Friday Junkin and Shopping

Today while out doing a little Christmas shopping I stopped off at one of our thrift stores and picked up a little holiday decorating there too!

Here's the loot!

This little shelf with towel bar was only $1.75.  Not sure where it's going to go yet but was too cute to leave behind.

This ceramic/stone candle holder was only $1.25 and is going to look great with the glass top I already own.

The berry candle wreath fits over my new ceramic candle base above perfectly.  It was only $1.00 and is in brand new condition with the original tags still on it too.

These two greenery arches are going to look great.  I just love the rose, berries, and ivy mixed in with the greenery and golden arches.  They were only .75 cents each.

I'm hoping this book will also come in handy this season too.  It was also only .75 cents.

Now for my most incredible find at Tuesday Morning.  They were having a 50% off sale of all their clearance items.  I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this and was floored when it rang up even less then I expected.  It had already been marked down but was supposed to have been marked down again but got missed.  Then it was 50% off of that second markdown. 

I got this brand new vacuum for only $26.74 with tax included in that price.  Can you believe it?  I can't because I've really been needing a new canister vac as mine is nearly on it's last leg or wheels literally.  LOL!

This one is a Shark Euro Pro with Power head.  It's not a brand I would normally buy but I had already been pricing full size canister vacs and they are usually well over $150.00 and up, even for the cheap ones.  This is a 12amp motor so I knew it was a good deal.  It's NOT a small little canister vac, it's full sized.  My old canister is a Hoover 12amp motor and has held up well over 15 years.  I really prefer a canister vacuum on my hardwood floors.

I was so excited, I could hardly wait to get it home and try it out.  It works like a champ!  It has great suction and glides beautifully over my hardwood floors with the hardwood floor attachment.  It works so well, I accidentally sucked up on of the big plastic bags laying here on the floor before I could stop it.  I had to get the hubby to get it out of the hose. Shew! LOL!

I'm sharing my deals with today for Junking Finds Friday!

Off for more Christmas shopping tomorrow at the Carolina Craftsman Classic.  I'll try to be brave enough to take a few photos for ya, but we'll see.  Hope your weekend it great too, mine is off to a wonderful start! 

Thanks for visiting!

Mary

Acorns Everywhere!

OMG!  I have acorns y'all and they were everywhere!  I don't know how I have missed this before but I surely have.  Until today, I actually believed I did not have any acorns in my yard.   I also have very large walnuts and shells and these round thorny pine balls everywhere, that I've collected for years.   But acorns,  I never thought so! 

They were all just laying here in this grass.

Right at the foot of these steps up to the back deck.  Please ignore my hose strewn out all over the yard, I do.  LOL!  So, I pulled out a basket to start my collection.

Just look at what I collected in a matter of minutes.

I am so excited!  I was just looking at a box of beautiful faux acorns at Kohls the other day.  They were on clearance for $5.99 but I didn't get them because I had already been spending quite a bit that day.  I have had acorn envy for quite some time y'all.  Seriously!  Every time I have seen your beautiful acorns I have wanted some and I thought I was just going to have to buy some.

They were all around this tree, I'm guessing they came from here?  How have I missed this all these years?

Maybe because they are hiding amongst all the leaves.  IDK!

I guess this year some where harder to miss because of their size.  I have quite a few whoppers!  Look at the small acorns on the right and the left, these are normal sized acorns.  Now look at my big daddies!  Pretty sweet huh?

After collecting quite a stash in my basket, I took them all inside.

And gave them a nice warm bubble bath!  I just love these baby's!

Aren't they just the best looking acorns you have ever seen?  I am just beaming!  Now here's your part.  For Inspiration Friday, you get to offer up what I can do with my new collection.  Please share your ideas and any previous post links showing what you have done with all your acorns.  I love being Inspired by you, so please go ahead, inspire me!

Thanks for your visit!  Hope you have a great weekend!  I'm off to the Craftsmans Christmas Classic this weekend with a girlfriend.  It's a great way to kick off the holiday shopping season.  Wish me luck! 

Mary

"H" is for HOPE

Hi Miss Jenny!   I am attending class today for "Little Missy".  She wanted me to come today to share my story of HOPE today, I hope you don't mind? Hehe!  She seemed to think it was important and I have to agree. 

Have you ever lost your HOPE?  I have!  Only this time, I haven't just lost my HOPE, I have said farewell to it!  Are you gasping yet?  Don't worry!  It's not what you think.  This is a post about letting go of hope when it's appropriate, yet holding on to it too.  Sound confusing?  Let me explain.

