Filling All My Dreams

Absolutely no artwork up anywhere, but here are a few shots around the loft and of the new ceiling fans Pup installed.

I'll be tweaking forever from now on. It's always fun searching for stuff. I have a few ideas for the living room walls.

No more nipple lights. Anyone that has seen newer construction knows what I'm talking about. Bam! Gone!

Our bedroom. We're sleeping on a queen sized bed. It's cozy!

Loft bunk beds. 

That futon turns into a double bed. 

View from top of stairs.

Guest room. When Bella and Spud are here it's their room. 

Living Room - Pup's bachelor couch reestablished 

Hoarding

This is weekend four at Camp George.

Yes, his head is that large. And hard.

I'm trying out this name for our place. We're liking Camp George so far.

I now have about 1300 square feet of new place filled with what we need. It's a bit shocking to me that so much of what is here at the cabin was found in my house at home. Yes, I am most certainly a hoarder. I'm not ashamed. Take off those judging sunglasses! You know you'd love to be me.  ;)

Ya.

And then there were the weeks of Craigslist chasing I did. That was rather fun. And exhausting. Craigslist people are crazy. Nuff said about that. And I did lots and lots of thrifting. Thrifting is cool because you do not know what's around the corner until you find it.

Like this spot in the cabin living room.

A $20 leather chair from Craigslist. I think the lovely lady I bought this from just wanted this monster out of her basement. Enter Pup with his freakishly strong self. She kept repeating over and over, "He's so strong!" I know! Freakishly! The table I found at Goodwill for $5. Yeah! I'm serious as a pimple. $5!! The leather ottoman is from a friend's estate sale and there's a much cooler lamp on the table now, but this lamp has found a new home in the cabin loft. Rotate and spin.

Speaking of lamps . . .

I know. An obsession from my past. But I could not resist when I saw this last week. He'll watch over us in the cabin loft!

And you know we need watching.

Love These Like She Loved These

The weather has turned.

That's okay by me. As I've said, I do love summer, but grow weary of hot days. I have always enjoyed the dreary, rainy aspect that some fall days have. And I enjoy entering a different portion of my closet.

I spent one dreary, fall day at the auction of my dear friend Reechie. She and her adorable husband Neily sold their farm and are moving far far away. Maybe to return part-time here, but maybe not.

:(

I saw her grouping of luncheon plates and whispered to my friend Deb-oh-rah, "Don't let me bid of those."

Then about 30 minutes later I made her promise to ignore what I had just said.

Hello!

I used to own this set (or one just like it) way back in the day although I didn't have any cups. When I left my wasband I didn't take these with me. I mourned them the minute I left them with him. Along with a lot of outfits and such I impulsively donated. What a doofus.

So . . . I bid on these. I bid against Neily's daughter. I bid aggressively and got them. I apologized to the daughter, but said, "These were going to be mine!" She can find another set. Frankly, they are all over the place. My beautiful, tiny friend Shelley-Belly told me her daddy used to broker these luncheon plates (and other styles) back when she was even tinier.

While Neily was carrying these to my car (smooches to a gentleman) he said, "You know, if I had known you wanted these, you could have had them!"

I just grinned at him. I liked buying them from their farm. Now, as I told Reechie, every time I have guests and serve snacks on these lovelies I will think of her and her gorgeous farm.

When I got them home Pup simply said, "What is this gristle?" That's his word for all my treasures. He's kidding. I think.

:)

It's Saturday! I am attending a baby class with my ready-to-pop Bella (that baby is so close I can smell him!) and then off to the office with Pup for some rearranging. What are y'all doing?

Even Marilyn Did It

Avoided empty carbs that is!

I think that's sauerkraut on that dog isn't it?

This woman was light-years ahead of all of us. She did strength training y'all!

I am digging her workout outfit.

I had a girl day yesterday. Met a couple of friends in a town far away for a little digging and drinkin' and talkin'. Super fun. And I scored a couple of things that made one of my friends look at me with a face that said, "I thought I knew you."

I always have a vision. You just might not like it. Ha!

Yes, that is another skull (have I shown the other one I have? Or the 8-point buck antlers I have from a car-kill I was involved in years ago? I forget. I'll share soon.

And yes, that's another paint-by-number gem. There's a mid-century magazine rack out in the garage as well. I am thinking it will look good in my new office - maybe? I'm still thinking about that one. I'll post shots of the office (still pondering a name for our office - nothing is coming just yet) when it's more towards completion. Still waiting for a few key pieces like filing laterals. Ha!

Smooches to you my friends and let's eat and move à la Marilyn!

today

I am . . .

