Sweet Carolyn!

Hello Carolyn!

My, my, aren't you a lucky gal...Luis finding that wonderful skylight!! And best of all, you got it at a fraction of its true cost! He sounds like a wonderful DH! A real keeper!!

Garage Sales are quite bountiful in my neck of the woods and I certainly try to go to them on Saturday mornings, as early as 7AM and I am back home by 11 or so. Most of the items in my sweet home are from such sales and the local Goodwill. But you would not believe it if you saw them. I have found, at a fraction of their real value, such things as McCoy vases, batter bowls and pottery, vintage bread boxes, Bakelite utensils, enamelware, vintage jardinieres, Buzza prints, vintage chenille bedspreads, vintage wicker furniture and baskets, R. Fox framed prints, vintage quilts, tin globes, antique wash boards, vintage tea towels and doilies, vintage cookbooks, aprons galore, Jadeite dishes, Jadeite Jeannette Range Shakers, FireKing, primitive storage boxes, and so many other fun items that I love to decorate with. I would venture to say that it is decorated "Cottage 40's Style". I get my inspiration from Mary Engelbreit's magazine, Country Living, COuntry Home and Southern Living. I simply take a picture I have fallen in love with and re-create it with all my finds. My Mom always says "you were born too late". I really should have been living back in the 40's. I even love the music from that era!! I had quite a collection of mismatched old dessert plates and I put them to good use by edging a small flower garden with them...so, so, cute when I finished the project!!! You can say that I am a true recycler!!

Oh you should have bought that copy of the Silver Palate (one of my favorites). I had found an extra copy at a sale and gave it to my best friend Barbara when she last visited me. It is one of the greatest books ever written. I love their Chicken Marbella recipe, don't you?

I am so happy that your skylight will be put to great use! Please let us know what other fun items you have found and to what use you have put them. One of my very favorite finds this year for only $35.00 was the green 1940's vintage wicker furniture out on my porch. It is a chair, rocker and matching round coffee table. What a bargain!! At that same sale, the lady let me have for $10.00, an old beautiful floor lamp with the brass base and also for another $10.00, two beautiful old ceramic-etched bedroom lamps on brass bases with original shades. I could not believe that sale!!

Well Carolyn, keep on finding those dear old treasures!!

Happy Hunting! Gina