Blue Workshop...

This is my first Monday to participate in Blue Monday, hosted by Sally, over at Smiling Sally.

Saturday, David took part in the children's workshop offered every other week at Lowe's.

He made the "blue" semi-truck and car below, and really enjoyed the class.

It was free, and I would recommend the classes to anyone who has children and live close to a Lowe's Home Improvement Store.

He was even wearing a "blue" shirt....not planned, but what a coincidence! LOL!

Lowe's provided goggles, a work apron, kid's hammer, and a kit with LOTS of pieces and instructions. The children were to work independently with their parents.

I was intimidated and asked David if he would rather take it home and let his dad help him. But he assured me "he worked construction this summer, along side our carpenters, and this was way easier...."

He followed the instructions and did a great job assembling the truck.

Truck complete, ...time for stickers!


In two weeks, they will be making a football goal game. And I believe a fire truck is next, then a Gingerbread House on December 7th. He has invited his sister to join him for the Gingerbread House, and promised to "help" her with her project! :)

After the Lowe's Workshop,

Ashley and I, left David with his Dad, and headed to Lumberton.

It's a little town not far from us, that has just a few more shops than we do, (which is not saying much! LOL).

I missed the yard sales, but Ashley and I found a cute thrift store will we were out.

Below are my finds for the day. Not much, but I was pleased with the items nonetheless.

Ashley also found a few things.

(She is an avid thrifty too!)

A red and white zebra to match her zebra bedroom decor. Red Christmas ornaments for her tree, and another snow globe. She collects snow globes and has 14 Christmas ones.

In the background, on her table sits a picture of Ashley and her cousin Katie when they were around 4, playing dress up! Weren't they cute? :)

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! ~Rhonda :)

Hotel Cape Fear

My Pink Saturday post is very simple this week,

but features one of my favorite, and quite interesting pieces, to me....

I have long desired to start a collection of Hotel China.

I love the emblems and the weightiness of it. (Is that even a word? LOL)

Unfortunately, I only have one piece, but it has quite a significance.

Years ago, I bought a trash can or some kind of canister at an auction. When bidding on it, I assumed it was empty.

However, there were several nice items inside, this HOTEL CAPE FEAR plate being one of them.

Imagine my pleasant surprise! :)

I don't know near the history of Wilmington as Kevin does, he lived in the Historic District for years when he was young.

In 1974, when Kevin was around 6-7 years old, he sat on the sidewalk across from the HOTEL CAPE FEAR with his Grandaddy Coot, and watched it being demolished.
Now wasn't that a coincidence?


For more PINK Saturday, please visit Beverly, at How Sweet the Sound.

Hope you are all having a great weekend so far!

Thanks for the encouragement on the wallpaper removal project.

The chocolate brown isn't working too well, but I have a plan B, so stay tuned....

~Rhonda :)

Send In the Cavalry...

...If I'm not out, say within 24 hours.

I'll be buried beneath mounds of wallpaper.

Amongst all of the other remodeling that has taken over the house

(and will hopefully to be finished by next Friday),

I decided to strip the wallpaper down in the Master Bedroom and repaint it light chocolate brown. I had the paint from another project I previously ditched, and have brown dupioni silk panels stored....somewhere....

So it was more of a project of labor than cost. Good thing at this point! LOL!

This room has always been a "thorn in my side." I've completely changed the bedding and curtains at least 3 times in the 3 years we have lived here, but the room is still cold and bland.

Kevin and I woke up Saturday morning, and he said...I hate this room. I agreed, yea, me too.

I don't know if it is the white striped wallpaper that was here from the previous owner, or just the way the room catches the outdoor light, but I am so hoping, with a new color scheme, it will be warm, cozy, and a sanctuary. ...and a little more romantic! :)

I realized after the first few sheets, that I may have bitten off more than I could chew, and the timing is not the best, (this close to Thanksgiving).

But when I am tired and sore, I think of my Grandma B., who built a shed and an outdoor storage building right by herself, ...and keep on stripping! LOL!

So, this is what my weekend looks like....

