Where the H-E DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS is Spring?

 

Answer: not anywhere near here. We've had another 18 inches of snow in the past couple of days.

 

{Sigh}

 

I have never been so anxious for Spring and warm weather....actually, we'll need many days of warm weather to melt all this snow.
 

I need to go from this (taken this morning).....

 

 

 

and this (taken yesterday afternoon)....

 

to this....

 

 

 

and then this....

For now, the closest thing to bouquets and gardens is this....

 

Guess I'll just have to make do until the real thing comes along.

~Diane

 

Ladies of the Copper Country - Vintage Photographs

Hello....

Well I hope you're surviving the winter....there can't be too many more months of it, right?

I haven't posted since Valentine's Day, mostly because my less than a year old computer's operating system crashed. After spending what seems like countless hours on the phone with tech support, I'm finally back up and running.

Now that I have something to plug my camera's card reader into, I'm back to my old tricks. ;-)

There is something about old photographs....I never tire of looking at them and wondering about the lives of the people in them.

These photos came from local estates. They're one of those things that often don't sell. I can't bear to see them thrown away, which means I have lots of them.

The woman on the right is handsome, don't you think? She looks 'well-bred' and likely is from a family with money. She might even be college educated. So elegant!

The young lady on the left is probably an immigrant. When I zoomed in on her shoes they looked quite worn. Her pose is so relaxed.

She is a beautiful woman. I imagine with her hair unbraided she'd look like a nymph in the forest.

I love this image; it reminds me of National Velvet. This girl looks like a princess. Why do you suppose she's wearing a glove on her right hand?

Have you ever seen more perfect bangs? She too has that sweet look of innocence.

Thanks for looking!

Here's wishing you all a lovely day....Friday is the 1st of March. Hopefully, Spring is not far behind.

~ Diane

 

A New Man in My Life

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Just thought I'd share some photos of the new man who came into my life today. Actually, he's really just a boy.

 

He followed me home after I turned down our road this afternoon. We played a little game: I'd drive a few feet and he'd follow, when I stopped he'd lick the salt off my car. Repeat. This went on for about twenty minutes. When I pulled up to the house and opened the car door, I called to him and he walked right over then followed me around like a puppy while I filled the birdfeeders and fed the woodstove.

He waited at the door while I ran in to get my 35mm camera.

Yes, this is where you saw me get the sunflower seeds and no, you cannot go in.

What a sweet little guy.

 

I think he's one of the twins I have been feeding this winter along with mom. I'm sure they've been holed up in the cedar swamps since it's been so bitterly cold. I haven't seen them for a several weeks. Today was in the mid-twenties.

He's a little buck. He didn't mind me touching and petting him, but he flinched when I touched his antler nubs. They're probably tender because they're growing. 

If he comes back tomorrow we'll have carrots for a snack.

I hope everyone is having the sweetest time!

 

This has been the best Valentine's Day ever!

 

~Diane

And the Giveaway Winner is....

Drum roll, please.......

Jamie from Remnants { http://rem-nants.blogspot.com/ }

 

As soon as I have your address, Jamie, your package will be on its way.

 

Thanks so much to everyone who participated. And again, a special thanks to Vicki for cooking up this brilliant party. My blog went from 22 followers to 86. I also discovered many, wonderful blogs along the way that I am now following. I can't wait to do this again.

 

 

 

Stay warm and cozy. Spring is on its way (somewhere).

 

~Diane

 

 



 

Exquisitely Shabby Vintage Hats

Hello!

 

I hope the weather has warmed up wherever you're at. It was one chilly week here in the Copper Country. It was lovely being able to stay home and not have to brave the cold and wind and icy roads.

 

I'm already lovin' retirement!

These hats were from a partial estate that I purchased a couple of years ago. The gentleman I bought them from told me they belonged to his deceased mother who had been a milliner in Chicago for several large department stores.

I know what you're thinking....I'm sure few of us would sell things that belonged to our mother, especially if she had made them herself. Believe me, not everyone is sentimental.

