1st GARAGE SALE OF THE YEAR

Today I got up early and hit the roads searching for Garage Sales. I knew there was someone, somewhere that had a few items sitting outside just waiting for me to take them home.

It wasn't long before I pulled up and found this cute little vintage tea cup calling my name. For $3.00 I knew I could give it a nice new home. Sold!

I asked about the sweet vintage hankie but it was $3.00. Not a bad price really, but to much for a Garage Sale find so I put it down.

When I got home I noticed the lady had picked it up and placed it in my bag as a little thank you gift. How nice! Guess she knew I really liked the dainty pink flowers on there.

I also found these great plates at the same stop. The first is a set of 4 dessert plates. They are lovely vintage china and I just loved the color. Of course my photo doesn't do them justice at all.

The other set of 4 pink depression glass plates were almost not seen by me. But just as I was getting ready to pay, I turned around and spotted them. Teach me not to leave before I check out every little hidden space.

Again, the same lady had this wonderful 1930 cookbook. I don't know why, but I just love old cookbooks. I love to think about all the women who held this book before me and how they tried different recipes at one time or another. That is, unless they were like me and just kept the cookbook to look at and never try the wonderful dishes inside waiting to be discovered. I don't really cook. For $2.00 I couldn't leave this behind.

As another little gift, the lady threw in this cute little vintage box of greeting cards. I think she knew I would love her and treasure her items.

I could have spent an arm and leg at her garage sale. She had so much great stuff.

At another stop, I found these big cookie cutters. The lady there said she bought them years ago but never got around to baking cookies so they still had the sticker on them. Not bad for 50 cents.

Another stop brought this pretty garden embellishment my way. It's going to go perfectly in my secrete garden, when I get that going.

Oh and how could I leave these little pink plates behind? I couldn't. For $1.00 each they quickly found a new home with me. I will hang these in the office later.

I had so much fun out there today. It's been ages since I've hit up any Garage Sales. You just never know what you are going to find that you didn't even know you "Just had to have!".

The saying "One mans trash is another mans treasures" sure is a true.

But even though I found all these great items, I think the most fun I had was talking to everyone. Some people are quick to say "Hi" or "Good morning" as soon as you walk up. While others almost seem to have a look of being embarrassment on their face that you are looking at some of their belongings.

Yet once you start to talk to them, it seems like everyone has a story to tell you. It may be the reason they are selling their items or where they are moving to. I happen to love when they tell a bit about the history of the item I'm buying. Where it came from, who it belonged to or just why they want to get rid of it.

No matter where you go or what you buy, you are always in for a surprise when you go searching for Garage Sales.

Hugs,
Joanne

TREASURE HUNTING AND A HERO'S UPDATE

Today I thought I would stop by an antique mall that is near my house. I wasn't really looking for anything special. I just thought I would walk around and see if there was anything I just "couldn't live without".

Well I really lucked out because one of the ladies was closing down her space and everything was $2.00.
I found this darling little hand painted Nippon tray with sweet little pink roses. I knew right away I wanted it. I'm redoing my office in pinks and greens and this would be perfect to hold paperclips on the desk.


Then I found this pretty little plate with pink roses. This will be going in the office also.

On my way out I saw this vintage plant stand hiding in the corner. So I grabbed it too. I'm going to paint this. Maybe pink or white and it will go outside in my garden.

So for $6.00 I got three great little treasures.

Many of you have emailed and asked about my brother, Gene. So I wanted to give you an update.

For those of you that don't know, my brother, whom I call my Hero (see past posts in May for whole story) had a stroke and has been in the hospital for over a month now.

Gene is slowly progressing a bit each day. He now is able to pull his leg up and move it forward and back. Still no movement in his toes though. He even took 10 steps the other day! We are all thrilled with this because the therapist said he knows he will one day be back to walking like normal.

Gene has just started to get some tiny bit of movement in a few fingers in his right hand. He is also getting some movement back in his arm. Not a lot but we will take it for now!

His speech is getting a lot better. At first we couldn't hardly understand anything but now I would say about 85-90% of the time everyone can understand him. When he gets really tired or lazy and doesn't try as hard then it drops down. However, if you ask him to repeat it he will do so and you will be able to understand him again.

