we have no idea what they had been through to be at the Tears Animal Rescue Site. They had to have been hurt to be there, as they do not just take in strays or homeless animals. Only injured ones to be rehabbed there.

Blak is still sleeping a lot in the daytime and is up at night but generally a lot more comfortable with us as each day passes. He is into EVERYTHING now while exploring his new home. He has to check out things a lot more that Blu cares too.

We have to be reminded that their whole lives have been turned around again, with everything they knew gone and all we have is NEW to them. And we have no idea what they had been through to be at the Tears Animal Rescue Site. They had to have been hurt to be there, as they do not just take in strays or homeless animals. Only injured ones to be cared for with their injuries. With Blak, I believe it was his eye, but Blu just seems to have no problems (other than the bathroom sinks so far, he still shooeys in them) that are ok and easy to clean up. I know have Lysol antibacterial bathroom cleaner and paper towels in both bathrooms.

Have a fabulous weekend.

Smiles, Cyndi

More fun giveaways

I visited Dawn of The Feathered Nestt and found she has posted about a couple of her friends giveaways and she has fabulous art offered by both of the very special ladies.





One is Trash to Treasure Art and Lynn is celebrating her 200 post with a fabulous giveaway of several items, a Bird collage box, the words nest made up so beautiful and a bird pendant she made with all sorts of goodies she is do good at making.




The second is Melanie at her blog Sweet Savannah and she has posted a giveaway while she is camping and having nature time. She offers an awesome Crown Pot, Postcard pillow covers and a Tyler Candle. All are just Over the Top Gifts and I want to share them with you.




Dawn at The Feathered Nest shares and offers giveaways many times a month and she has re-done her workspace to be a more beautiful place for her to be creative and scroll down her blog to see the changes she has made. The are fabulous!

Smiles, Cyndi

One Lovely Blog Award

I have been honored by Suzanne of “ ThreePeats Jewelry” blog with this beautiful Award. Suzanne also has an etsy store where she sells her handmade recycled vintage and upcycled new pieces of jewelry. She has been profiled in several Etsy Treasuries and in one of my favorite pieces she used new felt beads along with her vintage reclaimed chains and 70’s colors beads. How well I know her gold brown and orange colors, as they were my living room colors on my Danish Modern furniture then.





One of the fun things about this award is that I can share fifteen of my favorite bloggers with you as I give them this award to use on their blogs as well and pass it on. How fun can this be? I hope this way we can all share more fun blogger friends with each other. One thing I adore about blogs is to leave a comment and then follow other comment links and I find sometimes we follow the same bloggers! I wish you fun reading!

Smiles, Cyndi

My fun bloggers are:


~ Vintage Postcards


The Feathered Nest

/ Eagles Wings

Hidden Riches at Secret Places

Penniwigs


Caroline Cinderella Moments

Thistle Cove Farm

Dottie Angel

FaerieEnchantment

Two Crafty Mules


Heart Felt



HEARTFELT VINTAGE

OLDFLOWERS4ME

Jazze Junque Inc.

Vickysplace1


It took me several days to put this together because I really wanted to share the real blogs I visit and get inspiration from. I really hope you can share your fun bloggers with us too.

My Etsy ByLightOfMoon Shoppe

Reuse cloche dome light fixture displays

I started out yesterday looking at Sue Whitney’s Junk Market Style newsletter and found myself staying and looking at all the links. I love Sue and her recycle reuse ideas since I net her in Texas as Marbuger Farm Tent at the Spring Antique Week Event. I got both of her books out at the time, one for Inside and One for Outside Decorating using found objects. Both are incredible books!

I lingered to see another display shown by Lanette Lorsung, a contributing editor who showed several displays of her cloches “ One of My Top Ten – Cloches!

Well, I found myself wanting to show some items I have collected for making these kinds of displays also and next thing I know I am in my hallways cleaning off my wicker cabinet I sometimes use for my photos for my selling sites. I love to collect and recycle vintage lamp globes and fixtures, along with collecting coffee maker top glass globes, natural collections of acorns, moss limbs, the new round moss I found in Texas, and I found the cutest little collection of ceramic shoes at an estate sale last weekend. While In Texas I also got the tiny pewter chairs shown under a cheese dome and a fairy like Christmas scene in a dome I adore with a dragonfly ornament I had found. So, this is a little of what I have been up to this week.

