Vintage Halloween Mask

A few items purchased at sales lately.....

Vintage Halloween mask from the 1930's.  

Black Cats

Cocktail Shakers and Mixers

Always got to buy the things for my booth that might attract cowboys.

I was in the garage pricing and doing my inventory, so you might notice my son's band equipment in the background.

Update on the "good hoarding" house.  I'm still in the works of doing a total buyout.  Hopefully I can get my hands in there soon!

It's Natures Way

No shit, found this in my yard.  A perfect pecker, willie....
mushroom.

 Spirit a great 60's 70's band to commemorate Nature's Way

Isn't it perfect!

Goats don't like to eat mushrooms.

I do most of my work in a sundress & sandals.

Here in the goat yard a surprise squash plant.
Must have been from the Javelina eating my
garden last year.  Isn't nature amazing!

So I cooked up some squash breaded with parmesan cheese.

Being outdoors = a wholehearted life.

Old Ghost Town Tunnel

 Before Jennie went back to college, she wanted to do some exploring.  I remembered a spot that we had been to when she was about 3 years old.  It's about 16 miles from our house up in the Bradshaw Mountains.  An old railroad mine tunnel.

 She didn't remember going there so we headed out with me thinking it would be a piece of cake to find.  But it wasn't.  I knew what dirt road to take and kept thinking any time now, it should be around this bend.  As we went further into the woods I didn't recognize all the cabins that had been built.  20 years of progress in the woods.  We backtracked and at every indent by the mountains, we would get out to look for the opening.  Finally after climbing up a little hill, behind some trees and over a landslide....there it was.

 It's a hidden gem of history with graffiti and remnants of a campfire.

 During the late 1800's gold was discovered in the Bradshaw Mountains.  The tunnel was constructed in the mining era of 1902 and is 200 feet in length.  The Prescott-Crown King Railroad (No longer in existence)  used this tunnel to transport ore.

When I was here 20 years ago, you could walk through.  Now you have to climb fallen rock to the other end.

 Luckily I brought my camera which I used as more of a flashlight.  It was dark and scary.

This is the entrance from the road.  A secret hidden mining ghost town tunnel.  I challenge my kids to find it in another 20 years.

Nothing more beautiful to me than adventuring in the woods.

Busier Than A Beaver

We all know that feeling when you are so busy & where has the time gone?

All of the following clothing was bought for 50 cents each!
What a bargain!

I was lucky to be the first at a local estate sale.

Vintage Samsonite Train Case

We have been on the longest move for my daughter to go back to college.  She rented a cute little cottage near campus.  But the place was filthy on the move-in day...so we have been painting and cleaning.  For fun little breaks, I found a great thrift store where I bought the train case and other items.  Nothing better to cheer me up than to find bargains.

Also, I bought a huge collection of Barbies for resale.  A friend of mine that I have known since 7th grade and is a crazy Barbie collector contacted me as she wanted to thin her collection.  Some of them are pretty cool like the above Twist n Turn.  Other are the hideous 1980's princess type.  I don't know if it was a smart move or not....we'll see.

Hoarding In A Good Way?

 Get ready for a lot of photos.  Quality not very good as I only had my phone with me.  I was called to help this lady figure out WHAT TO DO!  A relative passed away a year ago and the family is over-whelmed.  Me too!  As we were walking in the front door she said "Are you ready for this?"  I have seen a lot of collections, BUT this was unbelievable!

Every room is crammed with china cabinets full to the brim.
Every inch of every wall loaded with something.  

 We are talking about a serious collector of everything.  Or a person with a serious problem.

It wouldn't be possible to have an estate sale.  No room to walk, people would steal or break things. 

 The family has been working on sorting through things for a year.  You would never know it from looking around.  So much Stuff!!!

Layer upon layer.  How could a person even begin?  It's not dirty or trashy like you will see on the HOARDERS TV show.
This is quality hoarding.

 I started thinking crazy thoughts.....I'll have to rent a warehouse or open a store.  Maybe I can do a buy-out and have inventory for the rest of my life!

Then I started to feel tired anticipating all that work.  What am I thinking???

This is just a hallway.  Not only is there major amounts of furniture, but every drawer and shelf has something inside.

This is a small sample of the hundreds of shadow boxes on every wall.  Each has so many treasures. 

All these photos are just a small sample.  You wouldn't believe this place.  On one hand it makes me excited to think of uncovering treasures.  But the other part of me is saying don't do it.

I'm not kidding....this house has more inventory than any of our local antique stores.  

Oh, another crazy thing...there is a huge antique organ upstairs.  How in the hell would we ever get it out.  

Didn't get a picture of the craziest.....a life size statue of Jesus in the shower.

Add A Little Love To Your Life

 Tomorrow my son and daughter will be leaving for Pasadena.  It's been a busy week of getting everyone packed for their new adventures.  Joe who is 18 (and my baby) is off to attend college.  Jennie is going with him to help unpack and set him up in his new apartment.  It's a 6 to 7 hour drive from our house.  Needless to say, I'm having anxiety...but also so excited for his future.

 One of my 50 cent estate sale finds last week.  It's from the 1970's and much cuter than the photo shows.  I wanted Jennie to model this, but we ran out of time.

Also bought this blue velvet hat with a rhinestone bow adornment.

Feeling domestic and motherly, I made 2 jars of Icebox Pickles.  So easy and delicious.  Recipe at the end of post.

Lastly, I just wanted to say I love my goats.

They fill my heart with love and will be helping me get through empty nest syndrome.

How to Make Icebox Pickles

6 cups sliced unpeeled cucumbers
1 cup sliced red onion
1 cup sliced green bell pepper
1 Tablespoon celery seed
1 Tablespoon salt
2 cups white vinegar
1 cup white sugar

Combine all ingredients in a glass jar or crock.  Cover and stick in the fridge.  The longer they sit the tastier they will be.  They will keep up to 3 months in the fridge.