I Love Yard Sales

I finally convinced Dave that we needed to get up early on Saturdays and head out to some yard sales - so we headed out this past Saturday and I am glad we did.

This wing back chair was $15! I plan on putting in our bedroom.

This was a great find; I have been looking for a rustic table for the back yard. This was $30 and I love it. The lady that sold it said her father had made it years ago. It came with 2 benches. I can't wait to use it for our next cook out with family or friends.

Dave had to put the legs on it when we got it to the back yard.

The lamp on the left was unusual and I just couldn't resist it for $7. The blue oil lamp was $3.

This red wagon is from Lowe's. I will fill it with flowers in the summer and pumpkins in the fall.

I discovered a thrift store recently and found these pots with artificial flowers for $15.

Prom Time

Matlin is going to her senior prom in a couple weeks. She bought this cute dress and ask me if I could do a few alterations. Sure, no problem -

But look at all these beads - at first I thought omg! what if I mess it up. But I figured out a way to take it up, so Matlin came over for a fitting..I think it will work.

Look at that strap - it is all beads - very unusual - these pics don't give it justice.

Isn't is pretty - she is going to look great. She is wearing silver shoes and her boyfriend is wearing pink with his tux.

Easter 2009

We had a very nice Easter. After church we went home and had a nice brunch,then we headed to Lance and Kari's. Dave and Ian hid Easter eggs. It was a beautiful day and everyone had fun!

Welcome Spring

Dave and I ventured out a few Saturdays ago to look for some plants and I found a few other treasures.

Little Amish boy and girl prints.

Glass wash board.

Thought this would look cute on my antique desk.

Cobalt blue oil lamp. I am making curtains for our bedroom that has blue in the material and I plan on getting out my collection of Cobalt and displaying them somehow in our room.

Boulevard Plants - our favorite nursery.

I bought some mint.

Bunnies in the cutest cages.

There was a yard sale outside of the nursery. This is a card catalog from a school in Colonial Heights. For $10 I had to have it. I plan on antiquing it and using it to store recipes, embroidery supplies, and whatever else. Just have to decide where to put it.

Glass chicken water dispenser

The garden is almost ready for planting.

My Favorite Drink - Even Better

Dave and I recently went to Red Lobster for dinner. I had an apple martini -one of the best I have ever had. The bar manager gave me the recipe, which is very similar to the one we use - but the technique was different. She said NOT to shake a martini - this will bruise the vodka?? You only stir the ingredients 5 times. I gave it a try at home and it tasted just like the one at the restaurant.

Pretty too!

This is a dish I made after having a similar one when we went out - Pork and Apples.

The apples simmering in a yummy brown sugar sauce.

Yummy Cupcakes

My friend and coworker, Nancy turned 40 last week so we celebrated a little at work. Nancy doesn't like birthday cake but loves cupcakes - Chocolate!

So I whipped up these from Ina Garten, "Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes". They were wonderful. I will use this recipe from now on when we want chocolate.

This is the ganache melting in a double boiler.

The ganache melted and so yummy looking.

Isn't the frosting gorgeous and so shiny!

My taste tester.

Made a cute center piece.

If you didn't guess, Nancy love flamingo's.

I gave Nancy this Lucy Bag which I knitted a long time ago but never felted it. I was a little nervous since my last felted item was a big disappointment. This wool did well and I have another "Lucy" in the works.

I was going to put a little button on the purse. But we put a rhinestone flamingo pin on it which looks cute and can be removed for washing or adding another adornment.