A Heartfelt Award Received!

Just received this kind award from Christine! Please take a minute and visit her sweet blog: Change of Heart! As many of you know from reading my other blog, "Vintage Cottage Home" my husband Jim is now home after undergoing open-heart surgery two weeks ago.

It's a challenging time for us but it's been wonderful to know that so many of you have sent good wishes, prayers, and support! Thanks to all of you! And a special thanks to Christine who has had experience in this area and shares her personal story on her blog.
Blessings to all,
Coralie

Hang in There...I'll Be Back Soon!

Everything was going well until one of Jim's incisions showed a small problem. We were told to go to the ER "at once" to let the doctors "have a look" but had no idea it would take twelve (yes, 12!) hours for them to get to us. Only to find that there really isn't a problem, but "just in case" we were given a prescription for an antibiotic. 

The ER is not a pretty place to spend a beautiful moonlit night, let me tell you, but we did hang in there and are now resting at home.  

I know I've been missing from action for a bit and will probably continue to be, but please hang in there...I'll be back soon!

Good News! It's All About Hearts!

Jim is home and his heart is healing from surgery only a week ago! He is up and walking and feeling better than he's felt for a long time! We are in 7th Heaven!

Then what should appear at our door today but the gorgeous shabby chic "Vintage Home" wall hanging that Katie of ragamuffingal.blogspot.com customed designed for me. This was the generous prize I won in her ONE WORLD ONE HEART drawing. I am absolutely thrilled with her wonderful artwork! And it's almost as if she had visited my home as the sign couldn't be more perfect! Thank you so much, Katie!

Love's Sweet Music!

Prayers for an Open Heart

One week ago, my husband Jim went in for an exploratory procedure but was immediately scheduled for open-heart surgery.

While Jim was in surgery, I spent time in solitude praying for his swift and sure recovery. After seven and one-half hours in the operating room, he was brought into intensive care. His voice was low but sure. His heart was full of love.

He is now up and walking, exercising, and soon ready to return home! My prayers have been answered and I give thanks!

(The colored A is from Dover's Floral Alphabet Coloring Book by Leslie Tillett which helped me through the day.)

A Basket Full Of Posies!

Great vintage fabric quilt scraps arrived from a purchase on eBay. The basket? From our favorite thrift store, of course!

Oh! How Romantic!

I was thrilled to find this beautiful vintage picture at an antique mall not long ago! The colors are perfect for the master bedroom. They go beautifully with all the barkcloth pillows and draperies! And...oh how romantic!

Bless the Children and the Swans

The Three Bears Vintage Handkerchief!

This darling vintage hankie is a recent find. When I was a child, my first collection was of pretty and interesting hankies. So when I saw this one, I just couldn't resist it! I don't buy a lot of hankies any more but I always look for the fairy tale ones of long ago. There aren't a lot of them around; at least I haven't seen many. So it was great fun to find this one!

Bunny Boy! Vintage Children's Book Illustration!

Don't you just love this beautiful white rabbit! Bunny Boy's story is from a 1930 Elson Basic Reader?

Authors: William H. Elson and William S. Gray. 

Publishers: Scott, Foresman and Co. Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, & New York.

I'd Like To Be As Fine A Friend As You!

If all good traits I could

re-blend

And build myself anew,

I'd like to be as fine a friend

As I have found in you!

A Sweet Award Received from Her Art Nest!

I am delighted to receive this sweet award from Nancy at Her Art nest! Thank you Nancy!

I'm to share this award with eight other bloggers whose writings share the friendship of space and time. The following blogs are especially charming and I hope you will take time to visit them all!

1. The Bunny Bungalow

2. Unshelved Words

3. A Bit of Pink Heaven

4. Notes from the Rookery

5. Primitive Folk Art by Benedetta

6. Yippee Vintage

7. Georgia Peachez

8. Birding in Michigan

Have a beautiful day everyone!
Coralie

Vintage Rabbit Storybook Primer

I think if I'd had a schoolbook like this one, I would have thought I'd reached the ultimate dream! Rabbits and more in this great antique primer. The illustrations are just wonderful and there's more to come. I'll be posting more from this storybook in future. So stay tuned! More rabbits on their way!

Sweet Old Scottie Friendship Sentiment

"Some people love to move in crowds.

Some like to stroll alone

While others march in stately squads

Like soldiers over stone:

Let every fellow have his choice - -

I much prefer but two

If I can be the lucky dog

To trot along with you!"

Found this lovely old friendship poem in Marquette, Michigan some many years ago. Love the darling Scottie dogs and the sweet sentiment!

Up & Down Goes the Merry-Go-Round!

Finally found the "perfect" spot for my merry-go-round plaque on my workroom wall. Bought this special piece many years ago and couldn't figure out where to put it. First it was up, then down, then put far far away where no human eye could see it. 

