Carole’s Country Store Blog

I don’t know what it is about early Amish dolls and clothing that appeal to me so much, diagnosis but I know I’m not alone with this passion. The first time I saw and Amish doll  l loved it. I didn’t know it was Amish, and I didn’t know how old it was, it just won my heart. That was many years ago, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and I still own that doll and have collected many more since then. Maybe it’s because my parents lived in Lancaster County, and I spent so much time there, and still do when I shop for antiques for my store.  I think this pair of a young Amish girl’s stockings are extra sweet. Someone went to great lengths to patch them, and keep them wearable for as long as possible. These socks are 1890-1920, and will be for sale soon on my website http://www.carolescountry.com/

Knitting was an important activity in the Amish home in the late 1800′s and early 1900′s, as women produced mittens, hats and stockings for their families. At that time woman and children wore bright colored wool stockings like these. The vivid hues and heavily decorated top bands are characteristic of the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Amish. By the 1920′s bright colored stockings were not worn anymore, with the exception of hand knit baby booties and stockings, and one of the reasons why they are so popular with collectors today.

HAPPY DAY

Carole

The beach was surprisingly cool, case even though the temperature was close to 100. There was a nice breeze coming off the ocean, cialis sale and the water was 78 degrees, with NO jellyfish, but after a couple of hours dark clouds began to form. It started to look threatening, and I knew I should get off the beach, but waited for the lifeguards to signal everyone to leave. Then way in the distance I could see what looked like a huge sandstorm. It was heading our way. Just then the life guard’s whistles began to blow and everyone started packing up as quickly as they could. The wind got very strong and the sky turned black. Beach umbrellas were flying down the beach! Everyone was running for cover.  I ran as fast as I could, carrying my beach bag, umbrella and chair, but the strong winds made it difficult. Finally, I made it, I was in my apartment, and then the rains came.  Everyone came out on their balconies to watch as the storm as it rolled across the sky. It was fun. I love thunderstorms at the beach.  Since then the weather has been just beautiful. The humidity is gone, and it feels just perfect.

I wanted to show this little bedspread. The entire design is all done in french knots. I want to call it candlewicking, but I don’t think that’s the right name for it. It’s not whitework either, I don’t think. Does anyone know what you would call it? I bought it a couple of years ago in the Goodwill store for $3.!!  It has hand done fringe all around the bottom too. Sorry I can’t get better shots of it, but my apartment is small, and this bed is in a small entry way where it’s hard to stand far enough back to get a good shot. Gotta go now.

HAPPY DAY EVERYONE. ENJOY!

Carole

I came to Rehoboth Beach on Tuesday to get away for a few days. When flowers and plants start showing the effects of the Summer heat, medical it’s time to go. Now I’m bored. It’s too hot to do anything.

I went to the beach yesterday. I was wondering why there weren’t that many people in the ocean, then I found out. Jellyfish! The beaches are not that crowded. It’s too hot for the beach, especially if you can’t go into the water.

I had an urge for pizza, so I took a walk down the boardwalk to my favorite pizza place. Normally the boardwalk is crowded, not so much this time. While I was waiting the owner told me that the heat is hurting business. I feel bad about that, but for me, I just want to honker down and stay in the airconditioning, and I guess I’m not alone. I’m not going anywhere. Get out the ice cream, tomorrow the heat index is going to be 110 degrees!

HAPPY DAY

Carole

I had about 5 envelopes of wild flower seeds sitting around the house. With so much to do this past Spring, no rx I had forgotten that I had them. I didn’t know if it was too late to plant them, cialis but I sprinkled them around anyway, just to see what happened. Am I glad it did! I didn’t expect  much. Look how pretty they are. I took some micro shots of their pretty little faces, and I thought you would like to see them too. I didn’t have my tripod, so they could have been clearer,  but they turned out pretty good without it.

Can you see a face on this bug? The white part looks like a profile to me. See the eye? He looks like he’s wearing one of those hats men wear during the winter, the kind with the ear covers.  Maybe it’s just me because I am one of those people that see faces in the clouds.

