Bittersweet

Today we sign the papers

on our new {but very old} home.

While I'm not really looking forward to
starting the remodeling process,

I can't wait to get my shop set up

in the separate outbuilding,

so the house can be just my home again -

and not look like a cross between
a flea market & a shipping depot.

I'm excited we'll live 20+ minutes closer

to the town we travel to daily.

My husband will have a 10 minute drive to work,

instead of a 35 minute one,

and I'll spend a lot less of my life

behind the wheel as well.

But, as excited as I am, it's definately bitterswet.

I love our current home - I really do.

We've put so much work into it to make it OUR home,

and we'll really leave behind a piece of ourselves here.

My husband put in a gorgeous,

huge kitchen window for me.

It was my dream window...

looking out over our horses in the pasture.

I'll miss that window so much.

I'll miss the wood floor

that we painstakingly uncovered and restored.

I'll miss our walks down to the river.

I know you can take memories with you when you move,

but I'll miss being in the place those memories were created.

My oldest son went from a youth to a man in this home.

My daughter went from a young girl to a beautiful young lady,

and my middle son went from a boy who hated to bathe...

to a young man who wants to look Good.

My husband went "salt & pepper" here...and it looks good on him!

My youngest son went from a lap boy, to a big boy here,

and left his mark everywhere.

We buried precious pets here.

And brought new pets into our family.

And me...

I came to this house as a 30-something mom.

I'll leave as a 40-something one.

I've changed in countless ways.

So, today I'm filled with anticipation

and look forward to our new home,

but my heart aches over the one we'll leave behind.

Whoever the family is, who will come to call our home theirs -

I hope they'll be as blessed as we've been here.

And may our new house,

become a home - our home...

that we'll make new, precious memories in.

Blessings to you, your family...and your home,

Writing My Name on It - Thursday Feature

Remember last week,

I told you about some small treasures

that I decided I was going to keep for myself?

Things I'm "writing my name on" - if only in my mind.

I've decided to make this a weekly feature,

and I'd love to hear about what little treasures

you have found, that you are

"writing your name on."

Here's four little treasures from this week.

I love the crazing and browning the little bowl has.

Yep...I'm writing my name on it!

Then there is this sweet little milk glass vase.

I'm not really a fan or collector of milk glass,

but I really like the graceful style of this vase.

The little brass watering can leaks,

but it's so adorable and has great patina.

Look at the gorgeous typography on these antique herb packets.

Definately putting my name on them!

What have you "written your name on" this week?

Wednesday Feature - Antique Graphics & Instant Art - Harvest Moon, Corset, Gorgeous Bodice

I've sporatically posted antique graphics,

but I'd like to make this a regular feature each week.

So, stop by each Wednesday to

get your "fix" of graphics from the past.

Is this bodice gorgeous, or what?

 I'm sure corsets weren't comfortable,

but I just love the way they look!

Harvest Moon -   Print & Frame It!!

See "Antique Graphics" on my sidebar

for more lovely images from the past.

Reminder - If you haven't yet linked up

to the new link party -

Blessings,

Ironing Out the Glitches

My apologies to those of you who tried to link up

to the party today and discovered it had issues!

http://knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/2011/09/introducingknick-of-time-tuesday-party.html

You should be able to link up now.

I'm still trying to get the thumbnails to appear larger

and the titles to be more readable, and

hope to have it all fixed for next week's party.

But don't let that stop you from linking up

to this week's party!

Thanks so much and invite your friends to join!

Blessings,

Introducing....Knick of Time Tuesday - Party #1

I'm so excited to introduce you to the 1st

Share your best

"I saved it in the knick of time projects"

OR

Share your favorite treasure

that has knicks that time has left on it!

I can't wait to see what you've got!

Don't Be a Party Pooper!

1.  Please become a friend & follower of Knick of Time

2.  Please only link up your {great} old stuff! 

Things you have rescued & revived or

treasures that show the "knicks" that time has left on it.

No food or things made from all new materials.

3.  Please post a link back so others can join the party.

4.  Mingle with the crowd...visit other guests!

5.  Please don't link directly to shops or businesses.

Okay...Let's Get This Party Started!

Today's Pickins'

The auctions have been WAY too good to me lately.

I managed to completely fill my husband's pickup truck again yesterday.

Probably not the best idea, since it looks like we'll be closing on

our new house in the next week,

but when my husband suggested we go to an auction Sunday afternoon,

first I was stunned, then I was elated.

I could have easily stayed another hour

and bought much more,

but a full pickup is a full pickup.

The backseat was filled with boxes too.

I did all that "damage" in about an hour.

