Friday, July 3, 2015

a little bit of everything

 In my last post, I was telling you about how my friend introduced me to a vintage shop...that was the place where I showed you all the outdoor succulents. Well, I also found a couple of lovely treasures there. I came across this stack of Fire King dishes and thought that by the tag, they were either $6 each or perhaps that rather large period after the 6 was a 0, so that the stack of plates (11 of them) was $60. Wrong on both counts. This entire stack of beautiful dishes was only $6!! The owner of the shop told me that this consignee was an elderly woman who simply wanted to get rid of some of her things; she wasn't looking to make money. This is the Primrose pattern which was made from 1960-1962.


I'm keeping them stacked in my kitchen china cabinet ~ so easy to grab a plate at mealtime. I haven't used paper plates in many years. I try to be environmentally friendly, plus it's a cost savings. Not to mention, even just a salad or sandwich looks more inviting on a pretty plate.


 I also found this small vintage print for $3. I was drawn to the little girl with her braid sticking out of her scarf, the bird in the tree, and the worn frame. This print is now part of my gallery wall that I've been working on in the hallway.


Isn't it fun to receive packages in the mail? This pretty rose tureen recently arrived for me from Cathy at My 1929 Charmer. I won it in her blog anniversary giveaway. Thank you, Cathy! If you're not familiar with her blog, go pay Cathy a visit. She has the most beautiful gardens and has a ton of talent with her decorating and vignettes. You will see why her house is called "The Charmer". :-)


 After a very rainy and cool June, the sun finally came out yesterday afternoon and it warmed up a bit, so I was out in the yard for a few hours pulling weeds, trimming neighbor's overhanging trees, sweeping the porch and patio, and watering and moving potted plants. I found this forgotten chair in the garage and decided to use it as garden art.


 Nothing new here. Just thought this area by the patio was looking so pretty with the tiger lilies in full bloom. I sure wish they'd stay that way the entire summer.


 Brought more houseplants outside and put them on the table on my front porch...


 I normally have a bouquet of fresh flowers on my kitchen table and if they don't come from my yard or the roadside, they're from Trader Joes. I usually stick with alstroemeria since they're only $3.99 per bunch. I keep my table simple since it's small and right there in the kitchen. I don't have a formal dining room.


 I moved the bouquet of flowers to the living room for a change of pace...


 and then added this basket with bottles and blooms instead to the kitchen table. The hydrangea and lamb's ear are from my yard.


 I played switcheroo with the vintage utility cart and the red chair. This is the "after" photo. I like this arrangement much better than the "before". Looks more balanced.


 This was the "before"...


 And since I was playing in the kitchen, I also whipped up a batch of my homemade granola:

MEL'S GRANOLA
4 cups old-fashioned oats
1-1/2 cups mixed nuts & seeds (your choice...cashews, almonds, pecans,
 walnuts, sunflower seeds, pepitas)
1/8 cup each chia seeds, flaxseed meal, & hemp hearts
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
1 tsp each salt and cinnamon
1/3 cup olive or coconut oil
1/3 cup pure maple syrup (don't even think of using the fake crap!)

Mix oats - cinnamon in a large bowl. Whisk together the olive or coconut oil and maple syrup, then pour over oat mixture. Stir until oats are thoroughly coated. Bake in 300F oven for 1/2 hour, stirring halfway through. Let cool on cooling rack and then store in an airtight container. You can add any kind of dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, apricots, apples, figs, dates, bananas) to the mixture when it's cool, if you'd like. I prefer it as is in the summer...I like it on top of plain Greek yogurt and then topped with fresh blueberries or strawberries.


Brian's had a few vacation days and the lucky guy has been painting our bedroom. After a lot of deliberation, we decided on this light gray - Lattice by Sherwin Williams. So much better than the baby blue it once was! Here's a sneak peek. The room is getting a complete makeover: hardwood flooring, new mattress and headboard, blinds, curtains, furniture, lamps. Will probably take awhile knowing us, but stay tuned.


For those of you in the US, please have a safe and fun Fourth of July weekend!


17 comments:

  1. Hello Melanie, I always have a great time when I visit your blog. You are always doing something fun, and finding the best thrifting finds. That photo of your garden with the old window and metal chair is so pretty. If it were my garden, I would have an 8X10 print of that matted and framed (I know that you would find the perfect mat and frame at a thrift store) and hang it in your comfy home. Then when the snow is on the ground next winter, you can look at it and dream of spring:)
    Happy 4th of July!
    Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  2. Your garden is looking so pretty. Wish it would stop raining here. Have a wonderful 4th. xo Laura

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  3. Love your bedroom paint color! I look forward to watching the re-do of the room. Those Fire King plates were a nice score. I'm trying not to succumb to pretty dishes I find when thrifting, but am pretty sure those would have come home with me anyway. :)

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  4. Enjoyed this newsy, colorful post. Love the color of your bedroom walls.

    Have a lovely weekend ~ FlowerLady

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  5. That stack of plates was a bargain and so sweet. I love that pattern. Happy 4th of July to you!!

    Linda

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  6. They're building a Trader Joe's here. Love your garden! Those plates are so pretty, but I have no room to buy more plates or anything else.
    Brenda

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  7. Great bargain stack of plates and so pretty. You are like me always changing things around. Have a happy 4th of July.
    Rosezeeta.

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  8. We must have the same taste because I HAD a vintage print of that little girl....I wonder if I lost her when I moved years back !! Love the plates and everything else but now I'll wonder about that for awhile, lol ! It reminds me of a Hummel figurine, don't you think? :)

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  9. Great deal on the Fire King plates!! The little print does like a lot like Hummel.

    Happy 4th of July.

    Judy

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  10. Love the plates, so sweet, and what a deal! Happy 4th!

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  11. Love the Fire King plates, Melanie! That was a super deal! I was thinking the same thing about the print - looks very like Hummel prints I used to see when I was growing up.

    xo
    Claudia

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  12. Love the plates and everything else you have in the cabinet with them. And your garden is gorgeous.

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  13. I always enjoy seeing your vintage finds, Melanie. I think the little print is a Hummel illustration, like the porcelain figurines. I had a little Hummel picture of a girl in my bedroom when I was little, and also a music box with a pull-string and an illustration of a baby in a cradle which now hangs in my daughter's room. I love Fire King stuff too. I have a few Jadeite pieces and one small saucer with a flower pattern different from yours but similar colors. Hope you're having a good weekend.

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  14. Such a pretty little garden chair covered with flowers!

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  15. Melanie,
    Your garden is so pretty and your decorating is truly so comforting, cozy and stylish. The name of your blog says it all. You did find some true treasures, didn't you? You know I finally found a well stocked Antique store today in Ft.Worth- I bought some wonderful leather bound books and have my eye on a accent table too.
    Hope you had a good 4 th!
    Xo
    Jemma

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  16. Hi Melanie :)

    I like it better that way too. It is more balanced, but I never would have noticed unless you pointed it out :)

    Those plates were certainly a lucky find! I wonder what else she wants to get rid of.

    Your garden is looking beautiful as always and I hope you had a great Fourth :)

    xo,
    rue

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  17. Looks like some fun changes and rearranging going on in your house...love what you've shown us so far! And that stack of plates is so sweet...wow, what a deal!!
    Mary Alice

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