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Vintage High Chair & Dolls

 
Sakes alive... how did it get to be the end of October already?

For today's Pink Saturday share, I'm showing off my newly acquired vintage pink high chair. And not just any old pink highchair, as you can see it is a DOLL-E hichair {notice the unique spelling!} It was my favorite find a couple weeks ago when we were up taking in the fall glory of the mountains. 

Sorry for the splashes...but I thought an outdoor shot provided the best light. But what I didn't count on was someone, who wears a white fur coat, and carries tennis balls around all the live-long-day would keep messing with my business.

Since she's wearing a smidgen of pink, and technically she was my helper of sorts in securing the photos for today's post {that is, until I moved the efforts indoors out of her reach}, I guess I can give her a few seconds in the spotlight.

I wanted to put a dolly in the chair anyway...

...and maybe a couple on the tray as well.

 
I found these little bisque dollies at an antique store in Kentucky this past Mother's Day. When I first discovered them locked away in a case, my pulse quickened. I've been wanting a pair of them for the longest time but the few times I've seen them on Ebay or elsewhere, the price was beyond what I was willing to spend.

Aren't they sweet?

For more pink sweetness, head over to Beverly's at How Sweet the Sound  for a complete listing of today's participants.

I've had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful ladies through Pink Saturday and before I go, I'd like to introduce you to Sheila at The Quintessential Magpie. She's a terrific writer, with a great sense of humor and shares lots of photos. Don't miss her exceptional post on another use for burlap.

Almost halloween...

Halloween is tomorrow...as if you might not know! But it would appear as if I didn't know based on what I've NOT done. No candy. Not a speck of candy and for good reason.

A. I buy the stuff I like {wink, wink} and if I buy it too early, well..I'm not sure I need to elaborate further, do I?

B. We can have 100+ trick or treaters of we can have 25 depending on the weather. So I always wait to see what old mother nature has in store for that day.

But instead of going halloween shopping like I'm supposed to be doing, I played on the computer with this adorable little photograph.

Aren't her tights just delicious?! The little locket necklace is also so precious. She's from my own personal collection so I'll share her with you today. Copy and save her if you'd like...she comes in handy when you're trying to ignore chores that need to be done. Here's another version with the sepia toned down a bit.

Hope life finds you better organized than me!

Credits due for first digitally altered photo:

Background paper: shabbyscrappapirskatter.blogspot.com; hat, necklace charm: www.Christmastraditions.com

French Fashion Plates

Welcome to another week of PINK Saturday. For a listing of all those participating today, head over to Beverly's blog.

French fashion plates are another one of my weaknesses. If they appeal to you as well, please feel free to copy them for your own personal use. The detailing in these gowns are beyond exquisite.

This particular plate has extensive foxing due to the aging process. I extracted the lady in pink for you and then faded the background just to showcase the details that went into these handcolored prints.

   
I'll look forward to visiting as many of you as I can in the coming days!

Have a wonderful weekend...

xo, sue

Hope...

 
I've always loved this painting by George Frederic Watts [1817-1904]. The name of the painting is Hope. Watts painted this in 1885. It depicts "Hope" clinging to her tattered lyre, her ear placed as close as possible to the one remaining string.

There is certainly room for personal interpretation of any work of art and this painting is no exception to that rule. Many feel it more adequately portrays despair. Either way, it is a masterpiece.

Watts himself has this to say about his work: "My intention, has not been so much to paint pictures that charm the eye as to suggest great thoughts that will appeal to the imagination and the heart and kindle all that is best and noblest in humanity."

 
Here's a version applying a water ripple filter to the original scan.

 Since my copy of this painting came from a book published at the turn of the century it is now deemed to be in the public domain. Please feel free to use either photo for your own personal use.

I think she would be a magnificent focal point in an altered journal page. That's one of the things I plan doing with her loveliness...that is, if I ever find a chunk of time to get back in my studio and play. Now that I think about it, Watts' rendition of hope perfectly portrays my longing for some creative time...and I will pluck that remaining string for as long as I need as a gentle reminder..."the time is coming".....

Seriously good cookies...

If there's one thing that I knew he would like for me to bring along, besides the dog, and that didn't happen, it would be cookies. But not just any cookies, it had to be these cookies.

