Happy Saturday, when my beloved husband is home with me all day long and we can do whatever we want!
We got right up this morning and drove to one of our very favoritest places to eat for breakfast; Crackerbarrel. Rich and I enjoyed the ride there…it takes almost half an hour and because no one had eaten anything the children were as quiet as mice. Rich and I talked a lot. We played music on my ipod.
The drive this morning was lovely. Snow dusted everything over in the night, all the trees and things were covered so prettily, decorated in white.
We sat at a big round table in the corner by the windows. I liked the lighting for pictures. We ordered drinks; coffee, hot chocolate, cider, orange juice, and iced tea. Then, while we waited for our food to arrive, Jacob and Ethan played checkers. They also brought books. Can’t just sit still and be bored, ya know.
The children also like to play the peg game at the table. We wait for our food and hear the little pegs falling on the floor now and then.
We were just down the road from a shopping plaza, and we had to return something at Walmart. So, I had Rich drop Grace and I off at Marshall’s and we shopped while he made the return. After we were done with our errands, I said please please won’t you let me go in my favorite antique store?
So he did.
I went in with Jacob and Ethan. They were actually fun to have around, those two nice boys of mine. Rich sat in the vehicle with sleeping Seth and the other children while we prowled and searched and rummaged for treasures.
I thought this picture was precious and sweet.
We saw some fiestaware. The rose color in the corner has been there for years. They really must lower the price. The footed vintage cobalt bowl was lovely but also waaaaay too expensive. I touched it though. And took a picture.
Me and my shopping buddies;
An old autograph book;
The three older children are all reading The Lord of the Rings and we were thrilled to see these folk art type wooden carvings of three of the main characters. We wanted them so bad…but they were fifty dollars! They’ve been talking about these characters, and the books, so very much that I almost felt like we made them materialize and say “boo!” at us.
Old books:
I like this Honey Bunch one especially because my dear Great Grandma gave me a copy of a Honey Bunch book (a different one) that has her name written in it. She had received it at her surprise birthday party, when she turned 10.
I went home with a cotton baby quilt for Sarah. It has butter yellow fabric on the bottom, and cool pink on the top, with kittens. The edges are scalloped and quilted.
I bought the light beige crocheted table runner, and the red edged ruffled doily. It will look so pretty with a candle on top.
I also bought this needle work framed picture for the boys (only 6 dollars).
I did not buy them the wooden cane, the cannon ball, the army helmets, the old vintage army game, the pistols, or the guns that they wanted.
This was my favorite purchase;
I simply must show you some of the inside. It is full of dear sweet sentences, and old photographs.
Don’t you just love it?
It’s so delightful!
Perfectly charming! I will read it to the children. (The only downfall is that it makes me converse in short pithy sentences for a while……I laugh & laugh at myself and the children groan and laugh, too.)
We got home and Jacob gathered the eggs. There were seven awaiting us. Now my carton is overfilled. Maybe one of my church friends (or my sister?) will read this is bring me a nice, new, empty clean carton, we’ve been using this one for a while now.
Rich went out to get his haircut and the children are watching TV and playing.
They are watching Charlie and Lola, and playing with trains.
Oh yes, it has been a nice morning here. And when Rich gets back he is taking me out shopping again for something we need for the kitchen; something very important.
A garbage can!
I can’t hardly wait! Actually, I am very happy to go. We are going to another favorite place of ours, a family business that sells decorative home stuff, furniture, (and smells good, like candles and potpourri). The garbage can we are getting is one of those decorative wooden ones that don’t look like a garbage until you open the lid up to use it. We used to have one but it fell apart from often and repeated use. If you like the old fashioned country primitive look than you would love this store.
We will probably also get some chicken feed at Agway, too.
Okay, that’s it for this very long blog post. Thanks for stopping by my site today! I’m off to go snuggle a tiny little boy, who is in the room with me in all his cuteness.
Much love~Shanda
Good to be Home 
Delightful and touching. Made me cry. Hope the rest of your day continues as it began- perfectly lovely and full of family love!
Yay for Rich being home, that makes me so happy for you. It looks like your day is off to a wonderful start. I love the little treasures you found at the antique store, I may just have to visit my favorite antique store in town too 🙂 Have a blessed weekend!
The quilt is darling, the colors are so soft and wonderful for a litle baby!I am sure I would have enjoyed the antique store as well!You sound very happy and full of energy, Rich is a good guy I know it is all because he is home! 🙂
It does sound a simply lovely morning. I adore old books; whenever Mom would take us antiquing when we were younger, I would search out all the old books I could find, and if I found one under five dollars, I could get it. I have a nice little collection started of the old Hardy Boys books – the ones in plain brown or red covers, written back in the ’30s and ’40s. I love them so much more than the modern ones!That hot chocolate in the first picture looked so yummy, I think I’m going to have to make myself a cup as soon as I’m done with lunch!
