Callie Magee Antiques

Christmas trip

2009-12-17T10:24:00.001-06:00

We leave tomorrow early for a trip to California to visit my husband's family. They have their Christmas every year the weekend before Christmas. This, I have always felt was very fair of them. Then each smaller unit of the family can still have Christmas with their own or with the other side.

We do not always go but this year James felt it was important since his brother Don has been very sick, even losing the ability to walk for some time. He has had to re-learn how to walk. He asked James to try to make it this year and it has been 3 missed Christmas gatherings. With the store to run it is harder to get away. And James did spend 2 weeks last summer camping in Yosemite with his grandchildren and children.

This year also James' son from Greece will be attending.
Although James was with him and his sons on the camping trip, we really treasure those times we get to spend with Marc. The other son, Kevin lives in California. And flies out of Houston with his job as a pilot.

But it is for James' brothers that we are going. They live all over the state but the gathering is held at Paso Robles, Ca.
where one brother lives with his family.

There is going to be little time for anything since we fly out from Houston tomorrow morning and when we arrive in Los Angeles we go then on a 6 hour trip by rental car. The actual party is held on Sat. afternoon but there is visiting among the siblings during the whole day. We return to Los Angeles on Sunday night to be there for a quick getaway Monday morning. This is the reason I am not looking forward to this trip. Too much in too little time. But I could only get Bette to
fill in for me for this time as she is leaving on a trip with her family to Hawaii for Christmas week.

So to all I say Merry Christmas.
Lois

Merry Christmas to all

2009-12-11T16:03:00.001-06:00

I had a nice visit today with a lady and her husband who had found me from my blog. They were passing the downtown square and she saw the name on the windows and told him this is it!!!! We had such a nice visit and
it makes me feel like all this writing has a purpose. I did not get their names but hope they will return again and I will. We visited for some time. That is one part of this job that I love, meeting all the new people who come by the store.

Also making new friends. So next time you come in I will learn your names.

I wish each of you a lovely happy Christmas and to spend it with those you love. Life is too short to be angry or distant. Bring your loved ones together and hold them close.

Merry Christmas one and all.
Lois

Christmas decorating JOY TO THE WORLD

2009-12-01T13:40:00.006-06:00

Well the past three days have been spent in heavy decorating for the store. I am exhausted. James is exhausted too. The three display windows are the worst. You can not see the whole window in each but can see maybe part of what is seen from the outside.
The Downtown Antique dealers all wanted to go with a Polar Bear Express theme, however I could not do that.

I do not care what the theme is here. There is only one theme to me and that is Joy to the World, the Lord is come.

I am not going to beat around the bush and say happy holiday to you either. I will say Merry Christmas no matter whether politically correct or not.
THIS IS CHRISTMAS. It is not a generic holiday like Halloween, or Thanksgiving or whatever you want to add.

My windows reflect this although in one smaller one there is a Santa in a sleigh with gifts for the kiddies.

The other window is set up as a Church with a Choir singer in antique ivory choir robe and burgundy velvet dress. The two old windows are hung over each other to look like one in Church. I had a stained glass to place over that but it just did not hang safely there so we scratched that idea. There is a brass antique music stand and sheet music. I will try to add a picture of this when the sun is not bright on that side of the building.
I like it. I have received compliments about it and it did not cost me $ 40 per panel to have the art student pain a train and tracks on them. Sometimes you have to just be yourself and run with your own herd.

I wanted something all in green and white for the main window and I hope it looks as I wanted it to.
Due to the glare it is not as clear as it is in real life. But the angel is wearing a 1925 Wedding dress with her feather wings. Over her is the star leading the way.

"Ring out, ye bells, o'er all the earth,
To tell with brazen voice,
The tidings of the Savior's birth
And bid mankind rejoice"
from Seven Hundred Album Verses c 1884

Another shot:

Above and Below table decor in the front of the store. There are many displays: one of the front table is in all white and green and gold and silver.

The Christmas cards are from days of old on an angel holder.

To the right is another all in reds. Old Christmas ornaments. Always treasured.

To the left is outside the front door, done up in yellow and reds.
This is one of a pair of lights that are for sale here in the store. They are quite large. Used to hang in Athens Bar and Grill on the ship channel in Houston when it was open many years ago.
I thought it looked Christmasy.

To each of you in this season, MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours. Let the true reason for Christmas shine in each of us.

Lois

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T09:53:00.003-06:00

Getting ready for Thanksgiving Day is not so easy when you work all day Wednesday and have to work again on Friday.

I am finding I cannot any longer just do it all!!!!!!!!!

That old song, I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan, and

never let him forget he is a man, well, I guess I am a little too frayed at the edges to do it all any more.

I need help!!! Yes, I have admitted it now.

So where does this help come from? And when?

Let me tell you, yesterday my grandson who is now 20 called to ask if I am having Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. Well, where did this question come from? I have had the entire extended family at my house for over 20 years now. Since Mom got past doing it. Since she sold her home and moved to a smaller one in town that did not have enough room for all of us. There are 4 daughters in family including me. All with children and now grandchildren.

I could not believe though that he had not just assumed as he had in all past years that it would be at my house of course. He had been thus far to 19 Thanksgiving Dinners at my house.

I asked him did he forget this. He said I didn't get an invitation. I said I do not , nor have ever sent out invitations to Thanksgiving Dinner. Family just know this. He said ok and he was asking because a friend had invited him if he had no where to go. Strange. My motherly mind started working overtime here and I wondered is this friend female? I would not ask this though but just said see you Thanksgiving and bring a guest if you like.

