Thursday, July 2, 2009

Leola's Vintage Home and Garden

Do you have a place that just "feels like home"?
A store that is instantly inviting and comfortable,
that makes you come by for a visit
even if you're not looking for anything in particular?
Leola's Vintage Home and Garden in Ozark, Missouri is one of those places.





Many of you know Jan from her blog Summer Sundays. She has been my blog mentor and dear friend for this last year. She and her sisters , Judy and Linda, and neice Kelli, are the owners of Leola's, which is named for the sisters' mom.

Jan, Kelli, Judy, Linda and their sister, Jean, on the far right.


(photo courtesy of Katie from Ragamuffin Gal )












Red, white, and blue for the porch












Come on in. This is what greets you this week.


































The store is constantly changing, with new displays and vignettes.
Since I want to share all my photos, I will post more next week.
If you are in southwest Missouri, stop by for a real treat.
Ozark is a quaint little town between Springfield and Branson.
Leola's is located right behind Lamberts Cafe, CC and Highway 65.
Have a fun weekend!
Debra

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

White Wednesday

Timeless strength and beauty. She sits on an antique black Italianate desk. The light shines in and highlights her features. I found her for a song on the floor of a flea market. Others may not have seen her grace or recognized her regality, but I did. I had been looking for her.













Today may you see strength and beauty, grace and value in those around you.

Debra
Thankyou, Kathleen at Faded Charm





Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Ouch...the Truth Hurts

or..."if all else fails, read the instructions." A favorite quote from my dad.

OK, now put on your readers,
or sit the appropriate distance from your computer screen.



No, you are not seeing the same pictures twice.
I'm being brutally honest here and admitting one of my biggest faults
...not taking time to read instructions.

I picked out my little Kodak Easy Share camera a year ago for my birthday. Notice the name, "Easy Share". That should be an indicator of my level of expertise in the area of photography, well, I should say anything to do with electronics. (we've had a DVD player for upteen years and only recently have I learned how to turn it on).

The thought of starting a blog was HUGELY intimidating, because of said expertise in all things electronic. I do the minimum to get by, then complain that I'm not good at "it", and then tell my husband he needs to take care of it.

A few weeks ago I asked my husband if he would help me get started with the blog. He took me to "Blogger", showed me the tutorials, and then said ,"You do it. You can learn how to do it."


Well, panic sat in and I fumbled around for a few days, then I realized if it was ever going to get done I would just have to learn how to do it...by myself.

Now, fast forward till 2 nights ago. I have been complaining about my camera, saying it wasn't very good, because, well, look at that lamb close-up of a few days ago. Then, asking how much a new camera would cost.
Guess what my husband said?????

"Why would you want a new camera, you wouldn't know how to use it. Have you read your instruction book for the one you have?"

Oh, the shame of it.
He was right. I had not read the instruction book.

So now, see the before and afters. OR, I should say, the "afters", then the "befores".

My little camera is not professional grade, but then neither am I. Now at least, I can take a close up that does not look as if you are viewing it through the bottom of a coke bottle.

Congratulations " self".
Life lesson learned.
Isn't it amazing that it can take so long sometimes to learn the basics of life.
I have many more that I am currently learning.

All for now, more later.
Debra


Saturday, June 27, 2009

Summer "time" Fun


Seems like I always have a "plan" and feel the need to accomplish things.
I have what I call an "A-" personality.
I'm not a perfectionist in the slightest,
but I do like to stay busy.
I've learned that I need to take time to just relax and enjoy my life... and family.


Aly and Chris love to swim on the weekends.
Here they are on Father's Day, ready to jump in.
Chris is our "grill master" and doesn't mind the heat,
so he was our chef for the day.


You may be wondering why the paver barrier (?)

We have tons of chipmunks, and to keep them out of the pool

(they don't swim well),

we had to get a little creative.

Enjoy your family today,
Debra

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