Antique Carpenter's Bench

Ok, if I had room in my house, I would keep this.  I only regret I didn't take a before picture.  Trust me, it was greasy!

Last summer, I was called to help a couple with downsizing for a move to Florida.  Wendal, was a deputy for Marathon County Sheriff's Department and he knew me through my long ago full time job at a law office.  After he married Arlene, they  moved from Milwaukee to Edgar in late 1950's.  Wendal brought this work bench with him and it has sat in one of his outbuildings ever since.  I had to convince Al, because it was like 90, humid and mosquito's/flies infested to help me dig it out.  He didn't see what I saw then, but he does now!

After a good wash, I used my palm sander to go over it like a 10 times, mineral spirits and steel wool and another wash.  It was beautiful.  I tried a new product, Watco Butcher Block, wax and conditioner as I thought someone might use it as a kitchen island.  Amazing product, my new favorite!

I bought the big letters last fall from my friend Tracy, who happen to be at the right place at the right time - I knew I was going to spell out EAT as soon as I saw it...I knew I was going to do this for my set up at Tansy Hill Farm Barn Bazaar too!  Link Here:
  https://www.facebook.com/TansyHillFarmWausau/

If you happen to be in the area, come out to the event!  It is the 2nd year and it's going to be great!  I met Becky years ago, long before she had kids or a farm.  She would come to my farm and the Ringle Harvest Day and buy from me.  She is super talented and I am happy to be a part of this event!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Linked to:  
https://mythriftstoreaddiction.blogspot.com/2018/05/vintage-charm-party-133.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MyThriftStoreAddiction+%28My+Thrift+Store+Addiction+%29

Motivational Monday - Courage

Courage:  the ability to do something that frightens you; strength in the face of pain or grief.  Some of the other words we think of, might be: boldness, grit, bravery, nerve, daring or spunk. 

Are you born with it or do you acquire it?  I googled that question, boy did that take me down a rabbit hole.  I really just wanted to do a quick post for Motivational Monday on courage.  After reading some articles, I feel less qualified to do so, however, this is my simple thoughts on it.

Yes, we often think of courage as a warrior who takes on the enemy.  

However, courage is also like Rosa Parks, to sit and be still.

Courage can be like a child who stands up to the bully

and courage is the bully who faces the abuse at home.

Courage is the one who chooses life

the single mother

 or the ones who were blessed by the gift.

Courage is the innovator who comes up with a new idea

and courage is the ability to accept another's even if it is better than your own. 

Courage is the ability to face a loss of purpose 

and courage is finding a new one

I guess what I'm getting at is, courage is what you see it to be.  We are born with personality traits and gifts, that is true, however, our life experiences mold us into who we are.  It is courage that helps us accept and use them.  

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

What I'm Working On Wednesday

A few pieces of furniture I was able to complete this week with the help of my "intern" Shannon.

Before:

Normally, I don't buy pieces like this; 1970's cannonball bedroom sets...but, this one is solid and I could see what it could be....

During:  Shannon's job is to sand, clean and paint the base coat color for me.  

After:  I need to get the glass pulls for top yet

I also did a dresser redo on this piece.  It was in need of a "knock it down."  Sometimes you just need to hit it with the belt sander.  I put added missmatched glass knobs.  

These will be available, along with other items I have, at Theme in Wausau this week.  

I also was invited to come early (which never happens to me) to a high school friend's aunt's estate sale near Stratford.  I did purchase 2 interesting little dressers to repurpose and several small items.  Some to keep, but mostly to sell.

I picked up a metal garden arbor that Lisa and I purchased along with a partial estate back in January.  Now that the snow has melted, ground is soft, we were able to get it.  That will also be at Theme.  

Tomorrow I'm meeting with potential customers for an estate consultation.  She says "my husband is a hoarder" so, it sounds good!  LOL.

Off to our Bible study this morning at Emma Kait's Coffee House in Birnamwood.  Once & Again is next door, so I'm adding a few new smalls to my booth there as well.  

