wedding time

Last Saturday the sky was so blue it almost looked computer enhanced.  The day was sunny and warm, perfect for a wedding in Hilllsdale, Mi.  Our neighbors daughter, Brenna, who we have know since birth, was getting married.  Since it was close to my parents we decided to take a couple of days away and do a visit and a wedding.  I think the last wedding we went to was our son's six years ago.  We dressed in our finest, including for me a dress, pumps and panty hose, (I know all my friends are cracking up about now) and headed north.  All weddings are beautiful but this one was especially nice.  Friends and family all pitched in to make it just lovely with many home made touches that made it uniquely Brenna and Jasons.  What an privilege it was to be included.

simple small town church

bride and groom

book page cones filled with lavender to throw at the couple

'62 Caddy to escape in

table decorations of oil lamps, books(she's a librarian), tea cups with succulents, pumpkins and caramel apples as favors

the brides little brother John

The brides Mom was as beautiful as her daughter

bride and groom

John and Greta, parents of the bride

Daddy daughter dance

We had a table full from our area.  Pam and Larry

Mike and Brenda

Lee and JR

Andy and I

A wonderful start to a long and happy life together.

pumpkin palooza

I'm doing a craft show in a couple of weeks and aside from all the VCB products all over now I've been invaded by pumpkins.  Most are made of old sweaters, tee shirts or leftover fabric.  Add a little lace some ribbon a twig stem and you're done.  So far I've made about 25 but if I can find more sweaters this weekend I'll do a few more and maybe a few sweater pillows.

vacation time

We ran away from home for a few days last week and went to Nashville, In.  Located about 50 miles south of Indy this tiny town has been an artists colony since the twenties.  It's full of little shops, inns, restaurants and is absolutely beautiful.  Most of the shops with demonstrating craftsmen are gone and they do seem too similar but we still had a great time.  We visited Brown County state park, had lunch at the inn, explored the town of Martinsville and visited a local winery.  Best of all was no nonstop calls from work, no TV, no housework or cooking.  The first night, AH who has been working long hours for weeks, slept for thirteen hours straight.  We had a great time and came home refreshed and ready to tackle his long hours and my upcoming show schedule.

I think he can sleep ahywhere

cabin at park

inn

fall decor

decorating inspiration

Stone Creek winery

poke cake

This is what I made for AH's birthday cake.  He loved it and so did the guys he works with, that's where all our left overs and bad for you food goes, they'l eat anything.

1 box chocolate cake mix make according to the directions on the box and bake in a 9X13 pan
when you take it out of the oven poke holes all over with the handle of a wooden spoon.
1 small box instant chocolate pudding mix mix according to box directions and pour over hot cake.  Refrigerate until cool.
Spread with a container of cool whip and then grate or crumble a chocolate bar over the top.
In my own defense I did use sugar free/fat free pudding mix, low fat milk and sugar free cool whip so it wasn't as bad for us as it could have been.  The cake was light, moist and very good.

fly

I don't smoke, it drives my allergies crazy and I hate the smell, but I couldn't resist this giant brass fly ashtray at a recent sale.  I didn't realize it was an ash tray until the lady I bought it from showed me how it opens up.  At about seven inches he's a big guy and looks right at home in my tray of painted gourds on my kitchen table.
Don't overlook some thing interesting at a sale even if you don't know what you will do with it or what it is.  If the price is right or you totally love it, grab it then, you probably will never find another just like it.

fall shelf

After September 1, I am ready to put away the crystal, green and aqua accessories and start bringing out the fall accents.  This white shelf will sit above the couch when I get done with the fall change.  Gold and metal candle sticks, stacked mirrors and a few family pictures will finish the look.  I think I need a sign for under the shelf.  Maybe love, welcome or peace.  I have an old small window frame I can use.  What do you do to change up your home for fall?

gourd time

Every pumpkin patch and corn maze place I have been to has a section of dried gourds to purchase.  They just take the left over gourds and put them in a warm dry place for the next year.  You can do the same thing with the fresh pumpkins you buy this year.  Expect some rotting, holes and other defects, only use things with hard shells, but you will be surprised how well most of them turn out  You can pile them in baskets and crocks and strew them around mums and asters outside.  When they are dry you can scrub off the outer skin with warm water and a scrubby, let them dry and them paint how ever you like.  My favorites this year are the metallics.  I have put them on top of bottles and vases and used small bowls as pedestals.  Just some thing a little different to add to my fall decorations.

