I'll be Joining Weight Watchers Tonight!!!

Since Jan posted this on Facebook, it's only fair I should add it here! So here I am in all my glory with my gorgeous, glamorous, galvanized junk at Junk Refunkery! The mop bucket was perfect for an idea that has been swimming in my head. No, it doesn't have ANYTHING to do with MOPPING!!!! You will just have to come back later to find out. The suspense is killing you isn't it(snicker, snicker)??? I'm still mulling over where the chicken feeder is going to land!

And OMG, I hate to have my picture taken. I don't have to acknowledge how far out of control my weight has gotten until I see a photo...so consider this the "Before" photo. I'm joining Weight Watchers tonight!!! (I don't have to tell you that I'm eating waffles as I write this do I????)

Junk Refunkery and the Family Rebellion

Junk Refunkery's big, red barn!



Saturday, June 26th, was one heck of a busy day!!!
The date was originally set for our annual Ferguson Family Reunion, otherwise known as Ferg-a-Fun, which was to be held at Aunt Shirley's in Atlantic, IA. Later, I realized that an occasional sale in Boone, IA that I was wanting to go to was the same day. Can we do both? Everyone was accommodating and the family reunion was pushed back to later in the day, so those of us who needed some junkin' fun could squeeze in both.



I'm not quite sure what this is, but it made a perfect place to hang galvanized buckets full of plants! And look at the industrial stools! Very cool!!! (Any ideas what's wrong with the camera?)


Slowly a plan was kicked around, twisted, tied in a knot, and then formed. Cousin Jan would pull her vintage trailer over to Atlantic on Friday evening and Sam and I would drive up and spend the night so we could get an early start on Saturday morning. Sister Shelli would come up early to meet us, then off we'd go. We'd meet cousins Jo and Belinda in Boone. Hold on there, bend a couple of kinks into that plan!!! Shelli would arrive early with Mom and her daughter, Riley. Mom and Shirley could visit, while Riley and Sam played. Yeah, now that will work!

The beautiful women of "Junk Refunkery". If you have a chance, check out their next sale, probably the weekend of July 24th. Their website is www.junkrefunkery.weebly.com. Don't forget to check it out!


A gravel road lined with cars, a big red barn, yep, we'd found it. (OMG, I wish I had a red barn!!!) The lawn was adorned with all sorts of re-purposed, re-painted, re-invented junk!!! Ahhh...my heart sighed, the planets have aligned!!! We circled the yard, then the barn, then the yard, then the barn...we found treasures. Jan left with a crazy cool hose reel cart, perfect for solving a yard dilemma which had plagued her for years. Shelli found the most charming oval framed chalkboard to hang over Riley's bed. I fell in love with a galvanized mop bucket! We had a great time at Junk Refunkery. Friendly folks, great prices, definitely worth the drive. Can't wait to visit again!!! We loaded the Jeep, bumped over the railroad tracks, headed to town when, wait a minute, this looks interesting!!! Primitive sale! Stop!!! Wow, they had lots of cool stuff, but the funds were running low. Jan did find an apron for her sister, Barb, who hadn't gotten the "Bring your Apron" memo! They asked if we'd been to Junk Refunkery and Red Barn Rustics. Yes, and noooo...where is it? Turns out it was just east of the Junk Refunkery barn. We were starving so these kind women said "Eat at Jimmy's BBQ, then go!!! Oh, women of wisdom, I thank you sooo much! Jimmy's BBQ was excellent!!! If you are ever close to Boone, IA go eat at Jimmy's, BECAUSE I SAID SO...you won't be disappointed!



Shelli and Jan...How on earth could we pass this up???





More from Junk Refunkery!


The backtracking to Red Barn Rustics (OMG, I want a red barn!!!) was well worth it because Jan found the perfect old shopping cart. I wanted it too, but, well, she saw it first, and, well, I was broke. She wanted it to line with a garbage bag and use it as a trash can for the Happy Hippie. No, no, I said. Everybody lines them and uses them to pack your goodies at flea markets! Dual purpose, says Jan!


Awful photo, great junk from Junk Refunkery!

We made it to the family reunion at 4:00, much later than we had planned, but very happy with our haul. Everyone had a great time, the food was delicious, and we were all happy campers!



Riley was very pleased with her junk!!!


I think I got home around midnight. And the next day? I downloaded my photos, only to find out that my camera is on the fritz...I'm posting the pictures anyway!!!



GOOD COOKS WEAR APRONS!!!!!

Sweet Emmaline

After almost a year of dreaming and months of searching, I have finally bought my dream vintage camper. Her name is Sweet Emmaline and she is a 1966 Mallard. She is still in Omaha, where I bought her off Ebay. She is waiting for me to get a hitch put on my Jeep and new tires, before making the journey home.





This all started a year ago. I had received my issue of "Mary Jane's Farm" and it had an article on the group, Sister's on The Fly. I had heard of this group before, but this time I really caught the vintage "glamping" bug. My family was having our annual family reunion that weekend, and I announced to my cousins that this is what we needed to do instead of being "Red Hat Ladies". We had a lot of laughs with everyone tossing around what they thought the decorating theme for their individual camper should be. Themes ranged from cowgirl to Barbie to Lucy!!! Little did they know that by our 2010 family reunion, two of us would actually own our campers!

