Seth and Brianna

Several weeks ago my nephew, Seth, moved in with us. And I must say I'm thrilled to have him. His girlfriend, Brianna, was moving to town to attend NWMSU and I knew Seth needed to be close by. I told him he was welcome to stay with us and we cleared out a room for him.

Seth got a job as a temp where I work and, luckily, got the same shift. So now we trudge back and forth to work together. We go to breaks together and complain about work together.

It has been really interesting to get to know him as a person, not just a nephew. It tickles me to no end that they hang out here and seem to be enjoying being with us. (Brianna has an apartment here so it isn't like they have nowhere else to go!) They both seem at ease here. And, for that, I'm thankful!

They go back home to Clarinda regularly. Brianna still has a job there every other weekend. And Seth loves to hunt. So we all have plenty of time apart as well as together.

They are both wonderful young adults. And Sam and I are very happy to be more involved in their lives. I can only hope I'm able to impart at least one little bit of wisdom that the perspective of age provides that will stick in their young minds and help them as they start their journey in adulthood. If I can do that, I will consider myself a successful Aunt! And if that was all I was put here on earth to do, I will be content!

A Potting Shed

No, this potting shed is not mine. But I want one. BADLY!!! REALLY, REALLY BADLY!!!

This adorable building belongs to my nephew's girlfriend's mother. (WHEW-that was a mouthful!) Her son built it for her.

I am hoping to build a shed someday. I've been collecting windows and stuff for awhile now. I even have a doorknocker for the door that is a trowel. I'm SERIOUS about wanting a potting shed! I went to look at this one just to get some ideas. There is a cut-out in the work bench with screen wire and below it is a wheelbarrow to catch the dirt.

I really like the angled roof and the sun was absolutely pouring in.

The owner is also a hosta lover and I'm looking forward to visiting this yard again next year when it is in season.

Hodge Podge

On Saturday, October 18th, Sonja Henggeler and Kristi Wolbert hosted their bi-annual Hodge Podge. I'd never been before and it was an awesome event! These women are very talented designers and I was very impressed with Hodge Podge!

At the antique festival on the square a few weeks ago, I ran into a woman I'd grown up with in our hometown of Clearmont. As we were talking about what treasures we'd seen, Susan mentioned Hodge Podge was coming up. She said she thought I'd like it and offered to forward the e-mail with the information to me. Oh yeah, this looked like it would be right up my alley!

My sister and I, along with her step-daughter arrived to a packed parking lot and people (okay,women!) everywhere. The building was so crowded we could barely get through. (It also made taking pictures difficult.) I quickly latched onto the bowling pins for $3.00 apiece and kept moving. Then I spied the zinc armillary and envisioned it in my yard. Lucky me, my generous sister decided it would be my birthday present!!!

Sonja and Kristi did a wonderful job with arranging the items they had to sell. Every display was eye candy! Everything was being quickly snatched up, the checkout lines backed up, and guests stood outside the door sipping coffee and enjoying the gorgeous blue October day. Since this is a small town, I think everyone found that they were surrounded by friends, co-workers, and family! It's always more fun when you have someone to share "Look at this!" with, not to mention "Where could I put this?". And as women, it's always nice to have someone with you helping to convince you that, not only do you NEED it, you DESERVE it!

I didn't get to go back later, but something tells me they were pretty much cleaned out very quickly!

The next Hodge Podge will be held on May 2, 2009. If interested in being added to their e-mail list, go to henhouse5@unitedsky.net!

From Hodge Podge, we rushed back home to the kids and the Northwest Missouri State University homecoming parade. I left Sam with my sister, Shelli, to watch the parade and headed for Clarinda, Iowa for the annual craft show. I helped my fellow cookbook queens sell the Clearmont Sesquicentennial Cookbooks at the show. The cookbook was a fundraiser for the Clearmont Community Club. I was pleasantly surprised at the number of cookbooks we sold. We ended the day back at Mom's for supper and a visit from my neices and my great-neice. It was a busy day, but a good one!

Antique Festival on the Square

The first annual Maryville, Mo Antique Festival was held on the town square on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4th and 5th.

I'd anxiously been waiting for this event as I had met the organizers early this summer. Michael Weston and Kindra Felver are the couple behind the scenes. They have been having garage sales for four years and I just happened across them for their last two sales. (This is so typical of my life!) Check my earlier blog on garage sale finds- that's where I got the stuff! Michael and Kindra are leaving Maryville to open a shop in Weston, Mo called Shabby Chic. Best of luck to them, they will be missed.

October blessed the festival with beautiful weather. I spent time visiting the vendors and checking everything out. Never one to buy on the first round, unless it really hits me hard, I strolled around again. There was a nice crowd and I visited with several people I knew. I also enjoyed visiting with Jill, a vendor from Leavenworth, Kansas. It was especially nice that, other than food vendors, it really was just antiques and collectibles.

