Oreck Magnesium Vacuum Cleaner Giveaway at Southern Hospitality

I just saw this and there is a very short time, I mean only minutes left to enter.  So go to Southern Hospitality blog, Southernhospitalityblog.com and enter to win the best vacuum cleaner ever.  It weighs only 7 pounds!  Seven pounds!  I have cats who weigh more than twice that!!!!!  Go now!http://southernhospitalityblog.com/giveaway-winners/giveaways/the-oreck-magnesium-giveaway/

Amish Community Market

During my visit to Tennessee this weekend my mom, my grandson and I went to a produce market owned by an Amish family.  This family bought a farm which adjoins a farm previously owned by my mother's family.  The trip itself was a beautiful drive along a winding road through
the countryside. 

Around every bend in the road awaited more delights.

  Huge old barns which have sheltered animals, stored hay and provided play areas for children for generations still do all of that even though they show signs of neglect. 

These horses still appreciate the old barn, the generous pastures and the big shady oak trees.

A lot of beautiful weddings and receptions are held at this wonderful place we passed along the way.

I guess they'll finish this fence later.

Fresh eggs for sale.  Self serve, eggs were in an ice chest and a box was provided for payment.

This lovely cow needs milked!  She's waiting patiently.

They have such a beautiful garden.

This is the Amish community swimming pond.  It is lined with a canvas like fabric and has a filtration system of some sort.  They don't use electricity.  There is a platform and a rope swing.  Some little boys were swinging out and dropping into the pond.  I took this picture from the road, then turned down the drive beside it.  I walked over and ask the adult with them if I could take pictures of the children swimming.  He said, "We prefer you not take pictures.  We believe pictures are to be of objects not people."  So, I didn't take any more pictures of them and I edited the children out of this picture out of respect for their belief.  But, they were beautiful.  They wore knee length pants and tank tops to swim.

Roomy airy chicken coops.

Flower beds in front of building.

They built their produce market on the top of a steep hill overlooking the most beautiful country vista you could want to see.  This is the view from the deck on the side of the produce market. 

I didn't take any pictures of the beautiful building with its wide front doors and wide side door opening onto the deck providing a cooling breeze inside.

There were too many people inside and I didn't want them to think I was taking their picture.

Bounty from their garden.

Buttermilk Soap, Peppermint Salve, Corn Relish and Pinalope Preserves (Pineapple & Cantalope)

 Banana Bread and 100% Pure Comb  Honey

 Lots of good fresh food from the Englewood Community Farm Market

We had a wonderful time and enjoyed a beautiful day.

Bye bye!

FLASH MOB THRIFTING - July 28th 2012

Okay, we've all been thrift shopping, right?  But, have you ever been Flash Mob Thrifting?  That's what it was.  Eight high energy, zealous, purpose filled women on a mission.  A mission to find the best stuff in the store.  We swept in, wearing our blue and white @Hometalk tee shirts, our eyes taking in everything at once, like eagles, or hawks, maybe buzzards.  Scanning everything as quickly as possible in order to get the best items first, we walked quickly, heart in throat, almost out of throat when we saw that special item.  The adrenaline was pumping, it was exhilarating.  We started at 8 A.M. and didn't stop for a break until 4 PM.  We had accomplished our mission.  All vehicles were full. 

Flash Mob Thrifters

L-R  Debbie of @Refresh Restyle, Ann of @Shabby French Country Cottage Basement, Kim of @This is my Someday, Debbie of @The Smart Set, Sarah of @Unto the Rainbow, Cherry of @Cherry's in the Garden and More, Mary of @Cotton Wood Furnishings, Karen of @The Smart Set

Don't let the smiles fool you.

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 Debbie getting ready to load up at the first stop, The Bargain Box.

 Debbie, Cherry and Sarah in the loading line.

 Loading up!

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 Plotting the course and re-living the moment.  We got a lot of attention wearing these Hometalk tee shirts.  Don't know what Hometalk is?  Oh, you are in for a treat.  Check it out on facebook and go to the site and join.  Several shop personnel were interested and asked us about Hometalk.  One took our picture.  I guess we're Thrift Shop Celebrities.

 A musician was performing in one of the thrift stores.  That was pleasant and different!

 Two words I can't pass up.  I bought a beautiful brand new set of white dishes in Vintage Market.  Yes, of course, white.  It is a seven place setting.  I assume the display set was never returned to the carton so it went to the thrift store.  Lucky me!  I love them.  Pictures in another post!

 Off Island Thrift Shop

 Mary and Kim proud of their haul and their loading skills.

 And we aren't finished.

 Debbie and Sarah surveying their treasures.

So many wonderful things. 

Mary and Karen sorting the goods.

 Debbie of The Smart Set reloading.

 Gorgeous hydrangeas photo

 Debbie and Karen of The Smart Set

 Mary and Kim

 Rusty old heavy wrought iron bakers rack.  Isn't it beautiful....

 Treasures, treasures and more treasures!

 Score!

 Hidden treasures.  It's like pirates, only we didn't steal.

 Yes, that is a kitchen island on the left.  Kim grabbed it and practically climbed on top of it and wouldn't let go until someone came to mark it sold and carry it to the front.  Trust me, don't mess with her when she has that look in her eyes.

 We all fell in love with the beautiful Australian Shephards and Welsh Corgi.  Briefly.....

 Look ma!  No tail!  Oh, come on, everybody has a good butt shot.

 Can you spell WONDERFUL???

 Can you believe there is more???

These are two heavy cast iron plant holders.  This was a prized and coveted purchase!

I'm going to write a separate post about my treasures.  I didn't take pictures of any of them during the shopping day.  It didn't occur to me to do that!  We plan to get together again in a few months and do this again!  It will take me that long to rest up.

bye bye!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Monday was my birthday!  My husband said, "Let's go to Jacksonville."  Being the more practical of the two of us, I knew we had a lot of things we need to do at home, so I said, "Okay!".   I had a Pottery Barn gift card with a balance of $93.00 on it.  My daughter gave me the card for Christmas and it was time to spend it.  I wanted almost everything in the store.  They have the most beautiful things.  It was hard to narrow it down but I finally did.  I enjoyed talking to a couple of the ladies who work there and oooing and ahhhing about some of the unique gorgeous things.

  I got a milk bottle carrier...

I've never found an old one, so I have a new one that looks old.  I'm very happy with it! 

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I got a glass dome food cover.

Same story-never found an old large one.

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I got some hang tags and small blank cards.

I can always use these.

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Then we went to another of my favorite stores.

YES!

I wish I had taken my camera.  Anthropologie has the most beautiful and unique displays and merchandise.  I picked out a white scarf with crochet fringe and flowers.  Then a very nice lady said hello to me and ask if I was finding everything okay.  Her name is Kelley Cooper and she is a great asset to Anthropologie!  I ask her about a big burlap coffee sack.  It turned out to be a display item. 

Then I ask about a blue comforter which I loved but wanted in white. She had one and it was on sale! I thought it was the one I have wanted for over two years since I saw it in Country Living Magazine featuring the Martha's Vineyard cottage home of Tony Shalhoub, star of the hit television series, Monk, and his wife, actress Brook Adams. That was a jersey comforter with pulled pleated panels all over it.   Well, the one they had isn't the one I've wanted for so long but I love it.  I got the comforter and two pillow shams!  Happy birthday to me!

Here is our bed with the old comforter.  I love it too.

 But, the new one just called out to me.  It was saying, "you love me, buy me".

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So, we did.

It is so soft and poofy.

Night night!