Thrift finds and Good Books

I didn’t shop at any thrift store for 2 months. (since before Christmas) I got a little burned out and needed a break. It was nice to save some money and also not to bring more things into my house that I didn’t have room for. lol

But when I finally went a few days ago I found 3  things that I ‘couldn’t live without’!

 

My favorite find, a box covered in shells ($1).

It’s an old wooden cigar box!

Perfect!

The two books were only 50 cents each.

I have all of the Jane Austen books but this was a prettier copy than the one I had. It’s RED!

And here’s my stack of books from the library this week.

I don’t read every book that I check out from the library. That’s the fun of having a library close by. I can pick up what ‘looks’ good and see how I like them once I’ve read a few pages. I actually read at least 50 pages before I determine if I like it. And sometimes I’m just not in the mood for a certain story. 

I read this book last night but decided not to continue. Too sad. I can’t read a sad sad story right now.

I may try this one next. I’m in the mood for a Western.

And if you love a beautifully written Southern story about a precious little girl named Starla, read this book! I gave it my highest rating! I wanted to adopt her by the end of the book!

I’m joining Ricki Jill for Literary Friday.

And the Friday 56 HERE .

*Grab a book, any book.*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader

*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.

My quote is from Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall, page 56..

"He smiled so handsome and handed me a bag of popcorn. She smiled in a remembering way. I was so nervous I couldn't even eat it. Took it home and ate a few pieces every day for a whole week.

I decided I would never, ever eat popcorn again.”

Are you reading something good this week?

Downton Abbey inspired Jewelry

Oh, how we will miss Downton Abbey on Sunday nights! We’ll watch our DVDs until we have them memorized, won’t you?

We’ve all loved the beautiful clothing, fabulous hats and jewelry the ladies have worn this season.

So I was excited to read Judith’s post on her blog, Lavender Cottage, showing us a glimpse of the Downton Abbey inspired jewelry for sale at Macy’s. I also found it on Amazon HERE. I’ve put a couple of things in my ‘wish list’.

This is a necklace that was my grandmother’s that reminds me of some of these styles.

And I have some vintage jewelry on my dresser.

Beautiful jewelry never goes out of style!

Vee will be hosting her Downton Abbey discussion today HERE.

I printed the cards, distressed them with shoe polish and put the jewelry on them. (I have more to show if anyone wants to see them.)

Will you join me at Vee’s ?

(wear your pearls and gloves! heehee)

Florida Hiking in February

February is a great time to hike. The temps are usually in the 70s and many of the leaves are still off the trees for better bird watching (or spotting scary neat things).

We’ve been hiking every weekend this month and this past weekend we hiked both Saturday and Sunday. These photos are from our hike at Ross Prairie State Forest.

There are so many spring flowers springing up.

Yellow Jessamine is everywhere right now.

I’m glad I looked it up in my identification book because I found out this, “All parts of the plant are poisonous and contain alkaloid similar to strychnine.”

 

It grows on a vine with stems to 20 ft. long and has trumpet shaped, fragrant yellow flowers.

Now if you’re a big scaredy cat about going deep in the forest, stop reading now!!!

In the darkest reaches

of the enchanted forest

there are monsters ready to GET YOU!

Well, they are monsters if you take this photo to picmonkey and play for about a half an hour! hahahaha!

Any monsters in your world today?

Or pretty yellow flowers?

Cameras at the ‘Ready’!

I couldn’t resist taking a photo of myself at the park this week. I look like I’m saluting but as all of you can guess, I was taking photos!

I don’t often get a good photo of a bird so I was pleased to get this one of our State Bird, the Mockingbird.

And someone asked me about Florida’s state flower, it is the orange blossom.

source

Everyone who was concerned about our humidity being 82% yesterday will be pleased to know it did actually rain. A nice, much needed rain for us, which means the humidity was 100% at the time. Florida does have higher humidity than a lot of places but regardless of where you live, when it rains the relative humidity reaches 100%. I think that got lost in 'my translation’ yesterday.

