Eagle Watching.

   Every winter in our little town, hundreds of people come from far and near to watch the American Bald Eagles.
Our town, Clarksville,Mo,. is on the river, and the eagles come to fish. We have counted as many as 600 in a weekend. They especially come when the rivers up North are frozen. Clarksville ,Lock and Dam number 24, usually keeps the water from freezing and the eagles can fish. There are beautiful to watch and we welcome everyone.
   The Bald Eagle was officially declared the National Emblem of the United States in 1782. The American Bald Eagles scientific name is, Haliocetus Leucophalus,which literally means, "white headed sea eagle."
  These majestic birds are the largest bird of prey found in North America. Females are slightly larger than males, reaching 15 pounds, standing 3 feet tall and spreading up to 8 feet in wingspan.The females lay 1 to 3 egss in March or April. A mated pair of eagles will return to the same nest and defend a territory around that next each spring. Both eagles take turns incubating the eggs for 34 to 40 days.
  Several eagles soaring together are called, "kettles." They are able to fly up to an altitude of 10,000 feet. Males and females have the same adult plumage with white heads and tales. The juveniles are solid black/brown in color.Sometimes living 30 years, a pair mates for life, taking another partner only if one dies.
   The bald eagle has excellant vision and on a clear day, they can see a fish from nearly 2 miles away. Once spotted, they use there razor sharp talons to catch their prey.
   Before 1995-the bald eagle was considered endangered, Now there are around 4,500 pairs and 20,000 total birds in the lower 48 states. The eagles usually come to our area in late November and can stay as long as March. The number of eagles we have and the length of there stay, depends on the weather. If it is cold and there is ice, there will be eagles.
    I love to set on my front porch and watch them. They fly, dive, fish and play. It is something to see one catch a fish and another comes and takes it out of there feet. They are excellent hunters and catch a fish before you have time to blind.

  On the last weekend of January we have Eagle Days.This two day event draws large crowds. Fires are build in the city park so people can warm themselves. Local churches and clubs sell and serve food. ham and beans are a favorite as well as fish sandwiches. It is a great time in our little town. It is always fun and exciting to welcome so many to our little part of the world. A lot of our visitors come from St.Louis, but we have had people as far away as Russia.
   I hope you could come for a visit during eagle days. I would be thrilled to give you a tour of the town and open, My Old Historic House, for a tour. I will leave the lights on, have hot coffee and Sissy Dog will always meet you with a jump and a kiss. Happy Eagle Watching, where ever you are.

Power's out!

Every porch has a shelf full of barn lanterns, ready for power outage or parties.

    I live in a very rural part of Missouri, about 70 miles from a major city. Every time the wind blows or it rains, we seem to loose electric power. Sometimes it is only for a few minutes, but has been out for days. It always seems to happen in the hottest weather of summer or the coldest of winter. When ever it happens, it is not fun and you have to be prepared. I first experienced this  in the spring of 2008. You see, My Old Historic House, is about 200 feet from the Mississippi River. When I was thinking about buying my house, my sister said, "don't buy that house it floods." I answered, "well the last flood was in 1993 and they said that was a hundred year flood". Well, this was 2006, and I would be dead in  hundred years. Well, I bought it and in 2008, we had another one of those so called, "100 year floods." I was living in St.Louis at the time and spending weekends  here. I had to rush to Clarksville when the predictions were that the flood was to be as big, if not bigger, than the 1993 flood. We started sandbagging as soon as I got here and the very next day, we lost power. The electric company cut the lines for safety.I spent 6 weeks in that house with no electric, gas, water or bathroom. It was a challenge. But I soon learned, one does what they have to do.
    I  went back to the old days.Kerosene lamps and lanterns. I had a lot of them around, why not use them? My sister  bought me some lamp oil and I was in business. One lantern was hung on every porch., one in the kitchen. several in the trees and on hooks in the yard. When all these were lite, there was a pretty good lighted path around and about my house. Almost every evening, my first job was to fill all the lamps and lanterns with oil.  I seemed to get through it much better by making a game of it. It was like a scene from a movie, me walking about with my lanterns and lamps.I kinda felt like Scarlett, as she and Rhett left Atlanta and left the lamp burning at the front gate.

