Just Laying Around

How would you feel driving four naked mannequins around town? I loaned the Coles County Historical society four of my headless mannequins for their display that starts tomorrow.
I felt kinda funny with them being so exposed -oh well, I guess it's getting close to Halloween!

Black Iron Ferris Wheel

I just couldn't resist this little ferris wheel last weekend when I went antiquing while camping. I can see plants or cupcakes -can you imagine anything else? I'm joining Vintage Thingie Thursday at http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/

Tag Football

Went to watch my nephew play tag football(I had just watched his twin sister on Saturday play basketball-and you know you have to keep things fair!). When I got there it was raining and like a dummy-sat in the rain for a while before deciding to go and get my umbrella. My sister didn't have one in hers since she had just gotten a new vehicle, so we huddled under mine and watched a really fun game. My nephew is the one in the front with the shorts on(didn't he know it was cold?)

The beat the other team 4-3-but you're not supposed to keep score(even though my sister does!). His team is undefeated this year-pretty exciting for a nine year old! Both kids are athletic and I think that's great. He did a great job out there on the field, but I couldn't wait to get home to a hot bath-since I was already pretty wet!

LIttle Child's Table

One of the items from Ella Maes Barn that I really like-vintage little children's table and chairs. I have little fairy houses on top and have sold quite a few of them. I'm joining White Wednesday at http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/ and Outdoor Wednesday at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

Vintage Plastic Light Up Pumpkins

Who's ready for Halloween? Not me.. I've got a lot out, but I'm still not in the mood. I'm not ready for these cooler temperatures and the thoughts of Christmas makes me sick(all those extra hours at work!). Anyway, I picked up these(all except for one) neat vintage light up pumpkins a while back and was surprised how different, yet how alike they are. I had one duplicate so it's at the antique mall for sale. I think I'll put them in a shelf in a row-it will make a better display!

Tutu Costumes

A few tutu costumes that I picked up a few weeks back... love the lace and gold details on this one! A little red and yellow on this one!

Here's the back!

I'm joining Mellow Yellow Monday at http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/ and Rednesday at http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com/

A First Basketball Game

Saturday we came back in from camping to see my niece's first basketball game. It was such a fun time to watch and my niece did wonderful! Getting a little pre-game instructions!

The beginning of the game-I remember this!

After just making a basket.

A neighbor girl who came along(she was doing the splits for me and it's such a little beauty!)and my littliest niece.

Running in action-she's the one with the shirt tied up in back.

Here's she's throwing the ball in! They beat the other team by 20 points ....but that wasn't the point. They had so much fun and learned so much about the game. We didn't stay for the second game and she really hurt her wrist. Didn't go to the emergency room, but will be going to the doctor's on Monday.

Her brother has a football game on Tuesday, so I'll be posting some of those pics later this week!

Updated Pop up Camper

This one's for Tete-I saw this last weekend. Pretty neat-the man inside could stand up and had a flat screen TV in there.

Walking Miss Maggie Mae

Last weekend my littlest niece would hardly look at me or say two words-until we decided to take Miss Maggie Mae for a walk. She just talked up a storm while we went along. She can even change hands behind her back when she's walking Miss Maggie Mae! Then when we returned-she wouldn't talk or look at me again. Was she just using me to walk Miss Maggie Mae?

Owl Pitcher

I found this owl thingie this past weekend and the owner thru it in for free(it only had $.10 on it). It's plastic and about the size of a glass and with the lid on you can't pour it. I thought it was kinda unusual and a good piece for fall decorating!

I'm joining Vintage Thingie Thursday at http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/

The Chautauqua Auditorium at Forest Park, Shelbyville, IL

Last Friday I came across the most wonderful historical building located in Shelbyville, IL. I had decided to eat at the park and noticed this huge building. Not knowing what it was- I took the second picture and decided to research it when I returned home from camping. I was able to look inside and saw this wonderful stage area(of course it didn't look like this-I snagged this off the internet so you could see what the inside looks like. It is an absolutely amazing building. I'm hoping that they can raise the money to do the needed repairs. It would be a horrible shame if it was torn down. This municipal park features 120 acres of rolling woods, with a fishing lagoon and sunken garden, along with the Chautauqua Auditorium, Vietnam memorial, family aquatic center, picnic area, pavillions, baseball and softball diamonds, soccerfield, volleyball and tennis courts, hiking trail and more.

