So here's what I've been watching over my vacation...

So as many of you know, we do not have anything besides basic cable; well that except Netflix and now On Demand, which is more than enough for us.

Here's what we've been streaming...

*More of The League...so hilarious I can't even stand it.
*Hubby has finally come around to Parks and Recreation
*And the stand by for a while now, 30 Rock
       
As for On Demand, I've been watching a lot of the following...

*American Pickers...I've gotten past how annoying the guys are just love watching what they find.
*Cash & Cari...Love the estate sales and especially love the refurbishing.
*Hairy Bikers...I kinda want to love this show more than I do. I love the travel part for sure.
*American Restoration...with the restoration team from Pawn Stars

So that's it. But I'm looking for other recommendations too. We're done with the available League, Parks and Recreation, American Pickers, Cash & Cari, and American Restoration. I noticed Mad Men is on Netflix Instant now, anyone like that one?

Our Entry Way...it's like a museum of us!

We've hung pictures in our entry way, and I love them! It reminds me that we live here.

We didn't plan out our pictures first and just took a more creative approach, and started in the middle, and moved towards the ends of the hallway. The really nice thing about not buying additional things to decorate our new space is that all of  our belongings are on remix! At our house the color frames were in one room, the black frames in the hallway, and the "Keep Calm and Carry On" canvas was in my office at work; now they all go together and I am really happy about the result. Many of the pictures are from our wedding, trips and travels, and good friends--it makes me really happy to see everything on a daily basis again.

It was kinda hard to shoot the long narrow hallway, but here are my best attempts. Let me know what you think, I love comments :)

Moving In & Getting Organized

So we've been unpacking, and unwrapping all the things that we all too recently wrapped and packed up to move. I've decided to not buy anything new for our apartment here in Bloomington, with the small but awesome exception of the Charley Harper prints I now having hanging in our living room/dining room. Charley Harper is my favorite artist, many of this pieces have to do with animals and wildlife, and these in particular where commissioned by the National Park Service, another favorite of mine. I love them, love them love them--and got them for a great deal at the U.S. Government Bookstore. (I found them from a tip on Retro Renovation and hopped on the internet to order straight away.) This is how they look, let me know what you think...

Yes, that is Matlock on TV 

And as always, I like to show a few pictures of the process. Lots of figuring out placement, measuring, and sinking anchors and screws. 

We also hung my hubby's Great Aunt's painting above the fireplace. I think it looks great!

Lots of Christmas decor on the shelves and mantles, maybe I'll even go back and take a few pics after Christmas has cleared out and everything is set up "permanently". And speaking of Christmas, one, the JOY decoration on the fireplace was made by my bestie, Kelly, owner of Petals by the Shore, I just love it! And two, here's an obligatory picture of our Christmas tree.

I really hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Back to the Blogosphere!

Hi everyone! So it looks like my last post was in late August, and it is now just before Christmas, so yeah, I'd say it's been a while. But so much has been going on! My hubby was offered and accepted a job in central Illinois, Bloomington-Normal to be exact. So we put our house up for rent (selling didn't seem to be a great option), found a place to rent down here, started moving down, rented our place, put in notice at my job, and moved everything down. The last few months have been a lot of driving, a lot of packing and unpacking, a lot of cleaning, oh, and a lot of stress. But the end of all the headache is near. I am currently on two weeks of leave, then I'm back at my job for a little less than two weeks and then, I'll be with my puppy, kitties, and hubby full time. And I'll be blogging more again! So stay tuned.

Book Report: Norwood by Charles Portis

An easy read, Norwood, is the first novel by American author Charles Portis. The title character of Norwood is honorably discharged from the Marines to care for his sister after his father dies. As the story starts Norwood is going about his life in Ralph, Texas, and working to keep busy--he has a job at a gas station, cleans up family's house and yard, and fixes up an old car. In getting his sister out of the house and into a job waitressing, he inevitably gets a brother-in-law when his sister weds a customer she waits on. From there life in Ralph goes from restless to revolting, and Norwood leaves looking for adventure under the thin guise of getting money back from a Marine buddy to whom he loaned $70. He believes his buddy, Joe William Reese, is living in New York City, but after getting there he is told by Joe's neighbor, a lazy travel writer who does not leave his apartment, that he has gone back home to Arkansas. 

Norwood the novel is fun and humorous with great dialogue and interesting side characters, such as Grady Fring (the Kredit King) and Edmund (the world's smallest perfect fat man). Norwood the man is not particularly nice but is full of integrity and heart. After eventually collecting his $70 from Joe William Reese he nearly immediately loans the money to Edmund for his travels to L.A. 

I would recommend this book to borrow or loan from the library. Read it. You'll grin through most of the book. Oh, and there is love on a bus, but you'll have to read it to find out more. 

If you've read this book, please leave a comment letting me know what you thought of it too...

What's new on Kitschy Kitchen Goods

What I've Been Watching on Netflix Instant Lately

1) The League...oh my goodness so hilarious! Only the first season is up right now, but it has me hooked. I nearly peed my pants watching this show before.

2) American Pickers...the guys are a little annoying but I love the junk they find.

3) Cash in the Attic...similar to Pickers, but British and kinda slow moving. I still like it though.

4) Clean House...watching a show about cleaning and organizing is so much more fun than doing it ;)

Reaping what I sow!

So a while back I did some sowing of wildflowers in our back yard. I did it a little late in the summer, but the seeds have sprouted and I'm finally seeing some awesome wildflowers. Take a look...

Next to my fence flowers

A few more days and everything will be FULL bloom! Can't wait!

Dear Skunks

Dear Skunks,

I do not care how cute and cuddly you may look, or how adorable you were in the movie "Bambi", I do not like you. If you come into our yard again, tempting my baby dog to play with you and instead spraying her face, I will have to wage full on war against you.

I warn you skunks, do not get on my bad side.

Regards,
TLee

P.S. You smell.

Best Puppy Friends

Today we had an impomptu puppy play date in our backyard! The pups had so much fun...

...r u n n i n g...

...a n d  p l a y i n g...

...a n d  r o u g h  h o u s i n g...

...a n d  c h i l l i n'...

True friends let you share a water dish!

More Recent Adds to Kitschy Kitchen Goods

1970 Big Eye/Sad Eye Puppy

Good Night Wooden Wall Art

Ceramic Snoopy Look Alike

Pink Pig Piggy Bank

3 of the "Four Fat Harlequins"

Vintage Waif Girl

Green Vintage Flower Necklace

Blue Vintage Flower Necklace

Summer Salad

Corn

Cherry Tomatoes

Mozzarella Cheese, cubed or small balls

Basil, fresh is better

Nasturtium Vinegar, or a nice White Wine Vinegar

Mix it all together and you get a nice refreshing summer side salad to enjoy! (Thank you Patrick for sharing!)

And a few more Etsy posts

A few more posts at my Etsy shop, Kitschy Kitchen Goods...

1950s Old Car Vintage Martini Shaker

Small Multicolored Flower Vintage Tray

1960's Vegetable and Dip Tray

Celery Stalk Ceramic Serving Platter

Ceramic Asparagus Serving Platter

I think these will be my last adds for a while, I'd like to get a nibble on some of the things I already have posted. If you belong to Etsy, please list my store as a favorite. And if you know anyone who might like one of my items, please pass this info on to them. Thank you!!