Addicted Shopping

I was thinking about all the fuss everyone is making about being green because of a radio ad that talked about "cheap" people who re gift and buy at thrift shops and yard sales as being smart people because they are careful with their money, and how that is good for the environment (green.)  I drifted back through my life as a "thrift shopper."  I have been doing yard sales, and thrift stores since the very early 60's.  My kids had all kinds of fun things, because I bought stuff at yard sales.  The had every kind of camping equipment, sports equipment, toys, and high dollar clothing.  I was considered the yard sale queen in my family, because every time someone would compliment me on some decor in my house, most of the time my reply was "I found it at a yard sale."  I built up awe inspiring collections of depression glass for myself and my sisters, and even some of my nieces, cat figurines, one of a kind pieces of furniture, dishes, unusual kitchen helpers, camping supplies, yard decor, and the list could go on forever.  My kids, however, did not appreciate that someone might know our stuff came from yard sales.  So, one day as we were doing an activity that is now forgotten we started playing with the name ZCMI....saying ZCMeyes.  Most people would know that ZCMI was/is a high end department store started by the Morman church, and the church also manages the Desert Industries, which is a thrift shop.  So, to save my poor children from embarrassment, we started telling them we got whatever "treasure" we brought them, came from ZCMeyes.  They were happy, we were happy.  Nowadays, finding treasures in this way is considered chic and smart.  I know people who have plenty of money, are very careful on how they spend it, so I see lots of high end shoppers arrive at the yard sales in high end autos.  I still get a thrill at finding the wonderful bargain at these sales.  I am forever addicted.  It seems like whatever it is that I have been thinking about wanting or needing, bwa la... it shows up at a yard sale.  Serendipity!

My latest treasures?  Rolls of paper, knitting needles, crochet needles, and a journal! 

Mrs. Clean

Do you know how much cleaner your house becomes when you are full time "at home?"  I don't even feel like I actually "clean" but I do do at least one cleaning task each day, and bwa la, the place is looking much more cared for.  Today, I put Bubba's bedding and a couple of area rugs in through the laundry,  then mopped the garage floor on my side of the garage, and wiped a few black finger prints off the door jams.  I just kinda do whatever catches my eye as needed.  I feel like I am living in a much cleaner environment now!  It makes me happier. 

My Friend

My friend Bubba

Bubba's hearing and sight continually goes downhill. I am so glad I am here for him. He gets underfoot, as he wants to be close to someone. I had to scoot him out of the kitchen several times this morning as I tried to mop the floor. He screams at me if I step too close as he thinks I am going to hurt him, and his horrible yell makes me jump. A couple of times, I have thought I have stepped on his toes so I guess he is only protecting himself. Finally, he pouted on the carpet edge and let me mop in peace. Sometimes, he seems to be confused and lost as to where he is, where he is going, that sort of thing. I stop to pet him, and evidently he can't see anything above him now so he jumps and ducks when I touch his head or back. He forgets that he just went outside for a stroll, and sometimes wants right back out and he repeats his little circle. I think he has been operating on his smell facilities for quite sometime. I am not sure if that is working anymore, so we worry about him getting lost. He does some funny things at times and we laugh at him, but we are so sad about his senility and know his life is not long here.

Tomatoes

Finally! Our tomatoes started to produce. So, last Saturday, when we picked, we had so many, I had to put them in jars. I ended up canning eleven quarts. We will be happy to have those to add to soupy style recipes next winter. We are planning to make stuffed peppers and tomatoes soon too.

We had the car girls over the week end. Needless to say, we are still recovering, they take so much energy. We have non stop eating, and non stop activity when they are here. I laughed cuz when I changed the baby, she had a little blue dolphin stuck on her belly button. LOL

It seems nice to have the weather temperature down a notch or two. I hardly turn on the AC now.

There must be two dozen hummers flying around the feeder now. We found a dead one on the big rock over the week end and the car girls got to get a close up of the tiny wings and body. They also got to watch a preying mantis which was on DH's chair on the deck. They took the littlest car around the circle in the wagon, pulling her and running with her, until she laughed so loudly we could hear her from the other side of the orchard while we sat on the deck. I kept noticing wasps flying around one of the cedar trees while they were playing. It made me remember their Dad riding in the same wagon when he was little and he was so cute too. The wagon is so old and rickety, but it was still fun for them. Then they brought the wagon back and parked by the tree to rest, but little one did not want out. Then, while she sat there and as I watched, I saw wasps going under the wagon. So I told the big girls to look, and sure enough, there was a wasps nest under the wagon. So we got baby out and they took it up the road so DH could spray the wasp nest which was located in the area where the tongue hooks to the wagon. We were so amazed that one of the girls did not get stung.

Apricot Nectar

Don't the apricots look beautiful! After making jam, I still had sooo many apricots left, so, I made apricot nectar. My first effort at this. It looks beautiful in the jars. Hope it will taste as good later this winter.

Apricot Jam!

Yep, I made fresh apricot jam this morning. Yum. It is my favorite. I am so thrilled, after seven years to have such a good crop of apricots this year. Actually, too many. What will I do with them all? I had fresh jam on bread and butter with my tea this morning. I have been missing having any apricot jam around for the last year. Now, I have a new supply to get me through til the next time the weather, wind, rain, and sun decides to allow me the privilege of having "cots" to harvest.
I am trying to figure out a good place to have a one day art retreat of my own. I originally thought I could have it here, in my garage studio area, but, you guessed it, I would have to clean it and de clutter it. The cleaning would not be so bad maybe, but getting rid of the clutter...heart rendering, evidently. So, plan B is to find a place I could hold one. I have three people already signed on, if I can get one together. I am going ahead with plans for packets and food, just as if I had a place ready to go. I am sure I will be able to get a place, once I get to the phone and start calling a couple of places.
I spent a couple of hours in the village, doing some business, and boy was I glad to get back on the hill. The traffic just gets worse and worse.
So...I think I will go have a late afternoon snack. How does bread and butter and APRICOT JAM sound?

Dog Days of Summer

It seems like my life has switched suddenly into slo mo mode. Not much going on around me. The garden is growing but nothing much is ripe enough to harvest. The sun just shines down, the bugs and birds fly about, Bubba and Blueberry sleeps, and I, I just putter. I had so many plans to do to the house and such, but I have been so busy doing artsy things, they all fell to the wayside. Now, I guess I am just sorta resting up from all the motion of traveling, and creating. And, heck, I can always paint walls, or whatever tomorrow, or the next day, right? Here is a list of major things that NEED to be done: House painting-inside and out. Windows replaced. Carpet replaced. New sofa. New bed for DH. Curtains laundered. New shower curtain and rugs in small bath.
etc. etc. I don't know what it is, that makes me just think about this stuff instead of doing something about it, except I am just enjoying the fact that I can take as long as I want to do it. I told myself all week end that I would do something on Monday. Now today, I am saying well, what does it matter if I wait a day or two (or more)? Instead, I have watered in the yard and worked on a ZINE about drawing, and now I am blogging and in a minute I will be dyeing wool with Kool aid. How Kool is that? Hope it turns out as lovely as I see it in my head. What will I do with it? Make art of course! What else? I guess I will start searching the net for another art workshop to go to. I admit it, I AM HOOKED!