~Rain Rain and More Rain~

We had so much rain in Modesto over the weekend our old neighborhood storm drains could not work fast enough! You can see the houses along the corners had watter up to their lawns. Of course this is not anything like the floods we read  about in the mid west and east. Our neighbors advised us this happens every year because of the inadequate storm drains.

The lovely house you see belongs to our neighbor and sweet young couple.

 I love the reflections of the trees in the water. 

There was flooding all over the neighborhood, this view is from our front door looking down the street.

You can also see the flooding was down all four way blocks. Being on a corner can be very exciting.

I took this photo from our front door. This is our island planter in the front yard, our flag was blowing in the wind...I should say whipping in the wind.

Aww, I little calmness between storms.. I could actually hear the wind blowing inside the house.

 It was the weekend to stay inside all cuddled up with the ones you love by the fire..and watch T.V. (We have been watching 24 with Jack Bauer) we purchased all 8 seasons and are now watching the final  season..

Gary's Sister Sue and Brother n Law Bruce and My Sister Margo and Brother n law David are both coming to spend a few days with us... it's going to be a slumber party! we will play cards, drink a little (HEHEHE) just a little Christmas cheer.. and tell old stories.

Gary and I would like to wish you all peace in your hearts, joy in your smiles, and your arms wraped around the ones you love!

We'll be taking a week or so off to spend with our family...we also just had two babies born this weekend, two of our nieces just had their babies one on Sat. and the other Sun.. yes one day apart and they are sisters..What a wonderful way to end the year!

God bless you all! and Merry Christmas!

~Christmas Blessings~

From our home to yours Gary and I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Gods Blessing to you all!

May Christmas warm your heart with the memories of Christmas's passed and may the future hold love and joy and hopes of all your dreams coming true.

This is our Bible, today while thumbing through the pages I came across this lovely portrait of the Mother Mary looking upon baby Jesus.

 I remember as a little girl sitting in Church and trying not to wiggle to much in the pew. I would look through my small white bible that nestled perfectly in  my hands. I would look at all the pictures to pass the time and thinking how pretty they were..(its hard for children to sit still for long and I was no exception)

 Next to the photo is a list of Beautiful Marion Prayers that I would like to share with you.. 

You can enlarge the photo if you like.

Have a sweet day my friends!

~Recycled Pendleton Shirt~

What do you do with your Husbands worn out Pendleton shirt? you make a purse..yep, I made a purse with Gary's old worn out Pendleton for our daughter Bernadette. I salvaged the good material and reused the pockets.

I purchased the 100% dark gray fabric to make the outside and straps and added some braided trim.

Embroidered our daughters Bernadette's initials on the pocket flap.

I was able to reclaim enough pendelton fabric to line the purse and re-use a pocket for the inside as well.

And there you have it.. A recycled shirt made into a purse. I made up my own purse pattern for this design.

I love being able to reuse and re-purpose something old into something new again. It just makes me feel good. As the saying goes "Waste not, Want not!".

Have a sweet week!

I am join in with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch

~Antique Buffet & Vintage Hutch~

A few weeks ago Gary and I were just exploring down town Modesto and found the neatest consignment store. I started getting so exciting and couldn't wait to jump out of the car..I know I get excited over the silliest things..anyway we have been looking for a couch table, but I didn't want to pay a lot (saving pennies for our retirement and all).

I love furniture with history, I always wonder why someone would want to sell a vintage piece of furniture that belonged in their family don't you?. Gary spotted the buffet first and called me over to look at it..I had been looking for something more industrial but my heart just stopped when I saw this antique buffet, we think the buffet  may date back to the  late 1930's to early 1940's. The buffet is beautifully made all rabbit eared joints. Gary said ring it up..Love this man.. 

 It works as a great divider between my three rooms in one..Gary cleaned the buffet and I lined the drawers with non slip liner, the liner isn't  pretty but it works really well.

The drawers have the sweetest curve to them.

In the same consignment shop we spotted this 1970's hutch..I loved the open shelves and it was just the right size for my kitchen wall. We had a white corner hutch that was really to big for the corner and was hiding part of the curtains. I love our white corner hutch so we put in the guest bathroom..its working great there for all the guest towel's..I'll have to show the guest bathroom sometime...

We purchased both pieces the same day!

 The lovely burlap and linen table runner was made by Becky from (Sweet Cottage Dreams). I love it!
  
Becky has them listed in her Etsy store..if you would like one for your table too, go on over to Sweet Cottage Dreams (you all know Becky) we love her!

 Now I know I'm a little late, OK so a lot late with my fall decoration, but we haven't had our Thanksgiving yet, so I think its still o.k. to have my fall decorations out.. after Thanksgiving Gary and I decorate for Christmas.

 The glass pumpkins are  all hand blown by a local artisan.. They are just the cutest little pumpkins!

We here in the US celebrate our Thanksgiving this Thursday Nov. 25.  Thanksgiving is a very special time for Gary and I, you see Gary and I met on Thanksgiving day 35 years ago..
We have so much to be Thankful for.. no one's life is perfect and we all have had our sadness and our happy memories, so this Thanksgiving we are so grateful to have been given 35 years to spend with each other our family and dear ones...
We hope you do the same..spend it with the ones you love that are right beside you and ones  living in  your heart.. Memories are wonderful and joyous!

Gods blessing for you and your family this Thanksgiving day...

