We’re going to talk about the vintage pond yacht in just a minute, but I have to say this is book launch eve!  While the books have been shipped and some are already on store shelves, tomorrow is the official launch day and I am about to burst with excitement! If you preorder early enough today, you might be able to receive the book in the mail tomorrow!  I also spotted it at my local Barnes & Noble store this week, so you might be able to pick up a copy at your local store even today.  You can check for availability HERE. Or you can preorder Feels Like Home from any of these retailers…  |||| And claim your preorder bonuses HERE and find instructions on claiming your preorder bonuses HERE if you need some help.  The preorder bonuses are an original art download, a bonus chapter (The Feels Like Home Renter’s Guide), and five videos including

Well, this is the last of my Gold Rush Days finds from 2021, but I saved a good one for last!  I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to go to an antique market that particular day.  I am almost always in the mood to shop for antiques, but it was a hot and sticky Friday at the end of a very busy week.  I just didn’t know if I wanted to go through the trouble.  But, I had a list that had been sitting on my desk for several weeks of things I’d like to look for at the market and my friend Cheri was planning on going whether I went or not.  She got to the event early Friday morning and started sending me pictures of things she spotted that I might like.  That was enough to get me out of bed to get ready to go. I

I am going to share more about the basement makeover this week (including sharing about painting the trim and light switches), but I thought I would share a couple more of my finds from Gold Rush Days today – an antique pastry cutter and a nutcracker with bone handles. Both of these finds were ones that I spotted early in the day, but did jump at right away.  Neither the antique pastry cutter nor the nutcracker were on my list, they weren’t things I *needed*, and they were both priced a little on the higher side.  So, I admired them and kept looking.  As I was shopping the rest of the market, though, I kept thinking about those two pieces.  I wondered if someone else bought them or if they would still be there.  I imagined them in my house. I’ve learned when antique shopping (or shopping for anything) to

One thing I’ve learned after years of shopping for antiques is to always open up boxes and cases.  Sometimes, the most delightful things are hidden away in a case that doesn’t look very impressive.  Typewriters, binoculars, sets of silver flatware, and cameras are just some of the things you can find in boxes and cases.  I opened a beat-up old leather camera case when I was at Gold Rush Days and found this beautiful antique camera from 1906 – the no. 10 folding pocket Ansco camera for just $20… I found a description of the no, 10 Ansco camera from THIS website – “The No. 10 Folding Pocket Ansco was manufactured by Ansco in circa 1906. This model was similar to the No. 9 Folding Pocket Ansco except that it featured rising-falling and swing front. Like the No. 9 it produced a large negative for landscapes and panel portrait work