A New Life In A Different State

If you had told me a couple of years ago I would be living in Texas, I would have said, No Way. Not because I didn't want to eventually, but, there were so many hurdles to pass, it looked far, far into the future.

Here is the story of how we came to be Texans.

As I told you in a previous post here. We sold our home in California and moved. We had lived in that particular home for 37 years. Our youngest daughter was born when we had been there about one month, so it held a lot of memories of 5 of our own children and another to bless us in our life.

Many races around the house, apples to pick from our small orchard, volleyball in the backyard, whiffle-ball games in the front yard, redecorating throughout as we lived our life in that little 1487 sq ft home.

Well, life here in Texas has been different. Not in a bad way, tho. The weather is different. Fireflies grace out yard from time to time. I thought being a Californian that fireflies were of the imagination, little did I know... We live in a neighborhood, but the Lord put us on the end of the street and we have no neighbors on one side and none in the back. Only fields of wildflowers with no plans to take away that lovely sight.

We dabbled in selling in an Antique store for about a year, but we have decided that has run its course and now we don't know exactly what will be next, but Lord willing, we want to meet it head on and be a blessing.

One of our grandsons was married to a lovely young lady and two years, almost to the day, they blessed our family with a great grand daughter. Miss "A" is now a little over 4 months old and she is a doll. Of course, we may be a little prejudice. They live a short distance away and it is always a blessing to see her/I mean them!

All of one family's children have graduated high school. One granddaughter is a pharmacy tech, another has a job at a big box store and the grandson is secure in his job for a nearby city.

Another family is growing up before our very eyes. The granddaughter is going to be an accomplished pianist in not very long. (not stage worthy in the world's eyes, but she can play and sing lovely) the young man is finishing his school and wants to follow in his father's footsteps.

As I have four families nearby, the third family has their two graduated and pursuing careers in AC/Electrical and Nursing.

The fourth family is getting ready to send off their children to college and finishing high school. They also have a great grandchild who is soooo cute.

A Day in the Life of a Junker

This post was prepared several years ago. It was kinda fun to re-read it and remember all that happened. Yes, just as it did. We have since quit shows, they are too taxing for us. We do like a good sale now and then tho. Maybe you will happen upon an older couple and ...


My head drops lower and I wake to find my chin almost to my chest. I stretch back and come fully awake. As I reach for my glasses, I try to figure out where we are on our journey. Glasses in place I start reading exit signs. Hercules, Pinole, Appian. OK, just about to the bay.

I glance over to Mr who graciously allows me to nap while he drives. "How're you doing?"

"Fine. Looks like it will be a nice day."  It is 3 am. We don't talk a lot early in the morning.

We exit the highway shortly and make the right turns to take us to a tunnel that goes under the bay to the island of Alameda. A few more turns and we join the other cars parked along the street leading to the gate. Our place in line is farther ahead than other times. Sometimes it stretches for at least a mile. We park and turn out the lights and settle in for a little more nap.

About 30 minutes later, we hear engines start up and lights come on and the cars start inching their way through the gates. Our entrance tickets are ready and we hand them over to one of the guards. This huge navy airfield has been marked into spaces for one of California's largest Antique - Flea Markets.

Pavement expands in all directions. We find our marked space and the first thing we do is set up out canopy with it's weights. Weights are now required on all four legs of each and every canopy as there have been accidents from flying canopies with the wind that sometimes comes up. No fun for the vendors, and no fun for the shoppers, some of who were injured.

Within a hour or so, a small city has been erected on the pavement. Rugs, jewelry, antiques from around the world, oddities. All this and more can be found here. We have been doing this "show" every month for about 8 years. That is a lot of shows...

Early, before 6 even, there are those who browse your booth. Few sales, for us anyway, take place. After Mr has unloaded and placed his furniture items, I get to spruce up a few pieces with my smalls. He takes a well-deserved nap over in the corner and I unpack a few packing boxes. Bowls, knick-knacks, plates, vintage cooking pieces, whatever we think may interest our customers are placed here and there. This last show we had a three foot tall leather zebra! I know other dealers, one my daughter, who can envision a whole vignette and make it happen. I seem to just stumble along and it is enough.

