Portland Finds....

Hey Chickies!

As promised..... the pictures of the goodies we found on our recent trip to Portland.  Gosh I love that place.  We had such a good time and the shopping is super.

I really shouldn't buy a single thing.  I have enough to fill two houses and am ready to sell off some of the overflow, but when one is a treasure hunter, it's really hard to give it up...  I just can't!

Love, love, love vintage seam binding.  I have about 47 gazillion yards of the stuff.  I've had a "thing" for ribbon for a long, long time.  I could put bows on everything I own for the rest of my days and still wouldn't use it all up.  That's just how I roll....  Everything's cuter with ribbon, right?

Loved that little loom.  It looks like it might be painful to use, but I'm going to give it a whirl one of these days.

A cute little biscuit jar for my kitchen re-do.  I've been collecting things for a couple of years now.  I'll be happy to finally get moving onto that project.

Cute drawer........has dividers.  No clue what I'm going to do with it. 

Any ideas clever girlies??

Those little apples?  A whole bag of them at the Goodwill for 4.99.  What a buy!

They say that number 8 is the number of money.  I need some of that, for sure!

We've been working on the master bathroom.  The first room in the Spring Cleaning lineup.  It is going to be SO darn cute.  I'm excited to show it to you.  It's going to be a few weeks from now, however.  We're leaving in the morning for Hawaii.   :-)

  

Whooopeee!

Some good eats and shopping are in my future.

Better go pack!

Spencer

xo

Beautiful Portland

I'm so far behind on posting I don't know that I'll ever catch up...  :-)

I don't know where the time goes.  It seems to older I get the busier I am.  I always thought that by the time I was a grandma I'd have white hair and be sitting in my rocker all day doing a bit of needlework.  Yeah, well.....  that just isn't real life around here.  I'm lucky if I can squeeze some "fun time" in during a MONTH!   And, any discussion about haircolor is strictly off limits.......okay?    :-)

However, last month, my daughter, grandson and I went to Portland, Oregon for a few days.  We can drag B along everywhere with the promise of a hotel stay.  I don't know why he likes it so much, but it really makes the kid happy.  Well, that and a promise for a nice Voodoo doughnut.  Can't go to Portland without a stop by that little place.

I had to share this adorable little neighborhood with y'all...  It reminds me of Leave it to Beaver or Father Knows Best......Whew.......dating myself, huh?  It seems like neighborhoods like these are a thing of the past.  So many planned developments now........including ours.

I had a much better photo of the house on the top but somehow managed to delete the darn thing....  Isn't it so sweet?

I'd put lace cafe' curtains in the windows if this was my home...  I have them in our little cottage, as a matter of fact.  They just look so darn cute, don't they?

Looks like this one is either for sale or already sold.  I'll bet it has lots of stories to tell.

We loved this one......it looks so cozy, doesn't it?  I think a little grandma lives here.....  maybe sitting in a nice little rocker doing some needlework?

A tiny house with a little turret......sweet.

Loved the big window on this one........and the little, bitsy one to the left.

And, all this cozieness on this sweet little, tree lined street.

Home Sweet Home.    :-)

I'll be back SOON to share all the great purchases.  We found some wonderful things.  Not that I should be buying anything!!!   I have no more room and no more need, but it really is all about the thrill of the hunt, right?

I've really missed all of you dear chickies...  I'm going to have to be a better blogger. :-)

Huggies and Lovies,

Spencer

xo

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggedy Jig.... :-)

Hi Chickies and Happy, Happy Monday!

My darling Hubby and I usually go to Bend, Oregon every year for our anniversary... Well, at least somewhere in Oregon.... This year we decided on Southwest Washington State and zipped on down to Long Beach. It was so pretty, the weather was great and we had some of the yummiest food EVAH! We stayed at a sweet little resort with everything we needed EXCEPT wifi.... even though it was promised, it did NOT work. I was planning to do lots of visiting but simply could not connect... Darn it all.

Some of the concoctions were things I would never have thought to put together. Salmon over three been chili? Oh my gosh... it was so deeee.lish. And, served with jalapeno cornbread. I passed that right on over to the Hubbs. I like spicy, but not catch your mouth on fire hot. :-) Another night I had Roasted Corn, tomato and Shrimp salad and an over the top Beet and Bleu Salad. What a treat. I'm going to be recreating something similar tonight for dinner. I'll let you know how that works out. I am NOT known as The Barefoot Contessa around here.

So, because my dear husband knows I love poking around those cute little shops we took a little day trip over to Astoria, Oregon. We had lunch at The Baked Alaskan (do put that on your list if you ever find yourself in Astoria) and did some shopping at Vintage Hardware in the 0ld Astoria Hotel.

