Our Loss

Rest in Peace
Bear
1999-2011
~We will miss you more then words can say~

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

I lost a treasured friend today,
The big dog who use to lay
his gentle head upon my knee
and share his silent thoughts with me.

He'll come no longer to my call
retrieve no more his favorite ball.
A voice far greater than my own
has called him to his golden throne.

And though my eyes are filled with tears,
I thank him for all the happy years
He let him spend down here with me
and for his love and loyalty.

Pool Crashers

Here's a story of our next door neighbor,
who moved outta Vegas some time last year.
They left their trashy daughter in charge,
of their house in Jerzee.

Here's what happened to the house next door,
when nothing was taken care of but the pool.
The weeds grow tall and brotha that ain't all,
other people are swimin in your pool.







What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
What happens at home when you're in Vegas,
and your irresponsible daughter is no where to be found,
you'll never know about.

You just never know what idiots might crash your pool on a hot 105 degree day! As you can see, I'm protecting one of the * idiot's identities....the other idiot has no idea what has taken place on this day. I have no idea how these pictures got into my camera or who these people are? I was knitting blankets for orphaned hamsters that day and was no where near the neighbor's pool. :) I plead the 5th.

How The Magic Happens....

Sgt spotted this vintage kitschy adult humor sign at an auction we went to last month. It makes the perfect bedside companion and we've been having fun passing it back and forth on our bedside tables! My favorite saying is...Now, about that mink! Ha. I'm still waiting for my mink Sgt! I'm sure this was probably given to a bride and groom as a gag gift, but I think it's really cute and fairly accurate in today's world too.

Every Dog Has It's Day....

The Dog Days Of Summer Are Here

Hope you're enjoying the dog days of Summer as much as I am!

Auction Saturday

I headed out to an auction this morning and came away with some really neato finds! I stuck solely to box lots as they tend to go cheaper than when they sell one thing at a time. A box lot is basically a cardboard box filled with stuff. I love rooting around in boxes to find treasures. Can you find me in the picture below? (Yes, even with a parasol, I still turned into lobster girl!) For the most part, that's pretty much what an estate auction held at someone's house looks like around here. These are my favorite kinds of auctions to attend. Look at all those boxes full of treasures! Two things you need at auctions like this: good eyes and patience. Below are some of the things I picked up off the box lots table.

The box lot below was full of old pictures! I love old pictures! There was about 4 small photo albums full of various family pictures from late 30's and 40's. When I come across family pictures like this at an auction, I always find it hard to believe that people don't find value in holding onto these pictures to share with future generations.

What great family pictures they are! I'm so curious to know who the people are in these photos! Everyone is so well dressed and in one of the pictures you can see that a gal is wearing a bakelite acorn pin on her jacket! I however did not run across the pin at auction. :(

Along with the box of old photo albums, I also got a box lot of travel post cards and pictures. From what I understand, the family traveled a heck of a lot! They even have pictures from Japan mixed in that box.

My favorites are the colorful souvenir folder postcards of the places they visited. Obviously they kept these to remind themselves of their trip because none of them were used and they're all in great condition! I got both of these boxes for $3 which I thought was one sweet deal.

3 more box lots below. This time full of sewing and craft things. The wife was a crafty gal throughout her life and had lots of materials, thread, sewing patterns...etc. She kept EVERYTHING! In one box I ran across complete, mint sewing patterns from the 20's. That box sold for $100! Which was probably a bargain for what was in the box. Some other boxes full of vintage clothing Victorian- 1940's also went rather high in my opinion, trust me I looked and I wouldn't have paid more then $5 a box, went $45-75 a box. People hear and see vintage clothing and prices can sometimes go crazy (it all depends on who shows up). Trust me, I don't mind paying for a bunch of vintage clothes at an auction, but there better damn well be something in there that knocks my socks off! See here. I spent $8 bucks for the box lots below. Yup, I'm cheap and most boxes went out of my $5 or under price range! hahaha

Here's a close up of what I found in the boxes. That cool old red Velvet can had a bunch of bakelite buttons in it! I love buttons and I think adding them to a dress can really make a plain dress pretty amazing.

