Friday Finds and Some Gifts!!

I'm back again and doing another Friday Finds post.  I'm also going to share some really special gifts I've received!

It has been almost too hot to thrift shop!

Almost!

At my cheap thrift store I found this pink baking dish that matches some other little custard cups I have!  $1

The little cordial glass was .50 and matches another one I have.  When we set a special holiday meal with wine I use these glasses for the Grands (they get grape juice or sprite).  So nice to have another one of these.

The bell was also .50 and I just wanted it!  I imagine the next time Tiger comes to visit I might be sorry!

I found this very chipped but oh so cute early McCoy pottery planter and since it will fit in the cubbies I just had to have it.  

"paid too much" 

My favorite finds this week!  I stopped at the Habitat for Humanity and found nothing and was heading out the door when these two cuties caught my eye.  They were up by the cash register.  So for $3 total I knew they were bargains!

The flower with the bird in Royal Copley and I have a few similar pieces I need to research.  The orphan salt shaker joins that collection.

Now for the gifts!

Three years ago I was in Paris!

Enjoying my dream of a lifetime trip! 

Everyone knows my love of all things Paris and especially the Eiffel Tower.

Recently one of my friends gave me these salt & pepper shakers.

They are so cute!  Thank you Brandy!

This is my chromebook that I love (a gift from my daughter Ashleigh) and a new PINK mouse!  My Mom bought me the mouse when my old one stopped working and I was complaining about how hard it was to edit photos without one!  I love it and it's cordless! 

But my best gift by far came from my dear friend Claudia.  We both lost our beloved furry children at the beginning of 2016.  One of Claudia's readers, Shanna does beautiful watercolors and gifted Claudia with a picture of her wonderful dog Scout.  I've longed for a watercolor of Charlie and this week thanks to Claudia and Shanna I have one!

I can't wait to get it framed and on my wall.  Thank you both for this most precious gift! 

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

What's Up Wednesday

It is 1pm and I'm still in my robe and slippers drinking my 2nd cup of coffee.  It's been that kind of day (week, month), so allow me to whine..(and I don't mean the good kind with a corkscrew and glass).  
If you follow my blog you know that I hurt my back the end of October.  It really has put me out of commission.  Lots of rest and heating pad time.  So it's finally getting better and the pain migrates to my bad knee (hey I'm 65 I have a bad knee).  More heating pad time and FINALLY my body is doing better.  Maybe I can get out of this house for a bit.  So out I go and do a few errands.  Next thing I know I have a scratchy throat that has now turned into a full blown case of cough, hoarseness and fatigue.  I can't seem to feel better and darn it I'm tired of feeling icky! 
OK, Whine over...back to our regularly scheduled blog time...

This is all the Fall decor I have out.  I got it out in October before hurting my back and this is where I'm still at.  No pumpkins or my cute Publix Pilgrims.  This will just have to do!

I'm not even sure of our Thanksgiving plans right now but there will be turkey!!

So the good things are as follows:

Scout turned 7 mos old!

Got a cute winter hat 

and met Santa for the first time and looked terrified!
(she was really OK...lol)

Tiger helps keep Scout from going where she shouldn't

Saw a Nascar Race at Talladega with his Dad

Camped and Explored at Bald Rock, AL

Went to the family farm in So Ga

and enjoyed some time quiet time

and also saw Santa but wasn't terrified at all...love the squint eyes on both of them!  Oh and broken candy cane...

So if you are still with me through the whine and the  pics of the Grands, I have a question.

I found this at a thrift store and was intrigued and bought it for .50  I thought it might be an egg cup of some sort, but can't find anything like it on the web.

What do you think?

These are the markings and they haven't helped me one bit.  I'm just curious, so if anyone knows will you please leave a comment! 

I can't end this post without mentioning how sad I am about the events in Paris last week.  You know Paris has a special place in my heart and the terror there and all over the world is such a horrible and heartbreaking thing.  I pray not only for Paris but for all of us.  

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

JE SUIS CHARLIE

I love Paris!

I am so sad about the recent events there not just for the loss of life, but the attack on freedom!

This article from 'A La Carte~Paris Apartment Rental' is very moving and I encourage you to read it HERE

Source A La Carte Paris Apt Rental

Je Suis Charlie!

Linda

Remembering Paris!

It has been a year since my trip to Paris! 

What memories I made 

As I look back on that experience I know I will always remember it as such an amazing time in my life.  A year later I'm finally getting a few of my photos printed to put around my home.

This photo may look familiar, it's the one in my header.  I love the architectural look of this photo I took of the Eiffel Tower.  Not long ago I was contacted by Easy Canvas Prints and offered a free canvas for my honest review.  I agreed and ordered my 16 x 20 canvas print. It was easy to use the website and it arrived in a very timely manner!

I had a vintage frame I hung on the wall to accent it and I really like it so much!  It printed out more in sepia tones then black and white but it's perfect to me.

