TROLLING CRAIG'S LIST

I do that sometimes..............just to see what's out there and every now and then I come across something that's out of this world !
(If you type in what you're looking for - it shows things in your area AND close by -
Vermont is close to Montreal................)

Have you ever seen anything like this?

Anyone in Vermont interested?
What a gorgeous set for a garden !
HERE

And then maybe these could be picked up ( HERE )
and spray painted white to match !

and then while the spray paint was out - you could quickly " spraint " this as well

I've asked about the light fixture actually because I still need a couple of lights for the upstairs bedrooms - this would go perfectly in one of them.

Have a great day everyone -
Check out your local Craig's list !

Hugs,
Me


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FLUSTER BUSTER                                                       SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE
HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON                    NO MINIMALIST HERE
LIVE LAUGH ROWE                                                    THE SHABBY ART BOUTIQUE
MISS TOODY GOO SHOES                                       BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH                  A STROLL THRU LIFE                                                CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT
DWELLINGS THE HEART OF YOUR HOME
MY UNCOMMON SLICE OF SUBURBIA

Broadway Baby...............

I'm not sure if it's the same for everyone................( although I'm sure everyone loves seeing live performances ) I don't know if it affects everyone the same way.

It doesn't have to be Broadway (although there's nothing like seeing 42nd street on 42 street let me tell you)

It's not uncommon to see me sitting there with tears running down my cheeks - simply because I'm witnessing such raw talent.
I get chills and I'm more moved by this art form than any other.

I'm the one screaming BRAVO loudest ( and I've been known to scream out I LOVE YOU on more than one occasion )
I'm the first one clapping - I'm the first one that stands for an ovation ( which is every single time really ) and I'm the last one to leave the building - always feeling overwhelmingly sad that it's over and terrified that I'll miss one last curtain call.

They stay with me a life time - lines that resonate are repeated until everyone I know is sick of hearing them.
I never am.

If I lived in NewYork I'd be at the theater constantly - I know that.
Here in Montreal I'd spend my last penny on something to wear - or eat.
But in New York?
I'd spend my last penny on something to see.

So I thought I'd share - via You Tube 2 shows worth their weight in gold.

When you find the time ( and I know sometimes it hard to find but these are oh so worth it - promise )

LIZA MINELLI  - this was broadcast on T.V. back in the 70's - and I love it as much today as I did then.
The show is magnificent.  Not a musical per se - but a concert that's every bit as good as one.
I was 13 years old the first time I watched it - in our living room - with my Mother.



And this next one?
What a lady - and one of the best one lady shows ever produced.
I can't say enough good things about it.............

The show opens with this line

" Yah - well it's like the prostitute once said - it's not the work - it's the stairs "

And goes on to talk in a frank ( and because of that - endearing ) way about her life - her entire life condensed of course and includes songs - it's out of this world fantabulous !

The INCREDIBLE ELAINE STRITCH !!!



You'll thank me.
As soon as you watch them.

Have a wonderful Monday everyone - it's the first one in August
Let this month last longer than June and July did - PLEASE !!!
From my ♥ to yours
Me

A LITTLE BLING IN THE KITCHEN.................

I went to Ikea...............

To pick up a couple of " prizes " for games at Ashley's shower next weekend .................

But John is right.

I can't - I simply cannot walk into that store ( or any store if the truth be known ) and not go completely nuts.

So......................I bought 2 cutting boards for the counters
( If you remember we had a budget crises last year and ended up putting marble tiles down instead of a slab)
You can see it HERE

These cutting boards are great - I've been using them for many many years actually - because they have an edge to keep them in place - and if you turn them around they have a ridge to catch drippings.

Anyway - that's NOT what this post is about

Oh and then I found a round sisal place mat.............I only took one because I had an idea for it.

And an " Active Susan " ( I refuse to call it a Lazy Susan - it's a personal thing - I think they work pretty hard carrying heavy loads and twirling around all the time - like a ballerina holding an elephant )

I have a round marble piece ( from an Italian side table I bought many moons ago )
It sits on the island................( don't look too closely - the island top is made out of fence planks - I have an affinity for fence planks - you can see how we created it  HERE )

I placed the Active Susan on top of it  ( this is all about layering LMHO )

and then placed the mat on top of that 

WAIT !
DON'T GO !
JUST A COUPLE OF MORE LAYERS !!!

John walked by -
John says - ARE YOU TRYING TO BUILD A BLOODY CASTLE???

