Somewhere In Time

This is in honor of all the summer weddings coming up. I bought this bride's trousseau many years ago at Round Top, Texas. It is over a hundred years old. The box is handmade and lined with an embossed paper and edged in paper lace. Inside are the bride's accoutrement; a veil and a tiara/headpiece made of beeswax flowers that look somewhat like snowdrops. There are also several additional wax pieces such as the groom's boutonniere. The bride even made little wax pierced earrings that are lying atop the picture. Notice the groom's handmade bowtie.

Here are the bride and groom in a full length pose. Wonder what they are looking at off to the right? Probably to keep them from closing their eyes to the flash.

The groom's bowtie is still lovingly pressed, with tiny pink embroidered flowers and designs and pink stitches around the edges.

The wedded couple in closeup. Is that a handshake to seal the deal? Somebody lied to him about his hairdo. The happy couple was from Hondo, Texas. Anybody know them?

Finally Tulips

Just wanted to show my tulips off this year. Cause it will be the last time. I have battled the deer since they started coming up. The deer would bite the new shoots and rip the bulb from the ground. I would have to stick them back in the hole. So, I covered the entire area around my goldfish pond with a plastic netting. You guessed it. The tulips grew up through the netting which wasn't very pretty when I had to pull the tulips through it and the deer started munching them again. I'd raise the netting. Then, I got some stakes that supposedly irritates the deer's little noses with something or other and they still were noshing. After some granules were scattered around the area, the tulips were finally up. Next year will be all daffodils and narcissus. I've had it.

My dino didn't even scare the deer away.

Here's Boo begging for a tickle. He is a good boy and very vocal; decides he needs to pose for me.

Whirligigs

Here are just a few of my old whirligigs. The one above saws logs. It sits among my birdhouses and things that need to be repaired. I don't enjoy that. Anyway, I see whirligigs quite often out in gardens and yards, on fence posts and for sale. They are really quite reasonable in price; I don't believe I have ever paid more than $10.00 for one. The movements can really be quite complex on some of them.

The paddles or arms of the Indian are what propel the canoe through the air. When the wind blows the whirligig to the right, the farmer's arms move and milk the cow. Cute pieces of affordable folk art.

100th Post Giveaway Coming Up

It will be my 100th post in the not too distant future. I read in blogland that there are contests and giveaways to mark the occasion. So, here is a gouache of a horse I painted on a grocery sack. It comes with the vintage carved frame. I have some other goodies too; some jewelry I made; necklaces with a tiny (1") hand painted gouache painting. I call it wearable art. As the time looms closer, I will post more about this. Meanwhile, all you have to do to be in the running is to become a follower. On the day of the giveaway, I will ask a question about one of my earlier posts and the first 3 that answer it in the comments will win. Easy?

Here is one of the necklaces for the giveaway. It is made of snowflake obsidian which doesn't show up well. There is a greater contrast in the beads; more light gray shows up. I had a devil of a time shooting these for some reason. The glass on the frame reflected everything and/or the colors looked darker than they are. The frame is silver. Also, notice in the first necklace pic, the sterling cowboy hat charm at the closure. Did you have a child in your family that wore red cowboy boots? My son did for years; wouldn't take them off. That's why I painted them in gouache.

This is the other necklace. It is strung with champagne pearls. The gouache painting, under glass, is a one inch still life; it's a glass bowl filled with white flowers. Who knows, I might just come up with more stuff to make the odds better. Why? Because my followers are the most incredible bunch of people and I am so glad to have met them!

Nappin' Couch

This is my favorite spot to nap. I'll be thinking about all you gals down at Round Top working your fannies off. No really, I will miss all of you terribly for 12 days; no posts or messages. Truth be known, I've been out of the business for 5 or more years and you have made me want to get back in it! I wish you the best; weather and lots of buyers and old friends and new friends too.

Pillows And Things

What do you do with all of those tea towels and lace doilies and embroidered works? Why make pillows out of them. My good friend Magpie makes the most darling pillows you've ever seen. She even sewed a piece of fabric across the back to make a pocket to keep tissues or hidey things or whatever. Go to her online shop at sleepingporchstudios.etsy.com. She also has a wonderful booth at River City Trading Company in Jenks, OK.

