Spring has sprung.... maybe....

Does this really mean Winter has gone? 

Winter Mischief!

Games dolls play!

 It is cold outside and Eugenia and Elena got very creative. Of course,  they included their little friend Rupert Von Hare , who by the way, returned from his last travels. He declared that he was done wandering the countryside and was staying put!  Besides, he missed his friends.....

A fun puzzle to sharpen the mind!

En garde, Rupert!!!

Oh dear, Oh dear.....

No peaking Elena!!! 

Ahoy maties!!  I see land!!!!!

A Valentine for you!

Happy Valentine's Day!

A Valentine for you, my little friend...

~Miniature Valentines ~

 ~Valentines Day has always been one of my very favorite holidays. Not really sure why, but there is just something about chocolates, Love, hearts, chocolates, cupid , and more chocolate that makes me love this particular day.

  Antique valentine cards that are cut and woven are my favorite.  A couple years ago, I spent a few days trying to figure out how to make some for my dolls.  They are so much fun to make. It is hard to stop! Once you get going , just let your imagination take over.  I like putting them in small painted boxes with tiny notes or even making tiny envelopes to put them in. Who wouldn't love a miniature valentine? 

 Okay, so the first thing you need is a pair of small sharp scissors that can cut fine.  This is important.

 Next, paper that isn't too heavy or too flimsy. I had to experiment with several different kinds of paper before I found the type that worked for me.  After spending money buying expensive colored paper from the art store, I ended up using Laid paper from my printer!  It had the right weight and was easier to cut. Experiment and find what suits you best. I also used special markers to color and age the Valentines when I was done.  

Let your imagination lead the way!

Start with tiny cuts and work your way around.

Keep going.....

And going....

Done!

Valentines ready for envelopes or small painted boxes.  Don't forget the messages of love and/or friendship!

Mr. Jefferson comes calling.

Mr. Jefferson sings a sweet song for Rebecca.

The old old house

The visit to the Dickinson-Pillsbury house.

A few days ago, I took a ride to my friend Barbara's house, which was built in 1701, by James Dickinson. Barbara and her husband bought the house, in the 1970's, from the Georgetown Historical Society and carefully restored it. The house needed a great deal of work but there was also a great deal of the original house that had survived. In 1868, a small mid 19th century cottage was moved and attached to the early main house. That is the ell or wing on the right side.

The walkway to the Dickinson-Pillsbury house

James Dickinson (b.1678- d.1705) probably built the house after he married in 1701, but by 1705 he had died. His widow , Mary (Wood) sold the house to her brother-in-law, Samuel in 1708, when she remarried. The house remained in the Dickinson family until it was sold to a Pillsbury in the 19th century. There is a real peace that always comes over me when I am visiting this place. It has a real feeling of the past, especially when I walk through the door!

The front of the old house. The section from the chimney to the right is the earliest side, built in 1701.The section to the left of the door, was built later, some time after 1708.

The Hall , which is what the principal room in an early house was called. In this room, EVERYTHING , took place.  Early houses did not have rooms set off for different purposes. The rooms were used as they were needed.

The Hall Chamber ( otherwise known as the bedroom upstairs, above the Hall.) This room was also used for different purposes. A bedstead might have been set up here and also guests might have been entertained here too. This room is very big and at one time , which is common, it was partitioned off with sheathing boards to create different smaller rooms. The same thing also happened downstairs in the Hall. When Barbara purchased the house, some of the partition walls were still in place. 

The summer beam, with a flat chamfer and lambs tongue stop! In a first period house, The frame of the house was visible and because of that it was decorated with chamfers on the principal beams which ran across the middle of the ceiling in a room. Beams without chamfers came later when raised panelling and crown moulding was the fashion. At that time the frame was no longer to be seen ( out of fashion) so beams and posts were boxed.  

The front entry with the door to the Parlor in the later part of the house. 

Eugenia surveying the Hall Chamber form high above !

Elena and Rupert looking out of the tiny window at the top of the stairs.

There are lot's of interesting things to see at this old house. 

I hope you enjoyed this visit to Barbara's Old house with me. It is truly a special and very unique place! 

Old Christmas Postcards...

  Years ago , actually thirteen to be exact, I started collecting old Christmas postcards. I was in Pennsylvania, at my parents farm with my brothers and sisters, sitting with my dear mother, while she lay dying of cancer. To say it was a sad, painful time would be an understatement. My sister and I drove into town one day to buy decorations for my mother's room. We were trying to give her a bit of Christmas even though no one was in the mood. I walked into a little shop and saw some cards on a table. They were old and I thought really wonderful. My Mother loved antiques and anything from the past , so I picked out a few and bought them. She loved them. We decorated her mantle so she could see it with greens and I placed the cards on top. It made her happy. Four days after Christmas , she passed away. After, I took the cards and brought them home and placed them on my own mantle. They remind me of her and how much she enjoyed them. My Mother was the best person I know, and her love of old houses and ways of things was passed to me. I think of her everyday and when I am doing something in my house , like decorating for Christmas, I think about what she would have done.  Her influence is great!

The middle one is a favorite, and I think late 19th century.

  I continued collecting the postcards. The ones I especially love were made around the turn of the 20th century. Did I say that right? From 1900 to about 1910. The graphics are wonderful and bright. Some of the cards, I found in shops and others I got on ebay. They are fun to collect and very affordable. My favorites are the ones made in Germany. Some have writing on the back and it is interesting to see where the cards ended up . I've even researched a couple that had names and addresses on them.  I am hooked for sure and I bet once you start looking at them , you will be too.

                     Merry Christmas everyone !