A Pink Surprise

Linda's Mom had passed away 2years ago and, she and her family are starting to clean out the house to sell it. While going through a lifetime of memories she came across this treasure. It was a gift from Linda's late husband Bill.


Can you believe that it was in the original box? If you know Linda, then you'd know that she would definitely save the box. She showed me her scrapbook that was from kindergarten to her senior year. It was full of awards, newspaper clippings, photos, dried flowers, you name it.


I just love the image on the box. I'd say it was probably from the late 70's early 80's. She thought that I might want it to cut up. Cut up?! No way, this is just perfect the way it is!


My boss decided to give us an extra day off - how great is that? So, bright and early this am I went grocery shopping, washed the sheets and bathroom rugs and hung them out to dry. Then I made Tres Leches Cake and ran the sweeper downstairs. Do you call it a sweeper or a vacuum? Seems I may talk funny:)


My brother and Dad stopped in for a quick visit and while they were here I whipped up a batch of banana bread (Flyboy's request) - it's still in the oven. I thought I 'd get this posted in time for Beverly's Pink Saturday while the bread finishes baking. It's still not too hot out, but after the bread is done I'm shutting all the windows. The afternoon sun around 3pm is brutal.

If I don't get to visit before the 4th have a wonderful and safe holiday!

Tea Towel?

I like to keep a tea towel under my coffee pot for two reasons.



ONE - Mr OP is not always the best at pouring coffee into our mugs. He has a tendency to pour it fast and then the lid pops up slightly and it over pours the spout making a bit of a mess. If I keep a tea towel under the pot it absorbs it right away - less cleanup.




TWO - The counter has a burn mark from a pot that was put directly on the counter right from the stove. A tea towel covers it right up and no one is the wiser. I have always said tea towel. It's the towel that's used to dry the dishes. You DO NOT dry your hands on a tea towel. We have hand towels for that. Although sometimes I use clean tea towels to cover food - i.e. dough rising on the counter, a bowl of bread that's getting stale for stuffing, a pie, etc. It's the way my Gram, Nan and my Mum always did things and that's how I do it.



The boys learned this from me. Mr OP? He wasn't raised this way and tends to revert to his old ways from time to time. I also say dish rag. Do you? It's what I wash the dishes with. I prefer dish rags over sponges and use a clean dish rag and tea towel every 1 to 2 days. I know that it makes for more laundry, but I like to keep them fresh.

Do you say tea towel or dish towel? Do you use the same towel for drying the dishes as drying your hands? Does anyone even had wash dishes anymore?

Oh, and the card? It was one that I made for a wedding last weekend. It has their monogram on it.

See you soon!

A Stitch in Time

Does anyone out there carry one of these around? They do come in handy. Just about a week ago (at work) Linda's hem came out of her pants. I didn't have this one with me, but I always come home for lunch, so I snatched it right up and brought it back to work with me.



Talk about convenience! Whoever came up with this idea was pretty clever! I now have this one tucked (among the many other things a girl's gotta have for those "just in case moments") in my "suitcase" as MR OP calls my purse.

What do you carry around for those "just in case moments"?

Unexpected Visitors at The Old Parsonage

I had some unexpected visitors last week when I came home for lunch. Miss Puddin and Scooch Bug are spending Wednesdays with my parents (since school let out) and they decided to walk down and see Auntie. Can you see the curls? All natural - my brother had them too. She has a rough time with them when it gets really humid.




I don't think that I ever showed you the other graduation cards that I made. These were for young women, so I thought that something colorful was in order. I think I have a few spots of poison ivy on my arms (that's what I get for doing yard work). I hardly ever get it, but when I do I use antiperspirant on it (not my regular deodorant). Any other suggestions?




We have a wedding this Sunday. Funny I know, but the young man is in the Army and this is when he could get leave, so Sunday July 3rd it is. It's also my parents 46th wedding anniversary. They chose the 3rd because they worked at the same company and the company closed 4th of July week.

What are your plans for the weekend?

