Some New Old Stuff in the Shop

Some new old stuff - does that make sense? Hope so! 

One of my favorites is this display case table........

Right after I took this picture and uploaded it to the computer, it sold. It's really cool - the stars you see in it are a reflection of magnet stars on a board behind the table. When you lift the top glass, there is a mirror inside. Love it!

And how cool is this green bench! It seems to be pretty sturdy.




















Nothing fancy about this little stepladder, but I like the simple lines of it.




















I like the white stand/bookcase. Sometimes a skinny piece is just what you need for a small spot. Also new are the small shabby white shutters on top, and we picked up some more apple crates.

Speaking of shutters - check out this trifold one.

A few more wood boxes - we're always on the look-out for these.

The stools have seen better days don't ya think? But they have potential. I've had these for a couple months, thinking I would give them a re-do. I just don't have time right now, but someone else might, so we'll see if anyone is interested in them as is.
















Another favorite - if you love quilts and cats like I do......then this is a winner!

For now, I think I'll keep the black rack for a display piece.

We've had this chicken crate for a good while, but it was rather hidden. After shifting things around, I was able to get it out where it can be seen. I've seen coffee tables made from these, by putting a large piece of glass on top, and/or attaching legs to the bottom.

And last, but not least.......a mystery photo.

A springy thing and a funnelly thing. What were they used for? Is it really a funnel? Your guess is as good as ours.

We also picked up more windows that need the glass knocked out. What can I say, we're gluttons for punishment. An old hanging bell, a couple crock bowls, a laundry paddle, sewing cabinet boxes, a picnic basket and a few other odds and ends round out our latest junking trip.

And some vintage baby clothes - I'm pricing them today. They get their own post, so stay tuned!

Spring peeps

Kevin has been planning for a year or so to get chickens this spring. He's been working on a chicken coop, and though it's not quite done yet, he went ahead and got some peeps. Why now? His sister came home from the city for the weekend, and she loves to get her hands into something "country".

(that, and Tractor Supply had their peeps on sale).

So Jessica put away her dressy white "city coat", borrowed Kevin's camo coat, and off they went.

To get 25 chicks.

Maybe 30.

An hour or so later, here they came - big grins on their faces. Kevin was carrying a bag of feed. Jessica was carrying a box of baby chicks.

40 baby chicks.

Ummm.

"But they're so cute!"

40 it is.

They are camping out in Kevin's basement for now, living the high life under a heat lamp. Eating all they want...drinking all they want...chirping all they want.

But not sleeping all they want. Several will get tired, they will all lay down in a heap, and a few seconds later, the one on the bottom decides to move. The whole heap then shifts positions, they go back to sleep, then the new one on the bottom decides to move. It's quite comical watching this process over, and over, and over again.

   

But really, who needs to sleep? There's so much to do!



Pecking orders need to be learned.

Reflections must be admired in the water jar.

Introductions need to be made.

And hearts need to be won.

Oh yeah. That was an easy one.



Windows, windows, windows...and a cat

George and I spent much of this weekend cleaning windows. Not our house windows (though they do need it!) No, these windows are from an auction - where George bought almost 200 of them!!! We've been taking a few at a time into the store, and had the rest stashed under Kevin's deck. With summer coming, it's time to get them all out of there.

I wish I had a picture of when they were ALL there. It was an impressive sight, if not a little overwhelming. Make that a LOT overwhelming!

These windows had been stored for who knows how many years in an old barn. To say they got dirty there would be a severe understatement. It would simply be too much work to clean each window thoroughly, but we do get the worst of  the dirt off of them before we take them to the store. And, we knock the glass panes out of most of them. They sell better that way, and they are much easier to handle without the extra weight.

The one's below have been washed, and have the panes removed. The worst of the peeling paint has been knocked off, though they will keep chipping off more.

There are 32 windows in the trailer, we took them into the store Saturday afternoon. I had to do some rearranging, but I got them all out on the floor.

Time to tackle another batch under Billy's careful supervision.

When we first brought the windows out, they would have completely filled the space in this photo, plus lots more. The stack of glass behind Billy is panes we have taken out. We're lucky when they come out in one piece. When they break, (and there's always a couple that do in each one), we have a mess to clean up.

Billy doesn't miss checking a single pile. He is very thorough.

He is also a multi-tasker. He can check the windows and keep an eye out for mice all at the same time.

One might be coming up behind him from this-away.

Or that-away.

One might sneak up from behind.

Or from below!

You just never know!

After 3 days of being Window Supervisor & Chief Mouse Patrol Officer, Billy was a little tired. When he finally decided to lay down, we thought the least we could do was turn the lights out for him so he could get a decent night's rest.

So, if you need an old window to decorate with, you know where to come.

 (Sorry - Billy's not for sale)

And hey! Happy Birthday to George today! I love you!!!!!!!!!

