Tuesday, November 30, 2010

My Best Friend's Sewing Cabinet

My BFF Vicki was in an antique/used furniture
store one day when she saw this little sewing cabinet.
Isn't it pretty?

Look at all the stuff that was in it. It was full. 
Vicki went up to the counter and asked how much it was.
The lady told her that she didn't want to sell it separate. 
She said she wanted to keep it with the sewing cabinet.
Vicki was confused. So she went back to where she found it.

All she saw was this beautiful armoire cabinet.  She didn't see a sewing cabinet or so she thought.

She opened this up and found this!!!
Can you believe this?

Everything that you see in it except for a couple of items was in this cabinet.

Even crochet needles!

We were wondering if any bloggers knew what this was.
We don't have a clue.

Even vintage quilt patterns and tracing paper was in this cabinet.

Look at the vintage patterns.
I LOVE it!!

As Vicki was showing me everything in it she began to open it up.

Oh yes, this billfold was in there.  The man's drivers license and a metal social security card. The man was born in 1913.
It also had his hunting and fishing license in it.  She said it was just thrown in there.
"Sweet Vicki" is going to try to find his family and give this back to them.
I knew this before she even told me. This is the kind of person she is.
She is a woman of integrity.

Here is the fun part.  See her pulling the table out.

And opening up the sewing cabinet.

Then she pushed a button and the sewing machine came up automatically.
It is the neatest thing.

This was also in there.  We think it is something with embroidery.
Do you know what all this is?

This is the box that it came in.

This is practically a new sewing machine. This sewing machine was also in this cabinet. 
Vicki said that this is not the original sewing machine though.
But it is very nice.  She was told that the lady that owned this had to downsize and could not take this cabinet with her.
I didn't ask Vicki if I could say what she paid for this but I will tell you that she got a great deal. 

But look what Vicki is sewing on......Granny would love it!
This is another deal that she found. 
Singer 401A
She took it to get it serviced and the guy told her that the machine had never even been used.
She got an unreal deal on this too!!!

Look what she is making.  It is a little bag. She had just put the zipper in it.
She said she would send me a picture when she gets it finished. 
It is so cute.

And look what she gave me.  She found this on a blog and downloaded it and folded it just for me.
It is a Pocket Stitch Book for embroidery stitches. 
I LOVE it!

This is some embroidery that she started a long time ago.
I think she is getting in the mood.  This girl is good at anything she does.
I looked at this and told her that this would look beautiful in her home.
That is probably why she didn't finish it way back then.  It was waiting on the home she has now.

Beautiful.  I can't wait to see her finish this.
She inspired me.

This is a drawer that was in that sewing cabinet that was full of scissors.

This is another drawer full of stuff.
Can you believe that she found this nice cabinet full of goodies?
I loved visiting my best friend and seeing all of her goodies.
This cabinet is a dream to me and believe me I am on the lookout for one.
But you know what?  I would be excited if I had found it but I don't think I would be anymore excited  than I am for her.   
I just had to show you all. 

Monday, November 29, 2010

Sparta Hilton: Simple Things

Remember Granny's bed?  Here is is with a beautiful chenille bedspread on it.
My "Sweet Mother In Law" went to an estate sale and bought this for 5.00.
I love it!

We spent the holidays at the Sparta Hilton and I loved being there.
The first night I made my Mom's special recipe.
Since there were only the 2 of us I split the Spaghetti Casserole in to 2 pans.
I baked one and froze one.



This is my dream bed.  I love it.  It is a king size bed with a pillow top that feels like a cloud and I found it at an estate sale a while back.  You may remember me saying that I would not like buying a used mattress but the lady told me that this one had only been slept on 3 times and then it was in her guest room. She even gave me the original papers where it had just been purchased a few months before.  I paid 150.00 for a 1300.00 mattress & foundations.  It is wonderful.
This is the bed that I am making the deer quilt for. Remember?  The one that my "sweet hunter" asked me to let Granny make so he would see it in his lifetime?  Of course I said that I would do it and didn't ask Granny.  We didn't know then that Granny would be gone.  And of course the quilt is not started yet.  I am shooting for Christmas though!!  We will see.

