First One Takes the Last One's Place

Saturday, (a week ago) dawned bright and shiny, this time of year that is rare enough in our part of the country to put a smile on any one’s face. It has been a long wet winter (as usual) how fun to be going to a show and have the weather cooperating. I left the house before 6am, the plan was to be one of the early one's but I had to make a quick stop at the atm for cash, half and hour later when I discovered my debit card had been left behind in the machine, it didn’t even freak me out (I did at least remember the cash) what the heck I had other cards and a check book too!
I picked up my sister Toni and we were on our way to Battle Ground, on our way to the Barn House Opening. Hard to imagine this I know, but we were talking away the miles and I missed the turn off to the freeway that I had intended to take, but oh well there are lots of freeways and we took a different one.
Naturally when we arrived we weren’t even close to first.

There you see Joe and Sue, and Robin doing what she does so wonderfully (off to the side with the camera) I was laughing when I told Toni I was going to use my laptop and BH internet to be the first to post my pictures to blogland! Well, now over a week later I wasn’t first not even close!
Here are a few more pictures so you too can catch the Barn House spirit!

A little disclaimer here... I'm not sure about who's is which here in these pictures, but I'm willing to give it a shot. I'd guess Natalie or Joe...

This looks like Joe's work,

Pretty roses...
I'm thinking Laurie of Worth Goods made this cute apron.
My kind of barn animal, no muss no fuss.
Julie made these books with the dried flowers.
Some rusted metal nests.
Lots of cool birdhouses.
Strong women move furniture without dollies...Super strong woman Debbie also of

Worthy Goods.

Beautiful hydranges. King of the coop??

Who wouldn't want this??

A portable gaden??

Tarte's display, is that the Queen in the background?

No, I quess not here she is fully clothed.


If you missed the show, you might have been one of the few because there were lots of people and they were all having a great time! Or maybe it seemed like more people than many shows because it was so fun and visually intoxicating (are you thinking I was drunk??) that no one wanted to leave and the parking lot/field just kept getting more full!
At any rate, their next event is the Flea Market July 17. I have a feeling you will be hearing lots more about that in the coming weeks!!!
When we finally dragged ourselves from BH we took a side trip to Camas on the way home. There was a garden and antique show in the downtown streets. We saw our friends Julie and Christa they had a booth. I was too busy buying their treasures to take their picture…(Maybe the title for this post should have been…I was just a little distracted…)
Toni found this apron.

I found several treasures to add to my ever increasing trailerful headed to Farm Chicks stash!
If I quit spinning in circles long enough, I will take a few pictures of the pile and share!

We Love Baby Boys

Do you remember the trip to Texas last summer, the one where we were going to my niece Krissi's wedding? Well yesterday, was another memorial event, she and her husband Daniel had a sweet baby boy! Very clever of them to deliver on Cinco de Mayo! I mean it's practically an entire nation celebrating baby Jaxson's birth !!

Here is the big sister, hard to imagine what she must be thinking...

On a side note she is the same age I was when Terri, my sister, her grandma (Honey) was born. I 'm pretty sure I wasn't at my mother's side she delivered. However, I do remember when Terri first came home from the hospital and we (Tomie and I) were so thrilled, every time the baby would cry, we would too. Can't you imagine what fun that must have been for my mom.
Looks like he isn't all that thrilled with being outside in the real world...
"Oh yea, that's much better I think I like it when my dad holds me."
I can't tell you how excited I will be to see our new babies! First one born in Michigan and now just a month later, another in Texas! And next month baby #3, another niece, (Livy) is having her baby in Texas!

Can you even imagine what fun we will have if they all come to visit at the same time?

A Fun Day

Yesterday, I hosted a work party for my friend Karen's daughter Kimmy, they are busy with preparations for a summer wedding. The bride to be, her bridesmaids (the one's that could make it) and with few other friends, we worked on some of the projects that needed to be completed before the wedding. You know the saying... many hands make light work??

At least I think that is how it goes, but if not, it applies, so let's just go with it...

But of course we had to have lunch first...

Brought a few spring flowers in from the garden,

Thought I would try and be the photographer and get the girl's reflection in the mirror. Unfortunate about the glare, but the sun was coming in the window and it's not as if I could go somewhere else to take the picture...

A little something to drink...

A few decorations to set the mood, and a chocolate cake thrown in for good measure.

A few cupcakes made with the extra batter.

And a kiss !

Going to the Dogs

It's no secret that I'm not really a dog person, now don't get me wrong I'm not a dog hater, just a little on the neutral side of, I love all dogs unlike most everyone I know...who adore all dogs.
As life would have it I have 4 boys, all who have wanted a dog at one time or another, actually all the time... So when my oldest son was in 5th grade and we moved to the country he got his dog. This was by far the most perfect dog possible for our family. I would list all the great things about her, but you would think I was exaggerating. We all loved Pepsi and she saw us through some pretty tough times.

