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Vintage Leap Year Cards

Wednesday, February 29, 2012



Leap Year has quite a history. I found that in the restricted society of the early 1900's, leap year gave women the opportunity to pursue and ask a man to marry her. I am not sure that this is really true. I do know that pioneers would marry after only a few hours of meeting.


As the story goes, the tradition of women romantically pursuing men in leap years began in 5th century Ireland, when St Bridget complained to St. Patrick about the fair sex having to wait for men to propose.  Patrick finally relented and set February 29 aside as the day set aside allowing women the right to ask for a man's hand in marriage.


The tradition continued in Scotland, when Queen Margaret declared in 1288 that on February 29 a woman had the right to pop the question to any man she fancied. Menfolk who refused were faced with a fine in the form of a kiss, a silk dress, or a pair of gloves given to the rejected lady fair.


A similar modern American tradition, Sadie Hawkins Day. In the famous story line, Sadie and every other woman in town were allowed on that day to pursue and catch the most eligible bachelors in Dogpatch. In fact I named one of my Dexter cows after a character in that cartoon, Daisy Mae, a pretty girl.


Happy Leap Year Day! Maybe I should ask Hubby out for dinner.   Sharon

Premiere Issue - Vintage Style Spring 2012

Monday, February 27, 2012
This new magazine is really good. My personal style fits right in with the vibe of the magazine's editor's vision. The articles are varied for the inside and outside of your home. There are good ideas of how to use those flea market and thrift store finds. There are no recipes for foodies. Just look at the cover!


Hi Girls, please note that this is just my review. I am not the publisher, nor do I have any contact with them. Please contact the publisher with your requests.





Snow Storm

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Yesterday, the weather was so pretty, sunny and nice. I took my sports car out of the garage for a short drive, and to fill it with gas. The price of fuel is up about 20 cents this week.


Last night, the storm blew in, dropping about 5-6" of snow. There was more throughout the day, and more in the forecast. Hubby had the tractor out clearing the driveway.  That is life in the Oregon Cascade Mtns this time of year. You never know what mother nature has in store!

Seeing New and Beautiful Things

Thursday, February 23, 2012


This is today's message from The Brave Girl's Club.  I just wanted to share it with you, because I find the message to ring true to me. Enjoy!

An Easy, Pretty, Cottage Chair Planter

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

I like this photo I found on pinterest. So easy to do yourself (DIY), just find an old chair, and an old cooking vessel.....a planter filled with whatever is pleasing to you. Voila, a cute display. Change it with a different flowers, herbs, greens, add a small ceramic item. So many ways to do this to suit your personality and the season.  If I used petunias like this picture the deer would love me, and all I would have left would be small green stems. Monticello Antique Mall, in Portland will probably have these kinds of displays at their spring show, and the price will be high.

More Funky Junk

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

I like this composition of white and off-white things.


This little green watering can is only 8 inches tall. Very unusual, cute, and I fell in love with it.  It now lives with me! It holds water, I use it on my houseplants, and don't spill water much now. My only purchase at the show.



Portland Street Artists

Monday, February 20, 2012


Remember my trip to Portland 2 weeks ago? I still have photos to share. Where I live there are no "street artists", so I had to get a couple of photos. Sometimes the musicians are very good and I like to listen if possible. I didn't have time to listen to this violinist...my group was on the way to some shop. Besides, there are interesting things everywhere, interesting people, and panhandlers. We had a meal at a fun Thai cafe, it was very delicious.

Surprised by a Find

Sunday, February 19, 2012

I took my Sis out for lunch on her birthday. After we filled up on great food..we were visiting thrift stores, and antique stores. I have a project, to put old family photos in a album. I have been looking for a 1950's unused album with black pages.  I found one for $1.99. When I got home and was putting it away...guess what...I found these three things tucked deep into the pages. I think that they are just right for a cowgirl project...yep, just right. But I wonder...did this belong to Butch or Dwain?

