9.11 - A Memoir

 

About fifteen years ago we took our three sons on a trip to see the historical landmarks of our country.  We traveled to Washington DC and toured the capital building and the White House, pre-9-11, which was wonderful!  We were one of the last groups that ever got to see the Federal FBI building and the infamous 'gun room' which truly impressed the boys. We were fascinated as we walked the same tunnels all our past and present Presidents walked through, as they traveled between federal buildings. We saw Ted Kennedy talking to reporters on the Supreme Court stairs just 20 feet from us!  We were actually in the Capital building cafeteria, watching on closed circuit TV, the roll call vote on whether to impeach Clinton or not! It was amazing to witness the democratic process!

We headed up the interstate to Philadelphia and saw Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.  Next we headed up to New York.  With three young sons we were on a budget and had to make a decision about which building we would go up to get a bird's eye view of NY - the Empire State Building or The World Trade Center. 

 The boys wanted to go up the Twin Towers, but at $14.00 a person, you guessed it - 
we went up the iconic Empire State Building instead 
which saved us enough money to buy dinner!

 Little did we know we would never get the chance to ride to the top of the World Trade Center to take in the view of the city, and our sons never will let us forget!

 We decided to buy a snow globe as a souvenir of our visit to New York that day.  
The snow globe has both the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center Twin Towers inside.  My husband packed in carefully in his luggage for the flight home.

 Watching the snow fall over the city inside was always so magical!  

None of us will ever forget that unbelievable morning or 
where we were when we first heard the tragic news.  

 I cherish my souvenir snow globe, in which the Twin Towers are still standing. 
How ironic is it that since 9-11, snow globes are not allowed on planes - we wouldn't even be able to get the snow globe home now! I'll always regret skipping the ride up to the top, but our boys got to walk through the tunnels in Washington DC 
that are no longer accessible to the public since the attack. 

 Since 9-11, I can not bear to shake the globe and see the snow falling around the towers.  All of us saw those images on TV that morning, and it wasn't snow that was falling.  

Let us celebrate our freedom today, and remember all who lost their lives on 9-11 and pray for those who fight so we can continue to be free.

My Cow, Rhoda

We locked eyes from about twenty feet across a floor at an antique mall.  

The beauty of her ebony and cream pattern beckoned me to come closer.

I could almost hear the little bell suspended around her neck ringing, calling me to her!

One look at the perfect conformation of her Holstein hind quarters said "Grand Champion"!

And so talented! She could move her head up and down, her horns could rotate and her tail could lift - where had she come from?

Her underside provided a clue - the cog under her belly and the holes in her hooves told me she may have been the star of a point of purchase display, with perhaps a motor driving her animation from a stand she freed herself from many years ago.

It was love at first sight and I

 brought her home. 

 Her name is Rhoda and she's very glad to meet you!

Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage

 

Just 7 miles off Interstate 5 and south of Salem, Oregon, is the quaint little town of Aurora, with a giant barn full of treasures!

Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage is a Picker's Paradise! 

I happened upon this jewel about 12 years ago by accident. A friend and I were on a road trip and were looking for fresh marion berries, when we spotted a roadside sign and pulled off the road to find the berry stand. The road twisted around, we bought our berries and then we had to try to figure out how to get back to the Interstate and ran right into the town of Aurora and a neat barn that looked intriguing.

I thought it was wonderful back then, with its piles of salvaged windows and doors, and I've been dying to make a return trip!

Owner Mike Byrnes, has in the ten years since my first visit, taken the barn from picker's piles to a beautiful, well organized showroom, without losing the original character and intrigue of searching among the barn's contents for incredible finds. 

I was in search of vintage knobs and the multiple cases lined with the knobs looked like precious gems under the glass.

Inside this vast structure, some rooms look like a Hollywood prop shop!

Anyone trying to restore an old house can find everything they need here! 

Gates and Fencing

 
Corbels

Stained glass windows

 

Pressed tin ceiling panels and accent pieces

Porcelain tubs, sinks, and other bathroom fixtures,                                                                           

including towel bars in green glass, crystal, porcelain, you name it!

 Mantels, spandrels, bannisters and more, oh my!

There are found numbers and letters galore!

Mike carries all sorts of vintage lighting fixtures and has the vintage bulbs as well.

