Fertilizer Friday - Jul 29.11

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The weather here this week has been overcast and grey. It must be because it's Exhibition week and the Bill Lynch rides are here! LOL! (That's always the running joke.)
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But the skies are not grey for me: my Mom and Dad arrived last Sunday; and I've taken a few vacation days to day trip around the province. At almost 83, I'm amazed by their energy and I'm loving their desire to see everything they can see.
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Yesterday, we went to the Annapolis Valley. Dad wanted to see apple trees (which he did in abundance, around every corner, in every size and variety) and the Minas Basin with it's HIGH tides and mud flats.
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It was especially wonderful for my Mom and I to drive around a corner in our "wanderings" and come across this:
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There in front of us was a huge field of day lilies -
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Every size and color:
The scent was intoxicating!!!!
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Now I've just got enough time to visit Tootsie at Tootsie Time and check out Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers July 29/11. But I can't dawdle because today we head to "Piddily Island" (Prince Edward Island) where I'll eat Cow's ice cream and cheese before lying on their gorgeous red sandy beaches; perhaps I'll even get to visit my childhood friend and hero, "Anne of Green Gables".
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Happy Weekend everyone!
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Green Festival July 23.11

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Bridgewater hosted it's 2nd Green Festival this past Saturday. The local community wants to bring even more awareness to taking care of earth and body through clean eating, drinking, living, etc. I was there by 9 am, bought myself a chocolate-dipped "waffle on a stick" and a most excellent cup of French roast coffee and sat to enjoy some of the local talent before the Town Crier announced the Street Parade. .
The parade was darling; lots of kiddies out on trikes and in the cutest butterfly and wizard costumes, among others..

There were vendors talking on clean drinking water, a bus system for the area to link the local villages, endangered species, etc. This lady had a wonderful display of felted items, and although I fell in love with the green purse with the blue flower, I only purchased a couple of felted flowers. .
This yurt (without it's outer walls) interested me and I spent some time talking to the young couple inside. They are currently building a 12 x 12 yurt and will live there this winter with their 3 yr old boy. Beautiful design! But I don't think I'll be moving any time soon!.

After indulging myself that morning, I scooted up the hill to help man the tables for our community garden's "Hodge Podge" luncheon. For Hodge Podge, you cook up fresh, baby vegetables, lightly season them and pour on the cream. Yum yum! So delicious! This free luncheon was open to the public as an introduction to our community garden. We also offered fresh rolls, watermelon and strawberries, fresh pressed local cider, blueberry and cherry juice and cake.

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We had music; and for the young (or young at heart), we had a water slide down the side of the hill. Hmmmm! That was one of the things on my bucket list. So guess who took the plunge? AND I successfully encouraged 4 other ladies over 50 to join in.

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But as I can't slide and take pictures at the same time, the proof will hopefully follow. It was such fun!

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Thrifty Thursday Jun 21.11

It's Thrifty Thursday #123 with Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville . So, let me share with you what I found at the Summer Fling at West Side United Church. I went mainly for the strawberry shortcake. But I did score some good yard sale finds.
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1. I got this wall plaque for $1; I plan on rolling on a coat of contrasting color paint over it so the "laugh" will stand out a little more.


2. I bought this very pretty broach (excuse bad photography pls) for $1.


3. This cute little turtle with the grey pearl shell was 50 cents.


4. And these cowboy boot and Sherriff's badge earrings were 50 cents. (A girl never knows when she'll need proof that her abilities at being good "on the range" speak of more than her cooking!)


5. But my best buy at the yard sale table was this $1, very Kate-like clutch purse. Isn't it darling! (Now I need a cowboy to take me out to dinner.) See the pretty lining? Guess what I found inside: a dried out tissue, several pieces of lint and a Loonie (or a $1 coin for you non-Canadians). So, this purse was free! (Much the same as I am most evenings!)

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I also bought some homemade muffins. But if you know me at all, you'll know that they are no longer available to be photographed!!!

