Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with great talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence, determination alone are omnipotent.

My kids love beef jerky. I like it because it is a great source of low fat protein for them. The only thing is when you buy it from the stores (except Whole Foods or stores like that) it is full of sodium and preservatives and additives. It is very expensive at the other stores especially in the quantities my kids ingest.

Here is how you do it at home:

1 large London Broil
A1 sauce
Balsamic vinegar

Trim all fat from London Broil. Cut on an angle very thin slices. Use a very sharp knife.

Marinate in some A1 and balsamic vinegar.

Place in dehydrator (I bought it at the flea market for $1.00) for about a day. Check for doneness...the ones at the bottom are finished quicker than the ones at the top.

Remove and start Chewing.

We just came home from the Broadway show Wicked about the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz.

BRILLIANT!

SEE IT!

What you have may seem small; you desire so much more.
See children thrusting their hands into a narrow-necked jar,
striving to pull out the sweets. If they fill the hand,
they cannot pull it out and then they fall to tears.
When they let go of a few, then they can draw out the rest.

When I am old and exhibit the signs of dementia just let me trash pick! That is my one life's desire I have not fulfilled.

I love love love flea markets and tag sales and thrift shops and good will stores and craft shows. If I see something good in someone's trash I want with all my might to grab it but usually "chicken out" or I am not in a car or able to get it home.

I promise I will not pick for food..... STUFF is what I love.

Anybody can hire a decorator or go to a store and buy all the matchy matchy stuff. I like to mix the old with the new, the used with the shiny. I like character, uniqueness, distinctiveness, and originality. OLD STUFF has history, it has soul, it has a STORY (I always love a good story). A never ending treasure hunt for a find that gives me the shakes; furniture, paintings, great bags, clothing, coats, shoes, jewelry, hats, toys, embroidered linens, table cloths, curtains, cushions, kitchen ware, lamps, chandeliers. The cupboard with the chipped paint, the great big patina copper pot, the mismatched china, solid wood doors, glass door knobs, weather beaten signs and labels, old cookie cutters and butter molds.

Your house should reflect you and your interests and passions not some decorator's idea of what is proper. Poo Hoo to proper.
Poo HOO to thinking that paying a high price for something makes it nice. Validates. Not so. Some things that are expensive will always be nice like granite and marble and real wood floors and doors and windows and even some new furniture but other expensive items in all areas are just a effort to boost our self esteem. Balance is the key. To everything.

I also like collecting great pictures/photos, stamps, shells, coins, silverware and old books. I love flowers and anything that is flowery (maybe that dementia has started to kick in).
I like to decoupage and make things out of the things I collect. I've decorated whole rooms with decoupage. I've made wind chimes, candle holders, and jewelry and cards. It's my creative outlet. My favorite thing to do with my kids was crafts ..now that is practically over.

It all started with antique stores but that can get expensive. Then I noticed some of the antique stores get their STUFF from estate sales, tag sales, donations, thrift stores, etc...Getting a bargain became a thrilling game. The older the item the more I like it. I almost can't pay high retail prices anymore.

I started following Martha Stewart, Rachael Ashwell, and Tracy Porter.

The thrill of entering a second hand shop or antique store is the same feeling as entering a library or book store for me. I can spend the rest of my life scouting those places. Philadelphia has tons of these stores. I also like Peddler's Village, and New Hope. I find these stores everywhere I go.

The best is when you find something that isn't made any longer. The quality of older items is wonderful. Collectible items are really luxurious. It is nice to use something for a new and different purpose than originally created.

The other day I was visiting a patient who loves clothes. She loved my outfit...The whole outfit cost me $1.65 plus the shoes $4.00.

When an item is given to me, especially from a family member or friend, it is a way to remember that person forever. It also keeps the memories of how that item was in your life in that family member's house. I have my grandmother's bedroom set. It is a 9 piece set that takes up two rooms on the second floor in my house. I remember sleeping in that bed when I was 6 or 7 and feeling like I was in a queen's castle with it's high backboard and ornate carvings of lion's heads. I remember the crisp, white, clean, fresh smelling, cool, cotton sheets and the big soft pillows. I remember playing with small china faced dolls in the side table's "secret compartments". I remember my grandmother's rogue and chalky red lipstick (that I still have) and her jewelry box with lots of colorful beaded jewelry, plastic earrings and big pins. Me and my sister and cousin played for hours in her room. I actually have a three way beveled glass mirrored vanity with beautifully carved side drawers and a bench. How lucky am I? The real reason I'm lucky is that it was the same dresser mirror my grandmother looked into when she applied her lipstick and rogue. Where was she going? How did she look? Did she feel special to have such nice furniture? She polished it like I do today and made the mirrors sparkle. My grandfather put his socks in the little drawers my husband uses for his socks. How lucky am I?
SOOOO lucky!!!!!