  Interior designers specializing in the urban farm feel would have a hey day here!

Or how about Industrial Chic?!

There is one huge industrial shelving unit filled with vintage locker baskets of  hardware; hinges, latches, knobs, etc.  I found some wonderful knobs here that I needed - more about that on another post!

 Set your GPS to 14971 1st Street NE, Aurora, Oregon now, and plan to stop by Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage if you find yourself on Interstate 5 in Oregon.  

 The town of Aurora also boasts a large concentration of little antique stores, which are homes to cafes, and one even has a gelato counter, so there is plenty of grub to sustain your pickin'!  I could easily spend a whole day in the "Mill" and another searching for antiques so this would be a great weekend destination depending on where you live. 

When you get to the Woodburn Factory Stores just off I-5, travel the short 7 miles east to the real treasures in Aurora!  If travel is not in your plans, then visit the "Mills" website here and start dreaming as you surf through the images of stock on hand. 
 I wish Mike continued success and look forward to my next visit to Aurora Mills - 
a place to cherish!

Before & After: Beachy Cupboard

 

Sometimes I have things that just don't seem to find a home, even though I think the piece would be perfect for someone!  This cupboard was one of those pieces!

Now, I thought it was great in my space when I did a Halloween display - the cupboard held all sorts of little pumpkins, scarecrows, owls, etc.  with the red interior I thought it would work in a country home or boys room - but maybe it was just too 'sorcerer'! 

With the Twilight movies so popular you would have thought this would be a hot item! 

But noooo!  I had this item for too long so it was time to do a makeover!

Maybe it was the star - so i decided to take the star off to make the design more neutral. But the cupboard looked really plain so I went in search of something and found a seashell embellishment and decided to transform the cupboard into 'Beachy'

I painted the inside an aqua color that is so popular right now and painted the outside in Annie Sloan's Old White chalk paint.

I added the seashell to the outside -Voila!   I'll be bringing this beachy cupboard to my booth at our Annual Nicolaus Labor Day Parade!

It can hang on a wall or sit atop a table and It has so much to offer in terms of display space - perfect in a bathroom to hold little perfume jars or lotions - 

Or maybe in a bedroom to display a cherished collection!

I hope it finds a loving home!

I've linked up to http://snapcreativity.com/show-and-tell-linky-092612/

Detours in Life!

Life has a way of creating detours day to day.  I've been on sort of a detour since January!  With my husband undergoing major back surgery, which involved installing two rods on either side of his spine and twenty screws, I've had a little readjustment in my daily life! 

Mike is doing great and I have a new found appreciation of all the daily chores he did before surgery which I've inherited over the last six months!  Remembering to take the trash out on trash day has become a major focus for me on Wednesday nights!  God forbid we miss trash day - we only have one toter and sometimes it just isn't enough!

On top of major surgery, we've also been busy creating a new home for my mother in law!  There was finishing the building of the new home, cleaning out the old home, moving all the stuff to the new home, disposing of debris on the property and now selling the old home, and getting her boxes unpacked at the new home! Whew! 

 We make a living by rice farming, so despite major surgery and moving my mother in law,

 the crop still had to get in the ground!  Our eldest son, Max, was offered a leave of 
absence by American Airlines where he is a pilot, while they go through bankruptcy 
structuring,  and it came at a perfect time for him to help on the farm during Mike's 
recovery!  

With all the bumps in the road, it was hard for me to get out to Melange, the store in Historic Folsom where I rented a space to sell my treasures.  I was able to find a new space to rent, in a store in Marysville, a short 15 minutes from my home. So between 

nursing my husband, moving my mother-in-law, and farming rice, I managed to relocate 
as well! 


 
If you find yourself in Marysville, CA come on by Fabulous Finds, 506 D Street in Historic Marysville - I'm in the "Boutique" room!  I adore my new space as it has a used brick wall
 that adds to the 'shabby chic' feel!

I have so much to catch you up on!  Before and after furniture projects, new artists and crafters, and new stores I want to feature!  I've missed blogging and telling you about the amazing creations and talented people I've come across in the last six months!  I feel so blessed by all the community members who have helped us out during this time.  Detours happen in life - but sometimes you need to go down a different road to appreciate all you have, and I am truly blessed!