Spring It On!

Spring has been shy this year. One day of teasing 70's then 40's the very next day.  Alfred Hitchcock on the left and  Tippi Hedren on the right enjoyed a warm day on the porch on Sunday.

I wonder if they miss old Yoshi barking at them.  He loved those birds and would watch them for hours.
Old Yosh' died about this time two years ago and Joe and I still expect him to greet us when we return home.

He just knew there was a secret passageway through the bottom of that table!

Yosh' is buried not far from these porch steps.  He lived to be 15.  105 in dog years. He was a great dog and it has taken us this long to consider getting another one. Joe has been scouting out for red, smooth haired, boy dachshund pups, so it won't be long until Tippi and Al have a furry companion again.

I have a jump on the Spring spruce up this year. I had Mom's house painted last week. She lives right next door. Window trim, doors, shutters, eves and gutters all freshly painted. Mom is as thrilled with it as an 83 year old woman can be!

I walked around our yard with the camera on Sunday. The plants are starting to show signs of Spring.

It stayed warm long enough last week for my day lilies to risk popping up.

The trees are still bare, but show signs of waking up.  See this tiny fleur-de-lis shaped sprout?

These two rows of Bradford Pear are always the first act of the Spring flower show. My dad planted these behind my parent's house about 12 years ago. 

More tender spouts. Fuzzy leaves of  Lamb's Ear.  I took these pictures as the sun was getting low. Shadows were long and I liked how the light brushed the edges of the tiny plants. 

The sun hid for just a moment behind a long skinny cloud. Still a bit more light.

When I turned around to head back inside, I found the moon rising over the house.

It was so bright last night, making eerie moon shadows on the lawn.

Strange seeing it looking so big in a clear blue sky.

A bloom on my Star Magnolia! A tiny tree under our bedroom window. I hardly notice it except in early early Spring when it does this.

In a few weeks these trees will be covered with fresh chartreuse leaves. 

Maybe we'll have a new dachshund pup.

Or maybe I'll have a yard sale!  

These lobster traps have been laying next to the back porch for 10 years.

Somebody out there really needs some lobster traps!

How about these wood covered bottles?  Would you buy these at a yard sale?

I know I would, because I did!  

Now it's time for them to go.
OUT with the old!!!  In with the new!

I hope it's warming up where you are.

Love to you all, 

Ronnie

A dachshund springing into action.

Saturday Outing to The Plum Tree !

Come on! Get your hat and coat. It's a field trip!
This time we're heading to one of my favorite haunts,  
The Plum Tree!
Parking around back is GREAT, especially in McDonough!


Flashback:  Here's a shot of their front porch taken last Fall during the McDonough Scarecrow Contest.  The Plum Tree won first prize for their Green Acres display. Eva Gabor looks so at home on the front porch.

The Plum Tree is just a block from the McDonough square and about 10 minutes from my house.
Spring is almost here.

Okay, enough of that.
Stepping inside the door I am hit by this beauty!! Birdcage stuff is the BOMB these days.
Anything BIRD is good!

"HI!  What's new?! The shop looks great!"

But enough chit chat.  This table is calling my name. Pretty hot little rocker too. Hmmmmm.
I'll think about it. Lots more to see...

OOOOO! Check out these dough bowls. Beautiful colors.

So much to see. I hope this lady doesn't notice THAT TABLE!
I'll drape myself across it when she walks by.

 I'm always a sucker for retro treasures to help deck out the St. Marys cottage.

 Let's head down the hallway. There's more!

Lovely bird prints on canvas. These would make nice gifts for the girls.
Let's keep moving.
Joe's watching basketball at home and I still have to get to Michael's for the 40% off artist paints, pens and pencils.
It's a BUSY DAY! HAHAHA ha!

At the end of the hall, a sweet little bedroom full of great goodies and lots of locally handmade things like pillows, quilted items and aprons.  Don't forget to click the pics for a closer look.

HI! That's me taking a picture and waving at myself just as this man came walking in the room and looked at me like I was crazy. Check out that Buster Brown haircut I got last week. I whacked off my ponytail which required an emergency appointment at the beauty shop.  I wouldn't recommend doing this even in your most desperate hour! It's a really bad idea.

Here are the aprons I was talking about. Beautifully made by a local gal. Perfection.

See anything you'd like? Love that sweet tiny trophy displayed inside a lantern.
Victorian prints are always good.

We better make our way back toward the door. OHHH, here are some things Sandy Mastroni might like.
Nice little 50's, tin, plaid picnic basket.

Did I mention that Cindy will ship!!! 
Yes, if you see anything here you like (except furniture) she will SHIP IT TO YOU.
For info on that go here: http://plumtreeantiques.blogspot.com/

One last look at those sweet retro umbrellas.  Cindy and her crew are masters of display.
If it were raining I just might.......OH, I almost forgot!

