A New House For Me

Here are a couple of pictures of the doll house I plan to start building in January.
I would love to start now but way too much on my plate at the moment.
I have lots of furnishing ready to put in it and some ideas for other things that I don't have already.

Meet Blondie

This pretty kitty has sort of joined our household. She has been hanging around the house since
this past summer and has been getting friendlier. She still wanders the neighborhood but spends more and more time here. We have been feeding her and now my husband has figured out a way to let her sneak into his workshop, which is heated so she can have warmth and a bit of protection from the elements. We went out and bought her a little bed and she has now claimed it as her own.

There are two other kitties we also feed outside but they are pretty much wild and run at the sight of us. But Blondie comes right on up and says loudly hello.... meow, meow, meow

New Background

If you have been checking this blog the last couple of days you may be dizzy by now. I have been trying out different backgrounds. At the moment the one I have settled on should be here for awhile. But with me you never know.

I found these backgrounds at a nifty place called The Cutest Blog on the Block You can check it out if you want to change your blog background too. The backgrounds are made using scrapbook papers I think.

So tell me what you think.

Change of title

I have proved my usual fickle self and changed the title of this blog again. I think the new title is a better way of describing what this blog is all about. And that way I don't have to get a new blog.

I may soon change the background too. I have been looking around to see what is available.

To those who follow this because of my mini making activities, a hint at the future. I have a doll house I plan to start building in the new year. I bought it for a whole $3.00 at a flea market. And it is NOT a cheap brand. I have a lot of plans for it and will include lots of pictures here on the blog. More about this later.

The Compact..... Buy used, reuse, recycle

I have been reading online about some folks who have formed a group called the Compact. They have decided not to buy anything new for a year. Well, I assume there are a few exceptions, like food. And I personally would not buy used underwear.... yuk... or shoes.... I already have bad feet. But for everyday purchases I think it is a really good idea. There are antique shops, thrift shops, used goods shops of all types out there that are bound to have what you need. If you want good quality stuff I am sure it is available, may just have to look a bit.
We have often bought very good used vehicles so that isn't a problem.

We have had three motor homes over the years and all three were used by someone else first.
(Granted the last one had only been used a couple of weeks before they traded it in, but we got a great deal on their change of heart!)

And then don't forget flea markets and yard sales. And the free cycle list on line. And trading with friends.

I come from a long line of THRIFTY folks who believed in reusing, making do, shopping at goodwill and so on. I can remember that when my dad went to Hawaii he needed "Hawaiian Shirts" so he went to the local thrift stores in San Diego and found quite a few. He said he got a LOT of complements on them too. And didn't pay much at all.

My husband and I have long been shoppers at yard sales and flea markets. We love to find things for the grand kids that way. Toys and books are easy to find. And clothes. I supposed some folks buy something and change their minds after they get it home. So I find thengs with tags still on them.

Books are a necessary part of my life. I don't care who has read them before. The library has loads of books and they are free if you don't keep them too long. Also once or twice a year there is a book sale there. And yard sales and flea markets are loaded with them. If you are looking for something special there is always Alibris or AbeBooks on line..... The books are there, just for less!!

SO MY new goal is to see how long I can go without buying new stuff starting with the new year.
I am waiting to make that official date because I must get by the Christmas thing, and since I haven't told family about this it would be best to wait. I am mostly buying gift certificates this year anyway though. So really I will be doing this starting now.

But with the normal life my husband and I lead it probably won't be too hard to do, or in actuality continue to do. My thought on this whole thing is that if you just start doing it, it will become a habit and get easier and easier and life should get better for you. Just think of the money you can save and things you might be able to get that you couldn't if you had to pay full retail new price.

My helper cat

I have been putting a lot of items on eBay lately and have set up a little site to use for taking pics. Tuffy decided she would like her portrait taken too. I don't think I will be putting her up for bid however.

Fall Is nearly over, we are getting ready for winter.

Fall is nearly over, the leaves are nearly all down. My husband has been raking for days it seems since we have over 40 trees on our little acre plot of land. A neighbor suggested we cut them all down to save work...... NO!!! NO!!! NO!!! They keep our home cool in the summer and let the sunshine through to warm things a bit in the wintertime. They are home to all the birds we feed and they make a lovely setting. So work they may cause but oh the pleasure.
I liked this view across the street from our house.... with just the few golden leaves on the trees ..... it is like they are glowing in one final act of glory before winter arrives.

Now that camping season is over we had to work to get the camper ready to put away for the winter. This year we had made a list of things we would like to change, adding shelves, redoing the table and sitting area and a few other smaller things. It seems a shame to have to have done all the work and then put it away BUT it will be waiting for us in the the spring.

Here is the newly done sitting and eating area, with a table that it easier to use and
more room to take a nap in the daytime if one wishes.

We needed more space for things so added these little shelves to the vanity area.
It is much more useful now.

We can put the cd play on the lower shelf and still have room for things on the upper shelves, you know like hairbrushes, razors, toothbrush etc. I don't know why the builder of these little campers didn't think of these things.

AND NOW: maybe I can find time for some art projects, doll houses or altered books.