I’m loving this wide angle lens.
We got out of the house yesterday and paid a visit to our friends at Milne Antiques. I felt like I’d been sprung from prison. As we drove there…the sun came out! It was still very humid, but I can’t tell you what a difference that sunshine made in our outlook.
Don was looking for a vintage suitcase, as he wants to use one to display his photos when he starts the street photography thing ‘officially.’ He messaged Rebekah late last week to ask her if she had any and she responded that she just so happened to be visiting the house of John Burroughs, the famous naturalist, the following Monday and she knew some vintage suitcases were part of the lot. (I had no idea that John Burroughs lived and worked in this area, but he did.) His granddaughter was clearing some of the belongings in his house, which is part of a family compound. More on the suitcases tomorrow.
As happens every time I visit Milne, we ended up bringing home more than the one item we were looking for. I bought a child’s chair in turquoise that I’ll share with you tomorrow – I haven’t taken a photo yet. My real find, which I zoomed in on and fell in love with immediately, was this:
Are you kidding me? I had to have it. I love graphics, I love books, I love libraries.
Rebekah told me it came from a former library in New Hampshire. It was first a house, than it was purchased by the town and turned into a library, now it’s been purchased by someone who is converting it back to a home. (I hope the town still has a library.)
As you know, I love quirky things that I am not going to see anywhere else – nothing mass produced or made to look old. I am confident that I won’t see this treasure anywhere else, but more importantly, it speaks to my love of books and reading. And, like the sign on our stair landing that says “Use Other Stairs” where there are no other stairs here to use, there’s a little joke involved. Whoever took the book hasn’t followed directions and the book hasn’t been put back.
I wouldn’t put one there anyway because I love the graphics too much.
I’m crazy about it. I can’t stop staring at it.
As I sit here in my chair, I keep looking at it and smiling.
The sun is out this morning, so we took the opportunity to sit and sip our second cup of coffee in the Secret Garden. The cicadas were loud and I could hear the bullfrog, as well.
Sort of perfect.
More tomorrow on our other finds and also pictures of the shop.
Happy Friday.
while i can admit to having a wee bit of jealousy, i have more happiness for you to have found such a sweet old book rack. it is perfect … and perfect for you!
but can i have first dibs if you ever decide to sell it? haha! yes, i know that’s not ever going to happen. :)
glad you and the sun got out for a while.
looking forward to photos of your other findings … you have great taste (i love graphics, too)!
happy weekend to you and don.
kathy in iowa
Yes, you can have first dibs. If I ever decide to sell it. Which seems highly doubtful!
Thanks, Kathy!
that is sweet; thanks, claudia … but i think that book rack has found its perfect and forever home already with you and don! :)
would be interesting to know what book that rack was made for … the Bible, a dictionary or something else? i wonder!
kathy in iowa
I wonder, too.
ps:
i don’t think i could have an antiques shop … i’d (hopefully) find cool things like that book rack, but then wouldn’t want to put them up for sale. i’d stare at them and smile, too.
i also hope that town (and every other one) has a library.
kathy in iowa
I couldn’t either. I’d be bringing everything home!
I keep thinking of the scene in Young Frankenstein where “the book” is the key to the secret passageway through the bookcase. Gene Wilder and Terri Garr keep ending up on opposite sides of the bookcase, each imploring the other to “Put the book back!”, so that they can reunite on the same side. (Oh, the lines in that film just won’t go away!)
Perfect! Although, as Don reminded me, I think it’s “Put the candle back!” But book works perfectly in that line.
Thanks, Shanna!
Awww, so right you are!
xo
Claudia, you make the MOST amazing finds. This one is just priceless! You sound very contented; glad you get out of jail.
It’s still really humid, but it’s sunny and that’s a good thing.
What a perfect find to get a bit over the days of rain and humidity! Looking forward to seeing the chair.
Thanks, Wendy!
Claudia, So glad you got a day out and found a treasure. It looks great . I can’t wait to see some of Don’s photos , that he has taken. We finally have a pleasant day…low humidity and around 75. That’s cool compared to what we have had. Hope you get some great weather for this weekend. Blessings, xoxo, Susie
Our humidity is still high and I’m hoping it will break by tomorrow.
so glad you had a good day.
and I love the wide angle lens too! and the wonderful vintage find for Don’s photo displays!
it was a very good day indeed! now. please put the book back! LOL xoxo
We did well yesterday!
It’s 96 degrees at 1:04 in the afternoon, headed up to another 100-degree day, another day of relentless sunshine. We’re under another burn ban, something we take seriously since a wildfire wiped out over 1,700 homes in 2011 in our community. Would you send some of your rain this direction?
I had so much fun seeing your new vintage item, and I can’t wait to see Don’s suitcase(s?) tomorrow. What a find to obtain something once belonging to a famous naturalist!
I would gladly send some of our rain your way!
Love it! I would have grabbed that up too :-) So glad you can get outside again. Rain and humidity have ruined plans for the last two weekends but now, here in SE WI, the humidity is gone and it’s going to be glorious the next few days. I’ve learned not to make plans too far in advance though.
Still humid here. Please let it be gone by tomorrow!
That sign is just the thing for a book lover. You are so fortunate to have that. Looking forward to tomorrow’s photos. Glad you and Don had a good outing.
Marilyn
We did, Marilyn. It was so nice to get out of the house!
What a cool find Claudia! Now, I’m anxious to see Don’s. I spent the day with a friend treasure hunting…best deals were at the thrift store. But, they certainly don’t compare to yours. Enjoy your evening! ;)
Treasures are treasures, no matter where they’re found!
A perfect addition your beautiful home- I am glad it found it’s wa to you
I would have bought it in a heartbeat
Siobhan
I couldn’t pass it up. I knew I would never see anything like it again. Thanks, Siobhan!
You have a great designer’s eye for rare finds and showcase many of them in your home. That book holder evokes a lot of feelings, even tho our library growing up was pretty modern. But that wooden sign is so humble and promotes civility that I always associate with books: be quiet in the library so as not to disturb others, put books back on the shelf if you’re not checking them out, return borrowed things on time and pay the fine if you are late–small things that make for civil existence. I love how every piece in your home from the utilitarian (couch, stove) to the decorative (egg cups, wall decor), intellectual (books, photos) has a person story and deep connection to you and Don. If I were ever to own my own cottage, I would love to share a shopping day with you.
Nora, thank you so much for your thoughtful and kind words. That’s what I’m always trying to do here. Everything has a story.
I’d be happy to share a shopping day with you!