Screen Doors......Old Screen Doors

There are certain things that creep into my thoughts from my childhood at the most unexpected times. Sometimes, things I have not thought about in years, or things I gave up on obtaining many years ago.

This past week, out of the blue one of those memories came flooding back into my mind and it was quickly added on a "must have" list I am making as we are in the process of looking for a new or at least new to us house to purchase this year......let me just say it is a daunting task...house hunting that is.

It occurred to me this week, that my kids have never known the sound of the spring stretching on an old screen door as it opens, and then the quick slamming sound as it pops back against the door frame.

My grandmother had an old screen door on her porch that lead to her back yard. Many a Sunday afternoons were spent when I was a young girl of me running out that old screen door. Then as I would turn loose of the wood frame,  and as the door slammed shut, I remember my mom and aunt always in unison yelling..."don't slam the door" and before they could get the words out...the door popped shut and off the porch I would go. Honestly, I did not really slam the door, the door just sorta slammed itself.

There isn't anything at all romantic about an old screen door, but the memories they evoke are the romantic fibers of my heart. I can remember as if it was yesterday, the smell of Sunday chicken frying from my grandma's kitchen. My mom and aunt would be working right alongside my grandma and  the meals they turned out of that kitchen are the memories that can make your mouth water. 

I always loved her screen door, I loved the smooth feel of the plain iron handle, nothing fancy, just functional, but it had a certain feel in my young girls hand. I loved the safety lock which was nothing more than a simple eye hook and hook. I liked locking and unlocking that door as I stood looking out into the back yard. I also loved locking my sister (clearly by accident) out of the kitchen. I loved the chippy paint and I loved how my grandma had little square patches for repairs in the screen of the door.

I wish my kids had been able to experience the simplicity of old screen doors. We always had storm doors on the front of our home. My kitchen door was not to where I could put up a screen door as the pitch of the roof outside the back door would not allow for one. Thus I gave up that dream of having a screen door long ago. It occurred to me, kids today for the most part, never will know the sounds, feels and fascination like I always had with my grandma's screen door.

My must have list for my new house has included a door in the kitchen to the outside, and one that will allow for an old fashion screen door. I don't want a new one, I want an old one. I want one that evokes all the nostalgia and memories I carry in my heart of days gone by. I want to recreate all the warm and fond memories that came from inside that screen door on Sunday afternoons in the summertime. 

I wonder....is it really the screen door itself that holds my fascination and longings? Or is it the memories that are intertwined with the memory of a certain screen door my heart is longing for?

It is a rather simple item to be added to a list of "must haves" in searching for a new house, but one that I don't see myself crossing off the list as not attainable. 

Oh, and about that list......there are really two list....one that I talk about with my husband......and then one that is written in my heart. The second list is the one I am afraid I stay a little more focused on most of the time. The old screen door is item number three on the list.......stay tuned.

Happy St. Paddy Day!!! Have You Seen This Tea Pot?

Don't forget to wear your green......I am off in a minute to find my green to wear today!!

While looking online for a image to post....I found this one! Look at this adorable tea pot!! I could not find a link to where it was from, or the maker. So I have to ask...have you seen any thing like this in your neck of the woods?? I love it, and I am not big on tea pots, but this one made my heart sing.

Wishing you a day of shiny rainbows, a field of lucky clovers and hopefully, a day without getting pinched!!

I Have Always Loved KMart.......Check out their Christmas Ad for Joe Boxer ~ Show Your Joe

We don't have a Kmart in our area anymore.......

My husband and I always talk about the fact we hate that there is not a Kmart close to us here in Ft. Worth. We miss shopping there at times.

When we went to Colorado a couple of weekends ago, we made it a point to stop into the local Kmart in Loveland Colorado. It was just like the Kmart that used to be close to us and we had a good time going down memory lane and when the kids were small, as we walked down the isles.

This Christmas ad for Joe Boxer is just what I needed to put a smile on my face this morning! Very clever indeed Kmart......go ahead, turn your speakers up and enjoy a little Christmas music......Joe Boxer Style!!

