A Field of Dreams

I love books.

I could spend hours, maybe even days, in our local library.

It's big enough to have a decent selection, yet small enough to know where everything is.

Our 500,000+ square foot downtown library is amazing. The architecture alone is spectacular. 

But it's so big, it can be a bit overwhelming.

However, our little neighborhood library, the Eugene Field branch, is just right. 

Kind of like the three bears' story. 

Just right.

I love to read and usually check out three or four books every couple of weeks.  

I always select an extra book or two in case I don't really like a book once I get into it. 

There are too many books I want to read to wade through those I don't love.

I've been going to my local library for years and never paid much attention to the name
-- the Eugene Field Library. Until a day not long ago when I was at an estate sale.

Always on the lookout for old books with beautiful covers, 

I spotted a thin faded-cream volume with daisies on the cover. 

Upon picking it up, I was pleasantly surprised that "Brilliants" was written 

by none other than my very own Eugene Field.

It was in poor condition, its pages loose and likely to escape at any moment. 

So I clutched it tightly and took it home with me.

Then I decided to find out more about my library's namesake. 

Do you ever wonder who these people are that public buildings and streets are named for?

I found out Mr. Field had lived in my neighborhood for two years in the 1880s as the editor of the local newspaper, the Denver Tribune. He was most well known as an author of children's poetry.

Interestingly, his father, Roswell Field, represented Dred Scot 

when the slave sued for his freedom in 1853. 

Although he was unsuccessful in his fight,
his case was instrumental in eventually abolishing slavery. Fascinating.

While in Denver, Eugene Field lived in a sweet little cottage
which was later saved and moved in 1930 to our local Washington Park
thanks to Margaret "Molly" Brown's foresight and means. (She's always surprising me.)

It served as a small branch library and now houses the non-profit organization, The Park People.

Next to the little house is a wonderful often-photographed statue called "Wynken' Blynken' and Nod," portraying Field's most famous children's bedtime poem, originally titled "Dutch Lullaby."

The story is about three children who fall asleep dreaming of sailing

among the stars in a boat that's a wooden shoe.

This lovely bronze illustrating the poem was donated to the Eugene Field library.

My little Eugene Field book is now tied securely together with twine 

and holds a special place on my mantel, an appropriate nod to a man who loved books.

"Wynken, Blynken and Nod one night

Sailed off in a wooden shoe

Sailed on a river of crystal light,

into a sea of dew . . . "

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French Country Cottage

Old Books Tell More than a Story

What is it about old books?

It's that intangible quality that speaks of character and history and people from another time.

Old books add instant charm and warmth to a room no matter what style it is.

People laugh when I tell them I love the way old books smell. 

Musty. Moldy. Glue and ink and old paper. A hint of vanilla or coffee, perhaps.

Water-stained pages with crumbly edges. Upright or reclining on their sides.

I love those old books with tattered cloth covers or worn leather bindings.

And especially those books with etched or unusual covers. 

Some are classic, others a bit risque for the times.

Those with intricate leather covers and gilt-edged pages are my favorites.

Old books are perfect for elevating a display

or complementing a silver piece on a mantle or in a bookcase.

Many old books have lovely writing inside their covers. 

I have my mother's old school dictionary filled with scribbles and hearts. 

I cherish this one.

You never know what you might find in an old tome you buy for a dollar at an estate sale.

I recently bought a book that was stuffed with 1950s Betsy McCall cutouts, 

complete with outfits for every occasion.

Sometimes you might discover a pressed flower or leaf and wonder why it was special.

I love to group vintage books with similar covers for an "old library" look. 

And the ads on the back page are a peek into an age long gone.

It's that timeworn quality that gives books a rich feeling of our past.

Old books belong to another time but they've definitely found a home today . . . with me.

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November Estate Sale Treasures

Yard sales may be winding down as the summer months fade and winter scratches at our doors 

but estate sales are still beckoning me from my jammies and hot coffee on early mornings.

TIP:  I've discovered that the best time to go to estate sales is Thursday morning. 

That's when the dealers check them out and buy all the best stuff. 

It used to be Fridays but more and more people are starting on Thursdays.

We always check Craigslist first thing Thursday morning to see 

if there are any good sales in our neighborhood. 

This Thursday we struck gold at a beautiful old Victorian not ten minutes from our house. 

The owners said everything had to go so they could renovate.
(I liked it just the way it was.)

