Art arrived home this morning from a week-long motorcycle trip up to New England.  This tree in our driveway is what he found when got home.  I was still asleep and didn't have a clue.


I knew it was horribly windy during a thunder storm last night, but that's all I knew.

This is another tree that fell beside the barn.  Actually a third of the tree fell and the other two thirds are still standing.  But they're not looking good.  Neither is Art's pick up, the joy of his life (next to his Harley) that has 200,000 miles on it, is rusting out and runs like a champ.

Edited to add:  Art's pick up isn't looking good because it just doesn't look good, not because the tree fell on it.  I realized what I wrote above sounded like it got squished, when it didn't.  Art is happy.


The other two thirds need to come down before they fall on the barn.

Thank goodness for tree people....tree surgeons?   tree cutters?  tree whatever!  They'll be coming next week.
And we'll have plenty of fire wood next winter!

In the meantime, we cut up and moved the tree in the driveway.  It took us four hours.  And you can't even tell it ever happened!

Wishing you all a fabulous Memorial Day Weekend with no trees falling in your driveways, on your barns, your pick-ups or anywhere else!

This is an experiment, only an experiment.  Do not adjust your tv set. 

Liz just told me how to make my photos larger on my blog and I'm giving it a shot!

So, here's Bella!


Yay!  It worked!  Finally I can have larger photos!

I've started a new blog for the antique mall where I work.  Check it out and step into my world!!

While I've been learning lots about antique jewelry the last couple of years, I haven't been learning about antique buttons.

I think it's time I do!

The gorgeous antique button in this necklace is mother of pearl.  It has an image applied to the front of the button.  I've never seen this before, have any of you?  Can anyone give me any insight into this type of button?

I've added this long wrap necklace to my Etsy site.  It's 38 inches long and meant to be double wrapped.






And, here's another piece I made.

No buttons, but it does have a Jeanne d'Arc slide locket which I've been wanting for a few years now.  Two of my very favorite things - Jeanne d'Arc and slide lockets, all mixed together!  It doesn't get much better than that!!



I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!

This antique hat box was just listed on my Etsy Site.  I believe it's European and from the early to mid 1800's.  It's very cool!!

And sweet dogs too!

Blogspot has been having some issues of late, but I'm going to give this a try.  My post from yesterday keeps disappearing and reappearing.  We'll see what happens with this!

I promised you long ago I would post some photos of our finished downstairs now that all the construction and projects are done.  So, here we go!

The finished living room.  The floor in this room has been replaced with random width boards from our attic.  When the old oak boards were removed, it was discovered the beams holding up the floor were rotting out, so all of those had to be replaced.  The exterior door you can see above was replaced.  Tom added antique strap hinges and an antique lock.  The walls were re-plastered by an expert plaster guy who specializes in old houses.  The (gross) paneling wainscotting was removed and new chair rail made.  And it was painted of course!

The finished living room again.
And again.  This time facing towards the kitchen.
Another shot, much like the first.
The living room again, this time from the dining room doorway.
This is the room with no name (which used to be my old studio....remember those horrible photos of this horrible room?!)  This room was re-plastered as well.  The above shot shows the new exterior door (complete with antique strap hinges and an antique lock).  This room was also repainted.  And the doorway to the living room was re-done.

Another shot of the room with no name.
The room with no name yet again.
Standing in the living room, looking through the room with no name and into the laundry room.
The new laundry room.  This room got a new floor, new washer and dryer and I think that's it.  Oh, it also got a new door to the furnace room with looks a hundred times better than the old door to the furnace room.


The kitchen.  Not much happened in here besides painting.  The pale mustard makes the room look so much larger than it did when the paint was dark green.


The dining room, which you've seen before.  All that really happened in here was a new entry door.  I think I have a shot of that....

Turns out I don't have a shot of that.  Anyway, that's about it!  It's been a long, slow, torturous project, but definitely worth it in the end.

On a (VERY) sad note, my best bud Anne's former husband Tom (and the carpenter for the above projects, and my very good friend) was killed in a motorcycle accident last week.  It's very sad.  Anne is holding up well.  They were very close and still living together even though they were divorced a couple years ago.   My husband Art considered Tom to be one of his very best friends and is having a hard time coping with this terrible loss. It's been a hard couple of weeks for all of his friends and family. 

Onward to happier topics...I've been making jewelry as usual and am on a new kick....French cut steel buckles!  I'm having such fun with them.  The photo below shows a completed bracelet and more buckles just waiting for me.

Did you notice the two tiny pins?
I can hardly wait to turn these into earrings!

I think I've covered all my news and all my photos!  Hope you all have a great weekend!!

And, don't forget Sweet Girl's Blog Giveaway!!  www.LizMathews.blogspot.com