Plain Janes and Elephants

I love 19th century one-drawer stands.

They are such a pure and plain form, and so useful -- just the right size for tucking in next to a chair, to hold a cup of tea and a book, or for cozying up next to an old 4-poster bed as a nightstand.

I am especially fond of a poplar and cherry stand that Howard and I bought when we lived in Pittsburgh; this poor thing has been dragged to about six different homes in three different states with us, and has finally come to roost in a corner of the parlor at That Old House.

After working hard for us for many years, now it's retired to a pretty cushy job;
all it has to do is behave itself, stay in its corner, and look pretty.

And now I get to place some things on its top, and leave them there,
and know that no one is going to move them, or want to play with them.

I've got white china elephants, one from my Mom, the others from Ebay.

A Christmas Cactus, one of the many cultivated from my Grandmother's massive plant.

A few old books. I have a lot of old books, most of them gifts from a Great-Aunt.

Put them all together, and ta-da! It's a tabletop tablescape.
It's not fancy or bling-y, but it's a plain table in a plain old room.

I'm joining Tabletop Tuesday, which is usually hosted by Barb of Grits and Glamour, but for just this week is being hosted by Kimberly at Southern Whimsy blog. Stop over and say Hi, and take a look! It's just the fifth week for this blog party, and it's lots of fun!


And as usual on a Tuesday, I'm joining Tam at The Gypsy's Corner, for her Three Or More Tuesday blog party. This week -- three elephants! Go visit Tam for other triple plays.
I need to give the computer back to Howard, who is working at home today because of a head cold. Ick. We're expecting a foot of snow before Wednesday ends. Staten Island Chuck, we need to talk! -- Cass

Thinking Spring, Seeing Snow . . . .

Mary at Little Red House, who hostess-es Mosaic Monday, is thinking about Spring.

So am I.

I am looking forward to our poppies and irises and other spring blooming plants
coming back bigger and better this year. Fingers crossed.

Although they should be able to spring back come Spring,
as they've had some of that nice fluffy white mulch covering them much of the winter.

Winter does have some good points, like Presidents' Day Sales.
But the gray and white landscape gets old. Quickly.

There's only one thing to do: toss another log on the fire, put the kettle on, find a good book and a better afghan, and cozy down for the rest of the winter. Maybe thumb through a seed catalog!

We completely dodged the big Nor'Easter snow bullet this past weekend,
but there's some inches predicted for tomorrow night.

I'm losing faith in Staten Island Chuck. -- Cass

Step Into My Parlor -- A Sunday Favorites Tale

Sunday, and time to re-run a post from the past.

I've reached back to October 2009, and am joining Sunday Favorites and Silver Sunday.
You can find links to visit these blog parties at the end of my post.

So, read on . . . and forget that there is snow on your lawn or that Valentine's Day is only a week hence.
Right now, at That Old House, it is nearly Halloween . . . . so Boo!

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"Will you walk into my parlor?" said the spider to the fly;
"'Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you may spy.
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show when you are there."

The Spider and the Fly
Written by Mary Howitt (1799 to 1888)

Yes, come and see our curious things, my precious readers all.
There's a table in our parlor, O so charming, O so small.
You can rest your weary skeletons upon our chairs so black.
Do not fret about the ghosties sending shivers down your back.

Do not worry, all my pretties; you will not hear ghostly calls.
You will not hear howls or ratt'ling chains in That Old House's walls.
For the ghosties here are kind ones, and they wish you only well.
Now sit down and have a drink, for there's a story still to tell.

Written by the resident Ghosts of That Old House

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Welcome to the Parlor at That Old House. Let's play pretend.

It's Halloween, and it's drawing on to dark.

The wind whips the leaves around the lawn and up onto the porch

(what ever happened to the landscaper's promise to come two days ago?).

We begin to light the lights, and hope for Trick or Treaters.

We love Trick Or Treaters.

With a bit of good Bearnaise Sauce . . . .

Come, I've set two places at a little round table in the Parlor: one place for you, one for me.

We're just going to have a snack, nothing fancy. Maybe a glass of wine.
Blood red, of course. Here is your special glass:

The Jack O' Lanterns are troubling the gathering darkness.

A wee little ghostie watches over us. His name is Rudy, and he has lived with our family for almost 20 years. His story is for another post. But you must behave when Rudy is watching. . . that's all I'm saying.

Did I mention falling in love?

Oh yes, yes I did.

Well, be prepared to fall in love with these:

My latest Ebay find: vintage flatware -- 1919 era -- in a charming small luncheon size.

They are so dainty that I am tempted to save them for my grandchildren to use. Someday.

They are simply monogrammed: HL. My husband's initials. How could I not get them?

The pattern is called Ambassador.

Less than 20-dollars for the set -- service for 4.

I was pleased. And in love. Are you in love, too? Good.

Let's see what else we played with today. . . .

Pumpkin plates from HomeGoods, $3.99. Not dishwasher safe. Boo.

Underplates -- old restaurant dishes, white with a green stripe. They were my Mom's.

Sterling china, in Ohio.

Napkins -- goofy Halloween print, sewed 'em myself eons ago.
Wine glasses. . . where else? Dollar Tree, last year.
Rudy the Ghost -- from a craft fair, 20 years ago.

Black iron candlestick -- church rummage sale, 50-cents.

Pumpkin applique table runner -- can't remember! Kohl's or HomeGoods.

Dried up leaves on porch and lawn -- from Mother Nature. Free.

BOO!

Happy Halloween!

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Thanks to Beth at Gypsy Fish for hosting Silver Sunday; go visit her lovely blog for inspiration and beautiful images!

And as always, thanks to Chari of Happy To Design, for her hosting of Sunday Favorites. Don't forget to visit!

I love looking back at old posts; hope you do, too! -- Cass

Our February Babies

Yesterday, February 5th, was my husband Howard's birthday.
We had a quiet evening at home, anticipating a snowstorm that never arrived!

See? I told you that getting a snowblower would guarantee no snow for Northern New Jersey in perpetuity.

Today, February 6th, is my daughter Alida's birthday. She is 24, or 168 in dog years.

In this picture she is only a few weeks old:

Dig the funky hair.

In this one, she is 23, and all washed up:

Well, you know I don't mean that. But she's 'way out in California, so I can say whatever I want; I'm too far away to hear her say, "MA!" You know how kids can turn that into a two syllable word? The really talented ones can get it to stretch to three syllables.

So, Happy Birthday to my two dear February babies!

24 years ago we did have a big snowstorm, and Mercy hospital on
Long Island was jammed with mothers suddenly popping out babies.
You know why? Howard didn't have a snowblower then.

Whatever your weather today, enjoy the fact that you have it! -- Cass (who has no snow!)