Fun on a Saturday!!

Here is a typical Saturday for me:  get up EARLY and hit as many garage sales/estate sales as I can, go home and unload my truck, clean house (yea, right!) eat lunch and then go to my favorite resale/charity store, H.A.A.M.-Humble Area Assistance Ministries.  I LOVE working with the  people over there and have been volunteering on Saturdays for about 5-6 yrs.  I work in the housewares dept. which gets the largest amount of donations--we also help with toys.  I always leave there tired, dirty, broke (yes, I buy LOTS of stuff!) but happy I've helped someone that day.  So here are some pictures of a "Sat. in the life of Pat":

NEVER pass up one of these signs!

Wonderful chairs--wish I had bought them!

First load

Still the first load

Second load!

Ok-third load!!!

My son, Jonathan helping me unload-not his favorite job, but I buy him stuff and he's ok--yes, that's bribery, but it works!!

I found a whole tote full of M&M stuff--yea, that's what I'm talking about!!

Some of my H.A.A.M. friends--great people!

Jonathan likes to help there too!!

Well, that's it--that's how I spend most of my Saturday's and I must tell you---I LOVE IT!!!  I end the day with a good dose of church and go to  bed happy and content--what more could you want in life!?!  God Bless all and any who read this,    Pat, A Remade Life

Loving Mom

     This coming Sunday is Mother's Day, a blessing to some and a day of sadness for others.  It is a day when some are able to show their mom how much they are loved and appreciated and it is a day for others to mourn the loss of their parent and review fond memories of her love.  Whatever meaning this day may have for you, my prayer is that you take time to enjoy the moment, to laugh over silly happenings, to cry over hurtful moments and to love with all your heart the wonderful person you call 'mom'.  My mom is 86 years old and is fighting cancer for the third time in her life.  She is doing an awesome job!!  Her tumor has shrunk over 50% and is responding well to chemo.  Mom is frail, unsteady and becoming forgetful, but she is still my momma.  I will not post her picture here because she has lost all her hair, only weighs 98 lbs and I know it would embarass her, so I will describe her to you: 
- she is a small women, reaching only 5ft tall (she use to be 5ft 2in)
- her hair was a snowy white but now she wears a white turban to cover her bald head
- she loved to dress in very nice, fashionable suits when she went to church, but now she wears her robe most times and church is viewed on TV
- she was one of the sharpest people I've ever known.  My sisters and I always accused her of taking a dictionary to the bathroom!  Now, she has trouble remembering words and peoples names
- and, even though I am 56 yrs old and have been on my own for 20 yrs, raised 3-children by myself and purchased a home of my own,  my mom still introduces me as 'her baby'and asks me all the time if I need any money!
     My mom is a strong woman, enduring many hardships in her life---loosing a first husband to an industrial fire, raising 2-young girls by herself for a while and loosing my daddy to cancer over 20 yrs ago. 
She is hard-headed (I get that from her!) stubborn (I also get that from her) and loves my 2-sisters and me with all her heart. It is her strong influence that has helped to make me who I am today.
     I must work on Mother's Day and will not be able to be with her, but I will call her and let her know how much she is loved and appreciated.  Not just for all she's done for me, but also because she is one of the most remarkable women I have ever known and I have the great honor to call her:  MOM
I love you momma,
Pat

Sometimes you win, sometimes you wonderful why you bought it!!

I'm the first to admit that I don't know that much about certain items such as glassware, ceramics, rugs, paintings, etc.  Well, actually, I don't know much about a lot of stuff, but my friend/fellow picker Judy does.  She has been a picker for many years and is well read on most items.  So when I saw an opportunity to buy a box of stemware I immediately got Judy in on the deal.  It was beautiful stemware and glasses and Judy felt sure we would get our money back plus a profit.  As she dug through the box, she also found quite a few dolls under the glassware.  The owner at first said the dolls were not included, but he backed down when Judy said "No deal without the dolls!"  And so we became the proud owners of a box of glassware and unknown dolls.  The glassware is still in question as to its value, however, here are some pictures of the dolls--you be the judge!