This year I am not quite up to it though. All other years I have prepared most of the meal. One sister brings her specialities, homemade yeast rolls which I dearly love and are from my Mom's recipe. Oh course she would be a good cook since she majored in cooking in college. Well, almost majored in it since her original ambition was to become a home economics teacher. She did not know this was a dying breed of teacher and when graduated there were no positions available so she went to work for Immigration instead.

But I mostly made this meal for my family. It was my gift to them. Each year we all scatter for Christmas to our individual homes so grands can come there and play with their gifts without the mix with cousins and so on.

By this time I would have prepared all my pies. NO I have not done so yet. That is on the agenda for tonight.

By now I should have washed the Reynolds Spode China which I love for Thanksgiving dinner and especially since my maiden name was Reynolds, this is why I collected this china and enough for all Reynolds clan to sit down together with the same china. Yes, I have a ton of it.It is wonderful for this holiday since the colors are all in fall colors.

This is the one time of the year many of the younger ones actually eat at a proper table with china, sterling and crystal on tablecloth and with cloth napkins. Do I think this is something they should be required to do? No, I am no snob. I have always liked to expose my kids to things that were good for them and from the past. This is the old

history lover in me coming out.

Here is a picture of my family at Thanksgiving after all the other family had left.

So for this year, I am on my own preparing the dinner with a little help from others.

James is always a good sport and helper in the kitchen. He is always smiling too.

I am thankful for him especially.

When we sit down together, although not at one table but in close proximity to each other on Thanksgiving Day we will all bow first to give thanks to our God without Whom none of this year's successes and accomplishments would be possible.

Blessings to you on this Thanksgiving.

Lois

Black Friday

2009-11-20T10:25:00.002-06:00

Today I am posting to copy others who have gone with Black Friday. No other reason. Oh, and it is fun.
(The picture on my header is from the front table here in the store decorated for Thanksgiving. )

To the left is an old Victorian hat in the store here and to the right is a duo of old black stone necklaces. They are both from 1900 to 1920. In the middle is a 1800's black mourning dress which appears almost a charcoal here but in real light it is as black as black can

can be. And the next one is a c 1910 black velvet dress with a large bow. This one feels so good to touch and is very luxurious looking. With it is a 1930's black handbag with a brass clasp and chain. The chair is part of a parlor set here in the store that has original silk velvet fabric on it and carved angels. It is truly a beautiful set of settee, rocker and arm chair and 2 side chairs. From another place in time.

This is my contribution to Black Friday. Hope your Friday is going well.
With Thanksgiving coming up next week I will probably not post until I get all decorated for Christmas
and will show some scenes of my Christmas window displays.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving full of family time together.
Lois

An End of an Era

2009-11-18T09:36:00.002-06:00

The article about sums up the history of this old commissary building in Trinity Texas, the place where I was born. My father worked here when I was a child during the time it was an egg company. He was the manager of the plant. But previously in my baby days he worked at the sawmill operations. I can still remember the logs floating in the mill pond when I was a young child. They milled the old Texas longlead pine and these trees had some size to them.
When he was with the egg company, called Sherwood Farms he managed the facility and we were allowed to come in with him on weekends if he needed to check for a teletype or something from the main office in Houston. I loved the smell of the old wood in that building which would have been old even then. To this day I love to walk into an old house or building and the scents are reminescent of those days to me.
What Sherwood Farms did is this: they had a series of private contracted chicken farms and these chickens exclusively laid eggs for Sherwood Farms, who sterilized the eggs, graded the eggs into sizes, and packaged to ship out. Dad's job was dealing with the private owners and overseeing the plant operations as well.
I saw my first teletype machine here at Sherwood Farms. The office there stuck with me and in some way prepared me for my first job later on before college.
But to get back to the original life of this building. As you can guess the sawmill called originally Thompson's and later Texas Long Leaf used the store for their employees to purchase items they needed and then pay their accounts when they received their paychecks. The owners got rich as lumber barrons and the employees barely survived. But they had jobs and that placed them out in front of the people during that time who did not. This was of course before my time, but being the family historian I asked lots of questions when I was growing up and thankfully retained the answers these years since.
Since Daddy had technical and bookkeeping knowledge we were not as poor as many of the people were. But Trinity was and is a poor town even to this day. I have not lived there since I graduated high school there but it is only 20 miles away so we are there often to visit the remaining family members who still live there.
This building I recently visited with my aunt and her daughter Lauren and Lauren's son Jared. We had heard it was coming down and wanted a last visit of a historic old landmark in the small town. We spent the day in Trinity as my aunt lives away also. We had lunch at the local greasy spoon cafe who was serving old southern favorites such as chicken and dumplings and banana pudding. Yes, I succumbed to the lure of having this
local favorite. It was pretty good but as memories go it did not quite measure up to Grandma's.
The building was already in stages of decay and I would estimate it would have taken a million dollars to repair it.
Some floors were fallen through. Those stairs I climbed to go to Daddy's office were still standing though at this time. I waded across weeds and was praying not to encounter any snakes but made my way to the office at the top of those stairs where he spent many a day and evening working. My heart was right up in my throat and I was near tears when I decided that was enough for one day.
I left with a small piece of the old Texas Longleaf pine board in my hand that still had some original paint left on it. But I left with a big memory in my heart.
Memories are almost forever.
Lois Please do not use my family pictures.

On each Thursday in December other than Christmas Eve, we will be open until 7 pm. All other 5 antiques stores in Huntsville will be as well. There are plenty of activities planned here on the downtown square for December. Check out the Main Street web site or the Chamber of Commerce for additional information.
I would like to mention our new relocated Veterans Museum here in town. They had moved into their new wonderful building and are open for tours and visits. There is a convention room there for large groups and events as well. Huntsville also has the Sam Houston Museum grounds and homes and the Texas prison museum which is really very good.
On Dec. 5 and 6th there are Tours of historical homes in town and on the 5th the annual Christmas Parade.
The Old Town Theater is hosting the Sanders Family Christmas show and many other related events. There will be a movie for kids the day school lets out for Christmas holiday on Dec. 18. We are hoping to bring in snow for the day so they can have a fun day of sledding or sliding in the fresh snow. The snow will be God made snow just not from here locally.