This is hopefully how my Summer will go; productive, busy and profitable (smile).  Self-employment is wonderful when it all "clicks" the way you envision it to go.  Cuz, I have lots of vision - just lack the motivation at times.  Until next week....

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Linked to:
https://mythriftstoreaddiction.blogspot.com/2018/05/vintage-charm-party-132.html

The Wainscot Pantry Cupboard & The Gold Teeth

That sounds like the title to a mystery novel (wink) and it is.  I posted pictures of this cupboard on my facebook page as I have been redoing my kitchen.  My sister Lynn commented "I remember the day you bought that" and I said "I remember the ruckus we caused."  To which my friend replied...."tell us the ruckus..." so here goes.

 The Wainscot Pantry Cupboard & The Gold Teeth

In the early summer of 1995 just a few weeks after we moved into this old farm house, I went to an auction with my sister Lynn.  At that time, it wasn't unlike any other Saturday in the summer, we were at an auction.   We didn't grow up going to auctions, however I went to my first auction 10 years prior and I was hooked!  At the time I was still living at home in town, but I bought a saddle at that first auction.  I didn't have a horse, but I had a saddle.  If you have ever owned a horse, you know I did that backwards.  I told my sisters how much fun it was and we all started going.  Soon after, I started working for Col. Ken Marquardt when he had auctions. 

It's no secret that I like old stuff, but I LOVE country primitive farm pieces.  By the way, long before Fixer Upper made it a "thing".  In fact, I had my own fixer upper to fill.   At all the auctions prior, I would bid on the pieces I liked, but often time couldn't purchase them as the bidding was too high.  On occasion if Sue, Marlene, Duane, Kathy or Mary weren't there, I would get one.  LOL.  We weren't a "threat" to the bidding wars as we always had to quit.

Well, our family came into a windfall of money....that's what I'll call it....anyway, Lynn and I had deep pockets for the first time and off to an auction we went.  

This cupboard was at an auction by George Woodrich between Marathon and Athens, Wisconsin  (40 or so miles west of our farm).   It was a beautiful old farmstead, with many cool outbuildings and generations of stuff.  It was heavenly...well, maybe I shouldn't say that, but you know....  As I walked around, I saw it....the wainscot pantry....it was inside the summer kitchen.  A summer kitchen is another building or cooking area outside your home.  In the heat of the summer, you could do your cooking and canning out there without heating up your house.  

(before I started cleaning - a catch all for everything)

I knew I wanted it and all the dealers were there that day.  I knew they all would want it too.   I had to be conservative with all my prior bidding to make sure I had enough money for the cupboard.  

My sister Lynn wanted this beautiful bedroom set; carved bed, gentleman's dresser, vanity - gorgeous!  Lynn's bedroom set came up first and she kept bidding and so did the dealers.  She just held her card up (LOL) and won it!  The crowd was stirring....what?!...she didn't stop?!...it was noticeable.   The whispers were like waves in the crowd....all the regulars were talking...."what the heck? she didn't quit!"

Then not much later, they came to my cupboard.  I had hardly bought a thing all day I was laying low.  However, I held my card up....not taking it down.  I can still see Duane and Marlene's faces....confident I would quit....as the number climbed...I kept my card held high.  The looks quickly became scowls and I heard something like, "Marlene needs that or quit bidding" - I did NOT!  In fact now that I'm typing this...this is the auction that caused Lynn and I to be the bidders were became....(Hey, look at that and I did that without even going to therapy...LOL).   Anyway, on with the story......I won the bid despite the glares.  As soon as George said "sold" oh my gosh the backlash!  "Good luck with that piece" "she paid too much" - I mean for real, on and on.  To date, 23 years later, it is the single most expensive antique I've ever purchased.  I do NOT regret it!  I overheard one of the regulars say...."what the Hell got into those 2 today - they were bidding like crazy women!"  Yes, it's true, there are no friends at auctions!  