The sun rises, customers come and go. On a great day the market gets as many as 12,000 to 13,500 shoppers. That's a whole lot of people. Sometimes there is a steady stream going by. You see all the gambit of humanity. I have seen men wearing skirts, women with colored hair (not dyed - colors!), mothers with their babies strapped to their chests nursing, people on crutches (I know I couldn't make it one row, and there must be 50 rows). Then there are whole families. We had a few tiny birdhouses that we got for a song and were selling for $1 each. It was so fun to see the children pick out one and pay for it. I mean, who cannot afford $1?

Our neighbor vendor has his children come and help him. Sometimes it is his son who lives in a near city. "Tony" helps dad set out his refinished works of art - tools. They are truly beautiful. "Tony", the son,  is a principal on a normal workday. Here, he is the "helper". Other children show up a little later. "Lisa" (a mom with 4 little ones at home, I think she is glad to escape for a while...)  and "Lynette" (a professional lady), and "Josh", all there to support dad. One of the grandchildren sometimes comes. It is like greeting family to see them and share a few hours. "Larry", the dad shared with us a few months back that his wife was very sick, and they were waiting on test results. The next month, they told us that she had cancer. A few months later, we heard that she passed away. I don't know if this family knows the Lord, but we have had opportunity to tell them that we care and that we are praying for them. Hopefully, they see HIM in us.

"Sally" has a part of the booth across the way. She sells what she calls "steam-punk" jewelry and vintage watches. I don't even know if I would know what a "steam-punk" item was if it came up and tapped me on the shoulder. It works for her. Her other booth buddy, "Mike" is always telling her to not "bother us". She is just a lonely person who needs a friend.

We have other vendors who stop by to say hi and give us a short story of their day, or week, or month... For some reason, we seem to be a listening post. It makes the day very interesting.

About 1:30, I start gathering some small items that are not getting any attention and putting them in my packing boxes. As this is happening, arranging take place, and I usually end up selling something because I moved it... why didn't I have it there in the first place? At 2:30, Mr takes a stroll to the back parking lot to retrieve the parked truck and cargo trailer. He brings it around at 3 and we pack it up again. It is like moving twice in one day.

Getting into the truck for the ride home is right up there with being the best part of the day, the best part is when we pull into the driveway and thank the Lord for giving us another day to live for Him and thank Him for safety.

It's good to be home.

A New Post, an Old User

Many years ago, I started this blog. That's when blogging was popular. I don't think Instagram was that popular yet. Now, you see people checking their stats for followers online hourly, or at the very least, daily.

We used to live in California. There, we were Antique dealers, making our way through shows, finds, and re-purposing where we could. But then, life happened.

Our kids that lived in Texas at the time would remind us from time to time that prices were good there and we could retire there, near them. They would "take care of us" in our old age (!) and please move before they had to put us directly into an "old folks home". Well, we put it off by saying in a couple of years. Time passed and we didn't make that first step.

We decided to have a yard sale to get rid of extra stuff that we had acquired. Just a normal, yard sale. Well, during the first day of the sale we had 4 people want to buy our house! We smiled and said check back in a couple of years. They wanted to leave names and numbers, so we took them, never thinking of what would come of it. One neighbor, down the road, called us that afternoon and said she was thinking of her parents, but they were not ready to move. OK. But, could she pass on our number to her friends? Of course, we aren't moving, just giving out our information. Little did we know that her friend came to the sale and assessed the situation. They gave us a call that late afternoon and said they wanted to come by and talk to us. OK. They came, we sat in the front yard under shade trees and listened to them tell us they wanted our home, no improvement, as is. And, they made us an offer much more than we had expected. We both left with the thoughts that we and they would pray about this and get back in touch on Monday.

