What Makes You Smile?

Simple!

It's what makes me smile.

Hugs & Blessings

Mèmére

In ALL things!

Does this pattern look familiar to you?  It is Hall's China and often called Jewel Tea dishes because it was sold on the Jewel Tea trucks that sold household products from a truck and drove through neighborhoods meeting the needs of the homemakers.

My favorite aunt on my mother's side of the family, Aunt Virgina, collected these dishes and they lined the shelf around her kitchen in her old farm house.  They bring back such fond memories.  Aunt Virginia had 3 boys - no girls so when I visited I had lots of fun with her and got to make lots of cookies.

What you see in the picture above is a portion of the water pitcher made by Hall's China.  A couple of weeks ago I found the pitcher at a local auction and bought it for $20.  Such a steal.  When I looked at my pitcher I thought of Aunt Virginia.  Fast forward a couple of weeks and my prize pitcher met its demise.  Being the creative woman I am I can still use it but it sure won't be holding ice-tea or lemonade again.  

Once again I am reminded of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Love and Hugs,

Mèmére

Good Morning World

Love and Hugs,

Mèmére

127 Yard Sale!

Last weekend Precious Husband and I along with good friends, Nancy and Darrel here in Kentucky took off bright and early (6 AM!) to attend our first World's Largest Yard Sale - 127 Yard Sale.  This was something I have read about for years and have wanted to do.  It was interesting and fun.  You can't image all the things you come across as you venture down Highway 127.  We were gone all day and didn't get too far but we sure had fun.

My purchase for the day was an eight place setting of Homer Laughlin Eggshell Georgian china.

Those that know our situation know this is the last thing I needed to buy but hey, I just could not resist!  I love it, I know their value and worst case scenario I can resell them after I have played with all their beauty for a while!

Isn't it pretty?  I also got the covered vegetable casserole.

Another treat was seeing a field of goats.  So cute and so nosey.  Quite photogenic I think.

I didn't buy anything at the man's yard sale but I enjoyed the goats.

Love and Hugs,

Mèmére 

First Signs

Spotted my first fall leaf.  Smiles, smiles, smiles!  I love fall!

I am watching 3 Buckeye trees waiting for the nuts to fall off the trees and onto the ground. A challenge to find them in the grass and weeds but waiting to gather up the round brown nuts with the special shine.  Very soon I will carry a sack on my walks to gather the buckeyes as they fall.  As always it is the little things that make me smile.

The old timers here in Kentucky say it will be an early winter.  Some say a severe winter.  For the third year we will watch the sky and listen to the weather man.  First sign of the "funny white stuff" and we are heading the bus westward ho says Precious Husband.

Love and Hugs,

Mèmére 

Modern Convenience

Modern technology amazes me.  I speak in the direction of my phone and ask Siri to let me know when to take my chocolate chip cookies out of the oven or switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer in 55 minutes.  No fuss. No muss. No hasstle.

Modern trends amuse me.  Spinners to calm your anxiety.  What?  It was pet rocks years ago.  Who thinks up these things and probably makes a small fortune from their creativity.  How about various and multiple shades of color in women's hair.  I see it everywhere and on all ages too.  Personally I hope it is a trend that will come and go quickly.

Modern conveniences.  That is something that can be quite helpful, economical and creative.  I recently purchased a tool to clean, core and slice pineapple after reading the rave review that I read here.  Jill has so many good ideas, tips and suggestions on her website, One Good Thing.

Canned pineapple is quite pricey for the amount you get.  For less than the cost of a small can of pineapple tidbits I can buy a whole fresh pineapple and process it as I please.  Sliced, crushed, tidbits and chunks.

When I made my first attempt at using this amazing tool I was completely sold.  Like using the timer on my phone no fuss, no mess, no hassle.  Perfectly sliced rings of pineapple.

If you enjoy fresh pineapple or like me use pineapple a lot when you bake you might want to look into this little amazing tool.

Love and Hugs,

Mèmére

July 2017 in Pictures

We don't have internet at our campground so my good intentions of blogging more have been short lived.  We are celebrating our granddaughter's 17th birthday tonight so I am taking advantage of the access to the internet now that dinner and ice-cream birthday cake have been devoured.

Thought I would upload some pictures from our first month in Kentucky.  

The sunsets are always beautiful.

Blackberries picked along my walking path.

I take pictures now of things I want to remember.  The ole memory seems to be slipping and sliding anymore.  Yikes.

Thought this was such a cute quote.

Had to get pictures of the buffalo on our way to pick hedge apples.

On the same trip this young deer struck a pose and patiently waited for me to take her picture.

Of course I have hit several of the peddler's malls since I have been in Kentucky.  My favorite thing to do and Precious Husband loves it too (or so he says).

Can you see the butterfly?

And here is Daisy Grace meeting Shyla, our daughter Michelle's English Mastiff.  Shyla has been more than understanding to this little ball of white fur that is smaller than her head.  She seems to understand Daisy is "special".

More beautiful nature captured on my walks.

My house still sits vacant.  I think she really wants to become a bed and breakfast that I would name Delightful Once Again.  Would you spend a few nights here and enjoy waking up to fresh hot coffee and Yogurt Pancakes or Cinnamon Muffins?

Precious Husband and I helped our friend Nancy (seen below) clean and freshen up her neighbor's yard at Guist Creek.  The next morning Miss Nancy and I sat on her patio and enjoyed the view of the creek and drank our coffee.  So relaxing.  This crane stopped by for a photo shoot to my delight.

Just this week Nancy took us to Joe Huber's Farm and Winery where we had lunch and posed for a silly picture before indulging in ice-cream.  Precious Husband took home a couple of bricks of their cheese.

The grounds were so lovely and inviting.

I had never seen an apple orchard or realized how narly an apple tree is.

This mama possum was caught in a trap that was set for raccoons in the campground.  When the trap was checked the first time our friend Darrel only saw the possum but when he returned she had several babies nursing.  Being the kind man he is Darrel opened the trap but mama possum does not want to leave.  Hmmm.

So true:

The best things in life

are the people we love,

the places we've been,

and the memories we make along the way.

It has been a great July 2017 in Kentucky.

Love and Hugs,

Mèmére

Traveling Tuesdays

Mèmére's Adventure Bus pulled out of Mesa, AZ June 28th about 8 AM.  Off and running with our destination, Shelbyville, Kentucky home of 4 amazing gorgeous precious grandchildren an their parents too :-)

New Mexico

We drove the max pretty much each day.

Enchante Trails RV Park

Elk City, Oklahoma 

Arkansas

Arkansas

Getting closer

We made it Friday evening with lots of friends waiting to help us set up camp.

So good to be back to Kentucky!

Found a wild blackberry bush on my walk an I am gathering berries as they ripen.  When I have enough we will have cheesecake.

Can you guess what these are?  Never seen such things before.

Love and Hugs,

Mèmére