What Kind of Household Used This?

I just came across the most wonderful estate. Imagine a little white turn of the century house deep in the forest. Inside were the most fabulous antique & vintage items: furniture from the mid 19th century, beautiful childrens books, chinese antiques & more.

Who lived here? 

It got me to thinking; who originally used these things? What were their lifestyles? Where did they work? Were they just middle class or upper class? Did they really use these items or just put them on display like we do today?

Take this teapot for example. Silver plate & bone. It's massive. I believe this must have been in a well to do household with servents, for who would want to lift this over and over to fill guests cups? (the bottom disconnects from the pot through a series of pins)

I just found this hilarious 1969 cookie jar at my local Hospice store. It made me laugh so I had to have it. I so wonder what the kitchen looked like that used this. I almost see the avocado green melamine counters. (In case you're confused, this is a dog with a butterfly on his head. It took us a minute too)

And then there is this series of Hedgehog ashtrays. Now that would be a LOT of smokers in one room! Created in the 1950's, I almost see the swanky flat these were used in. Breakfast at Tiffany's anyone?

As I look around my house, I wonder what pieces will be iconic must haves long in the future. To me it's just the salad spinner out of stainless steel. But to that vintage collector in 2050, it'll be a stand out kitchen display!

Snowed In, Playing Vintage

In case you're wondering what happened to me and my fabulous estate, I'm back with an update. My co worker, Suuzi, is our guest blogger today. She lives up the hill from me and we tend to share the affects of Mother Nature. 

This past weekend, the worst storm in over 10 years blanketed my property in 2 feet of snow. Power was out for 3 days. No Internet... no radio... no Netflix. My husband was away on business, so I found myself shoveling mountains of snow, and trudging through the snow to carry water and food to my shell-shocked goats and chickens. 

I stayed with my father-in-law so that we could keep each other company. I felt grateful to have human companionship, not to mention gas heat and a gas range. The house was calm without my Ipod. The silence was broken by the calls of hawks, finches and blue-jays. 

During the silence after dark, we talked by the warm glow of a turn-of-the-century kerosene lamp. He told me stories about his grandparents, and family back in Norway and Poland. 

Stories from his boyhood in the orange groves of Southern California. I told him about the time my house burned down when I was a baby, and about my grandpa's dairy farm. 

We made lavish meals: fettuccine alfredo with home-made pasta, pizza with cornmeal crust and caramelized onions. We drank sweet, organic honey-blackberry wine. After a couple hours talking by lamp light, we turned in early. I boiled water on the stove for washing. Each morning I awoke feeling wonderfully refreshed after 10 hours of sleep.

When the power went back on, I was happy to hear the sounds of NPR, do a load of laundry, and feel hot water running out of the faucet. The snowy quiet time gave me a deeper appreciation for our vintage and antique treasures, and the times they come from. Times when the main power sources were elbow grease and imagination, and families gathered to enjoy each others company in the lamplight after dark.