We were reeling! What! No realtor? But we weren't ready to move, or were we?

Long story later, we accepted their offer, they got a loan, we had a friend who works real estate read through the contract and we sold the house!

One of our daughters from Texas said she would come out and help us pack. We rented a POD, which is an 8 by 8 by 16 foot storage container. We packed it full and had the mother of all yard sales. We had decided to stay in California til September (this was now June). Mr had committed to an evangelical outreach at the Placer County Fair and he was going to keep that commitment.

We rented an apartment, first time ever, for four months. We saved only what we absolutely needed and sent a car, a POD and the same daughter out to TEXAS!

In the meantime, we needed a place to live in Texas. So, we went online and viewed houses for sale. We settled on a town near three of the kids and had them go look at it for us. We bought it actually sight unseen. We have been very happy in this.

All this long story to tell you how we saw the Lord's hand in day to day working in our lives. We were blessed beyond measure by His grace. He led us step by step, mowing down opposition and doubt. He made a way. We have had His blessing in using the funds He gave us by the sale of the house in California to fund our retirement. He Is Good. Always has been, always will be.

So now, I am a Cali-Texan. Or maybe a Texi-Cali. Whatever I am, it is by His grace. I want to be a blessing where ever He puts me.

Stay tuned to find out what He has done in our lives since we have lived in Texas.

A Monthiversary

I don't even know if there is such a thing. But it sounds fun, huh?

We are coming up on one. In fact, it will be our 504th. Over 500 months of marriage. It seems like yesterday in some ways. We have had our differences over the months, who hasn't? After all, we are human. We all have our ways that seem to be the best in our eyes. But, marriage is all about working together to show His glory through marriage.

(A warning, this is a long reminisce)

I was 20. Not that old, unless you consider I had no "steady" interest on my part or anyone else in me. I was having my own little Bible study when it occurred to me that what I really wanted in my life was God's will. So, I started studying with that in mind. What did God want for  me? After my prayer, it came to me that He wanted me to have a family. I knew I could do that... (well, we are all so innocent) But, I knew my own selfish me... So, then I started praying that if He wanted me to have a husband and family, He was going to have to send me my husband. I prayed for this non-existent person. I was sure that if I already knew him, I didn't view him as husband material. I was strong-minded and selfish and I knew that I needed a man that would guide me without letting me have my selfish ways. It then occurred to me (very logically) that this man may not even be saved. So, I then prayed for his salvation and wisdom for him to guide me.

Well, little did I know then what I know now. Mr was a young man that had recently lost his father. He was searching but didn't know it. He felt emptiness where his friends had left voids, his cars, job, his life were all non satisfying. In other words he needed the Lord. One day, he told the Lord, "I give up". He had no Bible training, he didn't know the catch phrases of "salvation", "born-again". All he knew was the religion that he had been brought up in taught him that there was a heaven and there was a hell. So, when he bowed his heart to the one God, he gave his life up to Him.

Not long after, he attended some church groups to see if he could find people that wanted to serve God like he did. There were some friends he knew, two sisters, that invited him to their church. So, he went. He saw the same two sisters who put on a different face at the church than they did at the parties they went to. He saw they led two different lives. That was not what he wanted. He wanted to serve God. He attended some other places. The same story. Their lives did not reflect God.

At his work, he knew a man that was not afraid to tell others about God. He would go around during his break and share Bible verses with whoever would listen, and even if they did not want to listen. Well, they didn't work the same shift, but word got to the older man that he should look up my Mr. There had been a drastic change in his dress, hair (afro cut off), his wanting to talk about the Lord. So, a time was set to meet up. Bible studies started. Mr learned then that this "saved", "born - again" and other words, were the same thing that happened to him - he would say "I saw the light". Isn't it wonderful how the Lord finds us where we are? But, He is too good to leave us there.

Well, back to the monthiversary...