Anyway, I had no way of getting it home (smile).  One of George's helpers, Jason, said he would deliver to my house for a case of beer - done!  

Once home, I had to figure out where to put it.  An old farm house has lots of doors and windows.  I made it fit in this spot, even though over the years we have had to squeeze other things between it and the stove.   After it was in, I noticed a bit of cotton sticking out of this hole

when I pulled at it, out dropped this

someone hid their gold partial in this hole.  I love it!  I decided that those old teeth had been with that cupboard for so long that they could stay with it.  I say that, that way, as I collect false teeth...I really do!  They are collecting somewhere....or should I say somewheres...as I have many different groups of them.  

So that is the mystery of the gold teeth and "ruckus" story all in one.  By the way, I've been offered 5X what I paid for that cupboard several times by different people....so....I didn't pay too much!  

(After I cleaned it out...)

(I filled the cookie jars with tart and jello molds along with cookie cutters.  Each one of these cookie jars came from one of Al's grandma's farms and a few from his mother)

(growing up as a 3rd generation picker, I bought this imperfect little set of purple cows when I was about 9 or 10.  What would a would a picker kid put in their hope chest? purple cows of course)

(some of the other teeth I found in this cupboard while cleaning it out)

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Motivational Monday - #speakmytruth

Over the past week or two, I've had several friends and even family tell stories of issues they or their children had to face in uncomfortable situations.  As each shared their story, I listened or read (facebook) and thought, "well, why didn't you do this..."  

In one situation I actually said..."well, I would have done this...."  After this person listened, she said..."well, Dicky Bird...I can't do that...I wish I could...but, I am not able to say what I think like you do."  

This had my thinking about the "why" I can.  Maybe it's being last of 6 kids, maybe it's partly my genetics, maybe it's because we weren't rich, maybe because of defending my heritage, maybe it's because of my being picked last, maybe it's advice given me by my mother...(don't start a fight, but if someone is picking on you, make sure to get in the first punch and make it count....yes, she said that) Disclaimer, I've only been in a few fist fights and most of those were with Ricky Kalbes.  

The "why" is just part of me.  It's just a fire of passion I have inside my belly when I know something isn't right, or someone is being treated badly, or someone does something to my kids or family....I just can #speakmytruth.  I will admit in doing so, I might not have always reflected the best version of me.  However, as I age, I try to use it more wisely.  

All I know is, I have to live with me and if I don't #speakmytruth when I need to, I am miserable.  I don't go around being mean...or I try not to.   

I like to think of this, from Spider-Man, "with great power, comes great responsibility."  I know, not the best reference, but it keeps me in check.  I also think on Ephesians 4:15 "speaking the truth in love."  Now, I've seen that scripture used by others to justify bad behavior.  Shame on them!  It's with great power, scripture should be applied to our lives, not to justify ourselves, but to convict us so we may change.  

I write this today as my Motivational Monday post to encourage you to #speakyourtruth too.   My experience has been that in most cases when you do, you will receive respect and be happier with yourself.  Now don't go and dig up stuff from your past to get all worked up about....it's in the past.  Start small..."nope, I don't think I can stay late tonight," "sorry, as fun as that sounds, I have a date with my kids." "I know how you feel about that, but I would rather not hear about it right now," "yes, I agree with you, now let's talk about something else,"  "I have to say, I've asked you to take care of this matter time and time again....are you going to take care of it, or do you want me to?"  (this works every time, LOL).  Whatever the situation is that you need to #speakyourtruth stop, take a breath, think about what you want to say, switch it to a positive response..(smile)...and say it.  Then, don't regret it.  You did it, it's over, don't back track, stick to it and move forward.....Yay! 

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.   

April 2018 Blizzard

Well, well, well....we had an April blizzard!  I haven't posted about it, but I was conducting an estate sale....this same weekend.  However, we started on Friday and it wasn't too bad yet.  Saturday, was!  Ya know, we still had customers!  

