Party On Boys....

Today Dylan and Marshall celebrated their eleventh birthday. We had a full day of partying including swimming, games, taco dinner (Dylan's favorite) and movie night with popcorn, soda & candy at our home. Today our family needs a vacation! Giving these two a party was a labor of love. But, it was fun and it was certainly worth it. They boys got everything they wanted, they were  both very happy. It was a great party, we hope we made a great memory for them!

Thank you FUN FLICKS your theater rocks!!

Summer Reading

I would say that I am a lover of books....and summertime seems to be the best time that I get to read  books that I have picked up at garage and estate sales. I love reading nonfiction books lately.... 'The Glass Castle' by Jeannette Walls is amazing. It resonated with me on so many levels. I found myself rooting for her throughout the whole book, wanting her to make her way out of the craziness and have a life she so deserved.  It's a memoir: a story of  materially impoverished yet highly intellectual family, told in the humane and voice of one of the daughters, Jeannette Walls. Jeannette gew up with parents, whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Her father, Rex was a charismatic, brillant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, and geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Her mother Mary, was a free spirit who abhorred the idea of domesticity and didn't want the responsibility of raising a family. The Walls children  learned to take care of themselves. They fed, clothed, and protected one another.
On Christmas, they weren't given gifts, they were to expensive, they usually celebrated Christmas, about a week after December when good bows and wrapping paper were thrown way and Christmas trees were discarded on the roadside. Mary would give her children a bag of marbles or a doll or a slingshot that had been marked down in an after-Christmas sale. This particular Christmas, Rex  lost his job, and there was no money, so he took each of his kids into the desert night, wrapped in blankets, when it was Jeannette's turn, he sat next to her and talked about the stars. He told her to pick out her favorite star, he told her for her Christmas present she could keep any star that she liked, Jeannette found one, in the west above the mountains but low in the sky, that shone more brightly than all the rest. Rex told her that's Venus, it was only a planet, and a pretty dinky one compared to stars. Jeannette wanted it anyway. Her dad said, "What the hell, "It's Christmas. You can have a planet if you want it.
And he gave her Venus.
I loved reading this story of triumph againist all odds, but it was also a tender moving story of unconditional love in a family that despite it's profound flaws gave Jeannette Walls the determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.

Happy Birthday Sister!!

Photo from the amazing Sweet Polita

Happy Birthday wishes to my  sister, best friend, blogger (the 50 best punch recipes) Jan. She's the sweetest sister in the world, she helped me with the birth of my children, and has been with both of my daughters when they delivered their babies. She has been with me through the roughest times of my life, and continues to stand by my side. She is my well of strength that never runs dry. We have shared many wonderful times together, and I  look forward to spending many more special events, and holidays with her. I hope she knows how much I LOVE her. So lucky to have you as my sister!

Fourth of July

 Happy Fourth of July! We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day, we enjoyed the fourth with the most amazing weather, lovely company, and fabulous food. Complete Perfection! It was a little bit of magic!!

Happy Fourth of July

Drinks for the boys

My sister, Jan's Watermelon Cake....so goood!

Always a favorite, I made Crazy Cake Cupcakes, from my Aunt Dorthy's Recipe.

My sister, Jan made the most amazing Blueberry Pie!



Celia made a delicious Fourth of July Dessert (found on Pinterest) So yummy!!!



My Harley hubby, Steven, niece Reilly, Carol, Cel, nephew Shannon, and Bob. On the deck of my sister, Jan's Condo at Arrow Point Lake Coeur d. Alene.

My beautiful and talent niece Reilly, she is a self taught musican and singer. God has gifted her with so much talent, she is a blessing to our family.

Do you remember watching the movie The Sandlot, (it was one of my son's favorite movies, when he was young, we watched it over & over again) when America the Beautiful is palaying and all the boys are playing twilight baseball and watching fireworks and you can just feel the summer time? That's what I think of every time I think of the fourth of July.  It's magical to me....with fireworks and all! I think summer is really here to stay! Hope you all enjoyed your fourth as we did! 

Our baby girl Ava....wishing you a blessed Fourth of July!!!

Vacation at Ocean Landing ~ 2012

WOW! What an amazing week we had at Ocean Landing, at Arch Cape. While we were anticipating a beautiful "rental property". Ocean Landing is clearly a home and it felt like that the minute we arrived. From the decor to the layout to the furnishings to the smallest of details (including the album of restaurant options,  lists of things to do, toys for the kids, games, cards, etc....)



 

Ocean Landing is truly a treasure! Our family loved the quiet and peacefulness of the beach and neighborhood with relaxation, celebration (my birthday) laughter, cooking together, and fun in the sun.We enjoyed walkes on the beach. Early, early morning low tides to gather sand dollars, numerous day trips to close towns and simply put....spending time together. It's time we will always cherish and our week at Ocean Landing will definetely be a treasured memory!!






Life is good! Me and my beautiful children, Sonia, Michael, and Celia

The Farm Chicks Part 2 ~ 2012

We must admit we never know exactly what we are searching for until we see it. Even with only a vague idea of how we will transform the no longer cherished piece, we are absolutely postive it's the right thing to have-immediately! We can't drive by a yard sale without turning in; we are always on the lookout for treasures in someone's attic. My daughter and I call ourselves "passionate junkers" we are the first (although it is getting harder for us to be first in line) at estate sales, auctions, & road side flea markets. We love transforming our finds into prized belongings. There is still so much beauty out there to be found, so many more cracked, tarnished, slightly worn, but beautifully authentic to discover. This past weekend we were part of the AMAZING Farm Chicks Antique Show, in Spokane, WA. our booth was filled with many treasures from antiques, vintage, to the unexpected....we appreciate it all. Look beyond first appearances for true beauty...words my mother always said to me when I was growing up. We hope that you will have a fun filled summer and junk happily ever after, and find something totally outlandish that you absolutely love! Photos by Mike Lee mike@mike337.com

Farm Chicks ~ 2012

This past weekend we were blessed to be a part of The Farm Chicks Show. It is truly the most wonderful antique show!!! If you have never experienced the pleasure of The Farm Chicks Show,in Spokane, WA. We hope you will put it on your "to do list", as something not to miss! Serena is very good at creating this amazing show....No details left undone. There were crowds, and we mean crowds of people that attended, and the show runs so smooth. She still makes us all feel so welcome. After we set up The Junebug booth ~ we are pretty much there to stay... hardly anytime away from our booth. All of our guests were so polite, it's pretty amazing to see. We would like to thank everyone that purchased from us. It was really awesome to hear such nice things from people, about our "Mad Hatter Vintage Flea Market" that we love to host each year, at the Five Mile Prairie Grange, in Spokane, WA. This year we brought two trailers filled to the brim with furniture and treasures and so happy to say we left with one empty trailer and one with just a few pieces in it. It was so great to meet other bloggers and facebook friends face to face. To vist with other vendors and customers, we are so full of inspiration and excitement for our next Farm Chicks Show! I thought I'd share with you one of special customers, that touched my heart. She came to our booth on Saturday and as we were visiting about linens and things she loved, she told me she loves to get home in the evening and look at blogs and she loves listening to our music on our blog and visitng the photos. It made me so happy. Then she told me that her sister past away last year with cancer and they were business partners and best friends. Friendship...it means the world to me! See you all so very soon, and please enjoy your summer!!! Glad & Celia Serendipity is Me....Love Cel's new tatoo My husband and Lana Neumann (Owner of Deja neu) being silly! I think they are adorable <