My Favorite Things....all the elements of decorating for the holidays!

       It is now nearing the new years holiday and I am reflecting on my 51st Christmas.  Even though it has been many years, I still find myself  trying to remember the details of the earliest Christmas in my life..the one I had when I was 3 or four years old.  I remember the baby doll and bassinet I received from Santa.  I can feel my forehead wrinkling as I try to recall other details of my childhood Christmas holiday, and they are more detailed the older I became.  Some of the things that help these memories emerge are things like large old fashioned Xmas lights, silver and gold tinsel, silver aluminum artificial trees, red and green plastic wall hangings, and the sight of one of those cardboard fireplaces with the rotating colored disk in front of a light bulb imitating a roaring fire.  I do not put tinsel on my tree these days and I have reverted to an artificial one now. However, the Christmas tree in my house is just as beautiful and make just as grand of memories each year, although they are getting a bit more lean and simple.

        This year I enjoyed setting up the tree with clear lights.  I like that they don't compete with all the pretty ornaments I have.  I have acquired, over the years, a nice collection of "Shiny Brite" mercury ornaments. I can see all of the ornaments more clearly on the tree and it just looks neater.

        Over the years I have collected some beautiful bulbs and trinkets for the tree..some of which are mementos of trips or other things. The New York Taxi ornament reminds me of the trip my kids and I went on to NY over 10 years ago. That was the best trip, we all agree!  The over sized lolli pop ornament is one I bought at one of those after Christmas sales and would not have been able to buy ordinarily!
And then, adorning my tree are a myriad of other beautiful bulbs and what not, including an ornaments made by my children through their elementary school years...like this Styrofoam cup covered with glitter...bell!

       Others may cover their tree with ornaments costing so much more, but at this stage in my life, I just do not have the space to keep on buying new ones every year and adding more when I do not really need to.  I have enough extra to change up how the family tree looks year after year. Each one conjures up memories of Christmases past.

      I have not even touched on the beautiful things one can do with Christmas presents!  I used to professionally wrap gifts as a home based business and enjoyed what I could create from basic dollar store paper and inexpensive tie-ons.  I will share them with you on my holiday blog next year. I can't share all of my secrets in one blog after all!  :)


        I love to build my room around the tree with my furnishings and such.   Take this tree skirt for instance. I found it at an after Christmas sale for 90% off of it's original $360 + price tag. What made it special to me is the petite point Santas and the silken brocade material that unifies it all into a beautiful circular skirt.  Made in Italy.

This holiday vignette created for the coffee table combines a
gold velvet lined and glass topped jewel box with a tall clear vase filled with shiny red and gold bulbs and a family member's photograph.  In the background, you can see one of my favorite striped silk pillows settled on the couch, while the tree lights flank the left side.











        I call the chair below my "holiday chair".  It is an antique store find, made around the '40's (one of my favorite era's for home furnishings). I got it for way less than the posted price after a little bit of clever bargaining with the seller at an antique mall.  The accompanying pillow is of silk, down filled and another garage sale find (it helps to assist others in setting up their sales...you get first pick of all the good stuff.)  FYI:  It cost me only $2.00!  I have learned since then that the style of the chair is referred to as "bergere". 

         In a few days, New Years will be upon us and sadly, the tree will come down the following week. Even if I have to take over three days to re-pack and put away the myriad of baubles and bling that I put out,   I, for one, will miss is greatly as it has filled a space in my living room and in my family's heart, with all that is shiny,  beautiful and smile producing. Fortunate for all of us, though...with the passage of the winter holidays comes the promise of spring and beginning for the new year!

     Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year folks.  And may  God Bless us....everyone!

Identifying Fine China and Determining its Value

I just acquired a new set of china today!  I was so excited when I first saw it because of the beautiful pattern and design. But I knew I needed to determine the value before I paid the asking price obviously.  

It is important to know the value of what you are thinking of purchasing.  Whether you are buying it for investment or for enjoyment research must be done. Gather all the background you can about the item via books on the subject of the maker of the piece and the Internet using keywords. Finding out who made the china can be determined through research on the Internet, but you may be wondering where to start.  Here are a few ideas to get you started.