biggest suprise of my life

My twins were born in the olden days before routine sonograms.  We didn't know they were coming and had only prepared for one.  When the doctors, while we are in the delivery room, said I think there is another baby coming, we were in shock.  When he said here comes another one, they had to get a chair for my husband.  The rest of the family rushed to get things ready for two babies.  They have been the biggest blessing and the best kids a mom could ask for.  I always told them I wished for them to have kids just like themselves.  I got that wish.  Happy birthday Nathan and Rich, your Dad and I love with all our hearts.
Look at how much our family has grown from those two little babies.

vcb

I have been working on several sugar and salt scrub variations lately and these singe use sugar scrubs are coming along nicely.  Made with a mix of sugar, coconut oil, vitamin E, and grated glycerin soap they work great to smooth and soften your skin.  I pressed them into a mini muffin tin.  They are still a little crumbly when you first take them out but once they have a chance to harden they keep their shape.  I'm loving them.
At VCB we are constantly trying new recipes and trying to improve our products.  If you have an idea for either please contact us and let us know.  Some of our best ideas come from our customers.

music box

This green glass music box was another of my garage sale finds last week.  It stands about 6" tall without the handle and the metal  has a little rust on it.  The music box is in the lid and stops playing when you put in back on the glass.  It is not marked.  The lady I bought it from said it was a jewelry box, but I have not been able to find anything about it on the internet.  If you have any information please let me know.  For $5.00 I thought it was so unique it should come home with me.

Happy Birthday

A big happy birthday to my wonderful husband Andy.  I could never do all of the fun and crazy things I do without your love, support and handiness with tools.  Love you!!!

good-bye sweet girl

We had to make the gut wrenching decision to put our cat Snowy to sleep last week.  She was seventeen and had several strokes which had left her blind and walking in pain.  Up until a a couple of weeks ago she still could jump on the counter, loved her morning treat and would play with any available string or pencil you shook in front of her.  We always called her our bipolar cat because she could be purring and wanting to be petted one second, biting your hand the next.  She was a tiny thing, never weighed over six pounds, but has left a huge hole in our lives. This is one of the times when I hate being a grown up and the absolute worst part of being a pet parent.  As with all our pet, she will be missed and always have a place in our heart.

chicken potato salad

The gardens and farmers markets are bursting with all the fresh veggies of the season.  No better time to make this fresh chicken and potato salad.

3 poached chicken breast chopped or pull the meat off a roasted chicken
5-7 small boiled potatoes.  Peel if you want, it isn't necessary
2-3 chopped tomatoes
1# fresh green beans cooked or 1 can drained and rinsed
1 can black olives drained and rinsed
1/2 onion chopped
1-2 cloves garlic minced
1 lemon, juiced
1/2C olive oil salt and pepper to taste
Place all the vegetables in a pretty bowl, you can line everything up if you want to make it extra pretty
Mix the garlic, lemon juice, oil and seasonings pour over the salad it should be lightly covered, if it looks too dry add the juice of another lemon or  1-2T of vinegar.
If you have time this is even better if you chill it a couple of hours

happy birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my little sister Paula.  Have a wonderful day, good luck with the new job.  Love you bunches!!!

junking finds

I usually limit my junking funds to $20-30 for a big rummage sale weekend, I rarely spend that much but sometimes the stars and planets are aligned  just right and I hit several sales with great items and even better prices.  This was one of those weekend at our city wide  rummage sale.  Here are just a few of my great purchases, none over $5.00.

unopened frames, silver tray, stamps, table runner, purple balls

crystal lamp, green candle sticks, cool little table, maybe I'll paint it black, distress and replace knobs

close up of table

brass fly, it's really an ash tray, rose bowl and a pair of bobeches with prisms for 50 cents

a giant brass urn, it's big enough to hold everyone in the family's ashes if  we all decided on cremation.  I can hear the groans of my kids now!

three tier display stand for VCB, two silver trays and off in the corner a vintage copper match box

along with an old spindle

two wood frames, two wood boxes and tow chunky candle sticks

fun purple bottle

My prize of the week end.  Can you guess what it is?  It's a glass and lead city street light shade.  It's at least 24" tall and heavy as can be.  I have been looking for one of these for several years.  I paid $3.00 SCORE!!!

You just have to keep your eyes and mind open to find the treasures in all the junk.