A Perfect Sunday Brunch

Some days, and it's all too rare in this life, but some days are simply perfect. The perfect meeting of food and laughter and family on an early Autumn day that is sunny with just the right amount of crisp coolness in the air. So nice to visit with adult children and their significant others. This is new for hubby and me, and it is really wonderful. 

We made applewood smoked bacon, omelettes, pumpkin cranberry scones, and gluten-free pumpkin pancakes with organic maple syrup. What a sweet surprise greeted me when I cracked the first egg for the pancakes:

And then another and another and another of those surprises as I cracked three more eggs, all telling me this day was going to be special.

I washed some of the most perfect-looking organic fruit and decided it had to go in my circa 1860 antique ironstone tureen.  Hee hee... everyone asked if the fruit was real. It did look quite like a still life! 

What fun it was to pull out my Autumn dishes, Royal Worcester's Evesham, and work in flowers, another antique ironstone piece, some pearl-handled knives, sterling forks and coin silver forks.

After brunch, we had a lovely time visiting and looking at our son's video footage of his underwater adventures in Hawaii. They swam with dolphins and huge turtles--amazing! Reliving the trip was so relaxing that we all felt like napping.  With the warm aromas of food still lingering in the air, and the warm contentment all around, this truly felt like a recaptured Sunday from my childhood at my Grandma's house. I felt older and more settled and able to give to my son what I had been given by the adults in my childhood. This was a perfect Sunday--one I will cherish and bring back as often as I can.

J. Conning Southern Silver and Inspired Sunday

I finally photographed one of the silver pieces I took to the Antiques Roadshow,  the coin silver christening cup from 1856. I stumbled upon this in an antiques/vintage items shop about 8 or 9 years ago, when I was just beginning to learn about early silver.  I didn't know if this was silver or pewter or tin at the time, but I felt it was good and for $18.00, just the date on the front was worth the price:

Archie Redwood, June 23, 1856

                                 The only marks on the bottom were J. Conning, Mobile:

Ever the consummate researcher, I couldn't wait to get home and see if it was anything special.  It's hard to imagine how much more information is available online now as compared to 9 years ago--do you ever think about that?  Back then, I really couldn't find much, except for an article in Silver magazine that I could only get by purchasing the paper  issue.  I learned that the silversmith, James Conning left New York after 1840 to open a new shop near the waterfront in Mobile, Alabama.  The only port in the state, Mobile was the center of commerce for the cotton brokers, financiers, and plantation owners.  

Once the cotton was sold and the accounts were all settled, the plantation owners would use their profit to buy supplies as well as luxuries that symbolized their wealth and prosperity.  My cup was a christening gift for Archie Redwood. (How I would love to know about that family!)  It was handmade, as you can see from the irregularity in shape:

                                                 and the turning lines on the bottom:

Before 1859 when the Comstock Lode was discovered, silver was scarce in America. Silversmiths made their goods from melted coins or silver bars, which were 90% silver and 10% copper. Silver in this period was termed coin silver.  Later, sterling, which is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, would become the standard.

It's crazy to think that this cup was made before the Civil War, which began in 1861.  Once war looked eminent, James Conning changed his business to reflect a pressing need: swords and metal items for soldiers, like cartridge boxes, gilt fringes, and uniform buttons, as you can see in the advertisement on the right.

After the war, the South was broke, but metal- smiths in Mobile fared better than most due to the influx of people to the port.  After 1865, sterling became the standard and most silver was no longer completely handmade.

How fortunate I was to stumble upon this rare and wonderful piece of history! The appraiser at the Roadshow estimated its auction value at $1000.00--it would be half that if it were not "Southern silver." I will have it appraised by a Southern silver expert one of these days, and I might sell it. For right now, it's a thrill just to own and enjoy it.

