NumberNineteen

The Milk Carrier

Look at what arrived at my doorstep today!  My latest purchase from Ebay, a vintage metal milk carrier.  I love it!  Can't you just imagine the clinking glass bottles being carried to doorsteps early in the morning?  I love its shape & its worn patina. 

Its so versatile.  It can be used to hold wine bottles, as shown above, or vases of flowers.  I was also thinking that it would be great at a party.  A few sections could hold cups of plastic flatware, a few others could hold napkins.  Wouldn't that be cute?  I'm quite excited about it and am thinking about where I should put it.  I'm thinking on the kitchen table, but I don't know what to put in it.  Any suggestions???

A Good Weekend Pt. 2

It was a wee bit of a rough day at work...this whole getting used to the job thing...sigh....its nice to think about the quietness of the weekend, so I'll share the rest of my little story....

Sunday dawned gray, cold, and freezing rain.  Perfect day for staying in.  Any plans to do anything outside of the home or requiring great effort were put aside.  We made a fire in the afternoon that we kept going until the evening.  I love that.  A fire (a real fire, not a gas one...sorry if you've got one, but I just love a real fire!) is probably the cosiest, most homey thing in the world to me.  I even wish that I could have one in the summer, sometimes.  When Hope went down for her nap, I took the opportunity to read some magazines & sew this:

I didn't get it done during the course of her nap, but I did finish it by the end of the evening. I  saw a tutorial for machine quilting fabric & turning it into an oven mitt about 5 months ago & have been wanting to do it since.  It isn't perfect, but I'm pretty happy with it.  I just love being able to make something in just the fabric that I want and the added benefit of it being inexpensive.  Also, I feel so accomplished when I do a project like this--start to finish in a few hours!  Love that.

Glenn has wanted to make a pizza recipe that he got from a native Chicagoan who has assured him that it would produce "authentic" Chicago pizza.  So, we got to mixing, rising, shredding, topping & baking late in the afternoon.  It is fun to cook with Glenn, though our kitchen is woefully inadequate for more than one person.  Actually, its woefully inadequate for only one person, but that is a story for another day....The pizza turned out well, but it wasn't all that I was expecting it to be.  But, like I said, it was a fun together project.

Whew, I realized as I wrote this how much I did over the weekend!  It didn't seem tiring, though.  Just fun & relaxing.   Can't wait until the next one....

A Good Weekend

Its Sunday evening of my first "back at work" weekend & looking back, its been a good one.  Full of lots of time with Glenn, Hope & friends, as well as some time to myself for projects.  AND, a trip to an estate sale. 

Yesterday, I had tea with a friend from college at a British tearoom.  It was wonderful to catch up with my friend, but I was disappointed in the tearoom.  It looked just like an English country tearoom, but the food was meager, not well done & expensive.  I was hoping to have found a place that I could visit often.   I will have to continue my search.

After that, I headed over to an estate sale to look for goodies for the business, as well as myself.  In this area of the country, estate sales are run in the home of the person who either passed away or is disposing of their furnishings for other reasons.  I know that in other parts of the country, estate sales are often auctions.  Estate sales around here are fascinating.  I just love to look around & see the evidence of a person's life.  So interesting.  If the sale is well run, then things have been organized & priced, though you can still see how the family lived.  I've also been to some pretty odd sales in which literally EVERYTHING in the house is for sale.  The food in the cupboards is still there & can be purchased.  That, I find to be pretty weird.  Saturday's sale was run by a company that I'm familiar with & they always do a good job.  I got the suitcase pictured above to add to my stack in the kitchen.  For the business, I got 2 vintage half aprons & a really pretty pink bedspread with rosebuds all over it.  Here are some closeups of the bedspread:


Isn't that sweet?  Its a very lightweight, silky polyester.  I'm guessing that it is from the 60s, but I'm not sure.  If anyone has an idea of when it could be from, let me know.

Last night, we had some friends  over for dinner, which was nice.  I made a new cake that turned out pretty well:

It is lemon pound cake with a raspberry liqueur glaze.  Yum.  And, I was able to use my new cake plate that Terri gave me for Christmas.

I was a busy girl today as well, but I think that I'll keep that for tomorrow post.  Have a great night!

Gettin' the Gimmes

Dear Amy of Inspire Company has written many times about "getting the gimmes".  In other words, lusting after some kind of lovely material thing that YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE.  Well, not really, but it sure feels like it! :)  I am currently in that state about the Boden spring catalog.  It arrived a few days ago & I have already snipped out the pages of the things that I love, that inspire me, that make me yearn for warm summer days, even though we haven't even had winter yet.  The green & white dress shown above, for instance.  I want it.  I imagine myself walking down the street just like the model, with the dress swishing around me. Though, I'd have kelly green shoes.  I just think that dress yells out for kelly green sandals.  And, if its chilly, a little white cardigan.  So 1950s, yes?

