Monday, October 29, 2012

Monday, October 22, 2012

Fall Walkies

Yesterday ( Oct 20th ) was such a lovely day out hubby and I decided that a bit of walkies was in order.  Emma was of course always game as that little girl could live outside in the bushes if I let her I bet :)  Zoe was of course off at my parents Tug playing peek a boo with the fish and her fishing pole.

Checking out a neat spiderweb. 
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I sure love these two! :) 
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Which way ... choices choices ...
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I am going this way!  ( something interesting in the bushes beyond the photo )
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And a rather shakey video as I was holding them on one hand and trying to use my phone with the other. NEXT time I will "think" to take the regular camera with me for better photos and video to share. ;)


Thursday, October 18, 2012

McDougall Cabinet.. making progress

 I had a very big A'HA moment this afternoon.  From all the research I have done I concluded that my cabinet was in fact a McDougall but NOTHING is better than a little paint removal to see a basic outline of what once was ...  It was the teeny bit of proof that finally concreted my feelings about what make it was. 

If you look carefully you can see the MCDOU portion of McDougall.  Yeah.  I let out a yip of joy when I saw it myself. ;)
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A second splash of paint today since the weather was lovely here on the Oregon coast. I feel like it's "getting there" as far as being closer to coming home and being tucked away in my kitchen.  I guess I have a couple more coats to go.  I have no clue, I just go by what my domestic diva Momma tells me. If only I had inherited her skills for sewing and eye for turning the most run down into something amazing.  I still think I got a bit over my head with the hoosier but she's been a fantastic cheerleader the whole process. :)

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Only the areas that will actually be view are getting painted.  I see no reason to waste paint if it's literally going to be behind a drawer where it will never see the light of day again.  ;)

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Today was also a de-uglyfy day for the hardware.  I've still got a ways to go but the brass is showing now and that makes me happy!

5 befores and 2 afters.  
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That thing to the right of the photo .. I thank my darling hubby for allowing me to "play" with his tools. Sadly I now know why he can't hear me very well about an hour or so after he's been out in the garage doodling around at the bench.  I feel rather deaf hours later.
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I am still considering putting green milk glass pulls and knobs in place of the originals but while I debate that idea I thought I might tidy the originals up and perhaps use them if I haven't made my mind up before the cabinet is done. 
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Please feel free to check out the Coloradolady for wonderful vintage treasures, adorable dachsie photos and other wonderful links to many more vintage styled blogs.  :) 
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Monday, October 15, 2012

The unexpected Happiness of a photo

Once in a while my little ones will wander in, see the camera sitting on the desk and ask me if they can "play" with it.  It's not a very spendy one so I am not overly worried when I say yes. Usually my oldest takes pictures first and then supervises the little one with it.

Well .. once in a great while a pretty photo will show up on the disc after they've had their fun with the camera. I am guessing my oldest took this one since she had it outside in the backyard last.  It sure made me smile and really catches just how pretty Mishka is.  :)

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Happy Monday world! :)

Friday, October 12, 2012

PAINT!

There is NOTHING .. and I do mean NOTHING like opening the can of paint and dipping a brand new brush into it's lovely creamy texture.  I felt bad for the poor paint brush, all pristine and new. It had no clue what hard labor it was in for.  Neither did my arm.  :) 

Today I spent the afternoon putting on the first coat of paint on my McDougall Cabinet.  There is something thrilling about putting on that first coat of paint.  Who knows, maybe it was the fumes but when I was done I really did do a happy painting dance.  The process is just that one step closer to being finished and being in my kitchen as a useful and amazing vintage piece.  I am excited! 

One bit down, the rest to go ...
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Those slats.... one at a time... ugh!   :)
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The "view" of a finished first coat.  I am happy!
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Thanks for peeking and have an amazing weekend everyone! :)

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Vintage Thingy Thursday ...

A Native American made Pin Cushion from the early 1900's. I picked it up today looked at it and put it back down ... then I walked back to it and told it that it was coming home with me. I had NO clue what it was just that I really liked it and it would look neat in my living room.  I paid a whopping $5 for it.  When I did a little researching on it, it's possible that it's made by the Iroquois nation and sold as a souvenir at Niagra Falls.  I about fell over and was rather pleased that I second guessed myself and picked it back up.  :) 

Enjoy!

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If you'd love to enjoy other Vintage treasures please check out the Coloradolady Blog...  

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Weenie Wednesday

Personally I think wordless Wednesdays are no fun. Sometimes I have a lot to say on Wednesday.

So I am voting to change it to Weenie Wednesday.  
Anyone with me? 


So ... what does one do when they have the cutest little picture and shiny glass reflector eyes in them?  We cartoon it.  I giggled when I was done, thought someone else might get a smile from it too.  :)

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Have a beautiful Wednesday everyone.  :)

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Chin Scratchies

Anyone that can resist the draw of petting an animal is odd in my book. 

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For me resistance truly is futile.. 

Chin Scratchies ... achieved!   ohhhh purr purr 

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Holee Temptation Tuesday

Nothing like frustrating your little Ween early on in the morning.  