When I "found" it the other day wedged in between my file cabinet and the wall, I just had to take some positive steps and find a place to pound just one more nail. So here it is on the wall and looking sweet as can be! Whew! At long last!

Finally! Photos of Our Mystery Squirrel!

Here's the little squirrel I've been talking about since last fall! Jim was able to capture a few shots of him as he was zipping through the trees this morning! In the photos, he looks pretty much like the other local squirrels but he is much much smaller, about one-third the size. And his actions are quite different as he runs faster and flies farther than any of the other squirrels. 

He appeared last fall and lasted through the below zero weather we had in January and February by finding an old blanket in our garage and cuddling up for the long haul! I still can't figure out how such a little guy could just show up one day and not have another relative who looked just like him. 

I'd tried several times to get pictures but couldn't. But finally here's a good look at Mr. Mystery Squirrel!

The Organ Grinder, a Storybook Illustration

I love the illustrations in this children's schoolbook I recently found at an antique mall. Sure wish my schoolbooks had been as interesting as this one is with all the amazing colorful illustrations! I'll be sharing more of these in future posts. Aren't they great?

Hollywood Hunks and Glamorous Gals!

Ever see something you just had to have and you didn't really know why? Well, here's the item that caught my attention and I couldn't let it go. Jim and I were stopping in at our local thrift shop and there she was! Smiling out at me from this beautiful purse. 

"Marilyn! Marilyn!" I said. "I guess you're coming home with me." And so she did. And so I've been enjoying this "blast from the past" more than I could have imagined. Maybe I'm thinking back to all those great movies from the 50's that I enjoyed with my girlfriends. Yes, I'm sure that's it!

Wish I had a dime for every Photoplay magazine I drooled over as a teenager. Actually, I wish I'd saved some of them. All those hunky movie men and their glamorous women from Hollywood! The stars! The excitement! The fabulous films in living color! They really were the best! And I think my Marilyn purse is a tribute to them all! 

Log Cabin Quilt Top - Vintage Find!

Keep an eye out for vintage quilt tops wherever you go. This one was found (in pieces) at our annual neighborhood garage sale. The pieces were in a heap and I almost didn't buy them. But when the young man selling them, said I could have the whole thing for $10, I quickly changed my mind!

Even if the quilt tops are not in perfect condition, such as this one when found, they can usually be easily reworked. Or just cleaned. 

This particular quilt top had a huge stain which remained stubborn to all the usual treatments. But I was determined so was able to cut away a whole row of blocks to preserve the integrity of the piece. 

It can sometimes be difficult to justify buying something that's imperfect, but it can also be worth the TLC needed to improve it! I think this one turned out beautifully! 

Vintage Recipes: Butterscotch & Tea Cookies!

If you feel like baking, these vintage cookie recipes might be just right for you to try! Homemade cookies! Oh! Yum!

Sweet Red Cherries on a Vintage Quilt!

I found this vintage cherry red quilt top at an antique flea market some years ago in Indiana, near the Illinois border. I love the bright cheery colors that were chosen for this design. 

Whenever I see a vintage quilt or quilt top that has lovely colors and patterns such as this one, I just have to have it for my collection. Often I use these pieces in decorating for a change of scenery in my vintage cottage home rooms. 

It's such fun to change things up a bit here and there. Nothing like adding a little spice to the charms of ordinary days!

A quilt or quilt top thrown over an old rocker or ice cream chairs works wonders for "spiffing up" a room. Stacking several quilts and quilt tops is another beautiful way of displaying them and enjoying the montage of color.

Using a step ladder to show the quilt patterns and colors is another great way to decorate with quilts. Folding them to fit over the rungs of the ladders is a perfect way to create a graduated quilt collage. 

I've used my vintage quilts for tablecloths, always providing a plastic cover over the quilt to prevent stains from beverages and food. I've found this to be one of the most interesting ways to display the wonderful artistry of stitchers and quilters from long ago!

Vintage Quilt Top: Bunnies & Puppies!

This sweet old quilt top is from my vintage collection. I love the primitive nature of the placement of the squares. I like to imagine who might have put this together in a time long ago. I wonder?

So Lovely White Cottage Swans!

These lovely white cottage swans were found at our favorite Salvation Army Thrift Store. Right now they are residing in the painted white cottage cabinet. But, who knows where they'll end up? They would make great candy or jewelry containers or holders for vintage calling cards. At 1.99 each, what more can I say? Sweet thrifty finds are everywhere. And looking is half the fun!

What Happened to the Snow?

Why are you bothering us? It's 16 degrees ABOVE zero, the sun is out, and the snow is gone! We know you'd be cold out here, but not us! Take a hike...we're basking in the sunlight!