thrifty thursday

Sometimes things just work out.

 

For the past days I have been wanting to make some new dish clothes

and

 lucky me!

 

 I found some vintage Sugar & Cream cotton yarn at the thrift store.

Happy Happy Happy

 

...when one door opens

 

Many things came to a final this month.

 

Summer vacation!

Kids are finally out of school and no more driving 780 miles these next months-

relief

 

 

My mom came to visit us for a month

 always a highlight in my year to be with her

the neat thing is I don't have to wait to see her for another 6 mos

( Actually I am seeing her and my whole familia next month)

 

I am going home to

~ NORWAY ~

in July

It's been 19 years!

 

 

Something that has been a big cloud hanging over my head

since the beginning of the year is slowly coming to an end.

 

I was victim of check fraud.

 

 A local woman and 4 other accomplice had stolen my newly ordered box of checks from my mailbox.

We live in the country so the mailboxes are by the road.

 

They had helped themselves to all the checks and written out THOUSANDS of dollars

 that would have potentially ruined my credit and needless to say drained my account.

If it wasn't for the amazing ladies at the bank that helped refund my money.

 

 There have been numerous sheriffs here at the house

 been working with a detective for the past months

 

I have never felt so violated in my life!

 

She/they stole my identity- she had several id's with my name- and wrote checks to places locally where I would go shopping and fill gas.

 

The hard part is that they know where I live- they have my address.

 - Worried for my children

no longer do I feel really safe

 

They have now all been caught with possession of dangerous drugs

 and are  sitting in jail

 

 I will be subpoenaed this fall to testify in court

  Just wrote my statement and sent it off to the judge.

I am scared.

 

But I have to put my big girl pants on

and see this thru.

 

But even with this fresh hell

life goes on....

Needed to clear my head and my heart

and nature is just the elixir

Somehow the outdoors makes everything right
 a place to breathe and think

 

In other news....

Jules got his drivers license yesterday!

Can not believe my baby is driving.

 

 

I have had so many creative thoughts dancing in my head lately

nothing better than feeling inspired amidst all this turmoil

Craving peace and simplicity

 

and usually in those moments.....

 

 

 

are when doors open

 

...and I do see one opening !

 

"The purpose of our lives is to be happy"

Dalai Lama

love to all

 peace out - beansprout!

sur la table

This is the old table purchased a few weekends ago

it's actually a desk

 

The little plaque is still on:

 The Desk exchange

Arthur M Hansen

Seattle 1933

 

Chef is attacking it head on

with the grinder, wool head gear & muck boots....

Two layers of paint off

So that was a surprise....and a not a good one

the prior owner apparently loved his cigarettes and left them all around the edge to burn

But the cross hewn oak is amazing- beautiful striations

 

 

 

Working so hard

clothes are starting to come off...

 

***

 

The next day the big guns come out

 chef is hell bent on fixing up the table

legs come off and everything is re- enforced

 

 

Got rid of the cig burns and sanded smooth

 

 

 we rubbed Tung oil on - amazing product for refinishing furniture

and then a coat of Howard Feed-n-Wax

beeswax + orange oil

 now we have a most excellent kitchen table

 

Ready for some wonderful meals, conversations, baking and home work time
 

Sur la Table- means "on the table"

 

and there will be only goodness

served on the table from now on!

Life in the fast lane....

 

Crochet a few little urchins this weekend-very fun.

Nice to you use my own yarn

 

Had lunch with my dad at the café.

He is 80 years and has Alzheimer's- some days are good- some not.

This time it was great- we speak both Norwegian & American

a good visit.

 

Met some wonderful locals at the café too

Kelley & Shaun with their little son (so cute)

They have just opened a brewery in town

www.desertmountainbrewing.com 

(if you are in town check them out)

 This village is getting some great little businesses

hi Kelley :)

 

 

also this week we signed up our oldest for drivers ed

 

Driving with Jules

is not like driving miss Daisy.

 

It's more like:

get in

sit down

shut up & hang on

 

He has a girl friend again so he is on a mission to get his license

 

Life in the fast lane.

 

(...and would probably kill me if he knew I was writing this...hehe)

 

Foghorn has been on the warrior path lately

in love with Vikings, Knights and Indians

and anything that has pointy and shiny edge to it works....

 

 

Winter came back

if only for a few days

 

I don't care

 in 2 weeks we are off to sunny Florida!

Sanibel Island

 

dreaming of sandy beaches, salt water and sunshine on my shoulders

 

 

 

In other news...

 

We bought this table this weekend

 It's actually a desk

 underneath it is written

~ co treasury 1933 ~

 

 

It has that nice rustic farm house quality 

painted a pleasant green

next weekend we are sanding and waxing the top to reveal

 it's true beauty

  oak -so it should turn out great

 

 

Picked up my needles for the first time in a while

 and started knitting a wee bit

...baby steps

 

 

What's going on in your neck of the woods?

Welcome comfort

 

 

Welcome comfort- these grey days of winter/spring are hard to cope with.

 One minute the jackets come flying off and the sun is shining- the next thing you know hats and mittens are on.

I tend to get a bit blue this time of year so I decided to try to perk up and go to Plant Land, really  enjoyed the humidity and green plants inside the nursery. Several succulents and a few cactus came home with me- they are so green. Really lifted my spirits.

Some new books from the library- feeling a little comfort already.

And of course there is nothing that a warm bowl of soup can't fix and watching my favorite show

yes, I am huuuuge fan! 

 

*******

 

With my obsession for birds- this little dude is welcoming comfort

Great little Italian flick - your kids will love this too

 Bellisima!

 

Love to all

peace out beansprout!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prairie Sisters Party

 

 

 

Saturday we loaded up in the pick up and drove down to Kalispell to the annual Prairie Sisters Party. I couldn't make it last year so I was really eager to see what all the fuss was about this year. Lots of different vendors, jewelery, furniture, jams & jellies, antiques, signs and collectibles or as they call it junk- fun junk. I love exploring and seeing new ideas and new ways of giving salvage furniture- wood new life.
It was a grand time and something for everyone even the birds....

... of all the images the one with the 2 ladies in front of "Matties jams & jellies" was my favorite- they were just too sweet!