This blue lamp in my kitchen is the first one I go for when the power goes out.

This is a favorite,I got it  from the famous, Stark Nursery family.

   Kerosene lamps date back to about 1850. They were much like a candle. When the oil burns down so does the wick. In England these lamps were called pariffan lamps. This type of lamp was invented in America by Robert Daisy in 1853. The Abraham Gesner Kerosene Gaslight Company were the first to produce these lamps in American around 1860.This type of lighting made it much easily to light American homes. Kerosene was very cheap, easy to get and  for the first time in history, American home owners had better lighting.
   Today I have lamps scattered about the house. I try and keep one in almost every room. It is just handy when that power is lost. Matches play a big roll in these lamps and without them it is hard to use them. I discovered  waterproof matches also during the flood. They can be bought at sporting good shops and sure come in handy.I have a land line for my phone as well, as phones now days, don't seem to work with out electric. I hate anything with batteries. Sometimes there is no choice, as the only way to have certain products, like remotes, is to use a battery. I give in, but it is not my first choice.

I like to place several oil lamps by the front door when I am having parties at night. The chimneys keep the wind from blowing out the flame.

I hung them on hooks, during the flood and also  for night parties.

   I not only use the lanterns and lamps when the power goes out, I also use them for night parties and tours. I hang the lanterns on hooks in the yard, down the sidewalks and in trees in the garden. Oil lamps make a beautiful soft glow and the chimneys keep them from blowing out in the wind. I often place several on a table by the front door when having and evening party.They make such a warm welcome. Placing  lighted kerosene lamps about the house during a evening party creates a  mood that is perfect for an 1845 house. They are also much safer than candles.
  I hope you will come by sometime soon for a tour. I will leave the oil lamps burning and Sissy Dog will always meet you with a jump and a kiss.

This beautiful cranberry banquet lamp is really pretty to light for parties. It is in my middle bedroom and lights a nice path when the power is out.

This one has an unusual built in match holder and striker , makes it really handy.

Built in striker.

Grandmothers Wax Fruit.

   When I was a kid, I always looked forward to going to my Grandmothers house. Grandma Dolly was a loud,out spoken,strong and loving woman. She had 9 children and a husband that died young. She worked many jobs to make ends meet, but she managed to raise all those children all on her own. She was a plain women, wore cotton house dresses, long braids in her hair, wrapped close to her head with pins.She never wore make up or jewelry. Yet, she had a love for beautiful things . She had flowers all over her garden. Climbing roses and beds full of iris and wild daisy. There wasn't tons of money, so most of these flowers were gifts from her kids or starts from a friend. I remember one spring when someone of us grand kids picked some of roses. She went into a rage. We all had to line up and stand until someone confused. I don't know if anyone ever did, but I remember how mad she was. She bought antiques and trinkets at yard sales. One thing that always caught my eye, was a cut glass bowl of wax fruit on the kitchen table. Her house had no dining room, just a huge kitchen with a round old dining table on one end. She valued that bunch of fruit as much as one would have valued a sterling silver epergene. When she died there was an auction of her things, I wanted that bowl of fruit, I was not real old, my mother tried to buy it, but one of my fathers sisters out bid her. I guess that was OK as I can now visit it at her house.Isn't it funny what we remember from our youth?
   Well needless to say ,I have had a love for wax fruit every since. I find it at yard sales, house sales and antique shops. When I first started buying it, it was hardly worth a few pennies. You could often buy a bag full for $1.00. Today it has re-gained popularity and is much more pricey. I have a huge baskets full in my shop for sale and I am asking $3.00 each piece. Just email me with you want me to send you some.

When I am not using my silver epergene, for parties with fresh flowers, I keep it full of wax fruit.

This is a large oval shadow box frame full of wax fruit in and elaborate bowl.

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It even has a pickle.