A salute to our Veterans

2009-11-11T12:24:00.002-06:00

Today we stop to celebrate our Veterans and what they have contributed to making us the Land of the Free.
Today they are worn, beaten, injured but still supporting the United States of America. No matter your
political preferance or whether you support the current administration or not, today is a day to honor our
Veterans. They did not check first to see what political party was in office before serving in our military forces.
Today put aside these differences for a moment to give our respect for the military today and in the past. They proudly served!!!

My grandfather Frank Murry during his WW 1 days as a soldier. This was when he was very young. He was great fun for a grandfather telling us wonderful stories of his life and people he had known. I have to say he made the summers very interesting when he came to stay with us shortly before his death.
The orange color on the photo is not blood, but just something picked up during the years on the picture. This is the only one we have of him during his soldiering days.

A WW 1 Uniform picture below is of uniform here in the store

These two look very comfortable with their situations however we know that was a brief moment out of their lives in the military when they posed for this portrait.

Anticipation of November

2009-10-28T14:15:00.001-05:00

All the November issues of magazines have golden leaves, turkeys and pumpkins. It makes you want to rush out to purchase these items as though you could not live a moment longer without. On our side of the Square here in Huntsville, finally some of the other stores are getting in the mood for the upcoming holidays. I was decorated the first of October.

Yesterday Twanya at a neighboring store went to the feed store and got rectangular bales of hay for us to use and this made some difference in the spirit of things. I have to say it sure looks like Fall around here.

To the left is a page from the November Country Living. The leaf looks so crisp I can almost touch it.

I love this page from the current Martha Stewart Living November issue. Quiet and elegant yet saying it all!!!!
Do we remember to give thanks? Each Thanksgiving when my entire family comes together at our house, the
kids are anxious to eat but we take time to reflect on the blessings we have received through the year. And to give thanks back to our Creator.

And last but not least of the November magazines is, Romantic Homes. Their cover is beautiful and colorful. There are gorgeous recipes inside.

My favorite time of the year, right after Christmas is soon coming when my family will be home together again. I look forward to cooking all the night before and rushing around to make sure it is as perfect as I can make it for them.

My poor husband James is a helper. He will do anything I assign him.
He will wash up dishes, mop the floor or clean toilets. He alleges that I do not ever really clean house but once a year, prior to Thanksgiving.
I want to make the day the best I can and make the best memories for all of us, children and adults.

When I am past and the kids and their own kids gather for Thanksgiving,
I want to hear from Heaven, remember when Mom did this and that.
That would be a reward only a Mother could understand.

Happy Thanksgiving to all,
Lois

Old cookbooks below from the store so no matter whether you use your grandma's recipes or some you gather from magazines or friends, cook cook cook.

Fall Friday

2009-10-23T11:12:00.002-05:00

This cooler Fall weather is wonderful after a few more days of rain here in Eastern Texas this week.
With all this rain we are beginning to become tropical.

I am showing some apothecary bottles that are for sale here in the store that came to me
via Vermont from an old drug store in New York. So these bottles have really travelled.
Also shown are other drug store items.

And here at the bottom are clocks to remind you to change your clock for the end of daylight savings time on Nov. 1.

Favorite photos of Roundtop-Warrenton-La Bahia from this show just ended

2009-10-09T15:16:00.000-05:00

Some of my favorite photos of Warrenton-Roundtop-LaBahia Shows during this latest Antique show.

The booth to the right was decorated for Christmas all in Aqua. This was truly astonishing. I did not talk to any booth owners during this time since these were not manned when I visited.

This one with the caged lady was my husband's favorite. Wonder why?

This was a truly lovely booth at La Bahia where we shopped under the shade of the large old Live Oak trees.

This shade was really appreciated on the day we visited as the humidity was terribly high. I, being a store owner am no longer used to being out in that. We are air conditioned here in the store all year around.

What can I say about this elegant display? Wonderful and simple.

I could not get my camera to work when we were with Theresa at her booth but I want to tell you it

was breathtaking!!! The taxidermy birds were amazing and I wanted to buy all of them without a purpose in mind on what I would do with them. She truly knew what she was doing when she planned this display. Maybe she will publish her own pictures of this.

Until next time,

Lois

Old Jewelry: memories and more

2009-10-07T12:07:00.005-05:00

Today when I place a fine piece of jewelry from the 1920's and 30's in the jewelry case here at the store where we sell antique and estate jewelry as well as other antiques , I remember Great Grandmother Minnie and those times in her home. Just the two of us. I feel I am fortunate to have known both great grandmothers in my life as many of my friends did not get the chance to be alive when the greats were. This gr grandmother lived to be about 70 and the other one who we called Granny Boo, due to her blindness and us sneaking up on her trying to scare her and yelling boo, she lived to be 99.

Great-Grandmother Minnie was quite wealthy and had so many wonderful things in her house. I took my time and examined each one without touching them as she watched over me.

But the best part of a trip to her house was her jewelry and makeup and furs. She allowed me to dress up in her furs, jewelry and apply as much makeup on my little 5 year old face as I wanted. What a mess I probably made. She never scolded me. Others said she was not a warm person, however I never saw that. She let me do much as I wanted in her house. The old jewelry was the favorite and I shudder now to think of the cost of some of her items, but she never said not this one or maybe when you are older. I was allowed to try on until I tired of the game and went on back next door where my grandmother, her daughter lived and where my family would be. I often remember these times now. She died almost 50 years ago.