Another box had a bunch of bakelite belt buckles, purse handles, and more buttons in it. I also like old tins too. I love that people reused what they had for other purposes. Very unlike our throw away generation today.

The Sgt spotted and picked up the box that was full of embroidery transfer patterns for me! He saw metal zippers and sewing stuffs and thought it was a good box for me. Good going Sgt! I'm training him well :)

And last but not least I had to buy a big box of blankets just so I could get this very cute turquoise afghan that she made. I mean look it's an awesome turquoise color, how can I not pay a whole $1 for that!

The Sgt and I had lots of fun and also picked up an old ice cream maker, some galvanized wash tubs, old records, an old wooden advertising box, and a pair of binoculars. I'm planning on using my galvanized metal buckets to try to make a cool water feature like the one we ran across a few weeks ago at an antique shop. Pretty cool huh!? Now I just gotta keep my eyes open down the road for an old well hand pump!

Anybody else come across some cheap, fun finds this weekend? Hope everyone is having a fun weekend!

Cheers,
MaryDeluxe

Around The Simple Acre

The weather: After spending a few days in 90+ degree, hot, and humid weather, we finally got some rain storms that rolled through and cooled things down. It turned into such a beautiful evening last night that we spent it outside working and playing in the garden.

I made some yummy baked ziti and we sat out under the umbrella and chowed down. With watermelon for dessert!

Under the umbrella. I now have, thanks to Sgt and his auction eyes, two matching 1950's turquoise patio umbrellas. One needs a table for support but the other one as a spike and can be placed into the ground. One is over the patio table and the other one is giving a bit of shade to the fish pond.

The fish pond. When I lived at DeluxeVille, I had three adult fish in my little backyard pond. When I moved at the beginning of June, I brought all my pond stuff with me as we planned on digging a pond here at The Simple Acre. I discovered as I was moving my fish that I had baby fish too. I found five of them as a emptied out the pond! I get baby gold fish every year....because I have whores for goldfish....but only one or two ever survive. When I went back to do some gardening last weekend at the old place, I found 4 more babies swimming in the old pond. Now we have 9 baby goldfish with our 3 adults. I see some serious inbreeding happening in the future! If you live any where near me and have a pond, expect some free goldfish in a few years! I can however, not vouch for their intelligence.

A new resident of the fish pond. I brought my two frogs with me when I moved and as soon as they got here, they hopped off to join the mass of frogs who inhabit the neighbors pool. I was kinda bummed that after everything we've been through together, they just up and leave me like that. Oh well, their loss, because now I got a new little frog to kiss! Who cares about the bazillion frogs in a pool and the breeding potential...I'm with this little frog...having a pond all to yourself is so much better. Eventually, if you croak loud enough another frog will come. If too many frogs come...well, I hear they taste like chicken.

Rocking out! I am not building the rock wall around the pond for a few reasons. 1. rocks are heavy. 2. Sgt is picky about how his rocks are placed. Yup, Sgt has Rock OCD. Who knew??? Seriously, the guy loves building rock walls and apparently there's a method about it that I know, I could never get right. 3. I don't have to do it. Seriously, if someone says, hey, I'll do that....well then please do!

The pond and patio. With of course a plastic pink flamingo for the added kitsch factor!

My favorite flowers are blooming. Sun flowers! When I plant flowers, I always feel an internal conflict about them when they bloom. Should I pick them so I can bring them in the house or not?? It's not often that I pick them. :)

Happy Thursday!

Keds Sale

Like many of you out there, I love Keds! They go equally as well with dresses as the do with jeans. I also love a cute pair of saddle shoes! So I ask you, what could be better than combining the look of a cute saddle shoe with a Ked?? Nothing of course.... unless they are on sale...which they are! Hurry up and get your pair before they are all gone!! Keds last chance sale!

How's It Growing

From A Plant:

You Get Veggies:

Which = Yummy Zucchini Bread:

Easy Zucchini Bread Recipe:

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 1 Hour

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 1/4 cups white sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups grated zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
3. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
4. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row