That beautiful Oak Dropleaf Gate Leg Table!
$169.  Hmmm. Let's ponder this.  What do you think?
My old table nearly tipped over with the grandsons on Thanksgiving.  I sold a painting this week for almost exactly this amount...........
SO, YES!  It's perfect! I'll take it! I'll be back on Tuesday to pick it up!

Have a great week y'all.  Glad you could come along. If you live nearby or even if not (remember The Plum Tree will ship) here's the essential info:
The Plum Tree
58 Griffin Street
McDonough, GA 30253
(770) 954-1928
Open Tues-Sat 11AM to 6 PM
http://plumtreeantiques.blogspot.com/


LOve and all good things,
Ronnie
aka Joe's stove operator

Akh! I've Been Branded!

 

I'm tooting my own horn today.
That's right!  I'm making my own Biddy Brain brand stuff and having a lot of fun doing it.

"Good Baddog" now gives me that creepy look
from this sharp looking mouse pad.

I'm hooked! I'm ordering my own stuff !
I gave this mug to myself on Valentines Day. 

I tell myself I'm doing a great service to the American economy. Um hum. 

I also bought these from myself.  My very own Wiener National shoes.  I wore them to the beauty shop last week.
(I did a DIY by cutting off my own ponytail.)

The beautician said, "Where'd you get those crazy dog shoes?!" 

I said, "I DESIGNED THEM." 

She said, "Well, you might be able to make a livin' designin' shoes, but you sure won't make a livin' cuttin' hair." 

She straightened it out the best she could.  Ironically I now look like Buster Brown from Buster Brown SHOES!

But my shoes are so cool, I don't even have to comb my hair. Nobody ever looks up. 

They talk to the Shoes!

Check out the view as I walk away. I LOVE THESE! There's that Biddy Brain brand again. 

Would you say I'm on an ego trip? 

I'll be designing some Keds High TOPS tomorrow!  Now won't I look good in those?

Love, 

Ronnie

Gallery Visit!

 

I made a visit to the gallery on Friday to deliver The Flying Ford and thought you might want to tag along.  This is the lovely Courtney harassing Joseph with a pair of antlers I brought to her.

Joseph is a writer.  He comes to the gallery for inspiration and to visit with Courtney, Karen and whatever  artist may be around.  I took this picture as Joseph was lamenting about his love life. I raised the camera to shoot and Courtney adorned him with the horns! Perfect! Sorry, Joseph. I couldn't resist.

Notice that red sign in the background?

GALLERY

STORE

It's full of great stuff by local craftsmen and artists.  

You should stop in sometime.

Arts Clayton Gallery

136 S. Main Street

Jonesboro, GA 30236

Get Directions

phone: (770) 473-5457

Tues - Fri: 9 AM - 5 PM 

Sat 10 AM - 4 PM.

Closed Sun, Mon, holidays

Their website:
http://www.artsclayton.org/gallery/

  

The work of young artists fills the gallery this month. Here are some examples. 

It's the 13th District Congressional Student Art Competition.  On display in the gallery March 3 - March 26.  

Click the pics for a closer look.

        

 Pretty impressive don't you think!?

FYI: "Congress created the Congressional Art Competition in 1982 as a way to showcase the artistic talents of young people throughout the country. The top three winners of the local competition win thousands of dollars in scholarships to Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) and the Atlanta Art Institute. In addition to receiving a scholarship, the first place winner is invited to attend an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. and will have his or her artwork displayed for one year in the Cannon Tunnel leading to the U.S. Capitol".

More examples of the great student art

 

It's hard to focus with these two around! Here's Joseph practicing a pose for his next book jacket photo. Courtney is brushing up on her River Dance technique.  Of course, more student art in the background.

As for the Flying Ford...

It will be on display at the National Archives at Atlanta along with lots more local art, March 16 - May 15, 2010.  The theme,  1920's: The Golden Age

Come on out for a look see...

Exhibition displayed at National Archives, 5780 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, Georgia 30260.

Be inspired by the beginnings of "Modern America"!

 Shifting gears...

Whenever I visit the gallery I enjoy seeing what Richard has produced. These wooden angels are examples.  Don't go looking for him on the web. He's exclusive to the gallery. 

So you'll have to come get one! 

These are Richard's birds on branches.  Aren't they sweet? He carves each little bird.

Check out these crazy lamps by another local artist. Way to recycle! 

 

And this one.

 

I guess it's time to skate on out of here. It's a beautiful day outside and there is a lot to do! Have a really good week, you all.

Love and all good things, 

Ronnie

aka Joe's stove operator