The Chautauqua Auditorium, built in 1903, is a large historic icosagonal (20-sided) wooden chautauqua meeting hall located at Forest Park and North East 9th Street, Shelbyville, Illinois, United States. On January 30, 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2009 Landmarks Illinois declared it one of the 10 most endangered historic places in Illinois. The building is in need of extensive repairs which are estimated to cost $1,750,000. The city of Shelbyville which owns the auditorium has threatened to tear it down if repairs cannot be made within 2 years. The Chautauqua Auditorium Preservation Committee is working on funding for a four-phase renovation project.

I'm joining White Wednesday at http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/ and Outdoor Wednesday at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

Puppy Love

These two little girls(my niece and her second cousin) both love my little dog Maggie Mae. Maggie sometimes doesn't know what to think with all that attention!

I'm joining Rednesday at http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com/

Lithia Springs Campground

This is one of the campsites right on the lake. What a beautiful way to wake up in the morning. The beach area I had never been to this campground-but I know I'll be back again!

I'm joining Blue Monday at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

Can You See Them?

I stopped at a garage sale on Friday and was so excited about that neat Victorian furniture.... until I realized it was reproduction! They were still some pretty neat pieces but for $200 and $300 I passed them up. Had to take a picture though. Maggie Mae was so good in the car this weekend!

Lincoln Log Cabin

Just something if you're in the area you might want to go to!

Nineteenth-century practices of dealing with illness and death will be featured during "Mourning and Healing on the Prairie" Saturday, September 17 from 1-4 p.m. at Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site near Charleston. The event is free and open to the public. Death and illness were unavoidable parts of life for 19th century rural families like the Lincolns and the Sargents. People living in the 1840s participated in numerous mourning customs and treated the sick with a wide array of remedies. These practices will be demonstrated as the untimely death of Sarah Bush's distance relative and the treatment of an ill family member at the Sargent home are re-enacted September 17.

For more information, visit www.lincolnlogcabin.org or find the site on Facebook.

Queen of Hearts Costume

One of my best friends from high school, Rachel, has been planning a halloween party for several years now for when she turned 40. She wanted to come as a dead bride since she has never been married, but just last year(no she hasn't gotten married yet!) decided to change the theme to Alice in Wonderland Halloween party. Perfect timing since there are so many wonderful ideas out there from the newest Halloween magazine from Better Homes and Gardens to the remake of the movie in the last couple of years.
I am her right hand gal who is helping with all the decorations/props since she lives in Idaho and the party will be here. I have an extensive list of items(at least one truck load) that I have to bring along with helping set up and any other things she might need.
The party is October 9th-less than one month away and I needed to decide on a costume. Wanting to be with the theme(she's coming as the Alice in Wonderland Halloween girl), I decided on the Queen of Hearts. Attendees don't have to come in the Alice in Wonderland theme, but I thought it would look better if I did. (I hope her mother isn't going to be the Queen of Hearts?) Now to decide on a costume. I never like to buy costumes and instead put my own together. So here are some of my inspirations.
This first one is a little too punky and I don't think I will need to be showing my mid-drift. I'm not going to be wearing boots either-so this one doesn't fit. This is a little more my speed. I will be wearing thigh-highs-but I think in red with tiny black bows.

I have a wonderful tutu in white/black stripe on red and will be wearing that with some platform mary jane black shoes. I am currently looking for a black or red bustier to wear and put hearts on. I haven't decided on a little hat or a crown.

This long dress is definetly not me.

Nor is this one.

These are like the shoes I have except mine are in black.

I might be adding a red cape of some sort just for warmth. I've got plenty of heart rings and will probably put the little red heart on my mouth.

Any other suggestions?

Ready for a Fall Bonfire

Would you say we're a little ready for a fall bonfire? I pick up sticks all year round and just throw them on this pile(and there were more earlier in the year!). We have a lot of old trees on our property and with all the extreme heat this summer, we didn't have any bonfires(it stays lite so early though and I usually go to be before 9). Fall is the perfect time for a bonfire-usually after the harvest-but I'm ready! I'm joining White Wednesday at http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/ and Outdoor Wednesday at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

Eastlake Victorian Couch with a Suprise!!!

Can you guess what is so wonderful about this couch besides the great shape and wonderful details of the wood? It's an old fashioned hide a bed!!!! Pretty unique-just throw a ticking mattress on it and an instant bed! Check the previous post out to see what I'm doing with it!

