New Finds and Old Treasures

Not long ago I spent the day with my dear friend Elizabeth, of Just Following Jesus In My Real Life.  We spent several hours thrifting and took time for a delightful lunch together.  Time with Elizabeth is like a breath of fresh air – a pick-me-up for my soul.  We have such a good time together and I always come home with new finds and some real treasures.  A few days before our thrifting adventure I found a blog I hadn't seen before.  As I browsed and read that blog I was drawn to a plate rack on her wall and I thought I would like to find one for my wall.  Would you believe I found one during my day with Elizabeth?  I was totally enchanted with it – it was just right.  Without hesitation I put it in my basket. It was half price that day! Two dollars and fifty cents.  It didn’t take me long to hang it on my wall when I got home.  Over the next few weeks I played with several possible arrangements of plates I already owned but none of them were quite what I envisioned.  A few days ago I stopped at a favorite Goodwill on my way home from an appointment and there they were.  Plates that were just right for my plate rack and they were half price that day!  Two dollars and fifty cents for four.  Just what I needed, plus one more.  As soon as I put them on the plate rack, I smiled.  They were just right – and they made my heart sing! (There’s no way to get a great photo on this corner of my living room that is filled with shadows – we have too much light coming from all directions.  Not a problem.  I like light!)Back to my day with Elizabeth. . .
At the next stop she found a cup and saucer rack that matched my new plate rack.  Just what I needed.  And the best news?  Half price.  One dollar and fifty cents.  I knew it would be perfect on the only wall in my dining room – above the picture that my sweetheart gave me several years ago.(oops – the picture is tilted a bit!)  Isn’t it perfect there?  You can see here what was above the big picture before I got the cup rack.  They were moved to a little wall in my kitchen.  I tried several different combinations of cups and saucers and I didn’t come up with just the right thing.  I stood on the other side of the room one day and studied it, trying to decide what I wanted to do.  All of a sudden, I knew!  I had the perfect plan.  My dear, little mother’s tea set was what I needed!  She had given it to me some time ago and she was keeping it stored safe and sound until I decided where I wanted to use it.  I knew now it was time to claim her gift!  And she was very pleased!The cups and saucers you see are the Royal Albert ‘Tea Rose’ pattern.  This is a set of six cups and saucers and one luncheon plate.  My father was a minister and for many years he travelled throughout the United States and Canada, preaching in different churches and Bible camps.  My dear mother travelled with him.  Before I was married a dear Canadian friend gave her the first cup and saucer that was the beginning of this set.  She received one or two more as gifts and then purchased the remaining pieces whenever she returned to Canada.  I would love to add more pieces to the set.  I’ll be watching for good deals online and in my thrifting and antiquing trips.   These cups and saucers are part of my history – old treasures that mean much to me.  They won’t always hang on the wall.  From time to time they will come down and be used to serve tea to my friends.  Maybe you could join me for tea one of these days.  I’d love to share it with you and let you enjoy my new finds and old treasures.There is a sad ending to this story:  in the unpacking of the tea set I discovered one carefully wrapped saucer had not survived the storage.  My dear, little mother had carefully wrapped each piece well and placed them in a heavy-duty box that was stored on an out-of-the way shelf that didn’t get much ‘traffic’.  What happened may never be known.  I’m hoping to find a lone saucer to replace it sometime.  In my thrifting stops I often find beautiful, single, orphan saucers that have been separated from their lovely cups.  I’ve seen this one in the past when I didn’t think I needed it – now I’ll wait until I find one again!  In the meantime I’ll enjoy what I have and I'll always treasure the dear ones who shared themselves with me and made this all possible.

Finds And Treasures

A few years ago I asked for a cordless screwdriver of my own for either Christmas or my birthday.  My sweetheart bought one – a man-sized model – and it was mine!  Well, not so much!  It soon became the handy, convenient tool of choice when he had jobs to do.  I used it once or twice and, since it was too big for my hands, I didn’t use it much.  Over time it wore out.  From use.  Not because I used it - because my sweetheart used it.  Whenever I had a job that required more than my sweet, little pastel screwdrivers could handle I pined away for a cordless model that would be my very own. 

