FARM STYLE CHRISTMAS

My farm roots kicked in today while decorating our Hoosier cabinet for Christmas -- crocks and stoneware mixing bowls from the farm.

 The three rolling pins in my Grandmother's milk pail belonged to my two grandmothers and a great-aunt.  The rolling pin on the shelf was my mother's.

 The tin spice containers date from the 1930s - 1950s.

 A plaid recipe box and child's school Thermos.

 A Santa in a plaid coat!

Memories from life on the farm.  Well, I didn't actually see a Santa with a plaid coat  -- well, maybe I did -- my Dad had a red and black checked wool jacket.  Who knows?

I'm linking to the following:

Old Time Farmhouse for Farmstyle Christmas Decor, Monday 12/3

Have a Daily Cup for Vintage Christmas Decor, Thursday 12/13

A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

Knick of Time Interiors for Knick of Time Tuesday

Vintage on a Dime for Welcome Home Wednesday

The Vintage Farmhouse for Creative Things Thursday

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday

FAVORITE KITCHEN CUPBOARD

Sheila at Note Songs has invited blogland to a party to celebrate our favorite kitchen cupboard. My favorite has to be our Hoosier cabinet. For years in other houses, this cabinet served as a television cabinet in the family room. When we moved into this house 13 years ago, it finally found a home in an alcove in our kitchen.

The drawers in the bottom hold lots of stuff including place mats, napkins, camera and telephone chargers, candles, phone books, etc. The cupboard on the lower left holds three wooden boxes of sterling silver flatware.

However, its primary purpose is to keep track of my keys and to hold our supply of chocolate.

Occasionally (when I feel like dusting), I throw the doors open to enjoy some of my vintage stoneware collection.

I have quite a few bowls and pitchers in green and robin's egg blue. Sometimes, part of my collection of blue gets the starring role.

Other times, different pieces of blue get the spotlight.

Today, the twelve 5" ribbed bowls in various colors are center stage along with my mother's WWII cookbooks.

These little 5" bowls were all collected one at a time from all over the U.S.

Our cupboard retains all of its original features including the flour sifter and the sugar decanter. We use the little wire spice shelf to hold our appliance manuals. I love the original blue sponge detail on the pull-out work top. When we have parties, I pull out the sliding top to use for serving food and beverages.

I remember my grandmother had a similar cupboard in her kitchen which she used for all of its original purposes. It was practically her only workspace. Wouldn't our ancestors be amazed at the mega-kitchens we enjoy today?

In addition to Sheila's Heart of the Home party on Tuesday, I'm joining in the following links:

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Check each of these blogs out - you'll fall in love with all of the inspiration!

All of the pictures can be clicked on to enlarge and view details.

TABLE TOP TUESDAY

I'm not a decorator. I'm an accumulator; a collector! I enjoy having things around that have meaning to us.

In my previous post, I mentioned that I was able to buy at auction my great-aunt's rolling pin. Below is my small collection of family rolling pins - my two grandmothers', my mother's; and now, my great-aunt's. Ah, the memories of those great pies made with those four rolling pins!!!!

They fit right in with my collection of green bowls and pitchers - a reminder of my grandmothers' kitchens.

The Hoosier cabinet belonged to a friend of Bob's family, but we have had it for many years moving it from house to house. I finally have a kitchen big enough to showcase it.

And, that is how table tops are decorated around the Salmagundi household, they are accumulated!
I am linking to Marty's (at A Stroll Thru Life) fun Tuesday party where everyone shows off their table tops. Check it out.