Friday Flea Market & a Special Package from DEB!

My friend Deb, aka Garage Sale Gal, recently had a blog giveaway and guess who won????  ME!  Look at all the goodies she sent:

I received my package from her yesterday; let me tell you gals, she knows how to give out the treats!!!!  Guess which one I had to fly into FIRST?  Of course, it was her handmade note card!  Oops - okay, let me take that back.  Okay, so it was a chocolate HEART.  My name is Sher and I'm a chocoholic...  but as it was melting in my mouth, I was opening her card.  She makes the most beautiful cards!  They're absolutely perfect.  I'll bet she even MEASURES as she's placing on her sayings, ribbons, etc.  

Thank you, Deb, I especially love the vintage valentines.  I also especially love the dishtowel and the handmade card and tag and the chocolates.  But then, the napkins and little cupcake decorations are things I especially love.  Along with the doilies and the notepad and the lotion and the buttons...everything is special and appreciated!  Deb, I thank you so very, very much!  

It was also my first blog win!  

It's been quite a while since I've participated in FRIDAY FLEA MARKET, where you can shop at your leisure all week long.  I've decided to again include some of my vintage aprons.  Take a look at them HERE; I'll be adding other items later, so check back for the updates.  

And while you're at it, click the red logo below to see all the participating shops and bloggers.  There are so many that you just might find that certain something that you've looked everywhere for!

January' Winner and February's Winter

Congratulations to THE QUEEN OF FIFTY CENTS!  Your name and comment was pulled for my January Giftaway!  

Please drop me an email at Miller.sher@yahoo.com, giving me your snail addy info.  Thanks for leaving a comment and thanks to the rest of you!  I adore you all!

I'm sure you've heard by now that Punxsutawny Phil saw his shadow yesterday!  That means that we'll have six more weeks of bad weather; however, it also means that March will be coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb.  Spring is sure to be around the corner - and, hopefully, lower heating bills!

Valentine Preferences, new TAGS, and the January Giftaway is ON!

Saturday morning, the time that we women usually reserve for housecleaning, grocery shopping, flea marketing, etc...and here I am, in front of the computer, editing pictures and wondering about you.  I'm wondering what your Valentine's Day color preferences and texture preferences might be, and whether you think about a certain time in history or in your own life is or was a more romantic time than the present.

Take a look at the two above pictures.  Which do you prefer, the sharp red and white contrast or the soft tones of white mixed with some red.  Have yous noticed a change in your decorating palette, or have you always been consistent with your choices?  

Me, I'm leaning more toward the softer, muted tones.  I remember that, as a younger woman, I viewed florals as being something that an old lady would choose.  Today, I love the florals and cottage-y look.  Of course, I am a grandma but old?  Nah, not me.  Not as long as Loreal has hair color products.

I decided to do a little poll on the subject.  See it in the right margin?  Please do me a favor and vote in this very scientific based study of mine.  Okay, so it's not science.  So I'm just being nosey.  Either way, I'd appreciate your input.

   

Meanwhile, instead of doing dishes I've been making tags.  I used wallpaper as a background; the black base reminds me of the wallpaper we had in our living room when I was growing up.  As I was working with the various elements, I kept hearing an old song called "That Old Black Magic" going through my head.  I think it was popular before I was born; anyway, I decided to group these five together and call them "Black Magic".  They're now for sale - if you want them, they're $8.95, including the postage.  Of course, I take Paypal, money orders and personal checks.  Yes, I trust personal checks.  I mean, who in the world would want someone to read about their personal check bouncing on a blog?  So, I trust personal checks.  

I haven't talked much about this month's Giftaway - but be assured, it is ON and the winner's name will be pulled from the list of those who commented on this blog during the months of December and January!  The winner will receive the cute little wicker cup and saucer shown previously AND a vintage apron (yes, I have PLENTY!) AND a special glass bowl from my personal collection AND some nice surprises!

Have a great weekend!!!

Sheer Sweetness

Some things are just beyond sweet.  They may not seem sweet at the time, though.  Buying shoes for growing children, for example, can often be a dreaded task.

     

But not when they're this size!

