A Flea Market of a Different Kind

The lady I bought my copper pans from told Michael and I about this awesome (her description) flea market in the Phoenix valley.

For all the years I've lived here, I've not once journeyed to a flea market and because of this woman's excitement I knew that I needed to go. So, I marked my calendar, told my family that I was going and invited them to join me. No takers for some reason.

Saturday arrived and with cup of coffee in hand off I went. With a few minor speed bumps with map directions, I finally arrived at my destination. Adrenaline pumping I found a close parking spot, hopped out and walked fast to find all those "vintage type of deals" that my copper pan lady told me existed.

My first stop.

My second stop. Amusing to say the least. Definitely not vintage.

Maybe a deal?

And, these I viewed next. Not vintage but more amusement. Where are all those great "vintage-y" deals? I kept going as I "surveyed" the lay of the land.

I walked just about every square inch of the place - quickly and left. Not my idea of a flea market. What's yours?

What Can You See?

Another vintage-y trip. I can see a small bouquet of pansies in this tiny vase. What do you see?

My Notebook on Living Life

Life is to be lived and sometimes we miss those in between moments that count most. I'm away from the garden, home front, the other fam that lives with us for a few days. Hubs and I are on a little vacation in southern California and we're going to dance on the beach, visit a few vintage-y shops and find a farmers market or two. Surely, I'll have some fun views to post. Enjoy your Monday!

Adorning the Table

These make me smile.

Beautiful Things

Beautiful Things: one of my grandsons wordless expression. Why do I want one of these right now? More beautiful things can be beautifully found here and here.

Vintage Cake Stand

On one of my recent Vintage-y exploration trips this cake stand caught my eye. Why is it that everything I'm drawn too costs so much?

Where Life Flows - My Kitchen

My hens have been good to me. Store bought eggs need refrigeration - fresh from the girls - don't. Every time we gather eggs, we go through this little ritual. I bring them in and say to the grandkids, "Look what God gave us today. Who'd like to thank Him." And, we do.

Some of my recent copper finds. The little silver dinner bell on the left has saved a lot of "dinner is ready" tensions. How often do you find yourself hollering across the house that breakfast is ready. Invariably, it's been more than frustrating and so to alleviate those moments my husband found this bell and decided that I'd "ring" it once and if he didn't come - it'd be his fault and we'd start without him. It works!

More home front peeks next week. I can't believe it's Friday already. Have a wonderful weekend.

Window Shopping at Paris Envy

Window shopping at Paris Envy is almost as good as eating Henriets Chocolates in Basque Country, France. Two weeks ago Michael and I meandered through every crook and cranny of this this French/vintage boutique located here in the Phoenix Valley.

This white shabby chic-esh bench had my name written all over it.

Typical of toile bedding covers in French homes. I love this over sized stuffed chair. Has some great possibilities.

Don't you love this table? Sweet.

Simple Home Living: The Benefits of Goat Milk Lotion and Soap

Oh a sweet Monday morning to you! Today's a busy day canning peaches, seeding starts for arugula, spinach, kale, chard and a few other wonderful things. I've just about finished my post for more eye candy from Paris Envy, but for today, I thought you'd enjoy knowing about the benefits of Goat milk lotion and soap.

The Lylah Blog - Simple Home Living: The Benefits of Goat Milk Lotion and Soap

My Notebook on Sunday Conversations

My darling husband approached me this morning with his little red book (Disciplines for the Inner Life) in hand and proceeded to read a paragraph to encourage us. In sharing this today, I pray it somehow encourages your own heart and would love to hear if it does so.

A few years ago I met an old professor at the University of Notre Dame. Looking back on his long life of teaching, he said with a funny wrinkle in his eyes: "I have always been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted, until I slowly discovered that my interruptions were my work."

This is the great conversion in our life: to recognize and believe that the many unexpected events are not just disturbing interruptions of our projects, but the way in which God molds our hearts and prepares us for his return. Our great temptations are boredom and bitterness.