What inspired you this week?  SO much!  I had a difficult time choosing what to feature as everyone linked such meaningful, interesting, and beautiful posts!  Debbie and Penny found amazing yard sale treasures, and Brittany hit the jackpot on a wonderful hutch.  Jann, Debbie, Susan, and Penny shared beautiful 4th of July decorations.  Denise and Magali were hard at work transforming furniture and a ceiling with paint. Dawn, Sarah, and Amy shared festive food that looks delish, and resourceful Naush created an inventive cupcake stand from repurposed cardboard remnants.  If you haven't visited other blog party attendees this week, you can check them all out here!

I actually thought about featuring everyone, but I didn't have hours to give justice to everyone's loveliness.  So I chose two bloggers that are new to the party.  They both shared vintage paper, and since paper is my medium and vintage is my muse... 

Danielle at Blessed Serendipity found these amazing vintage playing cards at a thrift shop for $1.00!!!!!!  I am GREEN with envy! :-)  I don't think I'll be able to stop looking for some now.

Maureen at Victorian Studio found wonderful vintage Halloween cutouts and decorations made by Beistle--that also make me envious, BTW!  :-)  The cat is my favorite, but she found many different ones mixed in a bag for $2.99. They are worth quite a lot of money. Check out her blog so you can be on the lookout when you are out thrifting!

So there you have it. I wish you a blessed, relaxing, healthy and peaceful Sunday.  I can't wait to see what you link up this week! If you've been featured, please grab my button and put it on your blog. Thanks!

Laura

I went to the Antiques Roadshow and Inspired Sunday

So late on my Inspired Sunday post, but I spent the entire Saturday at the ANTIQUES ROADSHOW! My friend entered for tickets, and her name was picked! I had been waiting for months for this big day.  We got up early and drove to the Anaheim Convention Center. It was quite exhausting to stand on hard cement floor for hours on end but it was so much fun to see what unusual items people had brought:

Me on the way in.

We could take pictures while in line. Of course, I had left my memory card in my computer, so my friend took the pictures. Once we entered a particular area, we had to turn off all cameras and phones.

We had a lovely time together...

Laura and Lisa

BUT when I got to the silver table, the "experts" were very young and right away mine told me that I knew more about my silver than he did!!!  After months of waiting and hours of standing on hard concrete, that's not what I wanted to hear!!!  My silver appraised at what I had imagined, perhaps slightly more on one item (silver christening cup for $1000.00), but I have to say, I was there for the experience, and the lack of enjoyment or enthusiasm from my experts compared to that of the older seasoned experts and the experts at the other tables was noticeable. In fact, my guy was British (and there is a bit of rivalry or "attitude" between collectors of American and British silver), and after his two- minute review and reiterating that I knew more than he did, he excused himself saying "I've really got to go to the loo!"

Besides wonderful company, the really redeeming element for me was the "feedback booth."  It's where they film the quick clips that they put on at the end of the show. Not feeling very enthusiastic about the experience, I reluctantly went in because my friend wanted to. We had to sign a release to be on TV if chosen, and we had two minutes to say whatever we wanted. We could hold up an item, and as I was unwrapping my christening cup, the camera man exclaimed "I LOVE that cup."  I said something like, yeah, it's dated 1853. He said "that's 160 years old.  I LOVE that cup."  He got it! Then he rolled camera, and we said something.  As we were walking out, I asked him if he knew silver, and lo and behold, he was a silver appraiser. He APPRECIATED it.  He was enthusiastic. We had that special bond between people who appreciate the uniqueness and beauty and story of something from history, something owned. loved, cherished, and made by hand.  That's the experience I had hoped for, and that's the whole reason behind why I collect antiques. 

What inspired you this week?

Sherry from The Charm of Home made these absolutely wonderful polymer clay tags!  I can see so many decorative and packaging uses for these. She did a LOVELY job!

Denise from Denise on a Whim did a wonderful paint job on this Victorian table:

Michelle from The Day Before This Day made this gorgeous tote inspired by vintage crochet. All her bags are to die for! :-)

If you've been featured, please put my button on your blog.  