This is Granny's little twin bed.  I put the quilt that my dad made me on it. 
The pillow is one that my granddaughter, "Sweet Teen" made for me.
I love it.

I am so excited about this. We haven't had a microwave at the SH until now.
My Mother actually bought us one at an estate sale.
Then my nephew saw it and he had just bought a new home and he wanted to trade the one that came with his house for that one.  My Mom told him that I would not mind so I got his.  It is old but I love it. Thank you Mom & Matt!!

Now you may ask yourself "why" is she taking pics of ice trays.
The reason is this is the first time that we have had ice that wasn't bought in a bag at the Sparta.
At home we don't think a thing about going to the refrig and pushing a button and getting our ice automatically in our glass.  I love ice trays. Sometimes simple is better.

Now this is a luxury that my "Sweet Hunter" added to the Sparta. 
He loves to know the inside and outside temps all the time.
It actually got down pretty cold there this weekend.
The low was 29 so that fire sure did feel good.

Granny's wardrobe is working great for our little closet at the Sparta.
Nails on the wall work great for hanging my robe and his hunting hats.

This is Granny's dresser that goes with her bed. 
I didn't realize that the vacuum cleaner cords were showing so please excuse that.
I have 2 kerosene lamps on her little dresser just in case the power goes out but we broke the globes so we have got to replace those.  These kerosene lamps were from  "Sweet Hunter's" grandmother.

Well, look who surprised us by coming to the Sparta Hilton this weekend.
"The honeymooners!"  Big Sis is baking a cake for us.

And Lane is going hunting!!!

I think "Big Sis" feels at home at the Sparta.
She loves to cook. 
This is one of her specialty's and is delicious.
It is a caramel cake.  If you would like the recipe click here.

This is our Thanksgiving supper at the Sparta and it was delicious if I say so myself.

Do you like our Thanksgiving china???

I think "Big Sis" is at home here at the Sparta! 
Here she is all covered up on Granny's couch sound asleep.
We like this hunting thing!!!

Oh yes, I decorated for Christmas at the Sparta too!!!

I am finding out that we sure don't need all the things that we think we need.
If that is the lesson that I am learning from having the Sparta Hilton, I am getting it.
Simple is good.

We may not get a deer but I can tell you this....we eat well.
Note: "Sweet Hunter" has saw deer, but he is so choosy because he wants the big boy. He has already killed a doe so we have meat in the freezer.
So now he lets them walk if they are not big.  I admire my "sweet hunter" for that.
This hunting thing is harder than you think.

Breakfast at the Sparta Hilton.

We look forward to having many more good times with family and friends at this little hunting cabin. If you are looking for malls, movie theatres, etc.  It is not here. What is here is hunting, rest, & good food & the freedom to do whatever we want, whenever you want to.  There is a little restaurant about 25 miles away but once we get to the Hilton, we don't even want to leave. Sometimes our truck does not move until we have to go home.
This little simple place grows on you.  It is hard to leave once you get there.
Simple.  I think that is what I love about it.  Simple.  

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Cooking With My Girls

"Big Sis" called me and wanted me to show her how to make my Mom's Potato yeast rolls.
So we decided to devote one night to cook.

I called all of my girls including my Mom, but only 2 of them could come.

Here is "May May" stirring the yeast roll mixture.
That is the hardest part.

We made 2 complete recipes of the rolls.
 We separated it into 3 different bowls so we could share all of it.
The girls were amazed how fast the dough doubled in size.

Then they wanted to make some potato candy.
Evidently it was potato night!!!

This candy is so yummy and easy to make.

After spreading the peanut butter, then you roll in to logs.

Then you cut the candy in to bite size pieces.

Cleaning up with a smile!
"Big Sis" brought us chili for supper too!

I caught you "May May"!!!

These rolls are so easy and delicious. 
My Mom always made these when we went camping.
If you would like the recipe you can go here!

We had so much fun cooking together!!!
We are going to try to do this again next month. I hope that "Trouble, Angel, Sweet Teen & my Mom" can join us next time. 
If you would like the recipe for this Potato candy go here!