If you acquire china from a family member  you can ask them about what they remember about the pieces. Sometimes information will narrow down the country and date of creation. Once you have recorded all the verbal information, try to verify it. Second, observe any signatures or names of countries of origins that may be included in the back stamp.  In the USA, markings became law in 1890, anything earlier and you will have to rev up your research.  Different types of markings include stamped marked, impressed marks, handwritten marks, sticker or paper marks.  Handwritten marks are usually a logo or symbol but can be written in any language.  Sticker  or paper markings were glued or shellacked to the china.  Export markings are added to china that is transported from its country of origin to another destination.  You may see two different markings on china.

Determining the origin of your china is exciting, especially if it is what you deem a lucky find or a family heirloom. It is wise to remember, however,  that your china may have a higher sentimental value than a monetary one. While my new china was discontinued in 1917 and in excellent condition, it really is only worth what the market will bear.  

I have some lovely Crown Ducal China that I purchased from a friend. At the time of purchase, I did not have the advantage of the Internet, but now from my research of the back stamp bearing the maker, I was able to learn the china pattern and when it was manufactured.  I didn't know till I learned this information that I have china that is worth quite a bit more when I decide whether or not to sell it for profit.

Here are some dating markings guidelines to help you:


Royal Arms marks date back to the 19th or 20th century.  
When the printed mark has the name of the pattern, it can be dated after 1810
Marks that included the word "limited" or the abbreviations "LTD or LD" can be dated after 1861.
Marks that include the words "Trade Mark" denotes a date after 1862
Take pictures with a digital camera and then take the pictures to an expert if you are unsure of whether or not to buy the china or want to know about something you already own.. You can also use the photos to track down the markings on the Internet or in reference books at a library or really good bookstore.

Other important to remembers:

Check for imperfections.  This is an extremely important step if you intend to use your china acquisitions for investing or making a profit selling antique china.  With a magnifying glass and a black light, check the piece for chips, scratches, smudges, cracks and stains. A black light is great for helping you spot repairs. Under regular light, a piece of china may look flawless; however, under a black light, repairs will show.  You should know this because of the obvious decrease in value of the piece for every repair that is made on it..  You will want to insure that you are getting just what you think you are paying for, whether you are collecting antique china for investing or for yourself.  


Now that you know how to identify fine antique china, maybe you want to learn more about antique china values?  Go to Antiquing Authority.com for more information!

Care and Cleaning of Fine China

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Now I have been away for a while, taking care of business as one usually says. However, I have not forgotten that my last post stated that in this series I am blogging about  fine china and said that I would talk about how to care for it.  It is so important that if you take the time to choose a china pattern or are given a beautiful set, that you know how to keep from damaging it.  Damage can very well occur if you don't know the do's and don'ts of it.   Certainly, if you take a good long look at Grandma's set, you will see the evidence of damage occurring over the years and wonder how it could have been avoided.
Many fine china manufacturers have different suggestions for caring for china and the same goes for solutions to addressing the damage.  Lenox china, being one of the premier china manufacturers shares the following information to help you preserve your fine china dinnerware.  I have included a few of my own tips here as well.

Preparing to wash your fine china dinnerware.

First, remember to never purposely scrape your away remaining scraps of food from your china, especially with a metal utensil like a fork or knife. Rinsing the dish off shortly after eating with warm water before the food has time to stick is a good rule of thumb.You will want to avoid letting highly acidic foods like spaghetti sauce sit on the surface for too long as it may stain. You will want to have a rubber mat lining the interior of your sink to prevent china from getting scratched and dinged.  Never stack your china in the sink. Wash one piece at a time. This will prevent them from hitting one another.

Washing your fine china dinnerware

Use only mild detergents – do not use abrasive or harsh cleaning agents.  This is why hand washing is suggested, as dishwasher detergent is especially harsh and not recommended for china or crystal or silverware.  Use a soft sponge and be careful that no residue from a previous use exists on the sponge. Even the tiniest microscopic grains in a sponge can leave fine scratches on the surface of china, leaving it open to future crazing. Use only warm water.  The hottest water is not necessary and as you know, if you have ever taken a crystal glass out of really hot water, breakage can be the result. Slide the china into the water to allow time for the temperature to distribute evenly. Temperature changes can also crack or break fine china. It is important to remember that china with metal trim is especially susceptible to damage as the hot water will cause the metal to flake away. And never ever rub any detergent on the metal trim which can also cause it to flake.

