A Good Day

The trampoline is up. It's warmer than 40 degrees. The kids are still playing outside and it's almost bedtime. I ran three miles with my husband and ate fairly healthy food. (Wouldn't want to undo all that huffing and puffing...) Gave the cat a haircut (long story, there). Took a nap. Got some work done. A very good Monday.

If you're going to speak...

I once heard a speaker say, "If you're going to speak, speak well." AMEN. Can we also apply that to the written word?

Please, if you are spelling something that will be seen in public, spell it right. Kari's Korner Kuts and Kurls is neither kute nor korrect. It also really messes with my 2nd and 3rd graders who are trying really hard to become good at spelling and reading.

Also, "supposebly" is not a word. It's "supposedly."

That's all. Just venting a little bit. I'm done.

A Find

I found this 1940's dressing table at a thrift store for twenty bucks. (It has drawers and a big round mirror that attaches to the back, I just didn't get a photo taken before I had removed all of that.) I did a little research and found it was worth about $150.
I bought it specifically to redo and donate to the auction (I know, I know, more auction stuff - but it's been a little consuming lately), so I got to work.

Primed, painted, stenciled, new knobs, new drawer liners...what do you think? (I want to keep it, but I promised I wouldn't.)

Before and After

Mom recently gave me boatloads of old sheet music. Of course, I am not going to sit down and play through two boxes of music (which is mostly falling apart anyway), so I have found some other uses for it.

Is this not the saddest little old dresser you have ever seen? It was Scott's when he was little, then we inherited it and I painted it blue and white and it became Jake's. It really was too small for all of Jake's clothes, so he got a couple of dressers from the guest room moved into his room.
This sad thing had been sitting in the garage, waiting to be sold on our garage sale, when I had an idea. Can you say MOD PODGE? I decided to redo the dresser and donate it to the school auction. I even lined the drawers with music.Perfect for storing all of that sheet music...I may just have to bid on this thing myself!

My Favorite Store

For those of you who have never been to Minnesota, I have a reason you should come. It's called Maple Lake Antiques. The best antique store ever. Period.

A friend and I took a road trip a few weeks ago to Buffalo, MN and made a few stops along the way. Ran into a funeral in Eden Valley at the Corner Bar (long story there...but just to clarify, we stopped there to eat lunch, not to get sloshed) and eventually made our way to Maple Lake.

I've gotten several things at this store over the years and it has ruined me for most other antique stores. The prices are ridiculously low compared to other places.
I have always wanted one of these antique tool boxes...this one is huge and will soon be filled with flowers.
This chair. $4.50. Seriously. If it looks short and squatty, that's because it is, it's not the camera angle. I have never seen anything like it. I don't know yet if I'll paint it - the seat will definitely be getting new fabric. Couldn't pass it up.

Found a bundle of cool old wooden spoons and a wooden fork. I have plans for some kitchen wall art.
And a very heavy wire crate. Can't wait to fill it with beach towels.

The next couple of items I've had for a long time, but they are so cool and were purchased at Maple Lake Antiques for a song, so I had to include them.

Mom gave me this bench several years ago - I LOVE IT. It's the perfect height to fit under my dining room window. The kids used to sit on it and look outside (I think there are even a few teeth marks on it where Maggie went to town...)
And Maggie's miniature roll top desk and chair. Something her little girl will hopefully use someday, too! (Not in any hurry for that...)

So, plan a trip to Minnesota and I'll take you there. It's huge and you can spend hours wandering. We can even go eat at the Corner Bar in Eden Valley. You never know what's going to happen at that place!