We do not know when he will be going home as the insurance will only give an OK for a week at a time. For now we know he will be there at least through next Friday.

They are working on him transferring from the wheelchair to the car so he can be ready to go home when they release him.

His sprits are still up. He is cracking jokes and making us and the hospital workers laugh. He is eating just fine. I bring him in food at least once a week as the hospital food isn't that great. He says I sneak food to him but I always check with the staff to make sure what I'm bringing is OK. I think he likes to think he is sneaking and being bad though. It makes it more fun. Sort of a game to see if we can away with it.

He wanted me to thank you all again and to let you know your prayers are working.

The cards are still coming in and he has them all up in his room. It really makes him happy to see how people around care about him getting better.

So thank you to each and every one of you from my Hero and from me.

Don't forget to sign up for my give away if you have not done so. You have until Friday the 13th to do so.

Hugs to everyone,

Joanne

HERE WE GO AGAIN WITH ANOTHER GIVE AWAY!

Yes you read right! I'm doing another give away. No real reason except I thought the other ones were so fun!

So this time I'm giving away some things that I love and hope you will too.

The first thing is this pretty blue floral chintz plate.
You will also win, this vintage glass juicer. I just love fresh orange juice. Don't you?
This photo didn't come out so well but these are two beautiful cut crystal wine glasses. I don't really drink wine so, silly me, I would use these to drink my diet coke out of.
Then there is this darling vintage tea cup and saucer. The pink roses are so pretty and dainty.

The last thing is a set of four (4) lace place mats. I forgot to take pictures of them. But, you can see them in the other photos.....sort of.

OK, I'm sure you are wondering how sign up for this give away. Well, let me tell you. Just leave me a message on THIS post. That's it! You will be signed up.

If you want a better chance at winning then add a link to this give away on your blog. You will be entered in a 2nd time if you do. Just let me know if you do that so I can add your name in the drawing again.

I hope you all enjoy these little treasures. I will draw a name on June 13th. Since that will be a Friday the 13th I wanted to end the myth that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day. At least for one of you.

Hugs,

Joanne

LUNCH WITH A TOUCH OF NEW ORLEANS AND A TREAT FOR HOME

I love to eat out. Doesn't everyone! It dawned on me that everyone, in different States and other Countries, has their favorite restaurants. We often forget that even though one of the restaurants we go to all the time may not be in those other States or Countries.

So I will be sharring different places I go to eat around here in So. Calif.

Today I had lunch at a cute restaurant called Mimi's Cafe. When you first pull up in the parking lot you can see it's going to be a fun place inside.

The outside is built to look like a cottage with beautiful flowers everywhere.

Little awnings cover the windows.
When you step inside there is a cute little waiting area if the place is full. But if you go on off hours, like I did, you get the place pretty much to yourself.

Even though you are inside, there are little places that you get the feel you are sitting at an outdoor Cafe in New Orleans.
There are special touches everywhere you look. Like these cute flowers that are in blue water bottles.
The tables are set with cute black and white checkered table clothes. Pictures on the wall showing fun jazz scenes.
Signs written in French.
Even a little bar area where you can pull up a seat and eat or just have a cup of coffee or a nice glass of wine.
If you are in the mood for some fresh air then sit outside in the darling patio area.
We started off our meal with some yummy fried zucchini. It's served with grated Parmesan cheese on top, ranch dressing and marinara sauce on the side.
Then I had some delicious corn chowder and a lemon and sour cream muffin.
I finished off with a great salad. It was chocked full of baby greens, dried cranberries, strawberries, walnuts, feta cheese, tomatoes and for those that like it, bacon. I don't eat meat but today I forgot to say to leave the bacon off so I just pushed the bacon aside. This salad is topped with a wonderful balsamic vinaigrette.

Boy was I full after all this food. There was no room for desserts.

But I knew tonight while I was watching TV there would be. So down the road I went.

