Happy Red, White and Blue 4th!

I just recently learned (well in the last 3 years anyway) that close friends and colleagues John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on the same day, on July 4th. It was the same year our great nation was celebrating its 50th birthday, in part because of these two gentlemen.

Happy 4th of July and of course Happy Birthday America!

xxoo, Susan

Our Vacation and Anniversay

Hawaii is a tropical paradise. What we love most about it though is the people and the culture. The people are unpretentious and gentle. When you step off the plane you immediately sense the peacefulness that is within the islands and the gentleness of its people. Hawaii is steeped in many legends. One legend is that rain and rainbows are considered blessings from the gods. And let me tell you there can be rainbows for a good part of the day. If it rains during a wedding they consider this to be a blessing. There is something magical about a rainbow in Hawaii.

The language is interesting. It is comprised of only 5 vowels and 8 consonants. It is a tricky language but a lot of fun and sometimes exhausting (in a good way though) trying to pronounce some of the words. Although I have to say I think I have it down pretty good. We all know the word “Aloha” means hello and good-bye but did you know that it also means sympathy, kindness, compassion, affection and fondness. The Hawaiians consider this to be the basis of their core values.

We love Hawaii and its people. It is unforgettable.

Yes indeed, these are some relaxed, happy feet. I will be the first to admit I would much rather be comfortable then try and make a fashion statement with my shoes.

Paradise Pink!

This was certainly the cutest and pinkest cafe on the Island.

This was in the old whaling town of Lahaina.

This was at the Maui Tropical Garden Plantation So beautiful.
The island is this beautiful.

The hibiscus grows in hedges on the island.
This is called a Jade Flower.
They only bloom for a short time. I felt very fortunate that I was able to capture a photo.
I could not get over the color. Such a beautiful blue-green color.



We took a boat ride out towards the little island of Lanai specifically to see the Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins. This was our greeting and in no time we were surrounded by pods of these beautiful creatures. There was something very magical about them. Click on the picture to enlarge.


And then there are the Maui sunsets. I probably have 50 pictures of the Maui sunsets. I cannot get enough of them.
Words cannot describe.



Our Luau sunset.
Happy 20th anniversay to us!
xxoo, Susan

Our Forefathers Knew Best

Thomas Jefferson

I have always loved history. Especially during the period when our country was in its infancy. I have always been amazed at just how brilliant our forefathers were and the insight they had. The following quotes are from Thomas Jefferson. I am amazed at how relevant they are today.

When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe. Thomas Jefferson

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson

It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world. Thomas Jefferson

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
Thomas Jefferson

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. Thomas Jefferson

To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical. Thomas Jefferson

And in 1802 Thomas Jefferson said: I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homelss on the continent their fathers conquered.

All I can say is that this was one smart man.

Have a great weekend all and happy treasure hunting. I have a few yard sales that I am eyeing this weekend!
xxoo, Susan

I've Been Thinking

On Wednesdays, Rebecca at "A Gathering of Thoughts" graces us with her "Love Is..." posts. I know I look forward to her Wednesday posts. Actually I look forward to ALL of her posts. Well this got me to thinking. Like many of you, I need to stop and remind myself of what I am grateful for and what makes me happy. Now there are many things that makes my heart happy but I don't really think about all of the little things that make me happy while going about my day. From Rebecca's inspiration and tremendous heart I would like to start "Happiness Is..." posts.

So Rebecca, I hope with your blessing, I am going to start "Happiness Is..." posts. You can spread the Love and I will spread the Happiness. How does that sound?

I haven't decided which day I will do these posts. It won't be today. That would be too obvious. I like a little suspense. In the meantime, what would make me very happy today is that all of you think about all of the little things that make you happy as you go about your day. You would be amazed at all of the little short bursts of happiness and gratitude that we feel each day and we don't even pay attention to it. I am one of them!

Blessings and Happiness to all of you, Susan

Just a Quick Note

I am still here, alive and well. It has been a busy week for me, at home and work. I decided I needed a couple of days off from my job (the one that pays the mortgage) and take care of some long over due chores around the house. Well wouldn't you know it, I planned on washing windows and doing yard work. Yep, you guessed it, it has either been raining or it has threatened to rain. So I washed the inside windows (are you bored yet?) and washed the outside windows that are facing the front porch, thinking if it does start raining hard the porch will protect them. I still haven't gotten to the yard yet. Fortunately the yard is low maintenance and it just requires some pruning and trimming. That was kind of the reason we bought this house. My former home, which I loved dearly was a lot of maintenance. The yard consumed about 75% of my time and the housework the rest of my time. Since I work full time I only had the weekends to do this. Long story short, I had no life! Something had to give.