I placed a silver tray on top of it - ( you don't really need to see a pic of that, do you? )

And then I placed a dome from a cake stand on top of that - 5 layers everybody

But look how cute it looks !
(If I had any sense of deceny ( have you no decency Madam? ) I'd have washed the dome before taking photos)
Of course you could add height by placing a couple of bricks underneath ( that's a joke - cuz I'm funny )

Ok - I've washed it now and moved the corn for what reason I have no idea

John says - Why are you running around with the corn?
Suzan says - For staging
John says - YOU'RE STAGING WITH CORN IN THE COB ??????????
Suzan says - Don't you have mulch to put down or something?
John says - Do you want to scatter some of it on the table?

Not necessary John...............that's just over the top I think

Anyway - again -  that's NOT what this post is about ..............
It's about BLING - remember?

As in that gold light in the back ground................

Could you die?
I mean really - is that one gorgeous lamp?

I want to run back and buy a whole slew of them - a couple in the living room - the den - my bedroom -
OUTSIDE ON THE DECK !!!!!!!!!!
It gives off the most glorious sparkles !

They come in silver and gold - and though silver would have probably worked in this kitchen a little more cohesively - I just couldn't resist the gold !
It's like kitchen jewellery !

Did I tell you that last week I went to buy ant traps at Home Depot - and bought a kitchen stove instead?
He's 100% right, you know.
I'm certifiable.

But at least when I do it - it benefits the house.

John went out to pick up mulch yesterday and came home with these - which benefit no one but himself

John says - YOU'D BETTER NOT BE TAKING A PHOTO OF MY BOXERS -
Suzan says - Are you nuts?
Suzan says - You're getting really paranoid now

Anyway - that's NOT what this post is about 

It's about bling.
In the kitchen.

We're going to IKEA today to look at outdoor furniture -
Guess what I'll be coming home with?
It rhymes with SING.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone
Much love,
Me


LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?
JOIN ME AT THESE FABULOUS PARTIES !

I SHOULD BE MOPPING THE FLOOR           DWELLINGS THE HEART OF YOUR HOME
BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH                 CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE AADDICT
MY UNCOMMON SLICE OF SUBURBIA      A STROLL THRU LIFE
AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY                           FLUSTER BUSTER
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE                            HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
NO MINIMALIST HERE                                   I GOTTA CREATE
LAMBERT'S LATELY                                       LIVE LAUGH ROWE
FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE                     TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS
THE CHRONICLES OF HOME                        MY TURN FOR US
THE CRAFTED SPARROW                              THE 36TH AVENUE

A FRIDAY CHAT ( about this and that )

Good mornin' everyone !

HUFFINGTON POST

Josh Smith Discusses His Upcoming Struggle To Survive On $6.9 Million

#PrayForJoshSmith

Justin BlockSports Editorial Fellow, The Huffington Post

Posted: 07/24/2015 | Edited: 07/24/2015 03:18 PM EDT

Somehow, some way, Josh Smith and his family will have to figure out how to survive on just $6.9 million during the upcoming NBA season.

During a Los Angeles Clippers news conference on Tuesday to introduce the newly signed forward Josh Smith, the former NBA All-Star discussed the challenges he'll face as a result. 

"At the end of the day, you know, I do have a family," he told reporters. "So it is going to be a little harder on me this year. But I'm going to push through it, you know?"

Smith -- who has earned over $97 million from NBA contracts in his 11-year career, according to Spotrac -- signed a one-year deal with the Clippers earlier this month for the veteran's minimum of $1.5 million. His former team, the Detroit Pistons, will also be paying him $5.4 million to not play for them. (Smith was released last December by the Pistons after signing a four-year, $54 million contract in July 2013.) 

That adds up to just $6.9 million next season -- a far cry from the over $13 million he was making just two years ago. We weep for you, Josh Smith. 

In all seriousness, Smith seems to be paying homage to former NBA star Latrell Sprewell by focusing on his family's impending financial struggles. Remember when Sprewell deemed the Minnesota Timberwolves' three-year, $30 million contract offer as "insulting"?

"I'm at risk. I have a lot of risk here. I got my family to feed," Sprewell told the Free Republic in 2004. And so does Smith. But another thing that he's going to "push through" this year? The $100 million mark for total NBA earnings. 

_________________________________________________________________

I thought we'd start with that.

Just in case you were feeling all alone with your own personal struggles.

You're not.

I can't even add on that it's all relevant here - BECAUSE IT'S NOT !

The word " Struggle " should not be in the same sentence as SIX POINT NINE MILLION DOLLARS a year.

I know they live in some sort of alternate reality - but really?  Come on now !

_________________________________________________________________

For the past 3 weeks we've been emptying the skimmer every morning and finding 15 - 30 dead beetles 

( thank God for spell check - I spelled it Beatles - you have to forgive me - it's been a hard days night & I've been working like a dog................)

