Suburban Homestead

Antiquing in The Foothills - I Struck Gold!

Whenever we are in the mountains, I like to walk through the antique shops in downtown Placerville. Last week, my mom was with us. Over the years, we've shared many afternoons together, stolling in and out of antique shops. It's always been something we've both loved. This time, I had more purpose than normal - I was on the lookout for pieces that could be incorporated into a friend's second home that I'm helping her get set-up. The house is in a rural part of the wine country, and she is going for a sort of modern hunting lodge theme. 

The problem I find in shopping for clients is you can't help but bring your own ideals to the selection process. And so when I find something that I think would be absolutely perfect for their enviornment, and they decide to take a pass on it, I often end up buying it for myself. Note the needlepoint moose art!

I mean, who in their right mind would pass on a giant needlepoint art piece for their hunting lodge themed home?? Not me! I grabbed it the minute the store owner dropped the price in half and hung it under the window next to Tiny Buns' bed. 

My absolute favorite find of the day was a taxidermy chicken nesting in a wine box. Regardless of her passing on the moose, I have to give my gal snaps for getting on board with this lady which will be displayed in her dining area on a bakers rack. Brave my friend, you are very brave! 

This 30" tall state fair themed pinball game will make a great art piece in the kids bunk room, or on a small hallway wall. My daughter cried when she learned it would not be coming home with us. (And then I started crying too.)

Four hand-painted animal plates which will hang on the sides of kitchen cabinets painted kelly green. 

A cute, cute branded stool perfect for kids or as a stepping stool in the kichen.

An impulsive buy for me, I bought a set of six 1960's glasses showcasing all the US presidents from Washington to Kennedy. 

I don't know what this little wagon is all about but I thought it could complete the look of our kitchen windowsill at the cabin. What do you think?

Check-out some of my other antiquing posts here and here. 

Back In The Saddle Again

I haven't been here in a while. I thought I was done, actually. I mean, I really, really thought I was done. I just didn't think I had it in me anymore to keep this blog up. Sure I still took lots of pictures and wrote posts in my mind while driving here and there, but at the end of day, when it came time to put it down, I just didn't want to do it. I thought about a final post, wrapping it all up with an explanation and a virtual prom queen wave, but then I decided to clean-out my closet instead. My three-and-a-half years of blogging had come to silent halt.

And I really had no problem with that. 

Then this past week we were at the family cabin and I went looking for a recipe. The search feature wasn't working well when I typed in "olive oil cake", and so I ended up searching through lots of old posts in an attempt to find the just one. I was so surprised to see so many photos and stories that I'd not thought about in ages. I came across recipes I'd loved but had forgotten to make, I marveled at pictures of my tiny kids over the years, and I thought - "I can't stop blogging - I have to keep this up for my kids!" 

We had a great week in the mountains and while I was there I thought a lot about Suburban Homestead and the importance of photography to me, and to us. The camera so wonderfully captures the beautiful moments in silence, allowing you to, in your mind, add the sounds of say, a symphony to their viewing (instead of the screams and whines that were more likely the reality). Without these images and stories, I worry that I might only remember the fighting, or the embarrassment from having seemingly little control over the four-year-old's outbursts. Or even worse, I might forget all it. I already am, just ask my kids. 

So here I am, determined (at least temporarily) to keep going. For the kids.