   I have a few glass parlor domes that are also full of wax fruit. And one of my favorite pieces is a oval gilt frame full of the stuff. I bought it many years ago in and antique shop in Kansas City, Mo. The fruit is all arranged as if it is coming from a very fancy basket.It even has a pickle. I paid a lot for the time, but was one of those things I didn't think, I could live without. One set of three glass domes have an interesting story as well. I bought the large center one at an auction. It was cold and raining. I bought a rug, just to wrap up in. But I stayed and stuck it out as I wanted that old glass dome full of wax fruit. Well I got it and I have loved it ever since. Years latter, I was at an antique shop and spotted the two side domes full of fruit. There was a lady looking at them and fighting with the shop owner for a much better price. My heart was beating fast as I wanted them so bad. I waited till that lady walked away and I went in for the kill. I whispered to the shop owner,"how much," and when she said the price, I said, I'll take them. The other lady was so mad. But sometimes you just have to.
   I don't know what it is that draws us to certain items. This time it could be my childhood memories of my Grandmother. What ever the reason, collections are fun.
   Wax fruit  dates back as far as the Pharaohs of Egypt. Wax fruit was made and placed in the tombs when the Pharaohs died. It remained popular until the 1900's, when plastic fruit soon took it's place.
  The original wax fruit was sometimes made by dipping real fruit into silicone  to create a mold. Paraffin was poured into the molds. When it had hardened, it was trimmed, polished and air brush painted. Later clay molds were made by artist. Paraffin wax is mostly found as a white, odorless, waxy solid, with a high melting point. Paraffin has been used for years by ladies who can fruit and make jellies. It was melted and poured onto the top of the jams to seal them. It was also used in home candle making. It could readily be bought at any grocery store.Ladies often became very good artist. They made paper flowers and dipped them in the  wax.Wire and wicker baskets were also dipped into this melted wax and used as flower and fruit containers. Country ladies, who lived  far away from towns, were often very clever. Today these creations are highly sought after by collectors, like me.
   I hope you enjoy my wax fruit collection. I also wish you could come by some day for a real tour and see it in person. I will always leave the lights on, and yes, Sissy Dog will be there to meet you with a jump and and kiss. Keep collecting.
 

The center dome I found at a country auction. Years latter I found the two side dome as an antique shop. These date back to around 1870's.

This large glass parlor dome has wax fruit, flowers and a wax basket to hold them.

I have over 100 pieces for sale in my shop, Richard's Great Stuff. Email me if you are interested. www.cottrellprissy@aol.com. $3.00 ea.

Second Time Around.

   Well what a great way to start off the new year, with a bad chest cold. Seems I am subject to them. Where do they come from? What causes them? All I know it takes about three weeks to totally get over one. This is the second week and it doesn't seem to be edging away. Hasn't left me to willing to do a whole lot.Guess I have to just get up, and go on with myself.
   But, there has been some good News, this New Year. The Editor from Victorian Homes Magazine has emailed me and she wants to do another article about ,my Old Historic House. It seems a lot of people, and I am sure you bloggers were among them, have emailed and wanted to see more. It makes sense for her, as they already have a lot of photo's that they didn't use before. I think this article will mainly feature the bed rooms. She has not said for sure, but that is the questions she's been asking. Also, she hasn't said at this time, but I think it will be soon, maybe the March issue. I looked and looked to find before pictures, and I have sent them to her, so that is where we are right now.It is always exciting to see your home in a magazine. It has been a dream of mine for many years, now it's happening again. WOW!!! I guess I am greedy, but, I wish another magazine would pick it up, especially Bliss Victoria. I have been working with the magazine, Old House Interiors, but they have not committed at this time. That's the way it seems to go, hear nothing and then out of the blue, you get a call and the shock sets in.
   I have taken a few pictures of  my two guest bed rooms to share with you allll today. I know I have shown all these before, but just in case, you missed them, where we go again. I have been so lucky lately to pick up so many new followers. It really is exciting, and I love hearing from all of you.So maybe these will be new to you.
   Please try and come by any time for a real tour. I will leave the lights on and Sissy Dog will always meet you with a jump and a kiss. I will let you know, as soon as I know, when the magazine will be on the stands. Have a great day, it sure is beautiful here in middle America, Missouri, 60 degrees and the sun in shining.

The bed rooms as they looked when I first bought the house.

