A Drive in the Country

Last week, I had lunch with a friend at her house in the country. Her house is beautiful and so welcoming. She had it all decorated for fall. I had decided not to do much decorating for fall this year, but when I left her house I was in the mood for a drive in the country. As I was driving, I passed bunches of little pumpkin stands. Some were at Orchards (pumpkins $5) and some were at people's farms. My favorite was this one.

I actually had to turn the car around to see if I had read the sign correctly. I love driving in the country. You never know what you are going to find. I had a five dollar bill so I picked the five biggest pumpkins (I'm not crazy!) I put my money in the little coffee can that was sitting behind the pumpkins and drove off feeling totally happy. Then as I continued my drive, I passed another little farm with a cute wagon out front full of pumpkins, gourds, etc...In front of the wagon was a basket that said everything 25 cents. It was full of large odd shaped gourds, some strange looking squashes and cute little round pumpkins. Of course, I dug through the change drawer in my car and came up with six quarters. Hey, a bargain is a bargain.

When I got home, I combined my little "gifts" with the gourds and Indian corn my neighbor had given me and the flat pumpkins I had previously purchased to fill my urns, and now this is what it looks like at my house.

A Little Transformation

A while back, I found this interesting vase(?) at Goodwill. I wasn't sure what it was but it was really cool. It only cost $4. I was pretty sure it could be pretty in my bedroom with a little work, so I snatched it up. Then I turned the corner for the next aisle and found an intriguing little piece of iron. It looked like a lid to something and was marked 95 cents. I bought it also. I forgot to take a before picture, but here's one in mid transformation.

The carved piece was a dark brown raw wood and the cage-looking thing was black. The lid piece was sort of a goldish bronze color. Here's what it looks like now in my bedroom after a coat of creamy white paint and some dried hydrangeas.

Summer Bargains

Here are a few things I've found at garage sales this summer. I do have plans for some of them. I'll show you what I do with them soon.

Entertainment Center

Oar

Ceramic Stick Pin Letters

Roosters

Grace in Someone's Garage

Sometimes God's goodness comes in the form of a big fish. (I'm sure my husband would call it a beautiful fish. I choose to stick with big.) (See last post.) And sometimes God's grace comes in the form of something beautiful (at least to me).

Last week, I needed to get out of my house. There is always way too much testosterone and noise there, and sometimes I just need some mommy time. So I did what anyone with little money, a desperate desire to do something other than referee and feed people, and a need for some ispiration would do - I went to rummage through other people's junk.

The first place I stopped had a beautiful brass chandelier for sale. Now I love the thrill of a great bargain, but I have been asking God to help me be content with what I have. $25 just felt like too much to spend on something I didn't really need (even if my current light fixture could be sold in the bug catcher department). When I arrived at my second stop, I saw a large black plastic bag laying on the driveway. As I approached, I saw something that looked like brass sticking out. My first thought was ,"Lord, a girl can only handle so much temptation. I may need your help." Sure enough, it was a brass chandelier almost identical to the one I had just seen. As I reached to turn over the price tag, my heart began to flutter. Just as I saw the price was $10, the owner said to me, "Five bucks and it's yours." I almost sat down right there in her driveway to have a good laugh. However, I restrained the giddiness, and took that baby home, thanking God all the way.

Now, I'm not much of a brass fan, so here's what I did to it. First, I covered all the electrical parts.

Then I sprayed it with a good metal primer.

And here it is now, hanging in my bedroom with a beautiful new porcelain white finish and the ivory shades that came with it.

I love it, but it does light up the room like a runway, so I need to get 25 watt bulbs and have my hubby install a dimmer switch. Now I just need some curtains on those windows, but for now, blinds will do and I'm just going to savor this little gift from God.

"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:9-11