When we began to do a tiny bit of work in my sweet, little vintage trailer my sweetheart showed me how to use his new and improved – and gigantic – cordless drill/screwdriver.  It took both hands to use it and I had to hang on for dear life!  So it was that just recently – while following my sweetheart through Home Depot – I spied exactly what I knew would work for me!  I picked up the display model, held it in my tiny hands and, oh-h-h-h.  This was it!  Just what I needed.  A few slight hints (well, not so slight) to my sweetheart and it was in the basket and soon in the car.  Going home with me. 

It has a cute, little case to store it in.  It should be easy to find when I need it.

It wasn’t long before the battery was on the charger - getting ready to use.My sweetheart also bought me yellow leather work gloves to protect my delicate, little hands!

I’ve used my little tool– and I love it!  No one has tried to ‘borrow’ it.  I think they all know it’s best they don’t even think of it!  Now I have some of the tools I’ll need to restore my dear, little vintage trailer.  Oh, wait – there’s more.  But I’ll save that for another time!Do you think this is really a ‘find and treasure’?  You bet it is!  It will be used for many projects – and I can ‘find’ it now!  And you can be sure I ‘treasure’ that thought!

Finds And Treasures

While we were traveling I found some new treasures to bring home.  They were found in various places, but they’re still treasures.  There were many more I would have loved to bring home but space – and explaining them to my sweetheart in a way that made sense to him  – kept me from doing that.  This warning greeted us when we entered a quaint antique shop in a tiny town in Kansas. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get close enough to get the small print in focus.  The thought is there.  If I ever return, I’ll ask to go behind the counter for a better photo!Seen on a shelf nearby -While ‘browsing’ through an old building on my sweetheart’s grandfather’s farm – now owned and operated by his uncle and cousin – I spied something on a shelf.  When I asked, the response was: ‘Oh, that old thing!  You want it?’  You bet I did!It’s missing its handle, but I wonder who used this old sad iron.  Did my sweetheart’s grandmother spend hours using it when she was a young wife and mother?  Did my sweetheart’s dear mother ever hold it in her hand?  Or, maybe it was used by someone from days long past who homesteaded the farm that came to be part of the family heritage of my sweetheart – and my children.  And their children.Mary, of Mary’s Meanderings, and her hubby took us on a wonderful tour when we visited them in Colorado.  One of the stops we made was at a fun place, advertised as a ‘Junktique Shop’.  I thought the name of the store was such fun! Inside I found a couple of sweet treasures that came home with me.  This little pitcher seemed to call my name.Somewhere in the back of the store I found this – filled with silverware and kitchen utensils of all kinds.  At first I thought it wasn’t for sale – just a container for all the things it held.  On closer inspection I found a little price tag.  One dollar!  It didn’t take me long to empty all of the pieces it held – carefully inspecting each one, of course – and awhile later it was paid for and in the car when we headed on down the road again.  I’m not sure where it will end up, either in my home or in my vintage trailer, but you can guess it won’t take me long to find the perfect spot.The most precious treasure that came home with me brought tears to my eyes when, after a family conference held when I wasn’t present, they decided that a very special heirloom from my sweetheart’s family should be mine.  It’s a treasure!  I will share it and a bit of the story behind it soon.

A Promise Kept–A Bit Late!

Oh, I know I promised to show you a new find – a real treasure – and I didn’t do it!  I gave you a sneak peak before life took me several directions at once.  Here’s what you saw:

And then I disappeared for awhile!  Life has taken me out-of-state twice – two conferences in different states – on different weekends.  Catching up at home has taken longer than planned. 

At the wonderful sale I shared here, I found something I have dreamed of finding for quite awhile.  Since I bought my sweet, little vintage trailer – Miss Daffodil – I’ve longed to find just the right vintage tool box.  A tool box for tools needed for small things, minor repairs and little projects.  Certainly not planned for major break-downs.  None of those will be allowed!  As I stood at the wonderful sale and talked to one of the vendors – a friend – I turned around in her booth and. . .there it was!  Just right.  Perfect!

Isn’t she just the cutest little girl toolbox?  And she’s yellow!  Be still, my heart!

Inside, there’s the sweetest little tray to hold tools.  And room for more below.