And now, let's see what inspires you this week!  

Please post a link on your blog back to my blog.

Inspired Sunday: Pearl Handled Flatware

I hope you've had a lovely week. I added some vintage beauty to my kitchen with a 

display of flowers and pearl-handled flatware:

Made from oyster shell, pearl-handled flatware was popular from the late 1800s to the 1920s. 

 Mine dates from the late 1800s. The blades and tines are silver plated, and 

the ornate bands around the handles are sterling. I love how the pearl catches the light:

I have lots of dinner knives as well as fruit knives that have a sharp edge for cutting whole fruit, popular as fruit became more available in the late 1800s due to transport by trains:

Butter knives:

Forks:

And this wonderful fruit set,

that came in this lovely oak box:

Some of my favorite knives have carved handles:

I loved carved pearl:

I set the table with it for special dinners, but when I'm not using my pearl handled flatware, 

I sometimes display it in pressed glass to be enjoyed by all:

Do you have pearl-handled flatware? If you do, please leave a comment and add any history you know!
I'm linking up with

Creative Home Acre Blog Hop
Seasonal Sundays@ The Tablescaper

Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Metamorphosis Monday
Dwelllings' Amaze Me Monday
Weekend Showoff Party
Time Travel Thursday
Inspire Me Tuesdays at a Stroll Through Life
Knick of Time Tuesday
You're Gonna Love It
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Show Me What You Got Tuesdays
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
Wow Us Wednesdays
Share Your Cup Thursdays
Grace at Home
Show and Tell Friday
Sweet and Simple Fridays
Feathered Nest Fridays

What inspiration did other bloggers bring to my intimate (small, lol) party this week?

Lisa at Helene's Legacy designed a powder room that is truly an inspiration. Hop over to her blog and
 read what  inspired her beautiful bathroom. The wallpaper alone makes me sing!

Nicole of Southern Charm was inspired to add summery starfish to her Easter
decor to extend the life of her lovely display from spring into the summer:


Have a great Sunday!

If you were featured, please grab my button from the left side bar and display it
on your blog!  Thanks!
                                                                                        Laura

Now show us what inspires you!
Please link back to my blog and become a follower.

What to Do with Mason Jars?

I know, I know... You're probably thinking I'm crazy that I just can't quite figure out

what to do with Mason jars. I've pinned loads of cute ideas, but for the life of

me, I just haven't been able to make them work in my house.

 Encouraged by my girlfriend, Jean, who has a small collection nicely displayed, I bought some
very reasonably when we were shopping during a trip to Indiana. Most of my jars are pretty old,
so I have hesitated to paint or glitter or change them in any way. But over the weekend
 I got them out and displayed them in an area in my kitchen:

I had to have the Queen jar, as my hubby calls me "The Queen" or "Queenie."
And I  love the one with the four-leaf clover that says "Good Luck."  And the three in
the drawer are all Acme.  (Always makes me think of the Roadrunner cartoon.
Weren't most of the coyote's explosives and traps from Acme? :-)  I would
love to have candy in every jar, but all I had right then was spools and three-year old Halloween candy
that I've warned everyone not to eat.  It's my decoration candy! 

I did find this baseball bubble gum at Dollar Tree. My brother and I used to find it mixed in with colored gumballs in a machine at Jack's grocery, a little country store with oily wood floors that of course made your feet black in the summer--we went barefoot all summer in the South. Our shoes came off as soon as our mom answered yes to our eager "Is it time to go barefoot yet?" and didn't go on until we went back to school. I'll never forget the dusky, fruity smell of that old store, and my little black feet that had to be washed with the hose before my mom would let me back in the house! 

The gumballs would be a nice addition to a shabby chic setting, lol:

I added a few special pieces to the display--butter crocks that were in our kitchen all through my childhood, a watercolored sunflower painted by my husband's great aunt and given to us as a wedding gift, and the scale which is a piece from our extended family.  When I got 

finished, I called my hubby in to look. His first response was, 

"Wow, it looks like Dr. Conkey's." 

