Rescued Pets

That's my old "Sally the Cabana Dog" pictured above on Thursday afternoon. She loved to sit with me out in my backyard and watch the sun slowly set as night fall began. We've been doing this routine forever.  On Friday night, Sally had gone outside around 10pm. I went out to check on her, and she was confused and had trouble walking. I believe she had a stroke. I got her back inside and she just slept without moving. She wasn't in pain, but I knew the end had come for my old 14 year old buddy. Or as Riley always called her, "old girl".  I said my good-byes yesterday morning as I left with a heavy heart and headed out to Country Roads. I knew it was the last time I would see my old girl. Bryce was coming to get her to take her to the vet.

I'm not writing this post for everyone to feel sorry for me or sad. After all, Sally was fourteen and had lived a long happy life! I'm writing this to urge people that want a cat or dog to go a shelter or a rescue group. When I got Sally, it was less than a year after my divorce, and my other two dogs had died. I went down to the Seal Beach Animal Shelter. For some reason, Sally caught my eye. I was told she was found wandering around Main street in Old Towne Seal Beach. I went back home and picked up Bryce to see what he thought about adopting her. At the time Bryce was only 14 years old! Yes, my old girl was with us a long time. We made the decision to have Sally join our family.  So the thoughts and message I want to leave with all of you is if you are looking for a family pet, a cat or dog, PLEASE go to shelters or rescue groups. There are so many dogs and cats just waiting for a forever home. And like Sally, they will warm your heart each and every day! 

Vintage Inspiration

After I got a divorce a while back, I bought my first home on my own. I had just enough money to purchase the house, so the fixing up of it was to be done by me and my kids. I think at one time or another they all have worked on this house and continue to help me today. I loved the layout and size of the house but it was totally 70's, shag carpet and all. When you walk into the front door, the kitchen is right there. So to make some type of entrance, Bryce basically gutted most of the kitchen & dining room and a few walls as well to open it up. And since this was truly done with little money, we got by with what we had. On the floors, Bryce covered the horrible linoleum that was there with tongue & groove planks. They are normally are used on walls. We roughed them up a bit, and then put a sealer on top. The display cabinet came from Country Roads, as most of my stuff does. It gave the house more of an entrance as you come in the front door. The "leg" on the right belongs to a mannequin that stares out my front bay window. I love light so there are no curtains in my house. The mannequin often frightens people when they peer inside!

I love this old stove and it does work, although I don't use it. I've got my stove kind of hidden in the back of the kitchen by the refrig. By taking down the walls that Bryce demo'd, it made the kitchen and dining room so much more open. But we also took all of the ugly dark kitchen cabinets out. The only thing left is where my sink is, and once we re-do the kitchen that will go too.

I love this big old primitive cabinet. It stores all my food and also covers up some rough parts on the wall behind it where there was a wall that divided the kitchen from the dining room.

This is one of my very favorite old primitive cupboards. All the paint is original and its got some killer red paint on the inside. It holds all my plates, bowls, and dishes, etc.

Although this isn't one of my favorite pieces, it does have the old wavy glass in it and is great for all the glasses and the drawers work well for silverware and other smaller type items.

You know how once you get one banana box, you have to get a second. These are great for storing all kinds of things.

Another little wallbanger that hangs near the sink on the wall that had more ugly cabinets ripped off of it. It holds smaller items in it. 

I use this old metal A& P metal crate for storage. It sits on top of my refrigerator. The old insulators were my Dad's.  It's nice to glance at them from time to time and remember my Dad.

This is where the wall that divided the kitchen from the dining room was. To cover up the rough brick, I just added a little two piece white cabinet and an old architectural column.

There's the other side of the fireplace and on the left, the dining room and on the right the kitchen. 

I really hate this yellow paint. When I moved in they had dark paneling on all the walls. And for the time being, I just painted them. Not sure "why" I did yellow though. I'm hoping to get some nice bead board up in the near future.

More storage that sits across from the big showcase by the front door. I use all these pieces for storage. I really love the little green cabinet on the wall. It's an oldie, and everything on it is original. 

Because we tore out all the old cabinets, and a wall, the ceiling was really beat up. An easy fix was to cover it up with old ceiling tins. 

The dining room that  flows well with the kitchen has my old harvest table. It was one of my first primitives I ever bought for $150! It has eight chairs that fit nicely around it as well. 

Another one of my favorite cupboards in the dining room!

This table I fondly refer to as my "kids" table. It will seat four, which is good since my son and his wife are expecting their second baby in July. That makes four little grandkids for me so far!

I've rambled enough through this post and with this picture, it kind of sums up why we ripped up all the kitchen and part of the dining room. It all flows really well, with a step down to my family room/living room whichever you call it. I think now, more than ever, decorating and using vintage stuff in your every day lives is so much more economical than buying new. Especially if you are in this biz of antiques! I'm joining my friend Debra today on her lovely blog of Vintage Inspirations! Have a great day!!

