Different Days

 Since my Young Mama Days, Hubby has managed to surprise me every year with the most wonderful gift.  


His Time. 


 He would save up his Use or Lose time off throughout the year then in the busiest of months, he would spend it all.  This would mean that the whole month or at least a majority of the month of December, He Was Mine.  To a young mama with four children and a very busy life, this meant daily support with gift making, treat baking, snow playing and shopping. wrapping and decorating.  It was the best gift ever.  And we loved our time together even though we were usually just grabbing smooches as we passed each other en route to another task.

 Then our house got empty.


Our little kiddos had homes of their own and Hubby and I found ourselves without the busy-ness that consumes young homes.  However, we are creatures of habit and Hubby habitually saved his use or lose for just widdo ol' me.  I haven't sent Christmas Cards in years.  We quit gift exchanges long ago.  This year, the big tree stayed in the basement and only the newest of decorations came out.  In short, there just wasn't much for either one of us to do.  Not being the type to sit still, this year, we sought out Different Days.  This year, our time off took us to different occupations, things that in the previous years of parenting would never been possible....or even considered.

 This year, the last big shopping weekend before Christmas, we went to an auction.  
While most were scurrying around in the mall, Hubby and I searched out the most rural of locations on a very temperate Saturday in December to a hidden home that housed most of the vintage sewing machines known to man.  I got a glimpse of my own estate auction in the future walking through this elderly woman's collection of all things sewing.  Materials, kitschy furniture and dishes from another time, out buildings full of all kinds of useful and decorative things spanning many decades.  The day was bright and agreeable to be out in, unlike most mid Decembers.  We passed on the lengthy wait for a very special vintage sewing machine, but felt a little lighter in spirit after leaving the beautiful, distant location.

We found an unusual stop for lunch in the nearest town.  A deli with an emphasis on cheese.  All things cheese.  No indoor seating, so we just took our very unique sandwiches and ate in the car.  Because it was Different Day.

We needed to leave the auction so that we could help Youngest Son prepare for his First Annual Christmas Dance.  A hoot if I ever saw one.  YS rented out a local dance studio and put on a most jolly of dances in lieu of gifts for his friends.
 We had a blast baking and decorating and of course, dancing to his well selected play list of musical favorites and obscure (to me) artists.  Hubby and I waited for the right song, danced hard, then departed, leaving the younguns to their Big Fun.

 A few days later, found me preparing to go to my Christmas Brunch with my Fleur de Lis Ladies.  Any time this fun group of women meet is a joy, but the Christmas Gathering is particularly inspirational.  Our hostess is our poet laureate of the bunch, a 91 year old jewel of a woman, that hosts us at her home, prepares the turkey, yeast rolls, dressing and dumplings.  Two other ninety year old members, brought covered dishes as well.  The encouragement I receive from the tiny time with these wonderful women, spurs me on like nothing else.  They are gifts.  This year, the hostess left this message on my answering machine:'Don't forget Fleur de lis Christmas Dinner Monday.  Bring a covered dish. (pause) And put something in it!'  See?  A positive hoot.


I tried to take her photo but she kept moving as I aimed the camera.  Lord, may I have her energy when I am her age.

 Of course, there has been plenty of time for crafting, embroidery, crocheting, while Hubby drives me around the countryside and while we watch an endless selection of Netflix streaming.

Then, our Biggest Different Days Diversions:


1.  Passport Application!!  Yes!  First time out of the country this coming year in celebration of our 40th Anniversary.  We headed to the Big City to accomplish this only to find out a bit into our journey that we had left our filled out applications in the buffet drawer.  In the dining room, ten miles back.  In days passed, with time of the essence, we would have railed at our stupidity and cursed at the waste of time.  This time, in the era of Different Days, we laughed and shook our heads and whooped at the craziness of leaving at home, the main purpose of the trip.  Too funny.  Other years, it could have been the reason for a rather large To Do......


2.  Hand Gun Purchase!  I KNOW! For years, I would not let Hubby even reveal his guns in my presence.  I had no idea where in the house they even where, that 's how good he was at hiding them.  But as in all things changing, I have come around to the thinking that a little personal protection might not be a bad thing.  I plan to take a firearms class, practice at a shooting range, and become a very legal hand gun owner with my very own gun.  Hubby and I were coming home from a rather superfluous errand the other night and after 'rocking the value menu' (E/A's Hubby saying) at our local fast foodery, we happened by a new gun shop in town.  They were closing as we passed but Hubby pursued on, asking the owners as they were leaving for the day, their hours etc.  The men leaving their store decided to reopen their shop, show us the best arm for my needs and we proceeded to fill out the proper paperwork and off we went, intending on shopping for tulip bulbs at Lowes and coming home with a very nice firearm.  See?  Different Days!  Who Knew??


For all you most busy of young mama's:  Hang In There!  Your time is coming...!! 

Different Days is well worth the wait......

It's Just Too Fun...