We appear to have an infestation.

The Ants?

They're completely taking over - you lay on a float in the pool and they're all over the float

We appear to have an infestation.

I can't sit outside after the sun goes down without coming in the house with more lumps than I had as a child with Chicken Pox - damned mosquitoes - 

We appear to have an infestation.

I also walk into spider webs every morning when I step outside - thrashing around and jumping up and down trying to remove them - 

We appear to have an infestation.

I watch as a swarm of wasps fly outside the office window - I've taped up every crack I can find because

We appear to have an infestation.

This summer our section of the city decided to cut back garbage pickup to ONCE every 2 weeks - 

are they insane?

In temps that hit in the 30's ( or close to 100 for you Americans ) they decide to let garbage rot outside our homes for 14 days?

So of course the flys are in rotting flesh heaven.

( It's enough to make you go vegan - seriously ) 

We appear to have an infestation.

The groundhog doesn't appear to mind at all..............neither do the skunks - although I've noticed the infestation of squirrels seem to be scratching more these days.

And now?

Well now we stepped outside yesterday to find 5 holes in our front garden - what made them we have no idea

I'm anti gun - but lately I fantasize about sitting outside on the back stoop with a rifle and just blasting everything to smithereens.

And I'm serious.

One of the twins ( Lindsay - who's a vegan ) gets upset when I talk like that - 

An ant was crawling up my leg and I killed it

Lindsay says - WHY?

Mom says - What?  It was an ant

Lindsay says - WHY DID YOU HAVE TO KILL IT?

Mom says - Listen - what I really wanted to do was torture it................

Lindsay says - I don't understand you at all

Mom says - I WANTED TO RIP IT'S HEAD OFF !

Lindsay says - relax - you sound crazed.

Mom says - Well I think YOU'RE a little crazy - it was an A.N.T.

Lindsay says - I don't kill anything at all.

Lindsay says - You could never be a Buddhist 

Ah well - such is life. 

I have no respect for the life of a bug.

Is anyone else noticing there's more this year than ever before?

Is it climate change?
_________________________________________________________________________________

I had a girlfriend whose stomach was shot to hell after her 3rd child.
Really - shot. to. hell.
She had what I called an overhang.................but she quickly corrected me - saying it was called
" an apron " - you know - when the fat hangs down ?
Well - I'm not proud of it - but I've developed " a maxi dress "
Jeezus................I HAVE to go on a diet.
Right after I finish that family sized bag of salt and vinegar chips in the pantry
I keep lifting my real maxi dress up to stare at it ( in morbid fascination ) and it looks like I STILL HAVE THE MAXI DRESS ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Suzan says- I really need to get some Spanx
John says - Come here - I'll give you a couple
Suzan says - WTH?
John says - I'll spank you
Suzan says - THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT !
John says - oooh - you meant the frisky kind?
Suzan says - I MEANT A GIRDLE - you pervert!
John says - Well why didn't you say that - how the hell am I supposed to know what you mean when you say you need spanks?

God help me - for a second I wanted to smack him.
With my maxi dress.
The inner one.
_________________________________________________________________________________

My Son was over this for supper and swimming - and we had a contest.
He told me to jump with my legs directly out in front of me ( like you're sitting on a chair with an ottoman is the only way I can explain it )
Sure !
No Problem !!!
Sounds super easy !
Let's go.............

I even had a foolproof bathing suit on so I didn't have to worry about my puppies freeing themselves (which they sometimes do when I dive off the board )

I got to the edge of the diving board - jumped - stuck my legs out straight across in a sitting position - and the thought that hit me as I hit the water was

OMG - the skin on my thighs just came off my body !!!!!!!!
I frantically grabbed them to make sure they were intact.

Pain like you can't imagine.

I whacked my Son with a towel and

Mom says - DON'T MAKE ME DO THINGS LIKE THAT - I'M TOO OLD FOR IT !!!!!!!!!!!  ARE YOU CRAZY?

And then I sat down - depressed like hell that I was actually too old to do something like that in the water.

So I did it once more.................it was even worse.

Gordie says - Maybe it's because your skin has gotten looser ?

He got another whack of the towel for that one.

But it's true - if you're as loose as a caboose - don't try it.

You're better off diving and letting the top of your bathing suit fall off - than your actual skin
_________________________________________________________________________________

We babysat one of the " grands " for the last 2 and a half weeks.
She's a blessing - a joy to have around - and totally exhausting................
( so that front porch is STILL not finished )
Guess what I'll be doing this weekend?

Oh and trying my best to work on this

Which I picked up for Ashley ................