Well, I just rechecked my post and the slide show also includes many photos of my Tiny 1966 Shasta Teardrop Vintage trailer and some Texas photographs I have on my flicker as well.

Smiles, Cyndi

Black and Blue

I have finally got some pictures of Black and Blu for lack of better names. I had to have a name when I took them to the vet for some shots and check-up so that is what they were. I liked Blu without the "e", I guess just to be a little different. His last photos is not very good, he had eye goo and a wierd look on his face. ( grins) After seeing him with Black, I wanted to call him " Little Boy Blu" he is so tiny compared to Black. Maybe I can get them together when Black is out and about soon, I hope!

And after we finally found Black kitty after looking for him 5 days, we were afraid he had got outside although we could not figure out how, But he did not make a peep that we could heard until the fifth day with us and a little squeak came from the hallway. I found him under the armoire as in the photo; he had his head popped out. But, I could not get him to come out with Emma around.

Now, Blu took to Emma right from the get go, he just lets Emma lick on him and loves to be around us. He is the best kitty one could ask for. Now, he is using my bathroom sick for his stools but ok for now as I can monitor them. Some of good and firm and some are oey-goey and vet said from stress of changes in their lives. They evidently are becoming friends too, which I wanted two so they could play together and be close.

I am now finding Blu under the bed with Black (his new hidey-hole) lying together or maybe Blu had had enough of Emma to and that is their get-away. I like it because I can find them and talk them out. I could not believe this AM when I was still in bed with Bob, Emma, Blu and Black crawled up when I returned from the bathroom. He actually got in bed with us and let Emma lick him. WOW, maybe change is coming! I sure do hope so.

I don’t like him being afraid of her, but I understand. He is a tiny kitty and she is big over-looming presence and if he was hurt and remembers that, I would be afraid too.

Oh, by the way, Black has an eye injury that is chronic, our vet, Dr. Day said yesterday when he saw Black. His white in his eye is full of broken red blood vessels, which indicates an old injury that nothing can repair. Maybe that is why he was at TEARS in the first place as they help injured animals.

Oh, some distressing news is that Dr. Day will be retiring at the end of next week. He has been our vet for around 20 years except for the trauma injuries with Megan and Jordan at the end of their lives. Dr. Day is a little country Doctor in Montevallo, AL just south of us, maybe 20 miles or so. He takes no appointments and his charges are amazing. My bills with Black and Blue were $11.00 each for rabies shot except that I bought a breakaway collar for Black for $7.00 and so his was $18.00. I need to add a bell to it, Blu’s blue collar came with one, BUT it has dragonflies on a purple collar. I had to get it!


I am very glad he was NOT roaming the neighborhood but I drove around and asked everyone I saw for three days trying to find him and had put a flyer up for Lost Cat.
There must be another Lost Black Cat around as I had many folks say they had seen him .... Well, I home he also is home soon.

Smiles, Cyndi

Things NOT to DO and things to LOVE!

I saw fireflies last evening while I was outside planting my front tub flowers and tall purple fountain grass. Last year’s grass has not come back up and the pots were looking bad. I also trimmed the bushes a little till I got the electric cord cut by the saw blades. Not a good thing to do! Well, I got the job mostly done! I have only done this one other time in my whole life as my husband always does the things like that. I also cut the grass a few times now with the lawnmower but we still need to hire someone. But, I try!

Another thing not to try!
Do NOT stand on the roller hand truck dolly as you put your garden soil on it to move a distance to the back yard, it will BEAM you on your head right between your eyes!
And a Hard hit too! I now have a very swollen right eye that I can barely see from today.
I am very grateful it did not break my glasses.

Another thing NOT to try is,
Do not try to push the garbage dumpster with the lid down as when you walk you stand on the lid and before you know it you are down flat on your knees, Like I DID! And that also hurt! I also have scrapped up knees.

