Free Piles...

Do you get excited when you see free piles?  

Or items awaiting a trash pick-up that resemble

 something  other than - well - trash? 

Yesterday I came upon this...

...certainly worth turning around for huh?  

My eye was on a number of things - but especially...

...the lamp.  It turned out to be irrepairable.  

The furniture didn't appeal to me - even for a makeover.  

And the rugs - well - just too stained.

  Even the lamp shade was  stained - so I

 passed on everything this time.  But just recently

 I have found a neat old dresser

 (makeover in progress - stay tuned), several candles and 

a pile of colorful, new envelopes that will come in

 handy for bill paying.  
Oh - & a lamp shade I hope to do this with...

Do you brake for Free Piles?

Makes me sound pathetic doesn't it - I hope I have some company.

Do Not Worry About Food...

 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,

 what you will eat or drink; or about your body, 

what you will wear....Look at the birds of the air; 

they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, 

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 

Are you not much more valuable than they?  

Matthew 6:25,26

 We spent our afternoon at Middlecreek Wildlife

 Area.  A great place for sightseeing and shooting

 nature (with a camera).

 This mama Canada Goose was fun to watch...

 As were her goslings...

 Middlecreek is in the heart of farm country.  

Note all the silos in the background!

 My Love...

 ...on this massive tree that was across our trail.

 We weren't the only ones enjoying the sights...

 If you're ever in the Lebanon or Lancaster 

County area of Pennsylvania - 

I recommend an outing to Middlecreek! 
And might I mention - 
it is absolutely FREE.

How did you spend your day of rest?

Flower Beds For Almost Free...

There are many ways to obtain flowers - for almost no money.   

Here's one you may not have thought of...

While at a yard sale recently - I overheard the

 homeowner talking about her Johnny Jump Ups;

 showing another lady how they had spread.  

Not one to miss a golden opportunity - I chimed in

 with how lovely they were.  And.... that I'd be happy

 to buy some from her if she'd want to dig up a few.

A few minutes later - I was the proud owner of a

 generous pot of Jump Ups for $2. (More than I was expecting -

 but still a good deal!)  Today I finally planted them and

 was able to get 2 groupings out of that one pot. 

  They will spread and be gorgeous next year.

 Yard sales are a great time to learn a bit about

gardening from another homeowner - if they're

not too busy with shoppers, that is.   I've

obtained free or cheap flowers more than once...

simply by asking. I never ask for anything

they don't have plenty of and I always offer to pay.

  This is one of the ways I've grown my own flower

 gardens over the years.  Rarely have I purchased

 greenhouse or retail flowers.  Noting what grows

in my locale makes it a pretty safe bet it will

grow in the flower beds at my house.

Anybody want a few Lilies of the Valley?

Linking up with Show and Tell Saturday

Friday Finds...

I find such great treasures through the week - 

but don't often take the time to show you.  So today 

I gathered up my finds and snapped some pictures...

  Just look at all that goodness.  We're talking a vintage black vinyl 

make-up case, 2 mottos, a wool black check shawl 

and a yellow stripe wool blanket.

The 'Prayer Changes Things' motto is an old cliche`

almost - but is it ever true!  
Thinking I need to hang that one where I can see it every day.

 The other motto is a Mother plaque in perfect timing

 for upcoming Mother's Day.  It has the sweetest

 illustration.  I'll list it in my Etsy shop shortly.

 I love how, once again, the coloring all goes together

 and seems to make an instant vignette.  

Don't know how that happens!

Total spent for all this fun?  $4.50!  
Of course the wool linens are a bit out of season - 
but Fall will come and we'll be good to go.

White Bean Chicken Chili

I made the most simple dinner the other night. 

 (looks may be deceiving on this one)...

 Enter - White Bean & Chicken Chili...

I simply threw everything into the crockpot -

 it was that easy!

Recipe:

1 lb. partially thawed chicken breasts - cut into chunks

1 t. olive oil

1 c. onion, chopped

1 T. minced garlic

1 15 oz. Northern beans

1 19 oz. cannellini beans (I used all Northern beans)

1 small can green chilies

1 1/2 t. cumin

1 t. pepper

1/8 t. cayenne pepper (I used something similar)

1 14 oz. chicken broth

Cook on high approx. 4 hours till chicken cooked.  Then mix 2 T. cornstarch & 

2 T. water and add to chili - cook another 15 or so min. to thicken.

Garnish w/ shredded cheese and sour cream (optional).  

I didn't add these - and it was still delicious!

 

Vignette of Brushes...

My dress rack displays at the thrift shop today were inspired by a bunch of vintage brushes I found out on the store shelves.  (I create displays out of whatever is already out in the shop and priced to sell.)  I included most of the brushes in this more primitive and country display...

 (I find some great bags among the totes for sale that would otherwise 

go 'unnoticed'.  But they sell in a heartbeat when I feature them in a display.)

 ...and then I tried to incorporate some into my shabby white displays.  
Till I got around to shooting 

a photo - there were already goods that had 
sold and I was out of time to replace them.

 

 I love whites paired with neutral textures...

Posting over at White Wednesday

Photo Shoot Day...

I've put it off long enough - today was the day.  

The day to get out my wire mannequin and do 

a vintage clothing shoot.

 A shoot of wearable vintage...

 

 ...modest clothing.

 All for my With Propriety Etsy shop.

I got a kick out of the happy mess I left behind...

 

Now to get it all listed!

What did you do today?

Lift Up Your Eyes...

Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
And look on the earth beneath.
For the heavens will vanish away like smoke,
The earth will grow old like a garment,...

But My salvation will be forever,
And My righteousness will not be abolished.

Isaiah 51:6 

Taken just before a rain storm at the antique mall where I have a booth.

 

Cute Etsy Shop...

I found the most adorable shop on Etsy and 

just have to share it with you - totally unsolicited.

(I don't know them and they don't know me.) 

The shop is selling cute and unique knitted 

hand warmers, cuffs, aprons, etc. 

 But I am also in love with what else the models 

are wearing....

 

 ...and holding...

 

 It's just such a comfortable, casual look....

from Scotland.  What a great looking shop!

Way to go Inner Wild.  

Go give a visit - you won't be sorry.

Button Project - Stage II...

Does anyone else work on their projects in 'stages'? 

I do.  And sometimes it takes a while to get from 

one stage to the next.  
(Creativity does not come easily for me.)  
Today I worked on the next phase 

of a project I started almost a year ago. 

 Here's how it looks after today...

 For the past year it was just this framed blank 'canvas'...

I needed inspiration!  Today - I found some.  

I spotted this beauty on Pinterest by

 Cloth & Patina...

Stay tuned for the next stage...

Old Window Project...

A dear friend of mine (who sadly is not a blogger), recently finished an old window project.  

I thought I'd share it with you...

Love the scripture verse she chose to feature!

 Chicken wire is a farm girl's best friend...

 ...add a few embellishments...

 ...and she has a bulletin board that would make 

any farm office proud.

Thanks my friend for sharing this with me -

and the rest of blog land!

I'm Saving Orange Peels...

Yep, right here on my kitchen counter...

 (And yes, those are flower petals in the background - for other projects.)

Thanks to Pinterest - I found this powerful natural  

All Purpose household cleaner recipe...

...can't wait to try it!