Not bad for free

 We visited the in-laws last weekend and went to an Auction just behind their home on Saturday morning.  The old saying, one man's trash is another man's treasure will hopefully apply to our haul that morning.  Here we are combing through what we came home with.  I got a few pieces of pretty milk glass, and two hurricane lanterns that I forgot to take of picture.   Carolyn bought a beautiful antique spindle leg table, and copper tea kettle - sorry no pictures of that either.

Not long after we got to the auction I spotted the hoopty-chair on the left and hung close to the porch so I wouldn't miss my chance to bid on it.  She needs a complete make-over, but could be living the good life again with just a little effort.   The little green rocker that Samantha is sitting in is perfect for her.  She is just adorable and was a perfect model for the haul of the day.

My father in-law is a wood-worker.  He hung around for this box of tools.  I think he only wanted the wood planer,  but a lot of times things come in bundles or boxes at auctions.  He scored this sturdy box of old interesting things for $10.00.  He can add that planer to his collection here.

These tools have helped him make many beautiful porch swings, tables, cedar chests, bowls, rolling pins, hundreds of duck calls, and so much more.  When he won the bid, the Auctioneer said, I knew you came here for something.  Linden is a small country town between Memphis and Nashville.  Auctions are a plenty, and quite entertaining.  And the Auctioneers and town people seem to know each other, and even know how they do bidness. 

When the Auctioneer got around to my hooopty, his helper stacked on all these other chairs, plus a nice large plastic container with handles and a wooden lid, plus 4 plastic baskets with dish towels, napkins, and various other linens.  The starting bid was $1.00.  I got all that for $2.00.  Really??? were my thoughts.  A man behind me expressed interest in my new large plastic tub.  I told him he could have it, but he kept offering to pay something.  Jeff said you should at least get a dollar, so I asked if he wanted to give me $2.00.  He dug out of his pocket two worn thin, machine washed dollar bills. So, I got all that junk for $FREE.   I was happy and so was the nice Mennonite man.   I am sure this man has acres of beautiful delicious corn.  This $2.00 tub will serve him well.   I am going to be looking out for him next summer when we buy corn in Linden.

Carolyn has plans for this rocker.  It was bought for 1 dollar.   It is more like a rocker-recliner.  It leans w a y back.

So here she is up close.  Her legs had me at hello.  The back is broken, and it is one nasty chair.  Jeff took the fabric, springs, and padding off yesterday, and started the make-over.  He is going to build a piece for the back and repair the front on the right arm.  I would really like to refinish the wood, but you know a can of spray paint would be instant gratification and have her living the good life in no time.  I see this looking pretty with a new paint job and fresh fabric.

We had a wonderful time in Linden, with the family doing things that we can only do there.

I have always loved him...

November 18, 1976

Mr. & Mrs. Jeffery Paul Beeler

Memphis, Tennessee

 Notice my little grandmother, "Baby".   She only wore that mink on special occasions.

I wish I could remember what we were talking about.....
It may have been ...   "are you sure"  "did we really do this" " can we leave now"
I was 18, and he was 21.   Our parents were probably worried sick.

my sweet mama....  she looked beautiful in my extremely modest prom dress.   I am sure she would have like to have had a new dress of her own; but, I don't remember her ever telling me this.  She always sacrificed what she wanted, so I  could have what I wanted.  She wore an afro better than any white women I know.  My hair was way over permed too.

Daddy had hair then and I had a waste line.  He was also taller than me in 1976.  By todays standards, we had a modest wedding.  My dress and veil cost $125.00.  I loved it.  I am sure this was a financial hardship for my parents.  One morning after daddy got home from working 3rd shift at Harvester, he left me a note that was a picture he drew of himself.  No shirt, and a pair of pants with the pockets pulled out, indicating they were empty.  It was his way of telling me,  no to something else I wanted for the wedding.   I wish I had that note now.  It was priceless.  

Susan, affectionally known as Sweet Suzie.  She served punch that night.  Susan has been serving someone as long as I've known her.  This was also her wedding anniversary.  Mama looks to be "holding court" with the ladies on the wall, Rita Mallory, Roni Lynn, Mrs. Williams, Loretta and Sherri Ward.

Jeff wore his high heels for the occasion. 

