From Old to New Lamps

"The  sky is fallin', the sky is fallin'..." 
No, no not Henny Penny!

                                            (wikipedia, Henny Penny, Chicken Little)

But I did wake up to this...

That's right!! Cloudy, rainy, dreary...ugh!

What to do?  I've been tied up with family obligations (not that I'm complaining as I love being involved with my family!)  But I so needed some ME time!  You've been there haven't you?  Just desire some time to relax and do things you like to do but don't always get to do them?  Well that's how I felt today. So this weather was not cooperating with my plans.  I wanted to paint one of the small tables I found recently.  What to do, what to do?

 Sooooo,  (light bulb moment!!)  road trip!!  If today I couldn't create then I could admire the creations of others!!
My friend and me dropped by an antiques' mall and enjoyed a carefree afternoon!

We found lots of primitives.  I really like to find old jugs, crocks, and so on.

Beautiful...even with all the imperfections, wear and tear, the vessels are really artistically beautiful!

Next we uncovered these...

Can't you just see this in a keeping room...

Now this jug would look great at the lake...

Even though I would hesitate to drill holes into a fabulous vintage piece I don't think these pieces were in perfect condition!  But now they have made lovely lamps! 

When my friend and me left the mall the sun was out and best of all " the sky wasn't fallin'!!"

Have a Blessed Day!! And see ya down the junkin' road!!

Jan

Partying today with...

On the Road to Bon Secour

Several weeks ago my friend and me found ourselves in Bon Secour, Alabama close by the beach in Gulf Shores! It is a lovely area full of history and known for its fishing and shrimping!

View of the Bon Secour River...

We've always wanted to visit the historic home of Swift-Coles but never arrived in time for the tours. And again we did not arrive promptly for a guided tour of the inside. However I did get beautiful photos of the outside and the grounds...

As with all older historic homes, this one has its fair share of stories...ghosts, hurricanes, and all!! Oh the stories, If These Walls Could Talk!!

The Tidewater Mansion was first built as a four-room house in 1882.  In 1908 all wings had been added completing the 16-room home we see today.  I love the Spanish moss draping from the trees...

The story goes that during a hurricane each adult tied themselves to one child, climbed the chinaberry tree located in the L-section of the home, and survived the raging storm and water that poured through the home!

The Swift descendants lived in the mansion until 1976 when Gulf Shores businessman Nick Coles bought and restored the home. Today visitors  can see his vast collection of antiques!

The grounds are being restored. You can view the gardens with the heritage plants and follow along the walkways that were once "swept walks"!   Before lawn mowers and hedge trimmers?!!
("I remember my grandmother telling as a young child sweeping the yard to keep out the grass blades", says my friend.)

The picket fence has been around for as long as the home.  Originally, it surrounded the house to keep grazing cattle out!

The live oaks lining the driveway ...

A beautiful home and next time I will arrive early to tour the inside!!

Where have you traveled lately?  I love my travels down the junkin' road!!

Have a Blessed Day!!

Jan


Partying with...
http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/2011/07/seasonal-sundays-59quantico.html

DebbieDoos

Cool Down in the Antique/Flea Mall

With the heat index hitting between 95 to105 degrees in the heart of Dixie, even the birds over the lake are feeling a little droopy...

And the flowers aren't their normal perky selves...

The lake feels like the water has been heated... ya know like one of those really expensive spa pools! Even the fish seem to be lazy and looking for cooler water!  Fishing is pretty much non-existent after 8 am, but the hubby was able to land a pretty nice one...

So all that being said about the hot, Hot, HOT temps my friend and me decided to go shopping!! And I said, "We can stay cool in the antique/flea mall!!"

Just roaming the aisles, no particular reason...and we find this cute vintage monkey...

Some of you may remember seeing or having one. You wind him up, and he bangs his tams!!

We love to browse through this mall. They feature a lot of furniture in the original finish...

Vintage and collectible...

 And fun stuff...jars and bottles filled with shells, wine corks, and sand.

Displays that remind you of walking by the ocean and on the beach with the wind blowing in your hair and tasting the sea salt on your lips...

Things that make you say, Ahhhh!

A quick reminder..."Bama Rising" was held last night in Birmingham with a wonderful response. Randy Owens and Alabama spearheaded the event with support from so many fabulous entertainers. There are more fund raisers for the tornado relief to be held this week. Music will be at Webster's Chapel at Foggy Hollow Farm for northeast tornado relief fund.  In Hackelburg, (town was leveled by an F5 tornado)  country and gospel groups are providing much needed entertainment for those affected by the devastation.  Tuscaloosa continues their efforts to raise monies with multiple events. When you can support these relief efforts. Alabama appreciates you!

Have a Blessed Day!! And see ya down the junkin' road!!

Jan

I'm partying for the first time with Coloradolady ! Take a glass of sweet tea, sit down and have a nice long visit!

Baseballs, Gloves, Bats, Oh My!

My friend and me enjoyed the Gulf Coast of Alabama soooooo much!! Of course it was extremely hot but the water, the beaches, the food, the people were absolutely "fAbUloUS!!"