This is paybacks from Mommy for ALL the barkybutt mouth motion that was happening yesterday  :) 

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Yes Molly... we all love you!
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Sunday, October 7, 2012

Sunny P. Kittykins

I have a very tender spot for ginger kitties.  I started the first portion of my adult life with an orange tabby who passed away a few years ago now.  I've been wanting, needing and missing a gingy in my life a lot since he's been gone.  Finally...  in a non-kitten form.  A bit of orangy goodness came to live with us. 

In short.. Sunny, in full, Sunny P. Kittykins.  Aaron says ..."Oh Jeeze" when he hears the full name.  :)  But ... he's already been caught doing the baby rock with him.  ;)

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Sunny is a special boy as one of his paws is not like the other.  He has a fused shoulder so one side is a touch shorter than the other.  He jumps, runs and plays with the best of them.  When he walks he has a bit of a "slink"    We, think he's perfect.  :)

Mmmm sunshine on my Sunny .. makes me happy! 
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Even with his wee little defect he pops up onto the cat tree like it's nothing for his afternoon nappy. 
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The best part is ... I no longer have to advertise for a familiar top ride my broom with me this Halloween. 

Sunny ... has it covered!  :)
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Friday, October 5, 2012

Bigger, Better, Faster, More

It's not the way to live I've come to find.  It is the little things that make your life a happier place... I am in a thoughtful mood this evening. 

This note is Toby approved.. 
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  • Designer shoes are great but even killer heels... will kill your heels in the end. 
  • A bigger house isn't always better.  You will just have more area to deal with when it comes to cleaning.
  • Don't dwell on other peoples relationship issues.  You simply can not fix other people's "stupidity".  
  • Put only things in your home, office, play space that make you smile.  A little or a lot. Doesn't matter as long as they are things that you love.   
  • Strive to not be a fair weather friend.  BE the person that others love to be around rain or shine.
  • Keeping up with the Joneses is highly over rated.  Be happy, honestly happy.  They will wish they were you.  
  • Accept the things in your life that you can not change and obviously work on the ones that make you miserable and that you have the ability to change.  It's a win win.  
  • Surround yourself by people who make you happy.  Let go of the ones that don't.  It's easier than you think.
  • Remember to tell the ones you love that you love them more than once in a while.  Because death happens faster than you think. ( need I remind people where I work? )
  • Smile ... Smile at everyone you meet, even if they don't smile back they will remember that someone out there smiled at them. 
  • Don't forget to tell yourself how amazing you are daily.  
  • Have pride in your appearance.  You don't have to be rich to follow this one. The simple act of dressing appropriately is taken for granted daily.
  • Take time out to turn off all technology in your life and spend the time that you would normally be glued to a social networking site, a forum, eBay, Amazon, anything internet or game based doing something that involves movement with something other than your right hand on the mouse.
  • Use the manners that your parents taught you.  That one is self explanatory.  ( If they didn't teach you any then make it a priority to learn some asap!)
  • Just Be.   It's my favorite thing to do. 

And .... with that I end with a favorite picture.  :)


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Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Vintage Thingy Thursday - My McDougall Hoosier Project

Thanks to the Coloradolady's Blog I get to really enjoy wonderful vintage things every Thursday.  I thought I might finally jump onto the ride and post my own vintage goodie too. 
 



My project, A McDougal Hoosier Cabinet in the process of being refurbished. :)

Warning... it's a bit photo intense  ...
These are the photos prior to taking it apart.. The upper portion is backless which in the end has made the project actually much easier.

This is the first time I saw it in person..

When I stood before it I felt a thrill and a chill all at once.  OMG !! I am getting a Hoosier and WTF!! am I getting myself into??? I've never redone ANYTHING in my life ( except my makeup when I mess it up, does that count? Ha! )
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Here is where I start in on hand scraping it. You work with what you have.  I unfortunately didn't have a ton to shell out on stripper that would remove all that old paint.  A bit of elbow grease and sanding worked pretty awesome as I am not taking it down to natural wood ( pretty close tho, I've seen some ugly grey milk paint and wood tone now )
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This is actually one of my favorite photos.  It was awesome to have ALL the bits and pieces to the Cabinet. I've seen some that are missing most of them. Yikes!
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The bread drawer ... sadly it's missing it's top piece or perhaps it never had one. Unless I can find a Mcdougall that is intact to view better photos of how mine once was I truly will never know.
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Ok ... truthfully I did scrape the flat sides but did end up using stripper on the delicate grooves so that they wouldn't get nicked up. In the end this was the pain in the butt part! 
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A before and after sanding of the brackets that attach the hutch to the cabinet.
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An upside down view of the Porcelain top as I sanded the drawer inserts.
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The mark on the Porcelain piece.  Thought it was interesting.
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Well .. if you've made it THIS far after all those photos then thanks for peeking and hope you enjoyed my Vintage Thingy Thursday entry.  ( I'm actually doing it on Wednesday as I have vowed to stay off the computer tomorrow .. and suddenly I hear hysterical laughter from somewhere.. hmms )

If you love Vintage thingys do be sure to take a sneak peek over at the Coloradolady