A DEMI JOHN AND A VISIT!

Just in the last month or so, I have been seeing wicker-encased demi johns around blogland. In our many years of antiquing and junking, I don't recall seeing one before. Then magically, yesterday we were at an auction, and there was one! I'm usually not very trendy - you know: "a day late, a dollar short" type. But, we won the bid for $5.00. Did we pay too much??

I know nothing about them, but this one appears to have held rum. Does anyone know how old this one might be?

It has some interesting labels.

There is something about the shape and texture that is engaging.

I'm linking to the following parties:

Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays with Linda at Coastal Charm
and
Tabletop Tuesdays with Marty at A Stroll Thru Life

Check out these two blogs for lots of inspiration and treasures.

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On Friday last week, Bob and I spent a most enjoyable day with Mary
of Mary's Meanderings and her husband. We have met together several times before, but this was the first time we had visited their wonderful home. This energetic and enthusiastic couple have a lot going on both personally and professionally. They own this huge old house which they are restoring - it is already full of great details and belongings - I can't imagine how charming it will be when they finish. It is a huge job, but they have already done a ton of work. Professionally, they are missionaries and are working in the small town of Aguilar, Colorado to establish a food and clothing pantry to aid these people that live in this depressed area. Not only are they giving these people a hand-up, but are really trying to impact their lives for the better on a personal level. Mary fixed lunch of quiche and soup for us, and served it in their newly refurbished breakfast nook. Sorry - no pictures as we were too busy visiting and enjoying the day. Be sure to check out Mary's blog here, as she always has wonderful, informative posts.

SILHOUETTES

In the last few months I have run across several blogs showcasing silhouettes, which got me to thinking that I had some silhouettes SOMEWHERE. It took a couple of months but we finally found them in a box in the garage! They were no longer in frames, and hadn't seen the light of day for years.

We dug through our stash of thrifted frames, cut some down to fit, and gave them one of our favorite finishes (Sherwin Williams Antique Red paint with an ebony stain over it). I knew I wanted oval mats, but didn't want to pay the price for custom, so I checked Hobby Lobby & Michaels for ready-cut; but they never seemed to have three black ones alike. Finally, I just bought three of whatever color and spray painted them black.

This silhouette is of me when I was 15 (in 1954). It was cut at Riverview Amusement Park in Chicago.

The one below is of our son, Mike when he was 3 years old (1971). I love the scherenschnitte cutting that frames this silhouette.

Mike was 6 years old when this one was done by a different artist from above.

And, lastly, this one is of our daughter, Jenni, when she was 2 years old in 1974.

I'm sure enjoying my silhouettes again. Now, I just wish I had some of my grandchildren.

I'm joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life
for Tabletop Tuesday. Be sure to stop by her blog for so much inspiration.

FLUFFING AND BUFFING

It was time to change up the shelves in the dining room; so I removed my Friendly Village dishes, and replaced them with some previously hidden-away brown transferware and antique apothecary jars.

From Memorial Day until July 4th, I like getting out some of our patriotic ephemera that we have accumulated over the years.

Here we have Betsy and her flag under glass!

Old postcards.

In this apothecary jar are three generations of draft registration cards from World War I, World War II, and the Viet Nam War.

I'm partying with Mary at Little Red House
for Mosaic Monday

and

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life
for Tabletop Tuesday.

Be sure to stop by their blogs to check out the list of participants this week.

A THRIFTY TREASURE AND A TABLETOP

I'm linking up with Rhoda at Southern Hospitality
for the Thrifty Treasures Monday party. 


This little table is one of those we found a week ago at a yard sale for $7.50.  It did need a little work such as replacing some missing molding and a new finish. 

The wood of this table is beautiful plus it has some wonderful details; such as the inlaid wood on the drawer, the pretty pedestal, and the rosettes on the feet.

I'm also linking to Marty at A Stroll Thru Life

for her Tuesday Tabletop party.

My parents were married in 1937, and on the table are three of their wedding gifts.  The lamp was a gift from friends who owned the local furniture store, and the picture in the background was from one of my mother's college professors.  The little pitcher holding the lilacs is part of a china coffee service that my Dad's parents and brother gave them. 

Please check out Rhoda's and Marty's blogs by clicking on their blog names above to see who else is partying along.

THRIFTY TREASURES

We don't need a thing, but we still are drawn to yard sales and auctions. Bob does buy some furniture to fix up and resell; but I try not to buy more stuff!! This is what has come home with us recently, however.

How can you not love children's chairs? The red one is 22" tall and was $1 - Bob did have to do some repair work and give it a new paint job. The wooden one is only 16" tall costing $3 and did require some work, also. The red one will probably be resold, but I haven't been able to give up the little one yet.

At a yard sale this past weekend, we bought this table shown below for $7.50. It only required some tightening up and some furniture cleaner; and is living here at our house for now.

The vintage throw in the background came from the auction at my great-grandparent's homestead. It was in a box of linens; but when I saw I was bidding against one of my favorite cousins, I stopped bidding. After she won the bid, she asked me what I wanted out of the box. I told her and she gave it to me for FREE. Thanks, Jane - I owe you.

Back in the 1960s, my aunt gave me the Blue Willow covered milk jug. It had belonged to her in laws, and she said, in disgust, that it just wasn't her style. I was thrilled and have always loved it. It is marked Buffalo China with a 1911 date. I always look for Buffalo China Blue Willow when we are out and about junking and antiquing, but in all of these years I have only found this platter and bread and butter plate. I don't think they are particularly scarce or valuable - they just haven't crossed my path.

Considering the amount of dishes I have amassed the last 50 years, it is probably a good thing that come collections have remained small!

We also picked up this past weekend another table for $7.50 at a yard sale and a table for $5.00 at an auction. When Bob finishes doing his magic on those I'll post about them.

I will be joining Rhoda at Southern Hospitality
for Monday's Thrifty Treasures party

and

Marty at
A Stroll Thru Life
for Table top Tuesday.

Check out their great blogs for more party participators!

LONGING FOR PARIS IN THE SPRING

I'm joining in with Marty at A Stroll Thru Life
for Tabletop Tuesday.

Some people have Spring fever for their gardens, but I have Spring fever for Paris.

After taking my Easter stuff down today, I decided to get out some postcards that we had picked up from a kiosk along the Seine two years ago. They are copies of some lovely little watercolors of sights around Paris. To frame them temporarily, I decoupaged some mats with scrapbook paper holding them together with black elastic bands.

The picture above also shows every tourist's purchase - a replica of la tour Eiffel. And in the bottom right picture in the background is my Laduree box that contained those wonderful French macaroons.

So, for this Spring, this tabletop vignette will have to be my trip to Paris. However, I have plans to go to Germany and Paris in the Spring of 2011!!

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.