When our good plans are interrupted by poor weather, our well-organized careers by illness or bad luck, our peace of mind by inter turmoil, our hope for peace by a new war, our desire for a stable government by a constant changing of the guards, and our desire for immortality by real death,, we are tempted to give in to a paralyzing boredom or to strike back in destructive bitterness.

But when we believe that patience can make our expectations grow, then fate can be converted into a vocation, wounds into a calla for deeper understanding, and sadness into a birthplace of joy.

From Out of Solitude by Henri J. Nouwen

My Notebook on French Homes

There's an obvious appeal to many women toward loving the "French" home and style of living. I'm not sure what it is for you, but for me, I suppose it's the simplicity of style, a natural flow of design, the clean look with touches of color and so practical. It says, "I want to come home."

Like you, I enjoy looking into other's homes and recently found this Home for Sale website. Unfortunately, I'm not locating the link for these pictures. I love the openness and flow of this home.

I suppose the gardens draw me most dearly.

Doesn't this just make you breathe? Have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for stopping by and I'd be so honored if you said "hello." Don't forget to visit Julia here and Melissa here too!

Two Sweetey Pies

Two of my granddaughters.

Tiramisu aux fruits d’été

Tiramisu aux fruits d’été

In English? Oh MY OH MY! This, I WILL make!

Palais de Glaise

Sweetness from Paris Envy.

Sweet Garden Wear

The more I look at this gauzy Frenchy flowing shirt, the more I think I'd like to wear this, sit in my growing garden, look cute and drink lemonade. I found this at Paris Envy.

Life and Gardens

Even though in the desert valley where I live gifts me with several seasons to garden, there is still only a little window of opportunity to prepare soil and plant seed. So, lately I've been scurrying around with my little companion planting charts, trowel, Popsicle sticks and markers digging and planting.

Because it's easier to work my soil and plant my tiny seeds (have you ever seen how tiny a turnip or radish or carrot seed is?) with my bare hands . . . thus at times, very dirty ones.

Today, my hands are dirty: I've planted a new carrot patch, seeded purple beans, turnips and transplanted sugar peas. I'm heading back out to the garden to seed some heirloom tomatoes and then dig up the dirty in another raised bed.

What's your day been like? What/where have you planted - whether in the soil of dirt or perhaps the soil of a heart?

Tomorrow I'm hoping to post the pictures of Friday's date day with my husband. It was an interesting time - he did everything I was in "to." Made me think that dates are really more for the woman, aren't they?

One of the places we went to was that little store I mentioned here, Paris Envy, Needless to say, Paris Envy was opened. We looked and looked and came out with one thing. It was an interesting one thing. You'll never guess what that one thing was. Go ahead - try to guess.

Celebrating Betty

Betty just celebrated her 91st birthday. Her life speaks to me as she finds ways to laugh midst the severe pain she suffers. Today, I celebrate her life as I learn new life lessons from her life. How about you?

Have a wonderful weekend - I'm doing gardening, shopping for vintage copper pans, drinking cafe con leche with my darling husband, spending time with precious women on Saturday and of course - kissing the grandkiddos on my home front. What are you doing this weekend? I hope one thing you're doing is seeing how others are celebrating life at The Inspired Room and Julia's Hooked on Houses.

Silence

It's a strange thing to welcome the silence but in a world of fast paced-ness (is that a word?) and over stimulus, I am welcoming the peace that comes from adding more moments of silence. It's restorative to my feminine soul.

How about you? Are you in need of more silence? How would it benefit you?

Fall Gardening - Appreciating the Hidden Spots

I'm a firm believer in what I call "personal therapy time" . . . therapy that soothes the soul, calms the fears and causes the heart to find the space to create sanctuary . . . therapy where moments between the One and the one created are found. Communion of sorts. Meditation. Solice.

My garden is that space. Enjoy.







Thanks to Pami for this idea.

Inspiration is needed today. For more visit The Inspired Room.