China Blues, again.

I finally broke down and started buying bits of blue patterned china. I've always coveted of a collection of my own (see both here and here!) and this week antique lust finally beat out practicality.

I blame it on the new "great depression". The less I go out to fancy pants breakfasts, the more I want to buy myself little thrift store treats. I know, I know, I'm a shameless consumer.

I found this little 1920's teapot for $5 in Queens. Makes me happy I stocked up on Dundee marmalade last time I went to Trader Joe's, so now I can have a proper tea party.

This is the Wedgwood plate that started it all. Sweetly crackled and a mere $3? If this is wrong, I don't want to be right.

And the back of said plate..... Now I'm a dunce when it comes to china markings, however, I do know for a fact that unicorns are pretty. So based on that fact alone, I think this was a good investment in our economy's dreary down slide.

Next time, more fool proof investment ideas from me.... Thoroughbred race horses! Beanie Babies! Florida timeshares!

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Elmwood dreaming...

Nothing's better than when a cute boy surprises you with marzipan from the best of the best Brooklyn bakeries. I am obsessed with everything Fortunato Bro's serves and I love that it's the neighborhood meeting place for hoards of handsome Italian grandfathers.

While Italian grandfathers are lovely and all, I can't help but dream of New Hampshire these days. Elmwood is so stunning when the leaves turn and I haven't gotten up there to witness it in years. Apple picking weekend is sounding mighty good these days.

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Sunday Funnies......

I snagged this off a blog because I thought it was so CUTE! Enjoy your sunday!.................. I'm headed to the Dr. again on Monday for my weekly checkup. Wish me luck!

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Jersey treasure

Ta-da! The spoils of my recent rummage adventure...

Antique gardening books, plus a Lady Chatterly's Lover. A big, big, big canning jar and cheapo glass dome ($1.50 still markered!) to be made into terrariums.

A liberty print, peter pan collared vintage dress. My three favorite things all rolled together in on super combo. A pair of white, heeled tap shoes from the 50's that fit, my man and I are in the planning stages of a musical review and these babies will take center stage for sure.

I love florals on a black background. They reminds me of my very talented Aunt Trisha, who painted the most beautiful trays and furniture black and flowery. So pretty!
I have a bad habit of picking antique laces up where ever I go. I just can't stop and I don't think I want to either.

A "war mother's" flag from WWI. Mothers hand made them with a blue star in the middle for each family member serving overseas. The star on this one is made from indigo dyed denim, maybe from the soldier's tattered jeans. The blank music composition books are for a achingly talented nearest and dearest of mine.

Now Jersey gets a bad rap, you know, big malls, bad hair, long nails. It ain't all bad over there folks. By the way, did you know it's state slogan for a hot second was “New Jersey. We’ll win you over.”? How funny!

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SPC - Mirrors

It's been a long time since I have participated in the SPC challenges. I popped over to their site and thought I would jump in on this month's challenge - mirrors. - 36 weeks along and counting......

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To grandfather's house we go..

My sweet sweet Grandpa Emerson was just moved into a hospice house and I am coming home from visiting him in Connecticut. Needless to say I'll be going up north a lot these days and will be keeping an eye out for all things homey and special to keep my spirits up (and yours, too).

When I came to my grandpa's house this week I was greeted by a happily jumping fire in the entryway. My grandmother designed the double sided fireplace so that it's the first thing you see in the house when you come home, what a nice welcome!

Also made extra special with amazing cat andirons with marble eyes (the other side of the fire hosts equally neat owl ones).

It's been a long time since I peaked my little scardey cat head down the cellar steps to the sluice way. As the house was once a mill, the "basement" floor is a little stream going the length of house, once upon a time powering the turbine, show here.

This is the little stream's source. My grandfather's property runs alongside this New England beaut for acres and acres.

I even borrowed my pa's hound dog for the country outing.


How excited I was to have the pup along side me was mirrored by how excited the pup was to find himself along side this local crayfish.

I love New England's skeleton of ancient abandoned mills and factories and I love even more when they are repurposed into something special, like this used bookstore, Books by the Falls.

I could have stayed in here for hours, it was everything a New England bookstore should be. Tall dusty stacks of classics with a sweet old man extolling the virtues of Emily Dickinson while tallying your purchases.

I snapped up a 1943 edition of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" for $4. Goes to show if you plop me down anywhere in the country, I'll still be dreaming of home.

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More rummaged goodness....

Here are some more treasures trolled from the depths of New Jersey.

Wedgewood china brings out the fussy old lady in me and heightens my desire to have scones and clotted cream for breakfast.

I know a fellow who is looking for some more tweed professor jackets and there was a whole tent devoted to handsome and erudite gentlemanly attire. However, please don't tell him I used the word professorial to describe him, makes him feel derivative, which is just silly.

I ransacked this antique lace bin pretty aggressively and at $1 a piece, would have been foolish not to.

The book tent was my favorite. Next time I'll need to bring a couple strong professor types to carry my armfuls of old hardcover classics, all for a buck. Left Bank Books, eat your heart out.

In a jumble of old kitchen supplies, I'm left scratching my head as to why I didn't get one of the many muffin tins. Would have come in handy for the tasty cornbread cook off I attended early this week at my Grandpa Emerson's house.

Cornbread and chili after a day tromping around in the fall leaves? Perfection, ladies and gents.

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