If you have not made plans to visit the beach this year then what are you waiting for?!!Haha! Seriously, the beach is sugar white sand! We saw no traces of the "evil, last season oil slick, tar balls" that so interrupted our fun due to the BP Oil blunder!

Today, on the  junkin' road, I want to share with you the antique mall of...

Alice & Wonderland, 7245 N. Hickory St., Loxley, Al  36551
Catchy name, huh?!!

Inside, were two floors packed with wonderful merchandise! You could tell the dealers were diligent in finding different and unusual wares. I could have shopped for hours but my friend said we were on a schedule! A schedule? Whoever heard of a schedule when you are out junkin'!! But, back to the mall...

In a tribute to the "boys of summer" and my all-time favorite sport, baseball, (yep, I was my daddy's girl!!) I want to share this booth...

All items relating to baseball and vintage sports!! Baseballs, gloves, bats, oh my!!
I do not know the age of these baseball catchers' chest protectors and shin guards but I'm pretty sure all would not pass inspection in today's equipment lineup!

(Did you notice the old window painted out in a sports' theme? Roll Tide Roll!!  It's a great use for an old discarded window!)

I stopped by this booth more than once and each time saw items I had not seen before! I'm telling ya, the owner had merchandised the space well!

Isn't this a great old stove? Notice the wooden baseball bats displayed in the old milk can! If you look closely you will find vintage wooden water skis!

Photos, prints, souvenir programs... AND GLOVES!!

It was a sports related themed booth! Just look at this old tricycle and peddle tractor!  And for the quilters out there notice the quilt displayed on the twin sized iron bed! Very pretty!!

As I've told y'all before I come from a long line of savers!! I actually rode a tricycle just like this one when I was a little child. It had been handed down to me...my aunt, then my mother, both rode it before me!!

As you can tell I really enjoyed shopping this mall! It was a little treasure my friend and me found on our trip!  What treasures have you found lately? A new mall, auction, piece of pottery, glassware, china, what-not!! I love to hear from you!

Have a Blessed Day!! And see ya down the junkin' road!!

Jan

I've Got That Nesting Feeling, Ohhhhh!!

Ideas come from everywhere...reading magazines, blogs; shopping furniture stores, antique markets; flea, yard and estate sales! We are looking for ways (and often cheap cost saving ways!) to make our home and spaces more comfortable, more desirable!

This time of year, spring, brings that feeling out in me!


As you know I have a "spot" in the Chelsea Antiques' & Decorator's Mall. I've loved shopping there even before I moved in! You can find some great stuff to decorate your home and garden!



Can't you see the words "DO EAT" on a wall in your breakfast area? It would make for quite the conversation starter and maybe, just maybe, encourage kids to try new foods!

Have a Blessed Day!! And see ya down the junkin' road!!
Jan


(Visited any new spots lately? Share with us & leave a comment!)

Ring, Ring,...Yesteryear...

There was a time when a RINNNNNNNNGGGGGGING sound echoed throughout the house! One (that's right 1) telephone, to be shared by all family members, was centrally located. In my childhood home the phone was situated in the hall in a nook in the wall. ("Am I dating myself?" Oh yeah...)

Many of you may remember the old black and white television shows depicting homes where the telephone was located just inside the front door. (maybe for easy access from the front porch! just sayin'...) I've always thought the tables and benches the phones rested on were so cooool! ("Cool? my friend asks. 'Oh yeah', I'm dating myself again")




Imagine my excitement to find this gossip bench to refurbish! It was in pretty rough condition and needed a little TLC ("rough condition, says my friend, are we talking about the same piece?") I'm sorry I don't have a before photo but just look at the results!

This bench can once again be a place for many young girls to sit for hours and gossip about all the exciting things that young girls now find exciting!! (Of course the phones are now cells, the radios are now Ipods, the 'talking' is now texting...you get my drift!) But this gossip bench can find a new place of honor in the home.



Gossip bench is displayed at Vendor #671, Cottage Chic & a Little Antique
Encore Resales, Pelham, Al.


Have a Blessed Day!! And see ya down the junkin' road!!
Jan

SOLD!...YOU BOUGHT IT!!

I've told many of you that our area is very fortunate to have sooooo many GREAT antique and junkin' places! From the WONDERFUL antique malls, thrift and consignment stores, hideaway (shure enuf!!) junk places my friend and me are able to enjoy them all on any given day!!

Great Auction Finds...

Super chest for storage! And someone walked away happy!

Ever seen a BLUE Coke Ice Box? Lots of interest here...

Most of you will not remember the old Dr. Pepper jingle...(but many of us do!!) DRink DR. PEPper, 10---2---4...

You never know what will come up for sale...

Tables of silverplate...many pieces still wrapped in bubble wrap from the estate sales...

Happy, happy, happy...my friend and me had a great time at the auction! And until the next time...

Have a Blessed Day!! And see ya down the junkin' road!!
Jan

(Photos taken at The Auction House, Maplesville, Al; approved kitchen serving variety of foods)