Hold The Fire.....

  Great Balls of Fire!  I first saw 'fire extinguisher' lamps over thirty (gulp!!) years ago.  

              Really, I was in high school and a high school classmate had moved to my town from Tulsa. His step-father had been high up in the Tulsa Fire Department before he had retired.  At their new house in my hometown, the family had decorated  in vintage fireman memorabilia.  This was over 30 years ago and at the time people had not really caught on to how great vintage memorabilia was.  This family had.  They had the neatest house I had ever seen. I was smitten. I liked all the funky old 'junk'. Among other memorabilia in their living room, they had two old fire extinguishers they had turned into lamps.  I knew then I wanted some for myself. 

 Fast forward thirty (plus!) years and I am finally getting my fire extinguisher lamps.  My two old extinguishers were  found at different locations. The first one I got was at an auction and I paid less than $5 for it.  The other one I got off of Craigslist and I paid $20 for it. Both still have the rubber hose attached.  I have seen some  without the rubber hoses and I held out until I got just what I wanted. 

One extinguisher is done and ready for its lampshade.  It has been shined up with brass and copper cleaner. It has been drilled and equipped with a lamp kit. It looks BEAUTIFUL!!

 The other extinguisher is still waiting its beautifying!!  It actually still had some old extinguisher 'foam' inside that had to be removed.  Now its waiting the brass and copper rubdown and then the lighting drill.

                          Both are awaiting lampshades.  I am on the hunt for the perfect ones. 
                              They do not have to be alike, as the extinguishers are different.

                                           The words on the two extinguishers are different. 
                                   The instructions on how to use them are a little different as well.
                                                           Alike...but a little different.

The warmest homes are those that are filled and decorated with the things the family loves.  I understood that thirty plus years ago.  I have tried to do the same in our home.  Sometimes it takes patience to find 'just the right' piece.  (Patience as in 30 years!)...But I'll be the first to say. It was worth the wait.  I'll show these again when both are finished and completed with lamp shades.

 

On a final note, our oldest son, Fielding, has worked for several years as a Paramedic.

He got accepted to his first Fire Department job this past month.

It is a goal he has been working towards for a long time.

 

My husband said as a token to Fielding, to show him how proud we are of 

all his hard work to become a fireman, 

we should give him one of our completed 

fire extinguishers.

My initial thought was "What!! I've been looking for these for 30 years!"

But then The Mother in me realized,

what a perfect gift!

So, now I am on the hunt to find another fire extinguisher 

to turn into a lamp, to replace my give-away.

But, isn't that half the fun?  The Great Hunt?????

        I am linking these to Susan's Metamorphosis Monday over at Between Naps On The Porch.
                              Go by and look at all the great ideas people come up with!

                                      http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Simple Words to Live By.............

"Today you are You, that is truer than true.

There is no one alive,

who is Youer than you."

---Dr. Seuss

I have loved Dr. Seuss since I can remember.  His words ring loud and true for any given age.

It is his birthday this week, so in honor of him, I chose one of my (many) favorite quotes by the word genius. 

I am also changing my Simply Sunday's to now be part of Tracey's "Words To Live By".  She has been giving us wonderful quotes and beautiful pictures for 157 weeks.  WOW!  She needs to have her inspirational "Words To Live By" and the accompanying pictures made into a book.

Please stop by Tracey's blog and be inspired by her constant creativity.

Happy Birthday Theodore!  And thank you Tracey!

Use this link: http://acottageindustry.typepad.com/a_cottage_industry/

'Snow Kiddin'.....A White, Galvanized and Silver Tablescape'

JUST when I planned on doing a 'springy' time tablescape, here comes winter again.  Will it ever end????? In a 'keep my sanity because I am sick of winter' move, I decided to put away everything in my house that remotely looked like winter.  SOOOO, I decided to make a final tablescape with my cute little snowmen and winter dishes before they are put WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY in the back of the closet!

I combined different white dishes, some galvanized accents, vintage silver and lace.

 

Lots of layers (kinda like we have to wear in this weather!!)

 

The top salad plate has an embossed snowflake pattern. Very subtle and understated.

 

Galvanized snowflakes at each place setting. No two were alike...just like a real snowflake!  The snowflakes were picked up in the Christmas aisle at Wal-Mart several years ago. 

Add to that a little galvanized serving tray full of snowmen and snowflakes......

 

As unbelievable as it seems, I got these three little snowmen at 75% off at a Hallmark store after Christmas several years ago.  Who wouldn't want these little guys to come home with them?

 

                    The rest of the snowmen and snowflakes. The galvanized serving tray looks very much like the Pottery Barn tray.  This one is from Ross for less than seven dollars!

 My Grandmother's lace tablecloth from Belgium. Various textures of snowflakes sprinkled down the middle of the table, on each side of the centerpiece. 

                  Snowflake cookie cutters used as napkin rings.

 

  

 The giant snowflake in between the layers is also a Christmas ornament. I found them at the Dollar Tree. They are used in the tablescape only as decoration in the layering process.  

