Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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A Little Something

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The headline here at Mockingbird Hill Cottage continues to be:

 MHC: Trying to Exist on an Extremely Frugal Budget of

Next-to-Nothing.

You think I’m kidding? I assure you, I’m not. And I’m sure that many of you are doing the same thing. But even a budget of next-to-nothing might sometimes allow for a wee purchase. Just a small one. I have to do this kind of thing every once in a while because it makes me feel a little better. No, I’m not shopper who buys things in order to feel better about myself and I’m not feeling sorry for myself. But there are times when I simply need to buy a little something and I set a limit of $20.00.

This month – November – is the month of my birthday.

It’s a big one – one that I’m in denial about, one that I’d much rather avoid.

It’s looming.

So I just might need a little pick-me-up. Because life has been depressing as of late and I have been immersed in a feeling of hopelessness.

I dropped off some things to donate to Hurricane Sandy relief yesterday and stopped in at a favorite antique shop.

I came home with these.

I love old glove boxes. I often see them in solid colors. These faded prints are harder to find. Marked down to $4.50.

Adorable McCoy pot in my favorite color. Actually, this is a Nelson McCoy pot which pre-dates the McCoy markings.

See the NM mark? This is a smallish pot with a nifty design. I haven’t purchased anything McCoy in quite a while, partly because I only have so much room here at the cottage and partly because I’m trying to live as frugally as possible. (See headline.) Interestingly, the day we discovered Mabel (my Featherweight ) which is my early birthday present, I had this very pot in my hand, ready to purchase. As I stood at the counter, I decided that the Featherweight was purchase enough and I handed the pot back to the owner of the shop. I also saw the glove box that day.

Fast forward several weeks and they were still there.

They were waiting for me, don’t you think?

I’m happy to say that the total price for these two items came in at well under $20.00.

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The winner of a copy of Mr. Churchill’s Secretary is Regena Fickes. I’ve already contacted her. Congratulations, Regena!

Happy Monday.

Use Other Stair

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Last week, when Don and I were out and about looking at everything vintage, he saw a sign that he loved. He called me over and I agreed it would be a wonderful addition to our home. But we didn’t see a price and, since old signs tend to be pricey around here, we moved on. I thought about it several times during the course of the week. Turns out Don did, too.

Yesterday I was visiting the same shop and figured it was time to at least ask about the price.

$24.

Hello.

Welcome home.

But please use the other stair. If you can find it. The only ‘other stair’ around here is the spooky one that leads down to our outside-entrance-half-basement. If you want to use it, more power to you.

It’s no secret that we love words and fonts and signs. We have signs scattered around the cottage. This one is made out of wood and measures 24 x 18.  It’s old, chippy and battered. Just the way I like it. The dark green color perfectly matches the green fabric on our desk chair – a lucky coincidence.

And as Don says, it balances “all the flowers.”

Really? There are too many flowers here? I don’t think so.

But he’s right. Being aware of the weight and balance of a room is important.

Evidence: Christie’s beautiful rose painting on the left, graphically wonderful sign on the right.

And it’s fun. Everyone needs a bit of fun in their home.

Vintage Find: Necco Candy Jar

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Don and I drove to a favorite antique shop yesterday. The day was so beautiful that we had to get out of the house and pretend it was spring! Anyway, my plan was to look, not buy.

But then I saw this:

This is a vintage Necco Candies display jar.  It’s about 11 inches tall.

Look at the Art Deco-style graduated glass sides. It reminds me of the Chrysler Building. I’m a sucker for this style.

Swoon-worthy Deco graphics. Well, swoon-worthy for me.

I saw a vintage jar lot (4 or 5 fabulous designs) at auction last year. I bid on them, but they quickly went out of my price range. I’m fairly sure this jar was part of that lot. Since the auction is local, the buyers are usually local dealers. Several months ago, I saw an Art Deco-style jar with ridges in the design that I recognized from the auction lot in this very shop. I didn’t buy it and I kicked myself for it later. But, wonder of wonders, I got another chance.

I still hemmed and hawed. Could I justify the purchase?

Don started to list all the treasures I could display in the jar. (He gets us, ladies.) He suggested that I use it for a rotating display.

Okay, you talked me into it.

I’m not putting this in my studio. It will live in the living room and kitchen.

Would you leave some suggestions for treasures to display in the jar? Obviously, with Christmas coming, my first thought is vintage ornaments. Or pine cones (I have a slew of them, gathered from all the places I’ve lived.)

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

By the way, I used to live fairly close to a Necco factory in Cambridge, MA. And I love Neccos. So, it’s rather perfect, isn’t it?

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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