I also ordered a few prints from Shutterfly recently.  I got a large 16 x 20 print which I plan to frame and hang above my bed.

The flower markets were so amazing and this will look great in my bedroom.  Once I find a frame I will decide what color to paint it and then frame this print! 

I also ordered two smaller prints from Shutterfly

This 5 x 7 is a favorite photo taken on a very rainy day in Paris.  I love the misty Eiffel Tower in the background.  The photo has a small crease where my brilliant postman bent a Shutterfly cardboard envelope to put it in my mailbox!  GRRRR!

Another Eiffel Tower print.  This 8 x 10 was taken from one of the streets near my apt in Paris.  I love how the signs show up in color in an otherwise mostly black and white print.  It was early evening and I am so happy with how this turned out. 

I am still planning to get a few other prints of Paris and maybe of something other then the Eiffel Tower!  

As many of you who are regular readers of this blog know, I have been blogging less and less lately.  I have taken some time to decide if I want to continue to blog or not.  I've decided I do!  I love blogging and still have so much to share and I would miss you my friends so much.  I have been in a big transition in my life for the last year, but I think things are setteling down.  I love being able to share my life with you, my sweet Grandson Tiger, Charlie the Cat and my thrifty finds. 

Charlie and I are here to stay for bit longer! 

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Joining Kathe for You're Gonna Love It

Paris Day Twelve

My last full day in Paris! 

Today is my last day to attempt to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower again.  

I am determined to get that photo of me at the top!

It is cloudy with a chance of rain but that won't stop me!

I decide to take the bus even though it's not a long walk,

 but if the lines are long I want to be as rested as possible! 

As I approach the tower I am once again hit with it's beauty!  Something about it moves me so much!  Now for the lines...well luck was with me.  No long lines and it only took me about 30 minutes to get my ticket, go through security and get to the elevator for my ride to the 2nd level.

The sun was shining and the wind was blowing but the views were gorgeous! 

The lines for the elevators to the top were long so I took some time to just walk around this level and really soak in the views!

You can see a few clouds coming in!

I got in the long line for the elevator to the top.  While waiting a storm came up and it rained and the wind blew like crazy.   It was cold!  I was so glad I had my pink beret on.

 

After finally getting to the top, the storm had passed and I once again took time to view the city of  Paris!

As I gazed at this city I had dreamed about visiting for so many years 

I thought about my journey here...

the gift of this trip from my daughter, the months of planning...

The wonderful days I've spent in Paris and all that I have seen and experienced here!

I have lived each moment to the fullest!

This dream started at the Paris Hotel Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas with a toast of champagne!

and so it ends with a toast...

To my family for your support.

To my friends and blogging buddies for your advice, encouragement and for sharing all the  excitement of planning this trip with me.

To my cousin Joletta who was able to join me on this trip,

it was so much fun to share the joy of Paris with you! 

and of course...

To my daughter Ashleigh

Her gift of love to me. 

Fulfilling a dream of a lifetime and to do it in such a wonderful way...

well to my lovely daughter....

This one's for you! 

Merci ma chère!

Linda

Paris Day Eleven

Paris Day Eleven

A Sunny Sunday!

Cooler temps and sunshine made me so happy!

I stepped out on the balcony and took in the view! 

I also heard some drumming...I kept looking down the street and realized there were runners.  I looked it up on the internet and it was a women's road race and they expected 30,000 participants! 

So we headed out to see how the lines were at the Eiffel Tower!  They were LONG....like three hour wait long!  So not visiting the tower today!

Our backup plan was to take the Seine river cruise that was located 
at the foot of the Eiffel Tower!

It was one of the best things we did in Paris!

The boats have open seating on the top but we choose to sit downstairs at the very front!

Once the cruise started I could go from side to side and take photos 
while she could sit and enjoy!

We saw the D'Orsay museum and it was nice to view it on a sunny day!

With the first sunshine in days, we saw lots of people out walking 
and enjoying this gorgeous day!

This bridge was covered with the Love Locks!

I loved the carvings on this bridge! 

There was a recorded tour guide in French and English and it was very interesting!
Wish I could tell you what each bridge/place we saw was, but I can't...
I was busy taking photos! 

Closer look at one of the faces on the bridge!

Another beautiful bridge!

A gorgeous day on the river Seine

Notre Dame

While we never made it inside we did enjoy seeing this amazing cathedral from the river!

Some sort of festival on the walkway

It was so breezy but I loved it!!

The Louvre

Palais Royal 

We really enjoyed this cruise and I would tell everyone to take this tour at least once! 

As clouds start to return we arrive back to the Eiffel Tower! 

We walked back to the apartment and stopped for something to eat at the cafe across the street from us!  Then home for the evening! 
Only one more full day in Paris! 
Guess where I am going tomorrow!

Linda