Protecting your fine china dinnerware from stains 

Remember, to rinse shortly after use.Tea or coffee cups can be cleaned using a solution of one part hydrogen peroxide, three parts water, with just a drop of clear household ammonia, shortly after use to help aid in preventing the build up of stains. Rinse with clear, warm water. 

Tips for treating stains that are already present on your fine china dinnerware

 A few instances where rubbing when cleaning china is allowed:
 Use a small dab of baking soda to gently rub away the stains. Sprinkle the stains with salt and gently rub away the stains. A small amount of cream of tartar on a damp sponge will remove stains. Gray stains can be removed by rubbing with a small amount of toothpaste on a soft cloth. Stain from hard water or lime can be removed by soaking the china in warm water with citrus rinds such as lemon, grapefruit, or orange, overnight.


Not only is cleaning your china important, caring for it in general requires knowing the following:

Most of us think air drying is best.  I am here to tell you that to avoid spots, it is best to always hand dry with a soft non abrasive clean dish cloth.  I know people who dry their china with cloth diapers. Do not stack too many china plates one on top of another. When you stack, it is best to place a paper doily, or a rubber jar ring between each plate to avoid scratching, or cut out circles of a lightweight cardboard works just as well. If you do stack your china plates, lift them off when ready to use instead of sliding. Stacking teacups, or placing items inside another piece as they dry is inviting damage and so  is a huge no-no.  Doing so leaves teacups vulnerable to tipping over and can nick the handles and edges of other pieces such as casserole lids and creamers. Regarding teacups,  you may be surprised to learn that it unwise to hang the teacups by hooks or pegs.  What this does is result in weakening the handles over time. So, just put your teacups side by side on a shelf instead. Keep your fine china dinnerware at moderate room temperatures. Extreme temperatures can cause your china to crack or break Do not place china in a box in a cold basement or store tightly together in containers in a cold place such as a garage or basement, or for that matter, in a hot place such as an attic. Now you know why your neighbor who hardly ever uses their china has it displayed in a china cabinet. The cabinet may take up allot of room, but if it adds to the lifespan of the china you have, then it is worth it!

When serving on your china, warm the dishes at room temperature so that any hot food placed on it will not "shock" it. Extreme quick changes in temperature can damage it.   When serving anything in a lidded dish with handles, never actually hold the dish by the handles when serving. Most of the time, the handles on such serving pieces are for decoration and not to be used literally as carrying handles.

China is bound to show some cracks or crazing over time. I always say that it is better to use the china even if you fear damage so that you can make some great family dinner memories.  Using it every day if it is not heirloom quality is not such a bad thing.  If you do notice fine spidery surface cracks,  you can usually repair these by placing the china in a pan of warm milk for around 30 minutes. If the cracks are only surface deep, they should vanish.

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Why own fine china at all?

Like anything else you have in your life that you love and enjoy, fine china deserves to be respected!  Someone once asked me why anyone would register for fine china when they were getting married since it never gets used in most cases. I remember answering them by saying that having fine china in your house is like having a memory album.  If you have it, you should use it often for all special occasions, including Mother's Day lunches, tea parties with the ladies from your church or quilting group, and even, yes, for special birthday dinners for everyone in the family.  China is meant to be used so that when you pass it along through the ages, stories can be told of where it came from, who was at the special dinners where it was laid out, and what was the funniest story ever told over that special dinner.

So enjoy your china, take good care of it, and it will help to create more special memories than one can imagine!

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Fine china...pulling out your "someday best"

All of my life I have loved pretty things. These things usually revolved around ceramics, pottery and china objects.  I have a few odd china plates that just appealed to me and china cups that maybe I got for a gift and really did not appreciate them till long after they sat in a box in storage. Lately, I have come to love china dishes.  I find beauty and want to have it around me in my everyday life.  The best way I can think of to integrate this beauty into my everyday life is by owning and using beautiful china for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I am going to educate you about china through this blog in a series of posts. First I will be showing you some of  the china I have collected.  Second,  I will talk about the china markings or backstamps,  how they are used to identify what you have and then I will tell you what I know about determining the value of the china.  Lets start with sharing pictures and short descriptions of what I own. 

