I think we’ve been duped by an agenda.

Fear mongering, scare tactics, dooms day talk.

I must admit, I bought into it hook, line and sinker in the beginning.

Scared for my daughter, we stayed home.

The longer this goes on, my gut is telling me, stop with the nonsense.

Now we are being told, we must all be vaccinated.

We will have to stay home for another 18 months or so.

I can’t even wrap my head around this nonsense.

Why are we being sheeple’s?

The top pic is what my counter looks like most days.

The pic of Jesus, I found in my soup pot,

drawn by my granddaughter for me to find at a later date.

I don’t think it was an accident that it was found during some crazy times.

I got the message.

God is with us.

Have faith.

Stand strong.

Stand for your principals.

Be a rebel.

After April 30^th,

I am done with this nonsense.

Happy Easter,

Petie

August 30 2019

If hell is anything like Arizona summers,

I better clean up my act…

It is hot as balls in the desert state.

And who came up with that phrase,

“hot as balls”?

The little one with the gap between his teeth,

Is most likely, our last monkey…

He is so loveable.

He loves to facetime and then just stare at the phone,

Not saying a word.

I love it when his mom has called me and he realizes that I am on the phone

and comes running down the hallway yelling,

mimi, mimi

For some reason,

I always thought, that when you grew older, life wouldn’t be so busy

And then God laughed…

I feel busier in old age then I did when I was raising my own children and working…

Which seems odd to me.

I started a new job

And I LOVE it…

Not doing the fall show at Junk in the Trunk this year,

which is bittersweet.

I will miss setting up the booth.

I love being creative and bringing  life to vintage pieces and seeing everything come together.

I do miss that…

I still do some picking, being a lot more selective in what I buy,  just saving everything I’m finding for the right time to show and sell…

Switching up the summer colors in my home to some fall colors,

Even though,

When you venture outside,

You melt (literally)…

Petie

October 30, 2018

Thinking a lot about clothes lately.

I really don't need anything

but once again,

I find myself down a rabbit hole

 on the internet looking at clothes I don't need.

I love fall and sweaters and coats

and anything pumpkin.

which by the way, I have not bought one pumpkin this year.

WTH is wrong with me?

I did put out my plastic pumpkins that I light up at night, each one with

their own carved out face.

It's all flying by so fast.

I feel as if my list of to do's is always growing.

No matter how much I get done.

It just keeps growing and growing

and here I sit,

looking at page after page of cute clothes that I don't need.

I need a secretary...

My ever changing dining room.

A hodgepodge of things that I purchase for my vintage shows,

that don't sell. I have big plans for this room.

A BIG chandelier, wallpaper, lockers, new chairs, and some art that is not countryish. Going in a totally different direction.

Life is moving full speed ahead.

My youngest will be graduating from college in May.

I remember when she was born, and I was so scared for the future.

and here we are, almost 23 years later and she is a force to be reckoned with.

I admire her. The challenges that she faces on an everyday basis.

A little person in a big world.

God has big plans for you. Stay faithful...

I have a big show at the end of April.

So much work, but so much fun.

I went to a farm auction this past saturday.

It's my drug.  On sunday, I was going through withdrawals.

I stayed the whole day. Forgot to put sunscreen on.

But my red face is so worth it.

All I can think about is "when is the next one?"

My hubby and I have been kidless for the last few months and

we LOVE it...

Our son took a job out of state, which left us alone

 for the first time since we were married. 

Eating popcorn every night and watching LivePD

every friday and saturday night.

 Such a silly show, but we get the best laughter from watching it.

I love growing old with this man.

We now have four monkeys from our oldest.

From the minute they arrive at our house until they leave,

it's a whirlwind and some days it's a tornado.

I love these little people with all my heart.

Who knew living through a kid tornado would be so much fun.

My daughter has so much patience. She's a beautiful Mother.

I admire her too. In a world that says, leave your children and get a career.

She has chosen to stay home.

She has answered the calling that God has blessed her with.

What a beautiful thing to witness.

and so life goes on...

Petie

thrifting

Everything in this pic is thrifted. 

In my line of work,

thrifting, is everyday.

It's in my blood.

Got it from my dad.

