Another redo and a Log Cabin Adventure

Before

Can you believe I'm posting twice in one weekend? Well there are some things that I wanted to share with you and an experience that I had yesterday that some how lightened my heart and reminded me of how much I love life and how wonderful it is to be with the people I love and to be

healthy and able to craft and create.

I hadn't planned to decorate much for the 4th of July. Brother helped me put up the banners last year and decorate the porch and I just didn't have it in me to do it without him this year.

I found this box just before the Holiday last year and I liked the painting but it was just to bright for me. I distressed it his morning and I will display it with my other decorating. I like it better this way.

I went to an estate sale yesterday; I was amazed to find my self traveling down a wooded path to an old two story log home. It had stone fireplaces and and a stone smoke house. It was nestled in a cool enchanted forest that wrapped me in an aura of peace and tranquility. This house was full of some of the most beautiful primitive antiques that I have ever seen. Each table, bench and stepback  cupboard sat in it's proper place in time, magically arranged as it would have been too hundred years ago. The opened casement windows brought in the freshness of the cool quiet forest and and the essence of the mysteries of nature.  

Everything was for sale and and I cannot describe the many, many beautiful pieces that were there and I cannot deny that more than once I felt the threat of tears as I thought of anything being disturbed in this place. It is the home Roy Wilder, a very colorful gentleman in N.C. history. I will write more about him in a later post. 

  

I purchased this flag at the sale and later found that it dates to the first world war. These flags were displayed in homes in honor of family members that were fighting in the war and the tradition has continued since. A blue star was added for each soldier in the family and if a loved one was lost the star was outlined in gold embroidery. Thankfully this flag has only blue stars. I noticed how some of the stars were so neatly appliqued.

 

While other stars were just more or less tacked in place.

 

Then I realized that this flag most likely has been used for generations. It has 16 stars and the lady that so neatly appliqued the stars at the top of the flag may have no longer been living in WWII  and later wars but just the same someone kept the tradition and added a star each time a family member went to war.

Then I knew that I would decorate for the 4th of July, and I would remember Brother joking about how he had to hurry with the decorating because he had to get out and about to let everyone in town know that if they wanted pumpkins to display for Halloween they'd better start getting them right away or else between myself and my neighbor Mrs. R there would be none to be found as we two would use them all. 

It's right that I should celebrate and be thankful for the bravery of our armed forces. I have been so fortunate that all of our family members came home safely to their families.

I will always remember that Brother's birthday was July 24th and that he died in the month of July but I am so thankful for the years and the love that we shared.

This coverlet also came from the Wilder estate, it was one of many in his collection. It has some damage mostly along the edges which can be taken care of by adding a hem. I love the colors and I will cherish this always. I also left with a rocker and an old walker spinning wheel. I'll post pictures of these  later as I have to find a place to display it. The visit to the Wilder estate was like stepping back in time and it was indeed a joyful healing experience. 

Blessed Be Friends.  

Before and After

Well it is finally Friday and boy am I ever looking forward to the weekend. It has been one long week at work and it has been steaming hot here. We had a cool down today; it actually got down to 97!

The picture above is the shaker box I purchased at the GW a while back.

This is the way it looked when I bought it, I painted it robin's egg blue and then I distressed and aged it. I really like the way it turned out. I'd planned to post the picture last week but it took days for the finish to dry enough so I could put the top on it; good old N.C. humidity.

I found this  repro tilt top table bench at a yard sale a couple of weeks ago and it is on the redo list. I've wanted an antique one for a long time but I can love this little table.

It's coffee table size but I'm thinking it will be just right to use with the top back in front of one of the fireplaces. I'm not sure yet if it will be mustard or red; but I hope to get it done and post some pictures soon but probably after it cools down here a little more.

Have a great weekend!

My Girls Lily

Isn't this the most beautiful Lily ever? It's almost as sweet and beautiful as the little girls that planted it but not quite. My darling grand daughters, Kasey & Megan picked this for their special flower to plant this spring, it's a Stargazer and they have nurtured it well. 

They aren't little girls anymore, they are growing so fast and have so quickly become precious young ladies. My daughter Lisa has done a wonderful job and she has mastered the art of  teaching her daughters to be well behaved charming young ladies and at the same time bending just enough so that they can grow into themselves, she has let their imaginations and dreams thrive while teaching them to temper their actions with good judgement and daily we watch and are amazed as they move closer to becoming magical and brilliant young women. The years pass to quickly but the journey is a jewel indeed.

I also want to wish a Happy Father's day to all.

I've tried to spend some quiet time today. It is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. 

To the ancients it was a magical day; and it is still a wondrous day; all is green and the earth is yielding forth food and plenty. There are flowers blooming and even the night air is full with the fragrance of gardenia and magnolia.

I had planned to take a walk through the mill village today; I wanted to take some pictures of doors. Instead I stayed at home and borrowed some pictures from another favorite book American Farm Houses.

The early houses had heavy plain wooden doors to keep out the cold winds and Indians, I love this picture with the open door.

What happened to screened doors? I loved the first warm day of spring when the  wooden doors were thrown open and the windows opened wide and the cool fresh breezes would flood through the screens.

Screened doors had a special sound they made when they closed, a gentle sort of slap. It was a happy sound, it meant mama was home or uncle was home from work. It was a sound that I cherished as a child and that I miss as an adult. I must get screened doors for this house. 

                                                                                                                                                                 

Have a wonderful summer everyone.  

Treasure Hunting Again

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. I was up at 5:00 AM this morning to do just a little bit of treasure hunting. I've cut back a bit on going to garage sales and GW because I'm trying to get my space organized to display my collections better and I do have to decorate around the kitty's so it is taking some time to figure all of this out. Anyway when I decide to go in search of favorite things I just tell myself what I have in mind. Last night I was thinking I would like another yelloware bowl to add to my collection.

                                                                                    
                                                               It showed up at my second  stop.

                                           I'd been thinking about dolls a lot lately and well at that same second stop I found this wooden carved Ma and Pa set. This isn't a very good picture and while they are carved with movable arms and legs, well they kinda look just a bit creepy.

The little girl in the top picture was also at this second stop. She is still in her original box and looks like she has never been taken out.

It says she is a replica of a doll in an early American museum; I don't know about that but she is a caved doll as well and I love the way she is dressed.

At my third sale the lady had 100's of dolls. There were so many dolls I was completely overwhelmed. They were from the 1950's right through yesterday I think. I found this one that I loved and she came home with me. Her little tag says she is a 1959 Horseman and she is wearing the sweetest little string of peals around her neck.

   

I also found another favorite, a wonderful old wooden tole tray.

 

At my last sale I found some old and newer pewter candlesticks. I can never pass these up.

Now I haven't mentioned my first sale; well I found this old glass jar. I always buy old glass jars and this great old decanter.

Kirby found the little laboratory glass thingy a few weeks back and surprised me with a this little

sweet pea vine that just wondered over our fence. He is so thoughtful that way and these little surprises make me so happy.

And this old lamp; old lamps are also favorites. I haven't had time to clean anything up yet; I'll get to that tomorrow and I will surely try to get a picture of my first buy at the first sale. It's a reproduction fireside table. The lady said her mother bought it in the 60's; I've always wanted an antique one but this one will do fine. I will get pictures posted of it tomorrow along with a couple of finished projects.  

I also wanted to update you all on little River, he is a bouncing, playing loving sweet little boy and he no longer growls at anything. We are so lucky to have him in our home. I hope you all a blessed week and please stay cool; it's steaming here!