I Am Trying Not To Lose My Marbles!

Speaking of Fathers and their day...my grandfather had an amazing collection of marbles. Thought you might like to see them...he kept them in a large glass container just as I do. Some of these would be approaching 100 years old.

This is a vintage lithograph that I had framed. I display it above the marble collection. These beautiful posters were used each week to illustrate a Bible verse in children's Sunday School classes.

#1 Grandson separated the marbles into colors for my "photo shoot".

Blues...

Some of my favorite blues...

Greens...and some favorites displayed on an old flower frog.


Love the earthtones...some are Bennington pottery marbles. They were made at the end of the day when all other pottery molds had been filled...the leftover clay was made into marbles. I have some wonderful blue ones also. They are pictured further below.

I really love the oranges and yellows...

Steelys (pictured below) were heavy and the ones used to shoot the others.

Swirls...

Then the infamous sulphide incident...

Quick story...when my son was 4 years old, he came in and said, "There's a chicken in this marble". "Sure there is," I scoffed. "I'll show you," he said. I heard him outside hammering...I thought, "Isn't he something, trying to build something...wait! NO! Not the marble!!!!" Yes, he was trying to get the chicken out of the marble to prove to me there was indeed a white one encased in the glass...I held it up to the light...there that sulphide rooster was...but he wasn't worth nearly as much as he was 5 minutes before.....ugh.

Can you see his outline in the pic above?

Bennington pottery marbles...

Some flea market marble finds...displayed with some miniature books and my grandmother's mini dictionary (top of box).

Could it be genetic that I love round paperweights? They are just big marbles!
Hope you have a good week...it's just hot as all get out down here in Mississippi. We sure could use a little rain...it'd make the tomatoes grow!

Join us at Treasure Chest Friday!

Don't lose your marbles,

He Watered It, He Pulled the Weeds....

Writing about Father's Day is tricky for me.

I had a wonderful father and would like to salute him and thank him for his love and support all these many years! He worked hard to support a family of five and still to this day...works so as not to be a "burden" to others. BTW: He's NOT a burden to anyone! So Happy Father's Day, Daddy...you are loved...you are the best!

So I know you are waiting...there is a BUT coming here, isn't there? And the answer is a resounding YES, there is....here it comes...."BUT....everyone isn't so fortunate." I would like to use the following analogy to explain...

Fathering a child is a lot like being a planter of a garden. A good gardener continues to take care of the seedlings as they mature...he waters, nurtures, attends to the needs of, and weeds like crazy. The good gardener doesn't just leave the seedlings to "bring themselves up". The good gardener doesn't desert the troops...he hangs in there...through thick and thin...

He doesn't see another plot of land that looks better and begin a new garden. If he does, for some reason, begin another garden, he makes sure he continues his allegiance to the first one...so that the seedlings don't wither and die.

Too many "seedlings" are left to someone else's care. Whether it be a mother, grandparents, gang members, teachers, friends...step-parents...somebody is going to raise those seedlings...

For just a minute, let's talk about step-gardeners...you know those people who are darned if they do and darned if they don't...you remember them, don't you? The ones who seldom, in the seedling's eyes, do anything right. Until the seedling matures and then many times, the step-gardener begins to look a lot wiser...remember him? He stepped up to the plate...and he kept on keeping on when the original gardener got more interested in his new plot of ground than the one he already had tilled and planted. It's rather difficult to take the high ground here...when you see so many children who are fatherless...it takes a heck of a lot more guts to actually raise a child than to father one.
I would like to tell my husband, one of the millions of step-gardeners in this country, a very heartfelt Thank YOU for being such a stand up guy. A public show of appreciation is due all the good step-parents in this crazy world of ours. Those are the ones who truly stepped up to the plate and if they didn't hit a grandslam, then they were exhausted by the effort they made.

For those of you who weren't or aren't in the good gardener category, well...I'll be silent on that point...besides, it's not me you are going to answer to. I'll leave that to the Great Gardener.

Words worth pondering,
Angela

Vintage Lamp & Kitchen Knobs Transformations

I believe I've found a new BFF! I kept reading about Brown Hammered spray paint and while in WM I decided to give her a whirl.