According to Wikipedia :

“Relative humidity is an important metric used in weather forecasts and reports, as it is an indicator of the likelihood of precipitation, dew, or fog.”

Are you having a nice weekend?

I’m joining Beautiful Sunday,

Mosaic Monday,

and Amaze me Monday!

Just in case….and a *Humidity update!

We rode our bikes this morning just in case it rains later today.

The temps are perfect but look at that high humidity!

Temp 76, Humidity 82%

*UPDATE…the humidity is this high because it’s getting ready to rain! It would be this high anywhere if rain clouds were forming overhead. It’s not normally this humid here in FL…really it’s not! haha!

I wanted to share my stack of library books this week and join Ricki Jill for Literary Friday.

I usually get several books and pick and choose the ones I want to read but so far, so good.

I read The Queen’s Governess by Karen Harper first and gave it a 10 in my rating system. That’s the highest rating I give a book and I reserve it for only a few! This is definitely an all time favorite. It’s actually the second time I’ve read it. I love historical novels, don’t you?

Then I read this little mystery, Trouble in the Town Hall by Jeanne M. Dams in just a couple of days. It was fun and a very easy read. I’ll definitely read more by this author.

Now I’m reading Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall and loving the humor.

And now for something new for me HERE .

*Grab a book, any book.*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader

*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.

From The Queen’s Governess, page 56,

“I saw the chamber I entered was a fairyland of woven tapestries, Turkey carpets on the table and a massive bed draped with red gold silken curtains. It was said that Anne Boleyn had told the king she would not be his mistress but only his wife, yet here was a bed fit for royalty. Yet it was not the furbishings but the lady herself who commanded my interest.”

Join us HERE with your favorite books this week!

Are you reading something good you would recommend?

Miss Bee, Miss Vee and then there were Three!

I finished 3 bunnies and still need to make an outfit for my bear. (I’m using the same bunny pattern with the bear except his head is rounder, and so are his ears.)

I named this sweet bear, Miss Vee.

Look at the tiny Valentine in her handbag!

And this one is Rose.

I made lots of pretty ruffles for her dress and she has some Spring birds to hold.

And then there were three!

I can’t help but think of some of my favorite bloggers when I choose pretty names.

And speaking of Vee, be sure and visit her today HERE for the Downton Abbey discussion.

We splurged and bought the DVDs for this season but I won’t give away any ‘endings’!

It’s beautiful here this week.

Do you have something fun planned for the day?

February Notecard Party–*Flowers for my Friends*

I chose photos of Spring flowers to brighten our party today!

My ‘box lid’ was created in Picassa as a mosaic using the picture collage button and then the picture pile setting. I rotated my photos, created the collage, then took that collage to IPICCY to crop and add text. (the key to getting the text at the end is to rotate the photo and add the text, then rotate it back to save)

I’m joining Vee at a Haven for Vee

for the Notecard party!

Are you taking part today?

My Life - “Choices”

I was talking to my sweet cousin Cindy on the phone yesterday and we were sharing what places we’ve visited and photographs we’ve taken…what projects we’re working on and good books we’re reading, and I thought once again what an interesting life I live.

Hubby and I hiked on some ‘new’ trails yesterday and that was great fun.

 Cross Florida Greenway 

A few glimpses into what’s going on this week to keep me busy…

(same outfit I wear a lot, maybe I need to shop for new clothes this week! lol)

Vee will have her note card party (starting tomorrow) and the Downton Abbey discussion on Thursday.

My girlfriend Danice from Homespun Hannah asked me to tell her friends that she is offline waiting for a new computer cooling fan and will be posting again soon.

AND festivals and art shows are in full swing here in Florida.

Feb 22, 23 Cracker Days and Native Plant Sale, Rainbow Springs State Park

Feb 22, 23 KNAP-IN AND STONE-AGE ARTS FESTIVAL, Silver Springs State Park

Feb 23 Fine Arts Show, Palm Grove Auditorium, walking distance from our house

I’m busy making a bear, too!

(still a jumble of parts but he has EARS! lol)

What’s going on in your world this week?