Yah-HOO!!!!!
It's what I kept thinking every time every time I finished an aspect of this special order Western Theme bag!
Absolutely a hoot to make. I found this all wool table runner in the bottom of one of Pauline's craft boxes at the auction this month. It looked like it had never been used. I laundered it carefully and was about to put it into the garage sale last Saturday, when I remembered my special order Western Theme purse! Too perfect! I had the embellishment for years; it was part of my button collection forever ago. It had no fastener, so it never got used, just admired...Then I found an odd Napoleon type medallion in my heavy metal collection of embellishments for the weighted flaps I put on my purses. It fit perfectly inside the western embellishment, got hot glued in and sewed on with the medallion's hooky thing!
Don't you love it when things fall into place like that??
I had found this wonderful horsey fabric at my local Ben Franklin and just kinda fell in love with it. Have no idea why and even hubby looked at me strangely when I bought it. Perfect lining for a western theme purse, right? Did I mention that I had bought this before I had the order? Spooky, but cool!!

And I got it all done so that Hubby and I could check out the Festival on the first night of bracelets..(special 3 day prices for unlimited riding)...We checked out the commercial tent and signed up for all they had, especially the $500 gas card.....! Just felt like taking it all in! Checked out Manny the Greek's menu for future reference....Gyro's and baklava....! Yay!

And then the walk home....Admiring the thin sliver of moon in the overcast sky.....

*sigh*

Papa's Collection

Yes, you have reached the right blog....
I have not turned militant or developed a penchant for killing deer.
I have just returned a well earned favor for my hubby...
For all the times he carted endless truckloads of 'stuff' for me...
For all the times he did not question why we were spending long hours at auctions...
For all the times he covered my expenses when my till was empty..
This was for him....

I mentioned sweetly Sunday night, that there was to be an auction that we might want to go to on Wednesday, his day off.
Immediately, he grumbled around, seeking a long lost to do list that would HAVE to be accomplished on Wednesday. He stumbled around for ANY reason to not have to accompany me to another auction.
I let him ramble on, smiling sweetly waiting for the punch line.

'They have GUNS'.

Bingo.

I had him.

Wednesday was a date for the auction.
So we sat there for three hours, watching an endless (to me!) parade of artillery: rifles, shotguns, handguns(some bought by some pretty shady characters; eek), watching Hubby grit his teeth, balance the budget in his brain, and weighing the worth of these obviously important guns. Actually, it was kinda fun being on the Other Side of Bliss. Watching him where I usually am, was insightful and fun. A tool of Empathy 101.
He bought one shotgun to add to his collection. A collection which had not been added to for over 30 years. Long overdue, huh?

Lest you think I am completely noble and self sacrificing, (quit giggling!), check out my score. $2.00: mid century lighting extravaganza of a Pole Lamp.....

A 22 caliber day....:D

New Discoveries

And the auction ferreting continues...
Wisely, I told my husband to leave the auction goodies in the truck so that I could sort through before it took root inside my home..
I could see Pauline's things finding a host amongst all my long cherished things and the purging that I'm trying to do here, would be for naught....
So.
I am going through box after box, slowly, methodically and critically.
Today, in the bottom of, what appeared to be a bottomless box of old felt, nylon net, quilting scraps and various other crafty items, I found a treasure trove of salt and pepper shakers.
The kind that you would get for a vacation memory, or a convention etc....Nothing valuable, just all kitschy and mid century. There was one small red plastic set with a convention date of 1953....
and then there was the 'Handy Hamper'! Listed, are all the marvels of organization you can create with this simple hanger and the 'do it yourself' instruction! I should have these all over my home!The hidden trove of S & P's!!!

And this demonesque duo disguised as Salt and Pepper shaker holders...It could scare small children out of ever going into the kitchen....!

Oh the fun continues.......

Stayed tune for future episodes of 'What Did Pauline Intend With This?'.........

Sabbath Auction

Had a wonderful time of worship Sunday morning.
Had a nice diet-type lunch.
Then, we went on to different type of 'religious' experience....
A SUNDAY auction! Unheard of around here. This means, Hubby gets to come with. With his wallet....and truck and back.......
What an amazing, amazing auction.....
Four hours of standing and being out bid and out bidding some pretty rabid Lawrence County crafters.....
Some things went goodly priced.
Other things went surprisingly high. One jewelry box full of costume jewelry sold for 245.00. Nearby attendees verbalized what I was thinking; What did I miss in that box? One small box of hankies went for 65.00. And on it went.
Pleasant weather. Fun auctioneer. Grand company with the hubby.
A good day... This sweet little guy was in a whole pail of similiar creatures. All magnets of some kind.

This sweet set sold for a good price of 22.50....

I truly loved this.....I could hear my girls and girly-in-law having a royal hoot about this....Then watching who was going to bid on it! A few other things were noteworthy as well: A milking pail with the words, CALF-A-Teria....Laughed hard to myself.....then a large book of crafts called: Safety Pins in 3-D.........

According to the auctioneer, Mrs. Hill, the owner of this abundant collection, was in her 90's when she passed from this world and by the looks of it, she was probably a bit peeved not being able to take it all with her........It certainly appears that she was planning on crafting into eternity....

Do you think local stores in the 60's had any crochet thread left? And yarn....Was there indeed a shortaged caused by Mrs. Hill??

This wide, vast assortment went on the whole length of her property.

The poor auctioneer was overwhelmed by all the teeny little thingys that were boxed up and he had no idea what they were......Standing back a bit, I got terribly giggled watching this sewing gaggle of women, bobbing and bending over allllllllll these boxes, searching for gold......We all looked liked a bunch of chickens and hens pecking at our finds.....

A fun, fun truck full day...

Rest in peace, Pauline Hill....Your things are in good hands.....