Goodbye, 2012

Hello, friends. I hope you all had wonderful holidays. It is hard to believe it's the last day of this year, at least for me. The past twelve months have been challenging at times, but with plenty of good points, too. We got more rain than in 2011, thank goodness, and while it was hot (this is Texas, after all), it wasn't as excruciating as the previous year. High spots for me include starting this blog and beginning to walk regularly again. 

Here are the last finds for 2012. My favorite  below is a birdhouse that is made to look as if it's constructed of old cookbooks. The perch broke off, but Mr. B says he can fix it. Also seen is a book called The  Good Citizen's Handbook, a new with tag ME bag, one each of three Georges Briard  fruit mugs and three German red heart mugs, two little gnomes and a decorative box. One of Mr. B's gifts, the His Lordship mug, and the sad remains of a snowflake pitcher. Bought in Austin for $2, it got knocked on the floor as soon as it was brought in the house here and lost its handle. The little box has a hinged lid and is decorated inside as well as on the exterior.

A new toddler cup with tight lid from Starbucks.

Today from the Sand Dollar, a long wicker basket to go on the back of the toilet tank, two mugs from La Madeleine, a book featuring a Siamese cat for my oldest daughter, who owned one for many years and a new jar of peppermint soap. 

Here's a view with Freddy included.

Somehow the jar of soap migrated into the Austin scores. Those were actually the little bench, the flowered suitcase and the snowflake pitcher. I've already started experimenting with a a spring vignette in the suitcase but it's not exactly right yet.  Maybe because it's still December, if only for a few more hours, and a way to go before time to start thinking in that mode. 

Have you taken down your decorations yet? Ours usually stay up until 6 January, so that's still a week away. Do you have a major thrift score or roadside find this year?  Mine would probably be a tie between the easel for Mr. B and the terrarium found at Goodwill. 

I've very much enjoyed starting this blog and look forward to more finds and posts in 2013. 

Happy New Year!

Michele