The hats were stored in this fabulous, fabric covered, oval box with a pretty, paper illustration on the lid. Though I've already sold quite a few of the hats, I still have several, plus loads of trim and ones she never finished. I just love the soft faded colors, don't you?

In addition to hats, I also purchased vintage dresses, beaded purses, furs, vintage children's clothes, and several Victorian pieces that I think are museum-quality.

 



I will, as time permits, show you some of the other things that came from this estate. Of course, they will eventually all be sold. I must also make money (translate: I can't keep it all). It seems with most things--though there are a few exceptions--I am satisfied to enjoy these wonderful, old treasures for a bit and then let them go.

If you haven't entered my giveaway, please check out the previous post and leave a comment. I'll draw a winner on Feb 1st.

Stay warm.....

~Diane

>

{ Grow Your Blog } Valentine Giveaway

Welcome to the Grow Your Blog Party and My First Giveaway....

 

 

First, I want to thank Vicki at 2 Bags Full for hosting this awesome Grow Your Blog party. Without Vicki, no party. I know what a huge undertaking it was for her to put this together, as there are 420 bloggers signed up (you can find the complete list here on Jan 19th).

So what is this blog about? My profile pretty much sums it up: I love old stuff.  I'm living my dream life with my husband of 30 years on a hobby farm in the north woods. I love traveling, photography, music, literature, graphic design, gardening....my interests are continually evolving and endless. I'm passionate about things I see in the world that are not right, and though I sometimes feel powerless, I am never without hope.

Many of the blogs participating in GYB are having giveaways, mine included. As a newbie blogger it's my way of saying thank you for stopping by and getting to know me.

Words of wisdom from my mother: give a gift that you would like to receive.

For my first giveaway, I'm giving a pretty pink, mini-Reisenthel collapsible basket. I've used these baskets for years and have several of them in different colors and sizes. The basket in the photos is mine, but the winner will be sent a brand new one in its original packaging.

I also need to include something vintage--'cause that's my thing--so I'll also send the winner this pair of pinky-peachy, hand-crocheted pillowcases. Wouldn't this design make luscious frosting on a wedding cake?

Okay, here goes....

Giveaway Rules:

To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post. That's it!

*You do not need to have a blog to win, but please be sure to leave an email address where I can contact you if you are the winner.

*You do not need to follow my blog to enter or win, though I'm not turning away any new followers!

* This giveaway is open to everyone, no matter where you live.

I will accept entries through January 31st, and the winner will be drawn on February 1st. Your gift will be shipped as soon as I have your mailing address.

Thanks for visiting and Happy Valentine's Day!!

~Diane

For the Love of Linens

I'm working in the junk room today--going through boxes and deciding what needs to be stored here and what can be moved out to the loft in the garage.

 

 

To be honest, I've never really considered myself a 'collector' in the same way as someone who collects Roseville Pottery, or English cups and saucers, or music boxes, or Fire King, or whatever.

I have a lot of stuff, don't get me wrong, it's just that there doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to the madness, nor is a lot of it particularly valuable. I don't know why I'm attracted to the things I collect, all I know is that I like them.

I especially like ephemera: old photographs, vintage greeting cards, correspondence, receipts, road maps and travel brochures, Valentines, and odds 'n ends.

Which brings me back to collections. As I sort through this menagerie, I'm finding lots of linens and buttons and lace and patterns. I don't even sew, so I'm not sure how over the years I have amassed so many of these things. Some of the more utilitarian linens I use, such as ticking pillow covers. They are simply the best if you have down or feather pillows, as the quills don't poke through. But all the other stuff? Is it the color, the graphics, the texture, the history? Or am I just a hoarder? That isn't even funny.

As I'm rummaging in my own junk room, I'm looking for something special since I'm participating in the Grow Your Blog party starting this Saturday. In keeping with my collecting pattern, I guess I'll know it when I see it.

Stop back on Saturday morning to see what I've decided upon. This giveaway is open to anyone, anywhere with one caveat....you have to tell me what you collect!

~Diane


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