Wednesday, February 29, 2012

A visit from the robins

Every year in late winter or early spring the robins return to the foothills.
They come through in large flocks and settle into the trees, stripping the toyan bushes of any bright red berries that may have been left on them.


The first indication of our visitors is usually loud chirping that we can hear inside the house even if all the doors and windows are tightly closed.


If you look carefully at the above photo, you will see a nice fat robin, full of toyan berries.


I tried to attach a short video I made of the robins flying over our house, because I wanted you to hear the wonderful noise they make.


These pictures of robins in the trees are rather like a puzzle.


I tried to get pictures of the flock flying over the river.


Just connect the dots. I mean the robins.


Most of the robins leave after a week or so, but some have come home and stay with us.


I can't even find the robins in this picture, but I know they are there.


Aha! There they are.


After the large flock moves on, the few who stay with us start looking for worms and bugs in our grass.


For now they are safe up in the trees, hiding out, playing "Where's Waldo?" with me and my camera.


I wish I could share the delightful bird music that accompanies the experience. I guess you will just have to come and hear it for yourself.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

My Favorite Recent Find

I haven't had too much time to go out "thrifting" lately. But I also haven't been able to tell you about things I did happen to find over the last 4 or 5 weeks, so I'm trying to catch up a bit.
I went into this sort-of-weird "second hand" place, and hanging back in a closet with regular old used sheets, I spotted a bit of color. And I recognized it as NOT being just any old sheet.
The cosmic stars were my first clue. So I took it off the hanger and opened it up. Mind you, this was back in a corner of the store where the people couldn't see me. OH, YEAH - a vintage Peter Max sheet! Definitely collectible, and sought after. I went around the corner and casually asked them how much their sheets were.
"A Dollar".
Now, you're talkin'.
I folded it up and took it to the counter with the rest of my purchases. The guy didn't even give it a glance.

I must say that I had a big smile on my face when I left the store.
You KNOW I love me some Peter Max!

Monday, February 27, 2012

What's Penny Wearing? #62 Old-Fashioned Style


Penny is all dressed up in an old-fashioned style today.
She is actually modeling my new work "uniform" or costume, if you will......

.....which also happens to be the entire reason why I have not had enough time to post every day lately.
But I will tell you more about that later.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Vintage Sunbeam Appliances

I did a short "Then and Now" post 3 years ago about the Sunbeam Mixmaster, and then just recently I found this old booklet at a thrift shop, so I thought I'd re-visit the subject.
The booklet is dated 1948 and I believe the Mixmaster pictured may be the very same one we have packed away that has been in the family all these many years.

I also like the other appliances pictured inside!
The Sunbeam Coffeemaster:

The Sunbeam Toaster (LOVE the art deco style detailing on this and the Coffeemaster!):

The Sunbeam Waffle Baker:

The Sunbeam Ironmaster:

And last, but not least - for the gentlemen, the Sunbeam Shavemaster:

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Through The Foothills With Suzanna

I found this series of advertisements for Suzanna Pancake and Waffle Mix in magazines from 1948 and '49, and I got a kick out of the fact that they have little blurbs about foothill towns. I thought I would share them with you today.




For your breakfast enjoyment: Suzanna Pancakes along the '49er trail.

Friday, February 24, 2012

A Visit To Vera Bradley

Sis Lori here: The Gold Country Girls are obsessed with the Vera Bradley products. So, when I showed you in my birthday post the coupon they sent me to use in February, I had to do it!!! Combined with a trip to visit my Daughter (we needed some girl time, and she showed me things about my new iphone and Pinterest, more on that later), I made a trip to the store at The Fountains in Roseville.
First, at home, I had perused my catalog that comes in the mail:

They have many different styles and tech cases, etc.

I bought my first Vera Bradley purse at a women's convention, years ago, at a kiosk they had set up in the lobby, I loved the fabrics they used and it was very well made!!!

My second Vera Bradley purse was a lucky thrift store find.

For quite some time I had been yearning for a new one, in a different style.
I did my homework, found my favorite patterns and style, and with catalog in hand, stepped in the store. They very nicely greet you, and she was going to ask to help me, but she saw the catalog and knew I must be familiar with the product line. Left alone, I wandered the store, they have many more items than my last visit 2-3 years ago.
I finally decided and asked the nice gal for her help.
I decided on the Hipster style and had a different pattern in mind, but was drawn to the Tea Garden fabric, and then I knew why, the clerk told me that when you purchase that pattern, 10% of their net proceeds are donated to Breast Cancer funds, and I was sold, since our Mother died from this.

Here is my new purse and of course, a matching wallet!!! You can get carried away, but I am on a budget!! I love it!!!!! Happy Birthday to me!!!!!!!

They packaged it in a beautiful gift bag with tissue paper:

And even packaged my receipt in a cute little envelope!!

Now, I was also going to take a peek into Anthropologie which is right around the corner, but they were locking the door as I walked up. Oh well, next time!!!!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

"Weigh" To Go, Girls!


All three of us, the Gold Country Girls, are currently Weight Watcher members.
We're doing our very best to make our bodies and lives healthier, one tenth of a pound at a time.
Way to go - keep up the good work, my sisters!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

The Grass Is Always Greener...

Ishi is on the prowl. Looking for fun, gophers, a good sandbox...


Out through our new gate, down the steps, a look of determination on his face.



It starts with a thought... What is out there? Where did that big fat robin go?



How the heck do I get there from here?



I will figure it out. I think if I go through these pots...



Okay, now I am in the kitchen garden. Is that where I want to be?



No, I think I'd better get out of here, nothing in here for me.



Make sure you go through the very smallest part of the fence, just to see if you can make it. Mom will get you out if you get stuck, but you won't.



Okay, good, now inspect the irises.



Watch out for the cactus.



Yesterday there was a potato bug here, I guess he left.



I think a stink bug has been by here too.



Not much going on out here. What to do? Where to go?



Maybe the kitchen garden was the place to be after all.



Greener pastures.

There are a lot of bugs, lizards and gophers in here, I just know it. Have a good day, folks!