Funky Junk Sisters at it Again!

Last year's show had this beautiful cabinet! Mmmm.

 
It's not shameless to advertise someone else's show, right? Well, I have to say, if you're in the NW Oregon/SW Washington area, and you love vintage, you will want to go!

Junk Salvation Vintage Market

February 3rd & 4th, 2012 Washington County Fairgrounds~ Hillsboro, Oregon. Friday night early buying/breast cancer benefit from 6pm-9pm admission $15, Saturday 10-4 admission $7.  

I am looking forward to going! AND...some friends will be there: 

A Vintage Gathering Vendors Who Will Be There:

Bee and Mason

BirdSong

Mac and Momma
My Shabby Passion

Vintage Market
Voondi

So, if you're sick of the weather and need a little inspiration, take my advice and head over to Beaverton! 

Life has finally slowed down a bit for me, getting back on a schedule, getting time to do some of the things I love, like work in my Etsy shop. Last week, with all the snow, I took an opportunity to get some new things listed and am considering myself on a roll; I have a lot of things waiting for my attention.

What else do I love? I'm not really crazy about the rain, BUT, I have that greenhouse to retreat to, and every year, I tell myself I'm going to do better. I'm already doing what every gardener does about now, pouring over seed catalogs, planning what to grow, I'm even changing what soil I'm using this year in my greenhouse. You should thank me for doing this, because it brings spring a little earlier. Since I'm always running behind, spring should be here before I get everything done! Always optimistic!  

One of those...days

One way to find some time!

Do you ever have one of those days (or months, or lifetimes) when you feel a little crazy. Like you're "losing 'it'"? Well, after a very busy baking season in November and December, I've just been plain lazy. Trying to set goals, get some things done. I love accomplishing things. But after the busy time, I've slept in more than I have in a long time, just kinda re-cooping. However, I'm a mom, so I can't completely lose order. Or stuff. Or my mind.
The other day I went to make a quick, small batch of bread with my food processor. It has all those attachments, you know? The extra bowl, the extra blade(s). Well, I went to put the dough blade in, and it didn't go into the bottom. Only half-way down; that won't work. So, I'm thinking, where's the "other" blade? I searched, and searched. I suddently remembered that I'd found my OLD food processor blade in the drawer awhile back, and through it out. My heart sank as I was suddenly POSITIVE that I'd thrown it in the Goodwill. I started to go to my car to check the Goodwill bag, but the car was with my husband. I decided to search every drawer. By now, I felt a little icky. I hate losing things. It nags at me, and causes me to lose sleep. After a thorough search, I "decided" my daughter must have misplaced it. I'll have her help me search.
So, today, I start to make bread again, then I remember, no blade. I have a wonderful Bosch mixer I use for all my other bread, but thing was, THIS was missing. It had to be found or replaced. After searching again, I went to Ebay. That's not going to help me, because I was afraid to buy one and have it be the wrong one. So, I decide to call Cuisinart. I get through to the nice lady at the other end. She asks me all the appropriate info. Then I ask her, "It DID come with two dough blades, right?" She says, "No, it only had one." So, while I'm talking to her, I pick up that dough blade, push it down where it should go, then sheepishly have to admit to her that I indeed have the RIGHT blade, I don't need any more help. I didn't need to admit it, but I told her, "I'm just so glad to find out I'm not losing my mind!" I tell myself that she probably gets nut-case calls all the time.
Seriously, though. I wonder how many people lose something, go crazy looking for it, and start to feel like they're ready for the nuthouse. I think at times like this, is when I hear what I've heard all my life. That I'm scatterbrained. There are a lot of us, and I know I'm in good company, but it's always nice to know "I still got it!" I'm coming to the conclusion that the mind is the most important thing to not misplace.
So, on that note, I'll wish you all a wonderful New Year.  My first month of the year goes a little like Martha Stewart's, with organizing. And cleaning. The older I get, the more I have a need to be more organized. I guess my mom will be glad that I have finally grown up. -Just don't look in my Etsy/craft room on most days.