Now I’m looking for vintage tools – useable, in good condition – to fill the yellowness of this new treasure.  The two vintage screwdrivers with yellow handles were found at a nearby thrift store.  Ninety-nine cents each!  My sweetheart told me there is a place not far from our home where we can go and find bins of vintage tools.  Cheap Inexpensive!  I hope we can go soon.  My sweet, little toolbox is getting anxious to be of some use!

Finds and Treasures

We don't yet see things clearly.
We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist.
But it won't be long before the weather clears
and the sun shines bright!
We'll see it all then,
see it all as clearly as God sees us,
knowing him directly just as he knows us!

I Corinthians 13:12

(The Message)

Would You Believe. . .

I can’t show you my Friday Finds today?  I had it all planned.  I was ready to take advantage of the sunshine so I could take a good photo.  The sun is streaming in my kitchen window.  Just where it needs to shine for the photo I had planned.  Everything was in place – my ‘find’ was staged and ready to pose for her photo, and then. . .oh, no!  The battery in my camera was dead!  My camera told me.  She said, ‘Battery dead’.  Plain and simple.  Just like that.  I wasn’t surprised but I could deal with it – I had another battery in my camera bag.  No problem!  At least I thought so!

Retrieving the second battery from my camera bag – and grabbing my battery charger for the dearly used battery – I was confident.  Within minutes I would have the photos I wanted to share with you today.  But, it was not meant to be.  You see, the ‘new’ battery was so dead it didn’t even have enough power for my camera tell me this one needed to be charged, too.  Then I remembered that I had quickly switched batteries a few weeks ago while taking photos of a gorgeous sunset at the Oregon Coast.  When I returned to the car I didn’t do what I normally do with batteries that need to be charged – and then. . .I forgot!

So, today, would you just take my word for it that I have a wonderful, new Christmas find that is embellishing my kitchen?  I’ll show you a little peak at something that will give you a hint but I will save the story to tell you another day.  After that silly battery has been fully charged and the other battery is securely locked in place in the charger I’ll share a photo and tell you all about it!

I have a new-to-me teakettle.  She looks something like this.  Similar – but different.  She’s the same color – and shape - and she is decorated with holly.  While my battery charges, I think I’ll heat some water and have a relaxing cup of tea!

Finds and Treasures

We arrived home from our vacation at the Oregon Coast today.  There is so much I want to share with you but first I want to share with you the greatest ‘find’ and the dearest ‘treasure’ God has given me.  My sweetheart is the most precious person on this earth to me.  Last weekend we celebrated the fortieth anniversary of the day we met.  It was a unique day – forty years ago on Sunday, September Fourth, the day before Labor Day - I walked into the church where he was the youth pastor.  I was the guest of dear friends – the parents of a childhood friend of mine.  When the morning church service began a handsome, young man stepped to the pulpit and welcomed everyone.  He prayed and then began to lead the songs as we sang.  Later, following the service, my dear friend’s mother introduced us.  It was an ordinary kind of hello, how are you, where are you from, nice-to-meet-you introduction.  There is so much more to the story - perhaps I will share it some day – but that evening I sat at the piano and sang a special song at the request of the music pastor at the church I had visited that morning.  After the evening service had finished, most of the people stood around talking.  As my friend and I began to walk out the door, the handsome, young youth pastor followed me to the door and invited me to go with him to get something to eat.  That, my friends, was just the start of something really wonderful!  It was as if we had always known each other.  Truth be told, we were in some of the same rooms and events through our lifetimes but never met each other!

Early last Sunday morning, before we visited a special, little church at the Oregon Coast, my sweetheart gave me the most beautiful gift my heart could imagine.  I’ll have to show it to you soon when I can find the best way to show it off.  His heart and mine celebrated the day – it was a Sunday again, September Fourth, the day before Labor Day.  Forty years!

A few days ago while fishing on a big river near the mouth of the Pacific Ocean my sweetheart called me and asked me to get my camera and come down to the docks.  Why?  He had a special ‘find’ he wanted me to see and photograph.  And so, without further adieu – here is my most cherished ‘find’ and ‘treasure’.  My best friend for forty years.  My sweetheart.

My sweetheart caught a thirty-six inch Chinook Salmon!  Lots of good and healthy eating ahead!  He’s a keeper.  My sweetheart, I mean!

Friday Finds and Treasures

It’s time to go back to something I started quite awhile ago when I first began to blog.  My plan is to share something I  have found while out and about or a treasure, new or old, each Friday.  If there is a story that goes with the item, I’ll share that with you, too.

