Turning thoughts toward home and hearts to God

Turning thoughts toward home and hearts to God

Showing posts with label Antique Books and Prints. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Antique Books and Prints. Show all posts

Friday, December 21, 2012

Mary Did You Know?

This antique print is one of my favorites.
Rather than hanging, it sits on a side board in my living room, year round.

As I recall it was a gift from my son.
It's tall, about 22 inches,
and is in a lovely gilded frame.

There is no visable attribution,
and I wasn't able to find anything
about it online.

You can't see her feet here,
but she's barefoot.



This beautiful rendition of Mary Did You Know
 by Ceelo Green
 is from the mini series The Bible,
 scheduled to debut in 2013.



I have enjoyed this Christmas season more
than any I can remember since I was a child.

Spending extra time with family, entertaining,
celebrating with friends ~ my cup is full.

Counting My Blessings
xo Susy


You can see other's favorite things at
 Claudia's @ Mockingbird Hill Cottage


and more inspiration at
Charlotte @ Spiritual Sundays


Thursday, November 22, 2012

Friday, October 5, 2012

A Favorite Thing ~ and Merci Beaucoup

I'm slooowly easing back into blog life since returning from vacation.

We took a road trip to our fishing cabin on the
Old Colorado River, then drove to Williams AZ and took the train into the Grand Canyon and stayed overnight. The next day we hiked and shopped and lunched, then returned to Williams on the afternoon train.



Before leaving Williams the following morning, we went to Bearizona,
 a wildlife animal park that opened in 2010 and was loads of fun.


After driving through and seeing the animals in habitat,
 I spent a lot of time in the barnyard
with the chickens and pigs, peacocks and goats. 

For several reasons I've yet to upload the hundreds of pictures I took. But soon!
(the photos above are all from the internet)

* * * * *
One of the things I've been working on since our return
 is getting things in the garage sorted through. 
 I just took a big load of collectables into my consignment space,
 and have lots more ready to go.
  In the midst of all the culling, I came across some things
 I'd completely forgotten about.

And that's where A Favorite Thing comes in ~ I love surprises!


Look at this beautiful stack of  little Bavarian dessert plates


in four different patterns of hand-painted pansies and roses
in purple and pink and yellow


  I brought them in, gave them a gentle wash,
 and added them to my sideboard in the dining room.
I'm ready for company ~ let's eat cake!
  I love happening upon lovely things like this.  

* * * * *
Another fun find was this 1936 falling-apart-copy of  The Housekeepers Daughter


  It was silly and humorous, and a quick read.
  A movie adaptation of the storyline was made in 1939,
 with Joan Bennett, Adolphe Menjou, and John Hubbard.
  I'll have to watch for it on TCM.

Something interesting I'd never seen before
was on the copyright page of the book:

"Because of the acute shortage of regular book cloths under
war-time rationing, this book is bound in "leatherette", a
sturdy paper fabric especially designed for this purpose."
 * * * * *

And the final surprise was a very special win from Marcia at

  These handmade gift tags were waiting for me when I returned from our trip

 
   6 tags of two different designs, strung with black satin ribbon,
 with gilded edges and black feathers.
  They're really quite beautiful!


  I'm going to have to do some fancy shopping and wrapping
 to match the quality of these tags!
Something French perhaps...

 Merci beaucoup Marcia!

* * * * *
 And on a weather note, Fall has finally come to SoCal.
Our days are still warm, but mornings and evenings are getting chilly.
I'm sad to have to close the windows soon.
Last night I enjoyed the crickets and distant train whistles while reading.

Counting My Blessings
xo Susy



I'm linking up with Claudia at
for 




Saturday, March 24, 2012

The Man From Blankley's

  
Please pull up a chair, and I'll pour




I've no idea where I picked up this book


 dated 1893


  It's a collection of humorous stories and sketches
that originally appeared on the pages of Punch
a British weekly started in 1841


Punch was a publication of humor and satire
named after the famous Punch and Judy puppet

 
This excerpt from the book is part of a scene
taking place in a vegetarian restaurant
at "the luncheon hour"


A sweet little old lady, wearing a great hat,
wants to order eggs for lunch

* * *
To enjoy this "sketch", it helps to know that the French word "cocotte"  has a double meaning ~
baked eggs, or...ahem...."a painted lady"
* * *

An Elderly Lady asks the waitress, "Can you bring me some eggs?"


"Certainly, madam.  How would you like them done - a la cocotte?"


"Certainly not.  You will serve them respectably, if you please!"

The puzzled waitress says, "We can give you "convent eggs" if you prefer it


The Elderly Lady replies, "I never encourage superstition - poach them."


Ah...that English humor!

(guess you had to be there)

* * *

 But while we're here, I'll share some things that sit
 in the dining room window



This vintage jam jar has a secret




A hole in the bottom.  
I was told that glass jars of jam were put inside,
and the hole helped get sticky jars out.
Is that true?





 The chair came from the flea market 
and I had the seat re-covered


My house is full of faux flowers


in pretty pots that make me happy


My friend rolls her eyes...they don't make her happy






"too many flowers", she says


Is that possible?







Counting My Blessings
Susy