Card Night

This past weekend I was able to do something I haven't been able to do since I was probably in high school.

(No, not see my collar bones, that ship has sailed.)

I was able to take part in Card Night at Momma's house.

This is something I have truly missed over the past few years.

Growing up, Momma and a group of her friends would all get together to eat and play cards and eat.

(Maybe this does have something to do with the fact I can't see my collar bones. Or my knee caps.) 

So, we got it all organized and there were 8 players total.

We figured playing Phase 10 would be a no go, so we decided to play Pokeno.

But first came the food.

After we all had our first course, we began playing.

Pokeno is fun, but that's not what made the night so delightful.

Stories of awkward doctor's visits, spa experiences, talk about family and work, and being with a group of women who aren't afraid to laugh-- that's what made the night special.

And the cheese cake.

And the pepper jelly with cream cheese.

And the cream cheese stuffed jalapenos.

Hmm...maybe Philadelphia Cream Cheese company has something to do with conspiracy to hide my clavicles.

The teapot with the candlestick... and a creamer

So I actually got to start my new hobby! 

I have been itching to do something like this since I saw Layla's post about what she did with her thrift store finds. Here's what she did:

Makes you wanna paint everything white, right?

Ever since I saw this post and told Michael I would like to do that, anything I find in a store that I like, he sneeringly asks if I'm going to pain it white. Doesn't matter if it's a vase, pair of shoes, a glass jar, flowers, a book, or a pillow... He's sooo funny...

So I found a couple of things at a Goodwill in Corpus Christi on our trip. I primed them with Kilz spray primer and then used Rust-Oleum Lacqure spray to make them shiny.

This creamer was only $0.65

I loved the "beading" around the rim. Didn't love the flowers so much.

Here's how it turned out.

Here is the teapot I found for $2.99. It actually looked pretty good, but we don't have anything else that's hunter green.

Sorry for the blurriness. When I used the flash, it looked like this.

 

I really wish it had looked like this! I wouldn't have painted it!

Maybe I shouldn't have painted it anyway... it didn't turn out how I imagined.

In the picture it doesn't look too bad, but believe me I wish it looked this good.

I think the Kilz primer was too thick and I didn't have enough patience to wait for it to COMPLETELY dry. It was dry to the touch but not enough for a second coat.  It got stuck to the trash bag I put it on--see the bad spot on the bottom?

I also thought it would look good to distress it a little...then it just looked like I took a perfectly good green teapot and painted it white and chipped the edges. The clear coat didn't go on very smooth either. It was difficult to hit the inside of the handle without spraying too much on the rest. It turned into a big mess. LAYLA?!

Here are some candle holders that Michael was sick of looking at and was going to throw them away.

I think these turned out pretty good.

So a decent creamer, cute candle holders, and a teapot that went into a plastic bad and into a box only to be seen again when I get a brilliant idea.

Some things I learned was when they say to keep the spray can moving, you need to listen. When they say for best results the humidity needs to be less than 70%, they are serious. (but if I waited for that to happen...well, nothing would get done) The instructions say to let the paint completely dry before applying a second coat for best results, and they know what they are talking about.

Linked up to

Dream Hobby

Since I started school I really haven't had time for a hobby. I liked to scrapbook in high school, but I've gotten so far behind that it would just be a daunting task to start now. Other than hanging out with Michael and Beaux, I really don't do much in my spare time. I started this blog, but I have to do things so I will have something to write about.

However, I think I have discovered my new hobby!

I love to take old furnitue and give it new beauty. It's wonderful to watch the transformation before your eyes. I can't tell you how much fun it is.

I can't tell you how much fun it is because I haven't actually done it yet. It's going on the list of things I plan to do when we move. I think I will love it. I know I will love it. I did enjoy working on the kitchen and extra bedroom in the Little House (minus the total lack of sleep part and the not having a working toilet part). It was great looking at what we had accomplished. Since then I have been obsessed with blogs about taking old houses or furniture and making them new again.

Like the sweet couple at Altar'd who took this
(*I greatly appologize for the mistake in the link that was on there originally. The blog that it was linked to was not the one intended. It seems to be fixed now.)

to this

(And they offer a workshop once a month...hmmm...)

Or like the hilarious duo at The Lettered Cottage who took this

To this

Then to this

Doesn't it make you feel inspired and refreshed?

I don't have the work space or storage space right now to start a project, but I have several planned already for when we move back. In the mean time, I'll keep dreaming and keep telling everyone this is my hobby.

Thank you and good night.

The ladies

One of the many things I have missed since we moved from that precious corner of God's earth has been card night. Ever since I was little, Momma had card night. A group of rather delightful ladies would get together, laugh, bring finger foods, laugh, drink sweet tea, laugh, play cards, laugh, eat dessert, and laugh. 

(Note: party foods are a weakness of mine. At this very moment my mouth is salivating thinking about catalina salad, corn salad, those little sausages, pin wheels, cheese cake...oh my.)

I love these women. I crave their food. I enjoy their company. And the only things these women love more than each other are their families and Jesus.
 When I was in high school and not supposed to want to stay home and play cards or dominoes with my momma's friends, I would still come home a little early. Most of the time they played way past my curfew anyway. I remember one Friday or Saturday night while Michael and I were still dating, we were a few minutes late getting to Momma's house. Of course she wouldn't have been mad, but he liked to pick at me for having a curfew. Well, we pulled up to a dead house. No light. Nothing. Momma was still out partying.

These ladies cut up. They get wild. They get crazy.

Is it gonna be Phase 10 or Mexican Train Game?

5 rounds or 10?

1 cheese cake or 2?

That's right, like I said, it's wild.

I wrote this to say: Ladies, we are scheduling a card game for May 2011. Put it on your calendars