How I See It

Thrifty Scores!!

So MacIver and I were out on the weekend. Driving home after a long day of running around, just around the corner from home I spied a canopy in a parking lot of an office building area. I asked if we could stop and peek as it was obviously a garage sale ...some sort of community fund raising event. MacIver was a little tired and maybe a little grumpy and I said..oh..forget it...we don't need anything ...but he did turn in and sat in the car while I whipped around. There was lots of little things. I spied a set of cutlery in a cutlery box but did not pay too much attention to those (yet). Then I saw some old silver stuff. Again I really don't need any silver as I have LOADS of it from my MIL and my own dear Mum (still in Ireland awaiting sipping). I did look..and found something that I loved the shape of...what do you think?

It's a lovely shape and size and will be a perfect vase for Summer blooms!

Lovely detail on the handle

 but what confused me was...what sport plays for "flights"? Anyone know what this might have been an award for? **EDIT...I think I found it after googling every which way but up...golf...maybe just ladies golf?**

There was quite a few items in the collection of trophies. Platters, cups and vases and I could kick myself that I didn't pick them all up! I asked how much they wanted for the jug and she said .... $2!!! SO SOLD!! I was so happy! Next time I won't leave anything behind...afterall..I am sure you would all love a little blog candy? I won't fail you again !! Promise!

MacIver came over then and I showed him the cutlery set in the box...a very pretty & elegant  set of plated silver, 6 pieces of each item. I really did not need cutlery but I thought my newly wed son & his wife might. So I called him and he said they would. I asked how much and they said $10 (reduced from $25!!). SCORE! He was over shortly after we got home and so I didn't get a chance to take a picture but he was thrilled with them :-)

So of course now I am all excited to get out to other garage sales this Summer!

I am going to link up to Southern Hospitality's Thrifty Treasures

 and Thrift Share Monday

and Her Library Adventures Flea Market Finds

Thanks for visiting!

Sue

 

OH

 

GO CANUCKS GO!!!!!

5 Lbs of Buttons isn't enough?

For some reason I have recently become fixated on buttons, in particular vintage collections of white buttons. When I saw THIS (...click over to the #3 photo) the hunt was on. I was fortunate to find a collection on Ebay and WON!! (McIver does not agree that you can WIN on Ebay...HUH?). The arrived recently..and looked like this:

I refrained from opening them up and dumping them all over the table until I found my vessel for them! Well...I was looking for a nice vintage jar like the one in the picture but could not find anything. Then I scoured HomeSense daily because a few months ago when I didn't need one they had 100's of lovely apothecary jars that would have worked. I've had the buttons now since Easter...so I said to my self ... I said ... "Susan...think outside the box vintage vessel". I did..and while in HomeSense one day I saw a very cool vintage looking candle enclosure. But I then ran with that idea and looked at all the different ones they had and ended up with this one...

I had to find one that would enclose the buttons and be secure so I didn't have a button shower in the guest room!

Time to play with the buttons....

I dumped them out

and was so happy with the selection

....they really were like someone's personal collection of buttons that were cut off clothing over the years...check them out

Someone obviously threaded buttons onto this wire to save them...love that!

Look...she cut a little bit of the shirt with this one....

LOVE these ones with the little wire loops on them

A little sample of the more ornate ones...

and another sample

So..time to load them up...

WHAT??? It's not full!!!

So I am on the hunt for even more...meanwhile..I think they look lovely and they are residing in the guestroom

So if you have white vintage buttons that need a home...I have one for them! :-)

Thanks for dropping by!

Sue

 Linking once again to Songbird's White Party

 

 

 

Let the White Shine Through...

We shared our last home with my In-Laws and looked after them for the last 20 years. We also lived in the basement! It was a dark basement, not your modern above ground style ones...no this was the cave style. We had it decorated quite nicely and changed it up a few times while we were there but nothing made it bright!

So when we moved and I got BIG windows and everything is lovely and bright I knew I wanted to reflect that light...and I was going to have a bright guest room with lots of fluffy cushions on the bed. As soon as I saw the sheets I grabbed them, same with the pillows...I know exactly what I wanted...not totally white but definitely the over all effect was white and bright...and I knew also that I wanted white furniture.

