To Market~To Market~Jiggity Jig

Ok, ladies now this is where I need some expertise!!  I am in the market to buy my first crock.  Let's give me a big round of applause and a hooray:)  But, I have no idea what I am doing.  There are so many to choose from.  I've found a bunch of different ones and I need you to tell me what they are, what the symbols mean, how much to expect to pay for them, etc.  I know so many of you have bunches of these in your home so you have to know more than I do.  So please, help me:)

 primsfromabove.blogspot.com

 utinselcrock.com

 nebraskantiques.com

 maggiesmudpies.blogspot.com

 tias.com

 diggerslist.com

 etsy.com

 antiques.about.com

 dyersauction.com

primsfromabove.blogspot.com

Just look what the wind did over the weekend.  It was blowing so hard.  It's Tuesday now and the wind is still blowing.  Can you believe that?

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

Bestowed Upon~ Thank You

Dear Peeps.......What a glorious morning it is here in Idaho.  I have to say the sun hasn't shined this bright since last summer and it's doing the mood good:)  Oh, I just want to lay on my floor in it and feel it's warmth. How happy and rejuvenated the sun can make the soul feel.  

And how happy and rejuvenated can such great blogging friends make one feel.  I wanted to say thank you to all who commented on my post about the Versatile Blog Award.  Your kind and encouraging comments and hugs left me feeling happy.  I have locked up those great feelings in my heart and the kind comments in my e-mail.  The post has been deleted, never to be remembered.  I want my blog to be a place of remembered happiness for me:) 

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Just look at this beautiful butter press and paddle.  I just about cried (again) when my mother -in- law handed these down to me over the last weekend.  I have wanted an authentic paddle for so long.  Oh, the wood is so smooth and old and used and beautiful.  I love the dove tail on the press.  I wonder who owned these and what hands cut them and created them.  

Now, I get to find a place in my kitchen to display them.  As many of you know, this could turn into an all day project of rearranging and moving things around.  Funny how just one new thing can do that:) 

But, you know what?  I love it.  

I truly hope you all have a good weekend.  We are going to the furniture store to buy "baby" a big girl bed and matching dresser.  She is currently using the old, falling apart, furniture that has been passed down from both big sisters.  Then a Happy Meal from McDonald's.  Thanks for the visit.

A Weekend of History~Fish~Tasha Tudor

What a wonderful weekend indeed.  How relaxing it was to visit the Valley and family, to take lovely drives, and to read my Tasha Tudor book.

Upon arriving the Bear Lake Valley in Idaho, you will notice that civilization has been left behind and you are entering into a special place.  Now that I am older, and the world a little less appealing, I am beginning to realize what a gem this valley truly is.  

The valley was settled in 1863 by Mormon pioneers.  

It is rich in history and many of the remnants of their homes, churches, schools, and barns are still intact.  

The valley houses a hardworking community of farmers, school teachers, and miners.  The way of life is slower, the people are friendlier, and you feel as though you've left the world behind when you visit.

I love to take drives through the valley and around the pristine lake to take photographs of the past.  Here are just some of the houses and barns I captured this visit.

Please, let me know which is your favorite.  Mine is the barn with the silo and this last picture.  

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We took the kids ice fishing over the weekend.  Here is the frozen lake.

 Heading with Dad and Grandpa to find the perfect spot.

 Yea!!  Baby helped pull up a trout.

 Sweet Little Middle was so excited to bring them in.  Just a baby Perch and just the right size for kids.

 My oldest had so much fun "collecting" fish in her sled and burying them in the snow.

Here's the crew, watching the fish finder and daddy do their work.

The next day we had a fish fry with yummy fish tacos.  

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In the evenings, when the kids were asleep, I would snuggle up on the couch next to the wood stove and read my book "Tasha Tudor's Heirloom Crafts".  Tricia had recommended this read to us so I took her up on it.  I am so glad I did.  What an amazing woman she was.  I recommend it as well.

I can't wait to start reading this one.

Thanks for making through this long and very picturesque post today.  I just had a ton to share and was so excited about it.  Have a lovely day.

Such A Fun Award

What a wonderful surprise I found today.  Tricia of Hillcresthome Prims has chosen me as one of her recipients of The Versatile Blog Award.  It makes me feel happy she thought of me and now I can't wait to pass it on.  How fun that this is circulating.  When you receive the award, you are to pass it on to 10 other bloggers and then write seven random things about yourself.  I will notify via e~mail in the next couple of days those whom I have chosen.

~Seven Random Things About Myself~
1. I have to sleep with socks on and my p.j.'s tucked in them.  Ha ha, I look so funny, but I can't stand my pants crawling up my legs at night.

2.  I am a complete control freak.  Poor kids, poor husband.  Who doesn't like things the way they like them though?

3.  My lifestyle is deeply rooted in my religious convictions, the love I have for my family, and the expectations I have for myself.

4.  I can teach myself to play just about any piece of music on the piano, and I love to sing.

5.  I love the ocean. There is no other place I would love to visit than the ocean.   Someday I want to own a beach house along the Oregon Coast near Portland.

