American Pickers

Hi Bloggy Friends! Are any of you needing a good Junkin' fix like me?? Are you dreaming of spring and what it will bring? Already looking through the seed catalogs, planning the new flowers or vegetables that will be added to your garden this year? Thinking of Spring Cleaning (or dreading it) Sunshine? Or are you like me and anticipating the start of the Junkin' Season? Yard Sales, Estate Sales, Flea Markets, Barn Sales....oh my!......when all the treasures are revealed?

For me, I can't wait! I've had enough of the snowy, rainy, dreary days. I want my sunshine, new flowers, spring birds and new JUNK!! Today I spotted a Yard Sale sign and my heart went pitter patter!! I couldn't believe my eyes, a yard sale! Unfortunately, there wasn't anything good to be had! But it was a glimmer of hope, the light at the end of the tunnel, spring is on it's way, the junkin' season will soon begin.I have to confess that my lust, desire, want, need for the junkin' season to start has been exaggerated by a new show I discovered on the History Channel. Maybe some of you have already seen the show.....American Pickers? My first encounter with.......... what is now my absolutely favorite show, was a couple of days ago. I stumbled across it while flicking through the channels. Now I scan the TV Guide searching for their time slot. No longer do I covet HGTV, no, HGTV no longer holds any interest for me with their programs...House Hunters, House Hunters International, Virgin Property owners, First Time Home Buyers, etc, etc, etc. Whatever happened to the decorating and gardening aspect of HGTV? Is it now on at an obscure time?With the economy the way it is, I certainly am not interested in spending hundreds of thousand on a new home! I want ideas on how to make my house a home, on a budget.

Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz make up the team of "Pickers" and they travel around the country in search of their wares. Usually travelling off the beaten path, along back roads, seeking out rural towns, meeting collectors, hoarders, antique dealers and an occasional historian who often have great stories about the items they have, in hopes of having the opportunity to search through packed barns, basements and attics in search of buried treasures. All I can say is..I want to be a part of this team!! They get GREAT pieces of junk! I was so drawn to my new found love and the treasures they were finding, that I had to tell my kids "Don't bother me, momma has a new love and unless the house is on fire or you have killed your brother, Don't bother me!"

Mike Wolfe is the owner of Antique Archeology, a specialist shop that sells, antiques, vintage items and folk art in the sleepy town of Le Claire, Iowa.

Frank Fritz is his partner in "Picking" and has been Mike's friend for over 20 years.

Danielle Colby Cushman is part of this crew, but is usually at the shop, holding down the fort, tracking leads or packaging shipments, etc.

If you are needing a "Junk" fix and if you love the chippy, rusty, vintage, unique item, then you will not be disappointed by this show. Check your local listings for times.

In the junking world, those who search, dig and hunt for the treasures, that fill the antique, shabby, vintage shops, flea markets, barn sales, etc. are known as pickers. Isn't that exactly what most of us do?? Pick? Indeed...we are "Pickers".

Until Later,

~Toni~

Happy Birthday Dad

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the most special guy in my life.........my dad! Happy 81st birthday dad, I Love You!

This is a picture of my dad when he was stationed in Austria, how handsome he looks in his uniform.

This picture was taken at my sister Dena's house at our annual Christmas party, 1982.

This is one of my favorite pictures of my dad. It was taken at my wedding in 1986. The look on his face is a result of his surprise, that we got him into a tux. (It took three of us holding him down to get him in that tux, but I think it was worth it as he looks quite dapper, don't ya think?)

Here he is on his 70th birthday with the love of his life.....my stepmom Donna. They shared almost 30 years together. She was such a blessing to my dad and our family. It was hard on all of us when she was called home too early, just one day before her 57th birthday and one month before their 30th wedding anniversary.

My dad and I have always had an easy going, teasing kind of relationship. I remember when I was little one of his friends commented on how much we looked alike and one of us (I can't remember which one of us) said, "Yeah, but he/she is not as good looking as me" That joke has continued my whole life. A couple of years ago, dad was introducing my sister and I to the members of his church and when he came to me he said, "This is my daughter,Toni, who is not as good looking as me". Without missing a beat, I very quickly stood up and asked the congregation if they thought I was better looking than my dad and they unanimously agreed that I was, indeed, better looking. My dad stood there with the biggest smile on his face! I love him. He has worked hard all of his life, in fact, just retiring this past December after working 7 days a week for the past several years, instilling in my sister and I our work ethics. Dad always told us to take pride in whatever job we had and to always be thankful that we had a job. If we were shoveling sh--t, we were to be the best sh--t shovelers anyone had ever seen! When my dad married my mom she already had three children from a previous marriage. Dad was always fair and always willing to forgive our mistakes, which my brothers made a lot of :) My dad always had time for my sister and I and took much pleasure in watching us just being kids. When my sister was 10 and I was 7, he bought us an old 1950's car so that we could drive around the ranch. He said it was just as much a benefit to him as it was a great learning experience for us, for when he was out on the ranch working on equipment, or repairing a fence or whatever, we could drive to the shop and get tools for him :) My sister and I had more fun just driving around the ranch and I really don't remember getting many tools for dad ;)

He was our 4H Beef leader and took us to many a county fair so that we may show our steers and the Angus bulls my sister often showed. My dad was an instrumental part for me in my purchase of my first horse. Dad and I were in the Equestrian Club together, going on wonderful camping trips and riding along fantastic trails. Those were great memories for me that I often recall. We lived a rich life with the love our dad had for us and his pride in our accomplishments. I am the woman I am today because of the loving guidance of my father. I am proud to say that I am the daughter of Ellis Lloyd Palmer!

