Vintagebejoyful

The Biggest Loser.

Yes, I was the loser.....Tuesday's with Paul is always a fun night around our house, two Tuesdays ago I had another friend over who's wife was out of town, we were talking Italian food and I happened to mention I make a pretty good lasagna, well our friend Peter proceed to tell me that mine couldn't possibly be better than his wife Joan's, Paul pipes in and says lets have a cook-off at Peters place, well let me say Peter is competitive, I said BRING IT! feeling pretty confident since I was a caterer, as the big day approached I spent  several hours on Monday making my homemade sauce, since it is better when it sits over night, the next morning assembling the massive lasagna it weighed a ton! noooooo I wasn't worried not all, this is a work of art no way Paul wouldn't love mine more, I was (A) Joan was (B) he ate away seemingly enjoying both, I was sitting next to him and he was smiling at me,I thought I was a shoe in! we all finish eating in great expectation, me especially, surely he'll pick mine! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO he picks (B) says it's more flavorful, spicy, delicious, smaller in size, what the......he reminds us that elderly folks eat less.....duh! what does that have to do with how it tastes, then he proceeds to ask who was who, Joan of course was thrilled and Peter sat their gloating, and my hubs assuring me that mine was just as good, just different, I then asked Joan what kind of sauce she uses, she tells me "oh it's simple I open a LARGE can of tomato sauce and then open a package of Lawery's spaghetti sauce seasoning mix" I tried to hide my surprise, tomato sauce I lost to a can of tomato sauce......It was all good fun, our Tuesday's with Paul remain a highlight of our week, and it will be a regular post for me. I encourage you to reach out to your friends and neighbors, It's a blast!

My Very First Giveaway!!!

Yes!!.....it's true my very first giveaway! Please leave me a comment and I will put your name into hat for the this sweet little handmade clipboard....the give away ends next Wednesday night! Please share this wilh anyone you think might love vintage shabby, I am also including the little glittered up clothes pins! I am so excited to giveway something to my dear friends! Thanks once again for all the blog love!

(shipping only to US and Canada)

Tracey

Sleeping.

I wish this was me!!!!!

Not sleeping seems to be the case these days, I used to be a good sleeper especially when my children were younger, heck I was exhausted.....alas we all know being exhausted has nothing to do with sleeping, sleeping is the problem.

The List.

Pray you will sleep

1. read

2. Don't watch TV in your room

3. relax

4. Eat dinner earlier

5. Clear your mind, you know nothing can be solved at this moment (3:00am)

The list goes on and on, you get it! Is because I am almost 50, is because my thyroid is a little goofed up, (but controlled), is because I am a bit of worrier, during the day, I'm good, I'm a rock during the day,but these night time hours, they creep into your mind, just as you are about to close your eyes, Chatty Cathy starts up, making you feel all insecure, telling you stuff, talking to much, talking to loud, yes I am exhausted not so much physically but mentally......

I want that sleep the kind that is restful,that you can sink into that deep deep sleep, where you wake up in the morning and you know you had the most perfect night of sleep! Will I ever get that back? is sleep for women a thing of the past, a luxury......I hope not, so as I sit here writing this post, my shoulders ache as I have been in this chair too long, wanting to feel sleepy, I ask the question, does anyone, go through this, do any of you have a hard time sleeping, does anything work to keep you asleep, gently and with out the use of drugs. I know my aunt used to say, better living through chemistry, but I truly try to keep the pharmaceuticals down to a minimum. It's just so hard not being able to sleep, I miss it terribly, and I don't feel I am at my best when I am not getting a good nights rest. I wish you all Goodnight.

Junkee.

My booth at Junkee's is finally coming along, I have been working like crazy to get furniture painted and things moved around, sometimes when I go thrifting I don't always find new and interesting things, either it's more of same or nothing at all! I have been busy creating some fun new things to add to my booth with an autumn touch. I have decided for fall and winter I would try my hand once again at painting some of the furniture black.....the black paint formula came from the Lettered Cottage http://www.theletteredcottage.net/ This couple have the sweetest most inspirational design blog, I just love the things they do over there, please check them out!

Check out the new chairs....very Frenchy don't you think? I found someone who loves to do upholstery on the side, more of a hobby I guess, well I asked if he would be interested, and he said YES, I told him I wanted to use painters drop cloth and he looked at me a little funny, and said OK.....well they were cuter than I even imagined! It was hard for me not to want to keep them for myself! I hope you enjoy the new look my booth at Junkee's is taking on!

Tracey

Autumn in The Sierra's

 

I hope that my photos can convey the beauty of our area this time of year, yes it's true the best things in life are free! The folks that live back east aren't the only ones that get to enjoy fall color, those of us west of the Rockies get to see some amazing color, and BIG Mountains!

The hubs and I went to one of our favorite hanging out spots called the Wilbur D. May Arboretum, it is a wonderful place to go and enjoy nature, with walking paths, ponds, waterfalls, and covered bridges, the fall bounty is endless......I decided last night if life doesn't get any better than this, I am happy! my life is good, I'm good.......it was an important moment for both my husband and I, things are tough here for us, our Granite business is suffering, and we have not seen a down turn like this ever, and we have been in business 26 years.......but we are ok, we will be standing at the end of this, and we have each other! as I looked out over the immense beauty, we both realized that this was a special time, we don't get to write the story, and it's ok........