First Asparagus Of Spring

This is the first asparagus I have picked of the new year. Supposedly, eating the first asparagus of spring brings good luck. So I ate that sucker raw on the spot. I'll be getting more soon. I love them any way they are fixed; braised, pickled, roasted, with lemon or aoli or a velvety cheese sauce. I freeze them with one of those machines that sucks the air out of the package and they keep like the day I froze them.

Goldfish Love

Here are a few of the goldfish that inhabit my goldfish pond. I have been cleaning it out as of late. The cottonmouth water moccasins haven't come out from their hibernation yet, so I have been dredging the bottom for leaves and oxygenators, et al. I even had to get in the pond. Luckily, the water was so cold my legs became numb. Anyway, these goldfish are too cute. They come to the edge of the pond when I walk up to it, wiggling their tails; just swarm around the edge. I would swear they know me, wait for me, but for the fact that I feed them fish flakes.

Horses

I love this print. It is a large one and with the glass in front and the glare, I had a devil of a time photographing it. I got this at the flea market, but I have seen another one there and a friend also had this print in her shop so it probably isn't too hard to find.
As early in my youth as I can remember, I had a fascination with horses. I rode ponies when I was 3 or so and that is all I wanted to do. Around 5th grade, I began to draw them and knew all of their parts and anatomy. Finally, as a young teen I painted my father's radio station and earned enough to buy a quarter horse. He was a bay gelding and I thought he was Black Beauty or Flicka. When it became too tiresome to saddle him, I began riding him bareback and we would fly. Or, I might say I would fly, flipping over and over his head. I bet I got thrown a couple of hundred times. But, I always got back on. Back then, I would grab a hank of his mane and jump and sling my legs over his back. Now, I would have to climb a step stool to get up.
I went away to college and never returned home (to live). I really want another horse now; would love to have several. I think those days of riding are the fondest memories I have of my childhood.

What's This For?

This is how bad I am. Collectors will understand. Others will suggest I see a therapist. I did not need this. I was at the flea market and a lady from Missouri had this atop her table - sort of like a frame around her junk, er stuff. As you can see it is somewhat old from the dentil carvings across the top in the first pic. The two sides swing out. The only thing I can think of using it for is to fence around a Christmas tree. All you fellow collectors and decorators, give me ideas on what to do with this. It is very solid and too large to shove into some corner. I don't want to keep it outside in these parts and I wondered if I should paint it cream. Now here is the bad part. I got this because I thought it would be a great display piece and I don't even do shows anymore! By the way, the lady I bought this from used to own the blacksmith shop by Zapp Hall, for those of you who frequent Warrenton.

They Never Met A Turd They Didn't Like

Here again are my sweetest dogs in the world, Emmy and Sister. Coprophilia, n., meaning they like to eat poop. I won't go too far into it, for fear you'll swoon, but if you live on a farm, your dogs will eat it. No matter if I chase them across the field screaming like a banshee, they'll snack it down before I can get to them. I went to the vet and got some powders and brought them home. The instructions said to sprinkle it on their food and it will make the poop taste bad! As if it doesn't taste bad enough already. From what I've read, there is not much you can do about it. I just have to be careful when they kiss me. Anyway, I just had to vent after my beautiful walk in the fields today with the dogs and cats, and then, well, you know.

Cock Of The Walk

I had 3 peahens and 3 peacocks. The breed, though nosy are not aggressive and definitely have a mind of their own - meaning I have no control over them. They go where they please; down the middle of the road, to neighbors etc. The old meany down the road called at 7 a.m. one morning screaming that she was going to shoot them. They were in her yard and she didn't want them on her property. My husband tried to explain that he couldn't control them and there was no way of catching them. She continued to rant and rave until he hung up on her. So now we have 3 peacocks. The neighbors locked them up in their pen to breed with their hens. This is the only one we have seen since summer.

