Raleighwood Sundays = Love.

 When I woke up today, I was thinking about two things - well three:

1) ZZ Top's "Every Girl's Crazy Bout a Sharp Dressed Man" (it's the song of the day - EVERY MORNING OF MY LIFE, I WAKE UP WITH A RANDOM SONG IN MY HEAD)

2) Pork products and coffee....I could smell something cookin' downstairs...either sausage or bacon...and coffee...mmm

3) THE RALEIGH FLEA MARKET

After breakfast with the fam, Anj and I headed to the Raleigh Flea Market on this glorrrrrious sunny day! I remember my first trip to the flea market when I was a little girl - early elementary school with my Meemaw - and every year after that I asked when we were going back. Some of my fondest memories of me and Hazel when I was little is our yard sale trips and random junk stores. We still enjoy it now. It's something that's in your blood, I guess. Other people see junk - I feel my heart racing with excitement like I've had 3 cups of WSES coffee.

I'm such a sucker for door knobs, keys, face plates, escutcheons (the cool old school key holes that you put the key into) ... what a delicious display.

I'm addicted to keys - what I'm going to do with them...I don't know yet, but that's not important.

These are escutcheons ...

 The same man is always at this space - I LOVE that old headboard/footboard set - But, I'm lucky enough to have one that my Meemaw gave me... The flea market is one of my favorite things about Raleighwood. It's like a magical treasure hunt - and talking to the vendors is half the fun - being a girl with a southern accent almost guarantees a discount. (Don't tell anyone I said that).

Okay, those of you who know me well know that I'm OBSESSED with vintage baby stuff. Nope - I'm not preggers, but I just love it. This bench was made from a toddler bed which was cut down. LOVE! I got his business card, and I will be in touch whenever there is in fact, a baby Davis on the way.

I could spend days.......

There is a special place in my heart for trunks... but I already have two. Anj told me I couldn't buy anymore. There's nowhere to put them. What will I put in them, etc. etc. etc. I like to think about who they belonged to and where they've been. Prolly just in some tobacco farmer's bedroom...but still...it's fun to imagine.

I don't iron now with the handy dandy electrical kind. Imagine havin' to heat these beasts up first...psych! My 1800's family would just have to be wrainkled.

What's not fun about a collection of abnormally large wrenches? And a random giant pair of scissors?

Really - is there a proper caption for this?

Fill your child's room with a wealth of knowledge - then hang these here horns above the crib!

Bag says: "Will do ANYTHING. I need a new home. $50."

Look at the creepy doll head back there.

My fantasy mailbox when Anj and I buy an old farmhouse to fix up somewhere in Harnett or Johnston Co. (There prolly ain't none left in Wake).

Really sad this turned out blurry. Whattup dentures?

"Keep Smiling - and people will start to call you the grinning idiot" (or somethin like that)

Great for the man cave.

No matter how many old Ball jars I see, I'm still sucked in ...

Sears Roebuck from the 40's (or so I was told by the pusher)

"It's somethin that everybody wants, and nobody needs." Hey - at least he was honest.

Lots of wrought-iron rust-tastic magic.

Tru Dat.

It's important to take proper security measures in case a riot breaks out at the Flea Market ???

Yummy vintage jewelry.

 My strongest flea market addiction:

THE BELT MAN. I have purchased four belts and a bracelet from him so far - only one of them was actually for me. It would be selfish not to share.

You pick out whatever color leather belt you want for $18 and then you can have whatever name you want put on it, along with other nifty stamps if you like - horseshoes, butterflies - whatever floats your boat...and you can upgrade to a more baller buckle for the cost of the buckle.

Con: The dude is a Carolina fan - but, I notice the gun is pointed at the Duke Blue Devil - so at least he's better to hate Duke than the 'Pack.

Study this carefully ...

Healthy flea market snack option - although the hotdogs smelled sooooooooooooooo yumm-tastic!

 Okay, so after a couple hours' worth of walking around....this was my purchase...and I only had to get up off of 50 cents.......

This - is a cigarette case annnnnnnnnnd lighter in one. That's right folks. Two in one. (No- I don't even smoke). More on this later.

After a couple hours at the FM, and a pit stop by Father & Son (too elated to take pics - sorry) ... we got hawngray ... 

Of COURSE Anj had read an article............about Boylan Brewery...and here it was:

It was a deliciously warm day and I wanted somewhere that we could eat outside.

The most delicous fries EVER in a handy little cut off paper sack. Mmmmmm!!!!! My pork loin sandwich with fried onions and beer bbq sauce was also def. worthy of smackin' the $&%! outta ya mama.

Although Anj looks very trendy and super in this photo - the point of it is that PRECIOUS old man in the background. LOOK AT HIS CUTE WIDDLE SHOES!!!! Anj could be right - I think his wife knows my game.

 Okay, so after a delicious lunch...home we go where my brother (who is trying to quit smoking) is able to provide tiny little Marlboro Mediums for a photo to show my cig holder's full potential (which I actually plan on using as a place to stash cash in a tiny purse that won't hold my wallet for a magical night out):

Every good smoker knows you turn one over for luck after you pack em. Duh.

The super baller metal polish which helped to remove the yuck off of my handy new cig case/gangsta money clip.