Oh happy Saturdays are wonderful! I am glad you are enjoying yours with your husband! (I am very much missing mine!) Love ya sissy
I love that book, I want one! I like the primitive look, all my sisters do, we get it from our mom. That is what most of my house is decorated like. I would love to go to the store you’ll be going to! Such a great day you’re having, enjoy the rest of the weekend. Thanks for sharing with us.
Oh that Primer! I would love to see more. I would also love that prim country store- my favorite kind.
Crackerbarrel, one of our favorites too! Most of the time they seat us in the far right back corner at a large round table. Our favorite spot. We started going there to help me get my southern fix when I would be so homesick. It is very kid friendly too! Love the books you found. It amazed me how sweet the things for children once were. I would never think to go in a place like that. Speaking of books, I bought the 1st of the Lord of the Rings for my 11 year old. I wasn’t sure if it was okay. Seeing your boys read it makes me feel much better. His favorite books thus far has been Nick of Time & David Livingstone The Pathfinder (I have no idea how to underline) that are of any quality. Of course, he loves Star Wars which I don’t really care for. If you want to check out my blog you can see who this stranger is that keeps posting on your blog. I cannot figure out how to change my profile picture, but did manage to add 3 photos to my blog. Blessing from this family to yours ~ Deborah
I LOVE Cracker Barrel, but haven’t been there in a long time. I’ve never gone for breakfast. We rarely eat breakfast any place but home. The quilt you bought is so sweet. You know, I have a Primer of my father’s (1929) and two others I bought on e-Bay – both written in the early 1920s. I’m afraid to let my children touch them, but that was the whole reason I bought them – to share them with the girls!
That page of the autograph book shows one verse of a hymn we sing (acapella) in our church service! It’s a grand one! Your site is usually my first stop; I’ve been hooked for quite awhile. Please continue in your sharing. Lovingly, Lois
Oh what a lovely morning! Nice family time together. I would have liked that store too. David was telling me he much prefers that kind of store to new ones. We especially like the ones we have near here that are thrift type ones. You might have to sift through some junk, but they are not as pricey. Our favorite is one that benefits mothers and children. It is very well organized and pretty. Another is a store that benefits a men’s program. They often have some real finds, but the store is organized many by the men so not as attractively arranged We do have a couple favorite antique stores that are more high end but chock full of really nice stuff. We always think of you when we see something that looks like Fiesta ware. Love the quilt for baby…so sweet. The book looks especially wonderful. I love the old illustrations and sweetness in the sentences! Fun that the boys and you found that needlework soldier! They must love it. Maybe they can learn some wood carving and make their own characters from LOTRs. You can start with bar soap, and when carving they learn to wrap their thumbs and any fingers in line of the knife to keep them safe. My “boys”, meaning hubby and David, are playing marbles together right now.
Such a sweet little retreat for you guys!! And I very much enjoyed reading about it. Most of our Saturday has been spent doing school work ~ so needless to say, this was a nice mental retreat for me. 🙂
Sounds like you had a great day!! I was reading your previous posts & love the idea of the dry erase board (I might have to borrow that:) for the menus. We use paper, but that is such a waste! Thanks for sharing such great things on your site and recipes to:)
What a FUN day!! We love Cracker Barrel too… their breakfasts are the best!!The shopping is always fun!!!!!!Have a GREAT rest of the weekend!!
Sounds like you had such lovely family day! I always love looking at your pictures. 🙂
LOVE that book!! I love sweet tender pictures like that. It always reminds me of my grandparents. Have a great weekend!
Sounds like a great day!
Lovely weekend activities! I learned reading with the “See Spot Run” kind of books. I think I would have liked the one you showed here better. Oh well! I guess this important thing is that I learned to read, right? Blessings on your Sunday.
I love antique shops! So much fun to explore – I always have to resist the impulse to buy everything, too!
There are tons of antique stores in our area. I have yet to visit one. I think Dave is nervous for me to go in one!! He knows how sentimental I can be!
I LOVE those old books…good find!
I sincerely hope to have a life as beautiful as yours when I’m older.
First, I LOVE Crackerbarrel!! I have one close to my home and it’s so yummy and comforting. So happy to see that you and your family enjoyed your day together. So wonderful isn’t it?
Mmmm mmm Cracker Barrel is one of my favorites…I ate there last week. I always get breakfast no matter what time of day it is. 🙂 I love your antique purchases, the blanket for Sarah and the book. I’ve seen fiestaware at a nearby antique shop too, and it was also very very expensive!