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FASC-I-NATE-ING - a magic touch

Saturday we went to the Vintage Barn Sale. (Crossing my fingers and toes I can be a vendor at the September show).
At the show Virginia was selling bird nests. I thought, what the heck? And then on closer inspection and chatting with Virginia...SHE MAKES THEM.

I carefully handled and touched and marveled at every one.

I finally decided on one. Silly me, why didn't I buy more than one?

They look like they belong in every corner of my house.

You know how some people no matter when or where you take their picture it turns out cute, even if they are eating a mouth full of cookies and sticking out their tongue?
 
That is the same with this amazing hand made nest..it could go in any place in my home. It is amazing.

AND SHE MADE IT.

Like I told Virginia..she is as good as a bird.
Just lovely.

I think I will keep it safe inside this china cup for a bit - where every time I walk by, I can stop and marvel at Virginias' magic touch.

I  believe we all have a magic touch. What is yours? The magic can be a wide range of things, is it the way you listen to someone's heart, sooth a crying child, hum a tune, nurture a seed, write a computer program, freely give hugs? What is your Magic Touch?

Thanks Virginia. Thanks for reminding us magic comes in many ways...I love your magic touch, with grass and stems. Who would have imagined, a magic touch could be so simple yet, so stunning?

Whoa!!! Golly Miss Molly

And  I didn't even know I had an issue. I do like string. BOLTS of string. It began with the Mr Tall Man in the back there. Love the spool he comes on.
Then as anyone can plainly see I have almost used the traditional cotton string cone - which clearly indicates I do use lots of string.
One year for Christmas Santa bought different colors of string and tied it to the bed post of each child so in the morning the child had to work their way, rewinding the string as they went, through the GIGANTIC spider web all the way down the hall to get to the Santa's loot. It was a hoot.

But this is just ridiculous! Seriously, what is your problem, girl? It was so innocently tossed in among the sewing notions. A BIG (yardstick to help verify I am not doing the Hilterbrand exaggeration, here) spool of string.
Wait...look.........

See how much string is here? We are talking serious amounts of string!
Not just regular string but like  synthetic-super-strong-will-hold-a-knot (I tried before I bought it)-tie-up-anything-you-can-think-of string.
To help visualize out there in cyber-land just how much string is here...look closely at the width-texture as it is draped on this really nice old book...

Oh - are you wondering...I know you are...yip it was $4.49. So what would that be .00000000000001 cent a yard?
And to think, I didn't even know I had issues.

Dear to the heart of the Shepherd

Dear are the sheep of His fold.

Out in the desert they wander hungry and helpless and cold. Of to the rescue He hastens ...Bringing them back to the fold.

One of the things I love to look for in thrift stores and at garage sales is old Bibles. Look at this wonderful picture (click to enlarge) in this old Bible - titled 'The Lost Sheep'....hanging - stretching - reaching - from a cliff to rescue.