The bro hard at work shinin' that thang down! He can fix juuuuuuuuust about anything. Didn't wear safety goggles though. Tisk tisk. (Please observe the bits & particles flying through the air).

Perfect end to the day. Pickled okra homemade by yours truly - mmmmm!

Raleighwood Flea Market is just one of the 976340873593875 why Raleigh makes me feel magical inside. :)

10 Important Matters

(I stole this title/idea from the Pioneer Woman - I love her.)

1. My husband is a hottie and I'm so thankful God blessed our relationship to have what it takes to make it. If today was our last day together, I could die knowing that we have been given a love that some people never find in a lifetime. Just look at that wedding band on his hot little hand. (Sorry - maybe I should have warned you that you might throw up in your mouth a little).

2. I'm still motivated to keep working out and eating healthy. (I rewarded myself tonight with a cherry Toaster Strudel - and I don't feel the least bit guilty. My blood sugar was 54 and I wanted it. Thanks.)

3. I love my job.

4. Sylvia is my homegirl.

5. The coffee @ work is wayyyyyyyyyy more hardcore than ANYTHING Starbucks could POSSIBLY put on the market. I drank about 10 oz. @ 9am - was still whacked out around 5 pm. My acupuncturist probably would not approve of its affect on my kidney chi.

6. I'm working on a surprise for a surprise person in my life. I hope he/she/it/they/him/her likes it.

7. My lifelong sister in dia-bee-tuss is having a baby girl!

8. Friday I get to not work, but help with wedding fun-ness and eat lunch somewhere TBD ....annnnnnnnnd .......... ANJ COMES.

9. It seems like Jesus is looking out for everyone around me. He will provide! :)

10. I'm going to eat the Homestead Salad Bar on Saturday night and show off my hot husband to people I haven't seen since I was a kid.

Jesus so gots my back.

Love,

B

Bonfire/OysterRoast/Deer Chili/ 2011 Kickoff /Throwdown

My only regret from New Year's Eve is that I didn't take a picture of good ole David the oyster man. 12/29: Anj calls up David, the Davis family oyster guy, places our NYE order for the bonfire/oyster roast/deer chili 2011 kickoff throw down @ the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Silas B.Davis.

12/30: David's a lil concerned cause his guys he usually gets the oysters from done up and gone on vacay with no warning. You know how oystermen ( I had "fishermen", but Anj said there's a big difference) do. 

Later that day: Ole David says not to fear. He's done found somebody in  Cedar Island - but......if they don't look good, he ain't buyin' em. If we don't hear from him though - no news is good news. Well....we didn't hear. 

12/31 - 3:00 p.m. - we stop by Davis General Store. Silas: "Well, Andrew. You talk to 'im bout the oysters?"

Anj: "Yeah." Silas: "Did ya?" Anj: "Yeah." Me: "Anj. I mean, damn, when are we gonna go pick 'em up? It's 3:00, and we gotta drive to Davidson to get 'em. Then you know there's gone be 8 million other things to do at your mama's house. People are gone be there at 7:30."

12/31 - 3:01 - Anj calls David. "Hey, this is Andrew. You got my oysters? He he. Good. We'll be up there shortly." There David was - snug as a bug in a rug in in front of his trailer/cooler roadside shop. Surrounded by Christmas trees and his little sea-net seashell embellished stand. You coulda looked at David and just known right off the bat - he had just driven over 6 hours to get some oysters off some boat from some random oysterman and then 6-7 more hours back to Mecklenburg County. He was not a man of false promises. Loved the ratty blue hat, and the oysterman's grin - not a care in the world...tannish, needin' a shave. He handed over two bushels of oysters - the last batch of which was delivered in a Blue Moon carton and that's how our NYE got started - with Good old Dave. See the magical memories made below... I hope yours was just grand as well.

 Nyyyyyep, every New Year's Eve that ends up worth even speakin of starts off with a good squirrel hunt...please observe the bros-n-law in hot pursuit of a menacing tree rat. Git 'im!

Sound I admittedly was previously unfamiliar with: the cheebitty cheebitty cheebitty groveling sound of a squirrel who's been hit, but ain't dead.

Paper and cardboard remnants of Christmas magic past = fire starters.

Pa Davis doin' somethin' clearly important.

I may have on a Carolina t-shirt under this here deer head embossed camo jacket, but I can burn me UP some flammables, now.

Hey gal, this is Silas. I know you're prolly on up in Raleigh, but I thought I'd give you a call and let you know we're 'bout to roast some oysters and burn up some Christmas trees.

Supper. Along with venison chili and sausage-tomato-onion (plus beans if you're an original Davis) soup.

Bubba. Bless his heart. Drooled allllllllll night for some scraps.

Gettin' ready....brang ON the salty sea-tastic aroma and goodness.

Steamin the oysters under a burlap bag.

Anj's NC Stizzle apron he got for a Christmas prize.

Note the runniness - naw, I won't eat that. No thanks. I did however, learn to love some of the over-cooked firm ones w/ a little TX Petey & a saltine. :)

Meanwhile, my naiiiisty husband happily slurps down the salty funk.

Step 2 - Add Texas Pete - not to be confused with 12 bottles of cocktail sauce. Or plain old tabasco sauce.

 

Lois Ellen's Christmas tree plus one Anj picked up off side of the road.

Light it up, brother.

Ahh.

More! More! More!

Super fantastic!

Whoo-hoo!