Good Morning!!
As I said on Friday, we had Antique Alley come through our town this past weekend.  I love yard sales and to have so many in such a short distance was bliss!
I didn't come home with a lot of things, but the few things I did buy, I feel, are treasures!
12 wooden bowls!  50 cents each! YES!!!

A standing quilting hoop!

A 1940's grease container, it even has the strainer inside...
There were a few other smallish things, a couple of books, a pair of roller blades for the kids, a few old dresser scarves.  It was good times.
I have laundry waiting on me and children that are stirring, so it is time to start our day.  I hope you have a wonderful day.

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

06:38 - Monday, May 19, 2008 - comments {6} - post comment

Gifts

Yesterday I spent a good part of the day tending to my sick husband and sitting in the living room with the kids while doing some hand sewing.  I finished up several small gifts.  I think I have everything ready to take to Church tonight for all the teachers.  I loaded everything into my picnic basket that I bought at the goodwill a few months back. 

This is part of the ladies teachers gift, it is a Peppermint Sugar Scrub.
I LOVE it, it smells wonderful!!! I think they will like it.

Tonight after Church, we are going to some of our families house.  We always enjoy our time with the Reeds, they always have some great games to play.  One of my first times going over we played Balderdash, and I won!   Since, everyone knows my "type" so I am very easily picked out... sadly that was the ONLY time I have ever won... Tonight, I plan on a different strategy! Not to be so easily figured out.... hee hee!
I made up a gift basket for them, since I don't think anyone there will be seeing my blog today I will post a picture!
They gave us that basket at one time, and I just thought I would return it filled back up from us!
The picture is a little dark, but it is full with all kinds of goodies. 
In sad news my Christmas tree has a section on it that burnt out.... it frustrates me SOOOOO much.  The sad tree is only a year old.  It has a whole section of black lights now.  So much for the box saying if 1 goes out the rest stay lit!
I don't know whether to go to and look for a new one or just try and fix it, or just leave it till time to take it down.  I DESPISE it that it has burnt up.... I am just terribly irritated about it. I would use a real tree if I could keep one up as long as I want to... but I don't know that it would last that long. 
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

07:57 - Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - comments {4} - post comment

Frugal...but Beautiful Christmas Wrapping

I don't know if I am the only one or not, but I really do NOT care for gift bags... Yes, they are easy! Yes, some are REALLY cute!! But, I really don't like them all that much because they are opened so quickly and not a whole lot of time put in... We don't have a LOT of gifts so the ones I want under the tree, I want to be special!  So I begin early thinking of how to wrap something up beautifully for NOT a lot of cash!!
First I keep ANY box that is a decent size...
An old cracker box... thank you very much that will hold a shirt!  I realize you can buy boxes from the dollar store and they are relatively inexpensive... but HEY, you already bought the crackers... you still have the box, why not use it???
Here is our first wrapped present of the season...
I thought I would give a little step by step 'present'ation!
I drug out our wrapping paper... craft paper from the Dollar Store ALWAYS $1 a roll!!!
The box... I had a strand of lights I bought last year after the season and I hadn't used them... I had a strand go out in my garland and so I had an empty and sturdy box! Perfect for his present!
Old curling ribbon... The light blue I am using today was from Eli's baby shower... he just turned 5... does that say something about me?
Tape and scissors of course, and the present.
This particular present is Abram's, bought on clearance for $3 I think, 2 pair of Diego pj's for next year!!!

All folded up nice and neat and ready to wrap!

To make the craft paper a little more festive, we stamped small snowmen... It is a way to involve the children and make a beautiful gift...
These are stamps I have used for MANY crafts, you can find stamps and ink ANYWHERE it seems like now... and some WAY cute ones to boot!

With a little curling ribbon and a name tag, and what a special gift you have to place under the tree... and you wrapped it SOOOO inexpensively, that it will make it that much more beautiful!

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

11:18 - Thursday, November 8, 2007 - comments {13} - post comment

Stuff for sale

10:14 - Sunday, October 28, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Happy Friday!!!

