Retro Valentine Images

Sharing some retro Valentine's 

Enjoy!

Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

We have been having the craziest weather ever. 

It get so cold at night, down to 20's - 30's.

We awake to a hard frost every morning.

 Now, that's the only normal part.
It then gets up to the high '60's - '70's during the day!

We have yet to have ANY rain!

The Governor has declared a drought. 

We have yet been told what that entails.

Everything is suffering.

I've lost several plants, even established ones.

See that brown shrub on the right in the picture below?

It's Lemon balm and about 5 years old. I'm hoping it will shoot up from the bottom come Spring.

 The frost sucks the life right out of the dehydrated plants.

Wilted and burnt they lay along the ground.

 

I know this is a anything Floral party, 

don't worry I won't disappoint ;)

Check out my Orchid. It has buds on it!!

This is the first time I haven't killed an Orchid, and believe me I have received so many as gifts.

I always feel so bad when they die.

 BUT I have figured out the secret... ignore it!

It has new growth along the old stems along with more buds.

It even has new leaves!

I usually forget to water it and even forget I have it sometimes. 

My faux Freesia kind of hides it ;)

This is what it looked like when my kids first gave it to me...

and soon will be blooming again, fingers crossed.

Since this is about the only flower I have in all my gardens

 

 The flowers are my dishes will have to do.

 I love this Rose table my daughter gave me.

 A few gorgeous floral images to share.

No Time No Time! I Got Got Got Got No Time!

Life has been crazy here. Yes, still!

My time hasn't been my own the past few months.

C has been having a series of health issues, so between 5 new specialists ordering a battery of  tests, procedures and surgery for one of the issues, I think we need chairs with our names on them in all those waiting rooms! I haven't 'created' much lately and am going through withdrawal!

I needed something to put cash and/or gift cards into for Christmas gifts. Last year I made pillow boxes, but wanted something different this year. I also wanted to use what I had.

I ended up using some empty Band Aid and Altoids tins I had.  

.Using vintage Christmas song sheets, holiday paper, old Christmas Cards, silver tinsel pipe cleaners and some trinkets, these are a few I came up with.

If you follow me you know my bedroom is being turned into a working bedroom/craft room. Of course, I started this about 2 years ago, let's just say it's a work in progress. Almost done, I'm hoping to be able to show it to you soon.

When we cleared out the farm, my sister took my Mom's vintage African Violet stand. Mom had had it for as long as I can remember. I've gotten away from indoor plants so I was glad she could use it. At one time Mom had it filled with them in continuous full bloom.

Anyway, it used to be brown. My sister ''antiqued'' it with a paint technique that turned out much prettier updated than when she started. That was a quite a few years ago, she is currently going through a purging phase (as am I) and asked me if I wanted it.  Feeling kind of guilty for not wanting to add another item to my overflowing home or get back into house plants, I finally said yes, thinking I'll figure out something to do with it. 

It sat in the garage for a month or two. I finally decided to bring it into my bedroom and try to grow some African Violets, which I haven't had for about 30 years!

There was a corner that it fit perfectly into. I was looking at the saucers that the pots sit on and then it hit me. Take out the saucers and get some of Mom's clay pots to insert into the rings. I found some that fit and got my paints out and mixed up a color that was pretty close to that of my sisters andpainted the pots ~

It makes a perfect organizational spot for craft supplies! 

Relieved I didn't have to kill any African Violets in the process ;)

We get some of C's results on Monday. Fingers crossed it's nothing serious.  A few more follow up appointments and completing his physical therapy, I'm hoping things will calm down a bit....I have so many things that need to be done. 

The Great Backyard Bird Count

Join me for the Great Backyard Bird Count!

Yes another year has passed and it's time to get ready to count the birds!

''The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is for everyone, from beginner birdwatchers to experts, and anyone can participate from anywhere in the world. Counting birds provides scientists and conservationists with a real-time snapshot of bird populations. Each checklist submitted during the GBBC helps the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Bird Studies Canada, and the National Audubon Society learn more about how birds are doing, and how to protect them and the environment we share. Please join us for the GBBC, Friday, February 14th through Monday, February 17th, and together we can make our local birds count!''

 Find out more at www.birdcount.org

You can even send and Ecard to friends and family to get together for a fun and educational outing! Kids love it!
This will be my 7th year participating!

Who knows who you'll see ♥♥♥

Have fun!

Your Yearly Dementia Test

Your Yearly Dementia Test

(only 4 questions)

Yep, it's that time of year again for us to take our annual senior citizen test.
 Exercise of the brain is as important as exercise of the muscles. As we grow older, it's important
to keep mentally alert.  If you don't use it, you lose it!
 Here is a very private way to gauge how your memory compares to your last test.
Some may think it is too easy, but the ones with memory problems may have difficulty.
 Take this test to determine if you're losing it or not. 
The spaces below are so you don't see the answers until you've made your answer.
OK, relax, clear your mind and begin.

#1. What do you put in a toaster?







Answer: 'bread.'  If you said 'toast', just give up now and go do something else.
And, try not to hurt yourself.
 If you said, bread, go to Question #2.


# 2. Say 'silk' five times. Now spell 'silk.' What do cows drink?







Answer: Cows drink water. If you said 'milk,' don't attempt the next question.Your brain is already over-stressed and may even overheat.Content yourself with reading more appropriate literature such as Women's Weekly or Auto World. However, if you did say 'water', proceed to Question #3.





# 3. If a red house is made from red bricks and a blue house is made from blue bricks and a pink house is made from pink bricks and a black house is made from black bricks,what is a green house made from?






Answer: Greenhouses are made from glass.

 If you said 'green bricks', why are you still reading this???  PLEASE, go lie down!


 But, if you said 'glass,' go on to Question #4.



 

# 4. Do not use a calculator for this: 
You are driving a bus from New York City to Philadelphia.
In Staten Island, 17 people got on the bus.
In New Brunswick, 6 people get off the bus and 9 people get on.
In Windsor, 2 people get off and 4 get on.
In Trenton, 11 people get off and 16 people get on.
In Bristol, 3 people get off and 5 people get on.
And, in Camden, 6 people get off and 3 get on. 
You then arrive at Philadelphia Station.

 Without going back to review, how old is the bus driver?






Answer:Oh, for crying out loud!



 Don't you remember your own age?!?!  It was YOU driving the bus!

If you pass this along to your friends, pray they do better than you.

PS: 95% of people fail most of the questions!  

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New Logo

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Good Luck!

Shabby Cottage Corner

This blank corner wall has been bugging me for a while now. I wasn't sure what I was going to put there to bring the level up to be close to the other side. It made Katie depressed too.

A few months ago I was playing around and ended up making kind of a free form Dream Catcher using a hanger as the base. I went outside and found a neat stick that I added diagonally.

Torn fabrics, yarn and ribbons coordinate in the same pastels.

Yeh, since we aren't receiving any rain I think I'm getting Spring Fever ;)

A few feathers from my sister's chickens were added here and 

there to add to the movement too.

I brought in my old vintage Screen Door from the farm and sandwiched part of it between the entertainment center and the wall.

I then hung the Dream Catcher on it.
The length stops right above my Grandmothers old bell I have under the cloche I made by turning a glass upside down and adding a marble to the top for the handle.  You can see an old photo I have of  a relatives farm that used to be here in the town I live in.

I hadn't realized how good it went with 

my Stained Glass Floor Lamp.

I like the way it turned out and can't wait until it warms up so I can open the window next to it and see it blow in the breeze.
Cost $0, I had or repurposed what I had.Yippee!

Yes, that is part of our Christmas Tree on the left of the photo.....it is finally down and put away!