Haviland Bavarian China

Years ago, about 20 I think, I saved enough "points" shopping at my local food store to purchase Haviland Bavarian china at a huge discount. In the end I had service for eight in two four-piece sets.  It is vitreous china, so translucent you can see your hand through it when you put it up to the light. I already had silver plated flatware and the platinum trim around the edges of this china coordinated perfectly.  I love the fancy scalloped edging and the footed teacups with the curly Q handles. I had hoped to eventually find and purchase the teapot and sugar/creamer and salt and pepper shakers, and a complete hostess set.  Someday maybe, but for now, I am content with what I have.

Noritake

Since then I acquired other pretty china sets by some of the best china makers.  My vintage Noritake china, made in occupied Japan, has been named through hours of research as "Mystery Pattern #7".  I have service for 12, with all the pieces, the first group of this found at a thrift store, service for eight with almost all the hostess pieces, but no dinner plates for only $40.  I bought an entire set of service for 12  from someone who advertised on EBAY classified. I had to drive to Ohio 3 hours away to get them, but I did, and I did it for a song. Having duplicates of the b & b plates and all the rest is not such a bad thing..I can sell them to finance the deal or have them just for replacements! This china dates back to the 1940 according to Replacements LTD. Its coloring and shape of each of the different pieces identifies it as Noritake, although the blanks for the pieces were historically purchased by other manufacturers and their own designs decorated them.  It would be easy to get them confused without looking at the identifying markings on the bottom.

I think the prettiest thing about Noritake china is the shapes of the vessels.  I absolutely love the fact that each set comes with a tureen or covered casserole and the handles on everything is painted with gold. More recently, the quality of the china is the same, but you simply won't find such ornate decoration, so vivid in color, any longer. Anything pre-dating this set is even more beautiful, and any china made by Noritake before 1950 is hard to find in a complete unblemished set such as this.  I possess actually two sets of Occupied Japan Noritake with all the serving pieces in service for 12.  A wonderful family heirloom that my family can look forward to receiving some day.

Diamond hand painted China

One of the things I love also about vintage china is the pieces it comes with. I just recently came across a set of two handled soup bowls made by Diamond . It is labeled "hand painted" and is also very ornate in its design, footed and with gold leaf accents on the handles.  I decided after finding four of these at a more well known thrift store, all four for $14.99, I would try to find saucers.  I did find a creamer and sugar and four teacup saucers for a song on Ebay.- $14.99.  I have seen complete dish sets also for a very affordable price. But I have self control, and decided to stop at the pieces I have now.  I think I just might serve oatmeal in these on Christmas morning...just for a change of pace and to add some glitz to a special day of the year!

Homer Laughlin

Homer Laughlin made china that was highly regarded and popular for a very long time. I came to know Homer Laughlin china when I came across a set for less than $25 at an antique store. The pattern featured here is referred to as  Eggshell Georgian, and the decoration on it is named Chateau.  It was most popular during the war when American brides could little afford expensive china imported from overseas. The color of this set is the lightest robins egg blue with a floral spray and a delicate braided edging that does not show well in these pictures. This set is in immaculate condition and has a few hostess pieces with it. I have tried to find the tea pot that goes with it, but it is highly collectible, more so than the plates settings and I have seen it on Ebay fetch upwards of $75.  I also have a set of Homer Laughlin in the Aristocrat pattern.  Here is a photo of the sugar bowl which I recently purchased for only $10 on Etsy.com. Recently I sold a set of the Viceroy pattern, service for 4, and I am sharing a photograph of the cup and saucer here.  Homer Laughlin, you may know, is the manufacturer of highly collectible Fiestaware.  If you like vintage china that you can really use every day, check out Homer Laughlin.