Security Overdone!

I wonder if the owners of this company realize that they are most likely overpaying for security.

Notice there is a security camera located on the side of the building, the padlock and chain on the gate, the ADT security system sign all designed to keep out intruders.

I happen to think the bright red sign is pretty much all they needed. Just sayin'.

I shiver each and every time I drive by this place.  

All The Colors Of The Rainbow

I can do some of the most dumbest things you have ever seen. The problem is, I have no idea how I continue to do the same dumb things over and over again. But. I. Do.

Last Sunday I needed to take something back that I could not use that I had purchased at a store, then wanted to stop at Joann's Fabrics to pick up some quilting batting as I had a baby quilt I wanted to get started with the quilting later in the afternoon. As usual, I was in a hurry. I had successfully returned what I needed to return, but that was the end of my errands.

 The above picture is the drivers doors of my car. Nothing looks amiss here at all. Now, the photo below, shows the drivers door open.

Do you happen to notice where the door handle is and the top of the door?? See how it sticks out farther than the door? Well, when you are in a hurry and trying to get things done so you can accomplish what you need to do.....dumb things happen.

That part of the door at the top, that sticks out over the door handle met my head. Yes, I opened the door and slammed my own self in the head. A goose egg popped up, I saw stars and knew my errand running was over. I debated on how I was even going to drive home.

Well, now my eye is every color of the rainbow. In all my 51 years, I have never had a black eye. Ever. And to think, I did this to myself, and rather successfully. It has been a week and it is still the same. Sorta gives me an idea of permanent eye makeup, only thing lacking is the other eye and I'd be set.

Oh, and did I mention, I have hit myself in the head before, just like this, just not as hard to cause all this damage. Some days, I think I should stay in a padded room. I am my own worse enemy!

Lesson here....car doors are weapons of personal destruction!

Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Owl Plate

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday

If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a really good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies on display that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

A few months ago, I was out treasure hunting at my new favorite thrift store. I found this vintage painted plate and it spoke to me. Naturally, when that happens, I bring it home with me. This one had a hanger on the back and I hung it up on one of my walls in my bedroom. Now, I must warn you, if you don't believe in strange occurrences and weird things that can happen in a blink of an eye..well, you might want to stop reading now...otherwise....I am going to record this story as it happened.

 I have written before about the owls that frequent our yard in the summer time, when the days are scorching hot. As the years have gone on, we have more and more that come each and every year. However, we never had a single one, not ever until after my mother in law passed away in 2013.

My mother in law must have liked owls, as she had several owl related things in her home and in fact, when she passed away, we took a large wood carving that was done from a chain saw of an owl and placed it at our cabin in Colorado. I always say that owl is standing guard over our little place in the mountains.

I mentioned several weeks ago my husband was in ICU and was there for about four days. One night, when I got home from visiting him in the hospital, I walked down the hall to take the dogs out. Sammie always runs ahead of me and as normal, off he went down the hall. I was not paying too much attention as I was tired as could be, but before I got to my bedroom, I saw Sammie cowing down and trying to hide under the bed. He was curling himself up in a ball and whimpering and doing everything he  could to get himself under the bed skirt and out of sight. This is not normal for him and I have never seen him try to hide under the bed before, I noticed his eyes were glued to the back sliding glass door and he was not going to budge. 

As I go into our bedroom, I glanced at the patio door and there, ON THE GROUND, staring inside that door was an owl. With eyes as large as could be it just sat there as if it was wanting something. That owl had a look so intense, I paused and as I looked at that owl, I found myself speaking out loud, and said these words, "Oh, he is going to be fine...don't worry.....I will take good care of him. I promise." and then lastly, I said, "You know I am more than capable of getting him well.....I will do it, don't worry."  

That owl looked at me for about 3 seconds, then closed its eyes and gave me, I swear a look of relief and then just turned and flew away. In my mind, I heard the words my mother in law always spoke to me, which were " you do that, ya hear? " It was not a moment of fear, but a moment that just was an  extraordinary thing to happen.