Age, walks, Jiffy Lube, Thrift stores

Today Rick came out of the bathroom and said, "I am beginning to look my age." Maybe he was wanting a little sympathy....but all I could think of to say was..."You're barking up the wrong gray tree buddy, it's about bloody time." He chuckled his wonderful chuckle and hugs me. I love that guy. His age becomes him doesn't it? He's age-ing nicely.
Yesterday afternoon, we had all in place and the house 'tidied-up' for the bishopric party. The sun was shining in the window, that clear clean crisp winter sun and Rick said, "Let's go for a walk." We have a little route we always go...including touching our foot on a certain manhole...as we go...but we decided to live the wild and crazy life and just wander. Well....well....well, we got to wandering and talking and wandering and talking..I guess we had a lot to talk about and pretty soon we thought, oh, my,  we better head back home. About 3 blocks from home - like a ton of bricks - we were so tired. We wondered if we would have to call 911 to come and get us and drive us home. The lesson, don't wander into unfamiliar paths....stay close enough to home, you can always get back, even if you are pooped out.
Changing oil has been a progression  or sorts at our house. Rick always changes our oil. Then one day, I declared I was no longer canning green beans. I have to say, a break though moment in my life. I can can beans, I know how, I have the equipment, I know how to grow beans, and when and if I need to - I will. But at this season in my life, I am living the life of absolute luxury and I. don't. can. my. own. beans. I know you are thinking and so what does that have to do with changing the oil...well, nothing and everything - actually. Because given permission to live the lazy - indulgent life ...and WalMart coming to town I convinced Rick to let WalMart change the oil...for the $3.00 difference. He relented one time and we have not looked back...tttthhhhheeeennnnn, one day one of the kids mentioned they don't go to WalMart for oil changes they go to Jiffy Lube. I don't know if it was Carson or Sam....Sam had a very bad experience at Wally land. So last week...hold your horses and bolt the barn door Billy, we were in town at 5:00 p.m. (that, my friends, is truly UNUSUAL!) and I said, the car needs an oil change at about the same time as we came upon the Jiffy Lube on Old McDonald and Sprague. No one inside. We made the left hand turn and in we went...it was 5:44. NOW THIS IS THE AMAZING PART...get ready to whoop...what? We drove out at 5:55. That's right folks...11 minutes....for $5.00 more than Wally. I was in s-h-o-c-k. I am sure I spend at  least $5.00 at Wallyland during the two hours I wait for the oil to be changed. We are living the life of luxury and I have to say....it feels pretty darn good. Whoo-Who
There is a new trift store in my neighborhood. I am afraid you didn't hear me...there is a new wonderful, hugely stocked, cheap, pretty nicely arranged, doesn't smell too too too bad thrift store in our neighborhood. Oh...I am thrilled like others are when a new Target or IKEA moves into town. Last week Rick and I went, upon entrance, we went our seperate ways, Rick to shoes, men's clothing and toolage, me to housewares, books. Pretty soon, Rick found me and asked me to come paw through sport coats with him. There were a lot.  What can I say? - We hit the double jackpot. The lighting isn't the best in the new store, it never is, is it? But we found a nice herringbone and navy blazer for him. I couldn't really read the label on the navy blue one - but it felt right (interpetation here : rich, well tailored, quality, 3 button syle).
The price for each $3.99. So for $8.00 we came home and thought, what the heck we will see them in the light with his trousers and decide. Wwwweeeeeelllllll. The navy blue is a Kenneth Cole...and fits him perfectly. We are pretty excited. The herringbone looks pretty snazzy, too. And yes, he wears his tie at half-mast about 50/50. This was the after church picture and half-mast for that is 100%...he claims is stops the blood going to his brain and makes him too stupid if he has it up 100% of the time.

Oh, I love a good thrift store...see my new Clark shoes - yip - you guessed it... $4.99.

Treasures found July 28

Finding really is a treasure, and it triggers my creative brain. Do other people see this 'stuff' and not get excited? Like those incredible wooden necklaces, wow, can't you just see them hanging in some  fashion from a fun shoulder bag! Okay okay, we will take those big wooden chunky bears (?) out of the one and restring it. Who would wear a big brown wooden bear around your neck? But the colorful wooden beads ...oh...so cute. And I love the waverly blue and yellow curtain. WAVERLY mind you, the nicest fabric.   I find such excitement in thinking about re-purposing things. I am not a real big environmentalist. Well, I don't litter and such, but I just don't spend a lot of energy thinking about "protecting" the environment. BUT I do think about waste and what a wasteful thing it is to toss something out that is perfectly usable. If feels wrong to me, BUT when I can repurpose it and use it for something else..that creates excitement - and partly because I feel like I am following the maxium..."Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." My mother uses these little maxiums, is that even what they are called (?) all the time. I was quite literally raised with them. She even made up several of her own, "The squacky duck gets shot" is one I remember. I don't remember what it was in relationship too, but I think it orginated driving in the car with a bunch of little kids, so it doesn't take a big imagination to realize what it meant. Ok, back to the treasures of today, there are several packages of seam binding in there. What can I do with them? They are very light weight, so I don't know. Will they work as bows to put in the floppy flower corsages that are brewing in my head...or...maybe they will work as the tie on for the wristlets that are also jumbling around in there. We'll see, we'll see.