Don’t you love blue flowers?

This is a poppy. It is so delicate, like tissue paper. It’s even crinkled like tissue paper. Flowers are such miracles.

Such sweet little girls.

I guess you could say there are flowers within a flowers.

So those are my faces of Summer.  The next time you look at your flowers, don’t forget to tell them how beautiful they are, they’ll grow better for you.  Ok, call me crazy.

HAPPY DAY!

Carole

The pool was turned into a pond. I love how my photos turned out, viagra sale and wanted to share them with you. I hope you enjoy them.

Aren’t water lilies just amazing.

I love the reflection of the plants that are growing along the side of the pond. Sweet little goldfish. Gosh, I wish I had a pond. Hmm.

Lily pads are so cool!  I especially love the one on the right, the one with so much texture.

Blue lilies, just heavenly.

I hope you enjoyed seeing these photos of the lilies of Gibraltar. I think it’s time I added new photos to my note cards and prints section of my website.

I think I’ll include some of these.

It’s raining like crazy here in Wilmington, Delaware right now, and it’s gorgeous to watch! We need it badly!!

HAPPY DAY!

Carole

Well, patient TJ, check and  Christe’, I’ll bet you think I went up those stairs. NO WAY! No way was I was going up there!!!! Sorry to disappoint. This photo was taken without a flash.  I really don’t know why it looks like there is light coming from up there. It was pitch black. You could not see a thing. I wished I brought a flashlight, you know I would have gone up there. There were lots more rooms to see, and I wanted to hurry to see them all and get out of the house. Here are the rest of the rooms. This was creepy. Just knowing there were people that were sleeping in this room. I didn’t like seeing that.

Pieces of the ceilings are falling down as well as the plaster on the walls. Someone has swept some of the debris into the middle of the floor.

One of the rooms had these valences on all of the windows. Obviously these were added much later than 1844, but I thought they were pretty. Love the tassels.

I love this picture. When I walked into this room, it gave me a good feeling. I’m not really sure why. Sad, the mantle was taken.

One more set of stairs. So far nothing really exciting, but it’s still fun looking.

It’s really dark up here. This photo was taken with a flash and it still looks dark. I even lightened it up. There is not much else to see, so I went back downstairs to the first floor again.

Well, I saw enough and we were both anxious to leave. We walked back down the stairs and climbed out the window. I have never seen triple hung windows like these. Aren’t they beautiful?

This is the view from the third tier of the property, looking down at the pool,  now turned into a pond.

As we went down the steps we talked about what it must have been like to live here back in the day. It’s beautiful and we had fun. I hope you enjoyed this little adventure. I loved having you along. Tomorrow I’ll post the rest of my  photos, so until then-

HAPPY DAY

Carole

I had to go back. I just had to see more of that house, ask but there was no way I was going alone this time!  Bill came with me. When we pulled  into the driveway. This doorway takes you to another level of the property, and gives easy access the greenhouse.

A sign of the times, all the copper gutters and downspouts had been stolen.

The greenhouse glass roof was no more.

What was once a pool, is now a pond. This property is now being protected because of countless community members and preservation advocates that showed their support for preserving this important piece of Delaware history. After a year of negotiations, the Delaware Open Space Council purchased the development rights from the Sharp estate, thus protecting the house and gardens from imminent demolition. Encouraged by the strong show of support from the community and the government, the Sharp family then donated the property to Preservation Delaware. A preservation easement was placed with the State Historic Preservation Office to ensure that Gibraltar would be restored and maintained to the highest standards. In 1998, Gibraltar was placed on the National Register for Historic Places. Now let’s go back to the house.

We took a different path this time. There it was.

We brought something along for protection. There was no way I was going back in there without any. We climbed through the same window.

I went right back to those stairs where I heard that weird sound and banging, but not this time.

Everything is such a mess but still solid. I reached the top of the stairs. I don’t feel scared.