If you follow my blog you know I was holding on to a great deal of HOPE about a job I interviewed for.  I had an amazing interview that went straight from HR, to the manager, to a coworker who showed me around.  The coworker thought I already had the job, she was wrong.   I was only the first to be interviewed for the position that had only just been posted on the company website.  A large company that has to leave the job posted for an extended amount of time, thus opening the door for more candidates.  I got in just before it was posted because I have a friend who volunteers there and took in my resume.  This job fit me to a tee, it was a full time job for a purchasing clerk in a hospital gift shop.  This hospital had two gift shops I would work for on two different levels.  They carry many high end gifts like most retail gift shops.  The position would allow me to be part of the purchasing and merchandising of gifts for the store.   This is something I have previous experience with and really miss from my old job.  I would be able to let my creativity blossom in this position, but I have to accept it is NOT to be.   My HOPES had been raised when I found out they contacted my references who reported back to me that it was looking good.  They were excited for me and wanted to let me know they had been contacted, because they knew this was a perfect fit too.  After several weeks of not hearing anything I contacted HR and the manager and was told by HR they were still in the process.  I was assured by HR I would receive word one way or another.   My HOPE soared again, at least I wasn't eliminated yet.  Then after several more weeks again and still no word I contacted HR again and was briefly told the position had been filled.  Just like that, my dream job ended.  Why had no one told me yet, as promised?  My heart sank along with my HOPE!  My dream has been given to someone else, I guess she had the same dream and the same HOPE.  So, as I promised earlier it's time to say farewell to that HOPE, but not to worry I still have another HOPE.

I am sharing this word, HOPE, with you for Alphabet Thursday because our letter this week is "H". I am also HOPING it may help someone else in need. Recently, a friend told me of a friend of theirs who owned his own business. He was hit so hard by the economy that his lively hood was being repossessed, and was found by his son after he had taken his own life. It is a tragic loss, and a very sad and vivid picture of someone who had totally lost all HOPE. 

Now let me tell about my other HOPE, it is a HOPE that we should never let go of.  It is greater then our earthly HOPE and is everlasting.  It is one to cling to when all seems so bleak.  It is one that was given freely to us, but paid for dearly by our saviour Jesus Christ.  For me FAITH ,HOPE and LOVE is the model by which I strive to live my life.  See, I have HOPE that God's promises written for us in the Bible are true, and that is what sustains my FAITH.  The Bible also tells me how to live a life of LOVE, a Love that endures all seasons of life.  

Let me explain further, without HOPE I am sure my faith would be on shaky ground.  I know this because I have lived this way before, a life without spiritual HOPE.  When I was young, I used to believe that earthly HOPE and spiritual HOPE were one and the same.  Surely, a God that promises such HOPE for eternity would fulfill all our HOPES here on earth too right?  Can you see the trap in this type of thinking?  I do!  Make no mistake I do believe God wants us to have some of our earthly HOPES but I also believe that he knows best what is and isn't to be, and when.  That is faith.    I have HOPE that God will see me through my circumstances whatever they may be.  I have a HOPE that lifts you up when our earthly HOPES fail.  This is HOPE that you can hold on too when it's time to let go of other HOPES.      I have a HOPE that lets me share in all God promises here on earth, whatever they may be, and in a Heaven yet to come.  

How about you?  Do you have that type of  HOPE too?  Well, if you don't you certainly can, what are you waiting for, it's free.    It's the kind of HOPE you can keep forever and no one can take it away.

I am also HOPING you have a wonderful and blessed Thursday today, I plan too.  Thank you for stopping by.

"Cousin Mary"

Thanksgiving Decorating

I just love Thanksgiving!  Since I've been preparing my silver for the holidays and getting things ready around the house I thought you might like a peek of my latest holiday decorating.

In the den on my mantle I've made a few changes.

I replaced the plates with these adorable checked pumpkins that I got this year from Target.  Then I put out my old crow candle votives.  I just love how whimsical they are!

I'm still enjoying my wonderful scented apple candle from All that Glitters.  Then I added this Autumn Greetings sign that I've had forever.  It used to be on a stake but fell off years ago, works right here for me.

In the dining room I had to tweak this area a bit after seeing someone from last weeks Tabletop Tuesday use scarves for fall vignettes.  So, I pulled out my genuine mohair wool scarf from Ireland.  It was a gift brought back by a coworker when I used to be a travel agent, many,many years ago.  I just love the warmth it adds to this vignette on the marble tabletop.

These sweet little birdies wanted to sit in my silver leaf tray for a bit before the festivities.