Welcome to the guest room...

I knew I had achieved what I was after (a welcoming comfy guest room) when I showed my friend Collen the room and she SQUEEEEEEed and said she just wanted to move in and stay! LOL My plan is to paint the walls a very very soft gray/white in the not too distant future when funds allow again!

All the pillows (except the white pillow shams) and bedding is from HomeSense and Winners (here in Vancouver and the little black one is from Toronto when I visited my sister). I think these are sister stores to TJMaxx in the States.

My favourites by far are the white ones with the shabby chic roses on them..lovely soft texture.

I found these accent lights in Ikea

The artwork for the walls is from my Daughter-In-Law Christina (aka Teeny...because she is)

The quilt & Pillow Shams I brought back from Ireland In February and the day before yesterday I saw the EXACT same one at a store near here..LOL! But I love it and again it adds texture.

The lights by the bed I also found at HomeSense. The local HomeSense is about 5 minutes from our new house  and right by the grocery store so I am ALWAYS in there...so I know what is new and as soon as I see something I like I nab it....I can always take it back but if I hesitate...it's gone! Richard was with me when I saw these lamps...right at the entrance of the store. He was not sure about them but I KNEW I wanted them! The are solid and heavy and I think they fit the room and add a nice element to all the floofyness happening on the bed.

What do you think?

The reason I decided to show you the 'white' room today is because I was reading Donna's blog "Funky Junk Interiors" and she was showcasing her love of all things white because she was linking up to a blog in Europe (New to me) "Songbird" that was hosting a giveaway...and we all love a chance to win something cute right? (You can too...)

Around the house I have a few more things that are white

The beautiful vintage birdcage our friend's gave us

and the iconic white Ikea Sofas

The throw and the cushions are also Ikea. I don't want to show too much of this room until I have some woodwork done...in the not too distant future I hope. (Yes white...lol)

That's it..I'll link up to Songbird and you can hop over and visit all the white loveliness and enter to win too

 

and Donna at Funky Junk...

 

Thanks for visiting...

Sue

 

Sniffles and flowers

Sick..every year whether I need it or not I get a really bad cold. Hand me my tissues and I am off to bed.

Today I was hanging out on the sofa feeling sorry for myself when I noticed that the lovely flowers that I received at the Easter Brunch were looking a little "tired". They needed to be sorted and edited. I took my Mother In Law's lovely silver teapot (that she would die if she saw how tarnished I let it get...but I like that look!) and cut back the flowers that still had life in them and created a little bouquet to brighten up my day. I always love this secondary life giving exercise for bouquets of flowers...they always look so totally different from the original.

What do you think?

I love the rainbows of colour that tarnished silver creates..

The teapot is quite plain with just a little trim of decoration

and the whole pot...

Thats all the energy I had today..hope your day was wonderful!

I am linking to Sarah's Good Life Wednesday, check out what everyone has been up to...

 

Sue

It Was Her Time. The Queen of Dalkey is passed.

On Valentine's Day my mum passed away. My husband and I flew home to Ireland to lay her to rest and to celebrate her life. She loved a celebration, social events, hosting a party (gosh could she ever host a party), going to a party, cups of tea with just about anyone...

Mum had spent the last 11 weeks in hospital. Finally they let her come home. She returned to her beloved home in the afternoon, she Skyped with me and my siblings who were together in Toronto. My bother, SIL and my niece were with her, my nephew stopped in to visit, neighbours dropped in.

She looked beautiful in her navy suit, matching shoes and of course the ever present pearls. My niece told how, when she said "Gran, you look beautiful in your navy suit", mum replied..that's French Navy, to which my niece said..whats "French Navy?" and mum said..."It all the style now". At 88 she knew what was happening and loved to be up to date on the happenings of the world. She sat and watch the political debate for a couple of hours with my niece and nephew. Later as my nieces assisted her to get ready for bed she simple let a little "oh" escape her mouth and she was gone. Her heart just gave up the battle. But she was at home and that pleased her.

