Scavenger hunt in a small town and turning it up-side-down or Matthew 7:7

A few days ago I received not quite a message from the Lord, but a wish granted, so to speak. My little corner of this planet is really small and quite "shopping challenged" to say the least. I have one Easter tree and that's been fine for years but this year I thought it would be so special to have one in my bedroom.

I put on my coat, grabbed my purse and off I went to shop and to buy. I was driving this way and that way. I went over there, and to the left and over on the right. I drove under things and over things and around things. Believe it or not...there wasn't one Easter tree to be found, not in this town, not anywhere that wouldn't require a toll fee and another tank of gas. I was beginning to feel as though I was going to have to go home with my mission unaccomplished.

However, I'm not one to give up, sit on the curb and cry, so at each stop I asked, "You wouldn't happen to know where I could buy an Easter tree, would you?" Each time the nice people suggested places that I had already been searching...sigh. I was feeling pretty blue and a little sad and especially rattled that I lived in a place that was exceptionally beautiful, relatively free of crime, and peaceful...but VERY limited when it comes to finding something you want, especially if you have one thing in mind and are totally focused on that one thing.

I was just about to give up and head for home telling myself that at least I had one tree and that it wasn't my fault that the buyers for the stores and shops I had just visited had remedial skills when it came to anticipating a customer's seasonal wants and needs. At the last minute, instead of taking the turn to my street, I told the dogs (they are my co-pilots most times) to "hang on" as I made a sharp turn to the right zooming into the parking lot of my local Revco. Once inside, I looked and searched and wandered through this isle and that isle, but no Easter tree. Lots of Easter goodies, but no tree.


As I was about to leave I spotted a sales clerk and asked her my question: "Do you know where I could buy an Easter tree?" She gave me suggestions of local stores but I had to tell her that I had already been to all of them with no luck and thanked her for her time. I was deflated, dejected, sad, forlorn, pitiful, you name it and I was it. Like a little girl with a pout, I headed for the exit BUT another store clerk ran up to me and said: "I have an Easter tree that I was going to put in a yard sale this summer. I'll sell it to you. I've never used it and it's still in the original box. I'll bring it with me when I come to work tomorrow afternoon."

I am an adult, or at least try to be an adult on occasion, but I nearly squealed with glee at the welcoming news! I asked and asked and asked and I found and found and found! No one can say, ever, that I'm not persistent and ~ just like you've heard a million times ~ persistence pays off. Persistence, and believing in Matthew 7:7 ~ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

The next day I went to Revco clutching my five dollar bill to pay the fee for my Easter decoration delight. I wasn't disappointed, not one bit, not at all. If you ask me, my Easter tree is perfect in each and every respect because I worked like a dog (sorry Scout and Freyja) for that tree. In fact, my little tree just might end up in an Easter tree museum, if there is such a thing.

Shout out for vintage crochet bluebird potholder pattern

If you crochet, or know someone who does, or just have some patterns hanging around the house or garage or yard...does this pattern look familar to you and would you know where to find it? And, if it does look familiar or if you know where to find it...would you share it with me...pretty, pretty please?

I have someone I'd like to make this for and it would mean so much to me if I could recreate a little bit of the past. Thank you so, so much in advance for putting on your thinking cap!

Taking a bath with a few of my friends...

This past Pink Saturday, I found a blog that mentioned another blog (you know how that goes...you get lost in blogs) that was mounting an effort to Save the Pink Bathrooms that were all the rage in mid-century home design. My bathroom "appliances" aren't pink but I have oodles of pink in "that" room so I thought that I'd take my camera upstairs with me this evening to take a couple of photos as the tub was filling and firing up all the bubbles I would soon be nestling into at the end of a long, and very busy day. I was pretty proud of myself because I thought I'd be getting a head start on the next Pink Saturday over at Beverly's blog.

Well, to make this story short, I forgot to take photos of the pinks in the room as the tub was filling but managed to take a couple later that made me smile and treasure even more my relationship with the fuzzy members of my family.

Rosemary JOY! keeping a watchful eye for dogs.

You see, in the winter I turn on a little space heater to make what is a cozy room even more cozy, if that is possible. If you have kitties, you know that heat attracts them like flies to honey! My cats just love to percolate in heat whenever possible. In my home, bath-time is mom and kitty time. The dogs, sadly, aren't invited. Not my decision, but a rule enforced by Camille and Rosemary, a kitty-rule that is strictly enforced. Both Scout and Freyja know that they are to rest quietly outside the door while mom and the "girls" preen and groom and oil and roast in the moist heat.

