Hi everyone! I hope you are not tired of the overload of posts from me:-) I wanted to share some vintage treasures that mean so much to me.
I write about things that have come from my great grandfather's house quite a lot here, so I wanted to share more about that. Here is the house in winter...
I never saw the house as it was torn down and replaced with a new brick rancher before I was born. My dad has told me so much about it as they lived there until he was in high school. The little guest house that I have featured, was behind this house.
This house was filled with beautiful *never-painted* wormy chestnut woodwork that my grandfather carefully removed and bundled, then stored. If you have visited here much, you have seen us reuse and repurpose that wood.
Luis started building a corner china cabinet a couple years ago from a walnut tree my dad had cut in the 1970s. We are finishing it with the wormy chestnut trim from the old house, but have yet to get the doors done. They will be made using the eight-inch baseboard mouldings.
Since it is really large and doorless, I have accessorized it to remind me of the old store, which my grandfather owned here, with things from the store and the old house.
The cathedral photo belonged to my great grandmother who lived in Washington D.C., for a time, but I don't know what it is. I'm pretty sure it's not the Washington Cathedral, but maybe another Washington church since it came from there. I also lived there, so it is special to me. All the books are from the late 1800s/early 1900s and belonged to my grandfather or his mother. All are inscribed with my great grandmother's handwriting.
This old, electric iron of my grandmother's is so heavy I cannot imagine using it.
The box came from the old garage that is on the property here.
You all go to antique markets...I go here:-)
The trim moulding here on top was in the house, I found the coffee can in the smokehouse, and the photo is my late great grandmother with her children and sister.
My mom let me "borrow" the scales just for the photo. The date on these is 1912.
Here are the same scales (top) in the old house, with my grandfather at the sink. Notice the window is the same as I have hanging by my piano.
I thought the storage jars would be nice here with the balsam pine sachet my grandmother made for me...
We will eventually get the doors made--solid wood at the bottom, and seeded glass on the top.
Thanks so much for stopping by!! You all know how much I love anything that belonged to my family, so I appreciate your bearing with me as I share it all. Most people would just throw away a lot of these things, but even the tiniest, most worn out item is so special to me.
I'll be joining Courtney for Holiday Vignettes
Debra for Vintage Inspiration Friday
and
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty, Thrifty Tuesday
so be sure to stop by!!
Anita
Anita, this was such a sweet post! i enjoyed every bit of it! How wonderful to have so many treasures, from your own family, to incorporate into your home! And you have done it beautifully!! Your grandparents and great-grandparents would be so honored that you've cherished their history! God bless you!
ReplyDeleteReally wonderful family heirlooms. Your vignettes are beautiful. There can never be 'too many' posts from you! xo
ReplyDeleteHello Anita and howdy from Kansas!
ReplyDeleteMay you have a delightful Holiday month and a very Merry Christmas! The new year will be here sooner than i will want to admit.
All your treasures are neat!!!
I like the open cabinet with your treasures being displayed in it.
The old photos of the house turn my crank! Love seeing old photos of days gone by.
Have a great day,
d
Hi Anita,
ReplyDeleteThis is such a good post. That was a wonderful house that your great-grandparents had; so sad that it was torn down to build a ranch-style house. But I'm glad your grandfather salvaged a lot of the wormy chestnut woodwork; that wood is gorgeous and costs a fortune to buy these days! Your display in the corner cabinet is just right; my mom would love that! I like things that belonged to my family as well.
I noticed your Pilot Knob coffee can; my mom, my sister, and I all have one. My parents live about 15minutes from Pilot Mountain State Park, and they have a wonderful view of Pilot Knob from their street.
Thank you for becoming a follower on my blog; I do appreciate it. Yours was one of the first I started reading when I discovered blogs a couple of years ago. I look at a lot of blogs, and I can truly say that I've enjoyed your Christmas decorations more than any I've seen this year. They are the style that I like myself, and your photos are truly magazine worthy. I think my favorite thing is your tartan plaid curtains, the gorgeous toile roll-up shades, and your "Romantic England" dishes. Thanks for sharing!
Blessings,
Denise at Forest Manor
Anita, your china cabinet is incredible. I love all your presentations on it. I too, love the old family items. I don't have a lot, but what I have I sincerely love. You are a true decorator. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteI take care of my treasures just like you do. I was delighted to see you become a follower of my blog:)
ReplyDeleteOh my. I love all the sweet mementos in your corner cupboard! It looks so homey and wonderful. You are blessed to be able to 'shop' in the old buildings on the homestead. What fun that would be. Have great weekend. Blessings, Pamela
ReplyDeleteIt really does not get any more vintage inspired than this Anita. I love the photos you have of your grandfather with the scale in the picture too is priceless. So nice your husband is a handy man and can make you beautiful pieces too. Enjoy. Maybe your Mom will let you keep the scale:)
ReplyDeleteVery interesting story and photos. You are so lucky to have all those things. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOMG Anita,
ReplyDeleteYour Christmas kitchen is beautiful and that hutch is to die for. I love all the family pieces. I really like the hutch open like that, but can't wait for the glass!
I so enjoyed my visit...everything looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteoooh - I wanna come over and look in every nook and cranny. Love it all!
ReplyDeleteAnita, I so enjoy reading your stories about your family and how you share their lives in your home. Your photos are gorgeous, I have to tell you, that photo of the garage with the faded paint on the door and walls is incredible, the colors glow with a finished patina, as if it were a villa in Europe.
ReplyDeleteYour corner cabinet looks wonderful, Anita! I even like it without doors! I love the way you've decorated it and brought in things that have meaning to you.
ReplyDeleteI just love everything you do and how your heart and soul is in every piece. It makes it all the more special. What treasures you have!
ReplyDeleteHi Anita, You and I are "old souls"....I treasure what I have been privileged to be a caretaker of as well. I love your beautiful stories behind these posts. I have a scale from my grand or great grandmother's kitchen.I also love to study how you have showcased them. Wish we lived next to each other and could share in person, but I am blessed to have found these wonderful blogs and great friends such as yourself. Maybe your mom will turn the borrowed scale into a lovely Christmas gift!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this post so much, you are so blessed to have so many momentos from your grandparents! I am lucky to have several tablecloths crocheted by my grandmother. I think it is really awesome that your GF saved the wood and you are now using it. I've never heard of any one doing that before. How special the pieces will be that have that wood on them!
ReplyDeleteAnita,
ReplyDeleteYou have such wonderful heirlooms. I love the way you have them arranged in the cabinet. So great that you can reuse the wood from your families homes. It is a joy to read your blog.
Christmas blessings to you and yours.
Kathy
What a beautiful post - I love how all of the items are more than just "items" - but treasures from your family's history. I love the cathedral picture. I have some old schoolbooks of my grandfather's - it gives me goosebumps every time I look at his name handwritten inside. Thank you for sharing these beautiful memories and stories.
ReplyDeleteLovely story! It reminds me of a friend of my grandmother that made cabinets for his new home--he cut down the walnut trees, milled the wood, and then built the cabinets!
ReplyDeleteNow Following!
~Mikey @ Shabby French Cottage
www.shabbyfrenchcottage.com
My first time on your blog and I'm hooked. What a warm and inviting house and home beautifully decorated for Christmas! I love it all!
ReplyDelete