Thrift Store Flowers for Spring

Happy May! 

Isn't it lovely to know that summer is on it's way?

And spring is coming to life all around us.

Though spring has it's joys it can be a little challenging here.

In the White Mountains,

it's usually a very windy time.

I'll share a little more about that soon.

So that makes it a good time to wander 

around in thrift stores

to see what treasures we can find.

And one that I bought is a lovely, embroidered picture.

It's always a treat to find something that

someone has taken the time to make by hand.

It's done on linen. 

There was a stain on it that I was able to 

dab with some shout and remove.

But the colors are so bright and cheerful...

I just thought it was so pretty!

And though you can't see it, it's framed very nicely.

Where flowers bloom, so does hope.

Lady Bird Johnson

I just wanted to pop in and say hello.

How is your week going?

I am enjoying a cloudy day here and resting up some.

It's Wednesday and for me that means 

playing music tonight!

We have made so many good friends and

enjoy meeting new ones each week.

I'll also be cleaning and project planning.

Have a blessed rest of your week and thank you

for coming by!

Tamara 

XOXO

A Hello and a Paper Craft

Hello everyone!

I am popping in to share a few moments with you.

There is always much happening as I'm sure is the case with you.

Our family is a bustling, living organism that

has a vivacious life of it's own!

Many of you know that our daughter moved to Ohio

last fall. She's enjoying the weather there and her new life

"adulting" as she calls it. She was hired on at a well established, family owned bakery. She's doing well but the distance has been a very difficult adjustment for all of us. We have seen her twice 
since she moved :) YAY!

Spring has come to our mountains and I have started my

watering routine. It's been a bit disheartening as I lost many perennials to the drought. So I have had to re-think my plans for

gardening here. It's been freeing in some ways. I just can't keep up with the watering anymore. However, rocks grow very well ;) and I have ordered a book by Mary Reynolds. I'm going to work on using a more natural approach. 
Any suggestions for me?
Cross your fingers!

Last week I organized and filed over 2500 pictures. 
EEEP!
I'm a little over the top when it comes to taking photos.
It's one thing that makes blogging a bit overwhelming at times.
But my goal was to get that done so I could start blogging again.

 Here are a few photos. Some are of a little project
 that I worked on for my daughter. The others are just some random pictures of daily life.

 The picture below is of a package that I 
made out of a 12" square piece of 
scrapbooking paper. The four corners are folded 
in and overlapping. Each flap has 
something different on it. I'm not sure why I didn't get a picture.
I am so odd sometimes :/

  When it's opened up, the inside is actually a letter. 
After I finished the letter and decorating the outside, 
I STUFFED
it with all sorts of tidbits of paper with 
quotes and sayings, drawings and
little things that she could use for journaling.

 Then I made an envelope to send it in. 
Does it make you happy to make things with your hands?
Handmade is special and I find it therapeutic.
It's not always possible, 
but I sure enjoy when it happens.

Do you ever get really involved in making 
something for someone when you 
miss them terribly? And then you feel like 
you're somewhat
 connected while you're writing and creating?
 When it's ready to send,
a little piece of your heart goes
 along with the parcel. 

Time for tea. 
Isn't it always? It's so soothing and gives us a good
reason to take a little break from the work of the day.
 We heat our teapot several times a day.
I found this delightful new tea.
It's called Sangria and is packaged by Celestial Seasonings.
 And it brews up a most
beautiful pink. 

I had a birthday recently.
My husband makes it a magical time
with gifts of many kinds throughout the month including
flowers and outings. 
He really is so thoughtful
 and makes me feel like a queen!

The fairy princesses and I went to see
The Greatest Showman for the second time!
Our family have enjoyed and been inspired 
by the movie and the soundtrack. 

Have you seen any good movies lately?  

I hope you're all doing well. I do hope
 that blogging doesn't fade away. Shall we try to keep 
the blogging world alive with inspiration and magic???

Wishing you a lovely weekend and thank you so much 
for coming by.

Blessings from me to you...
Tamara XO
AKA: 
The Shabbi Gypsy

Pink Roses, Rusty Things and a Valentine's Wish For You...

Hello Dear Friends~

I can't begin to tell you how much I've missed you!

I'm sorry that I haven't 

been by to visit you as much as I would like. 