Happy Friday everyone!!! I am sure you all are as excited about Friday as I am.  I LOVE Friday's.  1. When Shannon comes home, USUALLY he is home for the entirety of the weekend with us YEAH! 2. We USUALLY don't have to go anywhere on Friday, I LOVE being at home! So Friday's are as Martha Stewart says.... Good Things! This morning I woke up to a VERY chilly house! Brrr... I wondered why it was so chilly, Shannon had not shut the door all the way when he left and so it was open when I walked into the living room.  It is CHILLY in the house now... I will get the coffee going and warm up shortly!
Yesterday was a nice day, I washed bed linens, which is an ALL day job, and it was nippy yesterday but I was still able to line dry all the sheets and quilts which helps so much!  I went to the flea market yesterday morning and didn't find a lot, not too many ventured out to sale, but it was probably because of the rain from the prior day.  I did find a large gallon size ziplock baggie of Peaches and Creme yarn... You familiar?  I LOVE that yarn!!! I think it makes the best wash/dish cloths ever! So I got that... each ball of yarn costs around $1.50 or more depending on the store, and her bag had 4 full balls and 4 or 5 used! Great deal for $3!!! That will help out on my dish cloth making!   I also got 2 Christmas presents!  These two like new hard back books!!! In great shape and we don't have them! Woohoo! SCORE for .50 cents each!!!!!
That was my only bargain shopping yesterday but I did make a baby shower gift for a friend of mine who's baby shower is this weekend.  I will post pics when I get the second one finished.  My sweet friend Challice who just had a precious little angel girl came up with the design... so clever... I am never the inventor, only the imitator!  These are burp cloths with the design so that they will contour around the Moma's neck! Isn't she smart??

And just for fun, let me show you where one of our chickens now roost for the night...
Yes, that is our front porch swing!   Isn't she pretty! That is our Blondie, original name I know! I am thinking  she and her BFF Speedo must have had a squabble because before they always roosted in a tree outside my bedroom window!  So here she is, now roosting on our front porch!  I went outside to pet her last night, because I know if there has been a fight it was Speedo's fault, she is just so bossy! HAHA... Maybe I should think about writing a short story, or a soap opera about these gals.... HAHA
Ok, enough silliness, I need to get to work!!!
I am cooking for Aunt Lynda tonight and so I need to get at it!
Have a great day everyone!!!!
Happy Friday!

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

08:22 - Friday, October 26, 2007 - comments {5} - post comment

A Weekend of Thrift!

GOOD MORNING!!!!   Oh my, Praise the Lord, we have some rain to wake up to this morning... and it even says rain chances for the next 2 days! WOO HOO! I hope so... we could use it so much!  I ran outside this morning to put out some grass seed on our bare spots in our yard... I have been waiting till we are sure to have some rain to soak it in!
**I also took off the desk off my side bar, so maybe that will make my page a bit smaller for some of you, hopefully it will straighten up some things... I know it was quite large.**
This weekend, well rather from Thursday thru Saturday we had quite a few yard sales going on here and there, and I got several great things and spent very little money... nice eh?
This is a bird house I bought 2 weekends ago, my wonderful husband mounted it on some old boards in the wood pile and then dug a large hole to put in in the ground for me, I LOVE it and I think it is such a sweet addition to our yard for a total of $2!!!

Look at the little water wheel on the side, it had a good bit of different quaint little features, several of which are there some are missing... but nonetheless it is way cute!
Also, take notice of he pretty little pebbles on the chimney... so sweet!

Come on little birdies, make your home in here!


This is a desk I found at a yard sale Saturday.  I loved it! And it fits perfectly in our school room!  It has drawers in it too!!! Love that, and it has a nice little stool to boot!

I got this at another yard sale this past Saturday, I have another place for aprons, but I thought this one would be ideal to hang in my laundry room above my vintage drying rack! 50 cents... thank you, I'll take it!
Oh yeah, that brown retro looking apron is one I got at the Goodwill for Cameo last week, it has quilted pockets on the bottom.