Here is another:

Is that not the sweetest thing, with those ruffles at the neck & sleeves?  I'm a sucker for ruffles.  I can't help myself.  It would look so perfect with dark jeans, or white capris.

This next one has a bit more going on than I usually like, but it appeals to me:

I am going to stop myself now, before I go too crazy :)  I think that I will try to hold myself back from actually purchasing anything at this point.  It is, after all, January.  Maybe by the time it gets warm, these things will be on sale!

Sanctuary....

This looks like a photo of my bathroom...but, in fact, it is indeed my sanctuary.  At the end of the day, after Hope is asleep & things are winding down, I come here.  The warm scented water is my nightly indulgence & relaxation.  Last night, I decided to bring in a small lamp and turn off the overhead lighting.  It was heaven.  Sort of dim & warm & perfect to get me ready for bed.  So much so that I got out of the tub for a moment, grabbed the camera, got back in & took this photo of my little private haven. 

If we ever build our dream house, at the top of my list (and its a long list!) of wants is a 2-person soaking or jacuzzi tub.  Unlike many people that never use theirs, I think that I really would.  I would love to have all of that room to stretch out & have bubbles up to my chin!

I have a collection of all kinds of bubble baths and gels, but my current favorite is just Johnson's  Baby  Oil.  It smells so sweet & gentle and leaves your skin all silky.  If you try it, I'd recommend using it in a tub that is used only for baths.  Or, clean out the tub right after you use it.  Otherwise, your poor husband will get in the following morning & nearly break his leg as he slips on the floor of the tub...whoops!

Diary of a Provincial Lady

I have a new book to add to my favorites---Diary of a Provincial Lady.  I read about it at Brocante Home several months ago & was given it for Christmas.  It was so funny that I laughed out loud many times & was even brought to tears of laughter at one point.  Now, I have a great love for all things English, in particular stories of England between the wars & during WWII.  So, this was pretty much made for me with just those two criteria.  But, the dry wit is what made me really love it.   You are reading on about the most mundane day & then the main character comments on it in the most hysterical way.  Maybe its because I found myself thinking, "so I'm not the only one who thinks these things!"  I wonder if this book is better known in England?  I had never heard of it previously.  AND, I've found that there were several more books written in a "Provincial Lady" series.

Pardon the "LOOK INSIDE!" on the picture above.  The only semi-decent picture of the book that I could find was at Amazon, with that statement attached.  I hope that they won't come by & try to sue me or something....

Shopping at Home

Several days ago, I was reading Jen's wonderful blog, The Cottage Nest , and she wrote a very fun & apt post about shopping from your own home .  While I was immediately coveting her own "shop" in her basement (come on, raise your hand if you wanted to go shop there too...you know you did!), it also struck me that this is one of my favorite decorating games to play.  I don't have all of my goodies in one place like she does (though the basement organization project is going well, so I may have room soon!).  So, I pull all of my goodies off of shelves, out of cabinets & closets & pile them on a big table.  Then, I just start playing!  Mixing things around, forcing myself to try things in ways that I hadn't thought of.  I often grab my inspiration binder or peruse my favorite decorating blogs to spark my imagination.  I just did this exercise a few weeks ago.  My teapot vignette  and my stack of suitcases were two of the results.  The table above is another area that I sort of threw together & it really turned out well--a cut glass bowl that had been in a closet, books from around the house & a ceramic urn from another table in the same room. It is amazing what moving things around can do.

I'd love to see what you have done with your "shop at home"/"use what you have" playtime!  Please, post links to your photos or blogs so that we all can inspire one another!

PS-My first day back at work went really well.  Everyone was super, super nice & so welcoming about my return.  I know that since I have to go back to work, going back to CORT was the right thing to do.

I've Been Tagged (6 Weird Things About Me)

I was tagged by Colleen over at the wonderful  Fresh Vintage .  I must tell 6 weird things about me...here are the rules:

Each player of this game starts with "6 weird things about you". Each person who gets tagged needs to write a blog post of their own 6 weird things as well as clearly state this rule. After you state your 6 weird things, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you're tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog for information as to what it means.

