New Mexico Vacation

Look what Albuquerque had waiting to welcome us. We saw roses everywhere, especially in the Old Town district. Everything was in full bloom, just beautiful.



Not a lot of grass in New Mexico but we saw gardens everywhere. I was amazed at so many shades of green. The lilacs and all the trees were in full bloom. The fragrance was heavenly.





Beautiful bronze sculptures everywhere in Santa Fe.

I found this work very appealing.

Check out these eyes, they look so real.

Interesting arcitecture in Santa Fe. In the historic district a building can be any color as long as it's a shade of brown. This is not for my Shabby Chic friends.


What's a trip to Santa Fe without a stop at the famous Georgia O'Keeffe museum.

The town of Las Vegas, N.M. was full of history. My beloved husband's favorite was a drug store on the corner that had not changed much since the late 1800's. It still had an old ice cream parlor, of course we had to have a cone for old times sake. The town is falling on hard times and the homes in the historic district are badly neglected. There are many small Victorian cottages still begging for repairs. This hotel is still lovely and has well appointed rooms done in Victorian style. We hope to get back there again some day.


Riding through the high mountain desert on an old train. The cars were built in 1922 and had no modifications or upgrades on the inside since the day they left the factory. It was a dusty, jolting trip. Hate to think about having to ride on something like that all the way across the country.

How would you like to live here? Somebody does! Connie don't let Jack see this photo or you might be down sizing again.

We also visited the town of Taos and were lucky to find an art festival taking place. We thoroughly enjoyed the art and visiting with the artists.

We visited Taso Pueblo, the oldest continusously inhabited pueblo. It looks barren and dusty but the feeling is like none other to be in such a place as this. The People were very friendly and welcoming. They receive visiters from every country in the world. There is one home with paper money tacked to the walls from every place imaginable.



The bee hive ovens are still in regular use for bread and other baking needs.

Vintage Tole Tray Collection

This post is dedicated to my friend Lorena who also collects Tole. We always have a running bet on who will get the next piece, especially when we see a mutual friend showing off one of their great trays.

Vintage Tole trays are a favorite with me, I started my collection about 22 years ago. Doesn't look like much of a collection for that length of time but when I started they were a bit expensive and a rare treat if I found one I could afford. The oval cream tray was my first and came with wooden legs that make it stand and was used as a make shift coffee table for many years. The dark green tray under it in the photo also came with a wood stand, this tray is my favorite. Actually they are all favorites I might better say it's in the top two or three.

I hesitated in buying this red tray because I didn't think I liked the color but the great price and superb condition kept speaking to me. The longer I own this one the more it grows on me, I probably wouldn't pass up another red Tole item if the price were right.

The only aqua tray in the collection.

The oval tray is the most recent find, the black tin has been with me for several years. I think they look nice together.

Love the color on this big round tray. Please excuse my oxadized silver, it's always standing ready to be used for flower arrangments.

More green trays.


I have a few other trays in various deteriorating condition that I have chosen not to show here. Perhaps someday they will receive a rehab from my own brush and might make an interesting post. Thanks for looking, hope you enjoyed seeing the collection.

A Day of Junking

Yesterday was a red letter day for me, my beloved took me Junking as my dear friend Rhea calls it. I still have a smile on my face just thinking about all the treasures we found.

Bits and Pieces of trims.

Flocked Hankie, thinking this might be good to include in a swap.

Fabric remnant.

Vintage paste buttons from old dresses, they really sparkle but it doesn't show here. Originally I was thinking there were only 11 buttons but looking at this photo I realized there are 19 and ALL for only 50 cents. Can you believe the price?

Rose plate to add to my ever growing collection hanging on the walls and sitting on table tops.

Tea pot lamp for $2. Looks so pitiful at the moment but after consultation with my dear friend Rhea we both agree it would look good painted white with roses.

Interesting engraving and what looks like a place for someone's monogram. Must have been very pretty at one time.

Just what I need another cherub lamp, don't ask me how many I already own because I'm too embarrased to tell you. My best friend and I both have one bad habit in common, we just can't seem to pass up a cute or even potentially cute lamp. We both have more than we have room for but never pass up the opportunity to bring in just one more. Does sitting in closets or out in the garage sound familiar with any of you? Well it was only $3 and besides who can resist a cute cherub. He sure looks sad with his many layers of dirt and crud but I think he will clean up well and be happy to take up residence with all his little companions that have already made their way into our hearts and home.

OK did I say just one more? Could I pass up this chalkware cherub ornamental casting? I know it's tacky gold and that makes all you Shabby lovers cringe but I'm keeping it just as found. It's a whopping 40 inches wide and I'm not quite sure where it's going to end up yet.

I found this vintage tole tray a couple of weeks ago at the flea market.

Finally this chalkware figure was discovered at a garage sale last week. I like to think of her as my Self Portrait, oh how I wish.

Vine Covered Building - Creeping Fig

Last weekend I discovered this fig covered building. I thought it was so amazing and decided to share with all my blogger friends. Isn't this an absolute vision? Upon closer inspection I discovered this commercial building is empty at the moment and there was a dumpster full of fresh trimmings out back. Even with a fresh trimming it's about 6" deep with very thick woody vines clinging to the structure. I complain all the time about keeping up with the hedges around our home so I can't imagine what it would be like having to trim a building several times a year. Even the underside of the entryway is covered and actually causing some damage to the wood ceiling. The horrible yellow paint is only noticed when you get really close to the building, no wonder someone decided to let the vines take over.

Creeping fig is an evergreen vine F. Pumila. In the young stages it makes a delicate tracery of tiny leaves but as it matures it quickly takes over and forms thick woody branches. The vines on this building are definitely mature with some branches already 2" to 2 1'2" thick in some places. It's safe to use the fig on stone, brick or stucco buildings. It is also a very common application for fences made of the same materials, at least in FL.

Locks of Love

I went for a hair cut today and was asked if I would like to donate my locks to the children's charity Locks of Love. They needed to take a bit more off than I planned on but I felt like it's just hair and I can grow more, those children can't. I'm a bit gray being in my 6th decade now but they do accept it still which was a nice surprise for me. I was able to contribute 13 inches to the charity. The hair will likely be sold to offset their operating costs as it does have a good bit of gray. It feel good knowing I might, in some small way, help children in need.

Suitcase hand painted by talented artist Miss Rhea of Sweet n Shabby Roses.

In Full Bloom

The Bottle Brush tree is in full bloom once again, it does this several times a year. I took a close up of the bloom, don't they look like fuzzy caterpillars?


Smells just like Heaven when the citrus trees are blooming. This one is a juice orange and doesn't have as many this year. The Satsuma has so many blooms I know the fruit will be dragging on the ground when it fully ripe.


Does anyone have an idea of what this plant is? My neighbor gave me two of these because she divided them and ended up with several pots full. She also received them as pass-a-longs and doesn't know what they are either. They do look a bit like orchids to me. This photo was taken three days ago and this morning there are even more blooms. Very pretty what ever it is but no fragrance at all.

Cards and Tags

My dear friend Katie is going to be a grandmother very soon. We both belong to an artist group and there is much talk about everything baby at the moment so I felt inspired to create some new items for my website. Normally I don't do a lot of promoting of my website but I enjoyed making these so much I thought I would share with everyone.