Goodwill Goodie Makeover Monday

Good Monday Morning to All!  It looks like we will be in for another week of wonderful fall weather.  On Saturday night, we had the first frost of the season.  I'm hoping that it killed off the mosquitoes and no-see-ums.  Sitting out at soccer games has not been enjoyable with those pests!  Even with bug spray, all we seem to get done is swatting.  These late mosquitoes are the size of small airplanes, and they sound like them as well!

Yesterday in our Middle School Sunday School class we decided to change up the curriculum a bit.  We haven't been thrilled with the lessons since we took over the class, but hadn't been able to find a program we were happy with.  So after much prayer, we feel that God is directing us to produce our own lessons each week.

Asking the students 20 questions dealing with different aspects of the Bible and Christian life is where we started out yesterday.  With all the chatter and questions from the students, this took the entire 50 minutes of class.  This group is a challenge to keep on task ~ one of the reasons why we felt a need to try a different path of teaching.  We fight the chatter every week and need to keep them focused.  The fact that they feel so comfortable around us is great and we enjoy it.  However, it makes finishing a lesson and driving the point home a challenge.  They didn't seem to understand that they were to simply answer the questions that we asked ~ if they didn't know the answer, they were told to write "I don't know", not ask a thousand questions about the question :)  With all 20 questions finally asked, it was time to dismiss and head up to church.

Back home, we took a look at the answers.  DH and I weren't sure exactly where or with what we were going to start, but these definitely helped us make our decision ~ at the very beginning.  It seems that even after years of Sunday School and AWANAs, the kids are missing the basics of the Bible.  Some didn't even know which book told the story of the creation.  Needless to say, we were shocked.  God has lead us down the right path (like He would lead us down the wrong one, right?!).  So, we feel very secure with our decision to move away from pre-planned lessons.  I'm very excited to see where this will lead.  DH and I were beginning to feel burned-out and had thought maybe it was time for someone else to take the class.  However, after today, we are feeling energized and that this is where we are supposed to be.  I will keep you updated with how things go!

Now ~ onto this week's Goodwill Goodie Makeover.  This is something that I picked up for $1.99.  Imagine it with 2 lovely country geese and hearts on the front (I forgot to take a photo before I removed the glued on wood figures).  It is already painted, as I had some extra time last week to dedicate to it.  I just have to decide what to use it for.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  I had thought of a plate holder, but I don't have any plates yet.  Leave me a comment with your ideas!

Keep checking back this week ~ I may do a sneak peek at the end result!

Goodwill Goodie Finish Friday

Time for the reveal!  In case you don't remember what it looked like before, take a peek at the post and here's a photo of the before ~

Here's the makeover results ~

Here's how I'm using it ~

It only took one coat of paint this time and I think that it turned out very nice!  What I really like about this goodie is how versatile it is going to be.  I had a hard time deciding exactly where I wanted to display it ~ but decided it looked terrific on the table (which was my paternal Grandpa and Grandma's).

The weather has been so nice that I have been able to get a jump-start on next week's makeover.  Two coats of paint on already ~ just waiting for it to dry.  Take a peek on Monday to see what I'm working on!

Thrifty Thursday

Today I thought I would share a kitchen-themed Thrifty Thursday!   These treasures were found at Goodwill, a flea market, and a garage sale.

The strainer, the small aluminum cup, and the child's cup were $.25 each;  the grater, the sifter, the set of 6 star molds, the set of 3 measuring cups, the Calumet cookie cutters, the gingerbread cutter, and the set of 4 gingerbread men were $.50 each; the Roseville pitcher was $.99; and all 9 of the measuring spoon sets came together in a bag for $1.

If you take a look at yesterday's post, you will see a photo of my baker's rack.  It is where most of these make their home. 

So many of these remind me of my paternal Grandma.  She was the best cook and baker!  Her freezer was always stocked with homemade shortcakes and her countertop always held some type of freshly baked treat.  When we would walk beans each summer, we could always count on an old-fashioned farmer's lunch.  Roast beef or fried chicken, cooked potatoes, gravy, homemade bread, green beans or sweet peas with puff, applesauce, and some kind of homemade dessert.  Everything Grandma made was homemade ~ never from a box ~ and the vegetables were always fresh from the garden. 

She also made sure that we had our morning and afternoon coffee breaks.  There was always a bottle of pop for me, my brother, and my mom, a glass jar of coffee for my dad, fresh baked cookies, and 3 types of sandwiches cut diagonally ~ cheese, summer sausage, and cheese with summer sausage.  Grandpa would be waiting on the headland for us at exactly 9am and 3pm.  Those breaks never seemed to last long enough!  Dad and Grandpa would spend the 20 minutes discussing the crops while we would devour Grandma's goodies.  I never did understand how my dad could drink steaming, hot coffee when we were out in 90+ degree temps.