I especially love those Czech pieces made in the 20's and 30's and the extravagance they portray with only glass and rhinestones. Not many precious jewels here during this era.

In addition to the Art Deco jewelry I have an extensive inventory of Victorian and Edwardian and 1960's to 1980's designer jewelry as well.

We try to keep those that are favorites of our customers here.

To bottom left are my two grandbabies, Lane and Jayleigh. Had to put them in somewhere and they have nothing to do with vintage or antique jewelry. But they are part of my heart. They love to come to the store for tea parties. This is something I did with their mother when she was small and she wanted to be sure they experienced tea parties when they came along. There is a children's area of the store with a small tea set and they automatically head in there now when they come. Even Lane the baby boy likes our tea parties. His Dad is a little worried about his son having tea parties but I said it won't hurt him any. And they do enjoy it. The last time I had planned to take them to Farmhouse Sweets here on the Square also for ice cream when they came, and we did that. Then when we got back to the store they wanted a tea party anyway. This is a wonderful enjoyable thing for me but I hope it will be for them like the makeup and jewelry were to me when I was about their ages. MEMORIES, what better thing is there for grandmothers to leave behind?

Love,

Lois

Special Kitchen Issue of Romantic Homes

2009-10-03T17:12:00.004-05:00

Brown transferware in my store to left and pink or red Crown Ducal china also in my store. Below is blue and white.

COMING SOON: Check your magazine counter for the upcoming special Kitchen issue of Romantic Homes in addition to the regular monthly issue. This is the cover to left.

Also in the current issue of Romantic Homes I absolutely love the Furnivals Quail pattern transferware.

We have here in the store a large inventory of this pattern as well as other transferware in various colors. I will try to add some shots of ours if can get camera to work right. If anyone talks to my husband before the birthday coming up in Nov. be sure to mention that I need a new camera. OK? I would do the same for you if asked.

Below is the red Crown Ducal in the center sitting in white lacey charger. Have much more of this that I can add later when I find the file with pictures I saved. I am such a novice when it comes to blogging.

Below is the beautiful haunting glory of Old English Rose. It is by Royal Albert who also makes the better know Old Country Roses which is almost as beautiful as this. The Replacements Ltd. man came around about a year ago and cleaned me out of this pattern but since have been able to accumulate more for the store.

Bavarian and RS Prussia are favorites of mine and many of my customers here.

Haviland patterns are always bought as fast as I can find them. I do a good business with china even though it is not like a few years back!!!

My old standby is blue and white.
In the special kitchen issue there is another kitchen with blue and white that you will love if you are like me. My kitchen walls are yellow with ivory below the chair rail and blue and white china to the excess all over the walls and in cabinets, on floors and wherever you look.

Teal to the left.

Above is an area of my store showing all blues and whites. One customer said, "This is my favorite corner in town." Please do not use my pictures, thanks.

White Ironstone

2009-09-26T17:05:00.001-05:00

So many have posted about white ironstone that I hate to even mention it. However, it is my favorite also.
While I am waiting on my surprise birthday gift in November from my husband , which is to be a camera,

til then I have to use some pictures I have in my computer from the store.
This is in the old white jelly cupboard. Most of this is older but to me it is all beautiful. I have so many customers who look exclusively for white ironstone. I try to keep an assortment but since it is such demand I really need to look when I go to Roundtop tomorrow.

I know I will find some there.
We usually stay at the Ant Street Inn in Brenham but this time I waited too long and they were booked.
My husband likes the room with the grain elevator in the middle of it. Looks like a guillotine to me. He calls it the Ant Hill Inn.
One advantage at this hotel, other than the elegance and comfort, is you get all the free Blue Bell ice cream you want. They keep it stocked in the 2nd floor refrigerator. We have stayed there many times.
If you get an opportunity when the Spring show comes around, book a room there. You won't be disappointed.

Hope to see all of you at the blog party Sunday night at Theresa's booth.

Death of a former mother-in-law

2009-09-22T15:18:00.005-05:00

Naomi entreating Ruth to leave her:

I am no Ruth and she was no Naomi. We did what we had to do as daughter-in-law and mother-in-law. That time is long past and tomorrow we travel to Lake Charles to attend the funeral of this woman who so impacted my life in my younger days when I was married to her son. I was very young then and perhaps had not developed the skills needed to exist within the scope of the matriarch of my husband's family. My family had been so very different than this French Cajun
family I landed in when I married the oldest son.
They lived large, they argued at the dining table for fun after the dishes were removed. I was
shocked. My family was quiet. I had rarely seen anyone argue.
She was a champion French cook. I was able to make French toast, grilled cheese sandwiches and soup. I loved to read, take quiet walks, and was totally her opposite in almost every way.
For the first years we were married, the large studio portrait of his former fiancee remained on the wall in the dining room of their home. Yes, I am serious. She had been the one that the mother had wanted for her son. She was the local girl, the Catholic girl who had attended the same Church.
I was the outsider. I was Baptist. I was younger. I was from another state. I was shy, terribly so.
I was set up for failure had we lived closer to them. Or maybe they would have taken me, at my young age and molded me into what they wanted. They did not count on the streak of stubborn
Texan that lived in me. We were not meant for each other from the beginning but lasted 16 years trying to find this out. We did have 2 sons during this time and for them I guess it was worth the suffering.
I will be at her funeral for my 2 sons. For their kids. This is something I will do. This is something I want to do.
Through these last years she and I have became almost friendly. I have forgiven and she has forgotten my differences. We have both mellowed out I guess. The seriousness of those times
is lost somewhere. The children have mended the fences that separated us.
In recent years she has taken my side whenever we are all together for a wedding, funeral, or graduation. This was a surprise to me. I never expected it. NEVER.
Tomorrow I will probably cry more than anyone there. I did when my ex husband's wife died
2 years ago. She had become a friend. The Priest that conducted her funeral came to me after and said" I do not know your relation to the deceased but I am sorry for your sorrow." How could I say this was the wife of my former husband who had replaced me? Just left him wondering.
This former mother-in-law was always a Christian, attending Church more than anyone I ever knew. It seemed so contradictory to me when I was a new bride. So tomorrow I will celebrate what she was to her family.
Life is strange at best. Life goes on. The poem below is then dedicated to Edith, my former mother in law.
Lois