We met at a Bible study. Mr was not looking for a wife. I had decided (with God's help) that I was not looking for a husband. I was waiting for Him to reveal that man to me when it was His time. We became friends, but not interested in "that" way. After some time, I was asking Mr what brought him to the Lord and he told me of the time the Lord had been "tracking him down". Hmm, I then asked when it was, like, when in the calendar year. When he told me, it was a shock to me to remember that was when I had really started praying for my future husband. Well, I didn't say anything then. I was still waiting, but I looked with different eye at him.

More time went by, not a lot, but time to grow in friendship. There came a time when Mr revealed that he had decided that he was not going to pursue what this friendship was leading to. I was a little shocked until he told me that no matter how much he had decided that course, the Lord was telling him that He wanted different! Huh? ! You mean?  Yes, he wanted to court me, with marriage our end! He then asked me what I thought. That is when I told him how I had prayed for my future husband and my first inkling that he may be the one was our conversation about his coming aware of the Lord dealing with him.

Well, the rest can wait for another long story time. How we got married, yes we did! How a tragic event happened just a few days before that wonderful day. And, you know the rest...

That's us on the right, my sister and her husband on the left, a double wedding.

 On our honeymoon in Bodega Bay. We each took each other's photo. I guess it didn't occur to find someone to help us out...

Some years later... about the time this next one was taken.

Blessings from the Lord. Yes, we were quite busy.

I have to say I haven't always been the help-meet that Lord wanted. I have been stubborn and will full at times. But my goal has been to be in God's will. I want that more than anything.

Roseville and Mes Amis

For several years we have attended/sold at the show in Roseville called "Tattered House" and now Mes Amis. Don't worry, I can't pronounce it either. It is french for my friends or something like that.

We have had the same spot and have gotten rather used to setting up in our own little corner of the world.
We have questions all the time as to what we are called. It is not a business, just a reminder that we are your...

We like to take garden art and my husband's trade-mark restored treasures from old wood made new and usable again. I love how he takes something that is rather ugly and re-uses other parts to make something new and exciting. Sometimes it involves changing the top, or putting on a metal top, painting, gluing, sanding, or giving a piece legs or casters. I have seen him take one piece and it turns into two pieces that are charming. We have people tell us all the time that they love our pieces. Hmm, it is my husband's work, can I share in it too?

A cabinet that can be hung or just placed on another surface with some of my "stuff" inside to show usage.

The tall table on casters can be used as an island or work station.

We have had couples buy such pieces to use as a changing table!

I'm sure they will find many uses later on.

Another cabinet placed on what we call a small island/work station. Very useful.

Oh, look, there is a vintage ice chest. Perfect for the "man cave".

This was a 'bin table' but the half-round drawers were damaged and Mr took them off and restored the top. He cut a tall cabinet in half for the hutch piece. Ironstone, bowls and glasses show it off well. The bench was a perfect fit for the whole.

The top on this one lifts up and there is storage inside. You could use it for gardening, or in a kitchen for storing goods or cooking things.

I like this one. It seems to have been a "receiving desk" from long ago. The slanted top would be perfect for a desk, or use it as an island. It is a lovely "mix" of industrial and practical. There is also storage inside for whatever you wish.

These were just a sneak peek at some of the items that we take to shows like Mes Amis and others.

What one is your favorite?

Spring Petaluma

We visited a show in Petaluma, California today. It was teaming with people selling, buying and just having a good time.

We parked and came up to the closed off street that housed hundreds of booths.

I "shot" this into the sun. Petaluma Antique Faire.

Some places you could hardly walk it was so crowded. I hugged my purse and Mr put his wallet into a front pocket. We were safe... well, safety minded. We had no problems.

All kinds of goods were offered, from vintage clothing to the dishes that grandma used in her kitchen to kettle korn and in between.

Old friends reconnecting.

Garden art was very prominent.

We may "do" this show in the fall. It covers two city blocks and a parking lot.

Well, just to give you an idea of a show in the area. After this, we went home to rest our weary feet. And what we purchased? A coffee, some hugs from some friends and a day spent together. What could be better?