Yes, it is a weird story, one that most will think I am losing my mind, maybe I am. However, I do know this, we don't see any owls until summer, and this was March, and it was cold weather at best. We don't see owls on the ground, and they certainly don't sit at my patio window looking in and frightening my dog into hiding under the bed until it is gone. And I certainly never felt an owl wanted an answer from me and was acted relieved when I stated everything was going to be ok.

Maybe the owl was a messenger, wanting to relay a message....maybe it was something else entirely.  Either way, it was an extraordinary experience and one that I took notice of and won't forget. And for the record, no other owls have made an appearance in my yard again this year, and honestly don't expect to see them until the summer months.

Surely I am not the only one that these types of things happen to? Have you experienced anything out of the ordinary as this?? Are you open to things that are unexplainable?

If you are still reading....Happy Vintage Thingie Thursday!!

Sometimes, I Have To See It With My Own Eyes!

Nothing too ordinary about this stalk of celery would you say? Well, that is what I thought until a few months ago, during the winter months I saw somewhere online about growing a celery plant from the end you cut off. I kid you not, and I did not believe it for myself, and when I went to try and find where I saw that very thing, I could not find it, not even with Google.

The best of my memory said to cut off the end and if you could not plant it right away, put it in some water. I almost forgot to take the picture....before I stuck it in the ground that is! ( I  thought the only good thing about the end was making roses from dipped paint and paper.) Shows you how much I knew about celery!

I planted it in the ground and covered it with about an inch of soil. Luckily, we had lots of rain and I did not have to remember to water it. After about three days....this is what was coming out of the ground.

Yesterday, this is what I saw and today, it is even taller. I took my husband out back to the garden to have a look and he just looked at me...I think he doubted this would work in the first place.

Granted....I don't have a celery stalk to chop in my salad yet.....but by the looks of things, if it does not get too terribly hot around here, I just might in a few weeks. Yep...this is one of those things I had to see for myself! Seriously, I almost don't believe it!

Two Words I Never Hear Are " Hey Girl......"

Would you believe it if I told you that sometimes  a lot of times I am faced with a bit of resistance when it comes to getting my husband to implement an idea of mine? It is true. Sadly.

A few days ago, Lane my quilting friend talked about quilting tools. He shared his fantastic idea about using a pill bottle to hold bent pins to keep them off the floor where they don't belong. I seem to have that problem too and yesterday I asked my husband to drill a hole in the top of a pill bottle.

I got twenty questions on that one little request as to why I needed that and what I wanted it for.....all for a little hole. It was almost like he thought I'd gone completely over the edge this time with this request.

Well....since my husband certainly does not have Ryan Gosling's "Hey Girl" attitude I had to explain.

I quickly asked him if he enjoyed stepping on my SHARP quilting pins barefoot? Did he enjoy screeching in pain when it happened???

In no time....I had a functional quilting tool with a hole drilled in the top! In fact this happened so quickly I was rather impressed!

Now....if other matters could be handled as quickly as this one I'd be a happy camper!!

For whatever reason I still get a lot of flack from my husband and son when it comes to holding my quilts up for photos.....lots of complaining to the fact I take too much time doing the photography.

I sure would like to get a few "Hey Girl....." around here once in a while....things would run so much more smoothly if I did! What about you?? Do you have a Ryan Gosling Hey Girl at your house?? Wait.....don't answer that.....I am going to pretend we are all in the same boat!

Consumer Alert - Pricing at Walmart

Most folks that know me personally have heard me say I don't prefer shopping at Walmart at all. I do however for the sake of convenience stop in about 3 times a month for something quick I might need but usually it is only for one or two things. I don't do my regular grocery shopping there at all ~ ever. 


AND THIS IS WHY

Last month not once but THREE times when I ran into the store for bell peppers and onions when I mysteriously ran out at home, found this at the checkout. If you do the grocery shopping, you know the cost of GREEN bell peppers, and you know the cost of the pretty ORANGE, RED, and YELLOW ones too. The green ones are considerably less always.

