Because farmhouses didn’t have A/C

For those of you that have been following me, you now how much I hate the A/C unit that always photo bombs my pictures. I have been looking for something to hide it for a long long time. The hard part was it had to be the right height, it had to fit between the window trim and the ceiling, it couldn’t have shelves (or ones that were easy to remove) as well as the obvious. . . it had to be farmy. I really didn’t think such a thing existed. Then when I was out n about, not lookin for anything in particular I spotted a wall mount cupboard in a booth at one of my favorite Antique Malls. I knew the size was right but it really wasn’t what I had in mind. But it had potential and the price was right.

Here’s what it looked like when I brought it home.

I had already removed the inside shelf before I took this picture. I took the back off too, I just set it in place for the photo shoot.

 

 

I took the 1950’s scroll piece off and cut the pointed side extensions off. Now it was starting to look like something I could work with. I had to turn it around and and use the back side. The scrolled sides wouldn’t work for hanging doors. I needed doors to hide the A/C unit.  So here’s what it looked like with roughed in doors and all the artsy~farty stuff gone.

 

 

You can see the gap on the back side of the sides. But this is OK, it will help in the ventilation in the summer when I use it.

And tada. . . here it is all finished up.

 

 

This space is a front porch with access to the front yard that we never use.  I have 2 very friendly, unruly pugs that would escape in a second given a chance and there is no fence in the front yard (yet).The porch faces west so it’s a great place for my house plants. It’s right off the living room so it has to look good. When we moved in there was a door closing it off but we needed the space so we took the door off.
 

My best buddy Bonnie gave me the darling wood knob. I have been waiting for the *perfect* piece to add it to. I had to cut a piece of trim to make it longer, the gap was too wide for it to do it’s job. I used an old square head nail to hold it in place.

 

 

The green box belonged to Gramma. It sat on the drier which was directly under the laundry shoot, it was used to catch the family’s dirty laundry. I store pots, plant food and dog food behind the curtain.

 

 

The old straw broom and dust pan were hiding in the laundry room all this time. They needed to be in here, don’t ya think?

And here’s one for Megan. . . an MB red linen grain sack. . .

 

 

 

 

And here’s the eye sore behind the doors. . . sadly it will still be visible in the summer, but at least I can close the doors when its not being used.

 

 

I picked up a few more goodies on my day at the mall, I’ll share them with you soon.

I hope the sun is shining and your days are as warm as they are here. We had 70 degrees yesterday. . . that never happens in Montana in January. ~debi

Winter blues ~

 

I am sooooo over winter. We are having some pretty awesome weather, temperature wise, but there's still a ton of snow.

 

These are the kind of blues I like.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t ya just love this vintage metal laundry basket? It’s one of the several things I got on a *pickin trip* last summer. My friend met an old gentleman in one of our local antique malls. They chatted for a bit, then he told her he had 3 buildings of stuff he wanted to get rid of. . . say no more. . .!

When one goes on excursions like that, one never knows if the seller is motivated to sell or if they think what they have is worth a fortune. In this case he was motivated and only charged us what he paid for each item. Not only did we score, but we’ve been back a few times, so he is willing to dicker with us.

 

I found a dealer that makes several trip a year to France and brings back awesome grain sacks. He knows I LOVE them and also knows I will by the imperfect ones. He sells them for 20 bucks and less. He’s also willing to give discounts for multiple purchases. . . my kind a dealer :)

 

 

 

 

 

I cannot, will not and have not cut a grain sack to make a cushion cover or pillow. I just can't bring myself to do it. I do, however, stuff a body pillow in them and use them that way. This one, *US*, will go on our bed.

 

 

 

 

This is a plate I found in one of my stashes. I got it when we were going thru my Gramma’s stuff after she died. It’s from Norway, dated 1901, 2 years before she was born. It’s signed and has something printed on it in Norwegian. Her parents migrated here from Norway in 1900. After my Grampa died she took a trip to Norway. It was the highlight of her life. She always stayed in touch with her cousins, aunts and uncles, so this was a chance to meet them for the first time. A few of them came here to visit while she was still alive.

This was a gift from one of them.

 

 

 

 

Yip, the winter blues have taken on a whole new meaning. And, I think I like it.

 

 

 

~d

Love is all we need. . .

 

Happy Valentines Day !

