July 26, 2012
These California Souvenir Plates were kind of a fun find. I mainly bought them because they had my favorite state on them, and I paid only $2 for all 3. I thought these would go perfectly with a dozen cookies for a new neighbor gift. Or I could pile them high with Christmas treats for teachers later this year.
July 23, 2012
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| The view of the cavern opening from just inside the cave. |
This is somewhere I have wanted to take my kids and husband for a while. When I was 13, my parents took us to the Carlsbad Caverns. I have such fond memories of our visit there. I remember it taking most of the day to walk down into and through the caverns.
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| Heading Down! |
It really was as fascinating and beautiful as I remember. The long day’s drive from Albuquerque was totally worth it. We arrived in the evening, so we drove to the cavern to watch the bats come outof the cave at night. The Ranger Talk that proceeded the exiting of 1000’s of bats, was very entertaining and informative. I highly recommend going at dusk for this experience.
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| Whales Mouth |
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| The Chandelier |
The next morning we started early and hiked down into the cavern – we just opted for the self-guided tour. You go 75 stories underground, tour through numerous large rooms with fantastic formations and then take a 1 minute elevator ride back up.
My kids thought is was one of the most fantastic places they had ever been. Dylan said it was his favorite place in the world. It was a great place to spend a 100F summer day, it’s a cool 56F inside the caverns. And no strollers, so Olivia rode happily along on Lon’s back. The ask that you speak quietly inside the caverns because the sound travels well. Olivia didn’t obey this rule, she chattered and squealed at her echo.
This was a very unique place to photograph. I was wishing for my tripod the whole time. But, I still enjoyed the challenge of trying to capture the shapes and forms of the space.
July 21, 2012
1. Vintage Melamine Dishes in jadite color – already mine
2. Deer Pillow – Etsy
3. Deer Antlers – already mine
4. Hudson Bay Blanket
5. Lumber Jack Plaid Pillow (similar)
6. Bird Wall Art (similar)
7. Vintage Red Lantern (similar)
8. National Park Post Cards
9. Mint Green Pocket Knife via
10. Coral Plaid Fabric via
11. The Inspiration – Ruby Taylor’s illustration, via
12. Vintage Green Plaid Picnic Basket – haven’t found one yet, but I’ll be on the hunt.
I’ll be sure to share my progress on fixing up Riley as I go. What do you think about my color combo and inspiration board? Does is have a good vintage vibe and a woodsy Alaskan/Canadian feel? How would you spruce up a retro camper?
July 20, 2012
Ooops, this is just getting embarrassing how late I’m posting the Monthly Memory Verses. Sorry friends, I’ve been behind a couple months now. Summer is just so busy.
This is a bit of a long verse for little ones, but it’s a keeper. A good reminder when you are in the middle of a really yucky time in your life. God does have a plan, He is good. We don’t always understand him, but then he wouldn’t be God. I’m glad I serve a God that is much bigger then my understanding. If I could figure him out, then he would just be another human. The older I get, the more at peace I am with not fully understanding God and his ways. That’s true faith, and I’m not there yet everyday. Sure glad my God is patient as well. 🙂 Here’s June’s Memory Verse.
July 19, 2012
If you don’t, then I need to inform you that you are so NOT hip. I recently joined all the fashionable home decorators and added a small terrarium to my interior. I love succulents and I’ve been sporting them on my front porch, but this mini nature world needed to come inside.
This weekend Lon’s family was in town from Idaho. We met up in LA and I had a fun day together. We started the day with a quick stop at H.D. Buttercup. I’ve been watching Design Star on HGTV and every episode they are shopping at this great furniture store. So, I thought I needed to check it out in person – fantastic! Home interiors heaven! I couldn’t afford anything, but was happy to wonder around and just soak up all the inspiration. Then for lunch we hit Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles – super yum. Then the guys headed over to the Natural History Museum and Science Center, while the girls went straight to The Grove.
I found my little glass bubble terrarium at a flower seller that has a booth right outside Zara (down by the Farmer’s Market). My mother in law, sister in law and I all got one. He had a lot of great sizes and some that were even tear drop shaped. I opted for the round one because it has a flat bottom, so I could either hang it or sit it on a flat surface. Mine was $17, but he had others that started at $12 and went up to $20. I thought these were really reasonable. Just a note, he mentioned that in October he would be moving into a permanent space in the Farmer’s Market. Currently, he is outside Zara Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays.