They do look lovely and lacey as they poke out the sides.

 

 

SNOW-Kiddin'....these things are going away for another year. Snow-way, snow-how do I want to see them again till I have experienced some warm weather!!! Hope you enjoy!  


  I have linked with:    http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/  for her Tablescape Thursday's.


Silver chargers--Wal-Mart
White plates with silver rim--Target clearance years ago
Giant white snowflakes-Dollar Store (this year at Christmas)
Snowflake salad plates-Wal-Mart (Christmas several years ago)
Galvanized snowflakes, various other snowflakes--Christmas decorations
Galvanized serving tray--Ross For Less
 Lace Tablecloth--from Belgium, very old
Flatware--Vintage (purchased at auctions)
Stemware-Wedding presents (YEARS!!! ago)
Snowmen--Hallmark
Candlesticks--various

Snickerdoodles

The word "SNICKERDOODLE" makes me smile. Don't you just love the word?  Say it outloud...."snickerdoodle"....If for no other reason than having a really cute name, these cookies are a MUST!

The recipe I use leaves the Snickerdoodles so moist and delicious.  You must try these!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Cream together butter, shortening, 1 1/2 cups sugar, the eggs and the vanilla. Blend in the flour, cream of tartar, soda and salt. Shape dough by rounded spoonfuls into balls.
3. Mix the 2 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon. Roll balls of dough in mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until set but not too hard. Remove immediately from baking sheets. 

So Long Winter...Even If You Don't Want To Go!

This feels like the LONGEST winter.  Does it seem that way to anyone else? When I lived in Kansas I always thought February was the longest month of the year, not the shortest.  After having an unusually damp and cold Oklahoma winter this year, I am beginning to think the same thing again!

 That us why I am gathering up all of these......and

 all the hearts
                                       and him................

 

and a few more of these.....

and putting them far, far away, in the back of the holiday decorations storage. (When I see them again next year I will be happy, but this year, THEY HAVE TO GO!!)  They have worn out their welcome by inviting their relatives that live outside!!

Instead, I have been getting the "green" out of storage...

I am going to spend part of my day 'getting the green on' in my house.  Now if I can get Mr. Green to invite his outdoor friends and relatives for an extended visit!!

Simple Sundays

                        I know every bird in the mountains,

                     and the creatures of the field are mine.

   Psalms 50:11 NIV

 How comforting to know that God knows everything, every bird in the field, every creature on earth. He cares enough to know every animal. He loves us enough to care for everything.  He knows. He cares. He loves unconditionally. 

 

Some Friday Fun

Weekends are so Wonderful!  I love Friday's, because that means I have the whole weekend ahead of me.  Now, granted I don't get half of what I planned done on any given weekend!  But it is just great to know I have those 'free' hours.  What better way to start the weekend than a tasty----and easy---lilttle treat for the family?

Not only are these fast and easy, but when put into a regular tea glass they even look

extra special!

The bottom is a little bit of crumbled cake.

Or.....you could use brownies. But I had cake on hand.

A layer of pudding. This happened to be banana.

We love the combo of chocolate and banana flavors.

A layer of whipped cream.

Topped with a cherry.

Simple, delicious goodness.

Have a great weekend!

Hail To The Chiefs......And Supper Too

 This is the very first Tablescape I did one year ago. I bought a few new "presidential" items so I could do a new tablescape this year, but have been busy with concession stands and parent/teacher conferences all week. So, instead, I will do this rerun! Have a great long weekend!

What do you do when you come from a very political family?  Why you celebrate any and every holiday that has to do with America!

President's Day supper for the Hubby and me....

With a little Stars and Stripes of course!

Tablescaping a President's Day Dinner is not the same as a Fourth of July Dinner!  President's Day focuses on the presidents.  In this case, it focuses on a couple of the more famous men in our esteemed history.

With a few special touches for two famous men.............

 

A good English teacher can always work some literature into a tablescape!

And the cherries for George of course.  See him peaking around the old light globe?

We tried to raise our children to be very proud Americans. We also tried to instill in them the need to serve America in some way.  Along the way  we collected quite a collection of great Americana.

It was then easy to pull stuff out of closets and cabinets and make a fun little President's Day tablescape for my husband and me.

Stars and Stripes and lots of fun!

 

And of course what would a person have for dessert on President's Day? 

Why Cherry Turnovers of course!

Hope everyone had a great President's Day and remembered, if even for a moment, how precious our freedom is.

Red chargers--Dollar General Store
Flag Dishes--Kohl's
Red Dishes-JC Penney
Red Flatware-Wal-Mart
Napkins-Wal-Mart
Table Runner-Kohl's
Napkin Rings-JC Penney
Other table decor--Closets, cabinets, cupboards and shelves throughout the house!
Big Star-Dallas Market

I am linking my Hail To The Chiefs tablescape up with Between Naps On The Porch.http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/.  Go and visit all her great ideas!