The Price of a Mirror.....

The things one will do for a good find.....

I have keeping an eye out for a mirror to hang in the front entry. I haven't really been looking too hard, just keeping it in the back of my mind. Last Saturday while antiquing with sister Becky and her husband I found one!!

It was old, not too fancy, the perfect size, heavy as heck .............and came with a desk.

I love all the age spots!

Unfortunately, the mirror couldn't be sold separately, it was on consignment. The only reason the mirror and desk were a pair is the owner wanted to sell them together and they are both painted the same strange lavender color.

After a bit of mulling, I decided I really liked the mirror and could probably find a purpose for the desk. So I bought it and we carried it out to the car. That is when the fun started!

After trying to fit the desk(the mirror of course was no problem) in the car seventy different ways; on it's side, flipped to the right and left,  with half the back seats folded down, with all the back seats folded down, through the trunk into the back seat, through the back seat into the trunk, we finally discovered the only way it was going to fit was across the back seat. Which only left seating for two people........

 I was about to start the gyrations all over again when it started to Rain.

 My brother-in-law then shoved the mirror and desk in the back seat and crawled in the trunk himself!! (For those of you who might be worried, we left the seats folded down so he could keep us posted on how comfy the trunk was.)Thankfully we hadn't too far to drive. But we laughed all the way home! The things one will do for a good antique.



The culprit.

Mandy has decided to take the little desk under her wing. We have visions of a Potting Bench! Hence the board under it, a future shelf. I will keep you posted as I have a feeling it's story has not ended yet.

Bathroom in Progress

Work has been moving along rapidly on the bathroom! Very exciting! It is not quite in working order, but very very close. Here is a sneak peak of what it will look like.

Right now I am working on paint color for the walls. I had painted them a blue/gray, but it is not looking right with the black and white tile so now I am on the hunt for a lighter gray/blue.

Caution: Tiling in Progress

Yesterday was tiling day! I have looked forward to this day for so long. Just a couple more things to do and the bathroom will be finished!

 We didn't get as much done as I was hoping, but it is turning out very nice.

The blue stripes are tape, to help hold the tile in place till they dry. There is also an empty space three tiles up from the faucet valve for a soap holder.

 It is really going to be Tiling Week!

Sitting Pretty

The porch has been a kind of catch-all this summer. Some weeks it was so cluttered one could hardly get to the front door! With Winter looming on the horizon and the days getting cooler and cooler and Mom announcing she thought this was the last weekend we could paint outdoors, we decided to spring into action.
Friday afternoon Mandy sanded it down and by that evening we managed to get a coat of primer on. Then Saturday (while Mandy and I worked on the plaster in the bathroom) Mom painted the floor. I love how bright and cheery the color is! (the pictures are a little dark as it is later in the afternoon)

Can't you just picture a couple of wicker chairs loaded with pillows?

The Pug Dog Theory

Do you ever feel like it is your birthday when you return something?

In our house we love to quote the scene from the movie "Life with Father" about the pug dog statue. We know it doesn't really work that way, but every time I return something it feels like a bonus! I have been tidying up things and we are at the point where we can finally return some of the extra supplies hanging around. Now I just have to figure out what to buy with all that money.......

The Quick Easy Way Darner

 A little vintage find from my Sister. The Easy Way Darner attachment can be used for quilting, applique, mending, zippers, buttons, button holes and to darn stockings. Quite an impressive list! I was very curious to try it out. It looks like it is an equivalent to a modern day free form sewing attachment.

From the illustrations it looks like it if from the early 1940s.

 

 Included in the box are a cardboard button hole gauge, a metal ring to hold stockings while darning and the wire attachment (which is on top of the button hole gauge blending in!).

 This is the only way I could figure out to attach it. Unfortunately, I didn't get a copy of the instructions.

As you can see the test run did not work very well. Every time the needle went down the wire hook popped off the needle knob and didn't keep pressure on the fabric. I was so sad.......

Then I had a brain storm! The sewing machine I was trying it on was a 1970's Kenmore. Maybe it would work better on an older Singer, one of the cast iron versions. I also recalled there being a little different arrangement of the needle knob and an extra clip on the main shaft. As soon as things settle down around here I will have to give it a try on my old treadle machine!

 

What do you think of this interesting 1940's invention? Ever seen one?

Signs of Fall

I love watching the seasons change, don't you? It doesn't look very fall-ish yet, just a few hints here and there that fall is indeed on its way.

 "Autumn Joy" Sedum (Beautiful color!)............

 Busy bees........

 Acorns dropping......

 A crab apple tree bursting with red fruit.........

 Cheerful orange Marigolds.......

 

 Crunching acorns underfoot......

 

 Kerri enjoying the cool break in the weather.

 

A hint of yellow on the trees.......