Fussy Old People

Fussy old people. You know the ones. "Where is my cup? Not that one, I like the one with the thick edge. I like that one."  "Did anyone see where I put my glasses? Oh, I have them on? Hmm?"  "Do you have a fan? It seems like I'm hot in here." And on and on.

We just returned from visiting our children in Texas. I must tell you that they were very long-suffering with us. We were treated like royalty. "Let 'Honey' have the front seat so she can get in and out better". "Dad, would you like something to eat to hold you over before dinner?" "Papa likes this kind", and on and on. We were made to feel so welcome.

The two girls and our son planned a day of fun for the guys and the same time a day of shopping for the girls. Not to forget the son-in-laws and daughter-in-law, they accommodated our every whim.  My poor granddaughter had to listen to stories from long ago til her eyes glazed over. She told her mother later, "'Honey just told me her life story". Hmm, I will have to make it shorter next time! (and she didn't hear all of it!)

Schedules were changed, beds were given up. Menus planned just for us. We were together nearly every day with frequent phone calls and texts in between.

A family whiffle ball game had us all cheering. It didn't matter who was hitting (or not hitting), we just all wanted to "let the kid out".

New sunglasses

Taking a rest

Styling

Family whiffle ball

Our normal heavy hitter couldn't get a hit. She blamed it on a need for glasses.

Some enjoyed watching.

One granddaughter just redid her room

And, made this picture for it, don't you just love the spelling?

Many poses were taken with this poor rabbit who died making a little boy happy.

Boy cousins.

I finished another rug for a 40th birthday coming up.

We had a wonderful time and look forward to returning. 

Knotted Rag Rug Tutorial Revisited

Many moons ago I did a post tutorial on how to make rag rugs without any sewing. In fact I did two posts. You can see them here and here.

Well, it has been a while since I have made a rug. But, when I was cleaning out my fabric stash, I found several pieces that just had to be made into rugs. You don't necessarily have to use rags, it is just a term we fabricolics use for unused as of yet fabric [...;-)...]

I came up with fabrics for two rugs. One for my self and one for a gift.

Sheets can be used for strips, tablecloths that you no longer use, or just plain fabric that has been sitting in your closet for far too long (my case). If you were to purchase fabric, it would take a lot. That is probably why our grandmothers used fabrics from old shirts, trousers, edges of sheets that were worn out in the center. You get the idea. Fabric is expensive. Scour yard sales and get some for bargain prices. The most memorable rugs will be from fabrics that you love, and you won't break the bank.

Here is one that was recently finished for a birthday gift.

Not every one's choice, but there is a vintage blue and yellow kitchen that it will go in.

As I was making this one, I thought back to the tutorials that I did.

I thought perhaps a remake would be in order because maybe, just maybe a new take would make more sense.

So, hopefully, if you read the other posts AND this one, it may answer questions you have.

I "try" to lay out the fabrics that I want to use. I am rather "color challenged" and often ask my daughters for help in selecting colors. What I think at first would be great, sometimes clashes later...

Here are some fabrics I was considering and I actually tore some into strips. I was looking for a bright, colorful finished rug... Just to ease your mind, most of this was not used. Looking at it later showed me, Whoa there! not good choices. So I tried the rainbow approach, somewhat better. Mr likes this rug better than the blue and yellow rug, so I guess everyone to their own taste (as the old woman kissed the cow!)

Depending on how tight you knot, you will have either gaps or "knot".

My favorite part is the red part... I just knew you wanted to know...

Currently residing in front of the range. Cushy 

******

I take the fabric, cut off the selvage edge and then use my first finger to measure out approximately three inches. I found out long ago that this finger measures three inches, who would have known...

At the three inch mark, I make a snip with my scissors in the fabric and go on to the next snip place. After about six or eight strips, I start tearing the fabric from edge to edge. (If you don't cut off the selvage, your threads go back and forth and unravel forever, cutting it off stops that from happening). Fold it and pull at the edges to get those strings that will happen. Getting them ahead of using the strip will ease your use later.