To another restaurant we often go to. It's called Marie Calender's. Not only is the food good there, but they have a bakery with pies that they make fresh daily. The best part is this month all pies are only $6.99!
On the way in I noticed the flowers outside. So pretty!
Oh no! With all the different kinds of pies to choose from I had no idea what to get. They all sounded so good. But in the end I picked one that I have never had before and thought I would give it a try.
I got a fresh Olallie berry pie. The girl waiting on me said it tastes like raspberries and black berries mixed. Sounded good to me. Can't wait to try it.

Well I will try to remember to bring my camera with me when I eat out now. If I do, I will post more places around town that we eat at.

What about you? Do you have some favorite places you like to eat?

Hugs to you all,

Joanne

I WON! I WON!

I can't believe I won! Not one but two give aways! I never win anything so this is really exciting.

First I won this beautiful pillow, Rustic Cottage Lavender Linen spray and a bar of Cottage Rose soap from Kay at The Rustic Cottage.
Thank you so much Kay. I can't wait to get these.
Then, as if that wasn't enough, I also won a great book Child of Wonder from Shay at Uniquely Yours. Wow!

Thank you Shay. I'm sure I will get lots of great ideas from this book.

I'm still in shock over winning two of the great give aways.

Thanks to everyone who joined in and offered all those wonderful items.

If you won anything, leave me a post so I can share in your excitement.

Also, I've decided to do another give away this week. I just need to take a photo and post about it so be sure to come back so you can enter.

Hugs to everyone,

Joanne

MORE Give Aways

I thought it would be nice to post blogs I find that have give aways going.

This one is a great give away plus it gives everyone a chance to help out others at the same time. Notes & News from Nancy has a great give away at http://nancymalay.blogspot.com/2008/05/think-pink-7500-giveaway.html

I hope everyone will go and click on the link. Not only to be entered but to help out others.

Hugs,
Joanne

FUN IN THE SUN!

Today was a beautiful day outside here in Sunny CA.

My great niece, Trinity, spent the night with me and all day today. Early this morning she went swimming in our back yard. Then she came in and got dressed. I told her I was going to take her to a petting zoo/farm where I thought it would be fun for her to have her birthday party this year.

So Trinity, my sister Pat and I drove to San Juan Capistrano which is about 30 mins. from where we live.

We parked the car and started to walk down the way to the petting zoo. But first we came across a darling shop that had some pretty flowers, fountains and bird baths.

I thought this little hidden get away look so relaxing.

This fountain sounded so peaceful.

I love this little hanging bird bath. The shop had a plant in it so sadly the birds couldn't go in it.

Then off to the petting zoo we went. You could buy carrots, lettuce and other animal food to feed all the sweet animals.

So we feed this BIG black cow. Her friends call her Cookie. She loved the carrots and could eat tons of them.

Then this guy popped his head up and over the fence. Who would have thought he would eat carrots, but he did! In fact he pulled my whole basket of carrots towards him and took a big mouth full. He was a little piggy. But very cute. I love his eyes. There was a big area full of these little wild ones and bunnies everywhere. This was the most popular place with all the kids. They loved being able to pick them up, pet them and feeding them. No one wanted to leave. While Trinity was sitting here she looked up and said "I'm in heaven!" She even turned down riding the horses just so she could stay here and play with all her new friends. She wanted to take this little guy home. Someday, maybe, she can have one of her own! Just not today.
This mama just had two babies before we got there.
She was still cleaning them up. The little ones were trying to walk. They had pretty shaky legs though.
This was the first time I had seen a baby goat this young. They were just darling!

Well, we were finally able to tear Trinity away from all the animals after spending hours there. I think she would have been happy if she could have spent the night there.

We went out to lunch then headed home. We really had a wonderful day. Trinity was so good. Then again, she is always good.

Her Daddy just came and picked her up. Boy the time went by fast. Guess that's always a sign of having fun huh?

Going to San Juan Capistrano made me want to go back. I used to go there all the time. I would meet my brother, Gene, there and we would go to lunch then walk around the shops or go to a movie. The movie theater is no longer there but the building is. Just going by there made me think about all the memories we shared.

I'm going to see Gene tomorrow. I'll have to tell him about our day. I miss him. I have not seen him since last Tues. I'm hoping to see some great progress in his recovery.

Well, I hope you all also had a fun weekend.

Hugs to everyone!

Joanne