I'm joining Rednesday at http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com/

My Hero

Well, here he is-Craig(my BF son) and he should be wearing a super hero costume instead of a DORK shirt. But that's the kind of guy he is-helpful and funny(like a big kid). He really came to my rescue tonite because I really wanted this cast iron mantle to be in the meeting house where I am trying to make it look like a boarding house for the upcoming Trials and Tribulations event. The mantle was in the basement of the Rutherford house and I knew it was really heavy-what I didn't know was that our three men of the group weren't going to show up and it was nailed to the wall. So I called my BF Tete and asked if Craig could come and help. He had just gotten finished helping someone move a hide-a-bed couch and was exhausted, but he came anyway. He managed to rip the mantle from the wall in the basement and carry it on his neck(yes-I know it sounds impossible-I wish I would have gotten a picture) like a horseshoe and carry it up the stair and into the meeting house. This was no simple feat and I was scared to death he would injure himself and his mother would kill me. But he reassured me that he knew what he was doing. So he's my Hero. Not many men out there would oblige us women and help like that-so some lucky lady out there is going to get themselves one great guy someday! Thanks again Craig!!!! (Should I put your phone number on here? Your mom would kill me on that one for sure!) Here's the parlor area(you can see the stove leaned up against the wall-it needs to be nailed in since it's top heavy). I hung lace and green curtains between the two rooms to act as a divider. I brought up a few other items(chair, table and footstools) and the best piece -the red couch(which I will post tomorrow so you can really see it. This is the sleeping area I created by adding a iron headboard and a few chairs and little stove I had. I think it turned out quite quaint. The sewing machine was already there(we had several in the Rutherford House and needed to move some out!) This is the dressing room area. I added a folding screen(to cover the air conditioner and moved my knock down cabinet from where the pie safe was. The large white cabinet was also in the basement of the Rutherford house two years ago when we did the first Trials and Tribulations event. Huge Cabinet too! Pie Cabinet that we dragged up from the Rutherford house basement two years ago also. It still needs some work and a back to it, but still a cool piece. I moved it closer to the door so it wouldn't be in the parlor area. Trials and Tribulation -this Saturday at Oakland, IL

Blue Race Car

A few weeks ago driving to work I spied this really neat carrier with a clear panel that shows a blue race car inside. I thought it was really neat since I've never seen anything like it!I'm joining Blue Monday at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

Eat!!!!

I'm so excited! I bought these letters earlier in the month at a garage sale($2.50 each) and then today found this spoon and fork candle holders for only $1.50. Paired together-they look great(except it seems that they are upside down-but I do think I have the candle holders right!) Anyway-Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Harvest Time

Harvest time is here again. A time to start to slow down and enjoy the fruits of our labors. To enjoy the beauty of nature without having to do any yard work! I'm still working on changing out to my fall decor and love this picture of the little boy. It reminds me of my husband-blonde and blue-eyed. It will be a quiet weekend with cooler temperatures and light rain, perfect for just enjoying time-without rushing around! I hope you all have a relaxing weekend planned!

Antique Knock Down Cabinet

Have you ever seen one of these? I hadn't until last fall. I bought it at a garage sale and paint a lot for it but I couldn't pass it up....it was too cool. I was told that it was the kind of cabinet that they carried on the trail west because it came apart. I loved the details and thought-well, at least it will be easy to store. I am working on a project for our local historical group "Dr. Rutherford's House", where I am turning our meeting house into a boarding house. So I've been bringing up lots of different items to make that happen. I'll share pics of the entire project next week.

I know this picture is horribly blurry, but I didn't have time to take another and didn't realize how bad it was until after the piece was put together. At least it shows you that it was in pieces. I'm joining Vintage Thingie Thursday at http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/

Getting Ready for Fall

I spent yesterday putting away white wicker on my porch and bring out the fall rockers. It was kinda sad to see summer go since I feel like I didn't get to enjoy most of it. But it still needed done so I decided with the cooler temperatures not to wait. It is fun to see the change of the seasons. I'll be bring out the Halloween items soon! Here's a little something from Ella Maes Barn! I'm joining Outdoor Wednesday at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

White Transformation

Here's the table I picked up at a garage sale a week ago-well, not exactly like this. I gave it the first coat of paint.Here's how it was before...a nice sized table

I love the details

Here's how bad the top was. I'm joining White Wednesday at http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/