Brave Girls Club

Saturday, February 18, 2012


This is a bit of wisdom from the Brave Girls Club Facebook page.
www.bravegirlsclub.com

Pendleton Blankets


Have you ever been to a Pendleton Store? It is overwhelming to try to decide a favorite blanket. The colors, designs and beauty are beautiful.  When I visit Portland, sometimes we visit an outlet store. The store has many of the standard blanket styles. The really neat thing about this store is that there are many unique, one of a kind blankets. The designers are always trying to create new blankets. This store sells these special items, and they are really gorgeous! Deciding is so difficult.  The store sells small cuts of fabric, to use for your own creations. I have made three small blankets from these cuts. There are odds and ends, buttons, zippers, edge binding, and fabric by the yard. It is so easy to spend a hour in the store.


If you ever have a chance to go on a tour of the weaving and blanket looms at Washougal WA, or Pendleton OR, don't miss it... So interesting and fun to see the process to weave the wool.

Flea Market Gardens

Friday, February 17, 2012

I purchased this magazine yesterday, I enjoy the ideas for projects and plants. My area is still wintry, snow, rain and pretty cold. The bulbs are coming to life; tulips, daffodils, and muscari. I am partial to whimsy, and repurposing things; old swings, camp stools, watering cans, lanterns, and much more. I get some great ideas. I am always on the watch for interesting things, old sprinklers, brass nozzles, rusty stuff. In fact, I found an old enameled wash basin to hang in the vegetable garden, to use for gathering  fruit. Hubby got some lumber today, to make two more raised beds in the vegetable garden. I will then have 12 raised beds, getting close to my goal of a no till garden.

Vintage Button Addiction

Wednesday, February 15, 2012
I can't help myself...I like vintage buttons. A Lot!

I can remember as a little girl playing with mom's collection of buttons. She used to cut them off clothing before it was discarded.

Well, I still like buttons. Vintage Buttons. They really bring craft projects a special something.

I get them at thrift stores, for little money. Today, I got a bag with about 40 button cards, all ...for $1.50. 


I like to sort them by color, is makes it easy to find them for projects.


I like to put them in jars, just for the beauty of looking at them.


I use flat ones with magnets glued to the back.


I make bulletin board pins, by gluing large flat tacks to their backs.
I can string them together on elastic, to put around jar candles.
So much fun!!

We all have a Song in our Heart

Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Remember to sing your Song.
What is in your Heart and Soul?
It will make a difference in your Life,
it has for me....................
expect wonder when you listen carefully.

Happy Valentines Day

Monday, February 13, 2012


Be kind to yourself whether or not you have a someone special...you are special. I truly believe that is how to love, and live every day. Take care of yourself......

Dreaming of Fresh Strawberries

I guess that I am having mid-winter cravings for my homegrown fruit and vegetables.  I was in the garden today, getting a place ready to plant some new strawberry plants. I think that freshly picked garden berries are the very best! Yum, and I am going to wait several months for mine to bear.  Agony, moan, and whine...the store bought ones aren't even close in taste.

Retro Ranch Cooking

Sunday, February 12, 2012
New Cookbook!


This is another really fun cookbook.




The artwork is so fun, colorful, and retro....I love it. Here are two of the recipes for your enjoyment. I haven't made anything from this book...because of Hubby's extreme diet. I want to try several recipes very soon.

Everyday Dutch Oven Blog

Saturday, February 11, 2012


Are you a Dutch Oven cook, or wanting to learn? I follow a blog that is by a dedicated outdoor cook. He has quite a few recipes, and directions for us to use. There are frequent posts by Lid Lifter, on the blog, Everyday Dutch Oven

Pretty Baubles

Friday, February 10, 2012

Pretty Baubles...pretty baubles, I wanted to share this photo I took at the Funky Junk Sister's Junk Salvation show.  These are made using simple jewelry findings of bracelets with blank flat plates. Then the artist/jeweler used vintage bits and pieces, that were glued to the metal plates. A pretty easy and simple project, and it is a good way to use orphaned earrings. You don't need to match here...the idea is coordinated things and look fabulous together.

