Before the snow comes again (tonight).... I joined many of my fellow shoppers who were suffering from cabin fever and in need of some "resale therapy"...at the local thrift stores.

I was searching for pink...just need more of it this time of year!!!!

I must have looked at a dozen pink sweaters, only to remember that this one is already coming my way, as I "won" it on Ebay last week. [It is also on QVC (which I have NEVER watched!), item #A66504--in case you NEED one]

Two pink long-sleeved T-shirts did find me.....here they are in the background behind a pink dish of Dove Valentine chocolates and a "new" (thirft store) romantic historic novel. Yes, I am now ready for a snow day or two! LOL!

Out and about in my "home away from home" for the moment, Little Rock, Arkansas, seems to mostly involve trips to donate at the Goodwill thrift shop. Of course, after giving them our donation, I have to browse in the shop itself. This is fun....and it is cool and air-conditioned! I picked up the hardback of "Cold Mountain"....partly because I love the intense blue cover with distant mountains (we have similar scenes near my other home). I have avoided this novel and movie since it first came out (afraid it might be too graphic or upsetting)...but will now give it a chance. It was only $2.00 and for a good cause...

Another "find" some dishes with the pattern name of "Ella's Rooster". As Ella is my mom's name and also my great-niece, these were meant to be ours!!!

I'm still loving tunics!!!! This Irish linen tunic with a bit of sparkle was in the window of a resale shop near the yoga studio where I take classes, AND they were having a SALE....so of course.......

Today I found a soft white cotton pleated tunic at Goodwill. It is so light and airy! Rather a cross between a tuxedo shirt and a peasant blouse! [natural pearl buttons, too!] the heat index climbs to 100 degrees and above...but I am ready!

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Another delight while away from home, is e-mail!!!! [so write to me!!!LOL!]

Today's e-mail was a wonderful letter from my friend Paula. I have her permission to share it with you! She tells me the manner in which she came to create this little vignette in her home....

"Sending you photos and descriptions of my latest treasures:

The three floats occupying the far right, center, and far left are the ones I found at the Potter's House thrift shop last week. They were tied together and had a macrame type cover that obscured the glass so I cut the twine off. What you see now is the imprint of the macrame protecting the glass. The sand would get on the glass and abrad the glass leaving it cloudy with many small scratches. The glass under the twine is smooth-this created the subtle pattern you see on those
three. These floats are probably older--maybe vintage. The other two are gifts from Martha Lew Featherstone, a friend of Joan Beyette's with whom I visited recently. The two from ML were collected more recently off the coast of Alaska, and, when I look closely at those floats, they have a seam line so they are newer.

Your "landlocked beachcomber" friend had great fun putting this together. I enjoy how the light plays off the different colors. I took this (photo) at 3:00 yesterday in natural light. I found the sign in the background for $1 at a flea market earlier this summer and placed one of my favorite fabrics behind it. These pale colors seem perfect for summer days.

Your friend,Paula"

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So thrift shops, flea markets and resale shops are where the treasures are this summer! Have you been blessed by finding special things just waiting for you there????

Yesterday afternoon was cold, dreary and gray. I happened to have the afternoon off so decided to go with Mr. Pear (still recuperating) on a short road trip.

We stopped at the gallery which has my bird watercolors for sale.

It was energizing to see these bright happy paintings on the cloudy day! Other works in the gallery were inspiring too. I hope to be painting more again soon!

Besides the art gallery and a coffee shop for a pumpkin scone to share, we visited a store with fabrics and a couple of flea markets and charity thrift stores.

These are the fat quarters (10) I picked up and below that, a pair of soft rayon pull on pants from April Cornell (a surprise find at the thrift store!). The pants are perfect for lounging or pj bottoms next summer!

top of pants in scanner....

More thrift store finds! A Japanese tea cup, a wooden serving dish (origin?) and a "holly" plate from England.
It was fun! Now back to work. [Maybe these new "things" can pose in a still life painting for me!]

What has appeared in the garden this morning??????

A closer look.

It is a cauliflower teapot!

Every cottage garden outside an artist's studio can use a bit of whimsy and charm!

My garden benefitted from a consultation day with my friend Paula who is an excellent gardener and thrift shop queen! We spent the morning on several projects here (more about them in the next post), then had a delicious, easy, light lunch of her homegrown White Pearl cucumbers along with a hearty dip for tortilla chips (recipe to follow). In the afternoon, we visited a new thrift shop nearby, came home and measured my spacebeside the back door.....

It worked! we went back and brought it home...I now have a "mystery" ?What ever is this thing?" of a wrought iron shelf unit outside the back door.

Paula also gave me several boxes of broken glazed floor tiles which I can recycle into a mosaic in concrete to use as a little patio, or back door entrance....that will be so wonderful! Hope to start on it tomorrow!

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This is similar to the "Texas Caviar" recipe which was so popular a few years ago.

Southwestern Veggie Salad

In a large bowl, combine

1, 15 oz can whole kernel corn, ( I used frozen whole kernel corn instead of canned)

1,15 oz can black beans, do not drain

1, 10 oz can Ro-tel tomatoes, do not drain

1, 1/2 cups cooked rice (I used brown rice)

Cumin to taste

garlic salt to taste (or fresh garlic and some sea salt)

ground black pepper to taste

LOTS of fresh chopped cilantro

[can also add fresh chopped onion and/or bell pepper]

Cover and refrigerate until chilled.

Squeeze fresh lime juice over the top if desired!

Serve with Tortilla Chips

[similar recipes can be found on line by Googling "Southwestern black bean salad recipe"]