Ruby Red!

My Father was a manly man. he was over 6 foot tall and very handsome. He worked hard on the farm and always had a dark tan in the summer. He  hunted, deer, rabbits, quail,  ducks and etc. etc. He threw hay bails, cut down trees and could turn a cow down with his bare hands. As manly as he was, he liked antiques. One thing that got his attention was ruby red glass ware.
 

My father would often go house to house, farm to farm, to  buy cattle and hogs. He also bought walnut, oak and other types of trees. It was always amazing to me, how he would know what to offer someone for these things and know what they would sell for. He made money from them and never really touched them. he also asked if these people had any old stuff they wanted to sell. I guess in a way, he was the original American Picker. Some of that has rubbed off on me. One thing he liked to buy was ruby red glass. I got a lot of these pieces from his estate.

 

 

 

This glass was popular in the last part of the 1800's and early part of the 1900's. It is what they call flash, that means the red is painted on and fired. The glass is also known as press glass, which means, it was blown into a mold, which pressed  the pattern into it. This glass was often sold at fairs, and peoples names were etched into the red part of the glass. A lot of towns and cities, as well as states ,  sold  glass  with      there name etched on it as well. People brought it home  to remember there trip.

I look for pieces when I am lot and about today. Sometimes people will give me a piece as well. Most of my collection is in the china pantry in the dinning room. One day while setting in the kitchen I thought it would look nice above the door, where the light from the transom will make it shine. So I added a shelf and there you are.

Some times I use all the ruby red glass on my table for a party. it is really fun for Valentines or Christmas I add votive candles to some pieces and fresh flowers to others. I use others to serve drinks, salads and so forth. I really enjoy using my things and it is fun to do different table scapes

 with different themes. Next    time I use the Ruby I will have to remember to take pictures.

 

 

Buddy Boy likes to take Selfies, so I'm sending a few along. Come see us anytime. We will always leave a light on and I might even set the table with   the Ruby, and we can have a mess of      smething to eat,.

NOT JUST A LAUNDRY ROOM.

 When I first bought, My Old Historic House, in 2006, there were no real working utilities and especially , no laundry room. At first I only camped out there on weekends, so having no washer and dryer was not a big problem. There was a space for a laundry room. In 1945 the second owners of the old house, the Bankhead Sisters, closed in a small section of the side porch and made a first floor bath room. This was the first time the old place had a working, inside bath. I chose to rip that bath room out, as the space was right off the kitchen. I chose to use this space as a pantry/laundry room. It was not much of a room, only 6 foot by 7 foot. The floor was full of holes where the bath room plumbing had once been, very roughed in. The walls were cheap paneling and there was no insulation. After a massive overhaul. new sub floor and floor, new drywall and then bead board paneling, new electric, new plumbing and fresh paint, the new laundry room/ pantry was ready to move into. While I had my carpenter there and had his full undivided attention, I added a small broom closet, lots and lots of shelves and installed a wonderful old antique, step back, pantry cabinet. This all took place in the fall of 2008. The two years before that, I spent a lot of time and all my money, buying and collecting for the new room. I chose to use English Brown and White Transfer ware, brown pottery, brown and white French Toile and brown and white gingham  fabric. because I was always buying this stuff there never was a budget for the actual work on the room. I was moving into the house full time and there was no way I was going to a laundry matt, so it was important to get this done. It took about 2 weeks, a few days I actually slept in the house with a wall missing, where we had removed a window

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Transfer ware is a process where, a design, printed on tissue is applied to wet ceramic. When the ceramic is fired, the tissue burns away, transferring the pattern to the ceramic item. This was made mostly in England for the American market. Some American companies made it as well. It was an iron stone ware, or soft paste pottery. Was most often used as everyday ware. Some house holds, in rural areas used it daily and was the best they had.
Brown pottery was made by many companies. Most common ones were, USA, Morscroft, Bennington and Rockingham. It is so named for the dark brown glaze. Some times darker than others. The only design was usually a pushed out pattern on the clay before the glaze was added.