"We may write our names in albums,
We may trace them in the sand.
We may chisel them in marble,
With a firm and skillful hand;
But the pages soon are sullied,
Soon each name will fade away;
Every monument will crumble,
like all earthly hopes, decay.
But, dear friend, there is an album,
Full of leaves of snowy white,
Where no name is ever tarnished,
But forever pure and bright.
In that Book of Life, God's Album,
May your name be penned with care:
And may all who do here write,
Have their names forever there."
from Seven Hundred Album Verses, c 1883
J.S.Ogilvie

What's wrong with yellow?

2009-09-16T09:29:00.015-05:00

I think yellow is the most misunderstood color. I never wear it. I never buy it. I ignore it. You never see a Yellow Tuesday blog or Yellow Friday blog day, do you? You see White Wednesday and Green Friday or whatever. And if I ever find my missing camera I will do White Wednesday too.
I love it!!!

But let us take a closer look at the color yellow:

We see it in nature and it shows off in all it's glory. God made yellow roses and they truly stand out among their competition.

Now glance at the vase of mixed roses and tell me which color jumps out at you. Yellow, right?

Fashion may ignore yellow for the most part but look at some shots of beautiful older clothing in yellow:

And more recent items in yellow: 1950's yellow prom dress

More old fashion with yellow and other colors blended to create something that was quite the style in it's day.
Left below is 1930's floral yellow and brown party dress. Middle is Black and yellow 1950's party dress with bolero and epaulets, and last of all right 1920's flapper dress with hand beading. All clothing items for sale here at Callie Magee Antiques in the Clothing Boutique.

Dreary wonderful rain

2009-09-12T11:33:00.005-05:00

Today it is raining, and raining and raining. I should not complain though since we have really needed the rain here in Texas. Here it seems to be feast or famine.

My husband is working with a blood drive today and there are very few people coming into the store due to the rain, and I am getting very melancholy. I don't usually sit still long enough to let this happen, but with autumn and rain and everyone's lives changing away from leisure to concentrate more on work, well--you see how it is.

The music I am playing in the store today is a piano CD with Newell Oler who was a great(I thought so anyway) pianist who lived in Dallas and played sometimes at the Anatole Hotel about 15 years or more ago. That is where I first heard him. He has since died but his family still market his CD's and I have them all. I love piano music and play it quite often here where I also sell his CD's. I have a beautiful baby grand piano that was made in 1927. I do not play but am teaching myself to. I did read music back in the school days so had that little advantage however they say you should start young to be good, therefore I am hoping for mediocre. I played clarinet and drums while in school. I tried piano at one time but that did not work out at the time. Now, today I think it would be the best thing I ever did if I could play. So we will see how it goes. We have a piano teacher who lives across the street but I am older than she is and it seems embarassing to take actual formal lessons. Especially when I see the kids coming and going from her house in the afternoons that I am home. I may change my mind and hire her to teach me later on, but at this time I want to go at my own pace.

This business is unusual in that some days you are busy and never sit down and others like today you could write a book. That is another thing I am doing. I have worked hard in my career prior to this one and there are many things I plan to do with the rest of my life.

I was fortunate that I could take early retirement and follow my dreams.
Lois

Remember what Mark Twain said:
"Let us so live that when we come to die
Even the undertaker will be sorry."

Remember the Antique Show here in town September 19 and 20 Sat. and Sunday sponsored by Nitch in Time Antiques who are a local antique store down the block from me. It is held at the Fairgrounds building.

Looking out the window on the world

2009-09-10T09:17:00.006-05:00

" Hours are golden links-God's token-
Reaching heaven but one by one;
Take them, lest the chain be broken
Ere thy pilgrimage be done."

From Seven Hundred Album Verses
J.S.Ogilvie
c 1884

Life sometimes seems short when we are so busy with everyday lives and tasks we need to accomplish.
This month makes me think back on those times in life when we were not so busy. Our childhood. Even though we are still in the heat of an Indian summer and no leaves yet turned, September always makes me think of the old song Autumn Leaves.

Going back to my childhood, we would be back in school by now and getting down to the reasons we were there. But all the while daydreaming of the summer just past.

My summers were filled with running freely in the woods across the main road from our home. I grew up mostly in the country but we moved into town when I was in 10th grade. Our own land on this side of the road was mostly pasture land with a scattering of trees.
I missed those places to roam, think and dream of the future when we moved into town.

My husband calls me a little Indian maid when I tell him about those wanderings from the time Mom released me from the daily tasks she had for me until time to come in for dinner. I did not even stop to come to the house for lunch, having packed myself a little lunch of peanut butter sandwich and kool aid in a jar. I would usually find berries to add as my dessert.
These days were so full and I could not tell you a single thing I did while out there lost in my forest. I remember I was not allowed to go further than a railroad track that cut through the forest near my home. This was the Waco Beaumont Timpson and Sabine Train which was a small local area railroad that had only one train that I know of. They would do large hauling between those small towns.