This week I want to share the décor on one wall of my dining room.  My dining room is a ‘strange’ little room – not very big with openings on each side – but I really love it. There is only one wall!  On that wall I have a piece of framed artwork that is very dear to my heart.  There’s a story behind it.  Quite a few years ago my little town had a wonderful antique/collective/craft mall that was a place I loved to visit.  One day when I walked by the front window my heart was captured by a large, framed picture that I wanted to buy.  I knew exactly where I would put it – it belonged on my dining room wall.  And it was by one of my favorite artists, Sandy Lynam Clough.  I often stood at the window to study every detail of the painting and I wished – oh, how I wished – I could buy it and take it home for that one spot that seemed to need it.  The price was more than I could pay so I looked and wished and walked on.  Often.  Then one day the picture was gone.  Not in the window.  I hoped it went to someone who would treasure it as much as I.  A few weeks later, on Christmas morning, there was no package under the tree for me from my sweetheart.  That seemed strange and I thought maybe he had forgotten to shop.  All of the gifts had been opened and I have to tell you my heart felt so sad.  Had he really forgotten me?  My children and grandchildren didn’t know how terribly disappointed I was but I decided to make the best of it and not ask questions.  All of a sudden my sweetheart jumped up from his chair and said, ‘There is one more!’  ‘Where is it?’, I asked.  Out the door he went – when he came in again he had the biggest present I think I’ve ever had.  His eyes danced with joy as he placed it on the floor in front of me.  One rip of the paper and I knew!  And the tears began to pour down my face.  HE was the one who bought the picture.  I was the one who would hang it on my wall and treasure it every time I looked at it!  Of course I had to tell him he shouldn’t have spent so much.  Then, I loved the story he told.  He went into the shop and asked the owner what her best price was on that picture in the window.  When she told him, he pointed out that part of the picture had slipped out of the mat and it wasn’t quite straight.  She looked at it and agreed – and gave him a nice discount.  Then she told him exactly how to fix it so it would be good as new.  And there it was!  Now it was mine!

This beautiful painting has hung on my dining room wall ever since but I’ve always thought it needed something more.  Should I hang something above it?  Plates, perhaps?  A little shelf?  Nothing seemed to be right – until a couple of weeks ago.  At the first yard sale of the day I found it.  And I knew this was what I needed!  Three framed pieces of artwork – by the same artist.  It didn’t take long to put them on my wall.

Every time I walk by or look from the kitchen or the living room I smile.  It’s just right! And I love it even more than before.

Sneak Peek

Do you have visions and dreams of things you hope to find someday?  Things you hope to find to make the room you 'see' in your mind?  I love the way those hopes and dreams can come together when you least expect it.  In the most unlikely place!

While browsing through a favorite vintage shop last week I found an office chair I knew would be just right for my office at home.  The shop had been rearranged and when I stepped into one of the rooms with a decor that isn't my favorite, I was certain there wouldn't be anything there for me.  I almost didn't go into the room!  But there sat THE chair!  It was love at first sight!  It felt good when I sat in it and in spite of a few squeaks and squawks and groans when I moved around in it, I knew my sweetheart had to check out.  He's the expert when it comes to greasing and oiling things and I knew he would know exactly what to do.  And it was important for him to feel comfortable in the chair, too.  He stopped by the shop later and checked it out and it wasn't long before he arrived home with my 'new' chair. I'm just giving you a sneak peek for now.

I haven't decided exactly how I'm going to fancy it up yet.  There will be a cushion, for sure, and maybe a coat or two of paint.  It's perfect with the desk in our office.  The desk was my father's desk in his church study through the years he served as pastor in several churches.  I have plans to repaint it and I think I will paint the chair to match.  I love the look of this Pottery Barn desk and chair. 

I have planned to paint my father's desk white for a long time.  I have collected several inspiration photos over the past few months. 

Now that I have the chair I think it's time to move this project closer to the top of my list.

And when I saw Stacey's desk and chair at Red Door Home there was no doubt in my mind that this was exactly what I need to do! If you've never visited her blog, you really must stop by and get acquainted.  You won't be sorry!

