Christmas time

This time of year creates some of the nicest light. It's not just the  beauty of the artificial lights, I mean the  low sun light in the sky. The long shadows and red sky that are on display this time of year is magical. Our very good friend from Luxembourg told us once that the sky is red because the angels are baking. Love that! Last year We had some of Miles' family over for Christmas.   I wanted to eat around dusk in our sun room.  So we all piled in. I removed the chandelier over the table so we could fit a prancing reindeer as our centerpiece.

My flower arrangements are always quite simple. The tin containers are French gardening pots, the salt cellar is 19th century American and the pepper grinder is antique Christofle.

I lined the sideboard with old linen feed sacks and out came my collection of antique American sterling..

We put the Christmas tree in the sun room as well. The ornaments have such memories attached to them.

When the kids were really little, I went to a very special estate sale. I remember driving through windy roads and reservoirs to get to this small home under huge pine trees near a pond. The house was owned by set designers, who worked on Broadway in the 1930's. As  you entered the front door , the staircase greeted you in a happy turquoise. The couple created an enormous dollhouse out of one of the bedrooms. I purchased only a few items from that magical house...

My favorite items are these boxes made out of cigar boxes. I have no idea what they were used for. They really are a fine example of folk art. I put them in a sled and they sit near our tree...

It was the first time I visited the little town where the magical couple lived. It's name is Armonk, NY.  Now the home of Cici Crib!

Merry Christmas.

See you...

Christina

An Elegant Thanksgiving

As soon as Thanksgiving ends, it's time to prepare for the holidays. But I just want to take a moment and remember the wonderful Thanksgiving we had at my sister's house.  We spent the entire Thanksgiving day cooking and getting the table in order.  My sister is a collector. She is a serious silver collector. When she moved to Pittsburgh and renovated her home, she made sure she created a pantry just for her china and silver. Shelves for the various wares and a stainless steel tool caddy for her silver collection.

Each drawer of the caddy is labeled with the items so for easy access.

The antique linen table cloth was chosen for it's beautiful monogram.

My sister picked the season's last  roses from her garden and filled a 19th century petite planter.

The table was ready for a late afternoon meal.

My mom and dad came over. My mom brought us gifts. When my mom gives a gift,  you know it will be special.  No mail order fruit or socks. It is always completely thoughtful. She wrapped it in an antique linen towel and tied it with bakery string.

Mine was the smaller one. It was just beautiful. A bracelet from  the 1870's, made of rose gold.

So very special. See you... Christina

Toys from the Old Salem Museums and Gardens

So sad to see a closing of a museum. Significant toy collections from the  the Old Salem Museums and Gardens in Winston-Salem, NC  will be up for auction in the coming weeks.  Two auction houses  will clear out the most unbelievable inventory.  Northeast Auctions in Portsmouth will hold  it's  auction on October 30th. On November 19 and 20, Noel Barrett Antiques and Auctions in New Hope,Pa  will hold their event. Most of the toys are 19th century, European.  Just fantastic. How different children played. The toys were meant to last forever...  

 

 Dollhouse furniture to die for....

 "Toy collecting is the best anti aging medicine, I know" says Noel Barrett, owner of Noel Barrett Antiques and Auctions.

 See you...

Christina