Cut a little hole in each end of the strip for joining. This is done by folding over about 1/2" down, fold it in half again side to side, then cut a little of the corner. When you open it back up, you will find a little hole. You will use this hole to join your strips. You will not be sewing them together unless that is something you want to do. Personally...

Can you see the holes? (as a side note, I loved this fabric at first, it had all the colors that I wanted for the rug I was making. Looking back, I do not like it in the center of the finished run, but given some time and dirt, it will fade to a lovely tan...

Take the end and fold it into itself by thirds, and then in thirds again. This makes a really small end that you will thread onto a safety pin. The pin makes going into your holes so much easier than if you didn't have it. Trust me.

Now, lay the two pieces with exposed holes over each other, Right Sides up... It doesn't matter if one is a little wider than the other, that part of the edge will be folded in and you won't notice it at all.

Now, you can do this you know, grab the end of the top strip and bring it up from underneath through the hole. Use the safety pin to poke it through.

Pull, pull it through. You may think you have a mess, but keep it coming. it will fold into itself and look like this

See the torn end up there? These little torn ends will be throughout your rug, but they will be relatively unnoticeable (relatively...)

From the back, smooth out the edges by pulling on each side. It will almost curl around on the edges.

Now you have joined two strips together. You will be working with two strips the whole time, just joining another strip to the end when it get short. Notice that I have laid out these two strips, but staggered in length. That is because wherever there is a knot, there is a little bump. You will learn to work around these, but for the first few knots, it is best to not have the knot at the end of the round. This is the hardest part of the whole rug, so hang in there, you will make it.

Now wrap the right strip over the left and bring it under and through the hole.

You see here that I have pinned the end to the arm of the chair, ouch! That is to keep it stationary while I make those first few knots and for you to see it better. I just wasn't born with multiple arms.

See, that wasn't so bad. This knot you will use for the first row. Right strand over the left and back through the hole.

Do a series of knots, one on top of the other until you think you have enough for a center of an oval rug. Here there is about four and I think I did seven.

Now you will turn the corner by doing three knots in the same hole you just made, by taking the top strip, laying it down and wrapping the left strip over the top and going up through the hole. This is the knot that you use for the whole rug. The first row is different.

It's going to be a little bulky, but you can do it. Make a knot in each hole from your previous knots along the side. Count if it helps you. When you get to the end, make three knots in the end hole. You have completed one side! You are increasing each time you add extra knots. That will keep your rug flat and not curling up on the edges.

Can you see the strips/strands on the edges? That is where you poke your safety pin. Remember, top strip comes down, left strip wraps around and goes up through the bottom into the hole. Now that one is the top strip and you take the one from the left and wrap it over the top of the strip and up through the next hole. It is really much simpler than it sounds. Two color strips will give you a different look than if you use the same color. Those knots where you have joined strips together will be covered up when you come along with the next row.

See the one from the top and the one from the bottom? The bottom one comes from the left, wraps over the top of the right one.

Back side, just for you that are interested.

Adding another color by joining the new color strip

Hopefully this close-up shows you. I like to turn my strips so that the right side is always out. Sometimes it seems like you are turning it all the way around, but I like the way it turns out. It is not necessary to do this. The rug will still be very strong without this added step.

Keep going around, adding extra knots as you go to make the rug flat. You may want to work on a flat surface as it gets larger. It is your choice. And, add as many colors as you can to make it interesting. Go around and around and around many, many times. Make it as big or small as you want.

Now, I know I promised that there was no sewing, but a tip given to me by my daughter who has made many rugs herself, Sew the ends of the strips together on the last go around. It will make a smoother look and won't have those awkward knots to hide and the frayed edges to look at. Just if you want to.

I would love to see if any of you try this technique. Also, send me pictures, comments, questions. I am here to help if I can.

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