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Hope your thrifting this week was fun!

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Rednesday Jul 20.11

My red for todays edition of Rednesday .............

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No 1 =

Oops! No ... these are still green!

Now they're red (and soooo delicious).Surf 'n' turf dinner at home for the Schulers. (I could take a hint!).

No 2 =

This beautiful Naturalizer bag I bought at Value Village on June 30th; gorgeous lining too.

I love red, so I'm off to see what else is highlighted in todays REDNESDAY - RED HOT SUMMER! with SueLovesCherries at It's A Very Cherry World!

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Schulers and Shoes-day, Jul 19.11

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Saturday morning, I went to a "Summer Fling" at a local church and got some great thrifty finds. (Stay tuned Thursday!) I wore these magnificent sandals which were a gift from my friend Eva. She found them at Frenchies for $6 and showed them to me. When I tried them on, she declared that my feet were much prettier in them than hers and that I should keep them. I never look a gift Czech in the mouth!

Thank you Eva! I adore them.

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Sunday was pretty special. I met up with my darling German student from last year, Nadine and her parents. They're visiting NS for a few days. So we spent the day at Peggy's Cove where Nadine and I shot the new "Jump for Joy" summer edition photo. We stopped at Queensland beach and had a scrumptuous picnic: strawberries, chocolate brownies and do-it-yourself sandwiches with fabulous cheeses! They wouldn't believe me when I said that I don't swim in the ocean until August; they had to dip their own tootsies before they would admit "De-feet"! We drove from Peggy's Cove all the way back to Bridgewater via the old highway, and all the beaches were filled to capacity. Nadine's Mom was quite taken with the many Adrondak chairs she saw on decks and in gardens; and every time she saw a sign that mentioned lobster (and there are a lot of them on the South Shore), she would repeat it out loud. I think we have a seafood lover in the family!
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What lovely people they are and both have such a great sense of humor. We had a lot of fun together.
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But why, oh why, did they have to bring me ginger marzipan and a Lindt chocolate selection I've never seen before?

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And just where has it gone already?
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"Burp!"
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Thrifty Thursday. July 14.11

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I have a beautiful red Toile quilt and pillow shams for my bed that I love. But it's much too heavy for the warmer half of the year; so for the longest time, I've been looking for a lighter weight spread. I was hoping I could find a nice, cheap chennile. No luck to date.
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Last week, I dropped into my favorite local thrift shop. There was nothing in the linens section. Darn! But as I was passing the house goods section, I could see what I thought was a cream-colored spread. It was rolled up and taped together with masking tape; and written on the masking tape was "Dog Blanket - $2".
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Most blankets tagged for doggies are in pretty rough condition. But I was curious. So, I checked the tag - queen sized; and although it was difficult to get a really good look at it, it seemed okay. And for $2, I decided to take a chance. I brought it home and washed it in hot water with some Oxy for brightness ..........
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It's perfect! Not a stain, not a blemish, not a pick! Perfect! And the flower medallions are lovely. What a bargain!
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I just have to say "Arf arf!"

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Now I'm off to check out Thrifty Thursday with Leigh at Tales from Bloggeritaville. Perhaps there'll be biscuits!

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I'm a little pretty girl ... trapped inside this grown-ups body!

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Did you ever have one of those days (months, years) that made you want to just want to pack it all in? The house, the kids, the laundry?
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Well, next time you feel that way, get together a dozen or so of your closest friends and neighbours, borrow your younger sisters dress-up clothes and your Uncle Stan's video camera and sing about it!
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Yes, with just an upbeat tempo and a few simple lines, you too have the ability to go viral and become famous for more than just your tuna casserole and extra white linens. Check it out with Tonje.


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I would place this Norwegian export right up there next to trolls and pickled herring.
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(PS - I don't want to be a crappy housewife either; so I avoid that by weekly menu planning and by cleaning up spills and messes as they occur!)
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Now, where did I put my fishnets and 1970's Merry Widow corset?
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