• listening more, talking less
• making check marks on my list - you know the list - the LIST!
• laughing more
• flushing dead mice (omg - or, as an FB friend said, better dead than alive)
• drinking lemon water
• trying something different with hair - still wondering about this - messy does appeal to me

• thinking constantly about a friend that is in the middle of troubles
• because of her troubles I am able to see any troubles I thought I had in a new light
• I have no troubles
• looking at gardening ideas - I know! Who am I?
• I had Grammy fever - love love love watching all of it - red carpet love
• scratch the above bullet - Grammys were not that good
• learned how to remove a fake tattoo - which was easier once I looked at my favorite book, the internet
• learned I can thrift shop and resist many of my obsessions, I left a few wooden bowls, clusters of glass fruit, and gray sweaters behind
• although a gray dress, piece of handmade pottery, and a painting came home with me - some things I cannot resist

We got a bit of snow yesterday - it was a lovely afternoon watching it swirling about.

Let's Have a Kiki

I am obsessed with the Scissor Sister's song, Let's Have a Kiki. Obsessed!

*warning - graphic images and language (it's not that bad, but you gotta protect those that need protecting.)

I cannot stop listening to it.

Of course I was a bit confused regarding the meaning of Kiki. Originally I thought party. Then I came to realize it is a word, similar to our much beloved F-word, that can mean anything - driven by the person saying Kiki. Whatever makes you happy. Be it a party, sexy-time, a boy, a girl, a cocktail. If it makes you happy, it's a Kiki.

Necessary or unnecessary background for weekend story.

I went to Rice Lake to visit my friends that have a home on the lake. Peaceful, lovely, warm and calm in the summer and crisp and frozen in the winter. A small small town, but always fun when I go see my oldest and dearest friend, Deb-oh-rah.

When I go to Rice Lake we go auctioning, antiquing, junking. More fun than I deserve.

On this evening we take the pontoon to town to have dinner and a few cocktails.

After dinner we decide to go to the Lions and use Mikey's secret card (not so secret - I just wanted to say that) to gain entrance, and have a delicious cocktail overlooking the lake.

A large group come in. A group that has been having fun all day. Their energy is good! Laughing, story-telling, hitting-each-other-on-the-back fun.

One woman raises her glass and adds onto a story that we have missed the beginning of . . .

"Ladies - how many of you have had to get up in the middle of the night to pee because, in your past, you pushed babies out of your vagina?"

Rowdy laughter!

I mutter under my breath, "Not me, I do my kegels religiously."

Several woman are adding to her inquiry. Much talk about big-headed babies and the mystery of women.

I stand, swept up in the camaraderie of the moment, raise my glass of whiskey and diet, and declare, "Bow to the power of the vagina!"

Dead, cold silence. Picture about two dozen heads swung my way.

I sit and giggle a little. Mikey busts out laughing, Deb laughs a bit nervously.

I take a sip of my cocktail. The bar recovers.

Blurting just may be my Kiki!

You and Me in Paradise

I am laughing pretty hard right now. Which is a good thing because someone has to think what I do is hilarious.

I mean, who takes pictures of lamps they did not buy? Me?

I shouldn't even try to analyze. I can't afford to waste the energy. :)

In all honesty, I really really wanted these lamps. I resisted. Who knew I had any form of self-control?

This shot is only here because the cats look alarmed at the crap I bought the other day shopping with Bella.

A little meeting with Alli-baby about the next GNO.

We decided on a French theme. Who will wear the French maid outfit? Hmm?

The mysterious creative process. I love a good thesaurus!

These are boot bracelets The Turnstyle took in. Men like bling too apparently. Or are Conchos only for women?

First and last day on the job at The Firm. Who knew bookkeepers could be so mean? I'll be back, but that's another post for another day. Pup is not happy and I'm biting my tongue. Well, not entirely. :)

Pup and I had a little day trip last Friday. I loved the font for the motel name. I'm sad they have that fugly signage under the name!

Someone wants me to stop goofing around and pay them some attention. Or it was just a warm place to nap?

What's on My Blackberry?

There was so much random and idiotic stuff in the photo folder on my beloved BlackBerry that I could only sigh and say, "WTH"?

But, there were a couple that made me giggle a little bit.

I have a recipe box exactly like this one. My dad bought it for me when I was in the 7th grade for my Home Economics class. I was so excited that he got such a spiffy one. I found this one in an antique store (holy cow) and immediately picked it up for my Bella.

No memory why I took this one of the Beatles print I put up in The Big Room. I like it though. The Beatles, not necessarily this shot of it. Heh!

Yeah, Calvin helping me make the bed. I know, I know, but he makes me laugh!

I took this shot of the inside of my fridge for another blog. Embarrassing what is and what isn't in there!

Pup's momma is on the right and Pup's auntie is on the left. We took them to dinner a week or so ago. His auntie remembers that her momma was a bootlegger! She was amazing to talk to and I want to see her again and get some of her stories on tape. Seriously amazing stories.

What it is! It's coming! It is!