Today I will be linking up to Susan from Between Naps on the Porch

~Elizabethtown Illinois~

Before I start to share our photo's of our trip to Elizabethtown Il. I want to say "Thank You" for all the lovely complements we received on our Master Bedroom and the vintage quilt. You all made us smile and you warmed our hearts too! 

Back in September we took a trip to visit Gary's sister Sue and Brother n law Brucez. They own and run a B&B in Elizabethtown Il. in Hardin County..  You can click to enlarge any photo if you like.

The town is full of charm and still has many if not all original buildings. Elizabethtown sits along side the Ohio River. I love the building all built of brick.

Here we are in front of Sue and Bruce's "River Rose Inn" come along with us and we'll show you the beauty and the charm of this home built over 100 years ago. So much of the interior and the exterior is still original. Sue and Bruce have been working on the home for some time now and have created a warm and friendly place to rest your weary head. (The breakfast is amazingly yummy)       

Let's open the original rod iron gate and go inside for a visit..

The home has four floors and a wrap around porch that over sees the Ohio River. Bruce is waving (Hi y'all) come on In. (click to enlarge Brucez waving)

Looking at "River Rose Inn" from across the street.

Front porch with original tile work, also all the windows are original as well.

This is were you will find our Brother n law Bruce most of time waiting to greet guests or rocking sipping his cup of coffee.. enjoying his life on the river..

This is the view from the front porch! you can spend your day just watching the tug boats go by..

This is the side of the only restaurant in town, yep the only one. It floats! they serve deep fried catfish and hush puppies.

 Another view from the porch. This was such a beautiful view... In the background you can see barges bringing coal up the Ohio River to the North!

A view from the back yard, looking up towards the house. 

Just look at this Magnolia tree it is original to the home and is over 100 years old. It is huge! This is the oldest Magnolia tree in Illinois

I was sitting under the tree and kept hearing something pinging, I looked up and it was the little red berries dropping.. I had never heard anything like it before..(I'm such a city girl)LOL

 Look at the size of the trunk..this Magnolia tree is amazing, the squirrels loved the tree too.

The pool area behind the house, there is also a hot tub and a resting place to sit and view the sunset setting on the river. You can light the fire pit to keep warm on the chilly evenings. 

 Gary taking in the view. The cars you see are parked in front of the river restaurant.

 I love the brick work, it's original to the house and wraps around the property..

Now lets go inside.. welcome to the foyer. All the wood work is original and it's so beautiful and rich in color.

Original radiators for heating!. Now being from California I'm not used to radiators..I loved them. I did not have these when I was growing up. Cali Girl LoL 

 The antiques are beautiful, if they weren't so big I would have put them in my suitcase to take home. Do you think Sue would miss any of them..
This home is full of antiques around every corner and in every room there is something special and lovely and full of history to see.

 The staircase just made my jaw drop! Guess what? they squeak! It's so cool! I loved it!

 Looking up from the foyer. The arched windows are gorgeous.

 On the landing there are books and movies for the guests.
 I loved this door on  the landing, do you know where it leads?... it leads into the kitchen. Yep the maid would use all the doorways that led behind the walls, so guests would not see them. It was so cool! Little hidden stairways.. There were many doors like this throughout the house.

The panel doors were so pretty! they slid open. Where you see Gary and Bruce is the foyer, I took the picture from the dinning room.

 The dinning room, the antiques just took my breath away! The door way in front of you leads to the kitchen.

Original fireplace,mantel and tile in the dinning room.

 Meet Sue and Bruce you already know Gary and I..Sue is a excellent cook! I don't know how she does it...I'm not such  a good cook..
During hunting season when the hunters are staying, Sue offers bed and dinner instead of bed and breakfast..since the hunters are up before dawn..

Looking from the dinning room into the front room..

 For all my friends who love pink this is a pink room! The photo is a bit dark, click to enlarge.

These doors lead out to a side patio..

 I love  how Sue put up the hummingbirds along the wall, like they were flying away..A touch of whimsy!

 There is also a game corner  to play chess or cards.

Another fireplace that is original to the home..Bruce did retro fit the fireplace with a gas line..the other fireplaces in the home are wood burning..

 One of my favorite spots, I love this rocking chair...siting on the original hard wood floors..

Original gas chandelier, it was changed over for electricity.. this was the fist home in Elizabethtown Il to have electricity and bathrooms..

More beautiful antiques, enjoy the photos.

 

This fireplace was in the bedroom we stayed in...all original...just beautiful!

 Loving this floor, also original honey comb tile floor to the home..and there's a radiator in the bathroom too.

 Original locks with skeleton keys to open the doors..lots of fun!

Meet "Rosie Magee" she is the mascot of "River Rose Inn". She found Sue and Bruce, Rosie was curled up injured and sick on their front porch of  "River Rose Inn". Sue and Bruce scooped Rosie up into their arms and brought her back to health with their love and warmth.

Rosie loves living with her new, kind and loving family!. Gary and I had so much fun with Rosie, she is so small and so funny looking (sorry Rosie) LOL...Rosie is a one of kind doggie...and I don't think she even knows what kind of doggie she is....
Love her....
I hope you have enjoyed the tour, I know this was a long post...but I really wanted to share with you all the beauty of a small town  that has not drastically changed  through the years.
Thank you Sue and Bruce for letting me share your beautiful B&B and Home with  my friends..
Love you guys..  

Today I'm linking up with Susan from Between Naps on the Porch