Antique Desk Chair-Pick Up

$225 Local Pick Up-Pittsburgh Area, Ligonier, PA

Cash Only

Exceptional piece for your office or study. On the back is the company brass plate. "Desk Exchange," out of San Francisco, USA.

You know that saying "Things aren't made the way they used to be." This is one of those things. Heavy and solid. Not meant to break. I can't find any major flaws. I found one article in an appliance catalog from 1917 referencing this company.

A fine piece to own for any collector or interior designer.

Paper Crafts are Beautiful

I decided to decorate my dining room in paper crafts this year. I bought pieces from Joann's and the Dollar Store. It cost me less than $15 and has brought so much cheer and color to our dining experience. From the outside the bay window lights up in the sun and at night with some lights trimming the window. It is a classy, colorful decor statement. 

A December to February Decor Statement 💗I will add stars for New Years and a sign. I will then remove green ball and stars and will add pink puffs and hearts for Valentine's Day. 

Hanging
I used heavy duty suction cups and thin string. You could use fishing line for a more seamless effect.

DIY Cat Hide Out for New Adopted Fur Balls!

Ziggy loves to cuddle and rolls on his back to have his minky, fur tummy rubbed!

Two Russian Blues slipped into our house through a side door during a chilly evening. Their new, warm home inviting them in. The adult cats deserved a home just like any small, furry kitten. These beautiful, sleek, big eyed cats lost their owner due to decline in health. We had been looking for a cat or kitten for about a year.  We were taking our time. Like all of our pets it seems they picked us in some way.

Ziggy and Maxi were new to the shelter. They arrived when I called to look at cats I saw online. They are short hair which I preferred and had not been running around with a bunch of cats. Both were timid and docile but, also scared. They needed to be back in a quiet environment ASAP. Their owner clearly treasured them. He purchased only the best food, treats and toys. Their sad story tugged at our hearts and we knew it would be difficult to home two adult cats together. Fast forward and we have two awesome cats! Both have unique and different personalities. Adopting well cared for adult cats has been great because they already know how to use a litter box. They also love their scratch tree and boards. We knew they would need time to ease in and we were absolutely fine waiting and frankly ok if they were not over cuddly too. We were ok with them being who they wanted to be. I think our expectations worked with catitude and also bringing adult cats to a new home.  We feel really lucky to have found these cool cats!

DIY CAT HIDEOUT  Why pay $15 for a cardboard box house online when you can do it yourself! Challenge yourself to use your craft scraps and keep cost down.

• A clean cardboard box.
• Scrap booking paper or heavy wrapping paper or left over wallpaper.
• Craft glue, utility knife, scissors, paper cutter if you have one, pencil, perm markers.
• Any additional craft scraps. Use your imagination but, make sure they can't swallow small add ons. I had some left over paper mache type pieces from craft store like a mailbox. Also I used teacher border for the fence.
  

✂Think about your design. Maybe practice the design on paper. 

I did a basic house. First cut off flaps or tape flaps down. Decide where your cat will enter the box. Save cardboard from flaps to add shutters or anything else on the box. Next draw your design on the box. I simply drew a window to cut out with my utility knife. 👉Remember to always cut away from yourself when using a knife. Also make sure you have a firm grip on the knife as cardboard can be tough to cut. 

Window cut out

🎨Next have fun cutting paper and glue on your box. Be basic like me or really go for it! The last thing I did was add a blanket they already used and some catnip in  the box to encourage them to go in.

1960's Modern Christmas!

I haven't pulled out this tree in 3 years. I decided to bring this magnificent, tacky masterpiece out. Made around 1962 in Virginia. Yep, American made. The metal tree played into the atomic theme from the 50's to the 1960's modern, clean lines, uncluttered decor. 

I added some of my Putz houses to the bottom. The pink skirting is actually a beautiful piece of dyed wool I purchased for felting.

I only buy untouched Putz houses. I won't buy any fixed with added glitter and more. The most interesting ones are stamped Made in Japan. Here is a great article about Putz history. https://goldenglow.org/2014/12/history-putz-village/

First Snow and Birds Flying in for Dinner

Hey! Don't go hogging up the suet cake!

