Thrift Thursday: Random Bits and My First Summer Book

The thrift store is still yielding little treasures.

I found an owl and a stamped aluminum bowl with nice detail. I Love that the owl is standing on some books. I should make him my summer reading program mascot.



I found exciting vintage sequins with excellent patina. About a 1/2 cup for a dollar.



And I found a worn old library copy of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park with vellum covered illustrations. I enjoyed it very much but thought it ended more abruptly than her others.
First book in my summer reading program all done and it's not yet summer.



Next book is vintage 1994 David Sedaris short stories. Yeah! Kind of the other end of the comic book spectrum from Miss Austen.

Well I'm off to pick up a carload of boys from the summer theatre program and to find out if Jacob got his dream role as the non-singing butler in The Sound of Music.

Cross your fingers folks! If they make him stretch and cast him as Rolf... he will be inconsolable.

Oh and a big thanks to Craftzine and to Fairie's Gate for featuring some Betty. It get's harder and harder to stay bitter here in blogland!

The Friday Finish Line (Saturday Edition)

I am back to my "School Week System" of making a list of what I managed to get done Friday to Friday.
What did I get done this week?

I canned tomatoes with my friend Meridith.
This is just batch number one. 17 Jars. 8 for me, 9 for her.

It is beyond addictive to set in stores for the winter.
It appeals to me on a
"wild frontierswoman/ Survivor of the Great Depression"
kind of level.

I sent StressBunny II: The Return of StressBunny
off to his new home in The British Isles.

I got my haircut. Only 12 weeks overdue.

Took Puppers to school.
He isn't the best puppy in class, but he's close.

Talked to the track coach about some nasty foul mouthed little creatures
who have NO Idea What Sportmanship Looks Like.

I made a new "pup with stuff" for a sweet friend

Finished His Dark Materials trilogy.

Bought "pricey" vintage toy kitchen. Photo Essay to follow.

Ordered more tomatoes to can.

Finished a crayon tinted vintage embroidery bit.

And went to watch track meet number one featuring "the reluctant runner: Jacob Mann".
He was not last.

Put off regular housekeeping chores with a level of procrastination that is difficult to explain,
let alone justify.

It was a pretty good week.

WIP: More Tatter's Necklaces and the summer reading program

under construction

shades of white

wild flowers in the orchard

Summer is Upon Me.
And I never even finished spring cleaning.

What a summer this looks like it will be. Busy. Hot. Interesting.

I am definitely going to have to admit to myself that I need to adopt my "Summer Blogging Schedule". I will post about once a week. Twice, if I'm lucky.

But that's bound to be okay with you folks... I bet you will be busy too.

Anybody reading anything good this summer?

I have:
"The Fig Eater" by Jody Shields
"prep" by Curtis Sittenfeld
and
"Crossing to Safety" by Wallace Stegner,
as well as, all of "His Dark Materials" by Phillip Pullman.

I just finished "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen. I really liked it.
I have been really obsessed with stories that are set in the depression.
This one is just resonant and brutal and a real page turner.

Come on... what's on your list?