The Chair Was Not Supposed to Fall Apart

A friend came in today, looking for an old chair. As she was looking at one, I asked if it was to sit in, or as a decoration - because the one she was looking at was definitely not a sitting chair.

No problem she said, it was just going to be a display piece for her handmade pillows at a craft show.

She liked the looks of it and decided to get it. She carried it to the counter, paid for it, and started to pick it up to leave.

UH-OH!!!

Our antiques are sold "as is", but this was a little toooooo "as is"! She hadn't taken 2 steps till it fell apart. Then fell apart some more. OH NO!

After we had a good laugh, I refunded her money back to her. Well, actually, she bought something else instead, but I gave her credit for the chair. She said, "it's a good thing you told me not to sit on it!"

Then she said, "I think that one's a little TOO antique!"

It's in the back room now, licking its open wounds, poor thing.

Memories of our parents

It's been a very difficult day.....6 years ago today, my mom passed on. I miss her terribly every day, but the pain is a little sharper today, and the tears have been flowing.

It's funny how little things will bring back memories. A smell, a sound, a glimpse of something, and you are back in time, reliving a day. I've been blessed enough in my life that memories are treasures to me.

I see my mother-in-law showing me the quilt she just finished, pointing out the parts that had been left-overs from a dress she made. I see her working in the kitchen, or sitting in her recliner, crochet work in her hands.

I see my father-in-law telling stories about his sawmill, accentuating each story with a wave of his work-enlargened hands. I hear him reciting the scriptures, and talking of how if people would just follow The Word, we wouldn't have as many problems in the world.

I see my dad, teaching me how to use his band saw. I hear him telling the stories of his youth. I hear his laughter, and see his eyes twinkle with the pride he had in Jessica and Kevin. I hear his rich bass as he sings beside me in church. I feel his arm around me when he would take me on the carnival rides when I was a little girl.

And, I see my mom, before Alzheimer's stole the last years from us. She's kneading bread to the beat of the 50's music she loved to listen too. She's hoeing the weeds in the garden. She's canning applesauce, she's sewing new clothes, she's listening to my day's events. She's being my mom, and my best friend.

George and I were both blessed with Christian parents. Were they perfect? No, just like he and I haven't been perfect parents. But they were GOOD parents, good friends, good advisors. Good people, the kind we need more of in this world.

We miss them, everyday. Some days worse than others, but everyday. And, we're thankful we had them, everyday.

So many times, I wish I could still go to mom and get her advice. But then I realize that I pretty much know what she would say. Our parents may be gone physically, but they are still very much alive in our hearts and minds.

If your parents are still here on this earth, tell  them you love them. And listen to their laughter. Keep that sound forever tucked in your heart.

French Breakfast Puffs recipe

We love these muffins! When Jessica and Kevin were growing up, we'd have these for a special breakfast treat when they had friends spend the night. They were always a big hit.

Once they moved out on their own, we kinda forgot about these muffins. Recently, I was looking for something different to bake, and I ran across this recipe again. Ahh yes! The love affair continues.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Stir together:
1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Set aside.

In mixer bowl, cream together:
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening (I use butter shortening)
1 egg

Add 1/2 cup milk and the flour mixture alternately to the creamed mixture, beating well after each addition.

Lightly grease 11 muffin cups, or use paper liners, like I do. Fill cups 2/3 full.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes or till golden.

While they are baking, combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
Also, in a separate bowl, melt 6 tablespoons margarine.

When the muffins are done baking, remove from oven, and immediately dip them in the melted margarine, then dip them in the sugar/cinnamon mixture till coated.

Serve warm. Delicious!!!!

The original recipe makes 12 muffins, and they use lightly greased muffin pans. Personally, I hate washing the muffin pans (so many holes!), so I use paper liners. If I try to do 12 muffins in liners, they are a little too flat to dip in the margarine and sugar mixture, so I do 11.

When Kevin was little, he thought a Baker's Dozen was 11. Why? He thought the Baker always ate one. Imagine his shock when he found out a Baker's Doxen is 13!

Also, you can cut way down on the melted margarine and sugar/cinnamon mix if you use liners. The amount stated above is if you roll the whole muffin in the margarine and sugar mix. Since I use liners, I only dip the tops in. I just made some, and cut the stated amount in half, and still had too much.

ENJOY!

Insulators

I just washed a bunch of these old glass insulators. I had just emptied out this display shelf, and the glass insulators fit it perfectly. They don't show up as well as I had hoped in the picture, but you get the idea.

When I was a little girl, my aunt and uncle had a unique way of displaying their insulators. They had them lined up side by side around their front porch. If memory serves me right (it's been known to fail!), there was a row under their porch railing, and also on top of it. I don't know how many there were, but to a little kid, it looked like thousands!