Later on the engine sat in the roundhouse for many years rusting away with no one able to raise the money needed to restore it until finally it was given to the Railroad Museum in Galveston.
It is now fully restored, or was prior to Hurricane Ike and I have not checked to see how it fared during the hurricane.

I have a picture of it from it's early days long prior to my birth and my memories of it. The picture shown here is small.

News of deaths or events came to us via this little train. They would stop and after blowing the whistle several times we would go out to the tracks and the conductor would tell us whatever it was we needed to know.

This was many many years earlier when we first moved to this house and while we were waiting for a phone line to free up so we could get a phone.
There were party lines and only 3 in our direction were installed so whenever one went off another could get that line. I believe we waited about 2 years for a phone. Since we lived in a mainly rural area progress moved more slowly here.
This train was nicknamed Wobbly Bobbly by all the kids in our area.

Today I still look out the window sometimes when it is slow here at the store and think back to those carefree days of roaming in the forests and eating wild berries and dreaming of what my life would be.
Now I look out and still dream. I don't think you should ever stop dreaming.

" We could count time by heart-throbs;
He most lives who thinks most, speaks
the noblest, acts the best. "

from Seven Hundred Album Verses
J.S.Ogilvie c 1884

I am pretty sure I was born in the wrong time, but what can you do but make this time a little of what it would have been had you lived in the time you think you belonged to. That is what I try to do with my antique store. Go back to a more gentle and civilized time before CNN and other networks spread the world before us to worry over every day.

My husband gave me a cup that said" Why pray when you can fret and worry." He wanted me to read it every time I was having tea in the morning and probably hoped it would influence me.
Which it has although I still admit to being a second generation worrier. My Mom invented it I think.

But for now, I look out the window and remember the time I would have fit into better. In this little old antique type town built around the courthouse square it is not hard to imagine yourself in the 1800's. But it is home.

" Some write for pleasure, some write for
fame,
But I write simply to sign my name."

Seven Hundred Album Verses
J.S.Ogilivie
c 1884

Have a good week!!!
Lois

This picture from the new book Images from America-Huntsville that I sell in my store. This was taken in the early 1900's here in town at the college.

P A P E R D O L L S

2009-09-05T13:10:00.005-05:00

Did you ever play with paper dolls when you were a child?
My sisters and I did all the time.
We would receive paper dolls as gifts at birthdays and Christmas but we would also cut them out of magazines
and catalogs. The store paper doll clothing had little tabs you bent over the dolls to use over and again, but the ones cut out were not made this way and the tabs were homemade cutouts. My sister would forever lick these clothes on the doll figures and therefore they did not hold up long. I would become so frustrated with her that I would try to snatch my favorites from her which would usually result in them becoming headless.
We never were able to make peace over the paper doll issue and in time forgot to even play with those that survived.
I have in later years begun to collect paper dolls and now have many.
The Dolly Dingle paper dolls to the right are some I have collected as they were from before my time. Mine are, alas no more.
During the years my granddaughter and I have also played paper dolls as she finally got old enough to not tear them up. She liked the Beauty and the Beast paper dolls I had collected a few years ago. And the American colonial paper dolls also with all the beautiful clothes.
I think this is what drew me to paper dolls, the wonderful costumes.

Tribute to my Aunt Arlene

2009-08-26T10:10:00.011-05:00

As you read this it will mean that my aunt Arlene has passed away. She was so beautiful. She was so funny. And she was so kind. She was 83 on July 30 of this year. Her husband Art had died a year ago this month. She had been ready to leave this world since that day when he was laid to rest.
She did all the things a widow should do: ordered the grave marker, turned over as much as she could of her financial work to her most responsible daughter, Kat, and made the arrangements for her own funeral.
If she had not brought my Mom home with her from school that weekend many years ago when they were teens , how different my life would have been. My Mom met her older brother who is my Dad and they fell for each other immediately. They married in a year and were together for almost 50 years when my Dad died. Mom lived
another 15 years before she left us about 3 years ago. She and Arlene remained good friends all their lives. I called her Aunt Ninnie since I could not say Arlene when
a baby. She remained a sweet and loving person until the end.
Time marches on and does not let us keep any of our older loved ones
until we become the older generation. I still have an aunt and uncle
left then I go on the front line of the older generation myself.
I hope people can look back on my life when the time comes
and say I was a kind and loving person.
Lois
Picture is of my Mom left Arlene in center and cousin Jo. Date about 1940 or 41.
In the three pics together there are two of Aunt Ninnie alone at age 14 and 17 and
one of her with Art, her husband from about 3 years ago.

She died at 7:28pm on Wed. Aug.26, 2009 in Spring Texas where she had lived since
her husband's death last year. We will surely miss her sweet smile and loving disposition forever.

Old clothing from the past

2009-08-11T10:38:00.006-05:00

As many who know me already know, I love vintage and antique clothing. Dresses, hoops, hats,
lingerie and jewelry. I sell all this in my store. My clothing starts about c 1850 and goes through 1970. I have accessories to go with these periods.

Today I will use family photos to show different styles
Please do not use my family photos without my prior approval.

I will start off with the picture of two of my great grandmothers, Frances Armilde on left and Minnie on right. The picture is taken in 1918. They are wearing the white lawn dresses of the Edwardian period. Notice they upped the ante a little with the fern froths they are holding. Very Edwardian.

