How About Some Color On Your Table

Color is always nice! I love white and cream, but I must say that color is my thing. It's just more practical for the things we collect. I'm showing just a few shelves of color in our shop.
Of course starting with blue, I especially love the antique flo-blue plates and platters. I kinda collect them!

White enamel ware--great for a country farmhouse look.

A touch of aqua!

Amber Depression Glass( Sharon/Cabbage Rose Pattern)

Some nice deep Forest Green.

I have a thing for soup tureens. This has holly decorated on it.

I've got a lot more to show that that's all for now. Tomorrow I'll be redoing the display window. I think is will be all white and silver because I have a very nice big silver aluminum tree and a white tree, both from the 60's. I let you know how it looks.

Until next time,

Pam

The Christmas Season Is Open!

Well, it's time to get out the winter dishes! The Christmas Season is here. I took these pictures in a booth at Marburger Farm in Texas. I love platters anyway, but this one was beautiful.

Dishes to match the platter.

Who wouldn't love this collection of Santa's. I will be showing many more pictures of collections and booths in my shop so keep watching--or better yet, come on in and see it for real!
I'm trying to update this blog with the Paul McCartney special in the background, and sorry, but I gotta go and watch him!
Until next time,
Pam

I Love Marionettes!

If money was no object--this complete set of marionettes and the stage would be mine. Instead, I just stared in amazement of their beauty. I have collected puppets and marionettes for some time, but have never displayed them. They are all packed up--not sure what they are waiting for! I ran across a box of them today and it reminded me of this set that I saw in Texas. Wow. But it would have set me back a few thousand dollars and thats alot! Maybe someday.

I'm sure eveyone is busy getting ready for the holidays. Crazy huh! If I don't have another chance to tell you, have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Until next time,

Pam

Tis the Season---Too Act So Innocent!!

Well, we just completed our final Third Thursday Ladies Night Out of the Season. Last night my little niece--that would be Annie Girl came! She was a hit. Her sweater says it all.

Why is it we all can act so good when we want something!
The innocence of this little doggie! My whole family loves her.

She's a beggar!

And almost always wins!!!

She just about scored!!! Gary is a softie!She knows we love her! That's the way it should be. Right???!!!

Annie had never been to the shop before. We didn't know what she'd do. Her heart was absolutely pounding with excitement. She didn't bother a thing. No messes, no accidents--I guess she is perfect! I have more pictures to show of the Ladies Night Out. The shop looked very festive, lots of ladies, food, spiced cider and a surprise visit from our new friends from Dallas. I'll post more pictures soon. Just had to share these pictures of our mascot!

Until next time,

Pam

Come See Us in Alton, Illinois!! Open 7 days a Week.

Shots from inside Country Meadows! I'm always showing pictures of our booth, so I thought I'd share a few from inside the shop.

I'm really wanting to take home this gray painted hardware store piece. It would be great in our bedroom filled with stuff---then I can get rid of the dressers!

Some of these pieces have been sold, I wish I had a book filled with the hundreds of things we have sold over the last 23 years. It would be amazing!

This great trunk is also gone! We have sold many dozens of trunks. Gary loves boxes and trunks. The scrub top farm table is one of many we have had.

This is inside the storefront window. The Tiffany Style Lamp didn't last long.

This Rooster Weathervane is really awesome. It's one of those things that people him-haw around about wondering if it is really old. Well, I can tell you that Gary climbed up and took off of the barn when the farmer decided he would part with it. We got alot of great things from that farm.

Just one of the many showcases that is full of smalls.

I'll be taking more photos. I'm headed there tomorrow to redo and spruce up!

Better go for now,

Until next time,

Pam

Cane Bottoms and Baskets--A Treasure of the Past

You can't beat these children's chairs with blue paint and woven seats. I would love to have been able to buy them. Not just one but both. They are different but go well together. I believe they were high chairs. I spotted them at the Music Valley Antique Show in Nashville.

Look at the weaving on this basket. At first, you think it has breaks, but as you look more closely, I think it was made that way.
The different size of the weaving, very crudely done. A real treasure to be found.

An overall shot of the basket.

Baskets in good shape are getting harder to find. I love them. I collect them and find it hard to part with them. The market for antique baskets has really slowed up, I think because there are so many new baskets out there---but the new ones just don't have that look or patina! But, on that note, I have to admit that I have new ones too! Just like anything else, when they are tastefully mixed together they look just fine.

Better go for now,

Until next time,

Pam

My Fear of Storms-I Might Have Figured It Out!

Ok, so I worked hard today and decided to sit down this evening and find a Holiday Movie on cable. Low and Behold--The Wizard of Oz. Just in time for the tornado and the chaos that went with it. Dorothy is blurry in the picture, but you can see the funnel. This is one movie that we got to eat supper in the living room and watch when we were kids. The storm scared me and the witch terrified me!

I hate that woman!

She wants Toto! I hate her more.

She's mean!

I can hear that music when she's pedaling her bike!

Right before the storm.

Windy chaos!

The clouds remind me of everytime we head to Texas. Always stormy in Oklahoma!

More chaos!

Dorothy's trying to get home.

Dorothy can't find anyone. They're in the storm cellar.

Now Dorothy is dreaming! I hate the witch.

We've all known a witch or two!

After seeing that again for the 100th time, it made me think maybe that caused my fear of storms. Something to ponder. Meanwhile, my nightlight burned out, so I must replace it!

Until next time,

Pam

You Can't Beat Vintage Holiday Stuff!

I love the old Gurley candles! I don't know how many I have had and sold over the years. I remember at home, when the Christmas Carolers appeared on top of the television, the holiday season was here! They looked like the pilgrims in the picture below.

Framed Vintage Postcards. Colorful!

We had a great time at sissy Lori's tonight. Sissy Gay made grilled cheese, Lori made clam chowder and I made this apple stuff that Gary wanted. It is made with raw apples, and a creamy peanut butter mixture that I made with Splenda, then sprinkled with pecans. I wanted a red velvet cake but he reminded me that we didn't need all of that sugar. Next time, it's cake! My sister's are very good cooks, so that made up for me! A simple supper and soooogood!

Better go for now. I'm digging out Christmas stuff and lots of other great stuff to redo my shop so I need an early start in the morning.

Until next time,

Pam

Tomorrow is FAMILY NIGHT!

It's time for another Family Night. We all live rather close so it's easy to get together--when we all have an open night! There will be the guys as well, and our folks. We just eat, laugh, and be together. This would be a picture of me and my two sisters. This was taken before my brother was born. That would be me IN THE MIDDLE! Did anyone else have those little bangs? This decorative stone at Lori's house kind of says it all. I'm making dessert--no idea what yet.
Better go for now.
Until next time,
Pam

Textiles--Ahhh, the Feel of Cotton

Is it the color? or the feel? or the look? Anyway you look at it, who can resist touching! This quilt, all nicely folded is a beautiful calico with deep red being it's main color. No fading. Just beautiful. Just another thing that stopped me dead in my tracks at Nashville.

I love this rack of clothes and cloth all nicely pressed, ready to take home. All cotton.

I have a weakness for cloth dolls, something about the innocent face, but it's the cotton dress that makes me weak at the knees!

Another shot of great children's cotton clothing.

This mantel is a shot of early cloth dolls in the booth of Kay Puchstein at the Music Valley Show in Nashville. I would love to have all of them.

And who can resist turkey red embroidery work. These were actually in my booth!

Better go for now, just wanted to share these pictures. I'm getting in gear for the holidays at my shop and working on a new display for all of my textiles.!

Until next time,

Pam