Is it a new way to get a few more cents out of the unsuspecting consumer?? I don't know, but you can bet I won't forget them on my next grocery shopping outing at my local grocery store.

When all your pennies count....it pays to pay attention especially during the hurry and rushed season upon us....and shame on Walmart I say! I'd have acknowledged it being a mistake once...but three times in one month is a little eye raising for me! Just thought you'd want to know.

** I did call it to the managers attention the very first time it happened and he said he would take care of it....after the third time in the same month....I guess he forgot.

An Over Worked Bird Bath!

This summer the bird bath has been working overtime!! The heat has been a major inconvenience for man and beast of all types. During the day, I have noticed lots of cardinals and birds stopping by our backyard for a drink and a swim. I even have a couple of squirrels that stay close to a small bird bath I have by a large oak tree. I keep them filled and cleaned with fresh cool water, or at least as cool of water I can in the hundred degree heat.

But the real show is not going on during the day, but right at dusk and into the darkness.

Every evening, we have anywhere from five to six of these adorable owls dropping by for a drink and a cool bath. These little owls are so speedy and quiet, it is almost like they are just appearing from thin air into the bird baths. One night, I was watering what is left of my flowers, and passed by this particular bird bath, there was a swooping of air that caught my shoulder and I looked around and an owl landed right on the perch of the bath and just looked at me. It happened so quickly, I did not have time to think to be frightened.

I quickly went to get my camera, and sat in a lawn chair and started snapping away. There were five that night that enjoyed the fresh water as we sat and watched. Funny, they really are not too scared of us at all. We sat about 8 feet from the bird bath at best, and just watched. We have really enjoyed them this summer....oh, and in case I forgot to mention, we live slap dab in the middle of a big ole city, not in the country where one might expect to see such wonders......so the fact that these owls come to our yard for water is a wonderful occurrence to say the least. Sometimes, it almost seems like a scene from Harry Potter, right in our own back yard.......and that is a wonderful thing on a hot summer evening.

The Truth......

The truth is sometimes hard to accept or change. Sometimes.

I have fallen off the blogging wagon, and it has not been easy to get my ducks in a row and get with it again! I have folders of pictures just waiting to be uploaded and their stories told. I have taken tons of photos for recipes I want to share....but there they all sit in folders safely tucked away...just waiting.

The truth is...I don't know why I am in this slump. I have been busy, but that is a sorry excuse....even to me!

I'd like to say, that I am most thankful for the ones who visit anyway, some leave comments, some don't....but I know you show up. Thanks for the emails.....I hope to shake this funk I have been in and get back to myself. Thank you all for your concern and kind words.....I love you guys more than my vintage dishes....and well you know me, that means I love ya a lot!

Thanks for staying with me......

Last Minute Easter Centerpiece - Super Easy

Thought I'd post this fun, fast, and easy project I put together this afternoon. Are you in the middle of cooking for Easter Sunday and all of a sudden you realized you forgot the centerpieces? Well, take a look.....super easy.

All you will need is a clear glass vase, some jelly beans, some peeps, a little plant, a swatch of fabric and some Easter grass.

I took the jellybeans and filled the bottom. Then, took the fabric and covered the little petunia plant. Once the plant is placed in the glass vase over the jellybeans, I added the peeps. Not only are they cute, but they help hold the little plant in place. Lastly, I added some paper Easter grass on top at the base of the plant and added a little fabric strip bow. If you have a cute little spring plant pick, you can add that like I did. Possibly, you might be able to find all these things you need already around your house. I just bought the plant and the glass vase.....I could not find the vases I have stored safely in our shed!!!

I think it is cute, simple but cute. I am taking this with us tomorrow as we are going over to my niece's house for Easter dinner. I think she will like it, at least I hope so. She can plant the petunia in her flowerbed after Easter. Serves double duty that way!

Now, I need to get in the kitchen, I have a dessert to make and a side dish!