I am a bad work in progress when it comes to machinery! I have just never been one to make it go without hurting myself. I tried to take a photo of my eye but not a good one. I am not a photographer but I do try and sometimes it works out. I uploaded many photos from the Texas Spring Antique Week Marburger Farm Event to my flicker page and they turned out ok, well GOOD, for most of them. Marburger Farm is one huge venue and I went by myself as many of the vendors are inside tents. I especially wanted to see Magnolia Pearl, I adore here bags and clothing although is it quite pricey, it is all hand-dyed by her and her entourage along with being hand-stitched, every stitch! Oh, and it feels so good to touch, so soft and luxurious! It is quite a treat for myself. I also met Magnolia Pearl (Robin and her husband Johnny Brown) I waited in their tent while they were at lunch. There tent was a wonderful place to sit and get off my feet. Oh, My feet! It is always, Oh My Feet! You must go see her website, Magnolia Pearl. It is fabulous and you will SMILE!

On many of my photos of the Texas Spring Event you will find I copyright them as much is other people’s designs and displays.

Have a fabulous day!
Smiles, Cyndi

Memorial Day is so special for us

Please remember Memorial Day for the real meaning today, include the military in your prayers because they are the reason you are able to have a cookout with friends or go to the beach or to your cemetery today.

I got a little charcoal grill like we used in “Daisy, my little RV” in Texas just because! I was sitting on my backyard porch the other day and just wishing I could have that charcoal smell again, not the gas grill that is over and done before we know it. I love to light the grill and I am pretty good at building the charcoal mound and love to sit and wait for it to be ready while enjoying the outdoors. I plan to just cook some hot dogs if the rain breaks today. We have no plans with any friends anymore like the young days. My husband has to work anyway. Never take for granite that your might have a paid 3-day weekend, it can always come back to bite you and many folks like your police and fire officials work today to keep you safe. My husband used to be in Information Technology and we lived a lot better as we took a lot for granted. But, the world does not revolve around Monday through Friday jobs and it should be recognized for that more.

But we don't mind now, we could not afford to go do the things we use to anyway.
After 911 we learned a lot about what is important, and that is " Today". Enjoy today!

Stay at home and enjoy your space. As I am always talking about, I am still trying to make more space with the same square footage we had in 2003 when we moved to our garden home from living in an RV. But, I am a collector and I guess it is hard to shake that off.

I was going through some books and magazines I have bought through the thrift store, estate sales, and even auctions. I am drawn to books and want to take the time to read every one I have. I know that will be impossible but I LOVE to have them around me. They are inspiring to me! History, Biography's, Travel, Westerns, Romance, Decorating, I even have a few cooking books too!

But, the BIG news is that Saturday Morning we went to “ Tears Animal Rescue: to collect the cat (we) ~ (I), No, both of us, wanted to adopt. Emma has been so fine a dog and we were so lucky to have found her through "The Chilton County Humane Society."
She needs a playmate and we probably should get another dog, but I have missed my black cat " Kahlua" every since the day I lost him. We also have had several other cats, Midnight, Muffy, and Carmichael, but Kahlua was so special to me, we had that relationship that is so special when you bond with a cat. Many people never get it and so don’t like cats, but it is there if you look.

Well, after visiting the cathouse and having 80 cats trying to get our love and attention we choose two. It was hard to leave with just one! So we got a grey (the headmistress called it blue) and a black cat. They both came to us and loved and purred in our arms. Many others also came and wanted love also, I wish I had a huge house, as they WILL stay inside, Well, I think and promised they will!

The gray and black cat rode home in the same crate as I only brought one but it was a very large crate I got at the Thrift store, if fact I got two that day, just because I also saw another. Maybe it was telling me something! Oh, by the way, their names were " Winky and Panther", not really the names I would choose, but that is what she was calling them by, if fact she knew every cat in there by name and was fantastic with them.

They rode home very quietly laying next to each other just fine. They had opened at 11AM and no one was there when we arrived so we called the number on the gate and she called back to say she had gone to the bank to come back by and it would be opened by a groundskeeper. We did and it was! We took awhile looking at the many cats there and my dear husband had to be at work by 2:15PM so we were a little close getting home and he barely had time to get dressed and get there, He is a police dispatcher and we kid, " He tells the Police where to go"!

Well, Winky came right out of the crate when we got in the house and Panther stayed hidden in the back of the crate. I think he was a little frightened by Emma greeting them in the car or maybe he was just frightened at what was happening. I know this story is getting long but I have a place I am going to.