Look at that architecture. Can you believe it? It such a glorious old building, with apartments above. I could move right on in one of them, I'm sure.

They had tons of old salvage and I loved everything, but just check this chandelier out. Have you ever seen anything like it? It was so pretty. Methinks I'm going to start collecting vintage spoons RIGHT NOW!

I totally forgot to notice the price, but whatever it was, I'm sure it was worth every penny. It was yummy.

I was crazy about this little cabinet. All the knobs and handles were different. How spunky is that? Maybe you can see them bettah if you click on the photo.... Add photographer to the list of things I don't do well. :-)

I don't pack light. Really I don't. It's darn right scary the amount of "stuff" I haul with me when I move my domain to a new location. Well, Ellie the Element was packed to the brim or I'd be hauling this little thing right on home with me. Where I'd put it in the eensie, beensie, Bellamere Cottage is beyond me.

That little blue cabinet too!

What I actually ended up with were a zinc bulletin board, a little tin tag with a number five on it and four glorious aqua knobs for a little cabinet I'm re-doing. It all fit nicely into a little space left after everything was loaded.

That little chair was one of two.... and the slipcover was so cute. Love the pillow too.... and the one under the chair with the bitsy ruffle.

This group of pix is even worse than the others.... they were taken with my itouch......sorry, they're really crummy.

Then.......because he's extra nice, the Hubbster took the long way home so he could take me to Camas. LOVE that antique mall there........I didn't even ASK! He offered and was super, dooper patient while I looked at every single thing in that place at least twice.

The chalkboard actually had the birds done in chalk, but were permanent. I have no idea how the artist accomplished that, but I just loved it. Wish I could do that. I'm going to do a chalkboard on the kitchen door, but still haven't figured out what I'm going to add to top of it. Have the paint. Have the trim. Out of ideas.

I spend the entire drive with a pile of stuff in my lap making little hearts and stars.... I didn't make this one, but thought it was so sweet.

What a great idea! Loved this cabinet. Wouldn't it be great for a kid's room?

And, I thought the presentation for this little, vintage rhinestone pin was so clever, I had to share. Just a bit of old ephemera glued to a bit of heavy cardstock. Aren't we chickies all about packaging?

I hope you've all been well. I've really missed you, but having the time to reconnect with my husband was so nice. It seems like time just zips by and we haven't had much time together.

Lots of pictures of the finished dining room cabinets coming up.... and a giveaway. I just need some sunshine to take a picture of the goodies! Keep an eye out for that. Yummy Autumn goodness.

Big huggies and lovies........

Spencer

xoxoxo

Home Sweet Home

I guess they have it marked, just in case somebody planned on proceeding....we laughed until we cried.



Sweet and wonderful Chickie Friends.....



Thank you soooo much for all of the wonderful anniversary wishes. You are such a thoughtful group of girlies and we soooo appreciated your kind notes.



We've gone to Oregon every year, since we've been married, for our anniversary.




Sometimes Lincoln City, sometimes Seaside or Cannon Beach....but for the past four or five years we've gone to Bend.


Such a pretty place....and we always have such a good time.



Well........we hit a BIG bump this time.



I have a Washington State disabled placard for my car.....we (read I) parked in a legal spot, placard in place.



If you're interested, you can click here to read my story.....



When we came out of the restaurant we found a stinking parking ticket on the windshield.


I quickly examined my placard to be sure I wasn't operating with an expired permit.


Nope.... I re-read the ticket........OH MY GOSH..... I had parked over the line. Yep, I admit it....I am a sloppy parker. Often on purpose so I don't get door dinged. I was sort of caddy-wampus in the spot to be sure.


They said I was impeding the ramp. It was so wide you could have driven a bus up it....


The ticket? Twenty-five dollars? Fifty? Seventy -five?


Nah............it was ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!!



I'm tellin' ya....it put a bit of a crimp in my get-along....




I am appealing it, so I'll update you when I find out their verdict.



Don't you think a warning was more appropriate??? After all..... I was a VISITOR! Company!


Dang.

We always take a little trip into Sisters too......They're quite well known for their annual quilt festival...this is painted on the side of one of the buildings.... Isn't that somethin'???

And, we go to Anthony's Home Port for lunch at least twice...three times??? Maybe four. :-)

It's always huckleberry time....they have THE YUMMIEST seasonal salad made with greens, feta cheese, hazelnuts and fresh huckleberries......DEEEEEE-LISH!


