Thrift Store Picture

I finally got around to putting a frame and picture I found at a thrift store to good use. 
Remember this pic I picked up for $5 a couple of months ago?

I am sure I could not have bought this new in a 16x20 for under 20 bucks..

Doesn't it give you such a sense of acomplishment when you know you have got a quality item and saved so much money?

Thanks so much for stopping by.. I am really enjoying getting to know you .. that has been the best part of doing this blog.

You can get to know people you would have never had the oppurtunity to know otherwise. 

Have a pleasant Sunday.. warm weather coming here tommorow!

It is on hard board and has faux paint strokes. I loved the colors.. just something about it.. I just loved it. I moved it from room to room for a while and finally settled on leaving it on top of the black hutch I rcently moved into the living room. I had no idea what type of frame I wanted it in. 

Remember this?

I loved the picture in this frame also.. I got it at the same thrift store at a later time .. I think I paid aound $12. Unlike some of you guys that get the best deals ever... our thrift stores around here run a bit higher. Anyway not too bad for a pic that size. The frame did nothing for me but it was solid wood. I even picked up a splinter from it. I still have not figured out what to do with the picture of Jesus but I know I am going to use it. I am excited because I found some old fans from churches that have Jesus on them.. (Is it saying I am old if I remember using those in church?) So anyway I want to group the fans and the pic. I'm Excited!

I refinished the frame in an ivory (just spray paint, a satin) and then glazed it with raw umber acrylic mixed with a glazing compound .. presto.. I love the way it turned out and the picture I loved fit  perfectly. 

   Pretty good deal for under 20 bucks!

Went right back on the hutch

A close up of how the finish brought out details I didn't even notice before.

Plus it made details in the picture pop.

I love hearing from you. Please leave me note if you stopped by, I love to hopping over to see what you are up to!

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Bunnies

I had these pics of bunnies in my files and have been wanting to share them with you... but I have not had much extra time this week to work on them. Today I worked on my blog,and this morning I stayed up until 3:00 working on a video for the Great Strides Walk in honor of my granddaughter who has Cystic Fibrosis. I would love to share it with you later. It was a hard thing to do but it was a labor of love.
So this is going to be a short ... GOT to hit the hay tonight! Anybody else out there love bunnies?

He is great don't you think? This is a paper egg..got him from Tuesday Morning years ago.. thought about filling him with eggs when the kids were young and still home but that never happened.. what, let him end up in a toy box somewhere.. Nope!

and a smaller one

He keeps a watch over my crock on top of my hutch.. a recent buy at Home Goods. 

A metal tray I found at Kirklands sooo many years ago.. on sale for a scratch.. maybe $5.00.. these guys sit in a corner on my counter in the kitchen. Love the detail in the picture.

A canvas pic from Kirklands years ago also... I just saw these guys in print on an art site... wow a lot more than I paid! In the kitchen also. Hey I  need to refinish that frame!

And... this is a find for me!!! I saw these guys two weeks at Goodwill.. boy I grabbed them up so fast my daughter did a double take.. I had to have them before someone else got to them for $4.00 .. score!!! to me anyway.. but here is the catch.. the top had  a chip.. Now a chip rarely bothers me.. does it bother you? Anyhow, home with me they came.. got out my acrylic paints did a touch up.. no shine...hmmm.. wonder how clear nail polish would work on top of that paint? Hey.. did you catch the moss bunny hopping on the top of the flowers?

Pretty good, I am going to put another coat on when the hydrangeas come out.. don't you love them in the vase? 

And this lady sits on top of my mantle.. I know her ear is repaired.. but she will stay. I have never seen another like her.. a Carolina Pottery find years ago.

Do you think I have too many.. I don't, I would take another in a heart beat.. as a matter of fact I am going to Dollar Store tommorow to see if they have any to paint and stain.. Dollar Tree had none this week.. In recent years it is harder to find a cute bunny ... at least where I am looking. Any ideas?

Thanks for hopping by!

I am linking to

Fridays Unfolded

 at

http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/

Feathered Nest Friday

at

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Time for a Change

I decided it was a time for a change.. yep tired of my blog background. Hmmm what to use.. so I went browing on the most wonderful site.. and.. found a wonderful new background. I love it, reminds me of  spring. Thank you  Karen at Graphics Fairy! She is so generous and offers gorgeous design images to use on blogs or with crafts. Not only does she offer the designs, she gives a lot of great instructions on how to use many of them. Karen of the Graphic Fairy has been offering lovely graphics since 2007. She has over 1,800 free clip art images! (I am sure most of you already know about the Graphics Fairy) but for those of you who don't.. You NEED to go see her!

http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

Here are a few of my favorites.. my mind is spinning trying to figure out how I am going to use some of these..
She covers the birds and the bees...

Wouldn't these make beautiful cards?

something to sing about

something for what ailes you...

what alies your horse,

how to get pretty and stay young

and in case you need to get hitched

Isn't that beautiful ? Yep.. got to come up with some ideas how to use some of my favorites. Have you used any of the Graphic Fairy graphics for your projects? I would love to see some of  your projects or hear from your ideas.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a fun and crafty weekend! 

linking to

http://www.atthepicketfence.com/

The Best Banana Bread Ever! plus a little southern treat

Let me start this blog by saying I really don't like banana bread at all. I have tried many recipes over the years. NOPE.. don't like it which is kind of funny because I love bananas. Speaking of have you tried the banana milk shake from Chick Fil A? If you have not, DON'T!!! They are delicious and very addicting. Taste like a banana pudding frozen.. yummmm. Never mind.. just don't do it. We are coming up on warm weather.. I have to go sleeveless, what was I thinking about?  Ok, just maybe give it a try one time.

Now back to the banana bread story.. I had some bananas.. you know the story.. just about to go bad. Hmmmm ... maybe I will give the banana bread thing one more try.. So I got out some old recipes and tweaked them a little. This time BINGO... It was delicious! I wanted to share it with you guys

Banana Bread

Heat oven to 350 

Bake from 1hr to 1 hr 10 mins or until knife comes out clean

in a medium bowl

Shift

1- 2/3 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt 

in another bowl

Beat with hand whisk until light and fluffy (about 10 mins)

1 cup + 2 Tbs sugar

2 eggs

drizzle in

1/2 cup oil

add

3 to 3 1/2 cup of mashed bananas

2 Tbs sour cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

fold in

sshifted ingredients

pour into greased loaf pan (I use butter) 

Let cool for 10-15 mins before removing from pan

I don't have the nutritional information.. I'm sure it is high calorie if that is the question.

It is lethal with a drizzle of honey.. yep that's what I needed, more calories.. just trying to fatten you up a little with me..

 Speaking of getting fat, .. how about some mint sweet tea? I mean southern style sweet ice tea.. I may be naieve in thinking some of you may not know how to make sweet tea, but considering my youngest says she can't make it .. here you go

Ice Sweet Tea   

Place a medium pot filled with water on a low heat on the stove

add

4 family size tea bags (not instant) or 7-8 regular size bags

2 regular size mint tea bags

Let sit on low heat for 20 mins

(do not boil)

Put 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 cups of sugar (white)

in a container.

Pour strained tea mixture over sugar and mix. (don't put hot tea directly in glass, it will break the container don't ask how I know)

Stir until sugar is melted and then fill up container with water to make about around 3/4 gallon. Serve on ice.

If you would like you can leave off the mint when making and serve with lemon slices.

Just in time for serving on the screened in porch!

This is how I serve mine.

You don't believe that do you? That was a shower for my daughter. 

This is it, good ole Tupperware, had it for years.

One last thing about tea. It keeps in the fridge for about 2 days.. after that get rid of it. If you leave it out over night don't drink it.. trust me.. yuck! (don't ask how I know) 

Thanks for stopping by. I am really enjoying meeting you guys and looking at your beautiful blogs.

Linking up to

at

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t

 

What a gift! Meakin China

I promised to show you the Meakin china (Japan) in a table setting. This china is the pattern '"Japan" by J & G Meakin. Meakin begin producing it in1890 It was a gift from my FIL.. blogged here
http://southernhomesweethome.blogspot.com/2011/03/sneak-peak.html
I do love this pattern but it is so fragile.. not something you would want to use with the grandchildren, but I wanted to set the table for spring so with the help of my daughter's we got everything out and set the table up. The truth about this china is that I knew nothing about Meakin before following your blogs! (thanks guys... I am learning so much)  Isn't that wild? I just knew I loved the pattern. Now I know I love most Meakin patterns. Another odd thing, I had no idea the pattern was considered transfer ware before doing the research on blog. My knowledge until recent was the china was my favorite color and it some eye candy.

photo by my daughter Sarah Seay

 So check it out... my youngest daughter had a photo shoot and I got to baby sit one of my new granddaughters.. soooo.. I asked her if she would take a few pics of my china.. yeah!


The crochet runner was from my MIL many years ago. For years she bought linens from yard sales. I am glad she gave me this piece. I have used it many times over the years. 

The napkins, napkin rings and place mats are from Pier One. They are the most delicate linens I have seen in a while.

I used my everyday English Countryside between the plates and the charger. 

The silver plate is by Rogers & Bros. "Inspiration" also known "Magnolia" & "Queen Rose" it was produced in 1951. I bought it from a lady on Craigs List this past summer.. a great price and the wooden chest was included. She had a set of six with the serving pieces.. I bought extra pieces on ebay to expand the number of place settings. It is the first silver plate I have ever owned.. and I have grandkids! I love it.

There are two casserole dishes in the set. This picture shows the detail of the china.

photo by Sarah Seay



Lovely gravy boat.. can you see the broken side on the plate? It happened when I moved it from one are to another. I just about wanted to cry. There are some repairs on a couple of pieces but it hurts more when it happens on my watch. 

The little individual creamers where a find from the thrift store. I only bought 4, now I wish I had gotten all six of them. The glassware is ?? I can tell you I have never bought fine crystal in a department store.. most likely I bought it years ago at Carolina Pottery. Glad they both are trimmed in gold .. they go so well with the china. The silver candlesticks came from my husband's aunt. 

So glad you stopped by ... It is so much fun getting to know you and learning so much from all of you. 

Sunny and gorgeous here tomorrow. We are finally working on the laundry room and I am working on a few other projects. I decided to change my blog setting again.. seems I like to change the settings as much as I like to change things in my home. (drives hubs crazy)

the background is from

http://www.backgroundfairy.com/

check out her site.. she has great stuff.. so generous to share!

 Linking

to

Tablescape Thursday

Beautiful entries and 

Susan has a lovely blog you need to go check out now!

at

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http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

You need to meet Marti if you have not.. she is the one of the  most supportive people in blog land! Plus her blog is beautiful.. really hop over there now. 

 Newbie Party

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 Amaze Me Monday

http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com

Great place to meet new friends, thanks Debbie!

Happy Pink Saturday

Beverly has a great party and blog

Such beautiful entries.. you need to see them!

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Sunday Favorites

http://happytodesign.blogspot.com/2011/03/sunday-favoritesno-95.html

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Seasonal Sunday

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Boogie Board Cottage