The snow is blowing and it's cold outside! So I decided to make a cup of Stash English Breakfast with local honey from Ligonier and watch birds. I was rocking back on my upholstered rocking chair by the bay window when a bird digging around the snow caught my attention. We were up to about 6 inches and it seemed to thoroughly enjoy rooting around and ruffling the snow from its feathers. I got a great shot and was like what beautiful bird is this with yellow stripes? Well, it's a White Throated Sparrow. According to the Audubon site it does indeed enjoy foraging the ground. https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/white-throated-sparrow?site=pa&section=search_results#

A rotund, sweet bird shows up every winter. It flies the whole way from Alaska to my feeder. It is a cute slate grey Dark Eyed Junco. It's bottom looks like a ruffled petticoat under a pageant dress! https://www.audubon.org/news/juncos-are-original-snowbirds

Beautiful slate grey!

The beautiful golden, tubby bird below is a Carolina Wren. We call it the Chipmunk bird. When it is on the ground in foliage or high grass you swear it's a chipmunk!

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/science/2012/06/13/Let-s-Talk-About-Birds-Wrens/stories/201206130131

We love when the woodpeckers come to our tree. From young to old, we get them all!

Supporting Local Farmers and Small Business Brings a Sense of Community

The farms and small businesses around your home are the heartbeat of the community. You get to know the people passionate about their products. Their familiar faces and friendly words sometimes change a not so great day. They know their product and they like talking about it. What would your town be without festive, cheery and professional store fronts?  They would be giant, depressing paved lots with big box neon signs at the end.  

Malls were once a gathering place. Malls were designed to be indoor towns with a roof. I know many people think it was Walmart who started the fall of small business but, really the malls started the downward spiral of shopping in town. As a child, I saw town at the end of it's heydey.  Troutman's in town was a department store I recall going up the escalator with my Great Grandfather and by the time I was 8 or 10 we were going to the mall. The mall at that time had corporate stores and a mix of small business. However malls are expensive to maintain and soon the small businesses were pushed out because the rent was too high. Malls started to decline in the 90's but, old school retail executives would not accept it. They should have went back to the beginning and started to add offices, restaurants/not a food court and small business in the mix. It may have saved these giant concrete structures from turning into eye sores and tax sink holes for communities. 

Now, what are we left with? Half empty malls and small town ghostly business districts that are unappealing due to no tax revenue. Also the final nail to small business in town or online....Amazon with free shipping. Amazon who has literally taken over several retail market spaces. I'm not saying I don't enjoy my Amazon Prime because I do use it on the tv and shopping. However, the community and local politicians need to see the value in having town. I hope the one thing COVID has done is make people realize the importance to gather with friends, neighbors and strangers. Town is for shopping, having a cocktail or coffee, parades, sitting on a park bench, local clubs to gather, dining and more. It's warmth, joy, meeting new people and making connections. Offer your thanks this Thanksgiving and support a small business,

 

Gingerbread Garland Helps Usher in the Warmness of Holidays

COVID is still here but, just because I can't have a house full of people doesn't mean my home is not going to be festive.  Life is what you make it. We have all been though trials and tragedy. I choose to handle this trial in the best way possible. 

The outside of my house will be a gingerbread theme this year. I started making the fake cookies. Usually they come out more brown but, low on cinnamon so a quick coat of paint, puff paint outline and lacquer and will be ready to be strung. Spices are an essential ingredient if you are not coating as they are nice potpourri bowl fillers and the scent is fantastic. If stringing don't forget to add your hole with a skewer before baking! I also made beads to paint like gum drops.

Recipe is pretty standard on web:

2c flour

1c salt

1/4 c cinnamon   *Add others like clove and such for more scent.

1 1/2 c water

Mix. Roll out on a cinnamon board not flour. Make cut outs. Bake 300 for 45-60 min.

I have also been working on styrofoam balls and any scrap circles for candy. They will be wrapped in cello to protect against weather. More to come...

Keep your mind busy so you don't get too down. I decided to decorate more this year so my neighbors can get a little lift in their step too.

Update. Here are some of the painted and laquered gingerbread!