Peanut Bird ~ A Favorite Thing

When I first discovered Claudia's fun link party at Mockingbird Hill Cottage, I knew I'd have to participate! It's a place to share a favorite something each week, and to visit others and discover their favorite things. I love this idea, and plan to link up each Saturday.

So, on to one of my favorite things!!

Hello! Do you know who I am?

I'm Peanut Bird!

The world famous Keeper of the Peanuts!

Whenever my father-in-law wanted peanuts, he would head to Peanut Bird. Now Peanut Bird always sat around quietly waiting for his big chance when Jim would open the pantry and bring him out. I always thought that Peanut Bird was such a cute Keeper of the Peanuts and, when it came time to go through the things in my in-law's home, I made sure that Peanut Bird came home to live with hubby and me!

After a number of years of peanut duty at our house, Peanut Bird resided in the hutch and did not serve us peanuts anymore. Then one day recently, hubby brought home a bag of peanuts and I remembered Peanut Bird..... patiently waiting to be filled with peanuts again.

So now he is sitting on the baker's rack in the kitchen, beside the special jar I use for fruit and nut trail mix, holding peanuts. And reminding me of my wonderful father-in-law who made eating peanuts fun!

♥♥♥  Linking Mr. Peanut Bird over at Mockingbird Hill Cottage for A Favorite Thing Saturday.

 

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Look what I found by the curb!!

Every now and then I'll spot something that someone has thrown out 

and think to myself that I just NEED it....

 I know you have too, so fess up!!

So why is it that I feel like a thief -- a thief that EVERYONE has their eyes on -- as I skulk around, trying to act nonchalant.  I mean, they did throw it away, after all. 

But that thief feeling persists and so it's got to be a really great thing for me to do a stop and grab with what I KNOW are many eyes peering from behind the curtains, watching me.....

. 

I can tell you this -- I will never dumpster dive!!

When I saw this chair, I knew it would be perfect for photos but it was on my street and I felt kind of embarrassed to stop. So I passed on by, got to my house and reasoned that I didn't know the people who threw the chair out .... so I went back. Now all those eyes were on me, for sure! 

Got out of the car and -- oh no! -- no seat in the chair 

and it was a bad paint job of white over blue! But I HAD to get it now since I had totally made a spectacle of myself. And, of course, I had a bit of trouble juggling it into the back seat! Glory be, I finally got it in and turned the car around and went back home. 

Oh, my cheeks were burning!

But it's a cute chair even with the bad paint job. 

And it will be great for vintage photos.

I decided to leave it as is with the blue showing through, but I think I'll have to fashion something for a seat. 

The afghan kept trying to fall through!!

(this is an afghan I made and listed (and sold!) in Magnolia Surprise, my handmade shop)

OK, it fess up time -- what have you picked up on the side of the road?

♥♥♥  linking my side-of-the-road-thievery over at Smiling Sally's for

 Blue Monday

       

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Rita Hayworth ~~ Stayin' Alive!

Bet you're wondering about that title, aren't you?!!

Well, my brother sends me all kinds of crazy stuff and when I saw this I knew I would have to post it!

It's a compilation of Rita's movie dance sequences set to the music of the song "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees

Fabulously done and so fun to watch!

It will make you smile .... guaranteed!

Plus she dances with my absolute, hands down, favorite dancers of all time --

Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire!

♥♥♥  I'm linking Rita to Rednesday over at It's A Very Cherry World -- 'cause there's lots of red  : )

♥♥♥  And linking to Knick of Time Tuesday -- 'cause Rita is definitely vintage!!



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Puzzles, Ponies and Clowns!!

Boy, I've really neglected this little blog! I've been doing my posting over on my other blog, Magnolia Surprise, and the Attic has taken a back row seat! But I'm back now with a post for Rednesday to show off some neat reds that I've recently come across ....

Sometimes when I'm keeping Noli on a weekend, she likes to go to thrift stores and garage sales (a child after my own heart, she is)!!  I mean what could be better than a six-year-old actually WANTING to go to garage sales! Of course, this means that she will get "new" toys, twisting my arm -- "please oh please, puh-leeze can I have it? -- and I fall into her trap. And the little sneak usually scores a few freebies along the way!

So, we recently went to our favorite thrift store -- Noli being on her best behavior since she knows that's the only way she can pick out anything to buy. I'm always ready to negotiate with her, lining up her hopefuls and telling her she can pick two. "But I want this one and that one and I NEED this other one...." Into her trap I go -- Oh, OK, you can have it, you've been so good today.

STRENGTH --- I need STRENGTH to resist this small child! Can't do it, not ever and besides, isn't it a grandmother's right and privilege to spoil their grandchild? You bet it is!!

We found a really neat puzzle -- we put it together when we got home but I forgot to take a pic ....

Don't you love the colors? Are chameleons really blue? Red, yes, but blue? I dunno! Of course we had to talk a bit about how animals camouflage themselves (I'm always on the lookout for a way to sneak in a little learning!)

We couldn't leave the store without a few ponies -- this kid is pony obsessed! We found a bag full. 

And, the unicorn pony has a red mane and tail!!