Don't you think my new chair is just the pièce de résistance?  I can't wait to start the renovation of my office room.  This chair may be just the motivation I need to move it forward soon.

A Last Minute Find

Have you ever decided – at the last minute – to go back and look again?  And when you did, you found just the perfect thing?  Something that made your heart sing?  It has happened to me more than once – and it happened again just a few days ago.

Last week my sweetheart, my dear, little mother and I were in a Goodwill not too far from home.  We stopped there on our way home from lunch out together.  We had pretty much finished browsing and shopping when I realized I had not looked at anything on the back wall of the store.  The linens, bedding, curtains and things like that are on rods mounted to the back wall.  I didn’t really think I needed to look there but, as is the case most of the time, I was afraid I might miss something.  And this time I was right!

My eyes scanned the colors and patterns of everything hanging there.  I looked ahead and saw something that caught my eye.  I may never know why, but it did.  Except now I know it was meant for me!  It was an afghan – a beautiful, heavy afghan with a hand-woven look – new, just out of the package.  I could tell from the fold lines that were still very fresh.  And the tags that were still attached. Something was embroidered in one corner and when I saw it I knew the reason I felt the need to go back and look.  This is what I saw:

I could hardly believe it!  I was planning to put an afghan in my little trailer.  My little trailer named Daffodil.  Here it was.  Right in front of me.  And such a good price.  I couldn’t leave it there – I had to bring it home!  And I did!

A few days later I found the yellow quilt I had hoped to add to my trailer.  On clearance.  Here’s a sneak peek of the quilt with my new afghan on top.  Don’t they look good together?

Do you see a theme happening here?  Flowers.  Daffodils.  A garden.  A garden filled with kindness.  That’s what I want for my little, vintage trailer – to be a place of kindness and grace.  A place of retreat and rest.  She will – and I know she will bring a harvest of love.

An Unexpected Find

Yesterday I shared about my trip to Camas Antiques with my friend, Mary and I promised to show you something I bought while we shopped together. There were several things I hoped to find - and I did find some of them (to be shared another time). But the first thing I saw absolutely captured my heart! I just couldn't walk away without it.

We had hardly begun to shop when I looked into a booth across the way - and my heart almost stopped. It was SO me! She knew it and I did, too. I tried to walk away and ignore it while I shopped on. In fact, we were at the front counter about to pay for our finds when I went back one more time. Just to look. And to tell myself I really didn't need this. But I knew I would regret it if I left it there. And I haven't been sorry that I decided to carry it to the front, pay for it and bring it home with me. No ma'am. Not for one minute have I regretted my decision!

This is what I saw. And what I brought home to my kitchen.

These vintage canisters don’t look like they’ve ever been used! They are in perfect condition. And I love it. They have added such a sweet ‘something’ to my kitchen.

One of these days I plan to make new window coverings for my kitchen window and the patio door in the adjoining dining area. The fabric I have put away for the valances is yellow – and blue – and white! Perfect, wouldn’t you say?

The flowers on my new canisters are just the touch of Spring I needed to add to my kitchen. Every day. All year long. Now it feels like the sun is shining in my kitchen no matter what the weather is doing outside my window!

Making A Case

Well, just a little play on words there! Recently we were given a few things that belonged to my sweetheart’s father. Among the old photos and other treasured belongings was a little, old case. When it was handed to my sweetheart he told me about it.

This little case was my dear father-in-law’s shoe shine kit. It still holds all of his supplies – just the way he left them.

I would love to ‘adopt’ this little case and do something special with it but I’m not sure my sweetheart is ready for the contents to be removed. I’ve made some suggestions but nothing has been decided yet.

What would you do with it? Would you repair it? Restore it? Do something different with it? Just wondering.

Gratefully,
~Adrienne~

Finds and Treasures

It's a foggy, gray day here in my part of Oregon and thoughts of Spring keep running around in my head. Today I'm been working on some home tasks with an occasional break in there somewhere. During one of my morning breaks, while in a cleaning mood, I decided to 'clean' up my blog business a bit. I was aware that I had started a post or two, saved them as a draft and never gotten back to them. So I took advantage of the January urge to clean and purge and reorganize - and I went back through the list of blogs by date until I found all of those silly drafts that were intermingled with real, published posts. A few were immediately deleted because there was nothing there. Not even a title or a thought to help me know what I must have been thinking at the time! A few others made it to the top of my list to consider and share from time to time. One will have to wait until next Christmas! It's too good to delete and it wouldn't make sense right now so it can just wait.