This glass owl weighs about 10 pounds! I could use him for a weapon! I just may.

Yes, this guy came home with me to be the little brother to the other one I bought a while back. I should hang my head, but I hold it high with my owl love!

My BFF bought this. It is the cutest ugly frog I've ever laid eyes on.

Daisy!

What's been keeping y'all out of trouble this week?

Thrifting a Go-Go

Ooooooh the excitement of it all. The dusty places. The things hidden "just" out of view. Spotting an owl before he spots me. Yes, yes, yes. I'm a thrifter.

I think I have been a thrifter since my family moved to "the cities" when I was about 15 or 16. The hidden joy of hole in the wall shops with dirty windows lured me in even then! My first furniture buy was an old secretary desk that I found in a tiny shop, hidden under a bunch of . . . well . . . junk! I still have it although Bella has custody of it these days.

Aaaaaaah! The 70s! I found him on a wall in a fun, fun shop. The young hipster dude manning the register said, "Sure! You can have it. Let me call the boss." He came back with a good price and now this little guy is MINE. Love him.

I kinda remember where I found this crazy thing. This must be the way you brought home memories in the 60s. The friend I was with when I bought this thought me crazy. I do believe she's right.

Whoooo hooooo! This little guy is marble! MARBLE! I love him. He's so regal. He's so cold. He's mine.

Okay, okay. I did not need another globe. I like globes. Yes, I am painfully aware I'm a little odd.

My BFF found this somewhere. Could you die? I squealed just like an owl. Or would that be a piggy? Let's stay with owl.

I have no idea why this guy appealed. Reminded me of something my momma had when I was a kid. I'm sure it was full of those weird little pink and green mints people used to eat in the 60s. Remember them? They were weird! Chalky and soft. Now I'm thinking about those weird mints. No, I don't want any, thank you.

This guy is just plain odd. Why on his end? Why the mouth open? Why is he in my big room?

Okay, I realize this is getting a little out of hand.

I threw in this random piece of McCoy pottery (I used to collect it) just to throw you off the scent of my obsessions.

Check this guy out! I was so excited to find this I nearly peed. I found him poking around on eBay of all places only to find that the seller lives about 1.5 miles from me and I've bought stuff from him before. He's a weird dude, but who cares. He had THIS! Oh the love, oh the joy. Did any of you guys crewel in the 70s? I did. I wish I had all that stuff I made back then. Given to relatives and such I guess. I was quite crafty in my youth. No more I'm happy to report.

I'd love to promise that I'll stay out of dusty shops, but I'd only be lying. And my new owl-friends wouldn't like that one bit.

Thrifting a Go-Go

Check out my disco-ball owl!

Remember Avon? Or maybe you guys still buy Avon? I haven't really thought about Avon for years, but there was a time when I bought lots and lots of Avon in my 20s. This little dude is from back then I do think. He's full of weird-smelling powder that immediately made me remember my Avon days. Isn't Avon known for it's super good skin care line right now? Maybe it's time to revisit Avon.

Did I use the word Avon enough?

Bella and I went thrifting yesterday and had such a good time. Flaked on photos which is unfortunate cuz we saw a few weird things. As you always do when thrifting.

This is my favorite find of the trip. He's sitting in my office making me pretty happy right about now.

Thrifting a Go-Go

It was actually last week, but check out how amazing this find looks after some elbow polishing and love love love.

These two little adorables are heavy my brotha. HEAVY! I-could-use-them-as-personal-weapons-of-singular-destruction heavy. Love them!

What's heavy in your universe? Summer chugging along delightfully? I knew it!

smooches all you gorgeous hooches

Thrifting a Go-Go

Bella and I went thrifting last Saturday.

Basket of men anyone?

This was pretty cool actually. Someone made it from grocery bags. We could see the Cub Foods logo scattered throughout. I'd love a huge one for using at the grocery store. Do you guys all bring your own bags?

The Coffee Bean Lamp. WTH?? and GROSS!

Bella and I thought this was AWESOME, but we both decided we did not need a project. Wouldn't this chair be awesome to blog from though? Or lurk creepily read all the blogs in my reader?

Paint-by-Number Jesus

Deja Shoe?

This little adorable cutie was not for sale. Darn it! Click on the photo for her outfit details. Her cuter-than-cute jean jacket and pink top were so casually hip.

I couldn't stop looking at her!

At one point in the day we had set our cart aside for a minute while checking out some junk fascinating stuff and when we resumed our shopping I grabbed the wrong cart. When discovered, we had to dash around the store trying to find the person we swapped with because Bella's KEYS to her CAR were in the pocket of her jacket in the cart (we NEVER leave our handbags in the cart, of course).

We found it and had a good laugh, but I kept imagining someone cruising through the parking lot hitting the key fob over and over until they found her car.

Crisis averted.

Is there medication for what ails me? Ha!

Don't answer.