I am waiting...

This stuff is real pretty and all, but nothing makes Christmas magic like the laughter and chatter of family and friends, watching little kids run through the house and of course those familiar smells of the food and candy that we only indulge in once a year.  The kids, grandkids, and granddog, are all on their way.

When they arrive the real magic will begin for us.

  

These birdhouses were my mothers.  She would set them out at Christmas time. 

This is a peak at my pencil tree.  I am happy with it.  I didn't have to move any furniture, and I can haul it up to the attic by myself.

The "Jim Shore" version of The Wise Men. These were gifted to me a couple of years ago by my children.  I really enjoy looking at them.  The story of the Savior's birth is told on the front of them.

Hopefully, the weather will be pleasant enough for a little porch time.

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Glenda

Still cleaning out the hopper

You may remember this sneak peak a few months ago

 

After some spray paint magic!  

Wa-la.. my new retro end table that I picked up at the Salvation Army store.  I am not sure about describing something as new and retro in the same sentence, but it is new to me, and so 60's. 

First I sprayed the table with Rust-oleum Golden Rod satin finish.  Then I sanded the top just enough to get the shine off the old finish.  I applied two coats of minwax dark walnut stain.  Then added two coats of polycrylic on the top only.  The directions suggest three coats, but two seemed good enough for me.  I also used RL glaze to cover my spray painting imperfections and to give this a little more interest.   I think this is a pretty and functional piece of furniture.  The drawer is spacious too.

I like these long legs, and how airy the table is underneath, compared to what I had before.  The pulls are painted black glossy, but I may paint them again with my Sophisticated Finish, Blackened Bronze Metallic paint.  I think that would look so pretty with the dark top and I love the bronzy finish.   This golden nugget blends in with the rest of the decor over here...sorry no pictures to prove it.  So just come on over and see for yourself.  We can have some hot chocolate and talk about spray painting something at your house.

Remember this hoopty in the hopper?

My $19.99 mid-century find at Salvation Army.  I know some of you may have thought even that was too much to pay.

Here she is now... living the good life again.  Rather than take you through a long, and probably confusing tutorial, I will just show you the goods.  If you really want to know what we did, come on over and we, yes the both of us, will walk you though the process.

She is a cute accent chair, and has a real nice sitter.  Come on over and try her out!

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



where I used to park

We have lived in the suburbs for 25 years or longer.  Recently we moved even further into the "burbs" making the daily commute to work 40-50 minutes on a good traffic day.  We looked in the city as there are so many beautiful established neighborhoods, and the diverse population, and convenience to work and other places we enjoy was appealing.  However, higher taxes, and finding a house we liked and could afford, that had a 2-car garage was difficult. Of course I wanted a garage, but the mister HAD to have a garage for his stuff.  I used to get a little flack for junking up the garage with my stuff, and recently for getting spray paint on his things. We have always had a lot of "useful" junk in the garage, but it has never looked like this.  I think the day he came home and saw that big red square of paint on the floor, that was the overspray on a bed for his grandson, he threw in the towel. Overspray from a paint sprayer that I took the liberty of buying without consulting him first. I had really big plans. But, when I started dragging home furniture that I find for next to no$hing, I had him on board with me and my madness.  The pretty dandychandy is sold and hanging there for one last inspection, otherwise this place is a mess and looks like a small shop.  And he likes it!

I use to cozy my car in this area, but a few to many things in the hopper have the Maxi parked next to the mister in the driveway.  Maybe he is thinking since he has never been able to get his big ole truck in the garage we are even now.  I am sure the first morning my car windows have frost on them, this stuff will be moved somewhere else before the next morning.

this has become a regular - chandys waiting for their beauty appointment, and he is okay with that.  He rewires all them for me.  He even tells me where he saw a chandelier that I might like.  Yesterday he had an opinion about the color for one of them.

 this is dandyshandy paint station or another flat surface to work on

these are just a few items that kept my mister from parking in his garage years ago.  

some of the dandyshandy supplies and my mom's matchbook collection in the back

and this familiar site is for my children that, sadly, live too far way.... "Dads home"

Pretty in Pink

Remember this little girl?  She was in the hopper for a short while.


not very many years ago I would have NEVER considered painting this old desk.

I have changed my ways.

First, I sanded the top, and applied two coats of minwax special walnut stain, then two coats of polyurethane.    I love the dark finish.  I lightly sand between the two coats of stain, and even between the two coats poly.   The color is "Barely Pink",  by Behr,  satin finish.  I bought a quart, and only used about half of it.    I used a sponge or foam brush like this - 

these are so easy to paint with, the clean up is easy, but the best part is NO brush stokes.  I used a 3" foam roller for the larger areas 



I am still working on my distressing skills.   I really enjoyed working on this little desk, because I think it is so cute, and because I know who she is going to live with ;-)  She really will be living the good life again.

Here is a very "staged" picture.  Not so natural or cute...   I think Pretty in Pink will be much happier with make-up, headbands, a purse, a back pack, maybe a jacket, or one shoe tossed on the top, occasionally, a stack of folded clothes that need to be put away, and even some girly stuff hanging out of  a couple of the  drawers.  I guess now a days, we can expect a lap top and a cell phone up there too.

I think her sig-na-ture colors are blush and bashful!