Next to the left is a picture of my grandmother, Effie at age 15 or 16 prior to her marriage at age
16. I am so glad I was not named after some of these grandparents. ( Although another one was named Arabella and I may have liked that name.) Effie is wearing a creation of her own with serge skirt and large collared shirtwaist. A huge bow in her hair. She was very creative and I wish every day I had inherited that trait instead of only her wide forehead and her love of books and reading.
I even read can labels when there is nothing else in sight to read. I understand she was about the same although in her time there was less leisure time with all the baking and canning and gardening and general work to keep a home going.
She herself labeled this photo as "A lean on a post" so we will leave it as she saw it.

We see her again in a shot with best friend Laura. They are wearing styles of the era, 1916.

And last of the family picture gallery is this one of my grandmother and Daddy as a baby, in 1920.
She is wearing the middy type jumper and skirt
with a hat. I am sure she sewed all this.

If you are in the area look us up.

Old Hats

2009-08-07T12:28:00.020-05:00

Hats have been around for some time. I can remember in the 60's when ladies wore hats to Church.

When you think back on what our grandmothers and great grandmothers wore you have to remember their hats.

No woman left home without her hat. This was even for a run to the grocery store or post office or bank.

Ladies had so much more to do to be ready to go out into public than we do today. I am guilty of sometimes going out as I know I should not.

Once when living in Florida, I had to take my husband to work that morning and did not have time to get all made up since we were running late not knowing in advance his car would not start.
I had on my robe and pjs beneath and not a sign of makeup.
Wouldn't you know that morning I would have a blow out on the way back home after delivering him to his job at the Naval Base. Here I was standing beside a 4 lane highway in my robe, waiting for help to come. When it did I was embarrassed and hopefully learned a vital lesson in life. Not to mention that there was a wreck behind me and I was on TV. All while dressed in my night clothes. Now I try to at least be dressed in something I would not mind being taken on to a hospital in.

Below are hats from my store.

Did your Mom ask you every morning before you left for school, " Do you have on good undies?" Our mother did. In case you had a wreck you would not want anyone to see torn ones. This is the truth!!!

So you see how vital it was to be properly dressed? I surely learned that lesson early.

For reference on hats here are some good books available on Amazon.com

Books of old

2009-07-30T15:40:00.005-05:00

I am writing the story of my family who lived in Tennessee shortly before 1820.
This is a fairly recent undertaking I guess but I did start on this same book back 20 years ago,
but had too much going on to continue. This story will probably be listed as fiction since I want to elaborate on their daily activities to make it more interesting to others. But it is mostly fact.
I have done research for many years on this family, which all began with a letter to
me in the 1960's from my grandmother, Effie shortly before her death.
In this letter she told me many historical family details previously unknown to me. She told of our great great grandfather, John Carroll Reynolds who went to war in the Civil War. He joined up with his brother James and fought with General Hood. James was badly injured in the Battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas and John( or Carroll as he was always known by family) , got permission to take James home to Texas. They were Calvary so there was no problem since they had their own horses with them from home. James died on the way home at Fort Smith, Arkansas and Carroll buried him there in a cemetery. Sad story. Luckily, James had married before going into the War, being older than Carroll and left a wife and child to survive him. Otherwise that line would have ended with him. Carroll returned to duty and was captured and sent by rail to City Point, Va. A few years ago we were in Virginia onour second trip to Williamsburg and happened upon this place where Carroll had been held prisoner in 1864. A strange feeling to be there and know your own ancestor was a prisoner there. I love history so this was a thrilling moment for me. Whatever side your ancestors were on in that war, they all lost. I had some on each side. But it was a huge loss to this country and those that would have lived and produced children too.
My favorite movie of all time is Gone with the Wind. First of all, I love Clark Gable. He never loses his charm to me. My husband knows this and just smiles knowing Clark is dead. I love those smiling eyes.
The losses of those war years must have been something we could not fathom. Little food available, new clothing impossible, bills with nothing to pay and no crops coming in to get any income. Almost everything in the south went to pay for the military expenses. Many soldiers were not paid regularly in the south, there was not enough food for them and they had to bring their own horses and clothing. The nice pictures of handsewn military uniforms did not last long into the war. I grieve for what they went through, what they lost in mostly in time and death and injury. There were no winners in that war.
I guess I have gotten morbid enough for today. Many people did not own slaves but lost everything they did have due to this war.
So when I see movies like Gone with the Wind, North and South, and Rage of Angels(another good Clark Gable movie) I stop and remember those who gave all for this war like James and his family.
We should never under-estimate what our soldiers have done and are doing for us. That is our history lesson for today.
Feeling a little melancholy today,
Lois

A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL

2009-07-25T10:08:00.032-05:00

Our fast 4 day trip for our anniversary was to New Orleans. We arrived on Sunday and stayed two days and nights there before moving on up the River Road(Mississippi River) toward Baton Rouge.
Our hotel in New Orleans is the one we always stayed at before, Lafitte Guest House. Above pictures It is located in a circa 1850 house in the French Quarter. It is 3 floors plus a full attic. Our room was not our usual since another couple got to it before us in reserving.

Below is James before a huge Live Oak tree at Destrehan Plantation. Various scenes from Destrehan and Houmas House plantations are shown as well as the Destrehan house circa 1780.
Very old. At Destrehan Plantation we had a tour guide named Kelly who did a great job informing us as to the history of this fine old house, sturdy after such a many years. We also were very impressed with Don who demonstrated the art of boucillage which is how they filled in between boards in that era. Very informative guides.
At Houmas House we had lunch in their restaurant and enjoyed the extensive gardens until time for our tour which was conducted by Judy. I have never seen a tour guide like her. She sang and played the Steinway piano which is one of only 40 left in the world like it to Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte which is one of the movies filmed there, along with "A Woman Called Moses" in1979, Mandingo in 1975, Fletch Lives in 1988, Snow Wonder for Hallmark in 2006, A closer Walk in 1976, Longstreet TV series in 1971, Moon of the Wolf in 1972, and many more. She also allowed me to play some of Ode to Joy on this piano. Once inside you can see why. The circular staircase is self supporting and carves it's way to the third floor without support. They just do not build them like that anymore. And thanks to Judy for the best tour I have ever experienced in any historical home or building. She made us laugh and thanked us at the end for laughing at her jokes. It was sure a fun way of learning history.