Here's a draft I found from May, 2009 - and I wanted you to see what I found while out garaging and thrifting with my dear, little mother. I think you will enjoy my pretties as much as I enjoyed reading about them again today. Here's what I wrote.

It's been awhile since I've shared some of my 'finds' with you. Believe me - I've been finding some wonderful things. Garage and yard sale season has begun in earnest here in our area. Each Friday my dear little mother and I do something together. Spring and Summer Fridays usually find us on the thrifting circuit. I thought I would share my finds with you each Friday (unless there is something special to share on that day). To start, here are two cute planters. One for Spring (and summer) - one for Thanksgiving.

Yellow finds - a yellow glass bowl with a unique shape, a yellow pottery planter, a yellow glass baking dish and a sweet little creamy yellow pitcher.On a recent trip to a nearby Goodwill store this treasure found its way into my shopping bag. I love this cake stand. It's smaller than some and so pretty.The top. . .And bottom details are so pretty.A few days ago I had just a few minutes to stop in at the Goodwill near where my care center ministry takes me each week. I was running a bit late and didn't have much time. After a quick look at a few favorite places in the store I came around the corner and found this plate. When I saw it I knew exactly what it was - the work of one of my favorite artists, Sandy Clough. I haven't decided where to hang it yet but you can be sure I will find a place. Just the right place.I love teacups! Recently I opened a pretty little container that had been stored away and 'found' this one inside. I forgot I had it and I can't remember where or when I first got it. Blown glass and yellow trim. It's tiny and cute.Next to my new yellow teapot you can see how small it is. Isn't it sweet?There are more finds to show you. I'll share them soon. And in the meantime I'm sure I'll find more.

The Next Day. . .

(Continued from here)

I went back to the store where we stopped first the day before. The day before we three girls browsed and admired but we didn’t buy anything. Near the front window of the store I had spied a set of Christmas dishes – exactly what I have been looking for over the past couple of years. You may remember that I live on Holly Street and we feature holly in our Christmas decorations. My holly decor had spilled over into the kitchen and dining room with nice linens, candleholders and serving dishes. But no holly china! The dishes I found were encircled with holly. Not a garish pattern, just simple and nice. The price was very reasonable but I was very aware of the big sign on the front window that advertised everything half off the following day. Right then and there I knew I had to get up early the next morning, drive to this store and be there when the doors opened – I needed to own these dishes! As we walked out of the store my cousin spotted the cutest little teapot with holly on it. In my mind I added that to my list for the next morning’s excursion.

Saturday seemed to dawn earlier than usual but I was up, dressed and ready to hit the road! My cousin wanted to be my ‘accomplice’ so I picked her up and headed for the freeway. We had such fun plotting and planning and dreaming and thinking of the fun we would have if we were the first ones in the door. Oh, but we weren’t! As I turned the corner into the parking lot it was obvious that half of Portland had the same idea – there was a line waiting at the door. Not to be discouraged, I parked and we joined the line. And, while in the line, we ‘cooked up’ a plan – as soon as we got through the door I would head straight to the corner to get the dishes and, if they were still there, I would stand guard. My cousin would grab a shopping cart if there were any left, she would stop and pick up the darling teapot and come back to the corner where we would carefully place the Christmas china in the cart. It worked! Everything went like clockwork – and it was obvious that we weren’t the only ones who had spied out the territory the day before. People were running toward furniture, grabbing lamps, taking framed pictures off the wall, loading their arms with clothing. It really was amazing!

My ‘new’ Christmas dishes will add something special to the holiday season. There are eight dinner plates, eight little plates that can be used as saucers or dessert plates and eight cups. . .

Salt and pepper shakers. . .

And a spoon rest.

And the little teapot? Don’t you think it’s just the cutest?

But it’s not just a teapot – it’s a teapot, a creamer and a sugar bowl!

I think I’m beginning to have visions of sugarplums holly dancing in my head! This may be one holiday season that I’ll be ready early – very early. No doubt about that.

(And won’t I have fun snooping around thrift stores and HomeGoods and Marshall's and Target and. . . for more pieces to add to my table?)