 
While the thought occurs to me that everyone must already possess this recipe, I'm not willing to take that chance. Everyone who has anyone who loves cookies, you must add this to your arsenal of recipes that are sure to please. Seriously. They are that good.  But if you pride yourself in being able to say that you are one of "those types" who can eat just one of anything that is sorely tempting and then walk away, then you best not take this recipe...unless of course, you're willing to eat your words as well as a half dozen or more of these cookies at a sitting.

Since we were off to visit our oldest son this weekend, I knew I could guarantee a few extra hugs if I arrived with about ten dozen of these cookies in tow. And true to my motherly hunches, the cookies were a big hit and did result in some bonus hugs.

 
The worst part of this recipe is unwrapping all the mini-sized Reeces peanut butter cups. Here's a little trick I've learned - if you put them on a baking sheet {or anything that will fit in your freezer} for about 20 minutes before you begin unwrapping, the paper liner comes off the cups much easier.

 
This little one inch scooper also makes for easy work in achieving a uniform size for the cookie balls.

 
Here's a peek at how nicely four of these mini-muffin tins fit in the oven. That's four dozen of these darlings baking at one time. The key is to not OVERBAKE the dough as doing so will make it difficult to insert the peanut butter cup.

Oh, and by the way, thanks to the same boy who was the recipient of these cookies this past weekend, I also learned many years ago that these cookies are delicious even when frozen. Uh huh. You see, once upon a time, there was to be a cookie exchange. Little-miss-prepared-me baked mine up ahead of time as this recipe freezes very well. On the day before the big exchange, I went to the basement freezer to pull them out and unthaw them. Horror of horrors! All but about three dozen remained of the once twelve dozen cookies.

Seems my darling son and his buddies had been snacking from the freezer on multiple occasions. Despite his best efforts in trying to convince me he didn't know he wasn't supposed to eat them, I knew better. How, you ask? Because not once during that week-long snitching process did this mother find one single paper candy liner cup anywhere in the house. That, my friends, is all the proof I needed. Amen.

Free Images-Vintage Santa

Please don't shoot the messenger...but I wanted to mention that it's only 67 more days until Christmas. Long sigh. My cards from last year are still in their original boxes...another sigh. Please, are any of you relating? I know you are...save for the handful of you people who have "people" who do these holiday chores for you. That has to be the only logical explanation as to why you appear so organized and on top of your game each year.

Well, this year is going to be different. I'm going to start early. Like "now" early. In fact, I have purchased several gifts already and have them hidden. Hopefully, I'll remember where I put them when the time comes to give them to their intended receiver!

So today, I thought I would share with you these darling little Victorian Santas. They are part of my vintage victorian scrap and die cut collection that I love, love, love. If they speak to you, please feel free to copy them for use in your own personal creations.

Here I added a little more antique/sepia tones for those who might prefer a more subdued red in Santa's suit. The originals are 10 inches tall and have a few little wrinkles here and there, but nothing too serious. These would make darling little gift tags or a host of other creative adventures.

I was even thinking I might add one of these to a sheet of vintage ledger paper and use it for my annual Christmas letter I send to those we don't get to see very often.

If I do decide to go this route, I'll be sure to spell "perhaps" correctly...she says with a grin.

Happy creating...

xo, Sue

Antique Truck for a Pink Saturday

On a recent trip to the mountains of North Carolina, Mr. Fun (aka: my dear husband) came back to the cabin and said, "I've got a couple of surprises for you. Grab your camera!"

This was one of the surprises. He knew I would go crazy for this old rusted PINK truck. Despite the number of years we've been heading to this area, we've never driven into this little pocket of the woods. What a find!

 
Do you see the truck tucked off to the side of the Lick Log Mill Store? The lady running the store, who actually drove this little beauty back when it ran, was just a pure delight. Mr. Fun bought one of the gourds that had been handcarved into a pumpkin. When he took out his Visa card, she politely informed him that she didn't take credit cards, but he could always send her a check later!

The store, which was built in 1851 was originally a church. The remains of an old Mill straddled over the creek, as well as a log cabin from the same era also sit on this property. But for today, I'll just show you a few more photos of the glorious, rusted, darling pink truck.

 
 I hope you've enjoyed this little pink beauty as much as I did.

Speaking of enjoyment, I would like to call your attention to another Pink Saturday participant named Mary. Her blog "Across the Pond" is just beautiful. Take a peek, you won't be disappointed! And as long as you are out PINK PEEKING, head over to Beverly's where you will find a complete listing of today's participants.