Mine is sitting in my bathroom window. I wanted to be able to enjoy it in the morning when I’m doing my hair and makeup.
So, are you current? Do you have your own terrarium already? Or would you like to join the popular kids, and make or buy a terrarium with cute itty bitty succulents?
July 18, 2012
This room is an addition to our original house. We made the original master bedroom into the master bath and then added on this room to the back of our house. It is the same size and layout of the original room. We did this the same time we renovated our kitchen.
We made one corner of the room our little library and it also serves as my little office (my laptop and printer are on the smaller of the two bookcases). The bookcases house mostly my husband’s travel and nature books, a few special artifacts from our travels, and also some of husband’s vintage globe collection. And my little green leather chair is a perfect spot to feed a baby or read a book. Right now I’m blogging from the green chair.
We have nice big windows that look onto our tiny, but green backyard. At the end of the bed is a black bench that I refinished years ago. It’s a great place to sit extra pillows on.
July 13, 2012
I’m not sure if normal people visit the Petrified Forest National Park, but we did, and I’m really glad we did actually. Lon’s dad, our rock hound, needed to see this place in person. Visiting the Petrified Forest is like, well in his own words “a taste of heaven”. I’m not sure Lon’s mom agrees with this or is hoping for the same heaven. Hers is more of a tropical Maui type heaven. All joking aside, it really was an amazing place to visit. The colors of these, once living trees, rocks are spectacular. The actual trunks of these trees are almost unreal in size.
July 12, 2012
So, if you are regular reader, I’m sure you’ve noticed that we have been on a road trip of the Southwest. Our, first stop was the Grand Canyon. And now since it’s Thursday, I’m going to jump over to our time in Santa Fe and share my visit to the Santa Fe Flea.
I’m a sucker for a Flea Market, and Santa Fe’s was a lot of fun. It was small and quaint, but just the right size for a wonder around. The venders were all VERY friendly and gladly talked about there wheres. If you compare it’s size to the Pasadena Flea Market, it’s only about 3 aisles of that one. But, I’m on vacation and space in the car is limited.
I was hoping to see some great Southwest antiques and vintage items, and I wasn’t disappointed. I just can’t get enough of all the great silver and turquoise jewelry. And the Santa Fe Flea had both new and antique pieces. I fell in love with Turquoise, Julienne Barth’s booth that sold vintage SW rugs, cowboy boots, leather belts and her own handcrafted silver and turquoise jewelry. Besides being some of the most modern and fantastic jewelry I’ve ever seen, each of her jewelry pieces is unique and no two are alike. We visited for quite awhile and she generously shared her techniques, what mines she got her turquoise from, and some great information on buying good quality turquoise. She made beautiful leather cuffs with large turquoise pendants, beautifully crafted rings and turquoise charms. It was very hard for me to walk away without a piece of her stunning jewelry.
I bought just two little vintage metal florist frogs. They were an excellent price at just $2 a piece (they are usually about $10 or more at the Pasadena Flea Market). I think they will come in quite handy.
Do you have a favorite or local Flea Market that you love? Leave a comment and share with other thrifters where you flea.
These are some of the things I wanted to take home from the Santa Fe Flea. Is there something in these pictures that catches your eye and interest?
July 9, 2012
July 1, 2012
Happy Canada Day! I wanted to share a quick bunting a whipped up, in no time at all, to bring a little Canuck cheer to my home.
I think I’ve been feeling homesick for Canada lately. Now that my parents no longer live in Alberta (they have migrated down to Cali), I just haven’t been up to Canada in so long. I love that I am born Canadian and proud that I have Canadian roots.
I had fun on pinterest one evening, pinning all kinds of clever ideas for Canada Day fun.
But, this bunting by Simple As That (via) was so dang cute, I just had to make it. I hope you go check out Rebecca’s adorable blog.
Don’t fret my American friends, I have a quick bunting you can make for the 4th as well. Are you patriotic? Do you embrace your Nation’s holidays and special days? Or are they easily overlooked? I feel so privileged to be from two blessed Nations (Canada and The United States) and I love an excuse to throw a party.