My Other RAOK!

My Aunt is just too good to me. Last Fall she gave me this wonderful flannel pumpkin throw she made. I have kept it on my quilt rack but this year I decided to take it off the rack & use it.

The colors are darker than the appear in the picture.

It is definitely one of my treasures!

This Is The Life!

This is spoiled little Miss Molly our Basset Hound snuggling down in to the quilts & comforters! If only all dogs could have it this good!

The Comforter- Sweet Memories

About 6 years ago my aunt gave me many precut 2"X6" rectangles of flannel fabric- not sure what I was going to do with them I finally decided to make a comforter for my mom. Not being talented enough to do difficult quilts I arranged them in a staggered row pattern. Once I had them sewn together my aunt added the batting & the backing and then hand tied it.

My mom was thrilled with her new comforter! It was sooo soft & warm!.

About 6 months later she fell & broke her hip. Her osteoporosis was so bad that her hip never comppletely healed and she was reluctant to walk due to the pain it caused.

Most days were spent on her couch under this comforter especially the last 8 months of her life.

After she died I brought the comforter home and now that the weather is cooler I have been using it on my bed- many times as I am going to bed I see a mental picture of her with this comforter- I hope it last a long time!

What a great RAOK!

My aunt is an avid quilter- while I am still thinking about making one she has two done!

For a few years now this quilt has been hanging in her spare bedroom. A few months ago she said if you want that quilt take it home with you, the colors are too dark for me. Now she already knew that I loved the colors in that quilt and that I love stars! So you know that I was thrilled!

Now I think I need to paint my bedroom to go with the quilt!

I love you Aunt Janice!

Wow! Is That Really Burl Ives?.....

No it's my husband!
If you are old enough to remember Burl Ives you will certainly see the resemblance.
Every where we go people are always saying" Did you know that you look like Burl Ives?"
Being a pretty quiet man he does not say much about it- not sure if he is flattered or not- but if I had to guess I would say he is!

BTW he would have a fit if he knew I put this on here!LOL

P & P Favorite Scent Contest Winner!

After supper rounded up hubby and had him draw out a name- and the winner is....... Rondell!
Congrats Rondell!
Thanks to all of you that entered! If you did not win this time stay tuned to the blog as there will be more giveaways to come this year. Also I do a once a month mailing list give away on my website so if you join the mailing list you could win that way also.
www.brandyannescandlesandprims.com

The Old Railroad Lantern

When I brought this home from my mom's house I sat it on my pie safe. Only a few days ago did I read the writing on the base of the lantern.

It says No2 Cold Blast C. T. Ham Manufacturing Co. Rochester, NY

I decided to see if I could tell how old the lantern was. I have not yet discovered it actual age but did find out that C.T Ham sold it's lantern company in 1915 making this a lantern that could be close to 100 years old! I am excited!

Civil War Tools

These tools were on display at the re-enactment.

The three cylinders in the back row are cannon artillery. The shiny gold object near the center is a device used for measuring the diameter of the artillery to make sure it woild fit inside the cannon as all cannons were not the same size- it was also able to be opened up and extended to be a 12 inch ruler.

Civil War- Traveling Forge

This is another photo from the re-enactment. A traveling forge was used to shoe horses and repair wagons and artillery equipment for both the North and South.

An American Civil War era traveling forge contained 1200 pound of tools, coal and supplies. These tools and supplies included a bellows attached to a fireplace, a four-inch wide vise, 100 pound anvil, a box containing 250 pounds of coal, 200 pounds of horse shoes, four foot long bundled bars of iron, and on the limber was a box containing the smith's hand tools. [3] A battery wagon accompanied each traveling forge carrying additional blacksmith, wheelwright, and carriage repair supplies.

A Sure Sign That life is Too Busy!

Today while I was at work my hubby spent the day running our errands and taking care of our two dogs- when I got off work we took our candles and homemade dog treats to our local Farmer's market. We came home and had supper and my husband called his sister as it was her birthday today. We then had to make a 35 mile round trip to pick up my son's girlfriend from work as she had gotten sick & did not have anyway home.
I sat down at my computer for a little me time and it dawned on me that there was another important day besides my sister-in-laws birthday- but I could not remember for sure what it was.
So I said to my hubby " is today our wedding anniversary? "
It got quiet for a moment and he said" I think it is but I am not sure."
We were both too tired to look for the marriage certificate to find out for sure so we are just going to say it is until we look it up tomorrow.
I think it is time to build that little cabin on the prairie and return to a slower, more simple way of life !

Civil War Re-enactment- period costumes

This was not a big Civil War re-enactment but there were a few period costumes. The one photo shows a woman and her son together. I talked to her and she said the basic dress is sewn by someone for her and that she then adds the ebellishments herself- this cuts down on the cost of the purchased dress- her son was dressed in wool trousers and shirt and it was very hot that day-but in the war that is the way it really was.

The other photos shows a woman in a blouse and prairie style skirt with a "snood" head covering.

Oh So Cute!

This little girl was at the Civil War re encatment with her mom & dad. Her Mom said she is 3 years old and that her grandma sews the clothes for them.

Don't you just love the little pantaloons?

I think she is very used to having her picture taken at these events as when she saw the camera she sat right up and started smiling!

Madder, Minerals ,& Indigo- more about early fabric dyeing

This a link to a very interesting article about dyeing cotton in the 18th & 19th century.
Enjoy!
http://www.fabrics.net/joan1002.asp

Plain & Simple Stoneware Pitcher

This is another one of my Mom's things I brought home- my mama definitely was not someone that decorated in the Primitive style but I think this will fit into my plain & primitive decor!

A Priceless Gift!

A few days ago a fellow blogger gave me a gift that was priceless and I am so greatful!
Chrissy found some documents for Lodowic Underhill- my ggg grandmother Anne Dickerson's 3rd and last husband. Without Chrissy help I never would have found them!
Thank You Chrissy!
You can visit Chrissy blog at http://theprimitivecornishhovel.blogspot.com/