Happy Easter.....enjoy your day!!

Start Spending: Good Advice

Someone special sent me this the other day, very good. Thought I'd pass it on!!

*************************************************

Imagine that you had won the following prize in a contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400.00 in your private account for your use.

However, this prize has rules, just as any game has certain rules.

The first set of rules would be:

Everything that you didn't spend during each day would be taken away from you.

You may not simply transfer money into some other account. You may only spend it.

Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400.00 for that day.

The second set of rules:

The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say, it’s over, the game is over! It can close the account and you will not receive a new one.

What would you personally do?

You would buy anything and everything you wanted right? Not only for yourself, but for all people you love, right? Even for people you don't know, because you couldn't possibly spend it all on yourself, right? You would try to spend every cent, and use it all, right?


ACTUALLY This GAME is REALITY!

Each of us is in possession of such a magical bank. We just can't seem to see it.

The MAGICAL BANK is TIME!

Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life, and when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is NOT credited to us.

What we haven't lived up that day is forever lost.

Yesterday is forever gone.

Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your account at any time....WITHOUT WARNING.

SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds?

Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars.


Think about that, and always think of this:

Enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think.

So take care of yourself, be happy, love deeply and enjoy life!

Here's wishing you a wonderful and beautiful day.

Start spending.

A Crisis With Identy

I am beginning to hesitate before I open my email! Seriously. This story is true. Every word of it. I will tactfully or at least with every bit of tact I can muster, try to explain how you just never know what might be around the corner....I kid not!

Last weekend, there was a message in my "comments" section of my blog waiting to be moderated and published. I read it, without even paying any attention to who it was written by. Confused by what the message said, I glanced again at who sent it....um..... imagine my surprise when I saw "coloradolady" sent it to me.

Here is said message:

"I want the readers here to know I am the original Coloradolady. I have been the Coloradolady since the 1990s. I do not and never will stand behind what is written here, nor support it. This was not written by me. I am the original. I hope my readers don't think I am this person."

OK....seriously....what the heck????. I read it again and then did a little probing into this statement. I quickly discovered whomever sent this, is correct, I have a feeling they would not like what I stand for or talk about. Original??????...I am not so sure.

I see no reason to quote the email I received, I think you can get a feel for it, and let me just say, it was not a "Hi! how are you? I'm so glad to meet you" type email. Nope. None of that!

Fact Number 1: My daughter gave me this name back years ago when Craigslist started, and we were helping plan a wedding and I sometimes posted in the "wedding Forum" It was a brief stint with that to be sure. So when I decided I wanted to have a blog, even when I really did not even really know what a blog was, that is the title I used as my blog name. If I had of had a better idea on blogs and what they were, and I am most sure I would have went in a different direction and  I would have chosen a different title.

Fact Number 2: When I made my blog, had this title been taken, blogger would not have allowed it. I actually found blogger last, and had looked into wordpress and typepad...but that name was not taken. So I chose it. End of that you'd think.

Fact Number 3: I never even considered searching the name online. Never. Who would have known that this very thing might be a good idea????. Like I said, I really had no idea what a blog was about. I thought you'd write a post and 1000's of people would come comment and love you! Ha! That first post only got one comment and I have no idea how they even found me. (see, I told you I did not have a clue, for we all know that is not how it happens!)

Fact Number 4: Someone else thinks they are Coloradolady, well, actually I guess they are...just a very different one...and they don't seem to approve of asking for prayer for sick children. The don't seem to enjoy old junk or turning things from trash to treasure. This person must have something against quilts, fabrics and crafts. I don't think they like GW or Thrift shopping. They certainly don't believe such a thing as a happy marriage exist. I am thinking they don't like the idea of "play it forward" as well. That is okay...we are all different, we have that right...identity crisis!

Fact Number 5: THIS COLORADOLADY is real and what you see on The Coloradolady Blog is the real "me". This Coloradolady does not enter chat rooms, or post on controversial websites. This Coloradolady does not play online games using this handle. This Coloradolady does not record herself "singing" and post online for all to hear. This Coloradolady does not join on line dating services using this handle. I am sure from the unpleasant email I received, this person who calls themselves CL would be most happy for me to clear this up.

