Prayers, Please

Dear Readers,

I'm going to do something that I don't often do here on the blog.  I'm going to bring up something more personal to me.

I generally try to keep things on here about vintage things, and what I'm finding, or things that I see that I think are awesome mid-century pieces.  Occasionally there is a more personal post, but for the most part, I don't really share things about my personal life.

For the past week, I have been deeply concerned about one of my students.  He is very sick, and the doctors still haven't determined exactly what is going on yet.  He has some brain swelling, and has had surgery for this, but they are not seeing any improvement in him.  Right now he is in a wonderful children's hospital, where I know he is getting the best possible care.  However, he is in critical condition.  I can't share any more information, but if you are wanting to know his age, I can tell you he is in elementary school.

I have been struggling with this.  The school I teach at is very small, and I watch the kids go through from Kindergarten through 8th grade.  In a way, they are like my own kids.

So, what I am asking is, if you are a believer, please keep this child in your prayers.  He needs them desperately.

I'll be back soon with another fun post full of vintage goodness!

Have a wonderful Thursday.

Thanks,

Michael

What a Weekend!

Mick, his girlfriend Patricia, and two of their friends came up to Missouri last weekend for another visit.  It was a quick trip, really, but one filled with good times.  We spent quite a bit of time on Saturday going to thrift stores and flea markets / antique stores.  I scored several fun finds, but I think that my favorite two finds came from an auction I was able to attend for about 20 minutes Sunday afternoon after our family decorated graves and went out to eat.

My auction finds?  These great star shaped Harvin brass wall sconces and a pair of mid-century brass candle-holders.  I paid $5 per pair for them.

My finds with Mick, Patricia, and company?  Well, of course some Pyrex!  I picked up this 404 bowl, which is two tone brown.  It's the same colors as the Old Orchard set I have but doesn't have the graphic on them.  Is this part of the Old Orchard series?  I also picked up a blue Tulip 1.5 quart casserole with lid, a Pyrex Flameware teapot and a Sandalwood bowl that I needed to complete my set.

I was also pleased to pick up this green anodized aluminum ice bucket for $3, an anodized aluminum blue tumbler for $1, a space themed glass which matches another that I already have for $1, a chrome Lincoln Beautyware canister for $1.50, a large platter for $2, and a soup bowl that matches a partial set I have and the ones that my mom and grandma have for $2.50.  I wouldn't have paid this much for it if it wasn't part of the set I already have.

Mick also brought me this great vintage mailbox to replace mine which is long past it's prime.  A little clean up, a coat of paint, and it will be on the house!

It was a great time!

Joplin - 1 Year Later

It's hard to believe that it has been a whole year since neighboring Joplin, MO was hit by a devastating EF-5 tornado that claimed the lives of 161 people.  It has been busy around this area this week with the anniversary upon Joplin.

Here's a neat video showing some of the amazing stories since the storm.



This photo and video make me so proud of my Midwestern heritage!  Have a great weekend!

Sometimes the best finds...

...are free!

There is a great 1950s ranch house just down the street from my parent's house that I have loved for years.  I think I loved it mostly for it's barn red and white color scheme.  Anyway, it changed hands a few years ago and the new owners have been slowly updating it.  Right now they are putting vinyl siding on it (I hate painting houses, so I don't blame them) and it is no longer going to be the red color that I have known all my life (and I would bet it has always been that red color).  Anyway, I sent a message on Facebook to the owner of the home and asked if they would be willing to sell the original shutters if they weren't going to reuse them.  They sent me a message back that they were not reusing them and I could have them once they took them down.

Monday a message came that they were ready to pick up.  So, here they are!  For being more than 50 years old, I think they are in pretty good shape!  There were only four of them on two of the front windows.  Still, that's enough.  I brought them home and placed them in front of the shutters on my house, and they are the perfect size for my house!  However, I have no plans to use them as shutters on my house.  My vinyl no paint shutters were quite expensive, and I will not replace them at this early stage of their life.  Maybe if they do go bad someday this will be the inspiration for the new shutters.  I am sold on that diamond pattern.  So simple, yet so mid-century!

My plan for them?  Well, I need to clean them up and repaint them, but I am thinking about using a couple of them as window valances or cornice boxes over the drapes I put in the den (a project that hit a stand still when the hectic rush of the end of the school year hit - I did pick a color... or two.  I'm considering two tone in there).  Anyway, we'll see where they end up!

Have a great Wednesday!

Bigger than a Bread Box?

