Thrifty Thursday #73, Plus a Tablescape

Hi! It's Thrifty Thursday! I am your host, Leigh. Thank you so much for stopping by and additional thanks to those who also participate in Thrifty Thursday! I am most delighted to have you join in..for it's YOU who makes it a "show and tell party". I also participate in Tablescape Thursday the host of that fun carnival is the Hostess with the Mostess...Susan of Between Naps on the Backporch. That's no lie or exaggeration, each week I visit Susan's porch and just long to be a guest at any of her tablescapes...especially those held on the porch.

(You can click on any pictures for a closer view)

*Thrifty Thursday takes place each Thursday and is hosted here at Tales from Bloggeritaville, but the party is a progressive one, visit the links to see all the Thrifty Thursday links to see the thrifty treasures participating bloggers have to share.

*Don't forget to copy and paste the Thrifty Thursday logo button to your computer so you can add it to your side bar and your Thrifty Thursday post. That way visitors will know that your are participating in Thrifty Thursday.

I have a thing for white dishes. I have a thing for natural and nautical. So when I spied a  particular piece  in Pottery Barn, I couldnt help but want it. It was this one, a clam shell serving bowl :

I wanted it so bad, but I didnt want to spend the $39 that  it cost. No, $39 isn't a fortune, but at a time when 2 of my children need $7,000 in  braces....a little is alot. (When the orthodontist told me that I did ask for oxygen!!!)  I couldn't make the shell serving piece convincing in my mind, so I let it slide. However, Luck was on my side. I was in the thrift store earlier this week and came across this clam shell serving bowl:



















The cost, $6.88. Not bad.
I haven't used it to serve anything from yet. And I can promise you whatever I may serve will be braces friendly.
I through some shells in it to show you, but I know it's going to be great!




















And in case you want one too...and dont come across one in your thrift store. It's currently on sale.

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Tablescape Thursday
Now, onto to Tablescape Thursday, which is hosted by Susan of Between Naps on the Porch.

 While I was checking out that clam shell serving bowl, I also spied some great outdoor tablescape pieces for tablescaping. I LOVE the zinc serving pieces!

HUGS! Hope to see you tomorrow, but not before you leave some "roadmap" love!

Thanks to all of you for stopping by and participating in today's Thrifty Thursday.

I am also linking today to Linda's Coastal Charm.

Please use Mr. Linky below to link up your blog. Please leave a comment after linking. I love to hear from you.I encourage you all to spread the love and visit the other thrifty Thursday participants, for that's what half the fun is. Aside from seeing a cool treasure it's making friends!

Thank you, all, FRIENDS! I appreciate YOU!

Thrifty Participants:

Happy Trails

I have been on the go lately. I returned yesterday from the funeral of my great Uncle Jack (brother to my grandmother). If there is such a thing, I went to the most wonderful funeral, it was a true celebration of his life. Friends and family shared memories. It was so personal. What a send off!
I will always recall my Uncle Jack having handsome movie star looks.

Even in his last days, he retained that dashing star quality. As a teen I found him incredibly "cool". He and I shared a fondness, a love really, for vintage Corvettes. One particular occasion, he arrived to a family reunion in his gold corvette and allowed a young..age fifteen Leigh to drive down country roads. It meant alot to me that he trusted me with his treasure. "See how it's designed to make corners? Do you feel that?" All I could feel was excitement to be driving such a dream machine.
But our similarities were more than that. He loved birds, plants, traveling to foreign places. He was a missionary through his trade of dentistry. He loved his freedom (he was a military man). He loved and was particularly fond of his  friends and his family. But most importantly, and what was emphasized yesterday at his "going away celebration", he was a simple man. The preacher man knew him well but yet he shared that "Jack was not one who had a "honk if you love Jesus sticker on his car." He didn't need that to prove he was a christian. He didn't have to share his relationship with the world. He lived it." I can only pray that same can be said at my "going away celebration". Happy Trails, Uncle Jack.

Death is never easy. Depending on the circumstances, it can "feel" like a death has occured within us. And I suppose it does. But it's so important to go on. Which brings me to sharing of a blogger who recently lost her son. He was serving in Iraq. Becky of Thoughtfully Blended Hearts  wrote a post about fallen soildier Izzy O'Brien. She has asked her readers to lift Izzy's family in prayer. And in thoughts (through email, comments). You can read the story here. I appreciate bloggers who take the time to help her through her grief!!! Thank you
We all just celebrated such a wonderful weekend of our Nation's Independence. It goes without saying that the aforementioned gentlemen in this post can both be credited to that freedom and our history in protecting it. President Ronald Reagan once said, ""Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." I always loved that quote for it is so true.

I'll meet you back here tomorrow.
Have a great day!

Little River Canyon Mouth Park

There are many great things about the state of Alabama. And if you cannot agree with that, I would be willing to bet you have to much Jerry Springer in your schedule. I would suggest you free it up and visit Alabama! From the mountains to the sea and everything in between, Alabama has much to offer. To celebrate the Independence weekend, my family (my own fam plus my parents, my aunt and uncle and my cousins) traveled to Little River Canyon . The park itself is enormous in the way of acreage.

















We chose the southern end this past weekend and set up "day camp". The Canyon Mouth Picnic Area is the perfect place for a day of picnicking along the water, which is exactly what we did. There are Picnic tables, grills, a water fountain, a foot wash station, and restrooms are available that accommodates those needs.

















We grilled up dogs and burgers and filled in the sides with enough food for a small army. The food was delicious! Afterward we worked off our meals with swimming in the cool canyon water and also enjoyed jumping from a rope swing.
























Well, they did. I am afraid of heights....and, well someone had to take the pictures!

















I even brought home some keepsakes.

















Who needs cheap souvenirs when you can have River rocks?  I just can't say no to a smooth round rock.
























I've always been a cheap date....just another reason why Big Daddy put a ring on this "finga". (smile)


















Canyon Mouth Picnic Area-additional info, directions, pricing, hours

For more Outdoor Wednesday participants, visit Susan at Southern Daydreamer.
And I invite you to join me back here tomorrow for the party....Thrifty Thursday!