This really upset me, because I wonder what someone would think to find this online and not know there were two of us out there. Two who are very different in all aspects. Well, with the exception of the name and hopefully the love for Colorado.  I wondered if I should change my blog name, but I refuse. "The Coloradolady Blog" is something I have worked hard to build. It is honest, and real. It is not all  happy go lucky, there are real struggles and writing about them helps. But overall  I try and promote good things and thoughts. If someone has a problem with that, well, that really is not my problem.

But please, if you ever find something out there on line and wonder "What happened to her, that sounds nothing like Coloradolady" Please know....it is a mistake in identity. Please know, I only blog under this name...and absolutely nothing else.

I wonder if this happened to you, would you change your blog title? Am I really off the mark with this one? What would you do??? It sorta puts a whole new spin on a  Identity crisis doesn't it????

The Week Before The Super Bowl - A Look At The Stadium Grounds

WARNING: This is a picture loaded post, but I know I have a few Packers fans that visit my blog and I am sure a few Steelers fans as well. I thought you'd like a up close and not so personal look at the place to avoid at all cost this coming week!

Of course the signage is everywhere. From every restaurant in four directions welcoming football fans to all the Super Bowl signage around the stadium itself.

And we are not talking small signs, I am talking HUGE signs. Huge outdoor screens to watching the game in the parking lot. Extra tickets were sold at $200.00 a pop to be able to stand in the parking lot to watch these huge screens during the game......ummmm.....no thanks.

All of the main roads around the stadium have announcements for road closures....On a day to day basis, this is a traffic problem area, and I simply can not imagine what this will be this next week. I have to admit, I won't be traveling in that area for the next two weeks. No way.

People were lined up for stadium tours. The parking lot was full. This was on Sunday, one week before the game and already cars everywhere.

All surrounding parking areas around the stadium have now become tent city. Not small tents mind you, but building size tents.

There are antennae everywhere. The major cell phone companies have set up a huge station there to try and support all the millions of additional phones for the area. I fear we will be lucky to even get a call to work over super bowl weekend.

Here is another look at the stadium, this parking lot had lots of golf carts and personnel on the other side, so I am not sure what this lot is stationed for.

 As we were doing a drive by of the stadium, I no sooner asked my husband if he thought there were already fans here in North Texas when I looked on the side of the road, and I saw two Green Bay fans walking down the street. So, yes, we have fans a week early, and the weather this week is supposed to be the coldest we have had since 1997. Nothing like welcoming fans used to frigid weather with a little of our own.

Here is the main street that runs by the stadium, only one lane open, this was a Sunday morning, and the traffic was already a mess.....this week, it will be a nightmare.

Attendants were stationed at every entrance as well as policemen.

This is a photo with half the signs installed. The other player will be on the right of the super bowl trophy sign and they were putting it up as we went by.

Again, tents and signs everywhere!

It is amazing how this has come together in such a short amount of time it seems. Everything from landscaping to new freeways have been built. It has been a lot of work, but looks like they are ready for the crowds.

Certainly the beer companies were not to be left out, very large signs are on the corners of the streets.

This was an amazing thing to see, the size of this is lost in the photos. It is gigantic in scale. Really an amazing sight to see.

From super large signs, to the smaller signs, super bowl fever has hit us here in our area. Our local news is full of stories, turn on the radio and that is what they talk about. We have been warned to visit local restaurants off the beaten path, avoid this area when possible, and find alternate routes on  your daily commute that will take you around this super bowl frenzy area.

I thought the World Series was an event to behold....never could have imagined all the fan-fare surrounding Super Bowl here in our area. It has been a wild time.

For all you who are far away from this mass confusion, thought you'd like a little peak at to the super bowl happenings the week before the main event. From what we saw, you'd think this past Sunday was super bowl Sunday.....it is a mad house in Arlington, Texas!