A Summer Evening Sunset...

Photos of a Summer evening sunset contributed by daughter.

Click on pics to enlarge.

Linking up with "Mosaic Monday"
                          "Outdoor Wednesday"

Dab of This and That

Glenda

Estate Sale Fix and a Ramble.....

Had been a while since went to an estate sale, and since the heat and humidity is settling in for the Summer, I thought I better stock up on a few bits of bling to work with.
When weather  is extremely hot/humid or cold (especially with frozen stuff), that is usually when I make jewelry.
So checked the sales, and one had pics of lots of bling. Fell out of bed   
Got up early on a Saturday morning, fluffed and puffed a bit (never know when will run into some you know). Did not take time to make coffee - will get some on the run.
Arrived well before published opening time - yeah right! The place was already packed and many already leaving with their purchases. Went inside and immediately to the tables with jewelry - well dang!
This is what was in the ad !

Click on pic to enlarge.

The pile of purple and green in the middle pic appeared to be leftover from a Mardi Gras party , but looked liked there was some possibilities in the boxes, and on the tray in the bottom pic.
Unfortunately for me, apparently someone had inside connections prior to the sale date. Like I said, I arrived well before the open time, and very little was left - most of which was damaged beyond usable, or cheap/plastic from a big box store, etc.

Went thru what little was left and did find a few pieces that had promise.

Have not checked for marks yet, and the dark amber, glass  prism is very heavy, so don't know yet how well it will work in a piece of jewelry. The clear prism is heavy, but usable. The rest consists of a couple of buttons, a couple of clip on earrings, screw on earring (no mates), small pin.  The rest I don't know what they were originally as backs are missing.  Middle piece, bottom row is the only one missing a rhinestone, but pretty sure I can work around that.
There was also a couple of wood doll houses,  lots of miniature furniture, and mini furniture kits for sale.  However, I  already have a lot to work with. - not to mention I have not worked on my dolls houses and minis in a long time.
The estate sale itself, unfortunately was another example of a hoarder, and very ill kept home.
 I checked out the kitchen for any vintage glassware for daughter.  If there had been any, it was already sold.  I can not imagine a meal being prepared in the kitchen.
Heard numerous comments on the situation. One lady said "every time I come in a house like this, I want to go home and clean".  I laughed and said I was glad I was not the only that feels that way.

Did I get a bargain on the bits and pieces of vintage bling? No biggie, but it has gotten harder to find reasonable priced pieces at estate sales.  I seriously think those selling on ebay, etsy and repurposing have their connections/friends with the companies holding the sales. Have seen a big difference the last couple of years.

All just part of the hunt!!

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Linking up with:  "Share Your Cup Thursday"

Stopped at a yard sale not far from the estate sale. Gorgeous - Repeat Gorgeous home ! Did not appear to have anything in the sale I was interested in,  but wish I had thought to bring camera along to take pics of the house and surrounding  neighborhood. But then may have been chased off by a security company.  I decided to explore a bit and drove around the area. I knew the area was known for its beautiful homes, but it had been while since I had been in the neighborhood.
Well...Driving around the area got me lost!!!  Saw a lady walking and asked her how to get back to a certain street, and turned out it was the next corner just ahead.
Would have kept going and found my way out on my own, but noticed my gas was getting "low, very low"

Quick stop at McD's for a sausage/egg biscuit and coffee. One bite - biscuit dry and coffee not made the way ordered.

Had thought to take grocery list along,  so stopped and took care of that chore. Check out at the grocery store will definitely send your bank account into shock.
Oh - rewrapped and put Mc biscuit in purse and took inside so would not spoil in hot car. Knew those huge purses came in handy for something!

Got home, cold/frozen stuff where it needs to go (including the sausage, egg biscuit), enjoyed lunch, cooled down - Then light bulb came on!!!        Dab of This and That - You did not fill up the gas tank, the mail is still in your purse that you should have taken to post office, not to mention you forgot to get the car washed.  Back out - bought gas, mail to post office - car  washed (?). NO --- Dang thing out of order again.

Oh! The next day, heated up  the sausage, egg, and slathered some butter and cherry preserves on the biscuit after zapping it in the microwave for 7 or 8 secs.. Made for a tasty, quick brunch.
Don't you love it when I add all those unnecessary Dabs of information ?!? What can I say - It is hot and humid outside, blogger's reading list has gone bonkers, so hard to find out who posted recently, and I am not in the mood to tackle anything on the "L" right now.

Another Dab of This and That Ramble...

Glenda

ETA: Thank You Blogger!!!! Typed this ramble of a post yesterday, and when logged in to my account  this morning the "reader's list" had been repair. Doing the "Happy Dance"!

Car wash repaired, so finally got car washed today. One problem - the grounds crew just came thru with their turbo blowers and left a coat of dust on everything. Sigh!!!!! 

Destructive Little Creatures..

Oh! These furry little creatures look so innocent - NOT!

Click on pics to enlarge.

A young chipmonk  (not as large as the ones that usually visit).  May be cute.....

However, these characters, along with some of their other friends have really played havoc on my pots of annuals this year.  Caught the squirrel munching on  petunia plants of all things. Out and about, and came home to this mess.

