Wanderlust & Pixie Dust

Psst...

Yesterday was my first day back as a volunteer in the shop at HERITAGE HOUSE.  Heritage House closes over the summer because of the intense heat in this neck of the woods. 

I waited until the last moments before putting on my get-up,  to throw together a hat for the occasion. I had planned to just glue gun everything on to the hat.  But because the hat was vintage (40's-50's?) I discovered that I didn't have the heart to abuse it with a glue gun.  This meant that I had to quickly, half a** , stitch the bare minimum on.  I was in danger of leaving a trail of fake leaves and feathers behind me the whole afternoon.

 

I couldn't stop myself from gazing at my boots in-between guests.

I am so enamored by them.  I won them on Ebay last year after many attempts and hard battles.  They're 1/2 size too big.  More on that later.

I have another pair in black that are too big for me to wear:

This black pair is by someone else entirely although there is no clue on the shoes as to who.    Oops.  I forgot to mention that the brown pair are by Stuart Weitzman.    The black pair is a size 8, wide and are in wonderful condition. I do have them currently listed for sale anywhere but if anyone is interested in them, do let me know.

An Easy Street Vintage on Etsy has a black pair of Stuart Weitzman lace ups in size 6.5. available.  Stuart Weitzman also made a pair some time ago that button up the side just like an antique pair.  Stunning and beautiful. I have only see these come once on Ebay in the last year but man oh man how I want them.   But I digress.  I had no intention of waxing poetic about boots.

In between visitors I poked through the books we have for sale. 

I learned that in April 1906, a circus came to town.  Tragically an elephant escaped and trampled some poor woman to death.  My husband reminded me later about a house near downtown referred to as Elephant House.  I can't remember if there is a connection or not.  My husband seems to think so.  I shall pursue more about this tale later.

This building use to stand about a mile from my house. 

I was quite taken with the exterior of this small building.  I announced to my husband that someday I want my own little shop and that I want it to look just like this.   I can see it now.   I forget what the fellow in front did mainly for a living.  I know that it was something like account/undertaker.  Reminds me of the donut shop not far from here that sells do-nuts, croissants and eggrolls.  And this reminds me of the delicious California eggrolls I had from the hamburger stand below below my house, over the weekend.  They were so tasty I made my husband ask if they had made them fresh. They replied that yes they did.  Yum.  But I digress...

Well now for my secret.  Yesterday I was running late to Heritage House because I was busy stabbing myself with a sewing needle.  I raced into my bedroom and began flinging socks to and fro,  searching for my hunting socks that I purchased years ago at Meir's in Michigan.  Because my beloved Weitzman boots are just a tad big, I much prefer to wear them with super thick hunting socks. Never mind that I shant ever understand hunting.  Never never.

As luck would have it I could only find one.  Oh hell.  I figured that as long as I didn't flip over feet first for some fool reason I would be okay.  I was. No one was none the wiser. Afterwards, as Eggbert and I walked up the stairs to our humble abode, I said hey! Check this out!  Up went the hem of my skirt.  The husband wasn't shocked in the least.  He knows me too well.

The House That Didn't Become a B & B

 

The doors to this beautiful old home were flung open and all the contents were up for grabs.  I stood there in line with everyone else but there was no joy, no getting weak at the knees.  Had this been some unknown house across town I likely would have been stricken with the vapors  upon entering.  This time it was different. 

 

A lovely antique sled recently rested here.

The original owner Mr. Ames was a Pony Express rider.

Several summers ago I had the privilege of getting to know the owner and the inside of this beautiful home. 

When I learned that the home was hopefully going to be turned into a Bed & Breakfast, I was thrilled.   I live around the corner and had driven by a billion times.  When we first moved into the neighborhood I declared to my husband that I would get inside sooner or later.  Actually I've said that about several homes in the neighborhood and I always seem to find a way.  It's true!  Ask him.

One time I saw that a an old home that I had been eyeballing was being prepped and painted, soon to be sold.  Boldly I walked in the front door and asked one of the painters if I could tip toe through.  Carefully I made my way about.  I'm such a nerd,  I remember being so excited.  I could not get home fast enough to ask my Pauly "Guess which house I was just in?"

But I digress.

We all had such high hopes and my heart goes out to the owners.   I can only imagine the dread that went into the decision to give the dream up. 

I was there on day one of the sale.   It was strange to walk about and see so many of the familiar contents.   I knew the story behind the lush tufted upholstery on the fainting couch.   Now it had a huge price tag stuck on it.  Didn't seem right.






This sale took place in March but it's taken me all this time to write about it.  I'm so sad for my friend and the house. What will become of it now?  

The last day of the sale I walked back over armed with my camera.  Here are a few of the photos I took that sad day.  

 

Stained glass window in the front parlor.

What you see as you enter, facing the main stairway.





Beautiful woodwork.  I wasn't the only one taking pictures.  Or the only one who dreamed of going into this house. 




Another view of the stairway.




Here is a close up of one of the fireplace tiles.  Original tiles remain on several of the fireplaces.   This particular young lady is one of my faves.













A few pretty trade cards that found their way home with me.




A spectacular light fixture that hangs above the main stairway and a close up.





 

 
Many more photos to come in the next few days.  I'll be sharing the other things that followed me home, the upstairs and more of the gorgeous grounds.

Clicking on this LINK will take you to a great article that appeared in a local paper and a VIDEO.  Enjoy.

Last Weekend at Heritage House

Last Sunday I held down the fort in the gift shop at Heritage House.  I snapped a few photos and thought that I would share.  I'm not in any of the pictures because I had a big breakfast that morn and I was busting out of my clothes. Egads.

Our shop has plenty of books about to tempt me.  You'd think that I didn't have enough books of my own or something.

One enters the gift shop from inside the home via this odd window/door.

Below is a view of the shop from the opposite end.  Fans or no fans, the house is shut down over the summer.  Rumor has it that it positively unbearable come August and July.  I am confident that it is not  just a rumor.  Amazing to think that women had to deal with all that fabric along with the heat.  No wonder they were always getting the vapors.

I was happy to discover that a tea party was being held on the grounds that very afternoon.   A harpist had been situated between me and the tea, much to my glee.   The air was filled with beautiful music all afternoon.  What a nice surprise.

Following are several more photos of the garden.  Why oh why am I unable to get my yard to look like this?

Lo and behold! The best part of the day came when we were invited to partake of tea party leftovers.   Happily, the husband and I feasted on fresh baked scones and lemon cookies on the way home.

And then Mr. Nibbles climbed up on the table when I wasn't looking and finished everything off.  Bad boy. Little white doggies do not eat scones!