Here they are:
1)The top part of my left earlobe is pinched in a crease from when the doctor pulled me out with forceps when I was born.
2)I have been the same height--5'4" inches since I was 9 years old.  It was awful when I was 9, but is a good height now.
3)I am pretty well convinced that I have 9 lives.  I have been in 2 very bad car accidents that I have survived due to my seat belt.  Each time, I thought, "this is it". And, when Hope was born, I was very seriously ill due to complications. It's seems like I've used up 3 lives.  I'd like to keep the other 6, thank you very much.
4)I *love* disco/dance music from the 70s & early 80s.  I have been known to say "it isn't a wedding until you've danced to Kool & the Gang!"
5)Chocolate chip cookie dough is my favorite food.  Unbaked.  Yum.
6)I always say I love you before I hang up the phone with a family member, even if it hasn't been a good conversation. I'm compulsive & sort of superstitious about it.  I always want that to be the last thing that I say to them.

This was hard--either everything about me seems weird or nothing.  Know what I mean?  Lets see, who should I tag?  Who hasn't been tagged??? Posy , Laura , Clarice , Tracey  & Terri .  I know, that is only 5 people, but I'm having a hard time thinking of people who haven't been tagged already.  And, if one of you has been, sorry about that!

A Very Vintage Birthday

Yesterday was my 34th birthday & I celebrated in a vintage-y style.  I still had a little bit of my birthday money burning a hole in my pocket (I couldn't let it go unspent, could I???).  So, I stopped at one of my my favorite antique shops and found the painting above.  I love old paintings of roses. This one goes in so many rooms in our house, I can't decide where to put it.  I just hung it up in the dining room temporarily so that I could get the photo.  I also found these needlepoint pillows:

I don't think that they are old, but I love the roses & the soft colors.  I think that this is the direction that I'd like to go in our living room, in terms of color.  Of course, it is different from the french blue & yellow that is currently there, so I'll have to work around that.  I think that it will work because most of what is there is soft, plain yellow, with some accessories (& the valances) in blue.  So, if I change out the accessories & put up some floral prints, it will be getting there.  Stayed tuned--yet another project in the works.

And, lastly, my sweetie of a husband got me this lovely vintage sugar bowl:

It is so sweet of him to go to the trouble to find something unique that he knew that I would love.  I just love that he took the time to do that. 

After I finished at the antique shop, I went to my favorite day spa  for a facial.  It is such a huge treat to go to a day spa. I only do it once a year, usually around my birthday.  I've had various "treatments", but really the best part is being in those quiet, all white rooms, and having someone take care of me for an hour.  Sounds a bit like a mental hospital, doesn't it? Haha.  It certainly is therapeutic!

Lastly, Glenn took me out to dinner, which is always nice.  Though, an amusing thing did happen there.  This is the sort of thing that always happens to me (or should I say that I foolishly do....?).  I went to the restroom & returned to the place in the bar where Glenn had been ordering us a glass of wine. He was facing away from me & I went up & rubbed his arm & was about to hug him when I looked at his face---IT WASN'T HIM!!!!  Oh my gosh, I was so embarrassed.  I said "Oh!  You aren't my husband!" & luckily, the guy, the girls whole had witnessed it & me all had a good laugh.  I'm just glad that I looked up before I hugged him :)

I'm so blessed to have such a thoughtful & generous family, who provided me with my day of indulgences. 

Incidentally, you have spoken & I have listened...you will now see my posts in this smaller, black font.  Thank you for your input--I really do want your visits here to be pleasant!

My Finds

I'm back from my shopping spree & wanted to show you what I found.  It was a nice day, but I didn't find loads in the way of vintage treasure.  In fact, the cup & saucer pictured above are the only vintage items that I got.  I saw lots of pretty & interesting things, but I will only buy if I LOVE it & its a great price.  The great price part stopped me from buying several things....But, there are always more treasure hunts and I really do love the cup & saucer.  I need to find a great way to show them off. 

I also found a light fixture for our master bath (next project, hopefully) at the Restoration Hardware outlet.  I love their bath fixtures--gorgeous vintage looks & great quality.  So, I was thrilled to find this fixture at less than half of its original price.  I couldn't find a photo of it on their website (it must be from a past season), but here is a similar item to give you an idea:


Other than that, I found a couple of boring-type essential clothes that I've been looking for, like a black tank top to wear under my cardigans.  Recently, there was a fight between my old black tank top & the washer.  The washer won.

OK, I need to take a survey, so I hope that you all are ready to participate!  Please let me know if you like for me to write in this size font (called "normal") or in this size (called "large").  Also, do you like the colored fonts or black?  I've been experimenting & I would like to know what is easiest & most pleasant to read.  So, please tell me what you like & I won't be offended if you don't like what I've been doing--Really!  Thanks so much!