Pope Gosser China

Recently, I discovered the beauty of Pope Gosser china.  First thing that came into my ownership was a sugar bowl and creamer, no markings on it to speak of, but beautiful enough and unique in its design. Notice the handle of the sugar bowl is a slanted rose?  The handles on each is so intricate and delicate.  These pieces fit my leanings toward the shabby chic trend. You should see the coffee pot!  I am just a few days away from obtaining that. I plan to stop with just the three pieces..it is all I need to just look at and suddenly get happy when it comes to the pretty things that I have around me in my home.  Now if this were marked on the bottom, it would say "Rosepoint".  This photo of it just doesn't do it justice.  If you like the shabby chic look of this china, go look it up on Ebay and see all the obtainable pieces there. It is bright off white, although you cannot get that from this photo. But I can promise you, --you will fall in love with it if you allow your romantic side to emerge!  Pope Gosser also makes wonderful place settings with beautiful intricate edging on the plates with 22 kt gold trim that is not to be easily dismissed.  I have just started to add to my china hoard (eeek!) with a serving set of the pattern "Florence" which I intend to acquire and give away to one of my family as a gift someday.

There are other china producers that I love. Spode made some wonderful china as does Wedgewood and Waterford, but they can be pretty pricey. I also would like to add to my small set of Royal Doulton china, and recently I bought a couple of smaller odd pieces of Shelly and Aynsley china upon a visit to the RePurpose Warehouse at a 50% off sale.  I have these odd pieces around strictly for their beauty and could not possibly think of adding to these smaller pieces collection but they would come at a very high price. I think I will wait on that for now!  

The point of my sharing this particular information is to show you all the beautiful alternatives to your old beat up Correlle (not to bemoan this fabulous every day kitchen gem), but to make you all think outside the box when it comes to showing off your culinary masterpieces to your family.  There is nothing more exciting to your children, especially to the younger crowd, then setting up the table like it is not just Wednesday, but a holiday and showing off your crystal and china and pulling your wedding flatware out of the box is your gift to your family for the day.  You simply must make memories with your beautiful things. It is a crime to keep it all locked up and demand that no one touch it.  Making memories make for strong families, ...it makes your kids feel even more special because THEY are worth celebrating.  So, open up that china cabinet, pull out the cloth napkins and crystal, and serve your hot dogs and hamburgers on your "someday best".

Love,

Kimberley

Next blog: The care and cleaning of fine china

Fall days and comfort foods.....

A big delicious pot of comforting cabbage soup!

Adding chocolate to chili give it that extra something special!

BBQ Ribs, with the secret Ingredients sauce!

Pot Roast with all the trimmings!

Golumpke, the way Hedwig always made them

Today was what fall days are about...breezes, leaves just beginning to turn, and the threat of a chilly evening when a log on the fire isn't such a far out idea. I love these days when I can pull out all the stops to prepare a meal that hearkens back to mom's kitchen..a day for actually using the oven and creating a gastronomic delight that we can refer to as comfort food.  

I decided to make Golumpke  today.  Now, while on the surface this doesn't seem like such a feat, I have to say that mine are especially tasty. I got a recipe from a neighbor past whose heritage is Lithuanian and she told me of a secret ingredient that I still use to this day.  She advises that after I have blended the fresh ground pork sausage, ground sirloin, onion, tomato paste, salt and pepper, vinegar, rice (some use barley) and other ingredients, to add 1/2 cup of brown sugar to the mix. I sometimes add more. Doing this gives my cabbage rolls a taste that has been forever a favorite of my family.

I also love to finally make a pot roast meal.  In the summer months, I wouldn't dream of turning on the oven, especially in Indian summer days that come in August.  Here is a photo of mine, with potatoes and carrots and onions roasted right along with it.  When this meal is done cooking, the meat just falls apart and melts in your mouth like butter!  Serve this with a loaf of fresh bread and butter at room temperature and it is by far the best fall meal I can think of!

Speaking of secret ingredients, as I talked mentioned in my golumpke rolls recipe,   have you ever made chili with chocolate shavings, or barbecue ribs sauce using orange or apricot marmalade and maple syrup?  Do this to taste and you will never be disappointed!  I am sharing some pictures of my dishes here.  I hope you enjoy looking at them and then maybe share some of your favorite secret recipe tips here with me.  I am always on the look out for twists in my old family favorites.  

Enjoy your wonderful fall days ahead.  Thank you for visiting!

Designing vignettes that showcase your style......

