MY FRIEND MARY KAY!

I love to read!  I always have a book I'm reading and a large (OK it's a mountain) of 'To Be Read' books.  I read a lot of best sellers and I am always looking for new authors and love suggestions from friends.  I exchange books with friends and family and of course I buy books while shopping yard sales and thrift shops.

I would like to introduce you to my friend Mary Kay Andrews(Isn't she cute).  I first 'met' Mary Kay while browsing the Goodwill books and I found a cute paperback book SAVANNAH BLUES.  Well living in Atlanta, GA and loving Savannah I thought I would pick it up and give it a read.  Well I am here to tell you I had a hard time putting down this book.  You know how when you find a new author how excited you can get?  Times 10!!

The main character Eloise "Weezie" Foley is so cute and get this...she is a picker!  Yep an antiques picker.   

I am not going to tell you any more of the story so you will have to read this fun book!!! 
I then when in search of all her previous books.  I found several at different Thrift shops!  I have enjoyed each and every one.   I also buy each of her new books when published.Her books are witty, sharp and funny.  Her characters grab you and keep you entertained. 

Now more about my friend Mary Kay...she is a blogger!  Yep so this is just kismet that I love her books so much.  You too can visit her and become her friend (and one day I do hope to actually meet her) by visiting her
blog HERE .   Mary Kay who was a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (newspaper)  and went to the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs) also wrote 10 mystery novels under her real name Kathy Hogan Trochek.  I tracked down all 10 of these books and enjoyed reading them also!!  I have shared my love for her books with many friends and they have all enjoyed her writing.  I hope you will think about reading a Mary Kay Andrews novel.  She is currently at work on her new novel SUMMER RENTAL. 


I hope you will visit each of the parties and view all the other fun posts today! 

TROY for Tuesday Trivia Tie-In 
DIANE  for 2nd Time Around and

LINDA for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

A couple of foot notes: I joined in for 2nd time around and Nifty Thrifty Tuesday because most of my books are bought 2nd hand. I also thought sharing some info about Mary Kay qualified for Trivia.

Always,
Linda

GUEST POST BY CHARLIE THE CAT!

I want to thank my Mum for letting me guest post on her blog.  She writes about 'me' enough that it seems only fair.

 

While Mum was on vacation she entered a giveaway over at Confessions of a Junkyard Cat

My buddy Romeo drew my name and sent me this great package...of course I had to wait for Mum to come home from Texas as she wanted to take photos...sigh...the things we do for Mums!

 

This 'cute' (gag I am a guy after all) card was on top with a great message from the "Whisker bunny" aka Romeo the very cool cat!

 I pushed that out of the way so I could get to the goodies....I love these treats!  

 

I was only allowed to eat a few so as not to ruin my fine muscular bod (ahem)

 There was also this package so Mum can grow me some lovely Wheatgrass!

Then this came out of that box and well....

I smelled it and whoo hooo catnip

I might have gone a little crazy but there are no photos to prove it....

So a great big Thank you for such a wonderful gift!

Charlie

SILVER SUNDAY

I am joining in for Silver Sunday

Please go by and check out all the other posts. This is hosted by our friend Beth at GYPSY FISH!

I have just returned this week from a month long visit to my Mom's in Houston, Texas!  I thrift shopped going, while there and returning home.  I didn't find a lot of Silver, well not much at prices I would pay but I did find these few items and I really love them.

I think my favorite must be this sugar bowl.  No lid but I love the detail on the handles and the feet. 

I also found this porringer...

(a shallow, round bowl with one or two flat, horizontal handles set on opposite sides of the rim and, usually, a shallow lid. In recent usage, the word has also been used to refer to late 16th- and early 17th-century English silver vessels of cylindrical form with two vertical scroll handles. The precise purpose of porringers, or écuelles, as they are known in France, is in dispute; but it is thought that they were used to hold broth or gruel.  description from yourdictionary.com)

 I also bought two of these little serving dishes marked Lovelace from International Silver Company.  It is a 3 footed candy dish. 

 Now don't forget to check out the other beautiful silver at Gypsy Fish.

Always,

Linda

LIKE A WARM SPRING RAIN

I am joining Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch
for her fabulous tablescapping party held each Thursday
...Please check out all the wonderful tables being set just for your enjoyment!


I thought that after all the wonderful pastels of Easter we might be ready for some more earthy colors but still Spring like...

 The wood of this table brought out the warmth of the yellows

This table for two was inspired by these plates found at Marshall's

 These plates were on clearance and only two of them, but that works for me

I started with a yellow & white stripped place mat and solid yellow napkin with a clear glass napkin ring edged in gold

 I layered the white charger, soft yellow Fiesta plate and the bird salad plate 

I used silverware with a bronze handle

The centerpiece was a basket with soft green, yellow and browns filled with faux white and green flowers

I added green pressed glass wine goblets and other green serving dishes to the table

The bird salt & pepper shakers were placed on a soft creamy yellow Lu-Ray pastel plate

 I added a little bird to each place setting

Simple but inviting I hope!

White Charger plates, yellow Fiesta plates - thrifted

Placemats, napkins, napkin rigns, silverware - thrfited

S & P Bird Shakers - gift from a good friend

Centerpiece, serving pieces & ceramic birds - thrifted

Bird Design Plates by Royal Stafford $1 each - Marshall's

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will drop by Susan's for more wonderful tablescapes....

Always,

Linda

L IS FOR LONGABERGER BASKETS

Today's Letter is  L for Longaberger 

I am joining Jenny for ALPHABE-THURSDAY 

and Suzanne for VINTAGE THINGY THRUSDAY  over at COLORADO LADY          

Many of you I'm sure are familiar with Longaberger Baskets.  These handmade woven baskets are made in Dresden, Ohio and carry on a tradition started over 100 years ago.  I had seen these at homes of friends but never could afford one myself...until this one came into my sights at a Goodwill several years ago...

Hard to tell but this is a pretty large vegetable basket
It was sitting high on a shelf and I grabbed it and almost passed out at the $2.99 price...unbelievable!

Someone named Mat or the initials MAT made this in 1989.  I must say it was several years before I was able to buy another basket...I kept looking for bargains but as we know the Thrift Shops have gotten pretty savvy on pricing items.  So I turned to EBAY.....

I discovered these small baskets that were hostess gifts...I was able to win these three for a fair price!

Charlie joined in the photo session to let you know he wasn't going to be ignored...he fell asleep among the baskets...

 I like the little baskets and use them by my bed and on my end table for my little stuff...

These were also Ebay wins

This is called a Button Basket and came with a liner 

and protector

This one has a cute handle cover

This was bought new from a dealer, they were on sale at a very good price...I got the liner for this cracker basket on Ebay

The basket with a handle is a gathering basket and I also bought this new from the dealer

I got this Recipe basket, lid & liner on Ebay for a great price....one of my favorites and I use it all the time

These two little baskets are special

The tall one is a special edition for Breast Cancer and the other was a gift from a friend

These baskets are scattered through out my home and are used and loved.  I must admit I didn't realize I had so many until I gathered them for these photos.   I haven't bought one in awhile but I always keep an eye open for them at thrifts!

Hope you enjoyed my L post and for more informtion about Longaberger baskets you can go HERE

Be sure to go by Jenny Matlock and Colorado Lady for more fun Thursday parties!

Always,

Linda