 

 

 

 

  Toile is a type of fabric that is well know and most originally came from France. It can be many different types of fabric, linen, cotton, silk or even velvet. It is a simple definition. One color on white with a pastoral design. I chose brown and white, to go with the transfer ware. In these pictures it looks a little burgundy. I had a really hard time finding the brown and white. I found it on Ebay.I also used brown and white gingham,2 sizes of checks. My Dear Sister made the curtains and I had her line them with the larger check size. . The curtains on the side are in place of a door for the small broom closet I added at the side of the Antique built in cabinet. I also lined the Antique cabinet, inside with the smaller brown and white check fabric. I cut foam board to size, glued on the fabric and pushed them into place. Easy to change some day.

I chose and antique oil hanging lamp for the ceiling light. The micro wave is on the top of the step back antique cabinet. I used white washer and dryer. I hide the laundry stuff in a white metal laundry box with lid, that I found at World Market. Not an antique, but looks right and every thing is out of sight.

The laundry room is always a favorite when I have tour groups. Some say they have never seen a prettier one , anywhere. Others say it would be fun to do the laundry if you had a room like this. The last pictures are of the view of the laundry room from the kitchen, so you can see where it is located. Also ending with Buddy Boy, asleep in his basket, by the kitchen fireplace. Please come for a tour anytime. Bring your laundry if you want. I will leave the light on and Buddy will always have time to say hello.

A New Beginning

Earlier this month I lost my best friend and love of my life, Sissy Dog the Beagle. I found her on the road here in my home town of Clarksville,Mo. For 6 years she had been by my side and I loved her so very much. She was the bestest little girl anyone could ever hope for. Not to have forgotten her already, but in her honor, I HAVE FOUND MYSELF A NEW FRIEND.

His name is Buddy Boy. I have had a lot of Beagles in my life, but never a little boy. We'll see how this adventure turns out.
The death of a pet is disenfranchised grief. It's a loss whose significance others don't recognize. You're not supposed to lose it from the death of your dog. You post a sad Facebook update, do a blog, and go off to work, as I did. But, when you come home in the evening and open the door, you are struck by a strange new stillness.- silence without a dog. It was that if a machine that had been humming for 6 years, had suddenly stopped.
I couldn't get through it. I went to stay at my brothers house for a few days, but the pain followed me there. I was forced once again to go home to that big, old, cold and empty house. I just didn't know what to do.

On Facebook, my Blog, at work and even by mail, every one said get another little dog to help me through this. I felt it was wrong. I didn't know what to do. Finally after crying fits, hateful comments to some people and mind wondering days, I thought I had to do it. I had to get another dog. I called all the local shelters and no one had a Beagle. I looked on Craigs List and none there looked just right. Friends sent me clippings of little Beagles in need of adoption. For some reason none of them did the trick. One friend mentioned that I try Beagle Rescue on the computer. I did and still no luck. I looked both in Missouri and Illinois. Then on the second day, when I was looking, there he was. One look at his face and I knew he was the one. He was in a shelter about an hour and a half from here. I called, filled out the application , I was excepted and I made plans to pick him up.

That was last Thursday. less than a week and I am already crazy over the little guy. We have had our moments. he was afraid to climb the stairs, so I had to carry him up for bedtime. I lost my patients and yelled at him, which set us back at least a day. But after reading  how to work with him in this matter, on a computer site, as of today, this problem is almost solved.

Today we went for a car ride and met my Aunt, Linda. She made me a real pretty welcome gift. A hand made blue and white quilt. She thought it might be good for the car seat, but daddy likes it so much, it's on my bed in the kitchen.

My daddy and me took Selfies of each other. We were just being silly. Was fun though.

My Heart Is Broken, My Sissy Is Gone!

How knows why things happen?  Who is to say why we are made to suffer so? Are we not doing right, have we gone astray? I have no answers. All I know is sometimes the pain is more than one can bear. A week before Christmas my Sissy Dog was acting funny, not quite herself. At first I never thought anything about it. But, as the day went on, she seemed to be less and less that once lively, sweet, energetic, loving dog, that she has been for the last 6 years.This was Thursday the 20th of December.

The next day I was late for work as I took Ms. Sissy to the Vet's office first thing. She was not that bad, just not herself. The doctor saw that Sissy was holding her little head down, so she suggested x-rays. The results were some trouble with her spine. Sissy has always been an active dog. She has gone on more than one big adventures, where it took hours and hours to get her back home. She jumps up on my big old antique bed, into the fan and on top my head when I set in the kitchen chair and watch TV. The vet gave her pills and said she was to have rest for the next week.

