Music on our patio

I know I am WAY behind in updates! We went to the Texas Renaissance Festival the Sunday before Thanksgiving. This is our big purchase! We both love the sound of bass chimes. This set is called Whole Note. Hanging them was an adventure!

First, we planned to hang them on the other side of the patio. When my sweety went to put the hook in the ceiling, he kept catching just the edge of the rafter. After several holes, we got the hook in and hung them. THEN we decided the chimes were too long and just didn't work with our gas grill on that side. We didn't want to move the gas grill, SO we moved the chimes. At least this time the hook hit the rafter on center! Oh, did I mention that the chimes weigh 50 pounds! I stood in the middle of them, holding the ring. Sweety guided me up the small ladder while he was on the bigger ladder. Then he had to lift them onto the hook. Quite literally a pain to hang! Ouch my neck and back. They sound awesome!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Bee hive beverage jar

One day I came to the conclusion that I really needed a beverage jar! Then my hubby and I went into Pier One one evening before going to eat. I saw this one and knew it was meant to be. It was also on sale! I have it raised on a large serving bowl. I am thinking of filling the bowl with lemons when serving lemonade! Of course, anything to match a theme could be used! Battery powered candles might look nice with greenery or flowers.
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Dream Bicycle!

I have missed riding a bike! I have a mountain bike with 2 flat tires. It also makes my arms, shoulders and palms hurt from leaning forward! I decided I really wanted a nice old-fashioned bicycle. I love the look of the Cruisers! This is MY new cruiser! The basket has handles and can be removed and carried. I also have a pretty cloth liner to put in it. 

If the 100+ temperatures would end, I would be riding more! Send some fall weather to South Texas, please!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Does any one else buy food just for the jar?

I am a push-over for a pretty jar! My local H.E.B. carried these German mustards for a short time. I had to buy some just for the jars. My great-grandfather, Gottlieb, came to America from a town called Stein on the Rhine River.Oh, and the mustard was great! Has anyone else ever bought something just for the jar?

Y'all come back,

Lorilee 

"Reader" Glasses and Daring Dresses!

  I just bought my first pair of "reader" or magnifying glasses. I have been near-sighted since I was a freshman. I started wearing contact lenses as a sophomore and still do! I now have a +1 added to my contacts to aid in close-up vision. Sometimes this just isn't enough! If I happen to be wearing my glasses, I can take them off and see something close just fine. On the other hand, some things are just too small to see with my contacts. So I now have magnifiers for paper quilling, small print, some crocheting and hand stitching! I am accepting the passage of time, and the addition of years to my age! At the same time, I don't want to dress too old and plain! This fall I found these boots. They are Clarks "Wish Excite". I wear them with leggings or skinny jeans and long blouses and sweaters  every chance I get! Although, we haven't had much of a winter here in south Texas. I also don't dress up for school to teach 4-year-olds.

I recently splurged on these 2 short dresses! I want to stop wearing jeans almost every time I go somewhere! I have black and gray leggings I can wear with them. I want to get some light gray flats for the silvery gray dress.

I found these boots-top photo (Indigo by Clarks "Jordan Brooke" on the Clarks website. I was lucky to find the black boots  at my local JC Pennys. They were having a boot sale, and I decided to look around. I found a pair to try on, but they weren't fitting all that well. I started whining to the clerk about the lack of any Clarks brand boots. She then told me they had some in the back, just not on display! My lucky day. They had my size. I still can't imagine why they would not have had them on display. Did they NOT want to sell them? Back to the lace ups. I REALLY want them. I just hate ordering shoes online. I'm begging for advice!

Would these boots work with the dresses?

Would this color be OK. ? I love the natural look of the color. Plus I already have  a large number of black shoes!

Y'all come back,

Lorilee

Jackpot!

Well not exactly the jackpot, but a good haul! I went to the local Quilt Guild quilt show on Saturday. I arrived much later than I had hoped because Mom duty called. The quilts were beautiful. I'm sorry I didn't take any photos. My friend, Martha works for a local sewing shop, and was working in their vendor booth. They had several quilting and embroidery machines to try. I was able to embroidery my initial onto scrapbook paper for the cute keychain. Now I want one of those machines, but it will have to wait awhile. I found the bracelet and Volume 3 of Apronology at another booth. I have been looking for Apronology for over a year! I was thrilled! I love the apron made from neckties! Y'all Come Back, Lorilee

Shoe Love!

I was ecstatic when I started chatting with a couple of ladies in the elevator of our hotel and discovered we were next door to the Allen Factory Outlet Mall! (While in Allen for the wedding.) I could hardly contain myself when I discovered this mall had a "Clark's" shoe outlet! I have loved Clark's for the last 5 years, since I was introduced to them by a dear friend! In fact, they are just about the only brand of shoes that I have purchased since then. Sadly, our local stores carry a VERY limited choice of styles.

They seem to be one of the brands that best fits my foot type! I found this style (Lyon) at the outlet. They only had them in black in my size. I wanted tan or brown. The salesman found them in a catalog and then found them in another store in Texas. They shipped them to my house with no shipping charges. They arrived in 3 days! THAT'S good customer service.

