Anacortes Field Trip

On Wednesday while we were visiting Anacortes, Hubby and I stopped at one of our favorite places. This antique store isn't someplace where I would ever actually purchase anything, they are pretty proud of their treasures and the prices reflect that thinking however; they do have a plethora of gates. We would LoVe a gate in front of the Stone House. Keep out the riff raff.
I like this green gate. Solid bottom, nice for drivers that turn in the driveway too fast. Bam!

Hubby likes to think this one came from an old cemetery.

I thought this was clever idea. the shopkeeper painted an old bike completely white, then added a basket of flowers and a rider. Sweet idea for the garden.

Today, as part of the staycation, I'll be cleaning up the place. Last night the lawn got thatched. We really do know how to have a good time...

Grrrrrr, That Should Be My Tan

Okay. That's it. I'm ticked.

I have a site meter attached to my blog. I have lurkers, stalkers etc., people who don't leave comments. I'm fine with that. The site meter does not tell me who the readers are, so don't freak, I don't know who you are...however; I know WHERE you are lurking from.

One of my readers is in Honolulu, Hawaii, Waikiki Beach this week, checking my site regularly. In between laying on the beach, drinking chi chi's and probably planting their tush in my chair by the pool, they are visiting the blog. Just checking on my miserable life at home.

Last year I was in Honolulu, Hawaii, Waikiki Beach, living large, this year not so much.

Whoever you are...you better bring back a tacky souvenir for me. It's the very least you can do. Oh and have a chi chi for me too, you poop.

I AM NOT bitter. Or cranky!

Pretty Downtown & Pretty Uptown

We've had a short staycation this week. Hubby was off for two days, so I asked if I could have some vacation time. Gorgeous weather on Tuesday! Sam had a day off and no school for Max so we worked in the yard. Happy guys--- ;p We pressure washed, trimmed hedges, waxed a car, took a trip to the dump (got the '54 started for summer), and all the sticks got burned, whew, it was fun to work together and to see so much get finished. Patio furniture is out and clean, bring on the sunshine!

On Monday and Tuesday nights we had extra teens stay for dinner. Fun times, for sure. Blake gets a call when we grill chicken for chicken caesar salad, it's his favorite. Levi, Dylan and Dakota stayed for BBQ burgers the next evening. I'm going to need a Costco run again, they wiped me out. It's great to have them.

On Wednesday it was time for a field trip. Hubby and I went shopping in Burlington and Anacortes. Max had a soccer game against Anacortes at four, so we had a nice day to shop. We had lunch at Johnny Carino's, love their spinach and pecan chicken salad. It's nice to shop downtown Anacortes and I love the eddie bauer outlet store in Burlington. I had my quarterly rewards burning a hole in my pocket.

The game. Can I just say, it was pretty uptown. We got a program, that usually is not the case. We had bleachers to sit on, again, usually not the case. And a gorgeous view of the bay. Nice. And the kicker, LCHS JV team won. We sat with old friends and had some good laughs.



Today I am helping Kelly at Sole Obsession.

Knick Knack

Patty Whack, give the dog a bone.

Sorry, I digress.

The basement clean up continues...
Mom had some old dishes in the basement and we took turns going through and choosing treasures. Mom kept trying to put things in the garbage. We had to tell her NO! these are treasures.
Mom had a nice collection of china tea cup and saucers. She had given us some earlier and so there were just a few left. I suggested each granddaughter might like to have one, so Hana, Katie and Jenna each have a tea cup. As we took turns, I ended up with this yellow and blue one. Mom also had a nice collection of glass refrigerator containers. We all got one or more of those. I loved the gold. I explained to Max that these were like the first tupperware type containers.

This painting was one of my first choices, love the colors. It was in the house when my folks bought it. Someone wrote in pencil on the back that it is in Lewis County, Washington.

The mortar and pestle is from when Mom worked at McLain's Drug Store. She worked in the soda fountain and then part time as she had kids and then later as the bookkeeper. I have wonderful memories of the store. Sitting at the fountain having ice cream, visiting her after school, even helping to stuff bills every month. It was my number one pick!
And, I think it will come in handy for making mojitos!

More Basement Treasures

This bed frame is from the fifties and belonged to my Dad's parents. Liz would love it since her house is vintage fifties but since she lives in Arkansas?, we had to find another recipient. It has a built in plug in for clocks, lamps etc. We knew it had to go to a reader. My niece Katie! She loves to read and my brother Ken admitted she needs a new bed. Perfect! There is a matching dresser and so the aunts immediately redecorated her room in fifties pale aqua and a touch of pink. Cute! My SIL Julie is now stuck with that little job.

Speaking of redecorating a young girl's room, the summer before I started high school I redecorated my room. I found this bed in the garage attic and painted it apple green. I found a dresser at the neighbors, they let me have it and it too got a coat of apple green. The walls were pink and the bedding was pink gingham. I bought a small round table and Mom sewed the table cloth. It was apple green with white swiss dots and white dingle balls. I found an old crate and put candles and plants on it. My first project! Oh the memories.

This lovely loveseat has a matching chair. I had it in my apartment when I was a single teacher living in the city. I bought it at an antique store. I can't decide if I should sell it, or recover it and have cushions made. Hubby has good memories of that couch. Sorry, I forgot this is a family friendly site.

This is an incomplete project. I started to strip it about 20+ years ago and lost interest. Maybe now is the time.

Next post, the knick knacks. More trash or treasures coming right up!

Attic to Basement

When I was in the second grade my parents moved into the house that they still live in today. So many everyday things, holidays, birthday celebrations, growing up all in the same house. This summer they are going to put the house on the market and move to town. I am so thankful that I grew up in the house and home that I did. It's hard to see them make plans to move but it's time.

Today my sisters and my brother and our spouses showed up to clean out the basement. There was a trailer for the garbage dump, a truck for the thrift store and other vehicles so that we could take our stuff home. We have all used my parent's basement as a storage facility for a long, long time.

Today we were evicted.

I thought since you enjoyed my attic so much, you might enjoy the basement too. Quite possibly my readers delight in my mess?
Grandpa and Hana both wore their vintage 'Bill & Fred's Excellent Construction' jackets. Aren't they cute?

My sis, Kathi with her bike, 'Purple Power'! She picked strawberries one summer and made enough cash to purchase Purple Power, a gorgeous Schwinn bicycle from the Lynden Bike Shop. She paid $54 of her hard earned cash. The matching basket is missing but otherwise she is in pretty good shape. Kathi too.
You've heard of eight track tapes. How about four track? Definitely before my time.
Next week more trash and treasures! Wait until you see what Hubby and I brought home.