Baking Season

I have the most wonderful bread customers! And they love bread! As you've most likely noticed, I bake a lot of Finnish Cardamom Bread at this time of the year. I've done several sales again this month, and I have to say, people are still eating bread. And marionberry coffee cake! Thank you if you are one of my bread lovers!
I am trying something new the next few weeks. I signed up to sell in Astoria at the Winter Market. I've ALWAYS thought it would be so fun to do the Sunday Markets, but they are,..well...on Sunday. That's pretty much church and family day for us, so I haven't done it.
This winter, they are having an indoor market, though, and it's on Saturdays and Sundays, you can sell on either or both days, so, I thought I'd give it a try. I know there are plenty of Finns down there haha.  So anyway, if you're in Astoria, stop by the Market at 14th and Duane, and say hi!
I'll be there the Saturdays of  Nov. 26th, Dec 3rd, and Dec. 10th. AND my daughter will have her cute little kids' clothing, too! Fun, fun, fun! She's made some of the most darling things with a vintage flair.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration, being thankful for what you have, and for Who loves you! ~Karen

A Busy November

It's that time of year again, and gosh it came fast! I've been busy trying to get all the things done that I wait for the last minute to do, which only adds extra stress to my day. As a lot of you know, I am a Finnish Cardamom bread baker. Well, I bake lots of stuff, but this is what people usually know me for in the baking department. I've baked and sold this bread for...older than my own age lol.  OK, a little less than half my age! Wow, that makes me feel old!
I will be baking all of Thursday for a sale on Friday, then coming home and baking most of the night for the next day! But I love it.  By the way, I will have the marionberry coffeecakes, too. I get in trouble if I don't bring those~!
My daughter, Kristin and I both love to bake, AND do vintage sales, and some handmade creations besides. These sales this winter can't involve vintage, (unless we sneak them in a props!) but we'll be having a very full menu on our plates as it is. If you get down to the Longview, WA area, stop by and see us. If you need directions, just send me an email.
I'm not "positive", but I believe we'll be in Astoria, OR after Thanksgiving, doing their Winter Market. I've talked to the lady, and sent in my registration, but I still need to confirm it, so I'll post on that later.
It's always fun when we're at a sale and someone says, "I read your blog". The first time it happened, it kind of embarrassed me, because I knew NOTHING about them, and they knew what an airhead I AM lol. Anyway, don't be shy, say hi! ~ Karen

Searching For Blue

There is some blue there!

The older I get, the more sunshine I need! Or light. Or fresh air.  Here in Oregon, the weather is pretty moderate. Where I live, there is no real extreme temperature; if we happen to get weather down to the teens, it's not often, if we have highs above 90, that doesn't happen real often either. Yes, we do get rain. I was surprised to find that there are a lot of places that actually get more rain than us, because that's the comment people often make about Oregon.
Oregonians don't use umbrellas either. Well, some do, but not most. Our fall scenery is gorgeous. I see pictures of the eastern part of our country, and they remind me of what we get; lots of reds and oranges. Oregon is all about trees, you know.
Well, I've decided that I need to start taking more Vitamin D. I need to get outside more this winter, even if it means to the greenhouse. I need to appreciate every break from the rain that we get. I confess, although I'm a native to Oregon, (even native to my neighborhood), I haven't in the last few years appreciated the rain. I go through the day reminding myself that the rain is what makes our state so beautiful. It gets tough, but I'm determined.
As I was driving in my car the other day, we had one of those really cloudy, dark skies, and wayyyyyyy in the distance I could see a piece of blue sky. It was a brilliant blue, with sunshine in it. I decided that even when it's cloudy, whether it's the day, or if it's life, I need to look for that little piece of blue. If I can't see it, I need to keep watching, because it always does show up again. And when it does, I need to be ready for it! Expecting it!
I have a friend who has some serious health issues. She has had brain cancer; had that removed, and they put a shunt in her head. I don't understand it all. She had some kind of cancer in her thyroid, had that treated. She had all this while taking care of her inlaws! A year ago, she found out she has a new tumor in her brain, although it's not cancerous "yet", they said it was too dangerous to operate on. But it will grow. She'd been really sick, tried some new type of drug, thought she was doing better, losing weight, which her doctor told her the medicine would cause. THEN shel started having symptoms that she assumed were pre-menopause. She had a check up and the Dr.'s office called to tell her that she has uterine cancer! Then, with all those tests, the new doctor saw the brain tumor, and said, "It has to come out!". So, she is facing the unknown. My heart just hurts for her. But you know what? She is trusting God to heal her. She is fighting. She is LIVING! She's been painting her kitchen! She's NOT sitting and crying, although she's had her moments. In other words, she is "searching for the blue", looking past the clouds. My little stuff is just that...small.
I want to enjoy every single day. I want to accomplish something every single day. I want to build stronger and stronger relationships with my kids and husband every single day. I want to be the friend that I should be to my friend(s). I want to thank God for how rich I am. Nope, not rich in dollars, but rich in life.  Our experiences, our relationships, the things we see, belong to us. A rich land owner might actually be paying for the land around me, because he owns it, but the view is MINE! When we look out at that ocean sunset, and later our minds recall it, that ocean sunset is OURS! For free! Because it is something God gave us!