Look at those narrow turned stairs to the right of this photo! Should I go up?

TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW-

HAPPY DAY

Carole

When you drive up to Gibraltar, sovaldi sale on each side of the entry are two stone columns with these beautiful urns.

Got my camera gear again, hospital and walked through the gates.

To the left was this wonderful old bench. Notice the lions with wings. I would love to have this in my yard! There were so many paths and I tried to follow all of them.

I have never seen so many statues in one spot. Along one path they were placed about 10 feet apart, treatment and on both sides. These are just a few.

I continued down this path,  and as I turned the corner this is what I saw.

and as I turned the corner this is what I saw.

This estate in located in the city of Wilmington, Delaware. I have passed this many times as I drove down Pennsylvania Ave. It was always so intriguing.  Around the corner a young man appeared, seemed like out of nowhere. He looked like a college student, clean cut, very nice. He had his camera equipment too. He told he he comes here all the time. He  told me about the Gibraltar house. He said sometimes you can find a window open. Said he’d been in there  many times.  I told him  I’d be afraid of squatters being in there. He left. I went straight up to that house! That’s when I found the opening. I crawled through. I felt kind of weird being in there. I was totally on guard, as much as I could be.  I had my tripod as a weapon if need be. I’m telling you, I was VERY nervous, bur that didn’t stop me.I walked into this room. I noticed the mantle was missing. I guess it’s in someone else’s house.

The ceiling had lots of mold and parts were falling down.

I love the french doors. Don’t you?

It must have been so beautiful at one time, and all I could do was think of the people that lived here and the friends and family that visited. I walked through this arch into what must have been the dining room. I’m still really nervous.

The dining room had this beautiful mantle and lovely crown molding and columns.

By this time I was feeling really uneasy. I am sure I was only in their for no more then 10 minutes at the most. I felt I should get out, but wanted to just take a couple more photos before I did.

I took this photo of the entry way, and the steps leading to the second floor, when I heard sounds coming from somewhere in that house!

A really weird sound that I can’t explain,  and very loud banging, like it was coming from inside the walls! That was it, I was out of there!!!!!!!!!! Something or someone didn’t want me there. Feet don’t fail me now!!!!!!!!!

I went back the next day-

to be continued-

Happy day

Carole

Two of my girlfriends and I planned on going to Gibraltar and Hagley Powder Mills today, cialis sale but something came up and we changed our plans. Both of these places are very close to where I live in Wilmington, Delaware.  It was such a beautiful day I decided to go to Gibraltar myself. I grabbed my tripod and camera and off I went. I found this photo on the internet, the way it was back in the day, but wait until I show you what it looks like now. First a little history. In 1844, Wilmington businessman and landowner John Rodney Brincklé built Gibraltar, naming it as he did because of the high, rocky prominence on which it stands. Members of the Brincklé family lived there until 1909, when philanthropist, preservationist, and amateur horticulturist Hugh Rodney Sharp [1880-1968] and his wife Isabella Mathieu du Pont Sharp [1882-1946] purchased the property. The Sharps soon began extensive additions and renovations to the buildings and grounds, creating the 6-acre estate that exists today. Foremost among these changes was the creation of a formal garden.

Sadly this is what the house looks like today. I followed a path that took me closer to the house, and walked up these beautiful winding stairs, that will take you to three levels of the property.

THERE IT WAS!

I wanted to see more so I walked around the other side. Wow. Look at all of those windows!! I had to see more! I wanted so much to look inside, better yet, I wanted to be inside!! The  windows were boarded up.

Wait, what’s that? An opening!!! A piece of plywood that covered a window had been broken, and  I could peek inside!

My jaw dropped. Oh my. It was wonderful. I thought of the family that once lived here. How sad. Imagine if they could see it now. It must have been gorgeous.  I had to see more. I was nervous, but I climbed inside. Still nervous, I walked up the stairs. Oh,my, gosh!!

TO BE CONTINUED–

HAPPY DAY

Carole