Anyway, in case you haven't heard, most of Wisconsin was and kind of still is CLOSED.  I've never seen so many cancellations - churches, schools, stores...bars....you know it's bad in Wisconsin when we close bars.   By the way, I don't drink....just saying....

On my way over to the barn to do the chores.....

....this is what I saw....and this....this little rooster doesn't like to go back in the coop - he is getting picked on....but, he was eager to go back today....

He must have spent the night in the barn with the horses.

As I made my tracks to and from the barn, it had me thinking of my dad.  When I was little, I remember him telling me to "step in my tracks."  When you are a kid, you want to make your own tracks.  I soon found out how much easier it was to walk when I did step in his tracks.   You know, this was a phrase I used with my own children..."step in my tracks"...I can't say it without thinking of my dad.  

He made some impressionable "tracks" in his life.  A "half breed" (I hate that word!  He heard it his whole life) raised by a white, German girl, married to a Potawatomi man, living on the reservation.  He, wasn't allowed to go to the white public school as a child.  However, that changed in high school and he graduated #1 in his class.  My parents married, worked, lived and carried on - living and loving, each other, us and the Lord - up to their last breaths.  Impressionable Tracks!  

Thanks Dad (Mom) for making them!  

Here are a few more pictures of the snow at our farm.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

"It's a Pickin' & Fixin' - Vintage Pop Up Sale"

Saturday is the first "It's all a Rave - Vintage Pop Up Sale" of 2018.  https://www.facebook.com/itsapopup/  I'm calling it "pickin' & fixin'"  - as there will be 2 areas, one for pickin' and one where a vendor did the fixin'.  We have a nice lineup of vendors:  https://www.facebook.com/events/167670497114487/

1.  Town Hall Trinkets, LLC
 https://www.facebook.com/Town-Hall-Trinkets-LLC-729693193716630/?fref=mentions

2.  Caretaker's Cottage

3.  Julia Creative Furnitue
https://www.facebook.com/Julia-Creative-Furniture-174403549844227/?fref=mentions

4.  Tracy Fairy Frei
https://www.facebook.com/rejunktified/?fref=mentions

5.  Barb Woller & Barb Maier-Wadinski

6.  Pam Zahn & Jan Spangler - Falcon Valley Pottery

7.  Jean Holmes Dedo - Jill 

8.  Stacy Schmoll
https://www.facebook.com/Ewe-Herb-LLC-1702720866422534/?fref=mentions

9.  Vicki La Porte
https://www.facebook.com/Vics-Vintage-1423238151123387/?fref=mentions

10.  Rachael St. George
https://www.facebook.com/The-Not-So-Modern-Housewife-153199238727377/?fref=mentions

11.  Maybe...my sister, Lynn.  (smile).

We rented a space in the Weston Plaza, 4111 Schofield Avenue, Schofield, WI for 1 week and are "popping up" as a shop for a 1 day sale, Saturday, April 7th - 9-4.  

I enjoy hosting these events!  It is a great opportunity to network and promote other talented vendors in our community.   We will be setting up over the next 2 days, however, here are a few pictures of some of the items that will be available.

I took 3 van loads from my barn.  My items will be on the pickin' side for the most part.  I have an abundance of inventory to "work on" - so, I'm taking a few dressers in the rough - marked to sell!  

This is a good mix of vendors with a wide variety of items.  We only organically advertise, so if you feel up to it and wanted to click on the link and share this event with your family and friends, we would really appreciate it!  Thanks!

I'm working on the "pop up" calendar and hope to host 1 a month from June to October.  The June one will be in Waukesha at my daughter's house - she lives next to the antique mall....perfect spot!  July will be at Theme in Wausau.  August will be at Once & Again in Birnamwood.  September will be a barn sale at my friend Lisa's new farm.  October will be the Ringle Harvest Day.  I should say, Lord Willing....these will happen....

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.