Notice the background for the wreath, next to the brick, over the walnut mantel, and the brass fireplace tools. A lot going on, but it seems to work!

Against a dark red backdrop, I have hung a fruit still life print, an ornate framed miniature picture, a solid copper mold,  and placed other accessories of colors that set off each of the prints.

Notice the chair rail that adds a touch of vintage to this arrangement...and I spent I think about $4 total creating this!

My "china" cupboard....free!

I like the bright white window trim and all the colors together here!

Over the years I have had to work with the design elements my home has, and the accessories I found here and there to create the look and feel of a country french home.  I love the colors red and yellow. That's my taste. Yours may be different and I am guessing it is. Finding interesting pieces and not spending top dollar is sort of my specialty.  This happened because I am a penny pincher and knowing I have acquired a decorative item that cost me a lot of money does not sit well with me. I prefer to happen upon really one of a kind accessories at thrift stores and the like.  Once I get them home, then the magic begins.


In my kitchen I had a cupboard in a strategic location where when the outdoor light came in, whatever was in it could be a focal point. However, the doors were closed up, and one would have to open them to see what was inside. I took my doors to a carpenter friend of mine who removed the raised panels within and replaced them with glass.  Now I had an instant china cabinet of sorts where my collection of china cups, saucers, and vintage place settings could be showcased with great pride.  I didn't go the step further, but if I did, I would have placed lace trim on the shelf edges just to add more vintage appeal.  If I wanted, I could add lights that shine down on the shelves and even make all the shelves glass.  Wouldn't that be pretty?


In another corner of my kitchen I arranged several items on the back splash of an otherwise dim lifeless corner. I curb picked a handsome still life print under glass, beautifully framed already, and placed it next to a substantive mustard gold canister ($2.50), a hanging solid copper mold ($1.99), and couple of ornately framed pictures ($1 and $2 respectively) and some interestingly shaped bottles of spiced oils ($ 1 for two smaller ones and $3.99 for the largest one).  It may look like a lot to have there in that space, but I tried to downsize the number of items here, and since it is a largely unused corner, I prefer to have these items there and they lend a wonderful array of color and light to the space.  I think I will keep this just this way!


In my family room, the fireplace is flanked by a red leather suede picture frame that holds a photo of my son with his 13 ft tall sun flower from Kindergarten. On the opposite end is a large wooden pineapple statue ($3.99 -Salvation Army) ,  and a rose berry wreath given to me by a friend, she was going to throw it out with yesterday's newspapers.  Who knew that these three accessories could come together against the yellowish wood grained backdrop and the brickwork of the chimney to create such a presentation...one that I am content to see every day I am in that room?


Over on one side of the family room against the window wall, I have married a country french flavor chair, a plaid throw pillow that matches the down filled couch, and an interesting shaped table with ornate legs.  Upon this table is a hurricane lamp that I had the base that only needed the mosaic glass hurricane ($2 - garage sale find)  to bring it to life.  Partnered with that is a "HOME" piece, a small turquoise pottery vase given to me from an aunt's belongings, and a cute checkerboard farmhouse style picture frame ($5.99 - Marshalls).  If you look beneath the table you will see the awesome spice cupboard that sits there, purchased at another thrift store for a mere $4.00.  I bought it to hang, but discovered that it looked so perfect there under the table. I decided to leave it there. Finally, notice the curtains on the window in a red and yellow toile juxtaposed with the plaid throw pillow on the chair?  I love mixing prints!  It is an inexpensive design trick that looks expensive!  And the colors in these additions were the colors of my room, so it works nicely together!

On collections and other things........

My Steiff "Pillo" and little chick

My first acquisition...Chickadee

Something's Cooking in Grandma's Kitchen....

Vintage stove top pot and lid

Do these conjure up any memories for you?

Do you remember cooking the turkey in a roaster like this?

Do these look familiar?

