Additional Thrifty Finds

Blue Monday is sponsored by our gracious Sally at Smiling Sally.
This post is also for Today’s Thrifty Treasures hosted by Rhoda at Southern Hospitality.

On a recent visit to my consignment shop I found a blue and white ceramic table lamp costing $2.38. I have placed it on the breakfast table, and turn it on when I want softer light in the kitchen than the bright ceiling lights. It is hooked up to an extension cord with an on-and-off switch on the floor, operated by one’s foot.

For now, a white shade has been borrowed from another lamp not in use, until I can buy a smaller, more suitable one.

This oval pressed glass platter was $4.75.
I like the pattern around the border,
and the starburst in the center. (The camera angle makes it look distorted.)

Another pineapple item for my collection is this crystal dish which cost $1.13. It can be used as a candy or nut dish.

This eight-piece set of ceramic shakers with tiny pink flowers and gilt tops cost $2.76. There are four individual salt and pepper sets.
These are vintage and are in their original box.
Last is a pretty blue tablecloth for a round table cost $1. I found this at one of the thrift shops in town.

It has pretty yellow tulips and green leaves.

It was nice to have you visit today. Do come again as soon as you can, and do leave a comment. I love to read your comments.
Enjoy more Blue Monday posts at Sally’s blog, Smiling Sally. Also, please visit Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for more thrifty treasures.

A Private Botanic Garden

Visit Color Outside the Lines to enjoy more shared gardens.

On Sunday morning June 28 I had the pleasure to visit a fabulous home garden, which might better be called a private botanical garden. The gardener is a former co-worker of mine from the early 1980’s. She has been developing these gardens since retirement about five years ago. She said she began with the front yard and then continued aroound the sides and back and now there are plant beds all over. Upon arrival at the address one is astonished at the colors, fullness and variety of plantings.
View looking across from driveway.
A closer look at daisies and one of several bird baths.
The front of this bed is at the street and has 16 yellow daylilies.

The half acre property looks even more extensive with the various paths, arbors, and plethora of flowering and foliage plants, trees and shrubs.

The property is divided into about 13 garden areas.

The Secret Garden has flowering plants in pink, red and orange.

The Children’s Garden has whimsical objects and plants that appeal to the little ones.

The Hosta garden has some 60 to 70 hosta varieties.

A large tree provides shade for the hostas.
A tiny area is designated the Dogs’ Garden and there rest two family pets.

A Lily Border was established with bulbs given as a generous gift from a relative.


The Street Garden is along a pathway that goes from the street across to the edge of the property. Note how the many pathways are made of wood chips.

Throughout the gardens on can see delightful plants, like these red Double Knockout Roses.

Another red Knockout Rose is behind pink roses and near blue hydrangeas.

Pink and red Astilbe border the back of the house.

Many trees also give shade and provide vertical interest.

A weeping cherry with another bird bath nearby.
Near the side of the house two wooden barrels hold water plants.

There are quite a number of arbors arouond the property. The first leads around the house to the back yard is currently covered in a deep burgundy Clematis.

Another is of wrought iron with carved roses on it.
This arbor leads to the garden extension area. Nearby is an iron bistro set.
At the edge of the extension garden beautiful pink miniature gladiolus blooms.
This one is the entrance to Secret Garden.
Here is a row of four wooden bird houses. The one on the left needs repair and is tilting precariously on its tall pole. However, a growing bird family currently occupies it. Just beyond is the Secret Garden with more bird houses and also large bird feeders.

Another arbor leads to the Vegetable Garden.
The property abuts the back and side lawn of a former mansion, which has a row of towering evergreens as a border to and backdrop for the gardens. Another arbor leads to the back lawn of the mansion, which houses the English Department of the college where we worked.

In another post I will tell about collecting divisions from selected plants which my host dug up for me to use in my own garden.

Outdoor Wednesday – Garden Ornaments

I had been eyeing a garden statue at my favorite consignment store for quite some time. Yesterday, I stopped by and saw a sign for 20 percent off garden statuary. The owner looked up the reduced price, which was around $39.00, but she discounted it further for me to $29.00!
The figure of an angel looks down on the posy held in one hand.
It has found a home in my new garden bed with its white flowers.

Another decorative garden object I had been wanting was now down to $14.99. It is an urn in an oval shape with up-curved ends.
It seems to be of terra cotta covered with cement. I like the interesting shape and was glad to take it home with me.
Here it holds a pot of Taifun White Bacopa flowers.

Urns and statuary add so much to the charm of the garden. So I am glad to add to the urns and planters I already have in place
Do you decorate your outdoor spaces with things other than flowers and other plants?

Be sure to see more Outdoor Wednesday posts at Susan’s blog, A Southern Daydreamer.

