Patriotic Mantel Decor and More

It's hard to believe that the Fourth of July is this week!  I mean that's like mid summer!  Of course the near a hundred degree temperatures should have been a clue ..

I guess I best share my patriotic decor while I can!  

These French peasants somehow take on a Colonial look when old flags are placed in their keeping.  

I love this banner I made a few years ago honoring our family's vets! 

My Husband writes home from basic training. 

His Grandfather lead a band throughout the pacific during WWII.  

My father was a captain, also in the South Pacific 

Forty Eight star flags are always fun. 

As is this fun Victorian art patriotic button that I found at Retro Betty's in Salt Lake City 

Another patriotic banner from another year. 

And the amazing award ribbon  my friend Kim crafted last year!! 

Here's a sweet close up 

Then in moving to the dining room, my ancestral paper pennant banner gets gussied up for this the holiday with a fun red, white and blue tissue garland, some American flags and of course a red, white and blue British flag banner to honor my English anscesters!   Thanks to Amamda at Retro Betty  for sticking the patriotic tissue garland! 

This is my dining room mantel. 

This cutie of an Uncle Sam was an art group production. This weekend I'll share a post of our group making them!! 

Jane Austen Tea Party

So lately I've been kind of Lost in Austen. Actually my daughter gave me that movie and the Austen Book Club for my birthday when we visited her 3 weeks ago, which, of course, Mr P and I promptly watched 

Add to that the fact that I've been reading Jane Austen's Town and Country a sort of bio and a biography of Chalotte Bronte.   That has lead to lots of summer movie nights with BBC ... Including Nicholas Nickleby (Charles Dickens)  several  Anthony Trollope adaptations and an Austen or two while also reading both Persuasion (Austen) and The Tenant of Wildfelll Hall (Anne Bronte)  

So yes, I've been living in 19th century England all month ... 

The big coincidence is that I had forgotten I'd offered to host and have a tea party for my book club ladies if they agree to reading an Austen novel. 

My friend Ann reminded me Sunday ... Just in time to read 3/4s of the novel before we met to discuss it last night 

I'd been collecting chintz ware for about a year, planning a summer tea to enjoy it. I love mixed matched chintz ... The combo reminds me of a fun 30's flour sack quilt. 

Of course there were ribbon sandwiches and chicken salad in homemade puff pastry. 

Some of the puff pastry became cream puffs and what's more English than double ginger snaps? 

Of course if your going to do true Britush immersion  you need marmelaide, clotted cream and lemon curd! 

The table is well set ... May I say, a charming "prospect"? 

And all we need are apt readers. What a great group and such a lively discussion of Anne Elliot and her exploits at Bath!! 

The Man in the Blue Tutu

This is our oldest son!!  Crazy eh?  Well let me tell you about him. (Thanks to Nell for this picture) 

When does a mother feel proud seeing her son in a blue tutu? 

When that son rides his bike 140 miles and raises $2700 for cancer research.  

His wife, whose picture he wore, beat ovarian cancer last summer around the time she gave birth to their fourth child. 

She was miserable all summer, but insisted on holding her new baby as much as possible. That baby was the bright spot for her. It still brings tears to my eyes to think of her sweet and determined attitude! 

My son Trevor is normally clean shaven, even on top. But in raising funds on line he promised his friends he'd wear a blue tutu if he reached a certain amount for cancer research fund raising.  Then later he promised he'd grow out his hair for reaching a higher  goal, last of all for meeting the final fund raising goal he promised to dye his hair and beard blue for the race!! 

Mr P and Trevor's oldest and I all met him at the halfway point to cheer him on. 

My daughter Becca and her family met him around the 3/4 point and soaked him with water, for which he was grateful . Unfortunately her kids had used up their silly string while waiting 😊

We drove to Fort Douglas to welcome him at the finish line.  We joined Nell and their three younger children in their wait. 

We cheered for other riders while waiting for Trevor.  The announcer announced riders as they came in telling how much each had raised and who they were riding for, there were several cancer survivors as well.  I had tears in my eyes the whole time. What a beautiful thing it is to witness so much human goodness! 

Here's Trevor with his sweet family as Mr P memorializes the proud moment. 

Mom and Dad were proud as well!! 

This is a picture of our super hero the next day at our Father's Day BBQ!  We love this man!  

Rusty Crusty Wonderful

As you know I went to First Monday Trade days a couple of weeks ago in Texas.  I thought it was about time I shared my goodies... 

At least the larger items. 

I'm a fool for a colorful watering can!! 

And I once remember in Bewitched when Samantha's aunt got caught stealing door knobs for her collection. They were like giant diamonds, she said. 

This tiny 50's red wagon was unresistable. 

And a stack of rusty lucky baskets wanted a ride to Utah!! 

Of course smaller globes are always a must for me! 

And salvaged wood always gets my attention too. 

The old bead boards from delightful southern porches will be sold at the mall as well as being made into projects by me!! 

& of course, wonderful rusty metal & ... 

My funkiest find was this grocery store milk crate that is "protected by Pinkerton's National Detective Agency'!! 

Junking is always fun, and I think that the rain drove away the faint hearted customers, meaning the deals were better and lasted longer!!  Woot Woot! 

I'll be sharing pictures of my smalls in a later post! 

The Antique Connection - Albuquerque

I guess summer travel means I've little time for projects (other than catching up on laundry) and parties ...  So I'm going to share yet another fun junking spot. 

This one is The Antique Connection it is in Aluquerque!  I loved these skookums!  Just what you'd expect!!  

The mall was of the tin warehouse variety, just like home!! 

And was filled with much the same variety of goodies as Treasures. 

I had to take a picture of the vintage sheep for my sheep loving friend Jann.  

And I had to include these sculpy sheep, similar to those that Jann and I made in our art group!! 

There were also jars and jars of small junks, but unlike those I sell at treasures, you were required to buy the whole jar!! 

There were some fun local goodies, like this antique tin Christmas tree, probably made in Mexico ... 

The charming tin ornaments are permanently attached. 

And this antique paper mache mermaid 'child's mask' was stunning. The child's torso fits in the middle of the 'mask'. 

I loved this uniquely crafted crow!! 

Funky old toys and 

Shining like new silver plate!! 

But this dealer stole my heart!  

I was so very tempted by these brightly colored salt and pepper sets!  In fact the only thing I actually bought at this fairly pricy mall was a small lidded pitcher that is orange with white polka dots from this dealer. 

Of course there was  the good guy stuff every good antique mall needs!! 

And this spendy but  extensive bedroom set was stunning. It even had four matching card table (not the more modern folding set that now holds the name) chairs. 

With its original painting!  

The mall was amazing, and other than the fact that it was literally made up of  half  locked glass cases, I loved the experience. So look them up if your ever traveling through New Mexico. You can thank me later!!