3/22/12

Maid from Movie, "The Help", Honored

One of Alabama's native daughters received an honor this week...Octavia Spencer!

(EURWeb.com)

Oscar award winning actress Ms. Spencer was honored by a joint session of the Alabama Legislature and Governor Robert Bentley declaring Octavia Spencer Day!
 The actress, who won this year’s best supporting actress Oscar for her performance as a maid in “The Help”, appeared very pleased with the honor.

(Beverly S. Taylor)

(EURWeb.com)

The Montgomery native arrived for the ceremony in a pink limo and was serenaded by her alma mater, Jefferson Davis High School's band!  She attended Auburn University at Montgomery and Alabama State University before earning her degree from Auburn University. 

And I understand there were a few 'War Eagles' shouted! 
(for those out-of-state folks, 'War Eagle' is commonly yelled to show support of Auburn University, especially shouted at their sporting events! LOL)

(EURWeb.com)

(Beverly S. Taylor)

(The Birmingham News)

"I’ve always dreamed big," she said. "I always signed yearbooks with the Hollywood sign on it. I didn’t know how I would get there, but that’s what I wanted to do."

"We were very impoverished growing up," Spencer said, "but my mother always believed in excellence in education, and reading, writing and arithmetic — and dreaming."

"I remember her telling us, ‘You can go anywhere in the world in a book.’ And I rolled my eyes and thought, ‘Well, can’t we just go anywhere in the world in a car?’
by Bob Carlton, Birmingham News

(The Birmingham News)

(The Birmingham News)

(media)

(movie role)

Octavia Spencer, proving your dreams can come true!

See ya down the junkin' road!!

Jan

Partying with:

3/19/12

Made in the USA...Toys

While out on the road we found a great mall with lots of toys!!  Now I'm not talking about computers, Nintendo, game station...but TOYS, made back in the day...when kids played in the dirt...built roads and bridges out of sticks and stones...played dolls...played outside until dark...another time, another place...when no one was a stranger...doors were left unlocked...

TOYS...

FARMALL  tractor...red...with trailer... ALLIED VAN LINES... yellow

TEXACO...what little boy or girl didn't want one of these...'the man who wears the star' 

Doll oven...price- $89.00...original paint...works!!

 Doll Stove...red...works...1930's...$85.00

Made in the USA...toys

Does this pull on your heartstrings?  I know I get so excited with I see items made in the USA! 
The hunt continues...

Have a Blessed Day!! And see ya down the junkin' road!!

Jan

Partying with:   Ivy and Elephants
1st Share Your Cup with Mrs. Olson

3/15/12

Spring 'tacular Craft!

Hello!
My name is Jan!
I'm a J-GRITS! (junkin' girl raised in the south)
I'm addicted!
Yes, that's right! 
I have an addiction!
I'M ADDICTED TO  C H A L K B O A R D  PAINT!!

( I know many of you are addicted too!  That's right! Go ahead! Raise your hands!
We are among friends!)


Weeks ago when I learned of the linky parties that are happening this week,
 I knew I would do a craft to share that consisted of chalkboard paint!

Many of you may remember the DIY Chalkboard Paint Clipboards that I featured earlier...you may read about it  H E R E



But BEWARE! Nothing is off limits to the chalkboard paint fanatic!

There it sat...plain...awaiting a much needed makeover...a clean empty glass jar...with just a swipe of the brush it has a new purpose...

Using it on my outdoor mantel...


 Oh yeah! I'm addicted to chalkboard paint...


See ya down the junkin' road!!

Jan

Partying today with...  Random Thoughts Craft Party


3/12/12

Spring 'tacular Mantel...Outdoors!

That's right! You read the title correctly! O U T D O O R S!! I'm showing you a mantel scape on my faux mantel that happens to be outside at the lake!


I love to be outside...when it's warm...at the lake...so it was natural for me to have the hubby build a faux mantel to decorate...o u t s i d e...





A little whimsy...


Enjoyed the mantel scape while sitting out in the yard...


Brought the much needed laughter from our friends...at first a little surprised...LOL


 I'm joining the spring' tacular mantel party at:   Fox Hollow Cottage
Also partying with:  Cowgirl Up
52 Mantels







See ya down the junkin' road!


Jan

3/11/12

Here, Copy Cat, Here

Super excited to join  DebbieDoos  for her copy cat challenge today!  Ohhh, I had big dreams of one major copy this past week but oh no, not to happen, this J-GRITS was in the bed! Yep, sick...with the crud...ugh! So the big dream copy will save until another day!  I do, however, have a sweet little copy that I tweaked to meet my needs for a springtime breakfast table for the hubby and me!!

(Better Homes & Gardens, March, 2010)


From the magazine..."Turn a tea set into a sweet floral display. Use one kind of flower in the teapot (here, it's white ranunculus) and another in the cup (tulips)." 

Well, I didn't have the 'white ranunculus' so I substituted  buttercups (from my yard) in my tall pot!  Love it!!


Again no tulips...but fresh strawberries will work...


Sliced just right...oh yeah...actually could past for very small tulips 
(if you squench your eyes just a little bit)
















Have a Blessed Day!! And see ya down the junkin' road!!

Jan

Partying with:          DebbieDoos Copy Cat Challenge


3/8/12

In the USA...Cowboy Days Festivities

One local tradition we attended recently was "COWBOY DAYS."  The festivities began with a parade, music, food, vendors and of course cowboys and cowgirls with their horses!

And even though the skies were dark and heavy the festivities must go on...


 The shopkeepers had decorated their store fronts in the spirit of the day...




No 'cowboy' reenactment is complete without an official gunfight in the town streets...

 Small town America...gotta love 'em!!

Next time I'll post more of the parade photos...

See y'all down the junkin' road!!


Jan

3/5/12

Made in the USA

As I told y'all in an earlier post my friend and me have been on the junkin' road!!  It has been a wonderful adventure into a land of vintage and made in the USA!!

Recently, I'm sure you've realized, there has been a major push by media types to find and buy products made in the United States of America.   

They stated if all Americans buy just 'a few items' then  X  amount of jobs will be created!  

I'm all over that!!  More jobs = better economy = happy life!!

Lucky us... we found dinnerware marked made in the USA at a small consignment store...

(someone out there please correct me if I'm wrong about the name of this pattern)

Currier and Ives China in the blue and white was the most popular pattern by Royal China Company of Sebring, Ohio.  The company produced the dinnerware from 1950-1986.  
(Unfortunately, in the 1970's-1980's many china and glassware companies went out of business. 
 For me it was a great lost of American craftsmanship.)

In the shop the dealer had set a lovely table with the vintage china...



The vintage print brings about a nostalgic feeling...the good old days...evenings spent in rockin' chairs...watchin' the lightin' bugs fly in the night...grandma's cookin'...big family gatherings...

Ahhh, such a lovely feeling...made in the USA...

See y'all down the junkin' road!!