White Wednesday at Country Roads

One of my very favorite places to find a variety of "whites" for "White Wednesday" is my store, Country Roads. I have such a selection to choose from that also changes almost everyday. Here are a few of my favorites that are in the store right now.

I hope you find the time to go pay Kathleen a visit. Not only does she post beautiful White Wednesday photos, but Kathleen is the one that put our "White Wednesdays" together a few years ago. I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful Spring weather. I'm loving it!

Got Teeth?

One of our dealers, Tony, just got back from a buying trip. Not sure where he got all the dental stuff, but I'm loving it! I absolutely LOVE the "teeth" below, but I was so bummed when I downloaded my pictures. We were SO busy today, I didn't have time to go get the key to unlock the "teeth case", and the photo came out blurry! Anyway, here are a few of the things Tony just brought into Country Roads!

I have this "thing" for old advertising and I have to say, this Tom's Toasted Peanuts case is sort of calling my name. But, so far I'm ignoring it. On a more serious note, and I know I say this a lot, but I really want to say "thank you" to so many of you that keep coming in and shopping with us. Today was another unbelievable day. Please know that each and every one of you mean so much to all of us. We sincerely value your business and appreciate you all. Thank you!

The Love of a Garden

This year, for some unknown reason, my garden is so full, and each and every time I walk outside it calls my name. Since I have a pool in my backyard, my garden is in the front yard. I have a little bit of grass, but mostly flowers. 

The naturism's have gone totally crazy and the lavender is doing the same.

The lilies were here when I bought the house eleven or twelve years ago. I love them in the Spring. I always bring a bunch inside of my house.

This flower bed that backs up to the driveway is going a bit crazy too! The hollyhocks are spread through out the entire garden. I never planted them. The seeds from the two or three hollyhocks I planted awhile back have  found new homes all over the garden. The old vintage mermaid was a gift from my buddy, Monica. She was moving and couldn't take her with her. And Monica, knowing my love of the ocean and beach,  gave her to me! The mermaid relaxes in the sun daily enjoying all of the flowers that surround her.

On the opposite side of the yard, these flowers and plants have also gone a bit crazy. There are some sweet peas in there mixed with the rest of my favorites that come back year after year.

I love these roses which I think are named Peace. These are one of my favorites. When they first begin to open, they have just a light touch of pink in the middle of them. And they are also smell SO good!

This is my crazy jungle of hollyhocks! They are on the other side of my driveway, by the street, in the worse soil ever. Bryce use to make cement hearts, stepping stones, etc. And where did he dump the old, unused cement? Here, but the hollyhock seeds that blew over from the one's in my garden seem to love their new home! They just keep getting bigger, and higher. Crazy!

I know that those of you that live out here in Southern CA must remember Mary Lou Heard of Heards's Garden's and Nursery. She died way to early in life, but her love of gardening was passed down when a rose was named after her. Yes, above is the Mary Lou Heard rose blooming in all her glory.

As you must be able to tell, there is the more of my garden than grass and it has just gone a bit out of control this year. There is a little bit of everything mixed in out here.

I love to buy a cheap bouquet of flowers from Trader Joe's. Then I like to add in flowers from my garden to it. I got a couple of bouquets of  canpulas (I can't spell today) for like $3.79 each at Trader Joe's and then added some lilies from my garden with them.

I mixed in some of the red Mary Lou Heard red roses with the daffodils that I so love. They are super cheap and such beautiful flowers if you look at them closely.

Next to my bed, I always try to keep a vase of fresh flowers. I guess because it is nice to wake up to. I just put together a few daffodils and some of my white roses. 

 Just another little bouquet  on my fireplace.  You know, I've always loved to garden and always, and I do mean always, have fresh flowers in my home!

And where did I and my kids get the gardening bug? Who taught us all to love and respect nature? That would be my Mom. She is pictured on the left with her Mom, my Grandmother, Madge. My Mom grew up in Texas and her entire life she told me and my sister, and my kids about how much she loved seeing the big fields of her beloved Texas bluebonnets.  I have an old black and white photo of my Mom and my Grandmother standing in a field of Texas bluebonnets.  I want to get it enlarged and printed on canvas! It was a nice way to grow up, respecting and appreciating what nature has to offer all of us. My oldest, Brande, was so influenced with all those years of gardening, that she opened Johnnye Merle Gardens and Nursery in the back of Country Roads. My Mom knew about the gardens and nursery named after her, but her health prevented her from ever being able to actually visit her namesake. I know she is proud of all of us, although I wish she would have lived long enough to have that special time in the garden with her great-grandbabies!  I guess that is where I need to carry on her love for nature and gardening!