I might have filled a semi in 2 hours!

Probably my best deal of the day was this

beautiful, old chair for 1 buck,

which I'm hoping to reupholster.

My grandfather was an upholsterer by trade,

so it will thrill me to pieces if I accomplish it.

And for 1 buck - it's worth the experiment.

Here's some more of my favorites I brought home.

Vintage Barn Light - LOVE it! 

I'd be tempted to keep this one,

but we already have one.

Chippy, Old Farmhouse Stool

Oodles of Telephone Insulators (this is only 1/2 of them).

 A Super Cool Antique "Security Account Register".

I love the numbered springs on the metal "files" inside it.

Perfect to repurpose as a photo display or memo board.

This thing is a total beast and is very heavy.

But...it is so cool!

I'm keeping one of the numbered files,

selling the rest and repurposing the heavy box for something else - not sure what yet.

Brought home more lovely enamelware - can't seem to leave an auction with some!

I also got a whole box full of antique spice and apothecary boxes with herbs in them.

Just a few of them are in the photo below.

The really cool thing is that 3 of these boxes came from the pharmacy

in my hometown where I grew up (Washington, IL)!

There is so much more, but I haven't had time to take photos of the rest. 

So...my house that got all cleaned up for our inlaws visit,

is a mess again...but it's a blissful kind of mess for me.

Hope your day is full of good pickins'!

Time Standing Still

I recently parted with a clock I liked, but didn't love,

so I was really hoping to replace it

with one that appealed to me more.

Yesterday, we took a short roadtrip

to Nauvoo, IL with our visiting family.

It was the perfect fall-like day for it,

despite the nasty cold I'm nursing.

We wandered the shops in downtown Nauvoo,

where we visited a small antique store that had 

about 5 clocks for me to choose from.

This one came home with me.

I love the age it has on it

and it fits right in with the rest of the clock family.

As much as I love the rhythmic tick, tick of a clock,

I don't mind at all if they don't work.

Sometimes you wish you could buy time...

sometimes you wish time would stand still.

Today, I chose time standing still.

You'll probably be

 seeing this clock a lot in the future!

Life Means So Much - by Chris Rice

Every day is a journal page
Every man holds a quill and ink
And there's plenty of room for writing in
All we do is believe and think
So will you compose a curse
Or will today bring the blessing
Fill the page with rhyming verse
Or some random sketching

Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
That somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much
Life means so much
Life means so much

Every day is a bank account
And time is our currency
So nobody's rich, nobody's poor
We get 24 hours each
So how are you gonna spend
Will you invest, or squander
Try to get ahead
Or help someone who's under

Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
That somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much
Life means so much
Life means so much

Has anybody ever lived who knew the value of a life
And don't you think giving is all
What proves the worth of yours and mine

Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
That somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much

Every day is a gift you've been given
Make the most of the time every minute you're living

Make the Most of Your Time!

Blessings,

Living Room - Before and After

I'm sure by the title of this post,

you think I'm getting ready to tell you about some

amazing remodeling project we did on our living room,

but that won't be the case.

The before and after in our living room is actually,

before my inlaws came to visit from New Mexico

and after I worked my fanny off
to whip my house in shape for their visit.

{coffee table before - it was actually much worse the day before}

You see, my house was a complete D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R
prior to their visit.

If you are an auction-junkie, you may understand

just how trashed your house can get
when you bring home your bootie,

and how easy it is to ignore the mess,

while having fun with your new stuff.

{side table before - this is one of my "photo spots"

I use when I need to photograph an item indoors.

But sometimes it just gets stacked with stuff}

And you will understand

the sheer terror at the thought that I wouldn't get it cleaned up

before my they arrived.

{great-grandma's cookstove - buried in junk}

Cleaning all-hours of the night,
refrigerator sterilization,
and running around the house with an empty box to gather up

all the junk you have no idea where to go with.

Oh yeah...and lots of scented candles.

{a mountain of dirty laundry...mostly from 11 year old's room}

But, they came bearing gifts!

Green chile, homemade biscochitos, salsa and tortillas -

they likes of which can only be found in New Mexico...
this side of heaven.

The green chile we savor & make last...like fine chocolate.

This should hold us over until more family from
NM comes to visit...I hope.

Just in time for Green Chile Stew on cold fall evening.

And a shirt bearing the unofficial NM state question -

Red or Green?

So...my house is passably clean, in honor of their visit.

As clean as it can get without renting a storage unit.

{wow - that's what my coffee table looks like!}

It won't pass any white glove tests,

but at least great-grandmother's stove isn't buried under junk now

(except the microwave).

Here's to family!