Will probably put what is left of these plants in one pot, hang it and hope for the best.
Then there is the chipmonk digging up a pot of marigolds.   It does not seem to be eating any of it,  just digs the plants up. Not sure which is responsible for the begonias dug up, but pretty sure the squirrel and its buddies, as have had problems with them digging them up and/or eating then in previous years.  Usually the eating issue is when it is very hot and has not rained in a while. Hummm...Not sure what is going on.

Typing away on this post and glanced up and what did I see ?!? Caught in the act !!!!!

 Sorry about the quality of pic, but tried to make adjustments for taking it thru a door screen as I knew the second I opened the door it would take off, and it did.
Left behind a mess.......

Have tried the hot pepper  in the past, but it did not seem to bother them. Anyone have a solution?

Linking up with: "Mosaic Monday"
                            "Outdoor Wednesday"
Glenda

And the Storm Rolls in...

Like so many parts of the country, this area has had more than its share of storms rolling thru.
These are some pics my daughter sent me recently when a late afternoon  storm hit her area.  Click on pics to enlarge.

When you are out and about and see this, it is time to go home.

Things did not look any better when they got home.

Tried to attach a video she sent of when the winds got so bad and trees were swaying, and things started flying thru the air, but was unable to do so. 

Time to take cover, and they did.

They heard later the winds hit 70mph. at one point.

Even the wild life did not like the situation.  After things calmed down, this character was on their window - did not know if the storm put him there, or it was looking for a safe place.

Lots of tree damage and/or down, large oak, probably close to 100 yrs. old,  down the street laying across the road.  Guessing that was what took down their power lines, so the rest of the night was listening to the utility company trucks, chain saws, flashing lights and very loud radio communications back and forth between the crews.  But they were also very thankful the workers were there to restore power back to a very large section of the area.

She said a large section of one of their pecan trees was missing, part of the grill, top of the fire pit, etc. - all yet to be found.  Update: Top of fire pit found several yards away.
The red headed cupid's swing set did not fair so well, and who knows where that tree limb came from, as the wind blew it like a catapult, and it ended up in their yard embedded in the ground. 

If you read  my posts often, you know I "mumbled and grumbled" about the bitter cold during the Winter,  and how Spring is my favorite time of the year.  However, we sure could do without the storms that rear their ugly heads this time of the year.

Linking up with "Outdoor Wednesday"
                           "Stormy Weather"
                           "Mosaic Monday"
Dab of This and That
Glenda

A Dab of This and That Ramble....

Bling Notes:  Since it had been so long since I had worked on repurposing/making jewelry, I started digging around in my stash to see what I had to work with, and ran across pieces I forgot I had.  When I find one that has a mark on it, I have to check it out on the web and see what era it is from, value (if any), etc.
I bought these two 1930's era dress clips a couple years ago - posted about  here. The clips were still attached - but barely as they were in pretty bad shape - rusted/bent out of shape/barely hanging on.  From what I could find out, they had no value as the clip itself was nonfunctional, so removed them and will repurpose the  pendant part.
Largest on left is marked L/N, one on right has no markings but in doing research, did find some almost identical from the 30's that also had no markings, and appear to be by same maker.  25cts. each at estate sale - I can handle that.

Click photo to enlarge.

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 Just a small jewelry project:  Had a Purse charm that was attached to purse I have had for years. Served no purpose on the purse, so took it off, embellished with rhinestones, put on chain. Wa La! Perfect for a certain little redhead cupid, who is loving the "bling" at an early age.

Click on pic to enlarge.

I thought the compote of faux fruit was the perfect place to take a picture, since she always touches the grapes and says they are pretty.

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Speaking of the redhead cupid: Dad trying to explain to her why she can't join the big guys in a game of softball.

Someone is not happy about the answer - can you tell?
Picture removed

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One of those days recently, was sitting at the computer instead of working on that "L", wondering what I wanted for dinner. Then daughter had to send this pic she took of what they were having - think I drooled on the keyboard!  She said it was a casserole made with spinach, eggs, cheese, ham, and don't remember what else.  Love one dish meals!

 What about that blue speckled plate?  I bought those dishes many years ago - thinking  in 1981, or 82.  She was a "little bit" back then, and ate many meals on those dishes.  When I decided to get rid of them, she immediately said "I want".  As a result she, and her family have enjoyed many meals served on them.

When I bought them, they were reproductions - now they are considered vintage. Oh my - I am feeling vintage!

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This must be the year of the ants !!

Almost every Spring I have an ant invasion in my kitchen -  very tiny black ones.  I spray around a window (inside and outside), around plumbing, do extra cleaning, etc. and usually "they" disappear within a couple of days.  Not this year!  "They" keep coming back !

Talked with others that said they were dealing with the same situation.   Always heard  extreme Winters like we had this year was good for wiping out the "buggy pests".  Apparently not !

Looks like a trip to the hardware store is in order.

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Typical Spring time storms rolled thru this afternoon.  Unfortunately this time they carried an extra punch - straight line winds that left a trail of damage.  "They" are saying more predicted for tomorrow - hoping "they" are wrong.

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 Just another "Dab of This and That Ramble".

Dab of This and That

Glenda