Vintage Marketplace at the Oaks

Yesterday, was a glorious beautiful day.

The Marketplace is growing with more vendors and inspiration.
There is plenty more to show you, dear readers.  



The secret to a happy marriage is finding the right person.
You know you are right if you love to be with them all the time.
 
                                                                        Julia Child

Queen of Simple Pleasures

 Today is my parent's 67th wedding anniversary.


Sentimental and simple. 
Mother was sentimental and Father was a simple man.
They both had loads of friends.  Probably because they were
fiercely loyal. They taught us to be loyal, honest and true.
They were part of the greatest generation.

Lovers of all animals. They both had green thumbs.
And the biggest most generous hearts. 
Sentimental to the core.
Each of us kids inherited a degree of sentimentality.

This morning I woke up with an urgency
to share with you my dear readers.

Friend:  One who knows all about you 
and loves you just the same.
                             Elbert Hubbard

Earlier this week, I received a treasure from
my lifelong friend, Chrisy.  We have
been friends since the age of four.

Long ago, Chrisy gifted this little
book to me.  It's value more precious
then diamonds.

A little tradition started way back in
1978. I am sure she purchased this token
of love with babysitting money.

In all these years, Chrisy's handwriting has not changed.
It is immediately recognizable to me.

This little book was the second book in my
treasure trove. Chrisy didn't date her inscription.

This week the third book arrived in the post,
touched my soul and brought
memories rushing in from long ago.  Our shared
childhood and lives have often run in  parallel.
A kaleidoscope of memories of  childhood,
growing up in a magical small town,
living safe and free. 
A place where the beach and the rolling hills
collide.  Where rain and fog wrapped us
like a comforting blanket.
Where we shared experiences of baking, embroidery,
flowers, and the better things in life.  Where the color
of orange pumpkins illuminates the darkness. 

I didn't understand the color link until this very moment.
The comfort and significance of color and memory.
Orange had never been a favorite color but it definitely represents
a weapon memory and a feeling security.  Wholeness. 
My lightsaver, cane, burns brightly in the color orange.

Eugenia, 
Saw this book and thought of you. 
You are the queen of
simple pleasures 
(pink popcorn, good cup of hot tea, Abba Zabba, etc.)

Much love, 
Chrisy

Only the closest to me would understand the
secrets of my heart.  Abba Zabba still makes my
heart race (the packaging is modern and fresh),
what is prettier than pink popcorn and
hot tea....swoon.

Queen of Simple Pleasures...definitely the title
for my first book. 

Life is precious and fleeting. 

Go seek simple pleasures dear readers.

Thrifting for Treasures

 Mirror mirror on the wall.

Transform thy self.
Once and for all.

This is where Mr. Lee, without gloves or safety glasses, 
cut himself.
Always, my dear readers,
wear proper safety equipment.  

With a little help from our friends.
Garage and side door open for proper ventilation.

shake shake shake
your can of paint

Gorgeous.

Montana spray paint available at Aaron Brothers.
Love Aaron Brothers. Go to their link above just click.
Sign up for coupons and special events. The get-along-gang
highly recommend AR featured art product lines.

Simply divine for REAL artists and just crafters like moi.

Last night, the children and I watched,
Diana Vreeland's The Eye has to Travel.

We were mesmerized.
Completely and utterly captivated.
Glued to our seats.
Not even one request for a pause to go potty.

I woke at 2:00 a.m. to watch  it again.
Highly recommended it for anyone fascinated
by genius, fashion, art or business.

Mrs. Vreeland kept saying she was simply "mad" about this and that.
Can you imagine being mad about anything?
What a love affair.
Mrs. Vreeland had it at home with her beautiful husband and
in her work. 

She simply described her relationship with her mother as unsympathetic.
You will have to watch it for yourself to learn more. 

A fascinating life.    

On turning 6

The hostess Princess Holly.

Partners in antics.

Secret weapons with "carnie" tendencies.

Seek joy.

Sugar highs.

Newton: For every action, there is always an equal and opposite reaction.

Triumph. 

Kid designed and Daddy cut props.  Oma and Opa, the cheerleaders.

Games.

A royal cake for a future Queen.

It is good to be 6.  Thank you for celebrating
with us.

Song Sung Blue

Driving along in Mabel (our minivan).

Holly says to Mr. Lee.

Daddy, will you play
Song Sung Blue, please?

She says, "Sometimes I sing
it in my head at school...When I need to
be brave."

Oh, baby we all sing in our heads to be
brave. 

The Lent Season

The lenten season is intended for
reflection, for prayer, for sacrifice and giving.
A preparation for new beginnings.

Inspiration from Susan Branch.  Painted this little banner.

Heavenly Father,
In your precious loving care we reside;
With love and tender mercy;
We ask for your blessing and healing power

Playing with flash.

This week, Lord, as we prepare for the celebration
of our girl's birthday, we ask for you to be with
us.  Guide us, Lord, in our role as parents.

Yellow sheet for rug.

To plant roots, Lord,
and prepare wings for soaring.

Amen.

Sunday Gratitude

“In normal life we hardly realize how much more we receive than we give,
 and life cannot be rich without such gratitude.
 It is so easy to overestimate the importance of our own achievements
 compared with what we owe to the help of others.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison

  

















For I know I would be nothing without the love
of the Almighty and all the human hearts who
have raised my name in prayer. 

word of the day: gratitude