This picture was taken about 16 years ago, the boys were just little guys. It was the first year we had Pepsi and the last year we had their dad.

This was the last picture I could find of Pepsi, it was taken about 7 years ago when Dusty was leaving for boot camp and was sure Pepsi would be gone before he would see her again.

They both had grown up in those 9 years, and it turned out Dusty got to be with Pepsi a few more times, before she went to sleep under a tree in the front yard for the last time. She died in the least offensive way she could, because that's the kind of dog she was.

And now guess who wants a dog?
Here he is at almost a year old, with a friend's dog.

That's about as close as he's been to a dog since. Because the truth is Sam doesn't really love dogs either... He wants to, but fear is holding him back. Okay, blame me everyone else does apparently he picked up on my feelings...

To make a long story short my aunt has 2 dogs and is willing to share so...

Meet Sage

Neither the dog or the boy seem thrilled.

Lucky for us Grandma and Grandpa are living here, because Sage loves them... She barks when she hears Sam coming in the room and he runs the other direction, or he will walk way around, saying he doesn't want to step on her...such a thoughtful little boy.

Dogs are suppose to be great for the elderly. My dad said he should get a good nights sleep, apparently Sage moves around on his lap, keeping him from sleeping all day.

Several "Mini Vacations"

My booth neighbor at Monticello, let's call her "D" for short or (because I don't know if it was Dianna or Donna, they are twins...) of Annie, Fannie and Abigail said, when she is driving somewhere she considers it a little mini vacation. Well if that is true, I am incredibly well rested and happy to be home from vacation... It took 5 trips (an hour each direction) to get my act together.
The truth is I was a little behind the 8 ball all week. I was amazed (notice I didn't say impressed) at how long it took me to pull my booth together at the Monticello Antique and Garden Show. I think I will blame it all on Dave the driver, since he wasn't there doing his job, it made mine much more difficult... The fact that he was doing his real job, is beside the point...

I did however pull it together, finally getting everything the way it was suppose to be a mere 2 minutes before the show opened...
I hardly even look hot, sweaty and stressed out!!
This is random, but I love to tell it.

I have a friend who is in her 80's. She told her husband when they got married,

"it's your job to make the money and its my job to spend it. If you don't do your job, I can't do mine..." Well I say,"who can argue with that???"

I am still having way too much fun playing with Picasa. I can't believe how easy it is to make a collage and how many choices there are and how long it takes me to decide which one....

I'm hoping you noticed that the flowers in the tub, the lanterns and my sweater, are the same color as the background...

It takes so little to make me happy!

Some of the pictures are of my booth and some of the other vendors. You may not see these things if you go as a lot of things sold over the weekend but if go to Monticello, there will be a lot of new merchandise for you to see as the dealers are constantly bringing in more merchandise!

Friday afternoon when I got home from Monticello's, I needed to get Dumbo the rv ready for a trip to the beach.

Much like a mini vacation...

We arrived at midnight Friday and came home at noon on Sunday! Still don't feel that rested and relaxed. Though, we did have fun!

The beach in Oregon is beautiful, the weather is iffy at best. It is typically, windy, rainy, cold and occasionally sunny especially in April. We got a little bit of all this weekend.

It got to 54 degrees today and the water was almost 50 compared to the water temperature in Maui at almost 80 degrees. That should explain why most people don't swim at the Oregon Coast in April.

No one said,

They were most people...

Sam has been licking his upper lips recently and has developed a rash or chapped lip.
When asked how that happend, he told a friend of mine he did it shaving...

He told Dave he got a whisker burn from kissing his wife (Lucy)...

I think he needs to get his story straight.

Spring Garden Show

Yesterday and for the next couple of days I will be "keeping the road hot", as I travel back and forth to South East Portland. I will be taking my treasures to Monticello for their Spring Garden Show. Monticello is located at 8600 SE Stark St., in Portland's Montivilla district. Typically we load the trailer and get it all done in one BIG swoop when I do a show, but since I have 3 days I thought I could do it myself without Dave the driver/loader/packer, all I have to say is... What was I thinking??? I took a few things yesterday, but spent most of my time visiting, I mean networking... This is what I am good at and have had lots of experience, but if I am doing that, who will be unloading?? I need to think these things through before I so callously dismiss the help.

A little preview of what will be coming.

Monicello is open year round with over 100 dealers. As if that wasn't enough fun and excitement a few times a year they invite guests dealers to participate in month long special events. I hope you have time to come check out all the treasures.

This is Martha and Diane's booth, I am behind them along the windows. I can't wait to get it set up, it is a bright cheerful spot a terrific venue!

Isn't this cool?

And this...by Colby Cottage

I'm fairly certain Dave would want me to have this... it comes in sections and I bet I could carry it home piece by piece and since he's not there....hmmmm