Two winters ago, they roosted up on the top of the barn when the ice storm hit. You get the picture. Their tails froze to the tin roof and they ripped them to shreds to get down. They looked awful. Now, these tails are six feet long and lush. They are funny to watch and call to each other from great distances. Peacock love!

My First Grandchild

My little 18 month old stinky Isobel. Isn't she the cutest? She loves her Nonna and I love thee. I try to see her every week so she'll remember me. What a joy. Little brother will arrive at the end of June and I can't wait to see him. They are so teeny at first. Isobel is saying words and signing, dances like a pro and will start a little gym program soon. Nonna wants her to start violin or piano in the not too distant future (little Einstein you know). Grand kids make my life complete.

Birdhouse and Bees

Birdhouse in my pear tree. The trees are in full bloom right now. It was 80 degrees yesterday and it is supposed to snow tonight! Woe is me.

Bees of all shapes and sizes were buzzing around the pears yesterday. Their little legs were covered in white pollen - so cute. The warm day kept them busy and their hum was very loud. Today, the high was 44 and there wasn't a bee around. Nada. Recently, I read that the cause of the worldwide bee colony collapse is thought to be the industrial conglomerate Bayer. Supposedly one of their herbicides has an ingredient in it that is toxic to bees. Wonder if it is also killing the bats?

Friday 13th

Spooky happenings around hither and yon Friday 13th. I'll be telling (blogging) about a ghost story that is very similar to something that has happened to me. Drop on by Friday night; there will be a link to another site where others will be sharing theirs and so on and so forth...

Flea Market Find

I found this large oil painting this past weekend at the flea market. It's probably from the 40's or 50's as it does have a little crackling. It also needs a good cleaning. I have had several barn paintings and they differ depending on what part of the country they come from. I liked the overall green tones of this one and it was larger than most. I don't even know where I will hang it - the mark of a hopeless collector. I needed this like I need another hole in my head. Just thought I'd share it with you.

MEOWWW

Here are some of my cat collectibles. This is a carnival prize from the 40's perhaps. They were made from plaster of paris and lifesized. Isn't he a cutie?

These little guys are a lamp base. I guess I missed the shade.

Kitten planter anyone?

Here's another version of the carnival win. It is even older than the larger one above. The tiny kitten is Japanese from the 50's.

Now this kitten is just too cute. Its smile makes me smile.


I love this print. It looks like a watercolor. I used to have a gray tabby named Fraidy.

This kitty is made of cement and is a doorstop though it is perched high above us.


Here is another carnival kitty; it is large and plaster, but this one has glass eyes. I do love cats!

I want to tell my regular bloggy friends I have tried lately to leave comments on posts and have on occasion been unable to. There is something wrong with the word loading. I reported it though I don't know that it got to anyone, but if you have had the same problem it might be worth it to report it too. Love you guys.

Snickerdoodles In A Cachepot?

I thought I'd make some cookies for the family and wanted to share them with you. Of course, you have to make them. Does anyone know what this made in England container is? The top and bottom part are one piece and all it says on the bottom is Made in England. There is no hole at the bottom so I don't think it is for a plant. I simply don't know what it is. I do know the cookies are crisp and crinkly on the outside and moist and chewy on the inside. Very easy.

1 cup butter - 11/2 cups sugar - 2 eggs - 1 tsp. vanilla - 22/3 cups unsifted flour - 1/2 tsp. soda - 1/4 tsp. salt - 2 TBS. sugar - 2 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, soda and salt. Shape dough into balls and roll into the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 - 10 minutes.
Your house will smell wonderful. Enjoy.

Feral Barn Cats

If you read the earlier post about my cats and barn cats, then you will have read one about MeanMom, the feral barn cat. It has taken me over a year but this week we have finally broken through and bonded somewhat. Yea! She would always spit and hiss and jump at us (me and my wieners). Then she would meow around and talk to me, but if I bent down or looked at her cross ways, she'd start hissing and growling etc. Wouldn't let me go too near. Well, I have persisted and last week when I'd hold my hand to her she would slap it, then claw it over to her and bite it then lick it. I got in a few rubs before she'd slap me. Now, I can just rub her and she circles around my legs rubbing, purrs while I stroke her back. Major accomplishment! I took two barn cats to get spayed last week and have 3 more to do including MeanMom. And I would have taken her in too but she would not work with my timetable and is a little too fat now. But, progress has been made! I guess now I'll have to start calling her MomCat.