ABCs of the Word – V

Pam at Grey Like Snuffie hosts ABC’s of the Word to focus on a scripture in which the week’s letter is highlighted.

This week’s theme letter is V

"Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil
walks about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour."
1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

The Contemporary English Version puts it this way:

"Be on your guard and stay awake.
Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion,
sneaking around to find someone to attack."

We have to be always on the lookout for situations which might trip us up on our Christian walk. We must focus on God's promises to guide and protect us.

For more ABC’s of the Word visit Pam at Grey Like Snuffie.

clipart - DoverPublications.com

Thrifty Thursday

Thrifty Thursday is hosted by Leigh at Tales From Bloggeritaville.

A visit on Tuesday April 21 to a local thrift store was just to give me a breather between a doctor’s appointment and several errands. It turned out to be a very good visit.

First I found 2 wood paper towel holders. I replaced the one in the kitchen which was all wobbly

The other is now in my bathroom since I need both select-a-size and full-size towels there.

Two Johnson Bros. white ironstone bowls and one bread and butter plate caught my eye next.

A cherub napkin ring to go along with one I found in the same store a few months ago. That other one has been on my dresser displaying a dried rosebud:

A tin bowl with blue and white design. The wide border surrounds a pleasing central landscape:

Appealing to my passion for blue and white dishes was a large Corelle Livingware dinner plate in a Blue Onion-type pattern called "Blue Floral".

I was glad to add it to my Blue Onion items that I posted about here. Since then I have acquired a total of eight of the "Blue Floral" dinner plates. As sturdy almost unbreakable wares, they will be useful for summer meals on the deck.

I also found 8 children’s books to send to my sister for her grandkids, plus one Children’s Letters to God, which was for me, but I’m sending it to my sister as well. The sign said 10 cents each.

When I went to pay at the counter, the clerk quickly looked over my items and said: $4.20. That included 5% tax. of 20 cents!

Find out about other delightful thrift finds by visiting Leigh's blog .

Footed Bowls or Compotes

Three or More Tuesday is sponsored by Tam at The Gypsy's Corner. Please visit her for more participating posts.

2nd Time Around Tuesday is hosted by Diane at A Picture is Worth 1000 Words. Visit her blog for a list of more participants.

My three or more consists of footed bowls or compotes. Two were gifts, but the others were bought at second-hand sources.

The first was a surprise gift. The school year had ended at the secondary school where I had been working and I was about to move to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. I was invited to attend a picnic for faculty and staff of the nearby elementary school. As I was going through the ample buffet line I noticed that people were putting cash in a glass dish at the end of the table. “Oh-oh…I didn’t bring any money with me,” I thought. But as we were eating a presentation was made in my honor and I was handed the glass dish with all the cash! It was my going-away present from those gathered.

The glass dish is seen in the photo below. It is of pressed glass with intricate detailing on the sides.

It has worked me well over the years to serve various foods, including fresh fruit and fruit salads.

The second one I received from my sister-in-law as a Christmas gift in the 1980’s. It is by Princess House and has etched floral decoration in the “Heritage” pattern.
I used it to display Christmas glass balls in 2007.

The third one is milk glass, bought with other pieces at a second hand shop. It’s open border can be threaded with ribbon for a pretty decorative touch.


Another glass compote is a more recent find at a local antique shop. It is red and the bowl has a wavy edge. The price tag said $15 but I asked for a discount and it was reduced to $12, which was fair for this special piece. So far it is just for display.

This is a Fenton milk glass piece. It is one of my favorites with it’s lovely ruffled edges. This is a Fenton piece is one of my favorites, with it’s lovely curled edges. I got it last September at a fleamarket booth, where they unpacked more milk glass for me to see. I did get several additions for my collection.

Another milk glass compote is a generous size for versatility in serving and decorative uses.

Thank you for stopping by my blog today and I hope you will come again soon. Your comments are most welcome.

Celebrating Presidents of the United States

Blue Monday is sponsored by our gracious Sally at Smiling Sally.

I’ve been watching programs on the History Channel on various presidents of the United States – Washington, Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln. This brought to mind some miniature books I have which were published by Achille St. Onge of Worcester, MA. The books were finely printed in Holland and bound in genuine leather in France. The sizes are approximately 3 inches high by 2 inches across. The subjects chosen by St. Onge for his books included many titles relating to presidents of the United States:
Here are two bindings of the text of The Declaration of Independence, one in dark blue the other in light blue:

Paul Revere’s Ride: A Deposition – The personal account by Revere of his famous ride with an introduction by Esther Forbes. The cover is blind-stamped with an illustration of Revere on his horse.

Historic American Stamps are illustrated with actual U.S. postage stamps in the Historic Flags Series. Alongside the leather bound St. Onge book is a knockoff on cheaper paper and cardstock made by the Merrimack Publishing Company. Both have blue covers.

Two books by U.S. Presidents – Science and Freedom by Thomas Jefferson, and The Wants of Man by John Quincy Adams.

Two books on Abraham Lincoln. The first is the text of an address by Carl Sandburg before the U.S. Congress on February 12, 1959. The second, Abraham Lincoln: The Song in His Heart by Kenneth A. Bernard, tells of his love of music.

The next three books record the inaugural addresses of presidents Eisenhower, L.B. Johnson and Nixon. LBJ’s is bound in light blue and Nixon’s in navy blue.
The Inaugural Address of John Fitzgerald Kennedy was published in three editions, with slight changes to the bindings which were all navy blue leather. On the back covers of two a gilt-stamped wreath surround the president’s famous initials and his birth and death dates.


From another miniature book publisher, Ward Schori of The Schori Press in Illinois, comes another Lincoln book – Lincoln the Literary Genius by Jacques Barzun.

The first book I got from The Schori Press was Washington’s Farewell Address. Note the gilt-stamped portrait of Washington in a decorative oval and the floral motifs on each corner or the brown leather cover.

Each Independence Day gives us another opportunity to enjoy focus on those who made contributions at the highest leadership levels to the development of the United States of America.

I am also linking this post to Today’s Thrifty Treasures hosted by Rhoda at Southern Hospitality.

I made a brief brief visit to the thrift shop on Thursday hoping to find some patriotic items. I found three wooden items:
A wood star painted yellow with a flag motif heart cost 25 cents. The 7" high star has a wire hanger. The tiny 1" wooden star was free.

The other item is a 15" tall wall hanging. A girl with red white and blue clothing has a flag-motif heart and is suspended from a banner which declares, "Let Freedom Ring"

Thanks for your visit; I hope you will come again soon. Your comments are welcome.

ABCs of the Word – U

Pam at Grey Like Snuffie hosts ABC’s of the Word to focus on a scripture in which the week’s letter is highlighted.

This week’s theme letter is U

Immediately the father of the child cried out

and said with tears,
"Lord, I believe;

help my unbelief!"
Mark 9:24 NKJV

This father’s cry is fascinating – while he asserts his belief that Jesus can heal his son, he begs for help with any unbelief which might keep him from receiving the blessing he needed.

So many times we have a belief in Jesus Christ which allows us to be called ‘Christian’; but only the Holy Spirit can give us the belief which will produce true Christian perspectives and behavior.

Here is a song which expresses a prayer for true belief.

I Believe, Help Thou My Unbelief

Written By Bill & Gloria Gaither

I believe help thou my unbelief
I'd take the finite risk of trusting like a child
I believe help thou my unbelief
I walk into the unknown trusting all the while

I long so much to feel the warmth that others seem to know
but should I never feel a thing I claim him even so

I believe, help thou my unbelief.
I walk into the unknown trusting all the while
I walk into the unknown trusting....

Here is a recording of the song on YouTube:


For more ABC’s of the Word visit Pam at
Grey Like Snuffie.
clipart - DoverPublications.com

Outdoor Wednesday – Arbors

I am just taking a break from preparations for work to begin tomorrow morning here at the house. Finally, at 8:00 am the water-damaged ceilings in my loving room, kitchen and bedroom will be repaired and painted. Earlier this year, I had a complete new roof put on my house, which was built in 1987-88.

Anyway, I haven’t been able to post as much as I had hoped this week. So my post for OW will be brief this time. Later I will write a more thorough account of a visit to a former co-worker’s extensive garden this past Sunday June 28. I just have time now to mention one feature which was most delightful—there were at least five arbors throughout the gardens. Here is a look at a few:

This arbor leads from the Hosta Garden on the side of the house to the front garden. It is made of cast iron with roses carved all over:
The next two photos show the arbor leading from the front lawn to the back. It is covered in a deep burgundy Clematis.

This is the entrance to the Secret Garden. It is a wooden arbor and echoes the many wooden birdhouses in this area of the gardens.

Note one of the many pathways made of wood chips.

That’s all for now…I still have much to do before turning in. I tell and show much more about my visit to this personal botanic garden very soon.

Be sure to see more Outdoor Wednesday posts at Susan’s blog, A Southern Daydreamer.

WordFilled Wednesday - Ecclesiasites 3:11

Clipart, DoverPublications.com

He has made everything beautiful in its time.
Also He has put eternity in their hearts,
except that no one can find out the work
that God does from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV

For more Word-Filled Wednesday please visit Extravagant Grace.