Simplify #4 and More!!

After a really great start, the simplifying my home has taken a break.  Losing Charlie has been really hard and I haven't felt like doing anything! A few sunny days have helped. 

I mentioned that a blogging friend with a booth was interested in some of my things.  I kept sending her photos and adding to her pile of stuff. I ended up with 4 boxes full!  

This is the 'simplify' part of the post! 

Donna of Distressed Donna Down Home lives in Aikens, SC a couple of hours from me.  We arranged to meet last week in Madison, GA where she frequently goes to shop.

We met at the Goodwill and took a quick look around.  We both bought a few little things.

Then we headed to a fun Vintage Mall!

A little photo with the zombie and we continued to

shop, shop, shop! 

We then headed downtown to another couple of Vintage malls but first we had lunch at 

Madison Produce Company.  

They made wonderful sandwiches! 

Donna and I both had the smoked turkey with cheese and avocado!  I finished every bite!

Then more shopping!

We talked and talked. Shopped and shopped!

It is always so much fun to meet a blogging friend in person.  We plan some more shopping trips in the future and I plan to visit Aiken, SC and Donna's booth! 

So I had some money in my pocket from Donna and decided I did need aka WANT a 'few' things!

This little plaque is all I found at Goodwill.  It will go on my gallery wall that is getting closer all the time.  It was Sr Discount Day so it was $1.21!

I added to my collections.

These salt & pepper orphans are so pretty and at very low price, they both came home with me.

A great egg cup

 and this cute Flamingo planter

(excuse the bad photo)

This little Limoges ladybug egg stole my heart!

This framed print was only $4 and will go in my bedroom.

At our last stop I found a 75% off booth and scored some really cute things!

This little celluloid box is just charming!

Labeled 'French Ivory' it had to come home with me to hold some jewelry treasures.

This adorable turquoise planter was also 75% off and I could not leave it!

My last and most expensive purchase was a McCoy pink bud vase.

So sweet!

Thank you Donna for helping me downsize some of my treasures.  It is so good to know that they aren't going to the thrift shop where someone might not appreciate them, but will find new homes with other junkers like myself! 

Of course as bloggers we exchange little gifts.

Donna gave me some adorable tags she made, some vintage postcards and my first frozen charlotte!   I love it all!! 

I gave her some old 1920's photos of my Grandmother who was a beauty queen in Ottumwa, Iowa.  I had a few duplicate photos and I knew she would love them.

Donna shared a few items she found on a recent blog

But there is so much more for her to share!

I'll let you know when she posts again!

Meeting Linda in Madison
Friday Finds

So I did add to my collections, but I did downsize much more then I bought.  I need to get back to downsizing.  A lot of the things left are heading to the thrift shop.  Wish me luck as I hope to get lots more donated by next Monday.

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Ten Days!

It's been 10 days since my last post.

I seem to have lost my blogging mojo, 

but I hope it will come back soon.

I have found a few thrifty goodies to share!

This pretty plate was in the secretary for Valentine's 

Bordallo Pinehiro and only .75  Score!

I replaced it with this for St. Patrick's Day

Both of these pieces were thrifted several years ago and found at separate times!  

I will continue to change out the plates seasonally I think.  

Fun way to decorate!

I found another cubbie!!

It is bigger then my other's.  I need to clean it and find a place for it.  Then the fun part, filling it!! 

This past week has been a pretty good one with a few ups and downs.  I meet a blogging friend and will write that post soon.  It was also my youngest daughter's birthday and we have celebrated all week.  Last night Tiger wanted to make his Mom a mountain cake made out of mac n cheese.  He has such creative ideas.  I had the pan

 and his Dad had the mac n cheese. 

Here is how it turned out! 

 Tiger was so excited that his vision came true!  Macaroni Mountain! 

And I'm sorry but I can't be old enough to have a child that is 34...right?? 

Happy Birthday Sara!

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Catching Up

Thank you all for your kind words about the loss of my sweet Charlie.  They have comforted me so very much.  I will miss him forever but I am doing better now. 

I had to put this little memorial on the table in front of the window where Charlie would always sit.  
It has brought me comfort this week.

Last week I had to pick up a package at my local post office which is across the street from a great vintage mall, 
Junk in the Trunk!

So of course I had to stop in and shop!

Here are some of the fun things I found!

I love this adorable pink poodle!

Turquoise!  

Pink top and teal flower frog oh my!

This flower print is so pretty!

Pink Milk Glass is hard to find!

How about another Paris print!!

Does this egg cup look familiar?  When I downsized I donated this and it shows up here for $10...so no I didn't buy this! 

So many sweet things but this is what I decided to buy! 

This pale pink milk glass vase and the teal frog!
Both on sale!!

I've spent a lot of time with family and especially these sweet grands lately.  Being with them makes me so happy!

 My favorite Darth Vader

and this sweet girl just made my Valentine's Day wonderful.  

Tulips to brighten up the day!

I've taken a break from my 'Simplify' series, but will be back next week with more.  

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Linking to SYC 

Happy Valentine's Day

There are many kinds of love in this world.

Today I celebrate the love of family

Always there for me and giving me comfort.

Friends who have filled my heart with kind words

and so much love. 

I wish you all a beautiful Valentine's Day!

Linda

Charlie Kitty 1998-2016

I am not sure when, if ever, my grieving will end.

The last few months have been so hard.

Losing my brother before Christmas and now Charlie.   The last couple of months have been a watch and see kind of life with Charlie.  

He has been losing weight and going downhill but he still had light in his eyes.  Friday night that light was gone and he looked deep into my eyes and said, Mama it's time.

I always say 'our eyes met across a crowded PetSmart and he was mine and I was his'

That never changed and never will.

I held him and loved him until his last breath.

I will never be the same.

He has taken a piece of my heart with him.

How do you thank and honor a sweet kitty that has been with you through so much!

Always a beautiful boy and early on he knew how to 'pose' for the camera

Years later he could still 'strike a pose' and make my heart melt

Always more then just 'a cat' he was my constant companion.  He filled that empty place when my girls left home.  He comforted me through a divorce, deaths and much loss.

Now I mourn his loss.

Sleep well sweet Charlie!