Have a great weekend

xxoo, Susan

P.S. I have been working on the vacation pictures which I am hoping to post this weekend. I know. It has taken me long enough!

I Trashed the Boring Weekend To-Do List!

The yard sale fairies were with me yesterday! I called Mom Friday night and told her that I had found a yard sale advertised as Shabby Chic and I would pick her up at 7:30 am sharp. Mom wasn’t as interested in the Shabby Chic part. She just wanted to hunt for treasures and more importantly wanted to get out of the house. She recently got over a very bad flu that had her down for almost two weeks. Yikes! Thankfully she is back to her old self.

The weather was perfect. There was a cool breeze. It was one of those breezes that brushed against the skin like little feathers. By the time I picked up Mom it didn’t matter if this yard sale was a bust. It just felt so good enjoying this beautiful morning. We arrived, and as I walked up to the house with this beautiful long driveway I immediately thought of all my Shabby Chic loving blog friends. She had some wonderful furniture pieces that were screaming for creamy white paint. Honestly, if I was still in my previous home, which was very cottagey, I would have been loading up the hutch I spied. It was one of the most perfect cottage pieces I have seen in a very long time. It was perfectly small, if that makes sense and was in pristine condition. It did not end there though. She had pounds of buttons and various fabrics, many of them vintage.

Everywhere I turned there was something vintage to look at. O.K., I told myself, focus, focus, focus. I knew I was going to need some self-control. She had everything thing displayed as if it was a little shop. We got to talking and she is getting rid of most of her things. These are things she has been acquiring from faires and flea markets for years. I must say she has a good eye for vintage and shabby chic. As I was looking through the fabrics I told her my dream finds are barkcloth fabrics. You guessed it, she has some barkcloth pieces but they are still in the basement with the rest of the things that she is going to put into a future yard sale. Needless to say I gave her my e-mail and phone number. Hmmm, maybe I can change my décor back to cottage and shabby chic in the next two weeks (just kidding). It is tempting though. Maybe when I retire.

Almost everything she had in her sale I wanted to swoop up, but over the years I have become very selective about what I bring home from my treasure hunts. My storage space is precious and I tend to get out of sorts when I don’t have things organized and put away in just the right place (well, somewhat organized and almost in the right place). I chose a few pieces of fabrics, one jar of buttons, even though she had several, and a few vintage crafting magazines.

The fabric with the blue and purple flowers is probably from the 40's.This piece would make a cute pillow case. It is the perfect weight for a pillow case.

I am assuming this was repurposed into a napkin from a 50's tablecloth. She had two of these.

The red fabrics are cotton, but heavier than quilting cotton.The red is so vibrant. I am not sure what these pieces will become. They would make a cute apron.

My buttons.
What is it about buttons that we can't seem to get enough of them?

These are the teeniest, tiniest buttons I have ever seen. I am not sure what I will do with these.

These pattern weights were just too cute to pass up. Besides I really can use them. I needed something like these just the other day.

I enjoyed the morning with Mom and she certainly enjoyed it too. I was glad that I could get her out of the house. I hope that in the next few weeks I will be blogging again about the future Shabby Chic yard sale. Until then, let the yard sale, estate sale and tag sale fairies be with us!

xxoo, Susan

Fearless Friday

Strength Tree

Artist - Annette Miller

Do you ever feel that you just can’t quite get it together? I have been feeling that way for the last two weeks. This really is not a bad thing, it is just frustrating. I entered the blogworld because like many of you, we have some great things to share and we want to make a positive difference in someone’s life. All of us really do have interesting lives, although if you saw my to-do list for the weekend you would either say, “You poor thing”, or “Get a Life!”

I just can’t quite get it together because I have been so unmotivated to get back into what I really enjoy and that is my sewing and making my handbags, or anything else that I produce from my sewing machine. I really do want to share with all of you my little adventures in my sewing room.

I can’t say that I need a vacation because I just got back from a wonderful vacation. Maybe my brain is still on vacation. I am thinking of Mary Engelbreit’s little girl, with her hands on her hips and a stern look on her face saying, “Snap out of it!”

I have titled this post as “Fearless Friday” because I will head into the weekend with high hopes. I will “Snap out of it!”

If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to your mountain, "MOVE!" and it WILL move... and NOTHING will be impossible for YOU!

Matthew 17:20

I am wishing all of you a great weekend.

xxoo, Susan