Thrifty Fun

I have a very treasured friend.  She probably doesn't know how much I appreciate her, but she helped me enormously through some rough spots.  She would walk all over creation with me and listen to me prattle. But that's not what I want to talk about.  I want to talk about how she has expanded my life experiences.

First, she got me to try Yoga. Hrmph, giggle.  It was hard to relax at first because I was used to punching the air or spinning like crazy on a bike, but I came to appreciate that hour of introspection and stretching.  However, I've gone back to punching the air and spinning the bike because I've discovered I prefer the more violent forms of exercise   ;-) 

Then, oh and this has become a dangerous one, she told me about her blog.  I had only read The Writer's blog and Sammy's, his fabulous GF.  I could never blog, I told my good friend.  But she got me thinking.... Hmmm.  And I read her's and it is so fun and I love her pictures and what she talks about. Then I linked into some others and spent hours reading the darn things. THEN The Writer came home and told me I could do it.  So I did and you, poor readers, if there's any of you left, are my guinea pigs.  The Boston Lady was born.

So, I've known for years what my good friend's passion is - well one of them in particular anyway.  She is a thriftshopaholic.  That is not a bad thing. Oh no. Not in her capable hands. She has a gift. A gift, I tell you.  She can go into a used whatever store, zero in on the deals, come out with someone's castoff and turn it into a work of art.  I so admire her vision and ability.  I would go to the thriftstores and I couldn't make the magic happen.  Until.... her blog, and the blogs her blog linked me to.  Then I got the nerve to try it again.  These "trash to treasures", "silk purse out of a sow's ear", "rethunk junk"  people are incredible, I could never be as good as they are, but I dove in and this is what I've acquired:

A lovely little candle holder because I love candles:

Fifty Cents!







A cute little tub for my lotions bought during same trip as candle holder:

Again, fifty cents

This ottoman, which I'm not going to say how much I paid for it because although it was a deal, you will think I'm crazy for getting it, but you will understand why when you see the design.  By the way, it took Mr. Tennis five days to notice this in the family room during which he watched a 3 hour Gator game and talked to me while I had my feet perched on it.

Don't laugh, you all know how much I love the fur faces. I actually thought the otter was a cat - silly me, but I still love it):

Besides, the colors worked really well with everything else.

My latest conquest was this week at my friend's beloved thrift store.  I'm sure it used to be part of a children's set.  I had been looking for a little footstool to display my fake Sadie and Panda.  But, I saw this little chair, it was $5, looked homemade and couldn't resist:

I love it and it's been here three days and Mr. Tennis still hasn't noticed. (It's a little game we play-of course he will read this and the game will be over, but it's still fun)

So, thanks, my good friend, SueBee.  You don't know how much you have influenced me.  I know you are surprised, but I'm not, because I know you are "good people".

SueBee is listed in my favorite blogs, she has a terrific new look to her blog and lots of interesting info and pretty pix. Here's the link:   http://suebees-karensue.blogspot.com/2009/11/these-are-for-you.html  .  Check it out!

Update:  Mr. Nick, for any who might be wondering, is doing ok.  He is recovering from some minor surgery and although he's deaf and blind, is running the household as usual... Hang in there Nicky!