Front Porch Musings................

 

If you're like me you love a welcoming front porch, I don't think I have the best front porch I've ever seen, but I think it's pretty cute. My friend and Life Coach Deb tells me it's very welcoming, I wish it was bigger so that you could sit in a chair and look out at the scenery, I have a lovely view from the front of my house of the Sierra Mountains......I live in a very tracky neighborhood, we chose this location 22 years ago because at that time it had great schools! Well it still does.......I am fortunate because I have delightful neighbors and most of folks near me are the original owners so everyone keeps up their yards and homes. I don't think we will be leaving anytime soon as thankfully it's almost paid for! We never went crazy when the economy was booming to really upgrade, we just did a few things, we fixed up the laundry room, bathroom and family room, and we are in the process of re-doing the master-bath......I will show pictures when it's finished, the hubs is doing an amazing job! I wish I had before pics, but that was before I was a blogger..........I would love to hear what makes your porch special! Happy Happy Fall!!

Tracey

Just a Little Wisdom

Sometimes you come across something that you just have to share, no you NEED to share, I hope you enjoy this as much as I have...........

 

Maya Angelou Said This:

I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life goes on, and it will be better tomorrow

I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle these three things:

A rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights

I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you will miss them when they are gone from your life

I’ve learned the making a “living” is not the same as making a life

I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back

I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision

I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one

I’ve learned that I have a lot to learn

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel

A Weekend With Old Friends And Some Thrifting on The Side!

I had a wonderful weekend connecting with old friends from high school, it was my thirty year class reunion, Yikes.....when I say that it makes me feel old! I wasn't sure I was going to go, it was my hubs that said, you should go, you loved high school, and you had a lot friends......I'm sure you all have been through the doubts of attending old school functions, I look old, I look fat, I wear glasses, no one will recognize me, what if "my" friends aren't there......the whole thing, well, I gotta tell ya, it was a blast, I think it was the best one to date, I hadn't been since the five year, I actually think the girls looked better than the guys, I thought it might be the opposite so I was pleasantly surprised!

On Saturday my mom and I and my friend Becky from High School hit the thrift stores in the Walnut Creek area, they have some great ones.....I found some darling things to add to my booth at Junkee's and some fantastic mirrors to add to the collection at 41 Taylor.

It was a fun weekend of catching up, remembering old friends and the good times we had in High School!

Tuesdays with Paul

I know that you have heard me talk about my widowed neighbor Paul. I wanted to share with you another delightful evening we had with Paul and some other neighborhood friends, I decided to invite another a couple over last night for soup, salad and bread, nothing fancy just good hearty fall food! don't you just love this time of year when you get to snuggle up with a soft blanket watch a little tv have a fire and it's dark early, my body clock is already moving into winter mode......Yikes it's a too early for that, I spent this last weekend getting pumpkins and setting them around my yard and front porch, getting the rubbermaid out with all the autumn decor, I don't really do Halloween, but I love the fall because you get to enjoy pumpkins, leaves and acorns all the way through Thanksgiving, I'm all about getting more bang for your buck!

I think especially during this hard time in our history that we need to reach out to our friends and neighbors extend our hearts and homes to those in need, not just financially but in all ways, it doesn't cost much to make a big pot of soup!

Holiday Grapes!!!!

I had to show you a picture of these absolutely fabulous grapes I picked up at my local Raley's grocery store, they are HUGE!!!!! and yet still sweet and tasty and did I mention SEEDLESS I know the grape season is coming to an end at least for me anyway, I only buy food and produce from the United States, I am trying to make an effort to keep our country going in my own small way........I try to buy local produce at least from California as that is closest to us and therefore does not need to be trucked as far, I don't by fruit out of season from over seas, I really look forward to summer and the fresh tastes that it brings, at our house we have a long season of oranges, apples and pears......I remember when I was a little girl it used to be that way, you only got certain types of produce during their particular growing season.......going back to the old ways I guess.

I would love to hear your take on local produce, what is your favorite and how do you do it at your house.....an un-official  vintagebejoyful blog pole, also let me know what you do to help your local economy, I would love some new ideas!

Garage Sales in The Fall............

Burrrrrrrrrr, yes fall is in the air in the Biggest Little City, there are only a few weekends left for us here to hold garage sales, it's just too cold and the weather is a little iffy......It snowed today!!!! just a little, but snow is snow right?

My partner in crime Laurie, she owns "The French Twist" a darling little beauty salon behind 41 Taylor and I hit the trail early on Saturday morning, we laughed and had a great time......let me tell you she has a great eye and well even a way with words, at this one house we had scoped out we were stashing our finds next to the check out and she had a big box of pots and pans she was purchasing and as we were walking away to check out more goodies, this older gentleman finds her box, and is more than a little interested, and starts talking to his wife, well Laurie turns around and says "Oh Honey Nut I have already purchased that box" he gave her a funny look and this gal says to Laurie, well that was a nice way of saying it! as you know garage salers get a little possessive over their stuff.....

The morning started off slow, but towards the end we managed to fill her Yukon and my SUV, we had to trade off in the parking lot as we got full! Well we had blast hope you enjoy seeing some of our finds!