 Now I have to tell you, that was exactly the right response!  Dr. Conkey's is a small store with old plank floors, vintage wood cases filled with all types of candy, a coffee bar, and wonderful decorations and trimmings. It is a heavenly place, and I since I've always wanted to 

live in a gift shop (or a museum, really), I couldn't have thought of a better
 decorating achievement with those Mason jars!

 I think I will be displaying these Mason jars all through the summer!
Do you have any Mason jar or grocery store memories?

                                                                      Laura

I invite you to link up with my Vintage View Sunday link party!

Linking up with:
Show and  Tell Friday
Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Metamorphosis Monday
Dwelllings' Amaze Me Monday
Weekend Showoff Party
Time Travel Thursday
Inspire Me Tuesdays at a Stroll Through Life
Knick of Time Tuesday
You're Gonna Love It
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Show Me What You Got Tuesdays
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
Wow Us Wednesdays
Share Your Cup Thursdays
Grace at Home
Show and Tell Friday
Sweet and Simple Fridays
Feathered Nest Fridays

Vintage View Sunday: Hotel Silver

Did you ever hear your Mom say, "I'm not running a hotel/restaurant here...?"

I think I've said it a few times myself.
Being a mom can sometimes seem like custom hotel and restaurant service with
all the laundry and cooking that is required to run a home and
make it comfortable for everyone.  If you're a mom, I hope your lovely ones
have celebrated you with a day off from all the chores--
at least from the cooking.  And perhaps they've taken you for a fine meal at a hotel.

To kick off this Vintage View Sunday, I am sharing a vignette in my kitchen that 

I just put together this week with a few pieces from my hotel silver collection.

Hotel silver is heavily plated silver that was made for use in fine hotels.  

Made to withstand repeated washing and rough use, its heavy chunkiness and 

clean lines really appeal to my husband. You can learn more about hotel silver on
this video from Martha Stewart.

The creamer was made by International Silver Company for a Hilton Hotel:

                  The open sugar bowl was made by the Canadian subsidiary of Wm Rogers Silver Company
and was from the King Edward Hotel in Toronto.

The salt and pepper cruet set was made by International Silver Co. for
the Margaret Baylor Inn.  (I'd love to know where that was...)

My vintage view gives me a lot of pleasure on this Mother's Day Sunday:

This post is written in honor of my mother, Anita, who taught me to appreciate antiques from the time I was six. She is home with the Lord.  And it is also written to honor my other mother, Katie, who also is my husband's mother. She is 90, and has the best outlook on life of anyone I've ever known.
My life has been enriched by the love and care of these two dedicated mothers.

I'm linking up with
Ivy and Elephants
  You're Gonna Love It!
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Wow Us Wednesday
Feathered Nest Fridays

And now, on  to the Vintage View Sunday Party with this week's features! Please feel free to grab my button and display it on your blog if you've been featured.

Going along with the kitchen theme, I love Debbie's vintage kitchen tools and accessories
in bright happy red.  Go visit her at Debblie Dabble and see how she has a knack for
pulling together so many interesting pieces!


You certainly see a grandmother's love in this precious baby quilt shared by Jann at
A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen. Visit her blog for a virtual hug from a very sweet lady!

And Christina at PennyWise shared a wonderful vintage photo of children dancing around a Maypole in 1909 Ireland along with a very interesting history of May Day and
 a wonderful tea to celebrate May Day or Mother's Day or any day!

Kitchens and food and blankets and pretty things...
All part of a mother's care for her brood.

Wishing you a day that's very lovely from start to finish.

Vintage View Link Party #3
Feel free to link any vintage post, old or new.  Please become a follower of my blog and
put a link back to my blog on your blog.  I look forward to seeing your vintage view!