I'd like to be the trash man!

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while.  My computer died!  It's at the dr's office in surgery as we speak.  It's having to have a total heart transplant.  I almost died along with it!  Luckily I have been backing up everything and I'm going to be in good shape as soon as it gets home.  If any of you need a great computer service company go to User Friendly Consultants, they have been fabulous to me!!
I've started a new routine of walking each morning (use to do this all the time and got out of the habit) and it has been such a wonderful reminder of how our bodies need exercise and how much better you feel when you do!  The best thing about walking is the music you listen to.  I downloaded some new tunes and wow what a gift music is to our souls, especially when you are out in such beautiful weather! 
As I was walking today, I found the above treasure sitting on the curb waiting to be picked up by the trash man.  Looks like it was a base to something wonderful.  Boy, sometimes I wish I was the trash man...I'd be rich with treasures!  I tried to pick it up, way too heavy,  and thought I could carry it home but oh how funny I'd look???  My dog already pulls me frantically, that's just how she walks.  I already get people pointing at me and laughing because we are a sight to be seen.  She hops like a rabbit if you can imagine that!  My right arm is getting really buff because of the strain.
Wish we could walk peacefully like this picture.
I came home, jumped in the car and went back and got it!  I placed it in my flower bed but will figure out what to put on top of it.   I know I'll find the perfect thing!
Back of chair so you can see the original color.
During my thrift store shopping this week, I found this wicker/rawhide chair.  I know that blue is the new color trend but this blue???  No, no.... I can't handle that!  Reminds me too much of the 80's when pink and blue were the "in style" and we had that combination all over our homes.  I know you know what I'm talking about.
I've started working on the transformation but haven't finished it yet.  It looks better already!  I'm doing a "leather brown" first coat and am going to finish it off with a "walnut" stain.  The rawhide is what makes it so special and it's in decent shape.
One of my dear friends found these columns for me at a garage sale and passed them on to me.  What good friends I have!  I'm going to use them in my garden somewhere and can't wait to give them a new home!
Take yourself on a walk today and see what treasures you can find!
Ruthie

Standing Tall

Today we put up a 20 foot tree in a business lobby.   This is our 3rd year to do this for them and it's always lots of work but fun.  Essilor is a provider of vision and vision care products.
This is their color scheme and you can see that I decorated the tree very simply with the colors that compliment their decor (Silver and ice blue).
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
Next, all the decorations.
DONE!
Now the stairway banister.
You can see the guys on the scaffolding in this picture.
What goes up, MUST come down!

Thanksgiving/Christmas in Madrid

Our family went to Madrid, Spain for Thanksgiving to visit our good friends.  We had an amazing trip with a 3 day trip to Paris as well.

Over the next few weeks I'll post some pictures from our fabulous experiences as well as some of the treasures that I found along the way. It was a trip of a lifetime and we are so grateful to our friends Jason and Becca for making it possible for us.  They were truly so generous to us! 

I thought I'd start by showing you some photo's of what downtown Madrid looked like the night before we left.  We were fortunate that they had just lit up the whole downtown and we got to experience a bit of their Christmas before we left.  I say a "bit" but it was GRAND.  We all walked downtown and it was AMAZING to see what they do for this special holiday.  Some of these photo's were taken in the car so I apologize if they aren't the greatest.

My favorite - the photo doesn't do it justice.  All the snowflakes were falling...it was breathtaking.
Their Christmas Trees were all so very different.  Each one unique.  Loved this one!  We counted about 12 of these great big trees and I'm sure there were more.
The "bubble" street
This tree was stunning.
I'm crazy about the blue and white lights together.
All the trees had such beautiful color!
These lights were over the wrought iron gates.
Giant present-imagine if this was your balcony?
The Love tree
This is how each street looked. 
Each street had different lighted ornaments hanging.
Simply beautiful!  My neck was sore from looking up but I couldn't help myself!  I was in heaven.
The girls loved these butterflies.
Enjoy your Christmas decorating!

Canton in the City - Grapevine

For those of you that have been to Canton, TX First Monday Trade Show, you know it so much fun! 
Canton is coming to Grapevine once again.  Some of the vendor's set up at the Grapevine Convention center.   Just a touch of Canton in our city. Great fun for girlfriends to get together!
Click here to get more details.  It all starts this weekend!

Treasures of the week!

My favorite treasure of the week is this little stone chair.  It is actually a bookend but I saw it and thought it would be perfect for my business cards!  I'm actually going to be a part of the Colleyville Business Expo in November and think this will be a nice touch for my table.
This pillow I found at a garage sale today.  Don't you love the beautiful embroidery?  The pillow itself is in bad shape. The zipper is broken and the back is old and torn.  The embroidery is still beautiful, no snags at all.    I'm going to take the pillow apart and add a new back to the pillow (maybe an animal print - see below).  I'll post it once it is done.

Here you can see the beautiful embroidery.  The tassels are worn and old.  As soon as I saw this pillow I knew it was a treasure.  It was even more of one when I found out I only had to pay .50 for it!  I thought for sure the man was going to tell me some story about how his grandma made it, etc, etc. but he didn't!!!!   SCORE!  I almost felt like I needed to RUN to my car and make a big getaway!  You know I've done that before!

This nice large wrought iron cross is a candle holder.  I'm going to paint it and give it to the Auction for the Mom's in Touch basket that will be donated to Grapevine Elementary School's auction to raise money for the PTA.
Go here to find out more about this awesome prayer group for moms of school aged kids, it has blessed my families life!
These 2 "heavy" wrought iron side tables will find a home soon I'm sure!
This weekend I plan on wearing my mom hat which means taking the girls to birthday parties, putting away laundry, preparing for my "fall brunch" that I'm having on Saturday next week, planting flowers, getting my car washed, grocery shopping and whatever else that hat requires of me.  However, I do plan on curling up with my puppy (AVA) to read a few books that I've been wanting to catch up on.  One of my favorite blogs I follow, Joni Webb from Cote de Texas,  has lead me to a few that I'm dying to finish reading.  I'm going to make time to read them!!
Who can resist this little face!  Good thing she is cute because I discovered today that she pulled out all the stuffing from one of my couch pillows.  I wasn't happy!
Happy Weekend - may the sun keep shining!