And this is my picnic basket... I LOVE it!  I got it at the Goodwill last week too. It has plastic cups, and plates, and real silverware and we used it yesterday and had a picnic at the zoo... (that is tomorrows installment! ) and it was just PERFECT!!!

I hope you all have a great Monday on your homesteads... Remember to take time with the Lord this morning and have your cup running over to spill out His love on others!!! Enjoy your family, be patient and loving even when it is tough (I am talking to myself guys!). And enjoy your homes, whether you are just beginning the homestead journey or you are a seasoned homesteader, enjoy the stage that you are in and Thank God, He has blessed each one of us so much!!!
With love to all!!!
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

08:17 - Monday, October 22, 2007 - comments {7} - post comment

A Fantastic Day

Wow, today was a truly fantastic day!!!!
The children and I went yard sale-ing as we do quite often on Thursday mornings and found some wonderful deals!!!!
First off, my prize... my favorite thing I got today!!!!

I got it home and put it to use right away with the rugs I just washed.  I wanted to lay out all my dishcloths and towels to dry but I already had most of them washed and dried! And the best thing was it was $2.00!!! I ended up getting two and giving one to my friend Lindsey who had wanted one as well!
I also found the WHOLE COMPLETE Hooked on Phonics set for $15!!!
Awesome right?
And then I got 3 pair of NICE pants, 1 shirt, 1 pair of shorts and one HUGE book on dinosaurs for Eli for $5!
I LOVE days like this!
After we got home I got my chicken stock prepared as I posted in my last entry, and I also used half of my stock in our Chicken and Rice Soup we had for supper.  It was good, but I will season mine up a little more next time we have it to eat.... it was good, but slightly bland.  And although it was bland it was SO soothing going down my throat! Mmmmm...

And if today wasn't great enough, I got a WONDERFUL present given to me and I am so happy and grateful.  Shannon's Aunt Grace gave me this today... isn't it just GORGEOUS!?!?!  I am so proud to have it on my wall!
It says...
I believe in the sun,
  even when it does not shine
I believe in love,
  even when I don't feel it
I believe in God,
  even when He is silent
It is a treasure I will always enjoy looking at!
And then tonight was my Logan's birthday party!
I don't know if I have told you or not, but my sister and I were pregnant together with our first boys!  I was pregnant first and due a little over a month before her.  But she beat me to it and had Logan 18 days before I had my Eli!
The Birthday Boy- Cowpoke Logan!

The Desperado

Chow time

One of the loveliest gals in the west...

Have a great Friday everyone!!!
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

11:20 - Thursday, October 11, 2007 - comments {5} - post comment

Frugal Tips

My husband and I have sat down and made some goals for ourselves, such as being debt free (except house) in 2 years time.
And to do that we will need to REALLY cut down to bare minimums on things...  I would like to know your best ways of being frugal.  We live pretty close to budget much of the time, but there are many times we don't.  I would like to compile a list of tips, techniques and hints that anyone would be willing to share and then share as one big list.  Thanks for your help!!!

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

07:34 - Sunday, September 30, 2007 - comments {6} - post comment

Flea Market Finds!

Good Friday Morning Everyone!!  Oh it looks like a beautiful day today! I am excited to get a start on the day!  We didn't get started as early as I hoped, but I was up again rather late downloading stuff for our next lapbook on Horses (of course) for next week!
On Thursday's I try and get out early with the children and run our errands.  The reason I like to do it on Thursdays is because our town has a flea market every Thursday!
Yesterday we went and I found a couple of GREAT things....
The first was this set of real copper bowls and scoop, the guy had $2 a piece on them and I was going to just get one and he said, how about you take them all for $6 and I said... Alright!

Here is what I did with them!

I also got this egg basket.  I have been wanting one for a while now, and so I went ahead and got it. 


Finally I found some of the jars I wanted (the big one) I was given the small latching one!  I have my grain in there.  I want a big old shelf to sit many of these jars on. 

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

08:14 - Friday, September 28, 2007 - comments {6} - post comment