There wasn't a yard sale, thrift store, indian pawn shop

that we didn't stop at, to rummage through the junk

 that they had displayed.

And of course,

in the summer, up north in arizona

we always stopped by the indian stores in town.

We were always lucky enough to come home

with a piece of jewelry,

a bracelet, a ring or a pair of earrings.

Whatever we wanted.

We were so spoiled in love.

I have a collection of indian dolls that were bought from these stores.

Ketchy, little brown plastic dolls.

Dressed in indian attire.

Leather dresses, beads and feathers.

According to the Antique Roadshow,

they really aren't worth much.

But to me,

they are everything.

Memories.

And if you were lucky enough to be a friend or a cousin

that was along for the ride that day,

My dad always bought a memory for them too.

The good ole days in America...

(I know its not pc to say indian, but as you can see,

I really don't give a damn...)

Petie

I remember shopping for this dress.

I went with my Mother to a place called Goldwater's.

They had the most beautiful wedding dresses.

I tried two dresses on and when I put this one on,

I knew.

It had pink flowers and a pink ribbon.

34 years later and it's still hanging in my mother's closet

and I'm still sleeping with the same guy.

Life is a bit strange lately.

Not busy, but busy...

it seems as if, time is flying by.

Not accomplishing much.

Which drives me crazy. I'm list maker. A doer.

And I can't seem to get my sh.. together.

I can't even decide if I'm drinking latte's or diet coke.

Eating healthy, and then eating chocolate ice cream from the carton

because my sweet tooth has kicked in and eating healthy is out the window.

Grocery list? what's that?

What to cook for dinner draws a blank. Every single morning.

Praying. Not praying.

Mad at God. In love with God.

In love with my husband. Mad at my husband.

What are you fixing for dinner tonight?

I feel like I boarded a plane that was bound for war.

as if, I was dropped from the sky and landed in a country that was no longer mine.

and there's no escape.

Hell.

It feels like hell.

A war without guns, tanks or fighter jets or bombs.

Good vs. Evil

Evil has ramped up its forces.

Good is vacillating on being PC.

Everything that I was taught growing up is upside down.

Everything.

I am a stranger in my own country.

Petie

This past weekend was spent at a family reunion.

My heritage is Basque.

Spanish Basque.

When we went to the Basque festival last summer, I got goose bumps

listening to the Basque men talking. It reminded me of my childhood.

My dad raised sheep just like his father before him.

Growing up, I spent just about every weekend with my dad

 (until I was 14 and then I discovered boys, more specifically, I discovered my husband and well, the rest is history)

 I could not wait till the weekend.

 I loved riding around with my Dad in his pickup truck.

 Stopping by the sheep camp, where all the men were gathered,

 waiting for the orders of the day from my Dad,

 checking the sheep, hauling water,

 and my favorite thing to do,

 moving the sheep down the road to another alfalfa field.

 I can still here the bells of the leader sheep and the smell of the wool.

That is an aroma that you don't forget.

Occasionally, pulling out a rifle to shoot a coyote

 that had found his way into the field for dinner.

Making our way back to the sheep camp for lunch,

which always included lamb

and the best part,

 rice con leche

 with cinnamon or dried apples that had been soaked.

My mouth is watering just typing that last sentence.

I miss those weekends.

Petie

  

Hank playing with my mom's kittens

busy, busy, busy

getting ready to do our annual San Diego beach trip

stopped drinking starbuck's lattes

ughhh....

I miss them

switched to diet coke for a couple of weeks for the caffeine

I hate diet coke

but I need the caffeine

playing poker with my mom and sibling's

so much fun

I love playing cards

I miss playing with my Aunt

she was so good at poker

no matter what, she always had a hand

I was amazed by her card playing skills

we recently made a trip to Tennessee to pick up two bird dogs for my husband

shoot me now...

I can't believe we are doing this again

I was so ready to be done with taking care of animals and children

doing the Junk in the Trunk in San Diego in July

lots of picking and painting going on

I literally have no more space to put anything

I need a shop

Petie

Up to my Eyeballs in Tomatoes

I think my husband's tomatoes have done quite well this year.

I posted this pic to my instagram account and he said last night,

"that's a really nice pic of the tomatoes you posted, but you should have turned a few of those tomatoes around to hide the bad spots".

