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.

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.

Weird Science

Buying weird things...that's what I've been doing.

Since I've been home, my town had their annual event "Antiques On The Square".  I don't know what possessed me to buy some of these things.

My inventory has been getting low so I guess it was a panic buying spree.

I do like the PORKY PIG planter.

And western stuff always seem to do well in our area since we are in the old west.  Funny but the vintage "Paint by Numbers" are sort of hot.  I remember as a little girl, for Christmas, we always received one to paint.  I can vividly remember the oil paint smell.

Oh and I couldn't pass up this 1962 Barbie case.

My babies missed me so much!  They acted as if no one fed them while I was gone.  Here I'm trying a sweet pea plant as a new treat.  We had lots of good loving time together and I'm so happy to be home.

All of you English girls with your fabulous gardens, rain and green surroundings.....here is a sample of our landscape.  This flowering cactus appeared on it's own.  I'm really jealous of the other bloggers with their green lands and flowers.  It's too dry here where I live.  But I must accept my fate as I have made a life and family in Arizona.

Wasted Days and Wasted Nights

Do you ever have those kind of days when you just piddle around the house and yard not really accomplishing anything?  Well that's me today.  So I was just walking around thinking about how things come and go in my house (for resale) but many items are here for the long-haul.....

 I use these dog doorstops everyday, propping the door so the cats can go in and out.

My favorite mesh and beaded bags, I love the Deco Era!

 Henri G. Reynard Litho

Art Deco bookend, I only have one. 

Maxfield Parrish Litho "Garden of Allah" 

Unique Oriental box

Buddha, barber bottle, snuff bottle, etc.

Weller vase, Owl shot glass, the lady is a figural gas cap!

This sculpted African head is one of my most favorite things.   Inspiration for my living room.

I spent hours outside walking around with the goats, then reading a book.

We had the fencing put in around the back yard...now the goats have 1/2 acre for browsing. 

I have the cutest yard boys!

Looks like a prison shot, but it's Chuck helping me move a cement bench to the backyard.

This hardy fellow comes back ever year and spreads over one of my hills.  

The gorgeous Pas de Chat AKA Pawdee enjoying the day with me.

Hope you all are have a marvelous day, whatever you are doing!

Goin' up to the spirit in the sky

Hello Friends!  First I want to mention that I am an animal lover and would never harm a creature.  My last blog post might have scared a few people with the title "Javelina Makes A Nice Pair of Gloves".  Also, my goats are purely pets.  No milking, breeding or any animal cruelty.  My pets are brushed, fed, played with and spoiled.  Just wanted to clear that issue up first.  I can't believe I haven't blogged in almost a month.  The illness hit me again and I was unable to even look at the computer without feeling delirious, dizzy and nauseous.  I'm sure I've missed some great post from other bloggers.  

Rowland my cute little goat!

I did manage to attend an estate sale I was invited to last week.  I will drag my sick body out of the house rain or shine for a big sale.  I bought this 70's dress for $1.00!

                                                Also, this vintage raincoat for $1.00

Rain hats and sewing pattern box.
I think I'll do an April Showers display in my booth.

Other miscellaneous finds all cheap.  Mysterious big ring tested silver, what is it though?

After being cooped up for so long, I went for a nice walk along the Pevine Trail in the Granite Dells.  It's a beautiful area with large granite rock formations.

The trail used to be railroad tracks for the Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix  line that is now extinct.  Twenty five years ago, we used to walk along the tracts and pull up old date nails from the rails.  We sort of made a game of it with the kids, finding dates from the 1920's and 30's.

Watson Lake peeking through...

It's good to be alive and not taken up to the "spirit in the sky"!

Food is Love

So, the princess has been home from college all week because she has been sick and couldn't take care of herself...ha ha.  I rushed right up and brought her home.
Here's a photo of us when we were well and happy in NYC.
We've had another snow storm and have been lounging in pajamas or muumuu's (my favorite home attire).  Lot's of home cooking for all the sickies.

Google Eyed Vintage Valentines from my hubby a few years ago.  The arms, legs and eyes move.  I keep them in my favorite antique pigskin boxes.  The scarf underneath is the only vintage find from this weeks thrift store....it's a VERA.

I bought 16 of these antique open salts from Czechoslovakia a few years ago at an estate sale.  I forgot about them, boxed them up for the future.  I pulled them out to sell on ebay...no use having things stored away if I'm not going to use them.

Experimenting with different treats for the goats.  Here's a happy one after his first carrot.

Pear, Blue Cheese Pizza

Lemon, Caper and White Bean Pasta

Alpine Mushroom Pasta

Food is Love!