Thank you!!!!

Thanks everyone for your donations and encouragement for the Spina Bifida walk today!!! Because of you, I was able to raise 83% of my goal of $1000 ($830)!! YAYYYY! THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!!

It was a hot, sticky, muggy day, but we all had such a fun time,  and Zoe walked the whole way (a little over a mile!). She didn't complain once. In fact, she was worried about all the fish flies landing on us, and was worried that "gray hair" (Kevin's new nick-name from Zoe-Ha ha!) might be getting too far ahead.

 Team Zoe!!!

 Crossing the finish line-way to go girl!!!

Rice Krispie treats with frosting-a well deserved treat!

There were over 200 registered walkers today, and I didn't realize it, but it was the first SBA walk ever in Michigan!

Great Ideas for a Barn Reception...

A good friend of both of my sons got married last weekend at a new local church. The reception was held in a old barn and they had some really awesome decorations. I took a bunch of pictures for my friend, whose daughter's wedding is in a little over a month (and to have for that some day if one of my guys wants a barn reception).

The church took over an old tennis/athletic club and did an extensive remodel, complete with indoor soccer field, cafe, and two story play land. 

The receptions...

 Seating assignments on old windows-LOVE it!!!

 Photo tree with photos of the bride and groom.

 A seating area out of bales of straw.

 Beautiful tables-each guest got a small jar with kisses.

 Simply elegant!

 Seating downstairs and upstairs with an opening in the middle.

 Inviting entrance.

 Straw bales and greenery on both sides of the main entrance.

 Hanging baskets on mini shepherd's hooks to line the pathway from the parking area to the reception.

 Photo op area-LOVE it!!

 Charming little out building-another photo op area.

 Another photo op area on the backside of the barn.

 Bubbles and guest gifts.

 The wedding party table-upstairs across the open middle from where we were seated.

 Looking down on the buffet line.

 Look at all the wonderful character of this old barn-and bubbles!!!

 Looking down on the dessert table-mini cupcakes, mini tarts and mini cannolis.

Bridge upstairs between the two sides-perfect photo op place for the wedding party!

A Summer of Quilts!!!

WOW!!! I went to a sale late in the day today and hit the jackpot!!! It was at an estate liquidation company. They were having a flea market in the driveway of older estate items that have been around their shop for a while.

I was actually looking for more plates for my friend, and while the guy running the sale was trying to figure a price for a pile of 6 plates, I held up the wedding ring quilt top and asked how much-he said $1!!! Then I held up the other, finished quilt and he said $1!!!

I couldn't get the plates for less than a dollar each, so I passed on them and paid for my quilts and left-$2.12 for two amazing, hand-stitched quilts-one topper and one completely finished-SWEET!!!

This summer is turning into quilt summer! I'm not really looking to buy more, but when they are a buck, I can't walk away! One summer was trunk summer-I ended up with 8 trunks that year, and another year was vintage tablecloth summer. Before I weeded some out, and took them to the booth, I had 58 tablecloths.

Unfortunately, I think I've replaced the tablecloths that I took out and sold and then some. I even picked one up today for fifty cents! I'll show that tomorrow-I just have one quick minute to show my quilts.

Somebody pinch me! I still can't believe I got these both for a dollar each! Lucy approves too!

From Trash to Treasure...Picture Frame

I have  list of projects a mile long, and they are taking over our spare bedroom, our basement, our garage and our barn. I need to get over the fear of wrecking something and just do it!!! I'm starting with the cheap, easy ones...

What do you think?

 A fifty cent estate sale find...heavy plastic frame.

I LOVE it! I am not however, liking that I have a wedding to go to this afternoon, and now have bright turquoise over-spray on my (first time in about 15 years) manicure-ugh!!! I don't even mind that I painted the edge of my clothesline!

The Hunt is so much fun!

I've been spending a ton of time searching for vintage/antique/old china for a friend of mine, for her daughter's wedding reception. I've been getting so discouraged too! I've seen it at so many sales, before I was actually looking for it, but now-it's like it has gone extinct!

I posted a comment on my facebook page about looking for it, because I know a lot of my "friends" are garage sale hunters and I was hoping that maybe they could help us look. I got a message late last night that might be exactly what we are looking for! I'll let you know tomorrow when she gets back to me.

I worked a little longer on Thursday than I have been for the past several months, so I didn't get to but a couple sales before I was ready to be at home. I did leave work for an hour to go to a sale that I LOVE every year, because if I would have waited until I got off from work, everything would have been picked over.

On Friday, I ran into my junkin friend Jennifer. She was leaving an estate sale as I was walking up. With a few simple words, she persuaded me to skip the sale-it sounds like the people running it were off the deep end as far a prices and attitude, so I'm glad I skipped it-ain't nobody got time for that!

I went to one sale that the add said to "allow 3 hours to view everything" in the house. Really? The sale was only open for 5 hours...what did that mean? Were they only letting in a small number of people,because it looked packed, and you had to spend the majority of time waiting to get in? I went to a few sales and decided to take my time getting to the 3 hour one.

I knew it was in a condo, do I couldn't imagine it every having enough stuff to keep you looking for 3 hours! When I got there, there wasn't a line, and I walked right in. There were a lot of pie safes in the pictures online, and I was hoping to get one to use to display my quilts. All but one was sold and it was $325.

There was a lot of people milling around, and buying things-for the most part, the prices were pretty good, and there was a LOT of stuff. I found two quilts that I am thrilled with, and super thrilled with the prices! I spent more time waiting in line to check-out than I did searching the house...maybe that is where they think the 3 hours comes in!

All in all, I spent maybe 20 minutes there, and I did the happy dance (inside) all the way to my car as I was carrying my quilts. I almost didn't go because of the "3 hour" thing. I'm glad I went!

I went to a few more sales, I love how very different each sale is, and how you never know what you are gong to find. The thrill of the hunt is definitely why I love hitting sales so much! I usually try to get all of my driveway shopping done by noon on Fridays so I have the rest of the day to do whatever I need to do around the house.

Today,we have a wedding to go to.  A friend of the boys is getting married, and the wedding is at a new, giant church in our area. I'm looking forward to it, although it does make me feel like I am getting really old, to see another of their friends getting married!

Here is what I brought home the past couple of days...

 I have a small addiction to Anchor Hocking Savannah...I can never pass it up-even if I already have the pieces! 

 This quilt was $1! 

 Normal Rockwell prints all 4 for a quarter!

 This is my "what was I thinking?" buy of the day...still shaking my head over this one...

A pile of junk-or treasures, depending on how you see it!

 I've never seen a double...have you?

 From the "3 hour sale"

I picked up these lamp bases with the intention of painting them. They fit the cake dome "shade" size better than the tall black one.

Hope you have a great weekend-Happy Hunting!!!