Our stay at Nottoway Plantation is the best ending to a short get away that I can think of. Our room as you can see was superb. Always is. The turndown service was especially poignant this time since the maid and I got into a great discussion on husbands. She had recently lost hers and it seemed to fit somehow with the reason for our stay there, our anniversary, and made me appreciate him even more. She had had a good sincere husband too. I felt her great loss now she is alone.

Breakfast the next morning was quiet until the fire alarm went off in the entire house and blasted our ears until we all went outside. The cooks and waitresses went with us. One cook had burned something. This old house is well protected with fire alarms, I can tell you!!!
Our waitress was a GI bride from Germany and we especially enjoyed our talking with her.
After this we walked the grounds and while they do not compare to Houmas House, it was very enjoyable. Nottoway is always enjoyable. The white piano was no longer in the white Ballroom and no one seemed to know where it was. They had recently had a large expensive renovation of the entire house. The lower level now is the restaurant with a full bar. A very nice redo.
There is also now a museum in the lower level showing items from the plantation days. If you can see one plantation on River Road this is my favorite. At 67 rooms, it is the largest antebellum home still standing in the south. The main house is 57,000 square feet.

Above is Nottoway, to right is the famous white ballroom and to left is the master bedroom at Nottoway which is our room. Many weddings are held each year here in the white ballroom. The original owner planned this room for his many daughters to marry in. Guess it worked out for his daughters plus many other daughters in the years since.

Thanks for going along and sharing our 4 days away to celebrate our anniversary. Next year I hope to have a longer time off than 4 days. But I am not complaining since this was very refreshing time for us. Lois

Anniversary Getaway for Two

2009-07-17T09:40:00.014-05:00

My bags are packed waiting by the door and we are ready to escape for 4 days alone to celebrate our anniversary. No kids, no dog, no house and no work for 4 whole days. I cannot quite bring myself to leave the cell phone home though. Someone may need me. I am totally locked to that phone.

I feel almost like I did when we went away when we married. This was not our first marriage but was the most important one since it was one I knew what I was doing. This man I chose with an adult mind knowing all the trials and problems that can attack a marriage. This one I chose knowing full well that the other had been at too early an age and without long knowledge of the groom to be. I learned through bad experiences though and this time I was ready to choose the man of my heart and dreams with my feet firmly on the ground.
This is why I chose James. He is dependable, responsible, and to quote an old Country song, he knew his part. He is handsome too. That never hurts. I am in as much love if not more than the day we said our vows, 17 years ago. Of course there are days when I need some quiet time in my own space and he honors that. He knows me. He lets me be me with no restrictions. He loves me anyway. That is what I would wish for each of you. Enough of that, let's get on with the plans for the escape.

"My happiness depends so much on
What you do!!
I never guess it would be so,
I never knew.

It was to be my own to make,
Or go without--
My happiness, now you can take
A fear, a doubt
A sudden frown, a pout,
And put my gladness out.

My happiness depends on you.
So please, be careful what you do!"
by Mary Carolyn Davies

We will leave here early Sunday morning. We have some stops on the way to check on certain ones who needs some encouragement and extra love before my conscience can let me have fun without guilt. This is how I am. James understands that part of me now.
It has always been in my makeup.

My friend Bette is working the store for me during these few days away. She is great here since she has owned a couple of antique stores herself in the past. Everyone loves her. She is part of my family now.

Swimsuit is also packed just in case it is needed. Looks like it would be heavy if wet since it is wool. Oh well, you know how I like old things. Maybe won't be in the current style but will be ME.

Have I forgotten anything in packing?
Boots, bag, swimsuit, hat, dresses, nighties.
I think I am ready.

Will post when I get back with some pictures of our trip.
I leave with a poem for my husband:

"If I wake, or if I sleep,
Still the memory I keep
Of the tender light that lies
In the depths of those brown eyes,

Be blessings scatter o'er thy way,
My gladsome, joyous, laughing sprite;
Be thy whole life one summer's day
Without the night."

taken from Album Verses
c.1884
Their style is a little different from that day but the message is clear enough, I wish you
joy and happiness. Just kidding with the things I have packed. These are all things I sell here in the store in the antique clothing section.
Lois

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

2009-06-27T11:23:00.010-05:00

This is a very important time in our history. This is the time we have to stand up for what we believe. Throughout most of my life I have been able to drift along and
things were taken care of without a lot of effort on my part. As I see things today, we have to each and every day take a stand for our country and for our God who let us stand this long and let us stand this tall. Taller than most nations.
Today, we have people and countries continuing to threaten what we stand for, which has always been God and freedom to worship as we wish. We let these chip away at our freedoms. We let the ACLU work against us instead of for us. We have become complacent, we have become lazy, and we have become easy to manipulate by the media.
This is what I see. This is why I feel it is time to voice my opinion. We did not get to this place in the world on our own without lots of knee bending and prayer to God and not to any earthly king.
We must continue to look to Him for our answers instead of movie idols, movie idol type politicians and people who possess more money than honesty.
So thanks for letting me have the soapbox during this time of celebrating our country's history and independence. Long may we be the nation of freedom. And a nation UNDER GOD.
Today I started out to talk about hot dogs, apple pie and my heart took a different turn.
Happy Fourth of July,
Lois