Junk Bonanza Kansas Style!

Here we are on our way

to an Arts and Crafts sale that we 

just missed by one week last year.

We vowed not to let this happen again,

and marked our calendars

for the 3rd Saturday in September.

We are excited for a fun day together

in search of some treasures

and junk.

Emphasis on junk.

Hillsboro here we come!

Boy did we ever find some fun junk!

Before the main event, 

(the arts and crafts fair)

we headed to a small town  nearby

where we had heard of a fabulous

Barn Sale.

Those were the magic words for us

being the junky gals that we are...

Imagine our excitement

as we spotted these lovely barns,

brimming full of treasures

and this is only half of the buildings!

As far as the eye could see,
a bountiful field ...

row upon row of
crops just for the picking....

We had to be very careful.

This was just the outdoor loot,
and we still had 4 barns to peruse,
plus the craft fair in another town!
Oh my!

My mama used one of these except it wasn't this cool green.

Somehow Lisa managed to look glamorous
in the hot sun
and I just look like old lady picking through rubble.
It was very hot and dirty work

but these two are not easily deterred!

Just look at it!

I wish I had taken some pictures of the inside of the barns,
but I was busy,
trying to take it all in
and keep my pile of loot manageable.
I promised myself I would only spend the cash I had with me...

Note to self: Next year take more cash!



Fast forward to the end of one very hot but fun day:

We did manage to cram a lot of junk into the back of my car...

Isn't that a fun little cabinet that Kimberly found in one of the antique stores?
Lisa has a new cart that she is going to spray paint a fun color and use as an end table.

At least they have plans for the stuff they bought!
I just have to keep my husband from throwing my stuff away!
Here's what I scored...


two pretty blue jars...
one dolla each!

a rusty thing- a- ma- bob.

A chippy old ceiling tin.
I think I want to paint it a color,
but I don't want to spoil it..
any recommendations?

An old board
sprinkled with the prettiest
aqua paint chips.
(Probably lead based, but pretty all the same)

plus a nice, heavy, large, round mirror that I forgot to take a picture of!
6 bucks!

My hubs just asked me if I would like him to take this board downstairs
and sand off that old paint.....

Seriously?
funny guy.



I don't regret not buying one of these big fellas,

but I have been wishing I had snatched up that
pretty little sewing machine base...

oh well,

I did learn a few important things to remember for next year's trip...

1. Take cash and lots of it!
2. Take hand wipes, water and soap.
3. Take sunscreen.
4. Take more pictures
5. Take a picnic lunch and save money for yummy drinks and funnel cakes
6. Remember to buy funnel cakes
7. Take husband's truck.

I can't wait to do this again, girls!
Hilsboro Kansas, here we come!

A tale of two bras...

Finally, fall is here!
Last weekend, I hosted my little brunch group
for the first time in our new home.

Over the years
I have become a little fanatic
about having things
clean and in place when company comes over.

It feels really good
on those occasions,
to work hard and get things looking nice
for guests.

I cleaned.
I fluffed.
I put things away...
I even brought out some of the fall decorations
to help fill in the gaps
where I can't decide what to do.

Here's the window in the laundry room.
See how I cleverly hide the detergent and fabric softener
in that huge basket
that I already had?

Over by the sink,
Rosemary Rooster holds court.

The great room doesn't look
quite as stark with a little fake foilage
scattered around.
So what if the bookcases are still kind of bare?
So what if there are wires sticking out everywhere on the
other bookcase?

I'm hoping this grouping looks ok,
even if
that picture isn't really hanging on the wall yet...

Pay no attention to the fact that
there are no candles sitting
on those pretty mercury glass candle holders,
it's the overall effect
I was going for here...

After the girls left, I was tired,
and needed to sit a spell.
I like to think about the girls
and things we talked about around the table.
I was sitting there in my cozy chair in the library,
feeling good about how things are coming together
around the house.

I was finally feeling a sense of accomplishment
at getting things looking pretty
here and there.

I happened to glance on through
into the laundry room,
and what should I see...
but these two darlings.

Yes, take another look.

Dangling right out there
as big as you please.

Well, maybe not as big as you please,
but big as life.

I almost crack myself up sometimes.
Every time I think of it,
I have to smile.

I wonder what the girls thought when /if they noticed
these two decorations that I strategically placed
right there ...

Moral:  It's my home!
I live here and sometimes I forget to put my undies away!
Please forgive me and know that I tried , I really tried
to make it feel welcoming! Heheheheh...

Come on back Y'all,
you never know what you're going to run into around here!

These Are The Things...

that make me happy 

these last few days of summer...

My happy patch.

She survived the hot 

Kansas summer winds,

Kansas Army Worms, and

Kansas Grasshoppers.

 Now that we have had rain,

she is flourishing.

The front sidewalk.

Men at work.

We were  pretty sure that this truck

was about to take out the corner of the roof,

but we all screamed at the driver at once

and he stopped.

Crisis averted!

He assured us that this was not his first

goat roping.

Having this little doll around has

totally rocked my world,

made my year,

and

pretty much kept me from getting any work done around here

but it has made me very, very happy!

Can you blame me?

Boxes can wait...

This little punkin needs her hair combed!

Give me back my comb!

All better...

As I was sayin,

there are books to be read,

and camels to be fed, 

and cheers to be yelled...

cuz we all dressed in red~

New friends to be made

and not be afraid...

It's a very busy life around here,

sometimes we just need to sit and think....

I think I cannot ever get enough of this

little girl,

and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one!

Life is good.

I promise I'll finish unpacking soon!

In the meantime,

Have a wonderful fall day yourself!