Here is MeanMom clawing and pulling my hand to her and biting it.

MeanMom when she had finally gotten to the stage where she would come within 6 feet of me but no more than that. She still swats me and the other cats and dogs, but, the other day I saw her peeking in the doggie door to see where we all were. By the way, MeanMom isn't a barn cat anymore. She moved herself up to my garage, which she rules over, some time ago.

Eggs

I have bird eggs in different vignettes (along with nests) and thought I'd show a few of them. In the first pic the largest is an ostrich egg, then an emu, a goose egg, a hen egg, a bantam egg, quail egg and then an immature egg, a speckled egg and a tiny one. The immature egg, that's my term for it, is usually the first egg a hen lays. For some reason, the first ones come out small. Some come out soft with a long straw-like tube attached; I don't think I want to know why that is, only I think it is diet/calcium related. Eggs are weird come to think of it. When I was young, I never would eat one unless those white cord thingys were taken off of the yolk. Nowadays, I can't hardly choke one of my own chicken eggs down. They are all pets and uh, I guess I know what little precious peeps come out.... Now, I've grossed myself out. Oh, well, what started as an informational blog has now become - I'm at a loss for words. Ick.

That gray sculpted hand is mine and of course, I dropped and broke it before I finished it.

Spring Whispered In Her Ear

"Spring whispered in her ear," is a partial lyric from an old Laura Nyro song titled Upstairs By A Chinese Lamp. It is a song from one of her earlier albums. Laura was a genius and as well, a singer/songwriter/musician. Well, today spring did whisper in my ear. It's Here! Hurrah!

These little jonquils are the naturalizing kind that spread their little bulbettes around and come back every year more plentiful. I picked up one lying on the tiny grave of an indian child in an old indian cemetery. I brought the bulb home and stuck it in a flower bed and it has spread throughout the area. You can see whole fields of them around here and the little beauties are the first harbingers of spring. I think they are jonquils as the dictionary said the daffodils are bigger. Nevertheless, both are from the narcissus family.

I cracked open an egg and placed them in it. I have also used cracked egg halves to start seedlings in the original egg carton. Just put in some peat moss and seeds, keep them watered in a sunny window and plant outside later. I crunch the eggshells up and sprinkle them around the seedling. It is a very cute and green way to garden in the SPRING!

Southern Dish

Here is a concoction that definitely has southern roots. Everyone knows that in the southeastern United States, black-eyed peas, rice and fried okra are mainstays of southern cuisine. It's the time of year where I start digging in the freezer, pantry and refrigerators to see what needs to be eaten before the coming summer crops come in. This dish came from the need to whittle down the stores of vegetables and the like. It is a version of a popular dish called Hoppin' John. First, I boiled the peas and some Lundberg's brown rice. The peas are much better frozen, but I guess you could use canned. I then cut up some fresh Roma tomatoes into a small dice and also sliced up some scallions - about a cup of each. Next came battering and frying the okra. Then all I did was put down a bed of rice and topped it with the black-eyed peas and a little of the juice, then a layer of tomatoes, onions then the okra. That's it. A meatless lunch or dinner that is a complete protein. And, don't forget to season it with whatever spices or herbs your family enjoys.

I wanted to show you this still life under a cloche. I am always finding things on the farm. I found the little screech owl in the attic over the garage. I guess it got up there then couldn't find its way out. The smaller skull is from some kind of tern that I found by the pond in some grasses. The hummingbird flew into one of the windows on my house. I have saved many birds when they do this but this little guy didn't make it. The nest is a hummer nest; they use their spittle to attach tiny lichens to it. Did you know that birds reuse their nests several times during the spring and summer? The fungi, lichens and mosses are from the woods and when dried, they remain as they are for years to come.

