I just went back and read my last post - MAN, what I whiner!! I really didn't feel that well and I probably shouldn't have blogged - I really want you all to think that I have it together and it always works out for me and things always go my way and I'm a super hero and I am the Coolest of cool moms and I CAN DO IT ALLLLL!! Well, . . . . now you know - I'm human and it doesn't always work out for me - NOR do I get it my way! Boo-hoo! But on to my day today . . .
Well, I went to this estate auction today at the above address in my hometown. The house - circa 1965 - very much dated but had the coolest {antique} stuff. I bought quite a bit. Can't say I got a great deal on some of it - but oh well, can't take it with ya'.
Let me just say this old bird had to be the most eclectic chick in all of Tennessee. She past away last January. Her name was Jerry. He {Joe} past away in December of 2002. Joe built the house in 1965 once he retired from the Airforce. She had 3 children and together, they had 3 more children and tons of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The house reeked of cigarette smoke and the walls were literally covered in yellow nicotine. You could see beige squares on the walls where every single picture was previously hanging. They actually had a gold, nalgahide, tufted sofa! There was about 80 crystal ashtrays and all the china, crystal and solid silver a person would ever see in one place! Seriously, I think there was 36 place settings of each pattern - no joke! There was a massive dining room set that dated from the late 1800's with the coolest captain chair at one end. Most all the furniture came from England or Germany - since he was stationed over seas for more than a decade. Well traveled people with so much cool stuff . . . . . . and it was the one place that was a "constant" the past 30 years of my life. Guys, I want you to meet my grandparents.
Due to some unfortunate circumstances, there is a rift in the family {what family doesn't have a story like that?} - so the tension was a little on the high side at the auction. This was probably the last time I will ever see any of my cousins, aunts or uncles. EVER. But hey - we never saw them anyways because they never came around. I thought I would have some issues bidding and watching others bid, like picking over Granmamma and Grandaddy's bones - But I didn't AND I got everything I had my eye on. Luckily for me, I stayed at there house a lot and all the neighbors and quite a few other folks new when I was bidding - so they wouldn't. Even at one point I heard someone tell a bidder that I was the grandaughter and they then stopped bidding. Of course that was the most expensive item I got - I wish that joker got the message a little sooner! I thought I would post some pictures of the goods -
This was my chair at their house. We didn't really have assigned seating - BUT you always sat in the exact same spot everytime you were there! For years they had a silver poodle, Tootsie, I had to share the chair with her! Check out the swan like heads on the arms - funny thing is I never noticed them till I was an adult. I plan to reupholster this thing soon - not my taste in fabric and I can't quite figure out how it got so filthy!
Love this ottoman - plan on reupholstering it as well to add a short pleated skirt - Can't wait!
Now, my grandmother had a TON of Dresdens, but I really wanted this doll. Notice it's a princess with a frog prince! It's some German piece and in "perfect" condition. The yellow tar actually cleaned off of it nicely! I was shocked! A great piece for Emsley's room!
I had to have these etchings. Had to I tell ya'! These are all of German towns that {I kid you not} are resting in between two pieces of glass with black, electrical tape holding them together!! Actually, that is not a bad idea - really it's very creative! But of course I have bigger plans - can we say a 4, maybe 5 inch creamy color surrounding mat with a black frame! Will suit my taste?!
Last but not least, this little jewel {the one I probably spent WAY to much money on} - but don't you just love it?? Ignore that black thing on the wall behind the mirror - I didn't notice it till just now. There was something special about this secretary - I don't know what it was - but something seemed right about buying it.I could smell them, hear them, see them . . . . in their house. Their empty house. I probably should have just bought that old house as well.
5 comments:
I completely understand what you are talking about. I am sure they are happy that you got something that was theirs. When my grandmothers died, I couldn't stand the thought of their things just being taken to the Goodwill (nothing against Goodwill! Love it!) that I somehow ended up with a U-Haul truck carrying their things to my house!
Congratulations on your new precious baby! I just happened on your blog and have enjoyed it!
Fran
I was just going to say "You should have bought the house!" and then you said it :)
I'm sorry about your grandparents but it looks like you got some great momentos to remember them, and your time with them, by.
It's been FOR-EVE-R since I've actually talked to you. its really weird how our families seem so similiar. Well you bought some really nice pieces, and I know that you will make them even more gorgeous. Have fun and I will call you sometime this week.
Kim, I loved reading this post. Does that sound weird. Everything was in such great detail, yet, short and sweet. I could totally picture it in my mind! And somehow I knew it was someone related to you, before you said so. I can't wait to see what you do with your chair, and ottoman, and pictures. ;o) ~jodi
Oh my gosh Kim! You have me bawling like a baby right now! My grandparents lived in The Poconos and well we lived in Ga. So to say the least I can only remember a handful of times really that we visited their home. More so when I was a little girl. I remember doing sparklers on the front porch and dropping one and my Nanny cursing and saying don't tell my Pop Pop because he had just put down new fake grass carpet out there. I can remember going to the old diner and my Poppy ordering milk with ice and then saving the rolls so we could feed the fish in the creek behind the diner.
I remember their house and the smells. The appIe cellar in the basement was the best. I can still hear my Nanny call me by my nick name "Pammy" or hear her fussing at my Poppy and calling him by his name" Walter". She passed away back in 02 and never got to see my babies. I remember her funeral and getting mad at my mom and sister because they went to the house one last time without me and even brought some stuff back to the hotel. They did not think I would care and I did but not as much as I do now. On our last visit home my mom gave me some boxes of old stuff. In it were some things from my grandparents like the crazy troll banks from the bank my Poppy use to work at. Little crocheted pins that my Nanny would pick up at the beauty parlor. All things I remember well. Nothing of great substance though that can be passed down. I guess that is what makes me sad the most. My Pop Pop passed away in 05 two months before my youngest was born. Because we lived so far away, we live in Tx now and work and just life in general he never got to meet my oldest. I did make sure that we always sent him letters and pictures though. It is funny how you think back and wish you would have done things differently.
I know that they both are up there bickering away at each other just waiting for the time when we are all home again.
Anyways, thank you for your post and making me cry! It brought back some very fond memories!!
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