reasons to be cheerful...

1. at last the sun is out and so are the daffs my dad planted last autumn when he visited

2. i am a mother hen

3. my new wellies that match the chicken coop have been christened

4. big bertha can do tricks

5. little orla and little eva have survived their rocky start and went out to play

6. after weeks of 'what are you thinking' in the clothing department, target come up trumps with a lovely retro top for summer

7. i have a man with a beard building my chicken coop and washing on the line

8. it's so hot i've had to break out the nail polish and razor...a balmy 70 odd degrees

9. pesky squirrels are waiting patiently for their moment to shine

10. a patchwork curtain, a bit wonky but will surfice...never craft late at night, whilst being florence nightingale

she's thinking herself most lucky in life ~ Tif

thrifty thursdays...

hurrah! it's thrifty thursday, except this week i haven't had a chance to go thrifting due to spring break (gasp, shock, horror)...i know it's complete crappity crap, ("what, just like your cooking Tif?" i hear you shout, oh well done, you all go to the top of the class for getting that right).

but do not fear for me or my sanity dear readers, if there is a will there is a way. if i can't get out to seek a second hand treasure or two then the next best thing is on the web...("ah ha, genius!"...why thank you).

of course technically does ebay and craigslist count as thrifting? i'm not sure where i stand on this hotly debated topic but for the sake of my thrifty thursday slots, anything 'loved and used' in a former lifetime is okay with me (so i am guessing that could include rescued furry friends and all sorts, maybe a wee goatie named gertie...how wonderful).

so using the buddy system, always important when going to meet strangers selling their wares on craigslist, i set off on tuesday with our #2 and her razor sharp wit, by my side. i always take her with me for several reasons, mainly because she is a 'top notch' navigator and has no qualms about shouting at her mother (quite gleefully i might add) "not there, i said there...when are you going to get your bi-focals" or perhaps, "let me carry that for you, is it your stroke arm again?" (due to a shoulder/arm injury i received whilst building the coop...all for the love of my chickens).

she is also very good at spotting potential mad men, i have never been one to have the news on or get a newspaper due to the disturbing things one can read, however she has still picked up on the world being full of 'nutters' just waiting to get her. this is most useful at times like these, although it can lead to mass hysteria which is very contagious and makes me convinced we will befall a terrible fate at the hands of someone 'not very nice' at a most inconvient time

but for the sake of a herman miller fiberglass chair (not original legs i might add) at a bargain basement price i was willing to take a risk, after all it was the perfect sewing height for Miss Ethel and also my complaining back and shoulder/arm issue. i'm not even going to go into the conversation that went on in the vehicle as we turned down dirt lane after dirt lane to find the little chair in an abandoned setting with a rather 'interesting' owner...even without our #2's suspicious mind, my little heart was racing.

since returning home, my little chair has settled in nicely and is most appreciative of the 'clean' it received (first one in fifty years i'm thinking)

the residents of the shed are dropping like flies, i am off to fish out my florence nightingale hat and make a nice pot of tea...

she will see you on monday ~ Tif

footynote: blimey, i've just noticed i've reached 250 posts...that is 250 individual waffling posts of what, one may ask...and to which one would reply "heaven only knows" :)

a mid week pop quiz...

1. what is the weather doing at mossy shed?

a) raining

b) snowing

c) sun shining

2. what magazine does Tif get through the mail?

a) historic buildings of england

b) living etc

c) engineering weekly

3. when cooking, would people say Tif is

a) a cordon bleu chef

b) crappity crap

c) a pastry chef extraordinaire

look closely at the picture below

4. does Tif like it because of

a) the silver bag on the floor

b) yellow and floral together in perfect harmony

c) the vase on the table

5. what does Tif like to collect? (did i hear someone shout "crap"?)

a) victorian furniture

b) mid century modern chairs

c) country furnishings

6. how many slips does Tif have ready for listing?

a) four

b) zero, zippo, nada

c) eight or more

7. how many children does Tif have?

a) two

b) four

c) eight

8. what is on Tif's thrift store shopping list?

a) shower cap, knitted underpants and flip flops

b) small sidetable, bed sheets and slips

c) basket ware, woven belts and a lazy boy chair

9. how many little creatures knowingly live at mossy shed with Tif ?

a) three

b) seventeen

c) ten

10. what is Tif angling for next?

a) a little piggie named nellie

b) a little goat named gertie

c) a little donkey named olive

if you answered

mainly b's : you are top of the class, have paid attention and may reward yourself with a choccy bar and your favorite tipple

mainly a's and c's : you are not top of the class, perhaps you have a habit of falling asleep during my posts (quite understandable really) but you are still deserving so please reward yourself for even bothering to do my mid week pop quiz, with a choccy bar and your favorite tipple

she's thinking we are all happy now, with a choccy and a nice sip of something strong to get through spring break and the cold miserable weather ~ Tif