hey there everyone! the past couple weeks found me doing a little travelin'. packed up my bags...hopped in my little truck & made the journey from my "current" home state of minnesota to my "first" home state of nebraska....
i have to mention that the license plates above are smaller than they appear. if you compare them to the tonka toy truck tires...you will realize there are quite tiny! i learned that they were part of a promotion in the 50's. when cereal companies wanted to encourage youth to gobble up their product & upon doing so kiddos could send in their box tops for these snarky lil bike plates. cool huh? ok. back to my story.
the drive for most folks would be around 8 hours. but i like to meander on travels. otherwise known as "dilly*dally" if you ask my hubby for his take. throw in a little junk. alot of liquid. and of course there is always a need for pit stops. i made plenty of 'em. and saw some wonderful wares. this is a peek @ those that got away. with the exception of {1} treasure. any guesses?? i'll give ya a hint...i took said item in "tow" with me.
you'll notice the above items are very "patinaWHTE". neutral shades i adore w/ texture galore. but then there is the side of me that is also drawn to color. i like to think i appreciate many aesthetics. i believe you have to in order to appeal to my diverse group of customers. and if you've visited my cottage... i always like to encourage a "pop of color" w/ the addition of a gem to a necklace cluster. well...here is my travelin' pop of color below.
those billiard balls {above} had me "dillying" for awhile. i stared @ them a good long time before making the jump to actually buying them. probably because there was no hubby there to "light a fire under me". by the way. isn't that old FIRE bucket just grand? it had a rounded bottom & was a real oldie but goodie. again...i pondered but ulitmately waited. and that aqua paper cutter in the top right? oh i am still kicking myself for not grabbing it. but if i recall there was a reason and i think it was cost that factored in that decision.
all dallying aside and 12 hours + later...i did arrive @ my nebraska destination to visit my dad & stepmom. now about my dad. he's what i'd call a "dabbler". he loves to cook & bake. and unlike me {i'm the girl who finds a dish she loves and sticks w/ it}...he plows forward into trying new recipes. there were so many masterpieces. i was snapping pictures left & right of his creations. one of my favorites...creamCORN casserole anyone?? {below}
if you think it looks good...then you outta taste it! which is why i am sharing the recipe {below} from one of dad's vast collection of cookbooks.
also went on some scenic walks. that eventually i would refer to as walk-a-bouts because they were pretty laid back to my usual hurried pace. happened on a little park that i had never visited. of course where signs say keep out i am tempted...but found myself staying where i belonged {sort of} spotting some old cars off the sidewalk. i then proceeded to happily take pictures of their rusty, bullet hole covered surfaces as seen {below}.
another thing i did was spend a sunday morning doodling. i know...my words may seem like i am writing a dr suess novel. dilly*dally. dabble. doddle. but ya gotta admit...they make you smile. a little?? anwho...back to doodle. had me feeling like a school kid with my lined notebook sketching some random "drawings" {below}
i did pack a tiny box of some supplies. because i like to {MAKE} on location. and what did i make?? well...i wired up my moon "dangles" for a customer favorite design. {see those cuties below}
after a good many days of visiting my loved ones in nebraska {the weather up north saw to an extended stay}....i once again packed up my truck with a few more goodies intow...and a bit more winter "fur" on my frame thanks to dads delicious "dabblings"...pointed north and hit the road.
of course i spent a portion of the return trip dillying + dallying. one of my favorite states to do some treasure hunting is south dakota. and the greater part of my journey is spent clipping along it. i was tickled to find (on my journey down) another mini license plate. wouldn't be a collection without representing the third state i fondly visit quite a few times a year. see it {below}
i'll admit i was less inclined to make as many stops on the return trip. i was a little road weary and wanted to get home to hubby & my bed. but i HAD to take a small jaunt off the interstate to a favorite town...where i only took 2 hours {yes...that isn't long in my land} to comb thru a couple favorite places. so glad i did as i circled around an aisle and saw these FABtastic corbels {below}.
i didn't hardly dilly a minute before grabbing them. though i may hesitate oh so slightly when i comes time to part with these lovelies.
had myself a great time. was a much needed break after the craze of the holidays. took some moments to collect thoughts...renew...refresh and hopefully these next days will find me creating goodies in anticipation of spring. time to shed the winter "fur" and get stocked up for another season of patinaWHITE. looking forward to 2013 and it's promises of a GREAT year! and of course i always am thrilled to share with you happenings big & small!
enjoy the dillys...dallys...dabbles and doddles that life brings your way!