You all have the most wonderful of weekends - I think maybe the humidity has " broke " here - I can feel a slight breeze as I type - exciting stuff !

Hugs,
Me

AMERICAN OF MARTINSVILLE ( my French Romantic Dresser )

Good morning all !

This is a dresser that I had already madeover - ( because - well you know - a million other things needed to be done )

It's been sitting in the front porch............and because now I'm working in that area it was time to get her done and get rid of her :)

The interior drawers were a bit of a mess so I decided to paint them and after seeing the markings inside I googled the company -

It's called AMERICAN OF MARTINSVILLE

And if you go on to 1st Dibs - they sell for a fortune.

2 six drawer chests are going for almost 7000.00 dollars !!!
A painted credenza is going for 2800.00 dollars.

Mine is a 12 drawer dresser.................

And I had no idea it was so valuable !

But knowing it actually was worth a small fortune I decided it was time to add a little pizazz

I painted all the interior of the drawers in Graphite to contract the white exterior ( plus it's much easier to hide stains with a dark color :)

And then I added a stencilled design in each of the outer ( smaller ) drawers
Please excuse the terrible photos - that expensive camera I bought is still sitting on the living room coffee table - it's still a virgin even though I bought it a month ago.
Some people are afraid of boogey men - I'm afraid of cameras it would seem

Anyway - back to the post - ( and crappy photos )
The 4 middle drawers were the perfect size for some French script ( stencilled again )

And then I decided to add some romance to the outside as well ...................

Suzan says - Did you see the love letter I left you?
John says - No - where?
Suzan says - It's on the dresser

John goes and comes back

John says - There's NOTHING on the dresser
Suzan says - Not ON TOP of the dresser - it's ON the dresser itself

John goes and comes back

John says - Well isn't that just a little ridiculous?
John says - What is it with you and words ?
John says - Can you stop with it already?
Suzan says - Very nice !!!  I try to implement a little romance into our lives -
John interrupts - In our LIFE is fine - it's on our furniture that I have a problem with.

But life is short - you have to grab romance wherever you find it -
I've found it in this American of Martinsville dresser !

And it would appear that romance really does work - I've fallen in love with it and it's staying LOL !

Paints used
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint ™
Pure White and Graphite
Stencil from Royal Designs Studio

Have a wonderful day everyone !
Hugs,
Me




LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?
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THE SHABBY ART BOUTIQUE                                 TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS
MY TURN FOR US                                                      THE PIN JUNKIE
MY ROMANTIC HOME                                             THE SHABBY NEST
THE CRAFTED SPARROW                                        THE GIRL CREATIVE
MISS TOODY GOO SHOES                                      FUNKY JUNK INTERIORS
THE 36TH AVENUE                                                    VINTAGE PAINT & MORE
LIFE ON LAKESHORE DRIVE                                   THE DIY SHOWOFF
I SHOULD BE MOPPING THE FLOOR                     A STROLL THRU LIFE              
DWELLINGS THE HEART OF YOUR HOME           CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT
BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH                           AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY
MY UNCOMMON SLICE OF SUBURBIA                FLUSTER BUSTER
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE                                      MY SALVAGED TREASURES
HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS OLSON                    NO MINIMALIST HERE
LAMBERT'S LATELY                                                  I GOTTA CREATE
LIVE LAUGH ROWE                                                   FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE
THE CHRONICLES OF HOME                                   PATINA PARADISE
THE CRAFTED SPARROW                                         DIY SHOWOFF

I WANNA live there Wednesday # 133

Good morning everyone !

They're calling for another scorcher here today - 40 celcius with the humidity ( 104 in " American " )

It'll be a floating in the pool kind of day for me :)

Today's home is a waterfront property ( subconscious desire? )

Hudson, Qc ( Canada )
One of the areas we seriously looked at before buying this place.

LISTING READS   ( it's the first time I've heard " spirits " mentioned in a real estate ad - but at least they're " good " ones !

A charming affordable waterfront home in Hudson with landscaped grounds right to the beach. Look out to the church at Oka and walk to the Ferry for a visit to this charming Town.This home has been beautifully restored and maintained and is perfect for entertaining.The owner maintains there are 'good spirits' here.Hardwood floors and antique doors.

Welcome to 160 Main Road in Hudson where you will be charmed by this 1870 home. Pride of ownership is reflected inside and out and the home is in move-in condition.Many careful renovations have been carried out by the present owners.

3 beds - 2 baths
Built in 1870
499,000
REALTOR - MARGARET LAGIMODIERE
( that's who showed us several properties when we were looking - one of which I still day dream about )

Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday - and that your temps are not unbearable !

Hugs,
Me


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