Sunday, March 17, 2013

Whiskers on Kittens

Well, I am guess you probably came here thinking I had a post about kittens, but  alas and alack, I do not!!! I was just wandering my house looking at some of my "favorite things."  Since we do have two cats, I guess whiskers on kittens would be a favorite, but today I just wanted to share some of things that make me smile around my house.

A sweet, ivory sugar bowl that was a gift from a wonderful friend and co-worker.  He sits on my kitchen windowsill and brings a smile to my face every day......


Right now, he's hanging out with a plant and a maple pig cutting board I picked up at Longaberger Outlet Store.


Here, you can see a few of my Wisconsin dairy crocks, through the winterlake style glass of my kitchen cabinets.  This glass and the crocks make me doubly happy.........



A sampling of my vintage scales.  The green Hanson I have had since 1979 when I had my first apartment.......



 A peek inside my china cabinet shows some ivory spongeware advertising pieces and a vintage coffee grinder.  The cute cow picture was cheapy Hobby Lobby purchase (yet still quite awesome!)....



In another cubby of my china cabinet, is a trio of white pitchers, all newer and  picked up at Home Goods for very low prices.  Lots of impact (and function!) for a small amount of cash and so timeless.....


Cute Redwing vase in gold, with a $1.00 WalMart plate, sweet bunny, and lamp.......

 
 
An assembly of discount store plates and a sprig of spring floral.  Nothing fancy, nothing pricey - but this group gives me a happy heart...... 
 



Two sweet canines protecting some old books in the den........




A vintage tin in a burnt orange color that was once filled with "Butterscotch" candies.  I picked this up because we have a sweet kitty named Butterscotch and thought it was a fun, personal accessory for the kitchen (it's also a great place to stash Christmas cookie cutters!).......


A vintage looking Howard Miller wall clock that my parents gave me for Christmas about twenty five years ago. It is about five inches in diameter and hangs in a little sliver of a wall between our kitchen and powder room......

 
 
Another "homage" to our pets, this 1950's advertising poster for Purina Dog Food, sports a border collie and Parker Kennels. Our dog - Parker - is a border collie and when I saw this on e-bay several years ago, I had to get it.  I think it was $3.00 plus another $1.50 for postage.  It hangs in a black frame in our laundry room.  How can you not smile at that sweet faced pup?


 
 
Also in the laundry room, is an assortment of dogs in china and iron.  The scottie on the left is an old door stop and he has followed me from house to house for the past thirty years. The other two are old floral arrangement figurines from the 50's.
 



Here, a few new finds that haven't been worked into the scheme of things yet, but just seeing them on my counter sets my heart aflutter.  I found the Brie holder for $9.99 at Target last week - super cool.  Not sure it will ever hold Brie, but it is a neat addition to the kitchen!  The bread box is beautiful and functional - I have needed a place to stow a loaf of bread for decades (yes, decades!).  I never could find one that I liked.  Pottery Barn came through with their Rhodes Bread Box - it is more than I had hoped for! Love it.


This next treasure truly is a treasure.  One of my older brothers found this when he accompanied my dad to the auto salvage junk yard when he was about eight or ten.  It is actually a very old, giant sized wind up alarm clock.  My mom had it on a table in our living room for probably forty plus years. Since my brother isn't in to collecting vintage, my mom entrusted it to me when my parents sold their farm in 2001.  I am so grateful that it has found it's way into my home, because I love it and even more so, I love the story behind it.......


Finally, one of my greatest treasures that I have not displayed in our home for quite some time and that is in need of a new, professional frame job is an advertising bill from an auction my dad had in 1968.  It was the first auction he ever held and it was  on our farm, but as the years went by we had one to two auctions from there on in through 2001.  I think my mom & dad were the original "american pickers" because let me tell you, they collected and sold alot of "junque" that they found hither and yon.  This first aucton promised a player piano (it was in our living room for about a year and we had great fun with it!), two butcher blocks, crocks, jugs, rocking chairs, clocks, commodes, antique cars, tractors - you name it, we had it.  In fact, on the morning of this first aucton they decided to sell our kitchen chairs! So, the hunt began in earnest the next day to find seven more for our large family!  Anyway, I am looking forward to displaying this in our living room - I think the graphics are so fitting to today's farmhouse look and of course, it will bring a smile to my face and my heart every time I see it....


Are you still with me folks? Apparently I have alot of favorite things!  Of course, my true favorite things aren't things at all ~faith, family, & friends~

Thanks for hanging with me today during this uber-long post. What do you treasure in your home decor?

Wishing you happiness,
Jane

Linking to:

Between Naps on the Porch

The Dedicated House

Whiskers on Kittens


12 comments:

  1. Some of your favorite things are some of mine, also :) My pig cutting board and cow creamer are hanging out in the kitchen together, too! I just adore your vintage scale collection. Lovely!
    xo, Andrea

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  2. Oh Wow!! I love your favorites! Isn't it great to have so many items that you grew up with? The auction flyer is amazing! The clock, the scale you've had for so long! Just WOW!! Love this post, and thank you for your visit. :)

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    1. Thanks Kathy - I love the aucton flyer too, so many happy memories.

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  3. Nice! We have a few vintage scales too- look great in the kitchen. Have a great week.
    Visiting from the Dedicated House :)

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    1. Thanks for visiting - I can't get enough of vintage scales! (although the bathroom scale, I can do without it, lol!)

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  4. I love all of your favorite things!! And, we can never have too many favorites. Thank you for sharing this at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House! Hope to see your prettiness again at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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    1. Many thanks Kathryn. Always love joining in on your Monday party - one of my faves.

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  5. Hi Jane,
    I love your favorite things too, especially the Wisconsin dairy crocks and all the doggie photo's!
    Your entry bead board wallpaper turned out great! I am going to be using the bead board wallpaper too, but in my bedroom. I can't wait.
    I have enjoyed my visit with you very much.
    Have a sweet day and keep warm. Elizabeth

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    1. Oh thanks so much for the lovely words Elizabeth! Good luck with your beadboard project - I know you will be happy with the results.

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  6. what a lovely post! you have some great things.....all your scales, your cute doggies, your parent's sale poster....love them all!

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    1. Thanks Susan - I do love that poster. I have had friends suggest I try selling copies on ebay, but frankly, it's such a personal item that I wouldn't feel right about making money of it. I will just love it as is! Thanks for stopping by!

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