I took her to work that day and then home, where she was given her pills and put to bed. She was no better or no worse they next day. So I took her to work with me again. I have trouble leaving her, I loved her so. I guess getting in and out of the car and going in and out of the shop was a little much, so the next day I oped to leave her home. She seemed a little weaker and not the sweet, loving little girl she used to be.

Sissy was very spoiled and very much loved. She had the full fun of My Old Historic House, shop and any where else we might end up. She never took advantage of this, as she was a perfect little girl and so beautiful.I never minded her being in an antique needlepoint chair, it was her house too.

Sissy never meet a stranger, loved all people and animals. Even when mean old cats would slap her, she would just back up gently and have a look on her face, like," why did you do that?"Get meet people coming in the shop and at the house with jumps and kisses. She knew all our good friends and she evn knew the sound of one of our friends truck. Bruce used to walk Sissy when I had to be away for the day and she could not go. When she heard his truck, she'd perk up and be so excited. If he did not stop in and say hello, she's wait by the door with a sad look.

Christmas day I stepped out for a few hours and went to a friends house for lunch. I stayed a little long, but when I go home, Sissy was at the door to greet me, tale wagging, and that kiss, kiss  was coming out. I thought, what a great Christmas Present, My Sissy is coming back. I made a pallet on the parlor floor so we would not have to go up the stairs for bed and I could be close to Sissy at night. I don't mind sleeping on the floor, but it is not easy to get up and down. Sissy usually sleeps under the covers with me or under my arm. Since she has been sick, she was sleeping on a pillow close by, I missed her.

The day after Christmas Sissy had gone a little backwards. I thought maybe she had over done by meeting me at the door and because I forgot to put something in the wing chair in the kitchen, she had jumped in and out of it. She was not great, a little slow and cautious. I wasn't really worried, but longed for her to come back to me. By this time she was on complete bed rest except bath room breaks. She wanted to go around the block to find just the right spot. It took her awhile, but she was steady on.

The next day Sissy was worse, her pills were running short so I called the vet and she said come get refills and we talked. She assured me that she needed time and said to make the bath room walks shorter and to lift her up and down the side porch stairs and by all means give her the pills. I worshiped this dog, I prayed over her daily. I even asked the Lord to take me and spare her. I wanted my little girl back. It became harder and harder for me to leave her for hours when I had to go to work. She was so weak in the mornings when I left, I never knew what to expect when I got home. But, I had to work.

New Years eve a friend of mine came and brought dinner as I did not want to go out and leave my little girl. Sissy sat under the table and wanted a bite or two. By the time he had gone, she was on her pallet and was hardly moving. I called the vet the next morning as Sissy was really week then. She did not want to get up and when she did she was walking on her front ankles and dragging her back feet. Another call to the doctor said she needed the pill dosage upped so I did. This made her out of it and the Sissy I knew and loved was no longer there.

I went to work on Saturday and my neighbor and good friend of mine and Sissy's came and checked on her. She called and said she was week, but she had gone out side and made it back in. When I got home that night, she was down and did not want to go out or move. I did get her to take her pills and eat and drink a little.  I was so worried. The next day I called the doctor and she said to keep giving the pills, keep her warm and quiet and bring her in on Monday. That was today.

 I had to go to work at 11 PM and work till 5 AM. I hated to leave her, but I had to go. I worried all night about her. When I got home Sissy was very low, not responding, I rushed her to the doctor, but she passed while we were in route. The doctor said she had had a stroke, her heart gave out and the pain was to much. She was gone. It didn't seem right, but the fact was, she was gone.

I'll never know how a beautiful, healthy, sweet, little dog can go down so fast and there seemed to no way to help her or stop it. I just have to muster up all my strength now and try and get through this. My Sissy that you all knew and loved to hear about is gone, gone for ever, never more to kiss me, snuggle with me and be there when I needed her most. I loved you more than any one will ever know. You were beautiful and wonderful. My sweet little girl that came from the streets to the mansion, where she lived like a queen and made me the happiest person in the world for a little over 6 years. Rest in Peace my sweet little girl. I still don't know why,but I have to except it.