I Love You Dad, Wishing You a Happy 81st Birthday !

Your Loving Daughter,

Toni

Quote of the Day

"God puts each fresh morning, each new chance of life, into our hands as a gift to see what we will do with it."

What will you do with your new gift?

Until Later,
~Toni~

Fluffing

I'm at it again.........wandering .........! I haven't made a decision on the new bed linens for my room, or the drapery material or the paint color for my walls(which I probably should have done first).....so my room is on hold for the moment. Which leaves my little mind to do what it loves to do best....wander! Sometimes it just takes off on it's own and I have no control. This time though I was able to keep a slight reign on it and keep it focused for at least 10 minutes! Remember my wonderful hutch that I got at a fantastic deal?? You can see it here.

I have tried several times to decorate it and each time I re-do the decor, I live with it for a while and then decide to try it a different way. But I'm just not "feeling" it. Ya know??? My kitchen is basically rustic country french, reds, yellows, greens, blues, roosters, etc., etc.,I live in a rental so I can't change the wonderful wood wall behind the hutch or the 1970's counter top or loverly carpet. But I can paint, change the window treatments and decor (all within a budget of course) Basically use what I have or what treasures I might find out thrifting. So if you all can give me some ideas, I can at least have an idea of items to search for while I'm thrifting. Right now I don't have a clue. I'm clueless! I do love my new dishes and the other items, but there just isn't any WOW factor. So, I'm asking you wonderful ladies to help a poor girl out. What would you add, a plant?, cookbooks?, an architectural piece? pattern?, a couple small pictures? Maybe remove something??? Any suggestion would be appreciated . I'm trying to really make 2010 a productive one and the top of my list is to finally (after a year) get settled into my house.





Close up of my sweet new dishes.

Until Later,

~Toni~

New Look for the New Year

Hi everyone!! Hope you all had a happy and safe New Year's celebration. I spent a quiet night at home with my youngest son watching movies. I haven't gone out in years and really just prefer a night at home cuddled up on the couch, watching movies. We watched the countdown and all the people celebrating in New York and I am always thankful not to be part of that big crowd! :)



New Years day I woke up and watched the Rose Parade and then took my ex MIL grocery shopping. It was nice to have a day to do whatever I wanted. No job, no projects, no schedules. Well, that lasted for a day :) Saturday my mind started to wander about, which is scary in its self! I have been in this house a year now and it still doesn't feel like home. I have been slow to decorate anything ...which is so unlike me. Usually I can't wait to get started and typically have a vision of what I want everything to look like, a reflection of me. My room still had boxes that I either haven't unpacked or found a spot to store them. So that was my first priority.....to make my room a place I wanted to be.



First was a easy peasy quick project. I have a huge dislike to cords (including the unfashionable pants from the 70's). I don't like to see electrical cords, from the TV, stereo, computer, etc..... hanging down in plain view of everyone. And that is what I have looked at for a year now! I did a quick measure of the back of the table my computer sits on, dug out some leftover burlap fabric I had and with a swift wave of the magical glue gun to seal the edges I was ready! See, look how easy that was :)

Then I attached it to the back of my desk with a few small nails.

Voila!!! It's like magic....no more ugly cords.

I'm really happy with the way it turned out and it didn't cost me anything and literally only took about 10 minutes.

Everything back in place and no ugly cords, don't you just love it???

Now here is where my little mind started to wander. I have picked up a few things here and there and wasn't sure what I was going to do with them. I just knew that I loved them and had to have them! I know all of you can appreciate buying something because you love it and knowing you will figure out sooner or later what you are going to do with it.

Remember this loverly piece??

This next sweet little treasure I just picked up on New Year's Eve. I LOVE it!

This little frame was sitting out in my garage for months, but I remembered it during my wandering. It's very detailed and has the perfect whitewash to it.

This is my newest love . She is a vintage sewing cabinet with a little "frenchiness" curve to her. I asked the shop owner to take out the sewing machine ( it was beyond damage). I'm going to add a glass top to her. Chippy in all the right places!
(UGHHH! I know the carpet is ugly, but I'm in a rental and my room was the only one not updated)

Can you see my ideas starting to come together??? Sometimes a little mind wandering is good ;)

It's starting to come together. I want to add a plant in a little rustic planter I have and some old vintage lace and ribbon to the shade.

It's a start and I'm happy with it so far. I also finally put up the bed I bought quite a while back. You can see it here. There is still drapes, new bed linens and a few other touches....like painting, I know I should have done that first, but what can I say...I had a thought and went with it. I will be working on my room more this week and I promise I'll share photos. And if any of you gals have any suggestions, I welcome them all, paint color, accessories, new knobs?? curtains............I have looked at new bed linens that are in a cream/light blue tone that I fell in love with.....we'll see.

Until Later,

~Toni~