How about you?

~~~~~

Lisa at Stop 'n Smell the Chocolates, is hosting an event today,
Would you Like Dessert with That?
I leave you with an amazing recipe perfected by a lady in our community, Mrs. Diane.

....enjoy! ~Rhonda

Blonde Brownies

1 stick margarine

1 lb. light brown sugar

3 eggs

2 3/4 cups flour (self-rising)

1 cup chopped nuts

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix ingredients in order given. Pour into 13x9 greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.

Stand by Me

"Thou who never lost a battle, STAND BY ME..."
Elvis Presley ~ Stand By Me
(Courtesy of Youtube)

Just can't say No....

A couple of weekends ago, Ashley's school hosted the

JV & Varsity Volleyball and Soccer Tournament for their association.

Three (long) days of games....and concession stand duty!

As a parent, you've probably been there too! :)

The lady who was supervising the concession stand, called and asked what times I was available to work and if I could make a pot of chili.

I make chili during the winter often, but it is the thick chili with beans that serves as a meal, not chili for hotdogs and nachos.

I was shameless and suggested another mother who made chili last year, and it was wonderful.

But, I didn't get out of it....couldn't say NO!

Why can't I ever learn to use that magical word, NO?

My FIL always warned me! Especially when I complained non~stop about having to do something I either couldn't or didn't have time for, just because I couldn't say NO, but was now obligated to do so!

So what's a girl to do???

I went on the Internet and there are thousands of recipes for hot dog chili. Thinking this was not the time to "experiment," I headed to Food Lion. If you think God doesn't look after you on the small stuff....Armour Chili was half price that week, for $1.19 a can!

(I later found out that I had less cost in my pot than another mother who made hers from scratch!)

I figured I could just tweak it a little, and it would be semi-homemade! ...works for Sandra Lee! LOL! She has made quite a career out of it.

So, I dumped nine cans of chili in the crock pot...

Browned 3#'s of hamburger meat and broke the chunks down into fine pieces...

Added a little Texas Pete, Worcester Sauce, ketchup, salt, and pepper. And, it turned out pretty good. It was so good, (or maybe they were so desperate because they were running out), they asked me to make another pot for the next day.

But guess what??? I said NO! Actually, I had a very good excuse....but still! LOL!

I was really proud of Ashley and the JV team. She was a starter this year and did really well!




She has an awesome serve!


The girls ended up 4th in the Tournament! For various reasons, they were unable to practice for a month before, only playing the regular games. But they played hard, and even went into overtime in the last game.

(accidently deleted the pic of the whole team....UGH!!!)


But they did place 2nd for the Season!!!
Ashley and a fellow team mate below....



~~~~

Today is election day. I've prayed and I've voted, all I can do, as many of you have.
I ran across this verse last night, and thought it was so appropriate and a comfort....
"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." Hebrews 12:28

The earth we live on today is unstable, but the kingdom of Heaven cannot be shaken!
~Rhonda :)

Beautiful day for Yard Sale'in....

November is off to a beautiful start.

Yesterday was a sunny 70 degrees,

and the perfect day to hit the yard sales.

So, check out what I found....

The items from the first two pictures all came from my first stop, $8 total.

I thought these would be great pieces for holiday entertaining, especially the the two tiered silver piece, once cleaned up.

The silver piece with the square HEAVY square glass canister is really unique.

The brown ornate "box" piece was brand new, still in the plastic.

Found the glass candlestick holders below, at the flea market....5 for $2.50. They will coordinate well with my candlewick collection.

Kevin collects old store and gas station memorabilia. A guy at the flea market sold me this vintage battery display for $22. It has several little "secret" drawers, and the front lifts up to house the batteries. ....Still has the original cardboard inside, a little dusty, but otherwise in great condition. I was going to save it for Christmas, but I was so excited, that I gave it to him as soon as I walked in the door!

Batteries were quite a bit cheaper then, huh? :)

The piece below was 50 cents. Have no idea what I will do with it, just thought it was interesting. LOL!

I could use it in a Christmas vignette, with a huge Christmas ball nestled on top...

Got any ideas???

The bargains didn't just stop there. Found HEALTHY baskets of pansies at Lowe's for $3.49, on the clearance rack.

A little color for the winter months...

"Previous~week bargain"...Pumpkins for a couple of dollars each...


Well, I am off to get ready for Church....

David has a bowl full of candy from Halloween and a local festival parade yesterday.

Every time pass by, I snitch a piece.

I think I've gained 10 pounds overnight, ...I'm tempted to throw it every bit in the trashcan.

I'll probably need a SHOEHORN to squeeze me into my ZOOT SUIT, today! LOL!

(That's Kevin's term for my girdle.)

Sure hope the preacher isn't long~winded. If so, they may have to cut me out of it when I get home! LOL!

Blessing to all of you! ~Rhonda :)

pink saturday

Welcome to Pink Saturday,

hosted by Beverly, at How Sweet the Sound!

A couple of weeks ago, when I was going through boxes that had been packed away for at least 10 years, I came across the "pink frocked~out" lady below.

I had forgotten about this sweet little 4" gal, and just how special she was.

Why? Because she graced the top of my 16th Birthday Cake in 1984.

....Seems like only yesterday!

Wonder if she is wondering if this PINK dress makes her bottom look big? LOL!

Hope everyone survived the goblins last night, got plenty of treats, and is having a great weekend so far! :) ~Rhonda