Jane's Generosity and Smiles

Yeah! I finally got my camera to download photos to my computer!!! Isn't it funny how little things like that can just make you smile. And...speaking of smiling, just look at the wonderful things that Jane sent me in our Scrap Stash Swap -insert big darn Cheshire Cat Grin :)



Jane included so many cool vintage and vintage reproduction things that I just keep looking at everything. There are diskette labels, pages from old books, tickets, old wallpaper, ribbons and bows, papers, the list goes on and on. I'm telling you, I really had the BEST swap partner EVAH!


Just look at this map of Alaska! How neat is that - I love it and everything that she sent. Thanks again Jane! I've got everything out of it's packaging, but haven't put it all away yet. I need to see it all set-out before me for awhile, that way I know what I have and remember to use it. If I put things away (in my studio at least) immediately, I have a tendency to forget what I have.



Besides, everything is so gorgeous it actually becomes part of the decor right? Tins of buttons, bowls full of ribbons...they all make me smile.



Don't you just love the style of clothes on this paper? I do, they look so comfy to me. Nothing looks like it digs into you when you sit down. Although, I've never worn this style of clothes, so maybe I'm completely wrong. You would have had to wear stockings, so maybe not.

What do you think?

Oldies but Goodies

I still can't get my photo's to download to the computer. But I still want to join in the fun of Pink Saturday. So I'm recycling a few oldies but a goodies. Hoping to get some major yard work done this weekend and finally open our pool, plus the inside of the house is looking a little shabby too.

This week seemed to drone on and on. TGIF my friends! TGIF. We don't have one event planned for this weekend, my tooth is feeling fine and I'm ready to just do what I want when I want. No hafta's - yeah!

Hope that you all have a wonderful weekend!

Scrap Stash Swap

Well now that Jane and I have exchanged our swap packages I thought that you might like to see what we gave each other. I'll share what I sent first (only because I have the photo's on my computer).



We were given specifics that had to be included (12" x 12" papers, etc.). But, Jane and I decided to make up our own rule - there are no rules.


I tried to include a lot of different things, including some just for fun gifts. This was so much fun to put together...almost as much fun as it was to get my swap in return. Notice I said almost:)


We had soo much fun that we may just do it again. My next big swap is Karla's Bird Song Tag swap, and that's due by July 15, so I need to get crafting! Hopefully I'll be able to snap a few photos of the wonderful things that Jane sent me this week and share them with you.

She said Yes!

Our Flyboy is a little Sneaky Pete. He asked this beautiful girl to marry him and, didn't tell a single soul that he was going to do it. And...she said yes! We are so thrilled and happy for them. I already love her like she was my own. So our little bride to be (LBB from now on) is floating on cloud nine. I'm hoping that photos co-operate soon and that I'll be able to share a photo of her ring and ones from the day that they got engaged.

Happy Father's Day

Yesterday, I baked my Dad (wasn't he a cutie) some peanut butter cookies (his favorite) and some oatmeal raisin for Mr. OP. And, since the house was already stifling hot, I just kept on going...cleaning and cooking till I couldn't go anymore. Ugh...



Nicole's dance recital is today so we took my parents out for breakfast this morning. My tooth is still a little sensitive at times, but it's getting better (thanks again for all the well wishes). I just had a poached egg and toast, but everyone else had killer breakfasts.



I have some wonderful news that I'm anxious to share with everyone, but can't get my darn photos to download. What's a post without photos? If you noticed these are from last year. And that's another thing - the hydrangeas were blooming by now - this year not one bloom! Harumph!

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday!

The Root Canal that Wasn't

Thanks so much for all the well wishes. Sorry that I've been incognito this past week, but my tooth is still bothering me. Today marks a week that I first went to my Dentist and he diagnosed me with an abscessed root. Thanks for all the well wishes!



He put me on Amoxicillian and Vicodin (sorry Vee, my mistake it wasn't Vallium) and said it should start to feel better by Saturday night.



It was less sensitive to hot things, but every time I would try to eat something it went nuts. I kept thinking that I was a big baby. I lost 5lbs from Friday to Wednesday because I was only eating enough to be able to take the pills without feeling sick.



Wednesday came, and I went to the Endodontist (she only does root canals). After SEVEN shots of Novocaine and me still feeling a lot of pain when she was drilling, she stopped! Apparently there was still a raging infection inside the root - the Amoxicillian didn't work, I needed a stronger antibiotic. I wasn't a baby after all!


