More Doll Heads

I didn't get to go antiquing last week with Linda-hopefully this week, so I took out on my own. I only came home with two things-this is one of them. It's a very large doll head-much bigger than all the rest. The dealer knew I liked heads(am I crazy) so she had her husband bring it in from home. If I can find room- it will go with all the rest. The rest of them with their winter hats.

With their spring hats.

One of our Barns

Found this picture of when our barn was repainted back in 2001. It needs it again. We hope to at least get the front repainted this year. I would like to have the roofs painted green to match our other barns. This is my sale barn(the front half). The back is the corn crib. It's a neat barn and many people stop just to look at it. Our local historical society, Landmarks, will be having a barn tour on June 13th from Oakland, IL to Ashmore/Kansas. My barn will be open along with at least 15 other barns. I'm looking forward to it. I'll post more information when it gets closer to June.

I want one of these!

Last year my sister called me about a pink golf cart in the paper. I hadn't even thought about getting one to use back and forth from the sale barn to the house. I guess my dad had. I wish he would have said something sooner because I would have jumped on it. Now I'm looking for one-has anyone seen one?

Pitcher Collection

Well, here's another of my many collections. These are some of my pitchers, but not all. I have them on top of a cabinet in my dining room- that's why you can't see the bottoms. I'm always looking for places to put/display items. I don't know if I'm a hoarder, collector, or decorator. I think I'm a little/lot of all three. I've been collecting since I was in grade school. More collections to come......................

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall or Floor?

I couldn't resist- another mirror and no where to put it. It's rather large. I almost didn't buy it - but it really is my style. I think it might look beautiful hung sideways over the clawfoot tub when we redo our bathroom- hopefully this summer!

I found them!

When I did yesterday's post- I couldn't find the first pictures of the outhouse. That's because they weren't digital pictures- they were in an album! They show you how bad it really looked when we bought it! This picture is our location right after we brought it home.

We had to replace the gingerbread(I still have the original) with the old template.

The roof and gingerbread almost gone!

Side view-old location!

Back view- where you would clean it out!

Old location- he still has a smokehouse and old garage.

The story of our Outhouse

When I first started this blog I mentioned that I would tell the story about our outhouse. To begin with, my husband and I don't ever really buy gifts for each other-birthday, Christmas, etc. I guess because we just buy what we want for ourselves (within reason) and I hate surprises, and he doesn't pick up on hints or even straight out telling him( I told him I wanted something once for Christmas and he didn't go get it(an antique picture) and I was so disappointed on Christmas day), so one Christmas he kept asking what I wanted. I think he wanted to be able to tell people what he had bought me when they asked so he wouldn't feel like he wasn't in the Christmas spirit. I had long ago decided that a gift for me would have to be something I wouldn't or couldn't buy for myself- so I told him an outhouse.

Where do you get an outhouse? And I didn't want a reproduction on- I wanted the real deal! I start looking around every where I went to spot one and then I guess approach the owners if I could buy it. I found there were a few in the little town next to where we live, but they were all pretty plain. But then one day I spotted one that looked pretty run down- in fact the roof was caving in and most of the paint was going. But it had this great gingerbread trim on both sides- it would go great with the house. So I told my husband- I want that one. Needless to say- he wouldn't go ask- so I didn't get it for Christmas, not Valentines Day, not our anniversary. I had to take matters into my own hands. I saw the man who owned it out mowing his lawn one day and I stopped to inquire. Would he think this was strange? He actually told me that someone else had inquired before and we went to look at it- a 3 holer- one child's hole in the middle! How unique! How much would you take? $600 That's a little high for something's that's falling down. We talked, he came down to $300. So I went and talked with my husband. As you know from previous posts- I get some crazy ideas, but we went to look at it. $ 200 later - we brought it home on a fork lift. It was so sad looking. I placed it where I thought it would have been according to some stepping stones out back and info I had gained from a family member. After talking with my mother-in-law about it - she told me that man that built our house- moved into a house in Ashmore when his son moved in here. Guess what-he moved into that house where our outhouse came from. It was meant to be! That's why it looks so good at our home. She found me a picture of James Zimmerman(man who built our house) and his wife on the front porch of that house-pretty cool, huh!

This is after Eric put on a new roof and power-washed it!

Here it is - we are going to do some more work to it this summer! I planted old-fashioned wonderful smelling roses next to it!

The side view with the gingerbread or ventilation system!

Snow, Snow, Go Away

I think we may be lucky and only get rain this week. YEH- I'll still be able to go antiquing with my friend Linda. There won't be very many more trips before spring gets here and all the work outside keeps me around home. Hope to find some great buys!

Doll Heads

I've been collecting doll heads for the last couple of years. They make such a statement when put together-what statement I don't know. Maybe it that they finally have a home with other heads and not just left behind because they don't have all their parts. We all need to fill a part of something don't we?

Here comes the Snow again!

Antique Sleds

I just love these old sleds. I started collecting them before they started to really get expensive. It's fun to have them out for the winter-especially when it's snowed, but I'm ready for spring! This tall one is my favorite! I've not seen one this big since. The little ones are cute for the little folks!

Maggie Mae

This is my littliest dog, Maggie Mae. My husband saw her in the newspaper and called me at work. We adopted her thru a local rescue organization. She is the smallest of our 3 dogs. I had bought this picture several years before getting her and found it next to our couch. I had forgotten about it. The roses match our couch cover-Waverly - and the dog looks just like Maggie.

It snowed again

I'm ready to put away the snowmen and sleds- but the weather just won't permit it. It snowed again last nite and should again tonite. This picture is of my kitchen window- I change it for the seasons. Ready to decorate for Easter- but it's too soon. I plan to go to the antique mall and take out all my valentine and winter items.

Hearts around my home-upstairs hallway

Hearts around my home

I decided to take a stroll around my house to see what hearts I could find. These are all from my hallway. I bought this picture a long time ago and have never seen another. The cupid awake and asleep from the end of the post is more common.

This is a brush used to take the dirt off victorian clothing. I have several by the front door. (Another of my many collections)

I have two of these. This also has a brush on the back of it. The other one is orange. Both are covered in velvet and hang on the wall. Who doesn't have these prints. I have several in different sizes. I have a friend who collects these and has them displayed up her stairway- it looks really neat.

Victorian Lady Matchmaker

Yesterday's Finds

I had seen this picture at a local antique store and kept talking myself out of it. If you look close, I think the baby has wings. When I went in there yesterday to look, I didn't see it. It was always in a huge booth with lots and lots of stuff and was never hanging up- just piled with all the other stuff. So when I couldn't find it- I panicked. I was looking at something else and there it was hanging in someone else's area- so of course, now it's mine. It really is a sweet picture - just like a little cherub and I love that it has a real baby! I also nabbed this- I collect these and it was only $5.00. So I paired it up with another doll and they can keep each other company in the parlor!

Valentine Books

These last two images are books that I collect and like to put out at Valentine's Day. Sometimes I use them at our local historical house for props. They're a fun thing to look for!

I wish I could say that I owned this

A few years ago a local antique dealer was selling something similar to this and I didn't buy it- it was pretty expensive, I thought, at the time. I wish I would have bought it- I've never seen one since.

Valentine Treasures

This is a wooden box I found a few years ago-simple and pleasing. It looks to be handmade by someone-wish I knew the story.

Picture of Love

Old lovely postcard

This second picture hangs from a door in my front hall. I found it some years ago and really liked it. Over the years I have added several hearts.

Added on to an earlier Post

I added another parlor picture and story to the January 17th posting to finish it. Check it out!