And she found this big pony ("I NEED it for my Cabbage Patch dolls. I don't think it's a REAL Cabbage Patch horse but it looks like one, and I NEED it for my dolls to ride on. Puh-leeze? And it's PURPLE! Puh-leeze?") Who can resist?!!

So what did I find? Well, these two cool thermoses (is that right for the plural? Maybe it's thermosesses? Thermosi? Anyway, the gold one is HUGE -- that thing will hold a lot of coffee! And the red one is just a cutie I think.

And then I found these two clowns. Now I'm not a lover or even liker of clowns. I'm one of those people that just don't find them funny. They're not scary, unless they're Stephen King clowns but we won't think about those evil sharp-toothed clowns!! I just don't much like them. Well, I liked Red Skelton's clown but then I liked anything Red Skelton did!

Anyway, these two clowns are totally cute in their red jackets and playing their musical instruments. I like the big red spots on the violinist, and the way the drummer's toes stick out of his shoes! They are porcelain and made in Korea.

They and the thermoses (that must be the right one because the auto spell-check is not underlining it in red) will be happy and cozy in my Etsy shop soon, sooner, soonest! And if you like clowns, you know where these two will be!


♥♥♥  I'm linking my red thermos and clowns, and Noli's red puzzle and pony over on Rednesday at It's a Very Cherry World -- hop on over and see some more reds!!

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A Red, White and Blue party

Miss USA throws her party tonight and we've got to be ready to celebrate vintage style!

This fabulous dress is both fun and flirty -- just right for a Fourth of July party! Swirl on the patio to patriotic music and indulge in a few hot dogs! Vintage Dress in Red, White and Blue from xoUda

Dress it up with vintage red, white and blue jewelry....

Fabulous floral enamel earrings from Antique and Vintage

and a fun lucite beaded stretch bracelet from LifeTravelsDesigns 

Carry all your essentials in this beautiful beaded drawstring bag from TinkerzTreasure

You'll be the envy of the party in these awesome patriotic sandals from VintageDame

Did I forget anything? 

Oh yeah, the mister!

 

The fireworks are already happening on this shirt!! 

Vintage disco shirt by Sideburns

♥♥♥  My party will be taking place over at It's a Very Cherry World for Rednesday! You're all invited!

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Kitchen Gadget or Tool of Destruction? Mwahahahaha

Doesn't this look vicious? Like maybe it would be good to keep under your pillow at night .... just in case ....

Well, it is but a lowly meat tenderizer and not a tool of destruction and mayhem ....

I remember my mother using the edge of a plate to tenderize meat -- bang, bang, bang across, then bang, bang, bang the other direction. Made a little cross hatch design in the round steak!! Add some flour and bang, bang, bang again.

So, of course, when I grew up and tenderized my own round steaks, I used the plate method too!


But then I came across this -- and now I'm a bit scared to put it in my kitchen ....

Afraid that it might tenderize more than the round steak ....

(have I got you wondering just what kind of a cook I am?)
(or am I of the Lizzie Borden variety?)
Mwahahahaha

: D

♥♥♥  Linking my meat tenderizer (mwahahahaha) over on Rednesday at It's a Very Cherry World
  and  Vintage Thingie Thursday at Colorado Lady.


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Trivets, Trivets, Trivets!

I came across this little cutie at an estate sale I went to last weekend and just had to pick it up. There were a couple more, though in worse condition, but I still wish I had gone ahead and gotten them. Ah, well.....

I love the folk art look, especially the birds -- and it appeals to my sense of symmetry! Not to mention, of course, the blue/green color combo. I especially love it that the cast iron part is *gasp* turquoise!

I have a collection of sorts of trivets --this is the wall where I have some that I just display. I had to get far back and use the zoom on my camera or else there would be too much glare -- there's a mirror over the sink which is to the left, and a skylight in the middle of the ceiling.

The brass trivets are some that my brother brought to my mother when he was in the Navy and stationed in Bahrain in the Persian Gulf, way back when in the early 60s. I've always liked them, and knowing that, my mother gave me two of them when I moved from home. Years later she gave me the other two!

Though not a trivet ; )  this magnolia watercolor is one of my most precious belongings. My aunt (who was like a second mother) painted it and gave it to me. My mother's Roseville pottery and this painting started on the road of magnolia love. 

This black cast iron one is called "Tree of Life" and was given to me by a dear friend from my high school and beyond days. It resides to the side of the kitchen sink and reflects back to me in that mirror! Then, lo and behold, my daughter found another one and thought I would like to have a pair! (I did!) I enjoy using these two, plus they have memories attached of a couple of sweet gifts!

These straw ones get used a lot too -- they belonged to my mother-in-law and I'm pleased as punch to have them! I do believe that they have a bit of blue on them too!

And, last but certainly not least, this is the one I keep on my counter and use daily. It's a new one with no attached memories, except that I bought it several years ago at Target!! But it's cast iron heavy and is an ample size for hot pots and casserole dishes! Plus, I really like the scroll design. Can you see the fleur-de-lis and the hearts?

I'm linking my trivets to Blue Monday at Smiling Sally and to Knick of Time Tuesday! 

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