Carole’s Country Store Blog

This morning I am thinking Spring because tomorrow the temperature is going up to 70! I am going to go to my mother’s house and do some yard work and powerwash the porch. It’s time to work on the outside of the house, drugstore and I want to take advantage of the warm weather. That might not sound like much fun, mind but actually, medicine I am looking forward to it. The house is really starting to shape up, but we still have a lot to do.

I bought a few new things for Carole’s Country Store. I love this old wire carrier, filled with old clay pots. They might be English, but I can’t say for sure. I think it would look sweet on a porch or patio. You could use little shot glasses inside the pots to hold water, and fill them with flowers. I loved these old gardening tools too. The yellow ones. They’re from the 1940′s, and they are also for sale in my store.

I remember after my mother moved into assisted living. I was cleaning out her house. I found some of her old gardening tools. These are NOT FOR SALE. For me it was liking finding hidden treasure. I look at them and think of her, a young married woman, in her 20′s, digging in her flower garden. It’s the strangest feeling. She loved gardening and flowers, especially roses.

For me, they are priceless. I also have her ironing board. The only one she ever owned. Can you imagine. The old wooden kind, also from the 40′s. I remember hearing the sqeek it made, when she ironed on it. I want to reccomend a movie. Occasionally, on weekends, Bill and I will watch a movie together. This weekend we watched the movie called Atonement. We made our popcorn, poured our Pepsi, and settled down in anticipation of a good movie. Now I want to make it clear, my honey is a manly man, and he loved this movie. At first he thought it might be a chick flick. He wanted to bail out on it after the first 15 minutes, but he hung in there. We both LOVED it! If you can, get it. It’s a beautiful movie, filmed in England. I have also seen “No Country For Old Men”. This is the movie that got an academy award for best picture. What!? I didn’t like it at all, and to think that it beat “Atonement”, I don’t get it. If you get it, let me know how you like it. I hope you do.
Happy day.
Carole

Sorry I have not posted this weekend. I will tomorrow when I have more time. Hope you all enjoyed your weekend! I did want to remind you to watch John Adams on HBO tonight. Don’t forget. It’s wonderful. Gotta go now.

I have a dear friend, viagra that did something very special. She made me this rug. Last Summer, Louise, told me that she would make me a hooked rug. I was thrilled! She asked me to look for a pattern that I liked. I looked in many of my books, at old hooked rugs, but I kept coming back to this one, and decided on it. That was about 3 months ago. This past week we had a day out planned, with another friend, Denise. We met at her house, and Louise brought the rug with her. I was almost speechless when I saw it! It looks just like the original, which was made in PA., in the 19th century. She did a fabulous job, and words could never express my appreciation. I have decided to hang it at a place of honor on a living room wall.

Louise put the year it was made in the design of the rug, but she did it in such a way that it doesn’t jump out at you.
Love that.

Can you see the 20, it’s on one side, then the 08 is on the other. I love that idea, Louise.

On the back she attached a label, with her name, date, and where it was made.

It’s perfect, and I will treasure it forever, and for the umpteenth time, Louise, thank you so very much.

Happy day, Carole

Last week and this week there was an article in my local paper about nylons. I know, viagra not exactly the thing I like to talk about, help but I thought this was interesting and wanted to share it with you. You must know by now that I live in Wilmington, Delaware, home of the DuPont Company, famous for so many breakthroughs. The article was about the first “test sell” in early 1940, when DuPont Co., asked the owner of a well known ladies shop in Wilmington, called Braunstein’s, to sell the first nylon stockings. Back in the 40′s DuPont Co. was more than the state’s largest most sought employer. It’s executives were heroes, the duPont family was royalty and people liked to say they worked “Uncle DuPont”. As the word spread that the DuPont wives wore and loved early test nylons, just knowing that made them must-haves for the state’s elite and aspiring. Before pantyhose, the first nylons were like leggings, but women wanted them anyway. When word got out that Braunstein’s woman’s shop was selling these nylons, David Braunstein said a frenzy started like he never saw, nor has he seen since. The women shoppers nearly crushed the staff and two had to be escorted of from behind the counter by two large men. Many of the woman that had just paid a $1. a pair, left the store to sit on the curb and put on their garter stockings. Can you imagine being that excited about nylons, go figure. The frenzy still had not peaked before WWII came along, and DuPont knew that all nylon would have to go to parachutes and other war needs. Mr. Braunstein called all manufaturers and all confirmed that this would be the last run for making woman’s hose. He talked to every stocking maker he knew and asked for all the hose he could get, and that was a lot, 9,000 pairs! He had to rent a warehouse to store them. Can you believe when production of the nylons stopped, woman actually drew lines on their legs to look as though they had them on. People pestered Mr. Braunstein at all hours for nylons. Soon New York visitors came, as he recalled. “This Mafia guy opens a suitcase and it is full of $100 bills”. He told him to keep the money and gave him a couple dozen pairs and he left, and never returned. Hard to believe, isn’t it! Tired of the annoyance of it all, he decided to give all those 9,000 pairs of nylons away and he offered war bonds with free stockings as a bonus. It didn’t take him long before he raised $900,000. Today that would be equal to over $12 million dollars. With the nylon stockpile gone, he and his family, were able to return to a life to normal again. So that’s the story of nylons and their beginnings. Aren’t we women crazy sometimes!? I hate nylons, give me a good self tanner anytime. lol
Happy day.