 

 

Sheer, unadulterated sweetness!

And watching my son as he lovingly massaged the expanded tummy of my daughter-in-law as they awaited Ace's appearance into this world.

A sweet moment to witness, one that my words could never describe. 

My Hearts are Published, a new Trash to Treasure and Springing Crocus

We're safely back home in Tennessee from our week!  It's always nice to be back home but it's sure great to see family and to greet new grandchildren!    Sadly, our trip back was delayed a day because my sweet DIL developed severe cramping and ended up back in the hospital!  Can you imagine being admitted into the hospital when you have a week old baby at home?

After many blood tests, two CT scans and much pushing and prodding, she was diagnosed as having a uterine infection.  Thank God that they were able to rule out cysts and kidney problems!  The doctors believe that the infection was the cause for the pain and sent her home yesterday.  Please, let's pray that they are correct and that the antibiotics will cure the problem.

She is SO small and the baby was SO big that I'm amazed no other problems developed.

She will probably kill me for publishing the above picture, taken seconds after Ace was born.  My DIL is a beautiful girl but that immediately-after-childbirth-flush doesn't do anyone true justice. Next:  Daddy (my son) helping Bradley getting to know Little Brother.

Have you seen the latest copy of SOMERSET LIFE MAGAZINE?  Thanks to the super-sweet Kim at Daisy Cottage, you can see some hearts that I made in one of their articles!!!  I'm sure most of you are already familiar with Kim and know about her little shout-out on her blog, requesting to see some of her readers' handmde hearts for purchase.  Well, many of us responded by sending some to her; we all love her and just wanted her to know it.  One of the Somerset editors decided to publish the story and some of her hearts; the rest is revealed in the magazine!  I'm honored that my three hearts were among the ones chosen for the article.   

Here's something else I wanted to share with you:  

Isn't this just the cutest little purse?  It's zippered at the top and is really too small to hold my wallet, checkbook, etc.  It's a good storage size for makeup and makes a cute little display on a dresser.  I picked it up in Indiana and would love to have a supply of them to sell at the Corner Nest in Elizabethton, TN.  

Speaking of which:  Here's a picture of the finished cabinet we'll be taking over there this afternoon.  It was really ugly when we got it - there were lots of little advertising stickers all over it (nothing old, just little ads for motor oil, etc.) and greasy spots that made us think it was being used in someone's garage to hold old car parts, etc.  Additionally, it had a broken bottom board, some water damage and here's what it looked like in the midst of some cleaning and sanding:      After a paint job, a few "primitive" touches added back in it, a couple door knobs and a latch, it's now in great shape!  

Finally, I had to show you this last photo! Can you see those little sprigs of green next to the planter?  Crocus have already started showing their greenery!  If you look a little closer, you can see a bulb that somehow managed to work its way above the ground.  It's still on the ground because the ground is frozen too hard for me to re-bury it.  Still, the tender shoots are strong enough to pierce their way through the earth.  Nature is so amazing!  

Welcome to the World!

Allow me to introduce you to my newest grandchild, my grandson Ace Jackson Baker!

Does he appear to fill out his clothing? Most newborns are swallowed by their first outfits. Not this little guy! The proof is in the scales:

Yep! His teeny-tiny mommy gave birth to this 9 pound, 4 oz baby!

As you can see, he is already a deep thinker!

See you in a couple more days; we leave to go back home Saturday!

It's COLD here! But that's not the news!

Okay, maybe the birth of my new grandson didn't make the national news like this frigid weather has, but it hasn't captivated the family's attention like he has! We arrived here in more than enough time for his birth AND I got to witness his breath into this world! I took plenty of pictures (but I'm sure my DIL would kill me if I posted the really cool ones!) and I will post a couple of the baby when we get back home. My son, my DIL's mom and myself were in the room when he was born. I got to be at the "interesting" end! Mom, Baby and Grandma are all doing fine! Let me tell you gals: Allowing your MIL to witness your child's birth has got to be one of the most unselfish things a woman can do for another. I'll post again in a few days. Meanwhile, remember to resist the temptation to turn your thermometers up and dress more warmly, in layers, instead. Love and blessings to you all, Sher