I've been enjoying so much time

with the little Fairy Princesses! 

I have actually thought about giving up my blog altogether,

 but I don't want to!

So I will keep trying to figure this out.

I hope that you're doing well.

I wish you the sweetest Valentine's Day ever.

XOXOX

Wishes that you feel loved and treasured and celebrated.

My husband gave me these lovely roses 

for my birthday month. 

And here they are with a few of my collected treasures.

I love old and rusty things! 

And the old, oil lamp base was

so charming that I had to have it.

What would you do with it?

Oh, I'm just so happy to be back and to say hello!

Thank you for coming by and I do look forward to

 getting back in touch.

THERE IS NOTHING ON 

EARTH MORE TO BE PRIZED
THAN TRUE FRIENDSHIP

Thomas Aquinas~

Love and blessings to you all and 

thank you for your sweet visit.

Tamara

Just a Hello From Ohio

Hello...

I hope you are all well.

I am just popping in to say that we made it to Ohio.

It was a good trip.

Fun and fast!

The weather was just perfect.

We had snow in New Mexico and rain and clouds

most of the way! 

A bit chilly but nice travel temperatures

except when pumping gas.

Brrrrr....

I have no internet service at our cabin and am taking a few minutes
to write between catching up with text messages and
checking my laundry in the dryer.

I have several business calls to make to get the work going on the 
cabin so it will be ready for winter so our
girls will stay cozy and the pipes don't freeze.

I hope you're enjoying a beautiful season.
The leaves are changing here
and we are enjoying some lovely walks.

More details later when I have time.

Best wishes to you all and thank you for your visit!
I'll be in touch.

Tamara XO

Hobo Dinners: A Fun, Fall Recipe for Outdoor Living ~ And Life

Hello friends~

How are you today?

Really. 

I ask because I care.

Sometimes life can be so busy and we get distracted.

I want to take a moment and say thank you to those who 

take the time to ask how I am

and then truly listen.

I am thankful for the good listeners in

my life. And honestly, there aren't many.

But it's ok. I can learn from that.

I can turn it around and work at 

being a better listener. 

There's usually a way to take something

negative and make it positive!

Keep on the Sunny Side.

Just a short note on my life.

My sister and niece are flying in from Ohio 

on Tuesday.  We are busy packing up 

my youngest daughter who turns 21 today!

She's such a sweet person.

This evening, she, myself and two of her sisters

are going out to celebrate her and have a fun time 

with dinner and a movie~

More about another time.

**********

Today, I wanted to share this

fun recipe that's perfect for fall fires or camping!

HOBO dinners!

Here are some cooling on 

the rocks around the fire. The aromas

just float all through the Gypsy Camp.

Have you ever had them?

They are SO fun for kids.

HOBO DINNERS

Prepare a bed of coals.

Charcoal briquets may even work.

I've always used an open fire.

It takes about 40 mins to an hour

to prepare a good bed of coals using the open fire.

***

*Three small burger patties

or 6-8 oz cut up chicken breast.

Season to taste

*One cup of sliced potatoes

*6-8 onion slices

*1/2 half cup of sliced carrots.

Layer them on two large pieces of heavy duty foil.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

You could even add a sprig of fresh Rosemary.

( I will next time!)

Seal them VERY well so the juices don't escape.

Lay them right on the coals. 

Leave them uncovered.

(Meaning don't heap the coals on them.)

Roast for about 30-35 mins.

Turning with metal tongs about 

halfway through the cook time.

Remove from coals and let cool for 

5-10 mins. They will still be steaming hot!

These truly are a treat.

A fun experience and fabulously delicious!

My one grand daughter doesn't like potatoes but she ate 

all of her HOBO cooked potatoes!

There's just something about all that goodness

of the flavor of all those juices blending together.

   ENJOY! :)

I hope you're able to try these sometime.

If you have any questions, feel free to email

me or leave a comment.

In honor of the Hobo dinners,

 here's a link to the song 

Gentle on my Mind  by Glen Campbell.

It's a song that I just learned and one of my favorites.

I was so sad to hear of his recent passing.

Have a wonderful weekend!

I'll be singing tomorrow

at The Foxfire's season's end Oktoberfest.

Friends fun and food...

How're you celebrating fall?

Thank you for your visit!

Hugs and blessings~

Tamara