                                                  Here are the lovely 'treasures' in a basket

                                                   This is probably the best one of the bunch

                                                          This poor doll had no arms!!!

         

So, this is a lesson well learned---always, always, always check your merchandize before you buy it cause you just might end up with an armless doll!!!   God Bless all and any who read this--Pat, A Remade Life                                                        

Two Humble Pickers

Wow, life is a whirlwind right now!!  Between shows I manage (I actually manage and run 2-different shows) and shows that I participate in, I've not had a weekend off in------forever!  Well, it seems that way.  I've got 2-more weekends of work (this is all besides my full time job--feeling sorry for me yet?!)  then hopefully I'll get back to a semi-normal existence!!  Whatevery NORMAL is, right?  Anyway, one of my newest projects is a joining of forces with my good friend and fellow picker, Judy Collins.  Judy and I have come together to become "Two Humble Pickers"--we've got a new blog you really need to check out--  http://www.twohumblepickers.blogspot.com/  -- and read some of the craziness that goes on in our lifes!  For those who don't know what a 'picker' is or the meaning of  'picking',  a picker is a person (of questionable sanity!) who is willing to jump into dumpsters, get up at 4am just to beat everyone else to the garage sales, search through curbsite trash, all in the hopes of finding that one treasure that will bring her/him fame and fortune!  We are a different breed of folk and find great joy in the hunt.  So please be sure to check out our new blog and leave a comment, become a follower and share some of your picking adventures with us!!

 Two Humble Pickers Pat (me) & Judy

Judy having a great time looking for that hidden treasure!!

and I found it!!  Don't I look glamourous!!

Thanks for visiting A Remade Life--God Bless all and any who read this--Pat

Shows, Shows, and more Shows!!

me setting up a show (with 5-layers of clothes-I was cold!!)

I've got 2-shows down and only 4-more to go!!  This last show was VERY difficult.  I actually run that show so I'm responsible for all the preparations as well as the break down.  It was 5-days of overtime, physical labor (with help of course) and lots & lots of issues with vendors.  Once you've had to manage vendors you try to be a better vendor yourself!!  And it was actually 2-shows in 1---we had the Trade Days for 3-days and the Community Garage sale for 1-day during Trade Days.  We had a total of about 135 vendors!!  I do love doing that show, but it is very tiring.  I am getting ready for the next one which is only on Sat. and then a restful day on Sunday!!  Whew--I'm getting tired just writing this!  Anyway, I'll post pictures as I can--God Bless all and any who read this.  Pat, A Remade Life

                                                   HAPPINESS TO ALL!!!

Tending to Business!

Well, life doesn't stand still around my house!  The next few months are very busy--here's a little peek at my schedule:
          * Winnie Trade Days - March 11th - 13th
          * Humble Trade Days - March 18th - 20th
          * The Woodlands G-Sale - March 26th
          * Good Oil Days Festival - April 2nd
          * Winnie Trade Days - April 8th - 10th
          * Humble Trade Days - April 15th - 17th

All of this and I have a full-time job!!! Whew!! I'm tired just thinking about it.  It doesn't leave much time for my art and crafting, but I will manage to sneak it in every once in a while---after all, my crafting helps me to keep sane!!!   God Bless all and any who read this,   Pat - A Remade Life

Blue Jean Gypsy Purse

It's here, it's here!!  My first tutorial on my crafting blog, http://www.toothpaste4lunch.blogspot.com/.  Learn how to make a wonderful blue jean gypsy purse.  This tutorial is in 2-parts.  The first part has been posted and the second part will be posted tomorrow.  Please be sure to check it out and 'get your gypsy-on'!!  And don't forget to leave a comment.  God Bless all and any who read this--Pat, A Remade Life