So off I went to the drug store for another antibiotic, a prescription for Motrin and more Vicodin. I took the antibiotic and the Motrin immediately and, actually stayed at work 'til 5:30 - the Novocaine hadn't worn off yet. When I got home I took a Vicodin and 2hrs later when the Novocaine wore off the Motrin. You could say I wasn't a Happy Camper.



So now that I've been on the new meds for more than 24hrs, the pain and pressure in my jaw has seemed to ease somewhat. I'm hoping that this round will actually work.




I had a banana this morning to take my pills with and so far so good! I've got wonderful news to share with you later this weekend, so stay tuned.



Many of you asked how well the detergent works. So far, I haven't seen a difference between the commercial detergent vs homemade and I've used it for a few weeks now. This might be Christmas gifts in the making.



How fun would it be to put the homemade laundry detergent in a mason jar, top it with some pretty fabric, tied with some raffia? I'm thinking the detergent, some clothes pin and a clothes pin bag would make a terrific gift. Hmm... Rudolph Day is next week - the 25th - and my plan is to work on my gift list and start thinking about designing my Christmas Cards. So, yep the laundry detergent is going on the list.

Thanks for stopping by The Old Parsonage and Happy Pink Saturday everyone!

Laundry on a Budget

Not sure how many of you have heard about the homemade laundry detergent at the Bee Hive Cottage, but I wanted to share it here at The Old Parsonage too. With just a few simple ingredients and little elbow grease you can make your own laundry detergent at home for just pennies a load.

You'll need

• 4lb box of Borax
• 4lb box of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
• 4lb Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
• 3 Bars of Fels-naptha/Pink Zote or Ivory Castle

I used the Felsnaptha just because it's what my supermarket had. You'll also need a big bowl or container to mix it in. Pour all your ingredients in the container and then grate the (3) bars of soap. I used the smallest side of a hand grater ( not sure if we use the bigger side if the soap pieces would dissolve as well) - this is the elbow grease part:) Then mix it thoroughly.


Choose a storage container with a tight fitting lid to keep out moisture. You'll only need to use 2 tablespoons per load - neat hunh? So for a cost of just over $10 I'll have laundry detergent to last quite awhile. Oh yeah, it smells wonderful too!

You can also substitute 1/2 cup of white vinegar as fabric softener instead of those expensive rinses. How's that for laundry on a budget?

Does anyone have any other money saving tips?

Boxed Treasures

I found a box of these sweet images a few weeks ago. Aren't they adorable? A few have pieces of yellowed scotch tape stuck to them from years gone by. I just love their faces! For right now they are decorating my studio until I decide what to do with them.


I went to the dentist Friday afternoon. After a little picking around, and a few x-rays they determined that I have an abscessed root and need a root canal. Can I just say that when leaving I felt worse than when I got there? When he picked around back there it sent me to Never Never Land. Let's just say I left with a prescription for Valium and an antibiotic. I went back to the office, closed my computer down for the day, got home, took 2 antibiotic and the Valium, woke up 6 hrs later - more Valium.


Saturday am it still hurt so bad. I muddled through till lunch time and tried to eat something soft - wrong move! We had Chelsea's graduation party to go to, so I took another Valium, followed by a short nap and we left. Let's just say that I was a little loopy - but I wasn't about to miss her party. It's a little better today, but kills me when I try to eat. I'm taking Aleve today - can't keep taking the Valium.

Anyone else ever have an abscess?

Pink Bind it All

Meet my new toy/best friend - Chloe. She looks like a Chloe, doesn't she? Chloe dices! She slices! No not really. She's a Bind-It- All by Zutter.



She's actually a personal binding machine. You know how I LOVE to scrapbook and create handmade cards and gifts? Well this little beauty will help me do it!




I haven't taken her for a test run yet, but you can be sure that she's going to get a heck of a work out here at The Old Parsonage.


My back molar has been bothering me this week, so tomorrow I think I have to make a dentist appointment. Let's just hope that it's nothing serious.

Wishing you all a wonderful Pink Saturday!