Old Wicker, brings to mind...

I have a love for old wicker!  It reminds me of many happy days spent at my grandparents' home.  My friend will tell you quickly that I can not pass up a piece of wicker anything; especially if it is a good buy!!  I have in my possession an old wicker loveseat that belonged to my grandparents and an old wicker rocking chair that once sat on the front porch at my great-uncle's home!  (there's that pack rat tendency coming out again!!)

Imagine my excitement (giddy that's the word for it!) when last winter I found three pieces of cane and wicker...two chairs and one loveseat!  So I stored them over the long cold, rainy, snowy winter and waited!  When the warm temperatures appeared recently I brought them out, spruced them up with paint and new pillows and was ready to put them out on my porch!  Oh no!  That was not to be...for you see I already have a porch packed with wicker, iron and glass!!  No more room!  (imagine a really sad face here...:( ...)  Soooo


I placed them in my "spot" at Encore Resales...

Pretty huh??

It was with a mixture of sadness and happiness when I received the call...your wicker has sold!!!  Oh well...the HUNT is on, my friend!!!

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

Jan

(soooo enjoy reading your comments!)

Shutters...Recycle

I'm always looking for more ways to use the old shutters that so many have removed from their homes! Now I'm not talkin' about the plastic kind but real, "shore nuf" wooden shutters!!  My friend and me have built  shelves, bookcases, message boards, jewelry keepers...all out of shutters!

But my favorite way to use the old shutters is...on my porch!

 My friend attached them at the top so I may slide them open too!

They filter the bright sun...block most of the wind and rain...provide a degree of privacy...Love it!!  (One of these days I may get around to painting them but for now I love the old peeling paint on both sides!)


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

Jan


(How have you reclaimed old shutters?  Leave a comment)

Starstruck...Legendary Steve Young in Concert!!

Along the junkin' road we sometimes have the opportunity to hear great music! (another passion!!) This past weekend was one of those times! The legendary, singer, songwriter, guitarist Steve Young was in concert in a local establishment!

On stage...

Mr. Young's most recognized song is from the Eagles 'Seven Bridges Road' (which amazingly enough was a true road out of Montgomery, Alabama!!)  Other notable ones are 'Lonesome, On'ry and Mean' and 'Montgomery in the Rain' (which has a huge cult following in Europe of all places!)



Steve Young was born in Georgia, raised throughout the South, lived in NYC Greenwich area, settled for a time in California and was a vital force behind the "outlaw movement" that gave support to Waylon and Hank Jr.



Pictured in this photo is Jimmy Warren, Young, and Herb Trotman.  (not outlaws!)



Well ya never know where the road will take my friend and me...


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

Jan

(Loving the comments! Thanks!)

Shabby Chic...with a Recycled Romantic Touch!

"Yes, I know"...these deconstructed lampshades have been all over blogland! But I thought they were sooooo cute and I wanted to make one too! Soooooo when I saw this lamp with the perfect shade I just couldn't resist!!

In my haste to get it done I simply forgot to make a before photo... And in my haste to load my goods onto the trailer for delivery I remembered I didn't have a photo of my new lamp on a tablescape to share with you...Soooooo


Here it is!

Cute, huh? The Lamp has a three way lighting feature. For the "romantic touch" the bottom portion of the lamp can be turned on to give that glow!


(Ya know, the more I look at this photo the more I like the setup!! Our lake is the perfect backdrop!!)


My lamp can be seen at Chelsea Antiques & Decorator's Mall! This Saturday is their Spring Fling with outside as well as inside pretties and deals galore!!

Come on out and visit with us...



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

Jan

(Thanks for the comments!)

Auction Lingo!!

All auctioneers have their own way to run their auctions. And if you go to the same one over a period of time you learn their special ways! However it seems all are auctioning off what has become known as BOX LOTS!!


"BOX LOTS??"
"Oh yeah, those items that are grouped together in boxes!" (Simple, huh, box lots...items placed in boxes to sell!!)

Now most of the time these items are "junky" ones that would not bring much if it were to go up for bid by itself. BUT, place a grouping of those "junky" items in a big, ole, BOX and there you have it... hands start going up to get the bid!!


'Sellers' (the ones who are offering their goods for sale!) try to make their box lots look enticing by placing one or two 'GOOD' items in each box! Notice the blue bowl peeking out of this box! Now could that be 'Fenton' or 'Cambridge'?

Many boxes are filled with books...hardcover, paperback, sheet music, magazines...

If a buyer takes the time and does not mind 'digging' through the boxes then TREASURES can be found at the auction!



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

Jan


(Have you found any hidden treasures lately? Love to hear from you!!)

Good Eats...on the junkin' road!

My friend and me spent a productive day fluffing, adding and arranging in our three "spots"! Ya know when one item goes out another will never fit in its exact place!!

All this working made us very, very hungry! We decided to try a new place in our area; "Joe's Italian", a locally owned and operated neighborhood restaurant. And, what can I say...DELISH-O!!!


My friend and me ordered one of the daily specials. It comes with a choice of soup or salad...

Sorry, I didn't get a photo of the bread basket! (it was refilled twice...what can I say, we had really worked hard all morning...)



And yes the main course was as delicious as it looks...

Sadly there was no more room for 'Mamma's Dessert'! But the choices were heavenly; cannoli, Italian cream, zebra cake, and the list goes on! Weeelll, there will be another day...


If you ever find yourself in the Alabaster, Alabama area and looking for excellent Italian food then head on over to Joe's Italian. Check out their website: www.joesitalianonline.com


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

Jan


(Have a favorite Italian spot, food? Share with us! Thanks!)

Traveling...Cypress Tree Have Knees?

While traveling on one of our many junkin' jaunts my friend and me stopped at this lovely garden with the cypress trees.

Notice the Spanish Moss draping from the limbs...

You can see the distinctive structure in the roots of the tree generally known as the knees. I don't know the true function of the knees but it's commonly thought to assist in anchoring the tree in the soft muddy soil of the swamps where they generally grow! ("sort of like a stick helps to hold up your beans", says my friend)

"What happens if the knees are cut?" I ask. "Most likely the tree will survive!", answers my friend. (one smart cookie, my friend!)

The distinctive shapes are a woodcarver's delight! I've seen carved and painted gnomes, Santas, and jack-o-lanterns! My uncle had a lamp made from a beautiful Knee! However today in many states it is illegal to harvest cypress knees...check before you cut!!


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

Jan

(Have you any cypress knees or know where they are growing? Leave a comment! Thanks)