I apologize, but I won't be able to visit ya'll until Sunday evening as we are heading to Alabama for the weekend. Mr. Fun surprised us with some tickets to the Auburn vs. Kentucky football game. Fifty yard line seats, no less. Now you know why I've dubbed him Mr. Fun! But even sweeter, we'll get to spend some time with our son who is a freshman at Auburn. I miss him and can't wait to squeeze on him for a bit.

Pink blessings to all!

xo, Sue
 

Lonesome Valley

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

*albert camus*

Welcome to Lonesome Valley. Don't you love that name? It speaks of serenity and a blissfully peaceful existence. Well, if this is just what you've been looking for, I have some good news.  Lots are available to build your own mountain getaway in this new 800 acre paradise. There are roughly 200 homesites from which you may choose.

 

There are beautiful gardens, and a clubhouse complete with 5 star dining.

 

No need to set an alarm here to see the sun rise, the place has its own roosters. Or wait, are those feathered creatures going to be featured on the dinner menu one evening? Say it isn't so....

Another shot of the views in Lonesome Valley. Do you see that house in the middle of the photo near the top of the mountain?

 
  

 I've zoomed in to give you a closer peek...I can only imagine the million dollar views from this home. I don't believe this home is part of the Lonesome Valley development but I'm sure it shares a similar price tag to those in Lonesome Valley. Prices start at about a million for the smaller 2 bedroom cottages and for two and a half million you can have a view as seen in the first photo.

Chances are quite great that these homes will be purchased as vacation homes. The year round population of Cashiers is 2,000. In the summer months, the population is about 12,000. For the Highlands area, year round is about 3,000 and 25,000 in the summer.

Despite the fact that I read the average home price for the Cashiers/Highlands area is around $800,000, there are lots of homes for sale, as well as rentals, hotels, motels, camping, etc. to fit every budget. Dubbed as the "Aspen of the East" this area is a beautiful place to visit.

The Flowers I Met

The Amen of Nature is always a flower. 

*Oliver Wendell Holmes*

Where flowers bloom
so does hope.

*Lady Bird Johnson*

 

  

 
 
   Hope you've enjoyed seeing the little flowers I met over the weekend up in the Highlands and Cashiers regions of North Carolina. How sweet of them to share their beautiful little faces and hold still while I took their picture. Since they shared so nicely with me, the least I could do would be to return the favor and share them with you.

Fall in the Mountains

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. ~John Muir

 

 
  
John Muir, born in the mid 1800's once traveled through the mountains of Western North Carolina. In his writings, A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf, he described this area as follows:

"The scenery is far grander than any I ever before beheld....Such an ocean of wooded, waving swelling mountain beauty and grandeur is not to be described. Countless forest-clad hills, side by side in rows and groups, seemed to be enjoying the rich sunshine and remaining motionless only because they were so eagerly absorbing it. All were united by curves and slopes of inimitable softness and beauty. Oh, these forest gardens of our Father!"

John, I know what you mean. Try as I might, there is no way to capture on camera the beauty of this area. First, a lot of what you see on the windy, twisty, treacherous roads, cannot be captured on film as stopping on the road is not an option. At least not a safe option. There are no shoulders, save a two foot slice of dirt that sits next to the cliff-like dropoffs where I'm convinced many have spent their final moments on earth. But to keep tourism alive and healthy, it is a well kept secret. {Just kidding--but what if?!} 

The ample rainfall and haze that often envelopes these mountains are also formidable foes for this amateur photographer.

 
But everywhere you looked in the quaint little towns of Cashiers {pronouned Cashers} and Highlands, North Carolina life was happening. Festivals, art exhibits, flowers blooming, musicians playing, tourists by the droves roaming the streets, waterfalls spilling, and mountains bathed in shades of  yellow, red, and orange. 

We took in as much as we could in our four short days. Drove the countryside for hours and hours, shopped, ate at wonderful restaurants, and ate some more... shrimp with cheese grits, chocolate buttermilk pie, bleu cheese encrusted filets, green bean fries, sea bass...you name it, we probably ate it.

Reluctantly, I packed up the car gathering the teens who needed to get back for school and left Mr. Fun {a nickname I assigned to my husband} who is staying a few more days. "A business" meeting he says. I suppose they could draw charts and graphs in the sand traps with their putters if the need arose. Whatever it takes...

I went a little trigger happy with my camera during this trip. Lots of duds, but a few more worth sharing that I'll split into several posts.