Longing For Color

All this abnormally mild winter weather has me walking around my backyard a lot with my camera in hand. The problem is that, even though the weather is great, there's not a lot of prettiness around in February to take pictures of. So I tend to walk around aimlessly in circles and then my camera and I slowly make our way back inside.

Sure, a dead perennial that I forgot to cut down in the fall is something.

But nothing like the vivid colors of spring and summer.

I'm chomping at the bit to get out there and do some gardening, but it really is too early. In the meantime I'm pinning like crazy to my Pinterest gardening board.

You know the old saying

Or something like that.



Linking with Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesday and The Farmhouse Porch's Cowgirl Up.

       

Mad Men To The Rescue

You may have noticed that I am sporting some Blogher ads now. One ad running on my sidebar over that way ------>

And one on the blue bar across the top.

This was not a decision made lightly. At all. Just ask my husband. A lot of thought went into this and I annoyed him to no end with my ponderings on the subject.

But to be completely honest, it takes a lot of time to write a blog. Those of you who write blogs know this, those of you who don't write blogs yet (yes, everyone will eventually write a blog) will find this out. Between taking photos, writing, spell checking (why does your brain go on vacation when you turn 50?), design, etc you can spend as much time on it as you would at a part-time job. Plus there are costs associated with me having my own url, costs for extra storage space for photos on Google, etc. And I am at a point where I would feel better about putting time, effort and money into something, if it were a teeny tiny bit more than a hobby.

And let's be honest, I am not the largest blog out there. If I make enough to cover my blogging expenses and maybe buy myself a new lens for my camera this year, I will be ecstatic and probably pee my pants. Right now I am on track for a cheeseburger Happy Meal at McDonald's.

So, just wanted to let you know that I've gone pro. It sort of feels good to be back in the working world.

source


       

Here Doggie, Doggie

I have a thing for dogs.

The live fluffy kind, of course, but also the statuesque kind.

China dogs . . .

Celluloid dogs . . .

Toy dogs (I think this is Tramp, from Lady And The Tramp) . . .

Dogs permanently mounted to ash trays . . .

(I totally staged this photo - didn't think you'd enjoy seeing
my husband's cough drops, gum and toe nail clippers that are normally thrown in here)
Even dogs that have been beheaded and made into bottle openers . . .

And apparently, I am not the only person addicted to dog things.

In the spring issue of Flea Market Style magazine, dogs was one of the top ten collecting finds this year. Can you believe that!!!

Just call me cutting-edge-Pam.

BTW, I went to an estate sale today and they were selling quite a few dog figurines. For $15 a piece! Are you kidding me? Seemed a little steep, but maybe they had just read Flea Market Style magazine too and thought there might be a run on the dogs.

Have you caught the dog collecting bug?



Linking with Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors.

       

Seriously?

Oregon wins the daffodil championships again.

After I posted my Daffodil Wars post, my sister so joyfully sent me this very poor quality photo taken with her phone. Her daffodils are already in bloom.

Dang it.

You do know that sasquatches are omnivorous, meaning they eat both meat and plants. I wouldn't be tempting those guys by planting pretty flowers around my house. Just saying.





       

The Daffodil Wars

My sister that lives in Oregon (waves to Oregon) always has to let me know how far along her daffodils are each year. It's like a contest with us - which state is superior in the floral category. Although when I look at the map of the United States, it would appear that Ohio and Oregon are about equally as close to the equator, I guess spring comes much earlier there than here. And my sister has to constantly rub it in.

In a normal spring, her daffs are up and in bloom before mine are even an inch out of the snow covered ground.

This year, with the unseasonably mild winter, it's only mid-February and my bulbs are out of the ground a good five inches and I can see the blooms forming already. Take that Oregon!

You don't suppose my sister's daffs are on the fast track this year too? That would be just too annoying.

I think, if I can keep the dogs off of the daffodils, I should be able to have a fighting chance at the daffodil championships this year.

Do you have daffodils that are getting ready to bloom yet?

And would you rather live in Ohio or Oregon? Gently rolling farmland or sasquatch infested mountain ranges? BTW, all Oregon "votes" will be deleted :)



       

Yogi Bear Would Be Jealous

Thrift stores have not been good to me lately. Lots of trips, not a lot of fun finds. Just a slow time of the year, I guess.

But last week when I sauntered into one of my Volunteers of America stores, not expecting to see anything great, I ran across this pic-a-nic basket. Yabba-dabba-doo! Uh, wrong cartoon?

It's not exactly picnic season in Ohio yet, but these baskets are great to store things in.

Plus, they are cheap. And I'm cheap. So, a match made in heaven.

This guy was $3.99.

All three of my other wooden picnic baskets were right around $3.00 each. Cheaper than one of those big old plastic storage containers and with much more character.

I have three of them now that have this diamond pattern on them.

I believe they are Redmon picnic baskets.

And a West Rindge one that is more of a woven splint design. Similar to something Longaberger would have made, but older.

I'm taking this as a sign that the thrifting season is kickin' into high gear.

If you're smarter than the average bear, you'll check out these parties:

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Flea Market Finds at Her Library Adventures
Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage
Thrift Share Tuesday at Apron Thrift Girl
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday