The Yellow House

 

If you say those words in my family, everyone knows which house you are talking about.  Although there were more than a few of us who lived in yellow homes at one time or another, there is only one Yellow House.

This house belonged to my grandparents, Gee & Papa.  It was my first house as my young mother still lived there with her parents at the time of my birth. 

Everyone in the family has fond memories of The Yellow House.  I can remember watching cartoons there, specifically The Smurfs.  My grandparents used to sleep with me on the fold out couch until I fell asleep, myself.  I have gorgeous, vivid memories of my grandmother doing dishes in the kitchen, late into the night with just one lone light on in the house.

The Yellow House was very large.  There were lots of bedrooms and plenty of places to stay when family came home.  There were Sunday dinners gathered around a large table, just inside the front door.  There was my grandparent's mauve bedroom with it's sheer curtains, looking out at the road.  The smell of my grandmother's jewelry box in that room is something I will never forget. The bedroom had pocket doors and a telephone that looked like something a princess would use.  I was allowed to call my parents on it, just to use it when I spent the night.  I didn't need to call my parents.  I didn't miss them at all.  They used to have to pay me to leave.  For real.  They paid me in pennies for my piggy bank.

I fell in love with the smell of Lily of the Valley at that house.  Just off my grandparent's bedroom porch they blossomed.  A lush carpet of them.  The smell lingered around that area of the yard and became part of my childhood.  Part of what connects me to this earth.

Most of the people in my family feel the same way and have their own beautiful memories of it.

I keep a picture of the Yellow House in my living room.

It was my birthday this past week.  And on my birthday I received a package from my grandmother, who happens to be my only remaining grandparent.  I'm sure you can now understand how happy I was to unwrap this:

It is a painting of The Yellow House that my aunt made, sometime in the 1980's.  My Gee put a special inscription on the back and it brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my heart.

I also got another awesome piece of art for my birthday.  I'm going to tack it on here, at the end of this sentimental journey so that you won't think I've completely gone soft.

A one-of-a-kind Kermit portrait!  My friend LuLu and her boyfriend Rob made it for me...out of Lego bricks!  Zoiks!

So, In Summary:
If you think this was bad, just get me talking about my Little Red Suitcase!
Yeah, I have totally talented friends!

Labor Daybor

Paying half price really is best. I don't care what anyone else says.  One of the thrift stores in the area had a half off sale to celebrate us woikin' stiffs. (as the Newsies would say) Let me tell you, I celebrated my ass off.  The American way.  Buy buying stuff.

 

This is an American Eagle dress.  So cute and made of a great light weight cotton.  Plus, IT HAS POCKETS!  How about if all dresses have pockets from here on out, mmmkay? $6. 

Take a look at the fabric up close!  It reminds me of Green Eggs and Ham.

This is a Kimchi Blue dress which is a brand sold at Urban Outfitters.  It's made of very, very, very thin polar fleece.  I can't wait to get this baby on with some tights and high boots.  Ooh, golden rod tights if I can find them!  $4.  Want to hear something weird about this dress?  Apparently it was made in the USA.  What is this, 1950??

L.E.I. skirt.  Cute butt pockets.  Very much looking forward to fall.  $2.

This is a seriously comfy looking JCrew shirt.  $2.  The cotton is a bit more rough than a normal t-shirt.

There doesn't seem to be a brand label on this purse.  But it's new, never been used.  And I love the crap out of it.  I'm making it my new regular purse.  It doesn't even have any military roots or a long strap to sling across my body!  This is called progress, people. $2.

These are seriously comfortable Land's End sandals.  Walking sandals.  Of course I'm thinking, "They'll be perfect for Disney!"  because that's where my mind automatically goes every single time.  I don't think they've ever been worn.  $5

These Predictions sandals are adorable, a bit dressy and super squishy!  They look great with jeans or a dress.  Mmm....jeans.  My dream of fall continues. $2.50

These Personal Identity sandals remind me of the 70's. They also look great with jeans or a dress. $2

Last but not least we have what I refer to as "porno pumps".  For obvious reasons.  They are platform in the front and actually, despite their looks, pretty comfortable.  Plus, they give me like five inches, which, us shorties know is an amazing feeling.  You feel like a different person!  "Oh, so this is how everyone else sees things! Incredible!"  The husband seems short when I wear these.  Needless to say, I hope I find many reasons to wear these babies in the near future.

Also, sling backs.  Can we just talk about high heels for a minute?  And how they don't stay on your feet, even if they are the right size?  I can walk in a pair of heels.  A very tall pair, provided they stay on my feet!  But, most don't.  Even when you add those things in the heels or (and no, I'm not kidding, sadly) try to glue them on.  But I've found that sling backs are my friends.  Also ankle straps.  Thank you and goodnight.

 So, In Summary:

WHEN IS FALL GOING TO ARRIVE ALREADY!?

Esmerelda

Meet Esmerelda.  I got her for 50 cents at the Advent House Sale.  Isn't she gorgeous?

Yes, that flower is attached.

I especially love that her features are heavy like a man's and that it looks like she put her lipstick on during an all night drunk.

Is there anything better than an inebriated drag queen mask?

I'll give you a hint: No.  There isn't.

Empty House Sale

Recently there was a household sale at my friend's grandmother's house.  Everything had to go.  I couldn't make it on the original dates of the sale.  I was there the week after when the house was pretty much empty.

So empty that I only came home with four large boxes of stuff.  Thank god I couldn't make it there the first weekend.  Who knows how much I might have dragged home?

I got a bunch of stuff for my Etsy shop and some stuff for other people.  I won't bore you with that stuff. 