There was an article in my local paper this morning about the Cannon-Maston House, clinic and many historical houses in Delaware that are in danger of demolition. These kinds of stories make me crazy! Here is a little history about this one. In 1696, sovaldi James Cannon received a patent for land at this location from the Maryland goverment. This property became known as Ickford, thumb and became the pocession of his son Thomas Cannon in 1712. He erected the first section of the brick dwelling in 1727 and expanded the building in 1733. This property remained in the Cannon family until 1851, when it was sold to Halsey Maston. The Cannon-Maston House shows the architectual traditions of early plantation owners in the Chesapeake Bay region. This historical home is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Sussex County, Delaware, and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Well, guess what? It is in danger of demolition!!!! Can you stand it? This is happening to so many of our historic houses in Delaware, I am sad to say.

This next house was called the Lawrence House. It was a 167 year old Greek Revival, and was the only one in the state. I say, was, because it was demolished last year. It’s death has helped spur local historic preservation advocates to new levels of action, maybe with government help. Right now Sussex County officials have begun crafting a demolition permit plan that would allow preservationists to document a building’s history before it is torn down. Yikes!! How can they do that!!!?
Happy day anyway

The first thing I want to mention this morning is that I got an email from my customer friend in Australia, buy viagra the one that sent me the photos and lovely letter. Turns out the writing paper she used was made by Katie Estvold, patient of Sparrow Cottage. It’s lovely, tadalafil Katie.
I go to Honey Brook today. Bill and I are very anxious to get mother’s house finished, and up for sale. With this housing market, who knows how long it will take! Now that it’s Spring, we are having some landscaping done, and just basic yard work. We have so much of our own yardwork to do, so we decided to hire others to help us . One of the large pine trees, right in front of the house, has to come down. Another expense. All in all, I am sure things will work out. The house needed to have this work done, and in the end, I think it will be worth it. This market is so bad, and getting worse, but I am a believer in possitive thinking. The house is sweet. Someone else will come along and love it, just as my mother and father did, and that will bring me joy. It will also make it easier, to finally let it go.
Wishing You All A Happy Easter.

It’s a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Wilmington, discount DE. I have been busy taking photos of some items to add to my store . The mailman came, viagra sale and I received a letter from Australia.

The letter was so sweetly tied with a lovely ribbon blue ribbon. Inside was a letter from one of my customers. Her name is Rachel, and a couple of months ago she purchased a Victorian, black velvet, child’s mourning bonnet. In her letter she told me that her father designed and turned a wooden hat stand for it.

She sent this photo and I wanted to share it with you. She went on to say how how beautiful it looks at night, when lit by candlelight. How she loves the worn patches on the velvet, and how they change with the lighting throughout the day. Rachel collects carte de viste photographs of children from the mid 1800′s and is now searching for pictures of children in similiar bonnets. For Christmas she plans on decorating her 4 ft. tall feather tree with some of her collectables and plans on toping the tree with the little bonnet. I love hearing how my customers decorate with their purchases and hope that you will share with me too, how you decorate your home. Email me, I would love to hear from you. Thank you once again to those that visit my store, and for those of you that have not yet, I hope you will soon, you never know what you might find.
Happy day!

I am so thrilled to tell you that Tammy Jacobs will be selling a few of her wonderful creations in my American Artisan store soon. Remember when I told you about the little kittens I received as a gift? They were made by Tammy. Everything she makes is so meticulous. Handsewn and treadle machine done. This little pig is awesome. Just look at that face!

Shoe button eyes, cialis and old spool for his snout, AND he is stuffed with raw cotton and horsehair. I love the way Tammy makes everything look like it has been around for 100 years.

She sews and resews,giving the looks of old repairs. Such attention to detail. If you love old toys, but are knocked out by the prices, this is the next best thing. This little guy will be in the American Artisans store soon. There is another American Artisan coming soon as well, but you have to wait a bit to find out who that might be. Wait until I tell you!
Happy day!

I got up early this past Sunday morning, remedy as I often do, ed to go looking for antiques. Early mornings are my favorite time of day. It would take me an hour to get to my destination, so I turned on my radio to listen to Marianne Williamson. Her voice is so soothing. She talks about the book, A Course In Miracles and listening to her really helps pass the time. I have seen these buildings often, but I enjoy they every time I see them. I love the way they look. All white. It’s their simplicity that catches my eye every time I pass them.

I had a good day antiquing. Sometimes I can drive all that distance, use ALL THAT GAS!, and not find anything.
That is NOT good, but today was a good day. I found these two little Amish church dolls for one of my customers. I knew she would love them. As I went from shop to shop, I found this little guy. He was just too hard to resist. My other old dolls welcomed him with open arms, as you can see. So, he stays. I love his little jeans and suspenders. He is not as old as my other dolls, probably around 1930′s or 40′s, I think. I was told by the dealer that he is called a lollipop Amish, because of the shape of his head.

I have a few customers that collect the early tombstone breadboards, and I was fortunate to find a nice early one with old green paint still left on the sides. I’ll put it in my store in the next couple of days. So all and all, it was a good day. I got home in plenty of time to bake a cake for my honey, and make him a nice Sunday dinner. Life is good.
Happy day.

A couple of days ago I wrote a little about Spatterware. Did you know that spatterware was also called spongeware? I didn’t, viagra although I can certainly understand why. If you would like to read a bit more about it Spatterware, here is a link. Spongeware is one of the things that I have collected over the years. I still love it. I just like the fresh country look it has, blue and white is so pretty. If you things that you love to collect, be sure to keep your collection all together in one spotl Don’t scatter it all around a room. Collections look so much better kept all together, and it really gives a nice orgainized look to a room. It also says, this is what I love, and remember, if you have more than 3 pieces, that’s a collection. If you don’t collect anything, why not think about starting one. Think about what it is that appeals to you, and don’t worry that others might not understand. It’s what makes you happy. So, this Spring and Summer, have fun, start a collection, and let the hunt begin!!

This little piece is in my store now.

It’s really a sweet and would look so pretty filled with some spring flowers. If I had some, I would fill it right now, but until is is sold, I am enjoying it in my cupboard.

Happy day!