Ahhh, so cozy!

Sorry for the glare, but I've decided to display one of my silver platters all nicely shined over here.

My sweet little pumpkin with the bible verse sits here next to my Pilgrims under the cloche.

 I also decided to get a little crafty and add a printed vintage graphics card to my tray.  I have this image on my sidebar to if you'd like to use it also.

I just love the message on this Thanksgiving Menu!

My china cabinet got a bit of rearranging too.  Yes, I am still enjoying doing that!

Displaying both of my new Lenox Patterns now on the top shelf.

A few more pieces of silver I hope to use for Thanksgiving that cleaned up really well.  Hopefully being inside the cabinet they will not tarnish as fast before the holidays.

The black toile plates that I had on the fireplace have been paired with my green wheat plates.  Yes, I had to go back and get two more.  I just love this pattern!

And my foyer got a few changes too.

It's quite welcoming to me!  Will somebody please finish up the red hots, okay? I need to make way for mints soon.

I am joining Marty today at Tabletop Tuesday.  I hope you stop by and visit this party to see all the other great vignettes.  Thanks for visiting and have a great day!

Mary

Time to Polish the Silver

Ooops!  I am a week too early for Silver Sunday but that's OK!  Hopefully I'll remember to link up for the party next week, or maybe one of you kind ladies will remind me.  I am sure those of you joining me from the Metamorphosis Monday Party will not mind though.  This is one of those changes that if you haven't started on yet, you'll be glad I posted this and reminded you, well maybe.

I know most of us in blog land enjoy our tarnished looking silver, but let's face it, our guests, not so much!  With the holidays coming up, I decided to get a jump on polishing the silver yesterday.

I have many of my silver pieces stored here in my kitchen china cabinet.  My husband just recently added a second shelf to the top portion of this cabinet I am so happy to finally have more usable storage space.

This gives me a good amount of space to keep all those pieces of silver that I have but don't use often.  My treys and platters are stored in the bottom of my new china cabinet in the dining room.

As you can see I have quite a task ahead of me.  Shew!

I didn't pull out everything just a few things I thought I might use.  It's often rather hard to guess what you might use, but I sure don't want to have to worry about polishing silver the day right before serving, do you?

My first conquest, this small beautiful Chippendale silver tray.

Wow!  Just look at that!  What a difference so far!

Next up, two sets of salt and pepper shakers I have only recently inherited.

This is going to be quite a challenge.  I started out using one type of silver polish that worked very well at getting the tarnish off quickly but seemed to leave my silver with a slightly yellowish tinge.  This product was newer to me that I had purchased last year to use on my jewelry mostly.  One tray in particular kept trying to tarnish immediately after cleaning it with that polish, so weird.  This polish was also giving me quite a big headache from the smell of the product.   Yes, I am being very considerate here by not naming the exact product.  Anyway, after working on the trey that wanted to re tarnish immediately I decided to pull out my older silver polish and it cleaned the tray beautifully without any reappearing tarnish.  Very strange!

So, I decided to continue on using this polish only, but I didn't have very much of this left even though I had two nearly empty bottles in my cleaning cabinet.  Now do you get the picture? 

I wasn't feeling up to running to the store so I just continued on doing a few things I wanted to get done first.

This is as far as I got yesterday before having to stop and open up the window for ventilation.

As you can see, I got a little side tracked and decided to polish some of my jewelry also.

My beautiful tray!  Oh, that is NOT a smudge on the tray, only a glare from the camera and lights.  LOL!

Gorgeous leaf tray!  I just love this one!

And another small round tray.  I really wanted to use one of these small trays to put some potpourri in the half bath.  After polishing them up though, I am having a hard time convincing myself to put silver in the bathroom.  I want too, but I dunno know!

The salt and pepper shakers are not coming out as well as I had hoped but I am still very happy to have inherited them and will happily use them this year as is.

These cream and sugar pieces certainly cleaned up well.  I still haven't polished off the cleaner on the sugar piece yet.  Well at least that's what I think this is supposed to be.  Feel free to correct me if I am wrong and tell me exactly what these are.  I will use them for condiments, but do like to know the proper terms.

On the other side of my table sits a few more pieces that I didn't get too.  I will have to think about what I want to use here and get back to polishing soon.

Or maybe NOT!  Somethings may just go back in the cabinet.  LOL!

How about you?  Are you going to polish up the silver for the holidays?

It's very cool here this weekend, great for cozying up inside and preparing for the season.

Thanks for dropping by today! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend too!

Mary