FRENCH JAR

One of the things that Bob found on his yard sale travels this week was this jar for $2.  It is quite tall and has various embossed writings on it including "VMS - REIMS" which I assume that it came from the Reims area in France.  On the front and top it says, "Bocal" & "Le Parfait -Super".  I think that means 'The great, perfect jar'.

 The top also says, "Ouverture instantanee" meaning 'instant opening'.

 On the rim it says, "Niveau de remplissage", which I think that means 'filling level'.  In addition, in English, it says, "Made in France" --  making me think that it was made for the tourist market.  The size and shape indicates that it could have held pasta.  It isn't old, but interesting nevertheless.  What do you think? And, have I translated correctly?
On my next post, I'll show you what I'm going to do with it.  


I'm joining the following for their weekly parties.  Please stop by these blogs and say hello.
Southern Hospitality for Thrifty Treasures Monday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays

FINISHING UP THE PORCH

We've been working on the porch a little this spring and summer - spiffing it up and finishing some projects.  This week we painted our resin wicker furniture.  Over the years, it had become sun-faded and was starting to look pretty tacky.

You can see in the picture below how faded it was getting.

We chose Krylon Fusion spray paint in Black Satin.  We're pleased with the look - time will tell how well it holds up.

As I mentioned in a previous post here that the porch has become the depository for all of the industrial and farming stuff that we have accumulated over the years.  Here's some farm trivia -- do you know what this triangle apparatus is?

It is an acreage measuring device.  From tip to tip it is 6.6 feet. If you pivot from point to point l00 times that is 660'; and 660' by 660' is equal to 10 acres.  This particular one was manufactured by a small company in the Colorado farming community that we grew up in; and we found it in my Dad's workshop.

The circular window on the left was in the house that Bob grew up in, and the etched glass window was in the house where my Dad was born in 1913.  Below is a chimmey cupboard for storing the cushions, my mother's wooden ironing board from 1937 (which we use when we set up a drink station on the porch), and my Dad's workshop tractor seat.

This is the first year that we have grown sunflowers, and they are putting on quite a show for us, as we can see them from the porch!

Some of you have inquired if we are in the path of the Colorado Springs wildfire.  We live about 20 miles southwest from Pikes Peak (as the crow flies).  So far we have had only one little fire a week ago which was quickly extinguished.  Because of the current wind patterns, we are not even experiencing any smoke problems.  You can see in the above sunflower pictures how blue our skies were this morning.    BUT, in Colorado Springs this is a horrific fire of epic proportions -- at least 32,000 people have been evacuated from their homes.  Our local TV comes from Colorado Springs, and it was just terrible watching the houses burn last night.  The weather is not cooperating at all - it is dry, hot and windy.  They are saying it will take a long time to contain this fire.  These people will be in danger for awhile - please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.


I'm linking with the following:
No Minimalist Here for Thursday Open House Party
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday 
Please check these blogs out, and tell them thank you for hosting.

RECORD CABINET TRANSFORMATION

We bought this little record cabinet cheap at a junk store recently.  The bottom was natural wood, but we thought it would look more up-to-date with a painted finish.  We hoped to take it out of its l970s misery.  Sorry, no 'before' picture.

 Bob refinished the cherry top, and gave the bottom a painted and glazed finish.

 It turned out nice, we think.

Evidently, someone else did, too.  It sold within 15 minutes of being delivered to the consignment store!


OK, it's the first day of summer - now can we have Fall & Winter?  In arid Colorado, it is hot, dry, buggy, windy and the forest fires are raging.  So many homes have been lost; please pray for those people in harm's way.


I'm joining the following parties -- please go by these blogs for inspiration galore.
Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Restore Interiors for Restored It Wednesday
The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursday
Miss Mustard Seed for Furniture Feature Friday

HICKS FROM THE STICKS OFF TO THE CITY

We took a couple of fun days off from just hanging around the house, and went to the big city -- Denver!  

The first day we met our son and went to the new History Colorado Center.  It has only been open a short time in its new facility, a block south of the old Colorado History Museum on Broadway.  It was enjoyable, but a little slick and high tech for our tastes.  We missed the old museum that was packed so full of artifacts that you could actually FEEL the history.  We will go back, however, when more of the new exhibits are open.  One of the temporary exhibits was Colorado - past, present and future; - all done in Legos.  Fun, fun - my favorite was the row of the tiny, blue porta-potties done in Legos, but all of the Colorado landmarks executed by the Lego artists were great!