I got the other crate and opened it in the house so two would be available if they wanted more privacy. Winky and Emma walked around and Winky showed Emma her place a few times. Luckily we had the head mistress clip both of their claws and we both had scratches all over our arms and my husband really had a lot by a cat (Harley) that lay on his shoulders wrapped around his head. I treated them with alcohol wipes when he got dressed and OUCH, that hurt so we were glad we had requested she trim them.

Anyway, Panther stayed in the crate for quite a few hours. My Grandog" Barkley" came over for an unexpected visit, so I put Winky in the other crate and closed both doors for when he came in. He flies in the front door and out the back door ALWAYS! He has to go check out the backyard.

When they came back in he and Emma played and checked out the crates. I finally opened the crate Winky was in as he was meowing to get out, so I also opened the crate Panther was in also but he stayed put in the back of the crate. After an hour or so, I put him in the ABO triangle Condo with bell to at least see what was happening and still be safe.

When my daughter came to get Barkley later that evening she saw Winky but did not disturb Panther till he was ready. It is a big triangle with a bell to ring and Panther laid in it peeking out with his big gold eyes and could see the happenings in the room and I thought maybe he would get more comfortable and relax. I could see his eyes from the sofa and he was watching all going on with Barkley, Emma, and Winky. They were all really getting along well, even nose to nose now and then. I was so proud of both dogs but after all, they are both Golden Retrievers and we know their personalities are open to all new friends.


I wanted to crate them both for the night but decided they would be ok and maybe feel better if they were not confined since they were not at the cathouse. They had free roam of an open trailer so not in cages or crates and confined. I always keep my other two bedrooms closed off so they don’t get dog hair and entry to them. My Messy rooms!

Well, we told both goodnight and Winky had followed us to the bedroom after I put him by his food in one of the crates. I got up around 4AM to go to the bathroom and saw neither one. I got up later in the morning and made the coffee thinking they would appear soon. Well, I waited and waited, no cats anywhere. I started to panic and hated myself for not crating them both when I went to bed. I went around the house softly calling to them as both Bob and Emma were sleeping. Emma sleeps in our bed or on the bathroom floor.

All was fine, but still no cats appeared. Finally I got the flashlight and started lurking around. I finally found them under the bed up by the headboard and wall under where I had been sleeping. The flashlight woke Winky and he followed me back to the living area. Panther stayed there under the bed. Ok!

Winky has been so loving and so good with Emma, well Emma is fine too. She is being very nice and I have curbed her barking at Winky (I now call him Blu, as we called them Black and Blue). Now, I am saying, Go get your brother and wake and up. I finally went back in with the flashlight when Bob got up and No Black, Panther, Brother! Where is he gone too? Ok, he got up and wandered to a closet or something. We looked everywhere. Ok, he will come out when he is ready.

Well, we panicked all day that we did not find him. Kahlua used to hide and we could walk right by him and he never let us know so we pray that is what is happening now. Pray, yes, I am very concerned. I want him out and about or at least where I can see him. We don't know his background or how he had been hurt before his rescue.

Folks are telling us stories of how their cats do this also but I want to see him. NOW!

Come out Brother, Panther, Black cat. Please come out wherever you are.

Annual Unleash your Creativity Giveaway Blog GIfts

It's all in the details....

I have so many things to tell you about that has been happening, but first today I want to share another facinating blog I have visited through Dawn at "The Feathered Nest". I always enjoy the link I get to see her blog entries so suscribing to a blog os a good thing to do. She has incredible posts of her findings, makings, and thoughts.

Ok, Lesley at Flatwoods Folk Art is having her Annual Unleash Your Creativity Giveaway on her blog.
She has this beautiful floral as her photo and I Beloive it is the same as the floral to her Breast Cancer for voting to help.

Her requirements are just to sign up on her site for TEN Fabulous giveaways and her drawing will be June 1, 2009, so hurry! She also asks if you will post to your blog, but not absolutely neccessary, it is up to you. I always like to share these events.

Lesley will draw 10 names and each will recieve a giveaway from her or a fabulous artist she blogs with, so she is also introducing us to 10 more fabulous artists and their work.

What an awesome way to have a giveaway! When Lesley draws a name on themorningof June 1, she will also draw a prize.

I had to share it with you, it is SO NICE!
SO till later, Smiles, Cyndi