I thought this was a great display of vintage dog stuff.




This booth had a lot of vintage sports memoribilia!










Here's a photo of Jill's booth.





I didn't come home with much, but I couldn't pass up these solid oak drying trays. Or at least that is what I think they are. I paid $3.oo for the big one and $2.oo for the smaller one. I wandered back up on Sunday, since the square is only a few blocks from home and found this little chicken feeder for $2.00. I think I'll try to grow moss in it next year, or if all else fail, maybe hen and chicks.


I treated myself to a breakfast burrito from The Enchilada Lady. It was so good I bought frozen enchiladas and breakfast burritos to take home. They didn't last long! Sounds like she'll be adding Maryville to her regular route. I'm definitely looking forward to that!




I really enjoyed the weekend and hopefully Michael and Kindra will continue to host the Antique Festival again next year.

I Love Coffee!!!

Yes, I am a coffee junkie.

I come by it honestly. Coffee is in my blood. My family owned a cafe in a small town and as soon as I could carry a coffee cup without spilling it, that became my job. Nothing smells better to me than the smell of coffee in the morning. Coffee started every day for my extended family. I swear my Dad surely had coffee flowing through his veins!!! He drank it morning, noon, and night!

My addiction to coffee started later in life. Now, no day starts without it. And I'm picky about my coffee. (Interject guffaws from family here. "What isn't she picky about? And don't buy her anything pink!" I can just hear them!). I digress. I order my coffee from NEW YORK CITY!!! And yes, I like getting packages in the mail. Especially ones that smell good! So there!

My favorite coffee is Kenya AA. It is hands down, The Best! Period! And I buy beans. No sleeping in at my house, because no one can sleep through the high pitched whrrr of the coffee grinder. And surely, heaven must smell like fresh ground coffee.

On days that I'm not working, I can waste away the entire morning drinking my coffee on the patio, staring at my hostas, figuring out where I can put more. And definitely some redbuds, oh yeah, and those limelight hydrangeas I saw at the garden store the other day. I also like to watch the butterflies and the bees flitting around my plants. When I tire of this, I move to the porch swing on the front porch and watch the world and the college students go by.

On work days, it's a different story. It's all about how much coffee I can consume before running out the door with a coffee cup in hand. Then I grab more coffee at work and start the day at a dead run to the bathroom! Hey, I'm entitled to one vice!!! And since tomorrow begins at 5:15 A.M. I've got to get my beans ground and in the coffee pot so they're ready to perk while I'm in the shower. AAAHHHH! Thank goodness for coffee!

(I've listed my coffee supplier's link over there in that box marked favorite stores. The family run business has been supplying coffee since 1907! This generation is led by Peter Longo. (Snicker, snicker, I can't help it. I know I'm bad!) Peter always has a sale in October because it's his birthday. And hell no, I'm not getting paid to pimp his store! I just like his coffee!)

I think I need to go to bed!

One more thing, the chocolate covered coffee beans are excellent. The best of two worlds!!!

And don't ever buy me anything pink. I hate pink!

Sliding into Fall....

I just thought I would share a few pictures of the yard before winter takes over. I'm already making plans for next year. I can't wait to go to Flying Frog Farms again. It's the best hosta place ever!!! I didn't manage to get everything on my list that I wanted this year, (say it ain't so)! I guess that just gives me a head start on next year's list!

Jan and I found these adorable snails at the downtown Des Moines' farmer's market. We both had to take one home to our garden. They are made out of rocks and metal. Check them out at http://www.rslawnfurniture.com/!

Here's a picture of an urn that I think must have belonged to my great-grandparents. It was broken into several pieces and I had to have it welded. They set the bowl on the
diagonal on the base. It bothers me. I think I'll have them re-do it. For some reason it just annoys me. Anybody else have an opinion on this? There is a label still attached on the base. It was made by Stewart Ironworks Co. of Cincinatti, Ohio around the turn of the century. The company is still in business although they have relocated. I keep it filled with a Boston fern. The hosta in the front is Paradigm, I believe. It's a gorgeous hosta!

Here's a picture with the fern. It almost covers up the urn! Hmmm....I'll have to think of something different for next year! Any suggestions?

My morning glories finally bloomed. They are climbing around an armillary that Mom got me for Christmas several years ago. It sits in the middle of a raised gardenbed, which I commonly refer to as the cat pan. One of these days I'm going to have to work on this!

Well, I'm not even sure how many hours it has taken me to get to this point. I'm no computer whiz as those who have gotten phone calls for advice well know! So with a glass of wine in hand and steaks on the grill I shall bid you adieu! Until next time....