Cousin Jan was the first to purchase a "glamper"! She found a 1968 Pathfinder and has named it "The Happy Hippie", as a tribute to the year it was made. She has been working hard getting her road safe, including re-packing bearings and re-sealing the roof and caulking windows. Jan also tore out a place that had some damage from the air conditioner leaking. Really, there is no job Jan cannot do!

The Happy Hippie made her maiden voyage to Lake Okabodji a few weeks ago, when Jan had a get together with old friends. They, too, fell in love with the "glamping" adventure!

Sam and I spent our first night in "The Happy Hippie" last weekend at our family reunion. Although we were parked in town in front of my Aunt's house, we really got a taste of the good life! Cool breezes gently blew through the cozy trailer for a great night's sleep!

The next day, Jan proudly showed off her glamper and her hard work to the rest of the family. Who knows who will have their "glamper" by our next reunion!!!

For some strange reason, I cannot find my pictures of the Happy Hippie. I'll have to share those another time.

Plagued by prior commitments and still no hitch, I've arranged for Jan to go pick up Sweet Emmaline next week. Jan will find new tires for the trailer and then drop Emmaline off in Adel, Ia for a safety check and repairs to make her road ready. Next she'll have to have an air condition installed for those really hot days.

Jan, and Sam and I are already planning a trip to a vintage trailer rally later in the month. Hopefully, we will be able to connect with like minded folks who can link us to resources we need for replacement parts, etc.

While we haven't even gotten Emmaline home, it amazes me at how many people are asking me when they can see her! I have gotten so many positive comments from people since posting pictures of Emmaline on my Facebook page. I am so excited to be starting this new adventure!!! I hope many, many lifelong memories will be made traveling the back roads in our glampers!!!

Goose Neck Loose Strife

I've been watching my goose neck loose strife for the last several days as the blooms come to life. And while the plant can be invasive, I love the way it looks like a gaggle of geese without having to have a real flock of geese in the yard. I don't think that would be a very good combination with the beagle and cat we already have. Which brings to mind, Sam now thinks he needs a chinchilla! What??? He got the same answer he got when he wanted a hamster...HELL, NO!!! This only goes to show that my theory of plants are better than pets is true!





Oh yeah, back to the loose strife...I got my start from my ex-sister-in-law, Carla. It's an easy plant to divide and share!

Cupcake Island

OMG...you've got to go to Cupcake Island!!! My niece, Jessica, recently took me to the island in the city...for cupcakes. If you like sweets like I do, you don't want to miss this bakery. The cupcakes were just the most divine confectionery delights for the eyes as well as your taste buds. I wanted to try them all and Sam and I picked out several. Sam seemed to favor the ones with electric colored frosting and sprinkles. I had trouble deciding...even the names are cute. We took home The Tuxedo, a Twirl for Me, Just Say I Do, and Key Lime cupcakes. I think (maybe) my favorite was the Just Say I Do, which was a white cake flavored with almond and piled high with white frosting and sprinkled with slivered almonds.





The next time I visit, I'm going to try the Pink Champagne cupcake...or maybe the Boston Cream. But then, the On Cloud Nine sounds interesting or maybe the Italian Dream Cake. I've got to stop this or else I'm going to get into my Jeep and drive to Omaha now. What the hell, it's only a two hour drive!!!





I drooled all over my camera, so I used the photos from their website www.cupcakeisland.com. The site also has the recipe for their Italian Dream Cupcakes.
Follow your sweet tooth the next time you are in Omaha to Cupcake Island 1314 S. 119th (off Pacific) Omaha, Ne and indulge yourself!!!

The Egg Krate

The Egg Krate in Elk Horn, Iowa is a great place for junking. It has lots of booths and is filled with all kind of treasure. I always have to stop in when I am in the area.

The couple who runs it are just the sweetest folks. Every time I go in I try to get them to sell me that great chalkboard in the background. They also do an excellent job of packing up your items so they won't get broken.

Cousin Jan found some plates for her camper. I found two gorgeous vases and the kerosene stove on the counter. My Mom and Aunt Shirley really got a laugh when they saw me with it because, of course, they remember using the old Perfection stoves!
I think it will look great on my patio. I haven't decided yet if I want to actually try to burn kerosene or maybe I'll just try putting a candle inside. It will throw out lots of flickering light through the cutouts in the metal.




Here Mom and Aunt Shirley take a breather during our junk hunt!

I love the hunt for junk!!!

Toad Lillies

At the end of summer last year I found these little toad lily plants at the local (ok, only) box store in town. Forlorn and lonely, they were only $1.00 apiece. What can I say, I felt sorry for them, so I bought them. They weren't all that impressive looking that day, a few yellowed leaves and no blooms. But I had high hopes for them! Since I was still recovering from hip replacement surgery, my neighbor Susan, helped them snuggle into the dirt beside the garage. Look at them now!!! I have been rewarded with these gorgeous beauties!!! The moral of the story? Ugly ducklings do turn into beautiful swans! Or maybe, don't buy them for $7.00 now just because they have blooms. Wait until the end of the season for the best buy!