6.  I have to eat a snack every 2 hours.  My favorite is bagels and cream cheese.  Toasted please.

7.  I cannot stand:  bad drivers, whining, things that don't work like they should (like my vacuum), gossiping, people making weird noises with their mouths, and.... no one can touch my feet:)

It's been so fun blogging.  There was no way that I could have imagined a year ago that I would have more awesome blogging friends than I would friendly neighbors, that I would be able to give and receive such wonderful handmade arts, or that I would be having as much fun as I am now dreaming of ways to put together displays or create that certain feeling in my home that you can only get from primitive decorating.  Thanks everyone for a wonderful blogging experience.

Hi Ho~ Hi Ho

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to Bear Lake we go.......

But, instead it will be covered in snow and we will be ice fishing instead of swimming.  We will be snowmobiling instead of four wheeling, and having hot chocolate by the stove instead of roasting hot dogs by the fire.  Hopefully I can get some really pretty pictures of some old barns and buildings covered in snow.  

Wishing everyone a safe and happy weekend.  See ya on Tuesday.....hopefully with some beautiful photos.

Flowers and Food~ I'm a Gawker

Ok, so maybe the color schematics are off a little but I am not featuring a display.  Just the wonderful Valentines gift my most loving husband brought home for me yesterday.  He knew I wanted flowers for the vase and that I die for cake.  Chocolate cake is a double death.  Look, single serving.  Just for me:)

We woke up to a fantastic beautiful display of nature this morning.  It is a welcomed gift.  We have had all but one snow storm this season and it melted the next day.  I bet I was the only one outside taking photos at 9:00 in the morning:)

So, I've discovered another addiction in addition to Pinterest.  I am officially a Gawker.  Yes......I discovered Gawkerverse.  A website that features four main components: food, crafts, weddings, and dwellings.  I am most interested in the food.  Oh my gosh.  Talk about thousands and thousands of beautiful pictures of food all linked to their original website and recipe.  I could sit on that website and pin pictures of food all day.  You have to go check it out.  Anyway, I built my most perfect day (food wise).  Ok, I like food.  Especially when someone else is making it for me.

 ~Breakfast~

Swedish Pancakes with raspberry sauce.  Oh, so to die for.  Sprinkle a little powdered sugar on them and  sweet heaven here I come.  I order these whenever we eat breakfast out.

~Lunch~

Grilled Panini with melted mozzarella and caramelized onions and tomatoes.  Crunch, warm melt, juicy. 

Oh ya.

~Dinner~

Deep fried ravioli.  Are you kidding?  Pile it on.  Give me a Caesar too please:)

~Beverage~

 Italian Soda.  Do you want that with cream?  Heck ya.  Raspberry Vanilla please.  

~Desert~

Red Velvet Brownie Cakes.  You've got to cut my pieces bigger.  I am a cake connoisseur.  It is my weakness.  Pssssst, I buy single servings from Fred Myer and won't share.  

So, you hungry yet?  

Today I have to get the laundry folded.  It's been sitting in various places in the house for 3 days now.  On the couch, on the Master bedroom floor, and in a laundry basket in the girls' room.  Kitty is going to think these piles are permanent beds for her.

Have a most wonderful Wednesday.

Before and After~ Some serious makeovers

I've been hiding out in my workshop, a.k.a.~ the garage, this weekend.  That small mess I've been working on exploded into a full blown disaster area as I was trying to get some makeovers done.  It was good for me to practice on wood because I have been doing a lot of sewing lately.   My thumbs have blisters on them from sanding so much and my fingers are stained black.  But it's all worth it when you can take a dollar item from GW and turn it into something worthy to put in your home.  For these 3 projects I only paid $4 for.  That makes me :)  I have learned a lot from watching you all do your own projects, and from reading tutorials.  I am so happy with the end results of everything.   

~Before~

This is a dark green paint.  Yuck.  I had to chisel it off with a screwdriver, then stain it, then paint it tan, sweep it in black, then paint it in mustard.  Then I sanded and stained it again.  Whew!!

~After~

~Before~

I just read in the Country Sampler that Wallpaper Bandboxes are "suppose" to be a hot collectors item.  Well, I have a box......I can do that.  So I found this awesome wallpaper at GW to cover it with.  I just applied it with Elmer's glue, then sanded it.  Then I took some brown shoe polish and grunged it up Walla.  2 hours tops.

~After~

~After~  

I feel sorry I didn't take a before picture of this amazing wall box.  I was just too excited to get started.  The color underneath the black is the original wood....so you can picture what the whole thing looked like before.  I thought that a normal black would be just to heavy so I mixed 3/4 black and 1/4 tan to soften it up.  Sanded it, of course.  Then lightly applied a stain to it and wiped it off before it dried.  Oh, I am so excited to put some dried Lilac in it and hang it somewhere. 

~After~ 

Watching her mother create and create.....my 6 year old sat down and made a kitty with a pouch "just like your pockets and dolls Mom" she says.....she has been cutting her own designs out of fabric and hand stitching them and stuffing them too.  I could cry.  She is learning from me and is loving it.  Sooo proud of her.

Thanks for letting me share.  I must put primitive aside and start working on the girl's Valentines treats.  Class parties are tomorrow.  Hooray~ I love Valentines Day so..... with that said. 

HAPPY  VALENTINES  DAY