Yummy

I think we look hilarious.  A friend of my parents took the pictures.  I am sure the price was right.  He took a lot of great shots of the ceiling.  About five years ago I cropped most of them, and started a scrap book.   Another project I never quite finished.  I need to crop the ceiling out of this picture; however, it does help tell the story of our 70's style wedding reception, at the classy Royal Oaks Motel in Frayser.  I suppose glamours get-a-ways in a limo in your wedding dress were not the rage.  We drove away in this,  in our 1969 gold Cutlass Supreme.  It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

34 years later, I came home to these pink roses, manchego (sp?)  cheese,  bread and dipping oil and a bottle of red, non-alcohol wine.  swoon.....  I didn't even know they made wine without the alcohol.   We thought it was pretty funny.

Jeff cooked hamburgers on the grill - one of my fav's, and we had a fresh avocado.  

I have always loved him.... and always will.
Happy Anniversary, honey.  

Featuring.... Amy Fortunecookie

Working 9 To 5, what a way to make a living, barely gettin by, its all takin and no givin.....

9 To 5, yep that's me.  Just an average working girl, for the last 30 years.  But, last night, thanks to my friend Amy, I had the privilege of rubbing shoulders with the aristocrats for a couple of hours. Oh yeah count me in!  I can get my Glenderalla on when necessary at a moments notice. 

You see Amy has perks.  She had two free tickets to the Broadway show, with seats in her employers ultra nice box, the best parking pass I've ever enjoyed, and even privileges to a private restroom and "free" beverage bar, that was decked out with 8 x 10 black and white photographs of many of the people that have performed at the Orpheum over the years.  It is so glamorous and retro in the private room.  Swoon.... Thanks Amy! 

  The place is magnificent to me  - beginning with the two signs out front.  

I know I am over-the-top crazy with chandeliers at the moment, but I mean really, just look at these two beautys reflecting in the mirror.  This is part of the ceiling in the main lobby.  Those dripping in crystal chandys must weigh 200 pounds! The ceilings and walls are gilded in gold, huge mirrors everywhere, brocade velvet drapes, marble floors, huge heavy doors and staircases that that make a girl feel like she is in a fairy tale.  It is all so fitting for this grandiose theatre.

This is the curtain on the stage for this show.  It had images of 1979, which was the year the movie 9 To 5 premiered.  You can probably see President Ford, Ayotola Homeni (sp?), Silvester Stallone, Cher, Barbara Streisand, Donna Summer, Paul Simon, the yellow taxi from Taxi, Miss Piggy, Burt Reynolds, the cast from MASH, Pope John Paul, and some more that I can't remember.   


The most notable event in my life in 1979 occurred on July 4, the day my sweet Amanda was born.  When I was thinking about this post, I thought I would try to scan some pictures of us "back in the day", but its too late to try that tonight - cause you know I gotta go do my own 9 To 5 in a few hours.  



Beautiful.....This is inside the theatre, again another view from most any seat in the house.  I forgot to take my camera with me to the private room, which was probably best because I would have embarrassed myself taking pictures in front of the regulars that were hanging around the swanky free beverage bar during the intermission.  Jeff and I have enjoyed some of the entertainers that were featured on the wall in the private room.   I am grateful to the man for accommodating me on a few occasions that he was less than excited about. A few years ago, we had season tickets, which meant we had 5 date nights planned for us.  Jeff went from complaining about going to the "play" to looking forward to the next performance.   love that man.....

9 To 5 was enjoyable and so was my visit with Amy.  It brought back memories of how we looked in the 70's, and what many working women went through in the corporate world at that time.   I tip my hat to all the "working girls" that juggle their roles as mom, wife, daughter, sister, and serving in the church, and maintaining friendships, while giving the best part of your day to your J.O.B.  As the song goes.... its enough to drive you C R A Z Y if you let it!

If you need a little help getting out there this morning, here is the first verse of Dolly Pardon's "Working 9 To 5"  ... 

Tumble outta bed 
And stumble to the kitchen 
Pour myself a cup of ambition 
Yawnin, stretchin, try to come to life 

Jump in the shower 
And the blood starts pumpin 
Out on the streets 
The traffic starts jumpin 
And folks like me on the job from 9 to 5 

Chorus: 

Workin 9 to 5 
What a way to make a livin 
Barely gettin by 
Its all takin 
And no givin 
They just use your mind 
And they never give you credit 
Its enough to drive you 
Crazy if you let it