The lovely Camille Suzanne, wondering if she'll have to swat an unruly dog-sibling.

My camera was resting in some fluffy towels within my reach so I decided to share images of my tiny sentinels in this blog post. What you see is the view from my tub. Camille is situated in front of the little heater taking advantage of the warmth and, of course, you can see sweet Rosemary on the "throne" which is where she belongs each and every minute of each and every day...not the toilet...but on a throne as she is the princess of my heart.

I don't think there is a pet-person alive that doesn't understand the fact that privacy, in a house with fur-babies, is impossible! I learned a long time ago that I just might as well get used to the fact that there would be "inquiring minds" no matter where I roamed throughout my home. If you attempt to lock them out you will be forced to watch little paws flitting under the door desperately trying to gain entrance with a chorus of dogs howling as though there was a full moon.

Follow me into my pretty, pink potty on this Pink Saturday morning!

Several people were surprised last Pink Saturday to find out that I had a pink television in my kitchen. Well, if you liked that, I wonder what you're gonna think about the pink toilet seat and pink clock in my downstairs powder room. The clock was made nearly 40 years ago by an elderly friend of mine. When she found out that I loved pink, she insisted that I accept it as a gift. I have to tell you, it is one of my most precious items, not because it's pink, but because of who gave it to me.

This pink quilt is hand-pieced with the tiniest of stitches and then machine quilted. It is hanging on my dining room wall next to the chair I generally sit in when I am reading or doing hand-work. I'm not sure how old it is...all I know is that I love it to bits. One day when I was browsing eBay this gem popped up on my screen with not one bid. I was able to get it for under ten dollars. Every now and then you can find something for a steal, literally. That doesn't happen often for me, but when it does I feel as though little fairies flew over my head and blessed me.

Not entirely pink but mostly pink and something that I just love. I have this jar filled with little Tootsie Pops. The filled candy dish/whatever dish sits on my kitchen counter for the grandkids, and the grown kids, who stop by the house. These pops are the tiny/midget ones so I don't spoil appetites for the dinner mommy has prepared.

Of course, the mommies enjoy these, too, along with the daddies. Little people always leave my home with one in hand and one in a jacket pocket for later.

I have no idea why I didn't share this on Valentine's Day Pink Saturday but it just slipped my mind. The little heart hangs on a hallway door knob and was made by braiding fabric scraps. I love to hang things on my door knobs...don't ask me why...just do! I think it adds a special touch to a space when you least expect it.

I went thrifting this afternoon at my local Goodwill Store and found some of the sweetest goodies for Easter and of course, most of them are pink. I'll be sharing those with all of you next week and also something special that I made a few years' back that I wouldn't part with for a million bucks...well, maybe a million, but not a hundred!

Be sure to stop by Beverly's at How Sweet the Sound to visit all the great blogs this Pink Saturday. You just never know from week to week what the ladies have decided to share. Such fun!

If your walls could talk, what do you think they would say?

What would your walls say about you if they could talk? If someone walked into your home when you weren't there and walked from room to room, what do you think your walls would say to them?

This one is on the wall to my family room. A little reminder to the parents that Mimi keeps all the secrets told to her when the grandbabies are here for a sleep-over!

The other day I was cleaning and realized that my walls would be able to speak for me if a stranger came into my home and took the time to read my walls. How about you? Do your walls talk about you and share how you feel about life, family, your home or faith?


Think about it. I just bet that you'd be surprised at what you discover.

How about a FREE room make-over courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens?

Better Homes and Gardens just opened their Save My Room contest. Wouldn't it be fun if you won or someone from a blog that you visit won the make-over? It's totally free to enter and with the way our economy is spiraling out of control, anything free is a good thing, as Martha would say.

photo: www.bhg.com

photo: www.bhg.com

Simply enter a photo of a household room needing some decorating help and you have a chance to win a room makeover from the master decorator Stephen Saint-Onge. The makeover includes painting, furniture and accessories, and the winner’s room will be featured in the November issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine and on the website. The rules of the competition are fairly straight forward. Want to see your competition? Here they are in all of their glory.

The cottage-style rooms Saint-Onge has designed are absolutely lovely! Take a peek!

photo: www.bhg.com

I think I'm going to enter. How about you? After all, there's nothing to lose and everything to gain and your could share your new room with all of us in blogger-land.