Bed Rooms before. 

Progress.

The New Doll House.  All freshly pained. Raspberry Swirl Pink and Hunter Green.

This is how the doll house looked when I got it. A really bad paint job and color.

   I promise I will not do every new blog in 2012 about my new doll house project.  If you really knew me, you would know that I tend to get carried away when working on a project. I guess it is the Leo in me, as I have always been this way. When I start a new project, I am so driven that nothing else seems to matter. I am so glad I jumped in and bought this little jewel. It was  a very hard decision, as I knew it meant lots of work, devotion and cash. Yes, my friend Blossom was so right when she said, " a doll house is like a real house, it never stops." I think she was on to something there. I have promised myself I will try and hold it down, who knows what will really happen.
   The doll house is in the style of a 1850-1870- Second Empire structure. This type of architecture became popular in America a little latter than it did in France. During the reign of Napoleon III , this was the choice style in France.  Soon to follow was American , architects  began to design homes in this popular style. Things that make this style are: tall mansard roofs, they were designed to create a sense of height.Other features were: dormers, wide eves with elaborate cornices and brackets. Balconies, bay windows, slate roofs,cupolas, classical pediments, tall windows,arched windows,double front doors and small entrance  porches.
   Is it Second Empire or Italianate? This is a question that is often asked of this style home. Both styles tend to be square in shape. Both have decorative brackets and single story front porches. Italianate does not have the mansard roof. This roof is the one major difference in the Second Empire and the Italianate styles. Sometimes the Second Empire home is a combination of Italianate, Second Empire and Gothic styles. My doll house has a Gothic styled stair  case.
  Doing the doll house is not unlike doing a real house. Decisions have to be made as to colors and patterns. In doing some research I found that pink was a favorite color for Second Empire Homes in the late 1800's. It seems paint was a fairly new thing, especially colors, so people who could afford it, wanted to show off, and bright colors were often used. This was not a hard decision as I have always wanted a pink house. The big decision was the choice of pink. I wanted something strong, yet not over powering. This rich shade is what I ended up with. It's name is  Raspberry Swirl. The wooded roof shingles did not appeal to me, as the usual material used for roofs on the second Empire House was slate. I thought that if it was painted it would look more like slate. I chose a Hunter green as the roof color.
  I spent hours doing research on the computer and I found this wonderful site. www.dollhousecollectables.com. They have all periods of reproduction wallpaper and carpets.  I am starting with a room I am dubbing the, Dining Room.The paper and carpet I picked are both perfect for this style of house. I have chosen to do the wall to wall carpet on the entire first floor and on all three halls. Wall to wall carpet was very much in vogue in this period. It was woven in 30 inch strips, sewn together  and stretched wall to wall. Hard wood floors are a 20th century invention.Mostly soft pine sub floors were used in construction  of homes of this period. The carpet I  chose is named, "Empire". It is a very bright red and gold, large pattern wall to wall.

The dining room progress. Ceiling edges caulked and painted.New woodwork for windows made and painted.The area about the bay window had no ceiling, so I made one.

I can just see this in Napoleons drawing room. The wallpaper is also a bright red and gold. Both the wallpaper and the carpet are a perfect one inch to one foot scale, making them perfect for my project.
   After painting, caulking, replacing wood work, I am ready to install the carpet and wallpaper as soon as it arrives. I wish it was here right now. I have taken the time to make a pattern out of white computer paper for the floor and back wall. This will save me from making a mistake when cutting expensive period reproduction wallpaper and carpet. When they arrive I can trace the patterns, fit them, and then glue them in place.
   I am sending in this blog, pictures of my progress with the exterior painting. Also the readied dining room. Since I do not have the carpet and paper, I am sending photo's from the web site.
   I hope you enjoy this post about the progress of my Victorian Second Empire Styles doll house. Come by anytime for a real tour. I will leave the lights on and Sissy Dog will always meet you with a jump and a kiss.

This is the new wall to wall carpeting.

The new Dining Room Wallpaper with Boarder

Patterns for dining room floor and wall.

I have the front and one side painted on the outside. This end still ends several coats. You can see the difference a little paint makes.