Here are my finds:

What we have here are two retro paper cups with handles (you know that lily of the valley is my fave) flanking a tiny aluminum shaker.  Maybe this will help me to like camping more.  The hankie underneath says "Merry Christmas" over and over in pink, gray and aqua!  So cool to find a vintage Christmas item in those colors!  

Oh tiny plastic houses, I can't pass you up.  Pretty nail clippers for my purse and an adorable velvet "drawer" of cards!

The vintage Hallmark mouse ornament was found at a different sale recently, but he looked cute with this stuff, so I let him in the picture.  I've been trying to find him for years, so I was pretty happy about that score.  Yes, another vintage Christmas matchbox.  So what of it?  I got a set of 8 of these goblets.  They are large, which I like, but are also lighter than air which means I'm sure to smash them all to hell sooner rather than later.  But they'll be so pretty while they last!

Here is my favorite find.  A Dept. 56 Christmas tree lot!  Can you even stand it??  How good is this going to look with the collection when I decorate for Christmas?  Where do I plan to find room for it,  you ask?  What's that?  I'm sorry, I can't hear you above all the awesome.

So, In Summary:

Yes, I Paid For Old Paper Cups

Yes, I Bought Used Nail Clippers

Who Doesn't Need 20 Christmas Match Keepers?

I Get To Decorate For Fall In 8 Days

The Yearning

I went to the Saint Pius X sale this past week. ( I always feel like there is an X-Men joke to be had there.)  I never miss this sale.  It's very large and also insanely cheap.  All of the tags were color coded this year, which I love.  It makes it so easy.  And their top price?  $1.  One whole buck.  There were a few things individually priced that were more than that, but not many things.

I got a goodly amount of things for my Etsy store and the following.

Vintage Halloween candles.  I have some Christmas ones like these and so did my grandma when I was growing up.  They sort of look like cookies or chocolates and when I'd taste test them with my tongue, I'd be disappointed that they were just plain wax every single year.

The little bird is a vintage Hallmark Christmas ornament.  It's flocked.  Oh, vintage Hallmark, please come back to us.  Your ability to cute knew no bounds.

I also got these pretty acorn ornaments for fall.  They are jingle bells.  The garland of mercury glass beads was in a bag with an assortment of stupid new plastic beads.  Mardi Gras style.   Everything that I bought came to like $4.60.  It was insane and therapeutic.

I tell ya what though, roasting here in 80-90 degree heat and a bazillion percent humidity, these pretty baubles have me yearning for fall. Hardcore.  I'm fantasizing about wearing jeans and boots, or boots and tights.  I'm  thinking fondly of a chill in the air, I'm yearning after the crispness.

Dear fall, it's totally fashionable to show up early.  Ya pick up what I'm puttin' down?

So, In Summary:

Some may like it hot, but I'm about done with it

Doggie Days Of Summer

For a long time now, the husband and I have been talking about adding to our family.  Not so much in the "pitter-patter of little feet" arena, but more in the "pitter-patter of paws" genre.

A few weeks ago, we decided the search should begin in earnest.  It didn't last very long.  We found our match in a little yorkie-shih tzu mix at Lollypop Farm.  This place is amazing.  Run on donations, volunteers, and a great deal of love, you could not ask for a more rewarding adoption experience.

The husband and I took a half day off of work to interview two yorkies that had just gone up for adoption.  Don't misunderstand me, we didn't want two fur babies, but we thought it would be nice to have a choice.  By the time we got there one had been adopted already.  The other was being interviewed by a lady who had her wild grandkids with her.

Thankfully she decided against the pooch, who she had been told was not potty trained.  We were told the same thing when it was our turn for the interview.  But, we fell in love anyway and were instructed to come back in two days to pick up the newest member of our family who the husband named Sprocket.  (Yes, after the pup on Fraggle Rock)

He's a very good natured little dude and is fitting in well at The Snug Bungalow.  He is potty trained (accept for two slip ups so far) and sleeps well during the night.  He doesn't bark much and loves humans like crazy.

The only problem we seem to be having is his extreme anxiety when we leave.  I don't think it lasts long though, and by the time we get home again it's like Christmas has come early.  I love how he wakes up every morning with so much excitement like it's going to be the best day yet. 

He played in the water today and as you can see came out looking like a drowned rat.  His legs looked like chicken wings they were so skinny.  Like little pirate peg-legs.  Poor kid needs to be groomed pretty badly.  Tuesday is his appointment and I can't wait to see how good he feels like after a dematting, hair cut, bath and blow dry.  Oh god, I hope they give him one of those little bandannas!

Back In The Saddle

That's right, folks.  Santa Fe is back.  She's sporting her new outfit and it looks great!  It took them quite a long time to get to her, but once they took her from our house she was gone a week and a half. 

The color looks lighter in these pictures than it is in the natural light of the house.  It's a nice deep gray bordering on charcoal. It looks beautiful and fancy.

This couch was the epitome of comfortable.  Just deep enough, just soft enough, the perfect couch for relaxing or sleeping or even...well, it was perfect for a lot of things, let's just leave it at that.

I would never have dreamed that it could have been made more comfortable than it already was.  That seems to defy some kind of law of comfort, or physics or ...the universe.

But...it has happened.  The fabric that we chose (thanks mostly to our upholsterer) is a micro fiber.  Apparently it wears wonderfully, is naturally water repellent because of it's weave and lasts for a very long time.  It's also ungodly soft.  So. Very. Soft.  It's like angels and whispers had a baby and it is this couch.  You'll never want to get back up again.  I know I don't.