Grandma has been gone for 10 years now and sadly most of her recipes went with her.  She seldom used a recipe or wrote one down.  By the time I was old enough to want copies, she wasn't able to cook or bake much and the memory of how she made certain foods was gone.  My aunt has tried to make the sweet peas with puff but hasn't had much luck re-creating it.  When we were cleaning Grandma's kitchen after she had passed away, we did find a few recipe cards written out in her handwriting for several of our favorite treats.  Those are treasured possessions! 

The majority of my memories of Grandma revolve around her in the kitchen.  That's where she always was when I would visit.  I was very fortunate that this set of grandparents lived straight across the gravel road from our home.  There weren't many days that I didn't see them.  I think that's why I love these old kitchen utensils and gadgets.  They bring back such great memories of my Grandma!

Autumn Bliss

It seems like everyone is sharing photos of their fall decorating ~ so I thought I would join in with a few of our home.  Enjoy!

Goodwill Goodie Makeover Monday

Can it really be Monday again and the final week of September?  Time seems to slip by faster every year.  I want to send out a big welcome to all my new followers!  Thanks again Janene for spotlighting my blog ~ the number of hits has been amazing.  Be sure to share my blog with all your friends!

For this week's goodie makeover I have decided on a lazy susan that I actually picked up at Salvation Army.  I purchased it for $1.99 and did think about leaving it as is.  However, I think it would look better with a coat of black paint and some distressing ~ maybe a second color as well.

Here's the before photo (and before I cleaned it) ~

Hopefully the weather and the kids' schedules cooperate this week.  It has been so rainy and humid here that it makes it difficult for that paint to dry!  DS and DD will keep me running this week with cheerleading clinc, dance class, soccer, AWANA, and a cheerleading performance.  They are only in 5th grade and 2nd grade ~ I can only imagine what it will be like once they hit junior high and high school!

Be sure to visit again on Finish Friday to see the end product!

Goodwill Goodie Finish Friday

TGIF!  It's been a busy, rainy week here in the midwest.  Perfect weather for beef stew and homemade rolls.  DS and DD are ready to camp out in their fuzzies (that's what they call their blanket sleepers) all weekend.  I think I will spend Saturday browsing through my Country Sampler magazines and preparing the lesson for Sunday School.  My DH and I are in our 5th year of teaching the middle school class at our church.  Some of our former students will be graduating from high school this year ~ not sure where the time has went.  It has been great to see how they have grown in their faith and we look forward to what the Lord has in store for their futures.

With all the humidity this week it was a challenge to finish this makeover ~ the paint didn't want to dry.  Yesterday I was finally able to put the finishing touches on the shelf. 

Remember what my $1.99 shelf looked like before ~

Here it is now ~

Here's how I have it displayed ~

A full length shot ~

So much better than those bears!  It really pops against the paneling and the mini quilts were the perfect size.  The longaberger crock was a Goodwill find as well ~ $.50.  The game board, mini quilts, and basket were purchased at a "going out of business sale" of a local business a few years ago ~ $10 for all.  The pip berry picks were 50% off at ALCO ~ $3.00 each.  The Uncle Sams and Americana balls were purchased 50% at Hobby Lobby ~ $8 for all.  The child's rocking chair was given to us by a family at church that was moving.  The shelf was all I needed to tie it all together and it cost $1.99.

I have a few goodies in mind for next week ~ something for the kitchen, perhaps.  Check back on Monday to see what I have picked!

Thrifty Thursday

Makeover Mondays and Finish Fridays ~ how about I add Thrifty Thursdays!

I have had great luck this week and wanted to start sharing my finds with you.  Every week I will try and show some of the great treasures that I have found.  No ~ I do not go thrifting every week, but over the years I have found many, many treasures that I think you will enjoy.

Let's start with this week's discoveries.  My DH is currently "coaching" at the dealership an hour north of our home.  This gives me the opportunity to explore new thrifting territory when we have lunch together (which we try to accomplish once a week).  Yesterday, we had a lunch date!  It was a good hour spent together ~ we were able to catch up with each other and with what has been happening with the kids.  He's been putting in long hours and time usually runs out at night before we are able to discuss all the events of the day.

After an enjoyable lunch and returning him back to work, I headed to the Krysilis store that is next door to the dealership.  Look what I snagged ~

The small Americana basket was $.25, the strainer was $.50, the bunny, Uncle Sam, and packages of "S" hooks were $.75 each, the long wood tray was $.90, and the NEW candles were $1.50 each.  Double find with the candles ~ they smell sooo good and I love those containers!  The tray and the "S" hooks may be in store for makeovers.  I may try to turn the strainer into a shoo-fly cover.  The Krysilis store may become a weekly stop!