Sunset from my home.

View from my mom's yard.

Watch for the blue.  ~Karen

Harvesting Thankfulness

Friends visit under the gazebo

Kids love the hammock!

My boys learned to run a backhoe!

Randy lifted the kids into the tree to pick cherries.

People everywhere! We love it!

This is the time of year when, if you are a gardener or a home-canner, you're finishing up madly to get a harvest in before the season is gone. If you aren't gathering your own veggies and fruits, then someone else, like a grocery store supplier, will do it for you, then you'll pay them to do the work for you. However it goes, the harvest comes at this time of year.

My daughter Kristin was smart, she brought beans to snap & got help!

It seems to me, that fall is extra-dramatic in it's season. The colors, the smells, the way it all of a sudden gets dark quicker (I've been trying not to notice that one so much). It just seems that, of all the seasons, fall seems like a fast-moving vehicle taking us to winter.
It is so fitting that, along with a harvest, comes a giving of thanks. Why not, we have the bounty of everything that's grown all year. It feels a little like pay day, and it is so natural to just give thanks. To be thankful.  God has provided.
This year has been a very "different" one. My husband, who is a general contractor and builds custom homes, has been around a lot! In our area, there isn't a lot of new building going on. We've used the time he's had off to get some things done around home. Now he seems to be getting busier, and thankfully, the work is just about done. I have to say, I'm amazed at how much we DID get done around here, from finishing the gazebo he started last year, to putting on a new roof, installing new flooring in the kitchen and living room, even remodeling my daughter's bedroom. Oh yeah, we were even able to get my grandkids' "fort" started. Fort? My husband got a little carried away, they actually are getting a building the size of a small cottage, that Grandma (me) would love to have! I don't know what I'd do with tower they added to it, but I'd think of something. I always said it would be nice to have my husband retire, but I have to say, it's pretty hard to keep on a routine. I was pretty glad for him to be back to work so that I could get a schedule back in time to start homeschool this fall.
Hope your fall is bursting with thankfulness!

PS Photos are from the old fashioned ice cream social we had with friends (except we didn't make it homemade) this summer. See, we found plenty of time to play! 

Joy in All This Business of Life

Seriously, I've never neglected my blog this long! It's my son's fault. It's also his fault the months have literally flown by!

On Valentine's Day, my son called and asked me, "Do you think it's weird if I don't get Janae jewelry for Valentine's Day? I'm planning on buying her a major piece of jewelry." My word were, "Of course not! She doesn't seem materialistic anyway, I think she'd just love your devotion." ----"WHAT MAJOR PIECE OF JEWELRY?!!  Is this my son I'm talking to? So, he AND his 7 year old son proposed to her about a month later! Actually, my grandson spilled it and said, "Will you marry us?" before Steven could slow him down!
So, that was March, and then we had to scramble. He gave her NO time to plan a July wedding. Then he decided that he'd love to get married in my mom's yard, like his sister did. THEN he decided that we could have the rehearsal dinner in MY yard! So, for literally months, we've been working around here, getting ready for the wedding.  My mom lives a few acres over, and her view looks down the river on a clear day. Beautiful setting. The rehearsal went well, then came the dinner. It started to drizzle. 60 people in my yard! My grandson built a fire in the outdoor fireplace, we had the gazebo (which my husband had been working on for months), we had a canvas gazebo, and my porch is large, so we still managed to actually have a wonderful time.  Next day, Wedding Day, it rained like I've never seen it rain in Oregon on a summer day. Everyone was in a good mood, but it was a little stressful. On with the wedding, right? After the photos with the photographer it started to let up, and right at 5 pm, the sky broke open to a beautiful evening! The wedding turned out gorgeous. All those chairs I thought would be empty were full. The groom kissed his bride, and the balloons rose behind them. We danced 'til late into the beautiful night.
Funny thing was, the next morning, it poured down rain again! But we were so thankful that we had such a beautiful wedding.
Right after that, we barely got everything cleaned up and put away, and our church had their week long family camp! We're now recuperating from that and soon will have to start homeschool and canning and finishing up the garden! So, that's where I've been!

My grandson-fell asleep right before the wedding!

I haven't even managed to get to to many yard sales or estate sales YET this year, but when we go on our camping trip I'm making up for it. It's an understanding that I at least get to go one morning! We've all worked so hard, it's TIME for a break before school starts.