A lovely cheese plate and dome

The Jewel Tea man used to bring these over when he visited

I love to cook and one of the things that makes cooking enjoyable is having the utensils that not only help to create the dish, but also the ones that help in serving, which is really, presenting the final result. I find that when I cook, I sometimes revert back to my grandma's kitchen.   She had the utensils pictured here in her kitchen, on the shelves, in the cupboard drawers, and in the middle of her dining room table. They conjure up memories of baking a cherry pie using cherries from the tree in the yard, cooking up a stew in her hammered granite ware  metal pots using vegetables from her garden, and serving her culinary creations in various other vessels that left a mark on me.  I enjoy seeing these different containers in antique shops and at yard sales, and while I hold off purchasing many of these things, I have indulged in a few pieces that I am having trouble parting with, even though they were originally purchased to sell online.  With fall comes the opportunity to create the same wonderful comfort foods that grandma did. So for me....I plan to hang onto these things a while longer. Maybe my children will someday come to appreciate them.....just as I do!

Nature's Bounty at summer's end

I had to take a drive to Ohio today on a buying trip.  Just when I was wondering when I was going to get where I was going, I noticed a produce stand at the side of the road next to a beautiful old red barn.  I pulled over and took a peek.  The stand was full of the most vivid colors of fruits and vegetables and colorful mums as well.  I forgot how much fun it is to buy these things right off the farm I am so accustomed to picking them up at my neighborhood mega grocer.  

I think sometimes we forget that we are helping our Michigan farmers when we go straight to the source when we can.  Yes convenience is great, I could have just waited and stopped at the fruit market near my home or like I said the major grocery chain. But here on this beautiful summer day, the green zucchini looked brighter, the pears looked juicier, the mums were fuller.  

I purchased what you see here, and was enveloped by that sweet melon smell all the way home!

An unusual napkin holder...discovered on this summer day..

So how was your summer day?  It was beautiful out here in Troy, and I noticed my neighbor Janet putting some things out onto her driveway that were in her garage.  She had moved into the house in the last month and I knew she probably had some pretty neat stuff, so I ventured over to see.  She greeted me and said she was getting ready to have a yard sale this weekend, she had heard the weather was going to be great.  I could not help but poke around in her stuff and I came across this really neat piece.  Jennifer explained that her sister had given this to her and I asked what it was.  Turns out that it is a napkin holder.  A very interesting one too!  Has anyone ever seen anything like this?  It looks like a Mexican girl and the colors were perfect for my kitchen.  She gave it to me!  This just goes to show, you never know what you will find just innocently checking out someones garage sale items before the sale! 

Here's another I found at an antique mall just a couple of days ago.....(October 12, 2011)

Here's to vintage picnics kits and making memories

So today, September 11th, has come and is almost gone.  While the memory of this day is one of great sadness, for me, it was also a day of remembering when things were so very different in our world.  Simple pleasures of an end of summer day, bike riding, cold popsicles melting faster than they can be licked, and most of all summer picnics.  I found each of these picnic kits at my favorite local thrift store.  One is a tall kit with a lift out tray where the food containers can be stored. The one next to it is shallow, but does contain a plastic container for a couple of sandwiches!  The point here is that these kits are very popular and can be expensive, but it is likely you can get you find one the same place I did and for under $10.  Once you have this, just bring along a plaid blanket, find your favorite picnic spot and enjoy summer breezes and sunshine with your friends or family.  There is still time before it gets cold outside..go out there, find your vintage picnic kit and make a summer picnic memory!

Welcome to my blog

So I had been thinking about starting this blog for years. However, I am no computer wizard. But I have a niece named Alyssa who is a wizard, an artist, a free spirit, and most of all, just so helpful!  She set me up, and what do you know?  Here I am!

I love the 40's and 50's eras.  I loved the old fashioned kitchen, the utensils and dinnerware used, the furniture..I guess you could say I just love the lifestyle as I perceive it.  Moms were in the kitchen and putting their feminine touch on everything using the styles of the day that I happen to love.

Throughout the past few years, I have acquired some pretty nice vintage things that someday I hope to incorporate into my new space, kind of starting over.  I am not really traditional anymore. I am vintage through and through. Furniture pieces, beautiful dish sets from time gone by, linens and just the overall flavors of it all will be posted here.

My kids may think I am a bit obsessed with this stuff.  But I say that if something makes you happy, then surround yourself with it and sharing my obsession here is a positive step toward keeping the clutter in my mind to a minimum.

Have fun with this page. Post and share always!

Love,

Kimberley