WTFreak?

I'm sure the people that follow me on instagram, looked at the pic and thought ewww, look at those tomatoes with the big cracks in them.

No

they were looking at the abundance of tomatoes and thinking, look at all that work that Petie has to do...cutting, cooking, canning...

What is wrong with that man?

Petie

My Mom is 84 going on 85, 

smoked everyday of her life since she was 14 (disgusting, I know)

 has never lifted one weight or done any exercising what so ever, but she did raise 5 kids, 15 grandkids and 14 great grandchildren (and one on the way) and I call that being a superwoman.

Who needs to exercise with all that.

Her list of accomplishments are to numerous to list, but you get the point.

 Has never drank a smoothie,

eaten margarine and butter and probably everything else

 that we have been told that is bad for us

 and will shorten our lives and she is still going strong.

 I don't know another person as strong as her.

The reason for writing this post,

 is because of this  article,

Think raw veggies are best? Think again...

 I saw the link on the blog, Tales of me and husband

 I think all this new age eating is killing us and that is my humble opinion.

 Bon Appetite...

Petie

The aftermath.

Every year, I downsize my Christmas stuff. 

But this year, I'm loving just about everything that I have for Christmas decorating.

 So I think, I will keep everything.

 It's mostly baubles, plastic trees, plastic garland and a few knick knacks.

 I started buying fresh garlands, wreaths, trees, tree cuttings and other Christmas clippings, and after the new year, it all gets thrown away.

 No more storing a bunch of stuff.

 It's bitter sweet taking it all down.

 My january is already looking busy, so I am glad to get it done.

 Next up, my office.

 I have procrastinated to long in that room.

 But of course, that is when I do my best work.

 It will definitely be a load off my shoulders,

 once I get organized and up to date with my hubbies quickbooks for the year. 

The whole year.

 That is what I have to enter.

  See you in February (wink wink...)

Petie

Can we just put the pause button on life right now...

I can't believe that winter with all its glory  is just about over here in Arizona.

Right after Thanksgiving,

we decided to put tongue and groove on a few walls in our house and

add a much needed vent above our stove.

It was the best Christmas present my hubby could have given me.

I can't quit staring at it.

The painter laughed at me, when I sighed with a big smile and said "what a transformation", I love it".

My daughter and her family arrived Tuesday night,

and we did manage to get the raviolies done on Wednesday for our

traditional Christmas Eve dinner after Mass on Thursday.

Of course, I had big plans on baking up a storm,

and the only thing that got baked was about a thousand sugar cookies to share with my family at our annual family Christmas party.

The whole reason for me writing this post is to share this recipe that has been pinned to my pinterest board forever.

Raspberrywhite chocolate scones

OMG.

They were consumed within minutes.

If you get a chance, make them.

They are at the top of my to do list this week.

Priorities, people...

see you in 2016

Petie

Monkey's

We recently added another monkey to the mix

and I had the pleasure of taking care of these two

for a couple of weeks to give their mommy time to rest and bond

with the new little one.

I love their little and individual personalities

so much fun...

Petie

Red, White and Blue?

To be honest,

I really didn't feel like celebrating our Country's independence this year.

Too many people are giving up their freedom's and it makes me sad.

It seems that everywhere you turn,

the nation is corrupt.

Our government, city, state and federal, and the justice system.

 Our schools.

 Our news media, TV and internet.

Families.

We have become a me, me, me society...

If it feels good do it.

Love and equality for all.

Which is just a rue, for, I want my way, no matter what

and be damned you religious people who oppose

my right to blatantly sin.

Don't judge me they say.

Well I am judging.

I am judging right from wrong.

Every man, woman and child was born with the innate sense ability, of right from wrong.

It's called a conscience.

I have known from a very young age, when I am doing something wrong.

Sexual relations with another man or woman of the same sex

is wrong. No matter how you fluff the issue.

That is not Gods plan for creation.

I fear, that society as a whole, has tossed out their conscience,

in order to feel good.

The latest ruling from the high court, is just a tiny piece of what has gone wrong with our Country.

I fear that someday,

we will be sitting around our dining room table,

 talking about what once was.

God,

have mercy on our souls...

Petie