I also found this pair of cute shoes.(Geraldine) My MIL found a pair of shoes there also. My husband found a pair of shoes at the Skechers outlet. Brian found 2 pairs at the Converse outlet.

Shoe Love!

Y'all Come Back!

Lorilee

New Chicken!

This was our last stop on our trip to Gonzales-not counting McDonald's for iced coffee for the road! They had a little of everything. They were also having a sale!

This was my "find" of the day. Actually, it is the only thing I bought! I practiced great restraint because it is not the only item that caught my eye that day.

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Gonzales Shopping!

This beautiful old house was the home of Laurel Ridge Antiques. It was beautiful inside. The owner told us we should come back in the fall. They fill the house with Christmas trees starting in October.

I have never seen such a lovely baby carriage!

Then I noticed the price tag! Yowza!

I thought this rocker was unusual. It is hard to see in the photo, but there are little wheels on front legs.

This cool weathervane is on the Firehouse! Next stop, the 1887 Jail house.

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Visiting Gonzales

Last Friday, my sister-in-law, Marie and I made the short trip to Gonzales, Texas. It was the sight of the first skirmish of the Texas Revolution which was sparked over a cannon. The Texans challenged the Mexican troops to "Come and Take It". Our first stop was "Discovery Architectural Antiques". It is the place to go if you want old doors, flooring, doorknobs, sinks, ceiling tin, or stained glass.

We loved these doors. They made me think of Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings.

Another cool door!

I feel old! We had rotary dial phones, but ours didn't have the awesome silver detail.

I wish I could build a home around this beautiful archway and columns! We enjoyed our "window shopping". We visited several other antique and gift shops. Of course I took numerous photos of some wonderful old homes! We also toured the old jail. It was hot everywhere we went, eventhough most of the places were airconditioned. Luckily, the Gonzlaes McDonald's was giving away their iced coffees! YUM! I'll share more later.

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Touring Trade Days! OK Shopping too!

We arrived at Fredericksburg Trade Days near closing time! We agreed that we definitely have to return. (It is held every 3rd weekend). We could hear live music from inside this.

Old doors, windows, columns galore! I found something here. I think I'll wait to share it after it is in its new home!

Wow, there is sure to be a treasure in there!

Bug browsing!

Many of the "booths" had already closed for the weekend.

I really liked this door!

This poor chicken has seen better days!

My brother collects Texas Beer items! This booth had plenty to look at.

Take a look at the interesting sculpture!

I have helped tear down barbed wire fences and rolled up the old wire. It is very hard to manipulate! I can't imagine making this barbed wire sphere! After leaving Trade Days we headed toward Johnson City to visit Marie's friends, J. David and Margaret Bamberger on their Ranch, Selah.

The ranch is beautiful. This is one of the many scenic sights on the way to the Ranch house. The Bamberger Ranch specializes in conservation. Mr. Bamberger built a "cave" just for Mexican Free-tail bats. He calls it his "Chiroptorium"--incorporating the scientific name for bats. He is also growing the Texas Snowbell, an endangered plant to reintroduce to areas in Texas.

We met another friend to eat. We arrived back home that evening around midnight!

Ya'll Come Back,

Lorilee

So many shops, so little time!

We overslept on Sunday morning! We awoke at 8:20 and still made it to 9:00 mass. We had brunch at the "Old German Bakery". YUMMY! Marie and I had crepes. She had cherry filling and I had raspberry. Bug had a pancake, eggs and bacon. I also bought a raisin almond coffee braid to bring home.

As we were leaving the bakery, I saw this wonderful vine covered wall! I love the trim along the roof.

We changed, loaded the trailblazer and checked out of the motel. Time for more shopping! We loved "Things in a Room". Marie loved the western themed fabrics, and I was smitten with the vintage reproductions.

Marie found fabric for some throw pillows!

I found a sweet feedsack towel! It was another gotta get for Cackleberry Cottage!

Hee hee, Pert little hens and foxy little roosters, that just makes me giggle!

Of course, a three-year-old means frequent restroom breaks! This awesome stair rail was near one of the public restrooms.

We went into "Linens and More" because I have been wanting to get something new for our bed. Bug liked the huge teddy bear!

This is what I found at "Linens and More". I already had the white crocheted bedskirt. I use a king size bedskirt under that or it isn't long enough because our bed is tall. The head/foot board was in my Dad's attic, and we had it refinished. My stepmom made the small pillow for me. The portrait of me was a gift from my sweety when we were dating. The striped skirt was not part of "set", but I liked it better than the perfectly matched skirt. I am very happy with the way it came together!

Bug much preferred fish watching to shopping, but she hung in there with us.

She found them fascinating!

My chicken-loving brain adored the laying boxes being used as a planter. Now I WANT one! (Brandon, my sweet brother, do you have an extra one lying around?)

All that shopping made us hungry. We went to "The Lone Star Candy Bar" to sample AND buy some fabulous fudge!

The fudge was definitely finger lickin' good!

Next stop-Fredericksburg Trade Days!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee