Oh The Places I've Been

One of the most eventful trips of our lives was to Italy when our children were young.  This picture is taken of my hubby and me on our gondola ride  in Venice.

I love the pictures of the architectural buildings along side the water with the gondolas.


 
 
 
 
 
 

My Sister and her husband along with our Son in this picture. 

 

 

 

I thought this was so cool--a one way sign in the alley way!!

 

The black line on the column denotes the water level during a flood of Venice. From wickepedia : Venice has a history of "aqua alta"- meaning high water. The first official measurements of sea levels began in 1872.

On to go back would be a dream for us.

Linking withOH THE PLACES I'VE BEEN

 

Ann

Grandpa in grade school

G is for Grandpa


I'm redecorating my  sunroom tables and mantel and came across this photo of my Dad.  He was a wonderful grandpa and father.   He passed way in his 60's but my children got to know him until they were in their teens.

This must have been around 1930,  my family being farmers didn't have much money but I'm so glad someone  had a camera to commemorate this grade school picture.  I  know the picture is so faded but notice he was carrying a metal lunch bucket. Wonder what my grandma packed for him that day?

 

 

My Dad went to school through the 8th grade and worked on the family farm until he went into the Army/Air Force in WWII.  Even though he had no formal education he went on to be a partner in a machine shop here in our city and become a success with lots of hard work and determination.

 

Linking withABC WEDNESDAY

Ann

 

 

 

Summers ending pinks

This is view from my back yard, our neighbors Rose of Sharon is in full bloom.

 

We get to enjoy it as much as they do.


Another new life has entered our family, my daughter is holding my newest great niece at a family birthday party at a park.

Hope you are soaking up all of the warm days that's left of summer.


Linking with Beverly @ PINK SATURDAY

Ann

 

F is for Frugal

F IS FOR FRUGAL

Do you re-use aluminum foil?

 

Do you buy generic?

 

Do you shop thrift stores and re-finish items to look like what's on the rack or on the showroom floor?

 

If you do any of these you might be FRUGAL.

 

I did not become FRUGAL until I was in my 40's.  I remember spending way too much money on items that I felt my family needed or I needed. 

 

Television commercials and ads make it so hard on parents especially--making them feel guilty if they don't spend lets say $60.00 on a pair of jeans!!

 

Don't get me wrong--I'm not cheap, if there is something we desire I will pay the full price for it but I don't want to just throw money away because it has the right "tag".

 

I purchased a book several years ago "The Tightwad Gazette", it is for the full-blown tightwad and there is a lot of things I wouldn't consider doing but there is of the ideas I put into use.

 



 

PRICE BOOK

 

 

There is one discount grocery store I like to frequent, I have listed in a notebook the items we use and the price.  It is so hard to remember what you paid for an item and this way it's on paper.

 

When I go to other stores I check their prices against my book and then if it's a better price I might purchase it.  I check sales too against my book and stock up on those items.

 

 

 

Who knows you might save so much money you can take that big vacation next year!!!

 

Linking with

 ABC WEDNESDAY

 

 

 

Ann

Blue canoe

Good morning bloggers. 

Looking through my pictures I located a picture I took this summer on a trip of a trailer carrying several canoes.  Of course I noticed the blue one.

Do you enjoy canoeing? We have been on a few trips in Arkansas on the North Forck River.

Here's one of the pictures from one of those float trips in Arkansas. Wish the canoes were blue instead of red but my family is wearing blue.

Hope your week will be a good one and very productive.

Linking with Sally at BLUE MONDAY

Ann

Milk can

I've had this milk can for quite a long time. It was a bland brown with no lid.  I found a lid at an antique/junk store this summer so I decided to paint them with a high gloss black.  I painted the first letter of our last name and decided to display it next to our front porch.

I may build a little round garden in the yard and use it there but for now, it's sitting put. We have black shutters and white siding so it looks good with the colors.

I sprayed plenty of gloss also to protect the paint and lettering.

 

 

Linking with

 

JUNKIN JOE FRIDAYS

 

 

 

Also

DIY SUNDAY SHOWCASE

 

Ann

E is for Excitement

EXCITEMENT abounds this time of year, going back to school for the students and getting ready for fall sports--football!  I love football-college and pro.

A few weeks ago we attended the closing program for our granddaughters cheer camp at Kansas University. The KU cheerleaders performed for the spectators.

 

EXTENSION POSE

 

 

EXPRESSIONS

 

 Our grand girls started school this week, our grandson in Colorado starts next Wed.

 

4th and 6th grade.

 

 

Our daughter is EXCITED to start her new position as a vice-principal too.

 

Linking withABC WEDNESDAY

 

 

 

 

 



Ann

Family reunion

Each summer my fathers side of the family has a reunion on the 4th of July.  This year was a special year being the farm had been in existence for 100 years. One of my 2nd cousins is now the owner.

My grandfather who first bought the farm in 1913 had eight children.  Out of this generation only two wives remain alive, one being my mom.

Their are a total of 28 first cousins. 

14 First cousins were able to make it this year.  I am on the far left and my three sisters on the far right.


We shared lots of good stories of growing up and previous reunions.  There were 118 that attended this year.

Linking withBLUE MONDAY

 

 

Ann

Vintage forks transformed

I was out with some friends yesterday for lunch and antique shopping.  We saw several of these picture holders for the old vintage cards.  I have quite a few old card pictures of our  ancestors so I thought I would give it a try.

The forks were 2 and 3 dollars each.  They do require some heavy pliers and I still need more practice but I think the first one came out OK.

The baby is a great aunt of my husbands.

 

 

 

 

 

You turn the two inside tines to the back and the two outside remain to the front.

 

 

Linking with JUNKING JOE FRIDAYS

 

 

 

 

Linking with VINTAGE THINGIE THURSDAY

 

 

Linking with http://diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com

 

for

 

Ann

 

 

 

Double-take

D IS FOR DOUBLE-TAKE

This past weekend we celebrated our 47th Wedding anniversary with my sis and her husband by
going out to eat at a steak house in the area.

This particular small city, Martin City, Missouri has some older restored buildings. After dinner we had to take a DOUBLE-TAKE at a store front.

DOUBLE-TAKE in "Your Dictionary" is defined as a delayed reaction to some remark or reaction, etc., in which there is a first unthinking acceptance and then startled surprise or a second glance as the real meaning or actual situation suddenly becomes clear.

 

 

 

 

This is a beautifully restored brick structure, the inside has a large vintage safe and counters for banking transactions. The bank was closed as the time--would love to pictures inside.

 

 Thought for a second I was in Beford Falls!!

 

 

Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY

 

 

 

Ann

 

 

July pinks

A couple of pinks today to share. My daughters front garden is full of pinks.

 

 

 My oldest granddaughter and her coach leaving for cheer camp at Kansas University.  Each girl made a poster for their dorm room--Sophie chose pink!

 

 

 August is upon us and we have one more week before school starts in our area. Hope you are all having a splendid summer.

 

 

Linking withPINK SATURDAY

 

 

 

 

 

  Ann