Listening

"She listened to her heart above all other voices."
Kobi Yamada


Getting the Garden Ready

Thursday, February 9, 2012

I have more work to do in the vegetable garden to get ready for spring. In this climate, I work when the weather allows. It was 59 degrees F. and cloudy...so no sunburn, or hat needed. The frogs are singing. The Western Bluebirds are singing and scouting my birdhouses, still need to clean them out. Today was one of those times to get some things done. I cut down all of last year's asparagus fronds, and all of the raspberry canes. I also pulled up all of last year's turnips and beets, some of these about the size of a cauliflower head. My friend didn't want these for her chickens, the birds won't eat them. I will compost them instead..

Here is an Idea----Decorate your Lampshades

Wednesday, February 8, 2012


How is this for an interesting decorating idea. Again, from the Funky Junk Sister's Junk Salvation Show.  Do you have an old silk lampshade stored somewhere? Call your inner artist out to play, use a quote as these are...or shapes...colors...words...this idea can be personalized as you might like. Think about the places that you want to visit...Paris, London, Rome, Zurich, Barcelona...
How about designs...patterns like stars, birds, trees or tulips? 

Glamping - Funky Junk Sisters Style

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
I am looking inside.

The kitchen area, notice the lamp made out of an old Thermos.


The Junk Salvation Show had an adorable vintage travel trailer...all decked out for Glamping. This tiny space was adorned and spiced up to the max. I must say that I was very excited when I saw it. Now I wish that I had spent more time looking at it. This is the first time that I have seen one in person. So fun! 


I can imagine the work involved to restore a trailer, they nearly always need major work to get the basic trailer back to a good usable condition... A major project. Customizing one to fit your personality would be the fun part.

A Beautiful Day!

Monday, February 6, 2012
I needed to spend the day with Hubby, he missed me over the 3 days I was out of town. He wanted to drive over the Cascade Mountains, on Highway 58.  The Three Sisters Mountains, and the others were in wonderful view. We had no destination in mind.  We ended up in Bend Oregon. It was a beautiful day, so sunny!


Where ever you are, I hope that you had a beautiful day too.


I think that this vintage photo is very special.

The Cowgirl's Cookbook

Sunday, February 5, 2012
 This is one of my finds on Saturday.  A new, fun, cookbook.  This book is full of vintage photographs, wonderful artwork, great quotations, and facts. The recipes are unusual and fun. There are some for the dutch oven. I think that I convert most of the recipes to the dutch oven. Page 72, Kickin' Apple Pie Enchiladas. I am making this one next dutch oven cookout, and I will amaze my fellow dutch oven cooks! This recipe has chipotle peppers mixed into apple pie filling. Hum....yummy!

This is her latest book, not yet available.
I willing be bringing you new photos this week....fun things to see.

Funky Junk Sisters Show

Thursday, February 2, 2012
I am so excited! I am driving north to this show! Yeah!
I will put photos on the blog next week...I will be gone for a few days. Luv

Happy Groundhog Day, LOL!


This is seriously a crazy tradition. How, why, and what started it? It seems to me a strange thing, kinda like black cats crossing your path. Ha, Ha, Ha

Artwork on Old Simplicity Dress Patterns

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

I found this pattern a few days ago...while shopping for some yarn at the thrift store, St Vinnie's.  I like the artwork that they used on patterns. I think that it makes the clothing look very sophisticated and lovely. Todays' patterns use photos, not so artsy. These old patterns do not have dates. The mailing address doesn't have a zip code either. I just guess by the style of the clothing, so late 1950's to early 1960's for this one. I think that someone could actually use this pattern today, for an evening jacket. I paid $0.49 for it, the same price as when it was new...of course that would be maybe 2 or 3 cents in today's economy.