We held a "wake" at the house and took vigil of her over night. She had expressed that she did not wish to be left at the church alone over night. As always we did her bidding. Hundreds of her friends and family came to pay their respect to this feisty lady. Stories were shared, laughter permeated the house all day long. There were tears, both happy and sad.

The next day the church service was so beautiful, she had picked out her music (of course she had!!! LOL) and a family friend sang it accompanied by harp. My brother spoke of our mum, we cried, laughed and applauded. There was about 500 there to send her on her way. It was beautiful.

Mum, you inspire me to always fight through any pain like you did for so many years. To be a good friend. To have a kind heart. To be determined. To be generous. To know how to laugh from my belly.  To fiercly love my family. To work hard and to mind my manners.

Words over heard at the memorial that described mum:

"A force to be reckoned with" "Great friend" "The best" "Loved life" "Loved to shop" "Elegant" "Stylish" "Funny" "Giggler" "She had the most beautiful skin" (Her secret...Pond's Cold Cream)

You were loved by so many, yes, you also drove us crazy, but we would not have changed a thing about you. Give dad a big hug from us. Rest now.

Again??

Yesterday the first wave of packing was done...they moved like white lightening and befre you knew it our house transformed into a sea of boxes. They worked so hard..I think if I had not stayed out of their way I would now be residing in a cardboard box!

So after they left I went online to chitchat with my friend a little. One of my friends is moving into a new place also..and mentioned how she would be looking forward to gardening. I laughingly replied that I was looking forward to NOT gardening and shared this photo of our new back yard

LOL..not a lot of weeding there. Then she asked what my current garden looked like and I sent this photo:

and then the tears started to flow again. It's all so stupid. I am excited to leave this home and start off again building a 'home' in our beautiful new house. Yet I looked at the picture of the garden in the Summer and I sobbed. We have had amazing parties and gatherings in this garden and it is a little bit of magic here in the city. I'm going to have to work hard on the pots for the new patio!!!

I am sure there will be more tears as the move happens. Sad ones and happy ones. Saying goodbye to the neighbours is the hardest part of all. We have been blessed with the very best.

 

A Favourite Salad

 I love to eat this salad in restaurants but I think it's better at home because you can put all the good stuff on it that you want! You have to start with a FRESH buffalo Mozzarella...pricey but worth ever penny trust me on that!

This is what I like to put in my version

Naturally the best time of the year to make this is when you have fresh garden grown tomatoes and basil!

Slice them all up except the basil and arrange on a cute plate, top with good virgin olive oil and some balsamic vinegar. Now take the basil leaves and roll them together gently like a cigar and slice them very thin and sprinkle LOADS over the salad. Crusty bread and you are ready to dine!

Cheers!

Unexpected emotions

I am sitting in Sydney as I type. On Monday I got ready for work as usual and packed my bags, computer, camera etc..gave the dog a treat and Rich and I headed to the car to drive me to the airport. I was ahead of him, it was dark and as I waited by the car I looked back at our little home of 22 years and suddenly it hit me like a ton of bricks. This was my last trip to work from my home, my next flight I will be going to the airport from the new house. Suddenly my eyes welled up and I struggled not to cry (no time to reapply makeup LOL). Sadness engulfed me as I thought about the coming move. Not total sadness...I am excited about the new house and the new adventures we will have together as we get our new nest organized and comfy. What I had not really given much thought to was how much I would miss our little place there in the basement of my in-law's home. Where we poured so much love into the garden, the redecorating and renovating of the apartment. The love/hate I felt for our below ground level home by the end of the Winter when I craved sunshine desperately. Our miniscule kitchen from which we fed crowds

We have laughed so much in this house..it is a house full of love and laughter and good times with good friends and family. It's a pain-in-the-butt old house that always needed some thing fixed and every fix begat another step in the maintenance list! (Hubby won't miss that part for sure)

Strangely, I will truly miss you little house... my husband will be leaving his childhood home behind, you have been a wonderful home to all of us. I hope the new family will love you just as much as we loved you. It will be hard to close the door for the last time.