NEW TREASURES, GARDEN UPDATE and BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!

First off, I want to THANK Mindie over at Bacon Time with the Hungry, Hungry Hippo for chosing my post on my Living Room Easter Decorations as one of her features from last week's Anything Goes Party. Click HERE to see Mindie's feature post and please visit Mindie's great blog and maybe join in on the fun for her Anything Goes Party!!

I had a 3 day weekend last weekend and so did Joe. Mailmen in the U. S. only get every 6th Saturday off and when they get that Saturday off, it is with Friday and Sunday. The majority of their day's off are week days since there is still mail delivery on Saturdays....

Anyway....

Last week,I went to my Favorite Thrift Store, Volunteer's of America. For the time being, every Tuesday is Half Off everything in the store.
They were pretty picked out but I did find 2 things....

I loved this cute vintage tea set......


It is just a small tea pot but I could not resist it....

I will be finding a place for this in my Kitchen of course.....

And I also picked up this rather interesting perfume bottle......

Love the detail on the top.....

She found a place on one of the shelves in my Powder Room.....

The tea set and the bottle came out to $4.41!! Not too bad of a deal, huh?

Then I went to Micheal's and bought these goodies......
The book boxes were reduced to $2.99 and they will be a future Craft project....

I used a 50% off coupon for this cute plaque which took it down to $2.49....

And the aqua bird and flower were 50% off. They will find a home in my Living Room.....

Last year, I looked all over for Black weather proof resin wicker chairs for my front porch.
They were either awfully expensive or came in a set of 4 with a settee and table, which was too large of a set for my front porch.

This year , there is virtually no black wicker out there so I decided that I would look for something in brown....

I am happy to say that I found this furniture in Lowe's.....

Ignore that fact that my railing is in desperate need of a new paint job....

I love the variation in colors on these chairs and table....
There is a deeper shade of brown, which looks almost black, and 2 lighter shades of brown....

I had the cushions already. I had bought them for my white wicker chairs that I use out in the back but they were too small. They are a perfect fit on these chairs which were $60 a piece.....

The table was $48....

I am really happy with these for my front porch..

Then I went down to our storage shed and brought home and sorted through my two tubs of Summer flowers.....
It is a sickness, I know...

I made a Spring Wreath for our Front Door. I also made 2 Easter Wreaths for my Department at work but that will be in my next post....

I wanted to use bright Spring colors....

I don't have much outside for Easter...

A Bunny Plaque....



Do you see the Butterfly picks I added.....

Speaking of flowers. here are those same flowers that Joe bought me on March 7th for the anniversary of our first date on March 8th....

They are still blooming. He definitely got his money's worth.... They cost only $7.00!

Since it was so nice, I moved them outside....


My Easter Flag.....
That big black roof that you see off the road is Lowe's....

My mini Flags.....

My chippy Angel....

Since I went through all those flowers, I made a little arrangement for my red vase in my Kitchen.....

The yellow flowers look good with the vintage fiesta ware tea cups.....


You know how I love these candle light shots....


Things are blooming way too early for here in the garden because of these unseasonally warm temperatures.....

A Lily

More perennials....

Buds on my Lilac trees which are usually not out until May!!


And my Lamb's ear is starting to get green......

We have had snow in April here in Pa. so we will see what Mother Nature has in store for us.....

And now, a Birthday celebration......
Last Sunday we celebrated 2 Birthdays....

Joe's Dad turned 82 y/o on Sunday, March 18th and my Jim's girl friend, Danielle celebrates her Birthday on March 23rd......


After I took these pics, I got to thinking that I may be wrong on Danielle's age.
So I called my Jim and sure enough , I had to change the 29 to 30 y/o!!
LOL!!

We get our cakes from Wegman's Super Market. I truly do not have time to bake them....

We ordered pizza and wings....

That is a 24 inch pizza!!!
Have you ever seen a pizza box this big......

We invited Joe's parents down for a little party.....

You can see that Joe is watching the hockey game!

Everyone is enjoying the pizza and wings....
That is my MIL in the purple...
She is 77 y/o.....



We also got a regular large pie and 30 wings and I have to say that there was one piece of pizza left and about 5 wings!!
My boys can eat!!

My MIL brought me these handmade clothes pins that are close to 100 years old. They were made by her uncle. She said that I was the only one in the family that would appreciate them! LOL!
I already have a project in mind for them....

We give money for gifts....

My FIL scratching off his Instant lottery tickets....
Looking incognito....





A Grandfather sharing pictures of his trip to Washington, D.C. to the War Memorials and stories with his grandsons.....


3 generations of Joe's......

My hubby, Joseph John
My oldest son, Joseph Brian
My FIL, Joseph Richard


We all had a lovely time....
We do not see Joe's parents that often as they live about 45 minutes away .....

My FIL was a Marine that served in the Korean War. He received a Purple Heart for being wounded.

He never spoke about his time at war but with the onset and TV coverage of the Iraq war, he started to suffer flash backs. He is being treated at the VA hospital that is right by my home.
You never think about what your family members had to do in war time. My FIL told me once that the Marines are always the first to go in and clear the way for the other troops. He told me he carried a flame thrower and burned villages. I was speechless......

For all members of the Armed Services, we owe a huge debt of gratitude.....

I am linking up to these parties:
What's It Wednesday
Wow Us Wednesday

Outdoor Wednesday
Rednesday
Share Your Cup Thursday
Delightfully Inspiring Thursday
Vintage Thingie Thursday
Open House Party Thursday

Homemaking Link Up Party
Fertilizer Friday

Home Sweet Home Friday
Show and Tell Friday
Potpourri Friday
Vintage Inspiration Friday
Thrifty Things Friday
Anything Goes Linky Party

Tickled Pink Friday
Simple and Sweet Fridays
Pink Saturday

Seasonal Sunday

Sunday's Best
Masterpiece Monday
Show and Tell Monday
Mod Vintage Mix Monday

Metamorphosis Monday
Cozy Home Party Tuesday
Knick of Time Tuesday
Home Decor and Organizing Link Party

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Bunny Hop Easter Linky Party

Bunny Blog Hop

Spring and Easter Blog Party

Please take some time to visit these terrific hosts and all those joining in on the fun!

Thanks so much for stopping by today and every day that you take the time to visit with me!
Hugs,
Debbie