Victorian Child’s Basket Purse 1850-1880’s

July 22nd, 2008

I wanted to thank Rachael for sharing some information with me about the second photo of the little basket I spoke about in my post today. She told me that it is a child’s German basket purse, that would have been used during the Victorian era, around 1860, through the 1880’s. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RACHAEL!

Antiquing On Saturday

July 22nd, 2008

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Janet and I left on Saturday morning. It’s always fun going to new antique shops, so I was looking forward to this day trip. We drove for an hour and then finally hit our first shop. I look for primitives and Janet is looking for cottage. Off we went, in diffferent directions. I found 2 wonderful old baskets for Caroles Country Store. , so if you love old baskets, hope on over and check them out.

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It was getting close to lunch time and our tummys were telling us, let’s eat. We drove into Easton, MD. It’s a charming little town, with lots of shops to visit. The Tidewater Inn has a fabulous restaurant, so went in.

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Down the street from the Tidewater, there was another inn, called The Inn At Easton. Looks like they’re missing a shutter.

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After lunch we went to my favorite shop of all, Country Treasures.

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I was there a couple of years ago, and was so anxious to go back. This shop has the most wonderful country antiques ever! Mostly painted pieces. Later this week I will show you some photos that you won’t want to miss, so be sure to stop back. Oh, ok, here is a little teaser.

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Until next time.
Happy day everyone!
Carole

1810 Tallow Candle

July 22nd, 2008

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I swipped this photo off of ebay. Have you ever seen a REAL tallow candle? This one was found in an 1810 candle box. It sold for about $75. It’s a simple thing, but I loved seeing it and wanted to share it with you. I would love to own one, but what are the chances that you will find one again. Not good, is my guess.

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New Paintings by Carole O’Neill

July 21st, 2008

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Good morning everyone. I have been meaning to tell you about the new paintings in my American Artisan Store, done by artist Carole O’Neill. This is one of my favorites. This sweet little girl and her dog, is done in pastels, and is framed in an old frame, with wonderful old glass. Did you know that pastels were popular during the early 18th century?

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If you would like to see more, be sure and visit my store, for more of her paintings, and descriptions of these one of a kind paintings.

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This little girl is also done in pastels. The frame is hand grained by Carole, and, it too, has old glass. Love it!

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Also, be sure to check out the little bio I have provided for you, about this wonderful folk artist and friend.

Happy day.
Carole

Laundry Day

July 17th, 2008

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Today is another lovely Summer day. The sounds of locust fill the air this morning. I love it. Get ready for some really hot days ahead! This morning I have some laundry to do and a few errands to run, and off to Rehoboth Beach I go!
Isn’t this little child’s toy washing machine adorable. I remember when I was a child, my mother had one just like it. I remember seeing her feed the clothes through the wringers, one piece at a time. I have it on a shelf in my laundry room, and the old clothespins and little sample laundry detergent sit on top of a very primitive washboard. Ok, maybe I should go take a photo of that for you. Here it is.

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I call it my makedo washboard. One of my favorite primtives.

Last night I washed my trusty old Jeep, Nellie. Cleaned her inside and out. I even used some Liquid Black on the tires. She looks beautiful and she’s all packed and ready to go. I have to stop at an antique shop along the way and pick up a 1920’s French Wire plant stand, in old white paint, for my friend Janet. It’s perfect for her shop. Remember? She has the shop Early Attic in Rehoboth. Depending on the time, I’ll stop at a couple of others and look for some treasures for Caroles Country Store. Oh, I almost forgot. Saturday I am going to Easton, MD., with Janet. It’s going to be hot, but I know we’re going to have a really fun day! There are lots of WONDERFUL antique shops there! I can’t wait to go. I have my camera all ready, so until next time we visit-
Happy day!
Carole

Summertime, and the Living Is Easy

July 16th, 2008

DON’T FORGET TO REFRESH IF THE PHOTOS LOOK A BIT DISTORTED

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6:30 this morning, there she was, momma fox, taking a little time out. Ah, yes, summertime and the living is easy. Now just look at that face. Do you suppose she was the one that grawled at me the other day?

Yesterday I planned on going to Carole’s for dinner. Her husband, Ted, is a great cook, so I was looking forward to the company and the food! As the day went on, I just didn’t feel good and I had to cancel. I felt bad about that because I was really looking forward to going. By the end of the day, I was feeling a little better, but still not that great. I pushed myself to finish making my watermelons. I have been meaning to make these since the Spring, and now they are finally done.
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In the 80’s, watermelons folk art was very popular. There is a book I have sold in my store called Collecting Country by Mary Emmerling. In it there are lots of color photos of folk art watermelons. Back then I started to collect them and still have them today, and I still enjoy them. You don’t see them around anymore. Crows and watermelons just feel like Summer to me.

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I just love the way they look together. I made some for my store, so if you like folk art watermelons, they will be in there in a day or two, so be sure to take a look. They all come signed and dated by me. They are made from wood, from a 200 year old tree that came down in a storm this past Spring. The crows are in my artisan store and were made by known folk artist Jac Johnson. Check out his webiste, he makes wonderful folk art. His crows are copied from antique decoys.
Time to read the paper and get another cup of coffee. I love my tiger lilies. I dug up a couple of plants from my mother’s house last year, and I am so happy to see them bloom. It’s nice knowing they grew in her garden.