And the Hubbs always has huckleberry lemonade. It is SOOOO good! We have several Anthony's restaurants nearby by I swear this one is the very best. We have never been disappointed.

And, on the way home.........My sweetie stopped me at the Camas Antique Mall..... We had tried to go there a few months ago, when we went to Portland, but they were having a parade and we couldn't get near the place.... :-(

I've been to lots of antique malls over the years, but I promise you, this is the BEST one ever. I had a ball there! I found some little things to bring home too....pictures coming soon. I wanted EVERYTHING..... A wonderful selection and I thought the prices were ever so reasonable.

Just look at all of that yumminess!



I've been going to quite a few Dr. appointments with my daughter...she's been having some girlie problems.......and is going to have a hysterectomy next Monday....the 25th of October.


We covet your prayers.


The Doctors feel this is the preferred solution....after two opinions.


If you've been following my blog for awhile you'll know that this girl....my only child.....lost her husband in a car accident seven years ago and has been a single mom......and although she's not even dating right now, but she's not quite ready to give up the hope that she'll find Mr. Wonderful and want to have more kids......I so understand that. I had a hysterectomy when I was 27 after trying everything (including fertility drugs) to have another baby.... I wasn't ready either.


She'll be needing her Mommy, so I'll be taking care of her until she's up and running.


I'm taking myself some crafty projects to do while I'm being nurse. :-)



I'm soooo grateful to all of you.


Have I told you lately how special each and every one of you are to me?


You are the BESTESTEST!


God bless you.


xoxoxoxoxo


Spencer

Bloggie Girlies Are The BEST!

Yep, that is a repeat picture, but I just can't do a blog post without a photo... :-) ....so I cheated.




I wanted to tell you little sweeties how much I appreciated the Birthday wishes...

You are SO kind.




I made it over the hump and now am firmly established as a SIXTY year old and I guess there's just no going back now.



I had a little trip to Portland, Oregon for my birthday and had a lovely time....



My plan was to stop at Camas Antique mall on the way down, but that little town was having themselves a PARADE.. Now, that really interfered with my plan... The streets were blocked off and there was nowhere to park so we just went onto Portland. Phoooey. I need to go back one of these days.



We went to Monticello Antique Mall... :-) GREAT! And, I did find a couple of beensie things to bring home...then onto Stars and Splendid and Stars.... Just a smidge of fabric there...and we didn't stay long. Portland was having RECORD breaking heat. It was HORRIBLE.... One Hundred DEGREES! YIKES! My feet looked like little sausages, they were so swollen. Not a good look.


So, now I'm home and back to work on the little cottage here. I promise to have pix one of these days!




Sooooooooo........thanks again you little dearhearts.


I appreciate you more than I can say. You are the most thoughtful girlies.





Huggies and Lovies,
Spencer

Happy Sunday! Have You Finished The Turkey Yet? :-)

Good morning Girlies!!!

I'm going to be making a nice pot of soup today while I decorate for Christmas....

I'm so ready to get things going around here. I still don't have a single gift wrapped to put under the tree and the tree skirt I've planned to make for two years is still an idea in my mind. Not much good for decorating that way, is it?



We usually go to Bend, Oregon every year. It's one of our favorite places to be.

Several years ago they completed this fabulous building there. It takes up a full square block with businesses on the corners and these LOVELY condos along the sides.

Ahhhh......look, there's my cute little car parked out front. Isn't it BEE-U-TI-FULL??........ok, just kidding...........it's NOT the BMW. :-) It would be that little Honda. Now, I've said before, we have NOTHING fancy at the cottage, but I'm tellin' ya.......that thing is the handiest for hauling "stuff".....and I haul a LOT of "stuff".

Do you think they sort of look like they've been modeled after old brownstones? I wouldn't really know that for sure as I've never seen one up close and personal...but I HAVE seen them on HGTV, does that count?

All of the units face the street which leaves the center portion open. They've used the middle for parking. Now, while I understand parking is pretty darn important, I wished they would have made it a park like area. Who wants to look out their back windows at cars? Or maybe they could have made underground parking and a park on top? The BEST of both worlds. It would be such a great spot for kids to play, wouldn't it? Right outside your window in a nice safe spot?

These are very close to the Old Mill District......easily within walking distance of lots of shopping and some great restaurants. Every time we drive by I say "I could live there".....

It's fun to imagine what they may look like inside and how I would decorate them.


Yeah, well now I'd better be imagining what the little cottage HERE would look like decorated for Christmas so I'd better go and start unpacking all of that jolly stuff.


Have a wonderful Sunday dearhearts.

Huggies and Lovies,
Spencer
xoxoxo