This is the expected result up close and personal! I loved the look but would it "do the trick" on my antique brass kitchen knobs? I really didn't want to buy all new knobs for the kitchen...so here's how I accomplished the feat.

I took a few knobs off and screwed the screw back in place. Then I inserted the screw into this block of styrofoam. (Would give credit where credit is due...but can't remember where I saw this tip. It's a good one.)

When the knobs dried they looked just like the paint can said they'd look! Eureka! For less than $7 I transformed 28 knobs, a planter, a metal display piece that holds up a large hurricane, another metal display piece, a small table and I still have 1/2 a can of paint left!! Now that's a bargain! Remember: Brown Hammered

I had a good time scoping out the thrift store Monday. I found this pitiful little lamp.

She looked like the Last Rose of Summer, poor thing...

I removed all the innards and cleaned her up.

After spray painting and a little "antique juice", I reassembled her. Now she's a little candle holder! The key that is dangling from the ribbon is the "lamp handle".

Maybe with a globe and mercury glass votive holder?

I also found a little grass basket...my obsession is all things "basket".

A California container...still has her tag on top.


The real McCoy...

And last but not least is this beautiful little silverplate shell server...inside is a removable milkglass shell. I might have to have this for a jewelry shell. That's the prob with thrift storing...I feel duty bound to take everybody home with me...I just know there is hidden potential in every item...the more tattered the better.

Do I dare relate this story? Oh, yes, why not. A good friend and I went shopping in Hattiesburg today. We spent over 2 1/2 hours in the BBBIIIGGG Hudson's alone. I found lots of decorations for the next year's school Christmas tree and she bought a boatload of outdoor pillows for herself and her mother. (Also a beautiful quilt)...anyhoo....on her way home she had to pass the prison. There had been an escape the night before and now there was another one. Every car on the highway was stopped and searched...including you know who's. I can still see her now trying to explain what she was "hiding" in the trunk of her car with all those pillows and that quilt! What a hoot! They finally let her pass and I just heard on the news that all prisoners were accounted for...no escapee after all!

Join us at Southern Hospitality for the Thrifty Treasures Party.

May all your shopping excursions be successful,

SS Refrig, Family, Banana Pudding, Earrings

What do any of these things have to do with each other? Hmmm...let's see.

I think I am in love....after 18 years, a new refrigerator! Why not French doors? Because I couldn't reach the top shelf...that's why! No Freezer on the bottom? Hubster didn't like it...that's why! We LOVE this one...she is wonderful! I am a happy camper!!
Next subject...Family!

The hubster's father was one of seven McInnis children, now all deceased. Pictured above are representatives of six of the seven children's families. I love my husband's family...salt of the earth people who take you in, love and support you. I am proud to be a part of such a clan! The hub is second from the left...styling, I must say. Below is pictured one of the dishes we took to the reunion...HIS world famous Banana Pudding...everything (except the Nilla Vanilla Wafers) was made from scratch...oh, yummo.

Handsome and CAN COOK...could I ask for anything more?

Speaking of family, one of the clan is an extremely talented vocalist and entertained the crowd with some wonderful Gospel songs. His card is below. I told him that now that he has "appeared" on this blog that he is WORLD famous!!

Speaking of famous...We also boast of a jewelry maker, supreme....Jan! Scroll down and look at some of her beautiful designs...she uses top notch findings and the ladies were treated to "shopping" her designs...wonderful gifts and so beautifully made. Contact me if you are interested...you will NOT be sorry! I will get you in touch with her.


Oh, yes...these were calling my name! I snapped them up! They are even beautiful underneath!


What's that? My name again? Oh, yes...I loved these, too.

Mine, all mine!

Loved these tiger eyes pictured below.

She also strings pearls...these were exquisite.


Jan couldn't make it to the reunion because of her work schedule...so I sent her hubby home with a mixed media journal I made for her. We love her and missed her!




Such a great day with such nice people...thanks to Peggy and Skye for organizing everything so well...can't wait for next year.

I am linking with Pink Saturday & Sneak Peek Friday...see buttons on right and join in the fun.
BTW: some of you are having trouble leaving comments (as am I) on blogs...keep trying...they will get the bugs worked out! I love your comments! Thanks for taking the time to say hello.



Love your family,