 

I knew I wanted to post something for Valentines Day. . . I don’t decorate for the *Love Day*. So I shopped my house for things to use in this post. I didn’t realize I had so many red things. I even had red raspberries with fresh cream for breakfast. . . I did snap a few pictures, it was so pretty, but lets just say I’m not a food stylist.

 

I have been on a grain sack kick lately. But my most recent purchases have been mostly blue. I do have a lot of red ones, though. As well as quite a few red and white linen towels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just love this old safety pin I got from Gigi at the ocean, an Etsy shop. I plan on making a pillow sham and closing it with this sweet little gem. (I faked it in the picture). The perfect heart to share with you on Valentines Day.

 

 

 

 

 

And, here’s some shots of my paper whites. They finally opened. Although they didn’t show their sweetness at Christmas time, I love that they are teasing me with a promise of spring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valentines Day means spring is on it’s way.

 

Enjoy your sweetie on this *Love~ly* day.

 

Have a happy weekend. . .   ~d

Stayin busy and warm . .

The temps here in Montana are ridiculous. . . -22, -42 with wind chill. . . brrrrrr.  Needless to say it’s best to just stay indoors.

 

This has forced me to finish a few projects and even start some new ones. I’ve also been doing some shopping that doesn’t require any driving or braving the cold. . . thank you Etsy. I got some cute things I’ll show you in a later post.

 

I painted the family room before the holidays, but wanted to get the huge bookcase/shelves painted as well. Can I just say. . . I HATE that bookcase. It’s made of particle board, the shelves are were hung with metal pegs, bead board wallpaper on the back wall and front bottom, 2 outlets that are just in the way. . . I could go on and on. .  it is on its way out, and not soon enough. The only reason its still here is because it was built on top of *country blue* carpet. It’ll have to stay until we replace the carpet.

 

The walls in the family room are painted antique white. To try to not bring attention to the 5 hundred pound elephant in the room, I painted it antique white too. . . that plan back fired on me. It’s just too big to be that white. . .it swallowed up my ironstone. So I painted it Cottage Linen (Glidden).

 

The new color compliments the ironstone. The perfect amount of contrast.

If you remember, I had a make shift office area set up on the right side. And an old cupboard on the left. (It’s been about 10 different ways since then)

 

 

My sister gave me the awesome old shelf brackets, a long time ago. The old bread box is from  Yesteryears' Antique Mall. I found the old kraut Cutter (leaning against the right side) wrapped in several layers of newspaper, wrapped in 3 garbage sacks and then wrapped in an old towel. . . in my moms storage shed when I was there for Thanksgiving. The lace edged linen piece is a tablecloth my Gramma embroidered on and she even crotched the beautiful edge, a very special piece. I found the old drying rack last summer when my junkin buddy and I got to be *pickers*. It was laying in a dirt floor garage encased in cobwebs and weeds growing thru it. The 2 small silver cups are actually my kids’. My other Gramma had their name and birth date engraved on them when they were born. She said they were from her collection of Norwegian silver. . .

 

 

 

 

 

I filled  ALL of the holes where the pegs used to be and added simple wood brackets.
There’s still room for my ever growing collection. I don’t know what I’ll do with my ironstone if when the bookcase comes out. That’s one thing it’s good for.

 

 

 

 

I gutted the storage room the other day and decided to use this small cupboard in here. I was storing it until I got new doors for it. But decided I would just paint it and add a linen skirt to it for now. The shelf on top gives more room for displaying. I made the plate rack hanging on the wall.

 

When I decorate (and re decorate) I like to display things in a way they would have been if this were a 1920’s dining room. Linens, bowls, sho-fly’s and bread boards belong in a dining room. I have to admit, I’m addicted to The Walton’s. I get a lot of ideas from them. . . :) Have you watched the show recently?  They have the coolest farmhouse ever ! ! ! Their beds, their lights, the porches. . . oh and Ike’s store. . . OMG.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s my newest grain sack ! I love it on the bench, but knowing me it won’t stay there for long.

 

 

 

 

 

Thankfully blogger keeps me busy and accountable. If I weren't blogging my projects would probably still be waiting on me.

I have a tenancy to ramble on but there’s a method to my madness. Hopefully, my kids and grand kids will read this when I’m no longer here and have some sort of idea where my things came from. And for the things they don’t know what they are, they’ll know “cuz their Gramma said”.  {if you got this far kids. . . yip, this is for you}

 

 

Hope everyone is safe and warm. . . hurry up spring. . .

~d