Sunshine Came Softly Through My Window Today...

It is nearly May and we had to turn our furnace back on. In the old days, we would tough it out but as we get older, my husband and I are becoming sissies (as far as being cold is concerned). We even had the gas company come out and fill our propane tank so that we can have our fireplace on out on the sun porch - in freakin' April. Our long, cold winter lingers even though we have officially been in Spring for over a month. Are there any signs of this Spring? Well, I think I have a few.

Morels and the kitchen counter before the cleaning frenzy.

Since last I wrote, I have done very little thrifting. We had everyone here for Easter which means for about 8 hours of company we do a bazillion hours of cleaning. With 3 dogs, 2 cats, and a couple of not so fussy people, it is a major undertaking. Don't get me wrong, it needs to be done and having people over is the best way to get it in gear. We have, though, gone hunting! Yes, it is morel season and actually, this year has been better than we have had the past 3 years we've been in the country. I think that snowy winter helped the ground open up to this delectable treat. So far, we have managed to find 77 - not enough for sharing but enough for a couple of meals. In the old days, this would be a laughable amount since we would bring home pounds of them but going on the not so distant pasts hauls, this is a respectable quantity.

Another sign that spring is here can be seen in the wildlife (not the beer drinking kind although if it was warmer, the lake crowd would certainly qualify). We have seen four tom turkeys on our property courting the hens - the hunters would love this because they want to shoot them. My husband used to be one of them until I started naming the toms, the bucks, the fish, etc. How can he possibly shoot Tom Jones? Or Tom Selleck or Tom Hanks, for that matter.

The hummingbirds have started showing up, too. This is Henry - he was the first to arrive from his long trip from Mexico. He really wishes Spring would kick in, too, because he is cold - he loves to sit in the little tree near the dining room window but the other evening we looked out and he was shivering. You read that right - shivering. We thought maybe he wouldn't make it through the night but he was back on the tree the next morning!

Last week, on what seems like my 100th trip to the grocery store, I did manage to swing by the new flea market in Warsaw. It is quickly becoming one of my favorites as I always find something there and it's almost always cheap! Like this, for instance...

Here is a nearly complete set of china made by Universal Potteries that I picked up for $10 (there are 21 pieces). This is part of the Fascination series designed by Alf Robson (see more about it  here) in the Park Avenue pattern. It was manufactured in the late 1950's and is true Mid Century Modern. I love the delicate details of the pattern - a breath of fresh Spring air.  I can't decide if I am going to keep it or list it in my eBay store - I am leaning toward the latter only because it really doesn't match my other china or my dining room - it is almost too subtle.

Another item I picked up was this cute little vintage child's suitcase. It was more than I would usually pay for something like this ($10) but I couldn't resist the sweet felt pig amongst the flowers and butterfly. And the colors are just so fun and definitely, bring thoughts of Spring. It is marked Neevel which I found out was the largest luggage manufacturing company in the United States in the late 1930's and was located in Kansas City, Missouri (I guess it is probably worth more than $10 based on that information.) Anyway, it is returning home and finding its way into a baby's room in Kansas City (unless she changes her mind... about the luggage, not the baby)! 

Oh, and one more sign of Spring... my old sow dog brought me a possum to the front door last night. She really wanted to bring it in but after my screech, she sat it down and eventually, it waddled off.  Really, I wish I had a picture of it because she is old and weighs less than 30 pounds, nearly blind and can't hear well, but damn, her nose still works. The two younger dogs went in the other door because it was just too scary. Yep, Spring is here. So what signs have you seen? Are you finding any treasures? Hopefully, the sunshine is finally peaking through your windows, too.