Nifty Thrifty Thursday

I am joining Leigh over at http://lbratina.blogspot.com/ this week for Thrifty Thursday. Thanks Leigh!

 

Last weekend we had a little thrifty luck.

We found a nifty candle holder, added a couple of mismatched glass sconces and a couple of wee little pink candles. All together the look was right around three dollars.

The twisted wire reminds me of the bracelets we made in high school in our jewelry making class. In Beaverton, Oregon, in the late '70s, we had jewelry making as an elective in high school. Had it before lunch and stagecraft after lunch. The '70s were great!

Okay, now see how it looks tucked away on our inside windowsill. Like it?

The lamp is sitting on the radiator cover. Not sure if that will have to be moved or not after we get the boiler de-winterized and fired up.  This window looks out onto the little sun porch. 

Happy Thrifty Thursday!

Fall in North Dakota

Fall is settling in, in North Dakota.  

 

The past couple of days it actually has been a tad bit warmer and dry.

Little companion and I took a walk around the park by the lake today after school.

She enjoyed it!

She claims this is her tree. 

Hard to believe this will soon be frozen and ready for ice fishing.

 These plants grow around a lot of the lakes here, sometimes quite densely. I will often ask Little Companion if she sees Moses anywhere.

 Nice fall day.

Leaves almost gone, winter is just around the corner in North Dakota.

Hope you are able to enjoy your day!

Remember the Maine...

Today for my blue post I am sharing my Remember the Maine candy dish.

 Now the Maine was a battleship that sunk in Havana harbor on February 15, 1889. Two hundred and sixty-six men lost their lives as a result of the disaster. The cause of the explosion that sank the ship remains a mystery but it helped to catapult us into the Spanish-American war.

William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States, held the office of president at that time. President McKinley was assassinated during his second term in office. There have only been four presidents killed in office; Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy.

  This little candy dish commemorates the Maine and the men who lost their lives. 

My mom gave this little candy dish to me not long after I decided to collect cobalt blue items. It is very special in so many ways!

Joining Sally over at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ for Blue Monday. 

Fall festivities

There are many things that are associated with fall; the change of leaves, the cooler weather with the promise of winter around the corner, Halloween, and of course...

Homecoming!

Now I don't want to shock any of you but Texas is not the only state that has high school football. Although celebrated in different ways, I would venture to say all across America the homecoming football game and dance are a tradition.

Harvey, North Dakota is no exception.

This last week was a very busy week filled with a lot of spirit for the Harvey Hornets.

Today there was a parade, a pep rally, football game, and later the dance.

Here is one of our 3 friendly police officers leading the parade. Oh look, there is an American flag flying in the background.

The plan is to trap the Garrison Troopers!

King and Queen riding in their chariot.

Some of the football players.

The non-marching band.

I like this sign, "Hornet pride city wide." I have to agree, there was quite a turnout for the parade.

One of the fierce Hornets!

Oh look! There is our Little Companion. 

She completed junior cheer camp this past week and was able to participate in a few cheers/chants at the pep rally earlier in the day and then again before the big game.

The Hornets on the right, Troopers on the left. Good sportsmanship is highly encouraged here (I know because the guy said so over the loud speaker.)

The sweet cheerleaders.

The younger girls had a great time.

Ah yes ... homecoming. 

Memories from the past and making memories in the present. 

Can you feel fall now?

Inside on a fall day...

The sun did not shine.

It was too cold to play.

So we sat in the house all that cold, cold, wet day.

I sat there with Flynnie, we sat there we two,

and I said how I wish we had something to do.

Too wet to go out
And too cold to play ball.
So we sat in the house.

And...

we thought about fall! 

Earlier that day I had gone into town where there just happened to be a Hallmark shop around.

I found two small candles all fallish and ready

to come to my house and sit with Brown Betty.

I added a doily all lacy and pretty to join the decor on the table

I had placed there already.

A little scarecrow snuggled up to Brown Betty and fine faux fall foliage stood at the ready.

So we two might have thought we had nothing to do but,

with the aid of Brown Betty,

we had fun inside where it was dry and warm.

Now...

what did you do?

(Would like to thank Dr. Seuss for letting me quote from The Cat in the Hat and for allowing me to make a few personal adjustments to his wonderful work.)

Headed southeast ...

Saturday pocket poochie and I found ourselves all alone as the rest of the pack was staying in the big city for the weekend. 

What to do, what to do.

Always ready for an adventure, pocket poochie Flynnie and I decided to head south of town about 3 miles and 2 miles west to the Lonetree Wildlife Management area to see what we could see.

Way back in the early '80s I briefly worked for the Bureau of Reclamation on the Federal Center in Denver, Colorado when James G. Watt was Secretary of the Interior. Now James G. Watt was raised in Wheatland, Wyoming right along side my dad. 

James G. Watt has been attributed with such quotes as: 

Liberals have shifted government into a position of being neutral between right and wrong. By concentrating power in government institutions, liberals chisel at the three pillars of society: the family unit, work ethic and faith. That's not good for America. U.S. News and World Report, November 11, 1985

and

"If the troubles from environmentalists cannot be solved in the jury box or at the ballot box, perhaps the cartridge box should be used." The Earth's Storm Troopers Phoenix New Times August 7, 1991.

 but I digress..

So we drove 3 miles south and 2 miles west on this road

Fearless pocket poochie and me, until we arrive here

It was pretty but I just could not overcome the sensation that came over me when I imagined wild raccoons and badgers and such roaming around in this secluded place with just fearless Flynnie by my side. 

So we surveyed the scene...

and pondered this for awhile...

Being citified I just can't really imagine this.  Can you read it? It says, "Attention bird hunters. Deposit wings here, see instructions on envelopes." Ya, don't want to think about that much.

So we jumped back in the car, retraced the 2 miles back and 3 miles north and then headed southeast to Jamestown. What is in Jamestown, North Dakota you might ask? 

WHY THE BIGGEST BUFFALO IN THE WORLD, THAT'S WHAT!!

This guy is colossal!

Ready?

Okay, he's concrete but still.

Built in 1959. A very good year if I do say so myself!

Having no Little Companion to photograph I made Flynnie pose. He likes his stroller very much. Makes him feel secure. It was a little chilly so he had a blanket tucked inside too. He is a cross between a Yorkie and a Bichon Frise and has only the top layer of hair, no undercoat, so we try and make sure he doesn't get cold. 

After making him pose I chuckled all the way back to the vehicle! Posing my dog for a picture, who was riding in a stroller ha! Still makes me chuckle!

Okay, after buffalo hunting I decided to drop in on a couple of local thrift stores here. I found nothing at one but the other had these ...

Cobalt blue salt and pepper shakers in a little carrier. I just love cobalt blue.

They are not stamped, just say salt and pepper.  I was happy to add these to my collection.

Pocket poochie Flynnie and I made it back home safe and sound after our most wonderful adventure.

I will be joining Sally at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ for Blue Monday. Thank you Sally for hosting Blue Monday!

Hoping you have a wonderful week!

Just another day...

Remember when I said if you blinked you might miss fall around here?

What did that say?

It is going to be around 30 degrees tonight. Little Companion and I saw a few short-lasting snowflakes this afternoon. We are really thankful it reads 30 degrees and not 30 below!

Although Little Companion and I are extremely citified we love the wide open feeling of the prairie too. 

Such colors!

Have a wonderful evening!