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Happy Summer Day!
Carole

A Day Spent With My Friend

July 15th, 2008

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Yesterday morning, my dear friend, Carole, called and asked if she could come over. “Of course!,” I said. I love it when friends ask to visit. I was really looking forward to her coming, so I finished my housework, and drove to the store. I thought it would be nice to have some coffee and strawberry shortcake ready when she got here. So I picked up some strawberries and some whipping cream. Remember the pound cake I made last week? I had half of it in the freezer, so I got it out and sliced a couple of nice big pieces. Carole got here around 1:30. She looked so cute in her little sun dress and dangling parrot earrings. It was great to see her, it’s been much too long since she has visited.
We had the most fun day, just hanging out together, and just catching up. After eating that shortcake we thought we should walk it off, so we walked to the park. We passed an old house on the way. Mid 1800’s. I have always been curious about this house. It’s a little spookey looking, but I would really like to know more about it and it’s history. Today I noticed someone sitting on the steps. I asked if she was the owner and she said yes. “Come on over,” she said, so we did. She told me that she was getting ready to sell it, and would we like to come inside. We wanted to continue our walk, so I asked if I could come back another time and hear more about the house. She agreed that that would be fine. When I do, I’ll have my camera with me, and you know I’ll tell you all about it. Maybe I’ll go back today. The walk was fun and we felt good getting the excercise. After a nice long walk, it was time to turn around and head back. It was a great day and I am so glad she called. Remember to spend more time with your friends. Life is short, enjoy it while you can, and remember, always have a
Happy day everyone!
Carole-you might want to stop by Carole’s Country Store today. I have some new goodies and you never know what you might find there.

We Made It To The Park

July 13th, 2008

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After what seemed like an eternity, the woman finally came out of her house. As I suspected, she told us they had an invisible fence. It was still scarry. I talked to Carole yesterday, and she told me that told me two of her dogs ran right through hers! I’m glad I didn’t know that before! Anyway, we made it to the park. As we walked along the path, we passed the old Bellevue Tennis Center, and an old school house built in 1830.

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In 1829, the Delaware Legislature passed the Act for the establishment of free schools, for the area’s children. Local residents formed a committee that purchased a piece of land in 1830, and it is on this land that they built the school. The school was used until 1865 when the building was purchased by a Philadelphia merchant Hansen Robinson, to add to his Woolton Hall estate, in exchange for another lot, and a new school building. This original school was then altered for use as a residence in Colonial Revival style by William F. du Pont, Jr. as part of his transformation of the Bellevue estate. In 1972 the state of Delaware took ownership and it became part of the Bellevue State Park.

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We passed the stables,

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and then the pond.

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We loved watching the turtles floating on their little island.

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We finally came to the path. Which way should we go? The sounds of the birds and the smell of the woods was heavenly. Missy said, “let’s go this way,” so we did.

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We walk for quite a while, before we came to this area of the park, where there are community gardens. This piece of land is set aside for people that want to grow vegetables, but don’t have enough land of their own.

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It doesn’t look that big in the photo, but I only took a picture of part of it. It’s huge! This little garden was interesting to me. It seems they are growing plants to make their own dyes. I wonder what they use them for?

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We had been walking for about an hour, and by this time I could tell Missy was ready to go home. I took one last picture, and off we went. It was a wonderful day and good excercise too.

HAPPY DAY EVERYONE!
Carole

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My Day With Missy

July 11th, 2008

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I picked up Missy at her house around 10 a.m. When I told her about the exploding eggs, she was very curious to read about it. Missy loves the computer, and is always happy when I show her something new. She has her own computer, and I love to send her emails of things that I know she will enjoy. A while back, TJ, had a video of the song, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, on her blog Humble Origins, be sure to scroll down, thanks TJ, so I emailed it to her. She loves that song and she thanked me for sending it to her. She is so sweet. She has the cutest little habit of playing with her necklace.

Anyway, we did get our egg salad made. Missy loves olives in it so I put her to work cutting them.

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After lunch we headed to the park. Missy wanted to check out the pool along the way. It looked so pretty as it sparkled in the sunlight.

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We walked to the path through the woods, that takes us to the road that leads to the park. Ah, yes, a little rest along the way.

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When we got to the edge of the path, something unexpected was waiting for us! Yikes!!

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We stopped in our tracks. That dog did not stop barking at us. Look at those teeth!! I yelled for the owner, “hello, hello!, please come get your dog”, but no one came out. We were afraid to move, frozen in our tracks. I told Missy that we should slowly turn around, and she had not problem with that. Tomorrow I’ll tell you what happened next. Until then-
Happy day
Carole

Exploding Eggs!

July 10th, 2008

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Missy is coming over today for a swim. She asked if we could have eggsalad and olive sandwiches for lunch. Sooo, I put some eggs on the stove to boil. Left the kitchen and went into the living room to use my computer. Big mistake! As I sat and thought about what I would write about on my blog today, I heard a pop sound coming from the other end of the house. Did I get up to investigate. Noo, not me. Duh. Then I heard another pop. This time I ran into the kitchen. The water in the pot of eggs was all gone and the eggs were burning.

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What do I do? Like a dummy, I pour water into the pot of eggs! Bam!!!, exploding eggs everywhere! Not smart huh? What a mess, not to mention the smell.

So, I’ll start all over again, but this time I am NOT leaving my kitchen.

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HAPPY DAY
Carole