We then hit our favorite antique mall on South Broadway, had Colorado Hacienda Mexican food, and checked into our hotel to find we had been upgraded to a suite at no extra cost - a nice surprise.  It doesn't take much to please us hicks!

  On our second day, we went to the Old Glory Antique Fair in Clement Park.  Clement Park is right next to the infamous Columbine High School - always a sobering moment when you remember what took place there.

But on this day, it was all about junking and antiquing.

After 50 years of antiquing, we don't buy much anymore (sorry, dealers); but we love checking everything out for trends and seeing what people are buying.

 We saw several industrial carts -- all in the $500-600 range, which makes our $20 cart from a yard sale a REAL bargain.  Read about that score here.

 This was a great seed box, and I've always wanted one; but way out of our price range.

 Lots of industrial and farmstead goods.

 We laughed about this chicken coop - another winter on the farm and it would have been a pile of splinters.  And, in our opinion, was pretty pricey at $65 for that kind of patina!

 After a morning of sun, we headed south and stopped at our favorite antique mall in Colorado Springs; then home.  In my childhood, we would go to Denver from the farm 3-4 times a year to shop, eat, and observe.  It's still a thrill for me!

So, what did I buy?

 I keep saying I'm going to quit buying brown transferware, but I can't seem to pass up a nice specimen like this tureen for $12.  It has a hairline crack in the lid, but still pretty on the shelf at that price.

In my continuing search for items with the number 15, I found a cue ball, a bingo card, and a cash register indicator.  Part of my discipline is that I will not spend more than $10 and preferably under $5 for these things.  Don't ask what I'm going to do with them -- I'm getting quite an assortment, but the fun is in the search.


Please check out the following blogs that I'm linking to this week, and thank them for their efforts.
Southern Hospitality for Monday Thrifty Treasures
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday Treasures
Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday
From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
White Ironstone Cottage for Treasure Chest Friday

SCHOOLS OUT!

We are officially in summer mode at the Salmagundi household -- spending lots of time with the grandkids this past week.

Caitlin wanted to make a sun dress  -- so first you cut, then you sew, then you model!

She spent some time looking through old photos for some pictures to add to her Facebook page.

We found this cutie -- she always did like to model her new clothes.

Our son, Mike was home for a few days -- he is on summer break from teaching high school, and hadn't been home since Christmas.  So, a lot of cooking took place.  We tried the recipe for pulled pork and slaw that was posted on 
Just Another Hang Up (originally from Family Circle).  Thanks, Suzanne, for bringing it to my attention!  We really liked it, and definitely will be adding it to our permanent file.  No pictures -- it was devoured before I even thought about the camera.  Check for the recipe here.

We were in charge of Fellowship Hour at church today, so I enlisted Caitlin to help with the cookie making.  She baked while I did the hand work on her dress.

She made Whoopie Pies -- that's the marshmallow gooey filling she's licking off the beaters.  

You can't beat this gooey goodness!

Now, grandchild #2 is feeling neglected.  I've got to think of some ideas to entertain a 10-year old busy-boy this week.  One thing, Papa is going to give him his first lesson in mowing the lawn.  Have to get these kids ready to take over before we get too much older!!!


Here's Grammy with Miss Attitude and Mr. Mischievous/Busy Boy.  With these two around, Grammy is getting older by the minute!

Added on Monday -- Wyatt began his mowing lesson, and Papa made sure he was doing it right!!

Please check out the following blogs.  I'll be partying with these ladies this week.
Little Red House for Mosaic Monday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Very Merry Vintage Style for Share the Love Wednesday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday
Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday
Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special

MORE ON THE PORCH

It seems that our screened-in porch has become the depository of all things ranch/farm/industrial that we have accumulated over the years.  In an effort to corral some of the stuff into a sense of order, Bob put up a shelf in one corner last week.  The brackets are some sort of hardware store thingies that were in my Dad's farm workshop.

 The round window came out of Bob's childhood home.  I, also, have the window that was in the farm house where my Dad was born.  As soon as we get the frame spruced up, I'm going to hang it in this corner, too.

 The red barn lantern belonged to my great-grandfather; the blue-tipped thing is a sheep brand in the shape of an H for my family name; plus a cow bell; my Dad's spurs; and more brands.

There is still more stuff to organize and display.  

In the meantime, this is the view from the porch -- our shrub roses have been beautiful this year!