Finding!

Wow but don't I feel like Cinderella come late to the party.  After watching beautiful blog by beautiful blog show their "finds" at the thrift store or the flea market or their neighbors curbside garbage, today I get to show my finds from my first day ever of flea market searching.

Uh, maybe not quite "searching."  When it is 19 degrees out and only 10 vendors have bothered to show up at risk of hypothermia, it might not exactly  be called "searching."  Rather, glancing . . . spotting . . . sighting.

Love, love, love these sweet little bottles.  In case you wanted to know, Kreml is a hair tonic from the 30's.  Yes, I'm quite the little storehouse of vintage knowledge now.  ::ahem::  I have them up behind my sink, and since pansies flourish in these parts all winter long, I can enjoy those chipper little pansy faces while doing my dishes.  Sweet!

Old well wheel, cocoa box, pitcher and 3 cent milk bottle.  Rustic, worn, used.  Makes me smile.  I think I'll do a few little vignettes on top of my cupboards.

The Man of the House looked slightly bewildered.  I told him I had "finds," and he pictured a new piece of furniture that became mine for $10.  He did not, however picture rusted metal, old glass and worn silver.

This could be a frustrating new obsession.  Poor man.

Picking!

Well, there's been more than a little watching of American Pickers over Christmas break.  Goodness I love that show!  And between that show and great blogs from flea market lovers and Flea Market Style Magazine, I decided that it was high time to actually visit a flea market.  Youngest Son was more than game to come along.

Last week of Christmas break, needing a little something fun to do, let's do it.

Never mind that after a mild winter, the very day we chose to go was smack dab in the middle of a cold front!

Actually, by the time we got to the flea market, the nice little windshield was informing us that it was, indeed only 19 degrees!!

If it looks to you like there are a lot of empty tables at the flea market, well, you would be doggone right.  There weren't many brave souls buying or selling in the 19 degree weather.

But there were some.  And Youngest Son and I had a blast . . . searching, bartering, discovering . . . the condensation of our breath in the icy air so thick we could scarcely see each other.

I'll show you my sweet little finds tomorrow.

Me and Youngest Son . . . the newest American pickers.

Winter Table

Here's what my winter table is looking like.  Christmas colors, but not Christmas-y enough to need to remove with the reindeer, ornaments and nativity.

Collected bottles, a wrapping of burlap, tied with twine.  Mixture of daisies and mums.  Various fresh greenery laying on the burlap runner.

Simple, common, beautiful nature.  Just the way I like my table!

Infuriating But Irresistible

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Those infuriating, irresistible, frustrating, seductive things called "Resolutions."

I think they are overrated and reek of self-effort, which quite frankly has not gotten me very far in life.

And yet, are they not seductive . . . new year, fresh start, and unbruised hope.

No, I cannot resist.  What is a new year without a few goals.  Yes, we'll call them goals.

I had to show you the beautiful picture above because I would have hated to have started out this post with this:

Goal #1 - Drawers/Cupboards/Pantries/Closets of the M Household.  There is a slight chance that by beginning to work toward this goal on 1/3/2012 they may be able to be organized, decluttered, corralled and brought under control by the dawn of 2013.

Goal #2 - Early to Bed / Early to Rise (see beautiful sunrise picture above).  I know in my heart this works.  Convincing my body of this truth is quite another matter.

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Goal #3 - More time spent out of doors with the three youngers . . . biking, hiking, enjoying creation.  Okay, so this is taken in Nepal and shows a professional mountain-biker riding an expensive mountain-bike, none of which has anything to do with my current situation.  But it is inspiring, no?

Goal #4 - Make meal plans, make shopping lists, grocery shop.  Repeat every 2 weeks.  No more of this running to Publix at 5:30 every night desperately hoping for inexpensive, quick and delicious inspiration to hit.

Goal #5 - Finish this lap blanket.  My children have been waiting for winter warmth for a year and a half now.  How can I continue to deny them?

Goal #6 - Begin my day with the enjoyable habit of a quick blog post and delightful visits to the blogs of other creative souls out there who inspire my day.

And if, as 2012 comes to an end, these goals remain elusive dreams, then I will wake up at the dawn of 2013 with yet another new year before me, with a fresh start and another healthy dose of unbruised hope.

Old Calendar::New Calendar

And so, in traditional New Year's Day fashion, the 2011 calendar was removed and the 2012 put in its place.

Wow, it was so past time for a new calendar.  The 2011 calendar had had it.  Over the course of the year, ripped from its cover, scribbled on by little hands, hanging hole ripped through repeatedly and taped, re-taped and then re-re-taped to keep it together.  Plans made, plans crossed out, things scheduled so quickly that the writing was illegible when the date arrived, and we were left scratching our heads and wondering where exactly it was so important to be at 5:30 p.m. on that day.  Knocked down, spilled on, glued, and yet, somehow still holding together on December 31st . . . if only barely.

A fitting metaphor for our life as a family, really, not just this year but every year.  Rips and mends, schedules and changes, messy scribbles side by side with neat script, always a slight bit of confusion (at times more than others!), and yet, amazingly, still holding together at the end of the year.

And now, up goes a spotless, fresh calendar, with all the promise of empty boxes in which to write.  A scrumptious new calendar of porches, looking out over landscapes of Italy, Montana, Maine, Greece . . . ::sigh::

A year to write on, mess up, fix and correct.  May we find ourselves, at the end of the year, still holding together.

No, not holding together . . . but instead, held together!

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together!!

All the Recipes in One Place

Coming Soon!!

Choosing Home

2011 said "good night" in a blaze of fuschia, orange and gold.  And surprisingly all but one of us are home!!  We had a NYE party invitation . . . fun times out in the country, munching on "breakfast for dinner," warming ourselves by a roaring bonfire.

But this year, I wanted none of it.  I wanted the calm four walls of my house, where I could sit and stare at one of those four walls if I so chose.

As it turns out, I am instead choosing to play King's Corner; layer crumbs, pecans, chips, coconut and sweet milk for the ever-popular Magic Bars; and watch the glittery ball drop at midnight.

It's good to be home tonight.

Good night, 2011 . . . good morning 2012!