I have this grouping hanging on an old upright wooden closet. It is an old store tie display. The little pink plaid dress is from around the turn of the century and when I bought it, there were several with the same style, just varying sizes from teeny to around 8 years old. I guess the mom bought one bolt of fabric and made all the girls in the family the same dress. Also, the little hat still has the original label on it called Peggy, my first dolls name. If you click on the first pic, you can see the orange plastic birds on either end of the tie rack. Those are clothes pins. I have never seen any like them and got them recently at the flea market. Their tails pinch in.

Wall Shelf

What is this? I know my friend Josephine will know. I bought it several years ago at the Tulsa Flea Market from an English lady. She said she got it out of an English kitchen. It has bent hooks on it and I wonder if it is for hanging game upon though it seems too pretty a piece for that. Or, possibly it was for teacups and tankards. I collect old wooden buckets and did hang a few and also old horse creamers. One still has the label from Woolworth's for 25 cents (wish that I could have purchased it for that). The whatever it is used to have a finial on top so I replaced it with a piece of majolica. That and a wee child's chair. There is also a little railroad lantern with clear and red lights that I got from my friend Maggie. I just love this wall piece; it's one of my favorites.

Catbird Seat

Here's Teddy in the catbird seat or bird feeder I should say. He is the sweetest cat. Very vocal. Yesterday, I caught him with a chickadee in his mouth and chased him down. I got him by the scruff of his neck and he let go of the chickadee and it flew up in a nearby tree and fussed and fussed. Whew! If I can catch the cats just after they catch the birds then the birds can sing for another day. But, if I'm not around... Did I mention they bring in field rats through the doggy door? One day last week they brought in three in one day. Teddy, Boo, Midge and MeanMom are the barn cats that have moved up to the house. Teddy fights his brother Boo: Midge is young and plays with both of the boys while her mother MeanMom lurks around outside hissing and spitting and chasing or jumping my little weiner dogs. How mean is she? She's so mean, we are at the stage of clawing and grabbing my hand, pulling it to her, then biting it and licking it. A big improvement. I'm trying to tame her so I can take her to get fixed. I have become one of those people I revile; the ones who don't take care of their animals and/or have them spayed or neutered. Let me explain. My farm/barn has become a cat farm; I never knew they had so many babies. I have spayed and neutered 9 cats so far, but I can't afford to do all of them (and they usually leave after I do that). So, all I can do is continue to feed them. I love them all, even MeanMom. They are so sweet (except MM). My husband wants to shoot them but I won't let him. Teddy, Boo and Midge all got to the house because they were hurt or sick. More vet bills. And no, there are no rescues etc. in this area. By the way, MeanMom looks a little fatter, hmmmm. She thinks the garage is her house and goes into the loft where she has her litters. We've tried the havahart cage and she's too smart for that. Let me know if anyone has any ideas. In 23 years, we never had this problem.

UPDATE: Today after I wrote this the dogs and I went out for a walk in the field. I looked back and here came Teddy, Boo, Midge and MeanMom. Meanmom came up to me and rubbed my leg, a first, then let me rub down her back a couple of times then clawed my hand and bit it. We did this several times while out walking and she got better at letting me rub her. Major event for MeanMom. She doesn't bite hard; the claw she catches my hand with is a little more bothersome, but I think soon she will let me pet and rub her without biting. She's finally starting to trust me; it has only taken a year. Hurrah! I've finally made headway with MeanMom.

Fly Away

I found this drowsy butterfly lying on the ground before the first cold front arrived this past fall. I picked it up and placed it on the boxwood hedge before the cats found it. The monarch butterflies fly south ahead of the first real cold front each year. I hope this one fluttered off in time too.

Hurry Spring and Summer

It was a gray day and didn't get as warm as they said it would. So, I thought I'd post a spring picture. I love geraniums. I have grown many different colors, but I think this is my favorite one. It seems to bloom more than the other colors. You get such a bang for your buck and anyone can grow them. I made many cutting from my geraniums using rooting hormone powder and had a 100% success rate. Also, I have begun overwintering them in the barn. I cut them back and water them sparingly throughout the winter then bring them out in spring and they all come back.