Antique Bean Pot

A few weeks back I was very blessed to spend a Saturday morning going to garage sales, sample sales and restaurants with my cousin. For many years she lived in Houston and even though that puts us both in Texas, let me tell you there's a whole lot of Texas and we rarely saw one another. But now she's moved up to Oklahoma City and that is all changing. We head up that way to visit the rest of our family and I am so excited to get to see her more! Strange to realize I can get to Oklahoma City in less time than I can get to Houston - and I'm in Dallas!

Going to garage sales with her is a hoot and a half. We drove up to one and were laughing so hard, then when we got out of the car and walked up to her garage she said she could hear us when we were driving up! Then we all got to talking and laughing. Ah...good times. :)

So one of our stops was quite fruitful for me. It was an older couple and we talked to them for a good little bit. I was thrilled to find a stack of 12" quilt blocks that she'd sewn herself (hopefully they will be showcased here fairly soon, just need to get it finished) and I think she was tickled that I was so pleased to have found them.

And then I saw this and was enchanted. The little sticky note said "Antique Bean Pot $5". Now I don't know a thing about antique cookware and Keith laughed when he saw it and said that they saw me coming. I'm ok with that though cause even if it's not a genuine antique, it is old and I love it's character. The inside of the pot is well seasoned and to me that means well loved. When I was looking at it the Mr. of the garage sale came over and said he thinks they'd had that pot for 40 years and said "that's a lot of beans!" See, these are the things memories are made of.

Beans happen to be a memory maker for me as well. Growing up we would have beans and rice and cornbread probably once a week for dinner. And when we'd go to Ft. Smith, AR to see Daddy's family Grandma would always have a pot of beans simmering on the stove. Even more recently, there's a hamburger joint up at the lake that we like to go to that has a very, very large pot of beans out on the counter. You place your order, then dip up a mess of beans to eat while you wait. That's some good eatin' right there.

I've cooked one pot of beans so far in my Antique Bean Pot (see how I have to capitalize it each time?) and it was fabulous. I'll be having them again soon and will put the directions on the blog. Because I swear there's bean juice running in my veins and once my mom gave me all her cooking secrets, really I almost have to share. It would be unsouthern not to.

** Linking to Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays, Twice Owned Tuesday

Garage Sales With My Girls

I’ve heard it said that a bad day at garage sales beats a good day at work.  Fortunately we had a great day at garage sales!  Bright and early Saturday morning we set out, our expectations and spirits high. 

Here’s Miss B ready to get in the truck and head out for bargains.  I love how adorable her mama always dresses her!  Right now she’s holding my GPS in her right hand (grandmas always seem to need help carrying things!) and a small apple juice bottle for a quick drink before we hit the road.

These juice bottles are so cute!  They come with a character shaped sippy top and I think I have 4 now that she gets to choose from.  While they do cost a little more than regular apple juice, my theory is that this is one of the benefits of being a grandma – I can buy the silly apple juice.

This is my highlight purchase – a brand new Brighton bag, still in the box, still has the paper stuffing inside….and still had the $165 price tag….but I paid $25!!!!  I am beyond thrilled with this purchase as I do love all things Brighton – even if I do usually buy the knockoffs since I’m so cheap.  But this – it even smelled good!  LOL!

So glad that the Garage Sale season has kicked off and always so glad to spend time with my 3 girls.

Happy Saturday!

This beautiful scene is what met me this morning when I arrived at J&L's house. This little girl is just too precious for words! And notice those cutey little Robeez shoes she has on from her great-aunt Michele!

Loni, Brooklyn and I went to garage sales this morning and had such a nice time. One of my favorite moments came when I was pushing the stroller and an older gentleman offered me 2 vcr movies if he could keep Brooklyn! He was so sweet and just laughed when I told him I thought I might want to keep my granddaughter. :) We chatted for a bit and he told me his grandkids had all just moved to Oregon and he missed them terribly. Bless his heart, I just can't imagine.

I was shocked to see how long it's been since I updated my blog. One of the biggest reasons has been work - I've been b.u.s.y.!!!! And it was finally announced yesterday, so I figure that means it's okay for me to post here - I've received a big promotion! Not sure it's totally sunk in yet, but exciting just the same. Now that means I get to go shopping for a whole new wardrobe!!!

And that leads to exciting news #2 - I've joined Weight Watchers! When I went to OKC recently with my cousin M she was telling me how wonderful the program is and she has done very, very well. Then a gal I work with found a nearby meeting and asked if I wanted to go with her. I did, we joined and at my 2nd weigh-in last week I discovered that I had lost 3.8 pounds my first week! VERY exciting! A bunch of my friends are also doing WW, so I think the support system of family, friends and work friends has helped tremendously. All this means my new wardrobe just might be a big smaller than what I used to wear. Happiness!

One last note - notice the pink breast cancer site logo over in the right margin. Please click on this every time you visit my blog, then click the pink "click here" button on the next page that comes up. Sponsors donate money to breast cancer research for every click and you can click every day. Such a very simple thing to do for such a worthwhile cause.

Indecision may or may not be my problem. - Jimmy Buffett

Log Cabin Syrup Bottle

This was my favorite purchase when we went to garage sales on Saturday. It's a Log Cabin syrup bottle and I was so excited to find it. While I can't say for sure I remember it from my childhood it does strike a chord within.

I've been working on decluttering stuff around the house and almost didn't get this bottle. But I realized that when I have people over I really can use this and it will look so nice on the table. And seeing it in use will make me smile.

I called mom to tell her about this bottle and she was telling me about the Log Cabin syrup tin bottle. I've seen them at flea markets and antique shops, but I just didn't fancy them as well. The difference is that mom remembers the tins with fondness.

Isn't it fun how different things can strike different people?

(And as an aside, Keith really got a kick out of me taking a picture of this bottle!)

Oh and Brooklyn slept through the entire garage sale experience. Clearly she was not impressed with whole idea!

Saturdy Sky 081107

I am most definitely a morning person. The peace and sounds of morning are the best time of the day.

Today I get to go to garage sales with Loni and Brooklyn and I can't wait. Loni and I love going and of course took a brief hiatus for the birth of the baby. But today we decided to try again for a few. I just checked my little weather forecast thingy and it's supposed to reach 105 degrees today, so we won't have our usual long list of prospects to hit today. Loni did the research and found some sales that listed some things we're interested in and I printed maps last night (well, since it was about 1:00 am I suppose that was really also this morning).

We don't have a set time to go - we decided to just let Brooklyn decide. So I'm enjoying my coffee and knitting on a baby blanket for a friend. I love the peace of early morning and decided to run outside and document the rising sun. I'm sure I looked a sight if anybody peaked into my backyard and saw me standing in my nightgown with a camera pointed at the sky!

So we'll see what little Brooklyn says about saling. Grandpa has already said we can bring her back by and he'll take care of her if she decides she's not interested. I love that man.

"Grandmas are antique little girls." - Unknown