Well, one of this weekend's finds was.  Same size as a bread box?  Yup, got that covered as well!  Smaller than a bread box?  Found a few of those, too.

First, my favorite find of the weekend.  This great mid-century tension pole lamp was waiting for me at an estate tag sale.  I think that it is the perfect piece to have next to the swivel rocker I picked up a couple of weeks ago, and it makes the space the perfect reading nook.  I looked at this thing three times before finally deciding to fork over the $24 they were asking for it.  Thankfully it comes apart, or it wouldn't have made it home in my car!

At the same tag sale I picked up this great chrome Lincoln brand bread box.  I don't get to these sales to stand in line and wait - I always get there about 45 minutes or so into the sale once the initial rush is over.  Sure I miss out on some great things, but it isn't worth the headache to me.  That's why I was surprised this was still there.  $8.

For the smalls, I picked up this Town and Country Pyrex casserole with lid for $2, and the small Early American Pyrex Cinderella mixing bowl for $1.50.  The little Corning tea pot was $4, the recipe card holder with dividers and a stash of blank cards was 75 cents, and the turquoise dust pan was 50 cents.  I love finding vintage items that I can use at these sales.

After the tag sale, I went to an auction because they had some h.o. scale train stuff that I was interested in for a friend.  Needless to say, they were only running one ring, and at the rate they were selling things, they will still be there next Saturday.  So, since the trains were on a table to be sold later in the sale, I had to leave without them.  However, that doesn't mean that I didn't pick up a couple of things.

This vintage Singer sewing machine sold for $2.  I couldn't believe nobody wanted it.  I only ended up with it due to a mercy bid.  Still, it is worth more than the $2 I gave for it.  A little research tells me that I believe I have a sought after singer 15-91 model.  I'll need to have it serviced and get a pedal for it, then I plan on putting it up for sale.

I also picked up this pair of end tables for $9.  They need to be stripped down and refinished.  Another summer project!  However, I have two round end tables that match these, as well as a square one.  I've collected a nice little set!

Did any of you find anything exciting this weekend?

I Love a Good Estate Sale (Auction)

As I've mentioned before, to me an estate sale is an auction.  People from all over the community come together and purchase items belonging to a departed friend and community member.  It is always a sad day for the family, but quite often, the community gathers and makes it a fun occasion.  There is a lot of visiting and reminiscing as items are sold.

This past weekend I went to an estate sale in the town I teach in.  The sale was for the grandmother of a lady I work with.  Things were going for a pretty high price, in my opinion, and I didn't care much for the auctioneers, who liked to jump around instead of selling from one end of the table to another.  You could also be trying to bid on something, literally shouting at the ring men your bid, and they would ignore you.  Unless they do an auction for someone else I know, I probably won't be returning to one of their sales.

Anyway, let's take a look at what came home with me!

I have gotten to the point that I won't take my pickup to a sale, because then I can't bring home any furniture.  However, you can get furniture into the Buick, if you get creative.

My favorite piece that I brought home is this amazing swivel rocker.  It looks like it is brand new, and is stamped with a manufacturing date of March 21, 1958.  I actually believe that it has been reupholstered at some point, but the fabric has a great mid-century feel to it, and they went to great lengths to put the original design detail back in to the fabric on the back of the chair.  I paid more for it than I usually would, but I have never come across a piece in such amazing condition, so now it is mine!  $37.50.

I also picked up this Duncan Phyfe style coffee table.  It has an inlaid glass top.  It is badly in need of being refinished, but fortunately, that is one of my hobbies, so by the end of the summer, it will be looking great.  I can't wait to be using it in my living room.  The smaller size of this piece is much more fitting for the long living room than the coffee table I currently have.  $10.

I also picked up this vintage Pyrex percolator.  I have never seen one in person with this style of handle.  It was a decent deal at $11.  And a couple of lidded Pyrex pieces, one of which is a Christmas promotional.

A few vintage aluminum tumblers, a vintage thermos, and some vintage aluminum ice cube trays pretty much rounds out my finds!  Does anybody else still use vintage aluminum ice cube trays?  I don't know what I'd do without mine.

Have a great Wednesday!

1946 Majestic Console

A couple of days ago, when I featured my city-wide garage sale finds, a reader inquired about the vintage radio that they could see in the background of my pictures.  I featured this radio on the blog a few years ago, so instead of reposting that story, I'm just going to link to it here.  If you compare the photos in my most recent post to this one from a few years ago, you will notice that the radio now lives in my living room and not the dining room.  Have a great Monday!