I love to go to sales at old houses just to look around inside. 

The details in these vintage beauties are so gorgeous, 

it's worth going even if you don't buy anything.

Like this stunning foyer with original tin ceilings, drop-dead chandelier, and fancy woodwork.

And original patchy wallpaper clinging to plaster walls. 

I hope the people renovating this old place keep at least one wall intact to preserve 

the history and beauty of bygone days.

But on to the treasures. I've recently been collecting old books and found a lovely tome containing 

the complete collection of Thomas Moore's (1779-1852) poetry and melodies. 

A mere $5 brought it home with me. 

At first, I was attracted to its beautiful rich brown and gold cover.

I had to do a little research on Moore but discovered he was known as the National Bard of Ireland 

and wrote many popular folk songs. He was also a close friend of Lord Byron and Percy Shelley. How thrilling!

After I take it home, I'll pop the book into a baggie and put it in the freezer for a couple of hours to discourage any unwanted visitors that might have been hiding between the yellowed pages.

Moving into the dining room, we admired the tiled fireplace and oak mantle. 

And there, resting against the mantle, was something I'd been looking for.

An old medicine cabinet! When I asked about the price, another $5, I practically shouted, "Sold!"

But it reeked of must and had several layers of grime on the lovely old oak.

Underneath all that grime, it had a beveled mirror and curved woodwork 

and a breathtaking little dangly knob that I fell in love with.

Once home, I took the medicine cabinet outside to clean it. 

The inside smelled like something had died in it 

so I mixed up some white vinegar and water and gave it a thorough scrubbing.

Then, I opened the door and let it air out in the mile-high sunshine all day. 

I brought it in at night in case it rained or snowed, then repeated the steps again the next day.

By then, it was smelling better so I rubbed some antique improver into the wood. 

It's sold in most antique malls and contains natural oils and emollients. 

I hoped the scrumptious odor would soak into the wood. 

As I worked on this piece, I realized someone had added two curved wooden edges to the shelves, probably to keep things from falling out. But they weren't original, so we took them out.

Time to clean the beveled mirror. 

As I wiped away the grime, the silvered beauty of the old mirror shone through. 

Note the curved trim, so graceful. 

Here's a closeup of that gorgeous dangly knob that I loved at first sight.

Next, I clipped some fresh lavender and bought a "Clean Linen" air freshener 

and tucked them both inside. Much better.

Finally, I positioned the cabinet on a table in front of my wall of mirrors in my dining room

atop an old lace tablecloth that I'd found at another estate sale. 

At the time, I didn't know what I'd do with it as it didn't fit any of my tables. 

But I knew someday it would find a home.

I lined up three little white creamers on top of the cabinet. Perfect.

To balance the arrangement, I re-positioned an oval mirror across from it. 

French Country style often includes timeworn wood so the addition
of this little oak cabinet and the old newel post warm up the space.

I hate to think that magnificent old house, probably from the 1890s, 

will be scraped clean inside --  modernized with stainless steel and granite,
smooth new walls and floors that don't creak. 

At least, I saved a bit of it before it's all gone.

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Antique Capital of Colorado

On the Road . . . 

 As you enter Main Street, Florence, Colorado, you'd think you were on an old 

western movie set, rich with 1900-period details, gorgeous architecture and tall store fronts.

But this little town in south central Colorado calls itself 

"The Antique Capital of Colorado" and it's aptly named. 

Main Street, with diagonal parking and brick buildings, is lined with about a dozen antique stores. 

The city was named after Florence, daughter of local settler James McCandless. 

It was incorporated in 1887 but its history goes back to the 1860s when oil was discovered. 

We couldn't wait to check out the shops but the yummy architecture kept getting in the way. 

The stores were crammed with antiques, collectibles, gifts, art and welcoming shopkeepers. 

I found two treasures. 

An old book with torn binding, just the kind I love, called "Reddy Woodpecker," 

a "Tuck-me-in Tale." How sweet is that?

My other find was a large vintage breadboard. The sales clerk thought it was probably from the 40s
or 50s. The wood is over an inch thick and the surface has been carved with a sheaf of wheat and
the words "Give us this day our daily bread." 

I imagine a young boy might have carved it for his mother. Love it. 

But it was sticky and icky. 

A quick cure: dump Kosher salt all over the surface, mix in enough lemon juice to make a paste, smear it all over and scour with a rough sponge. Let sit for 30-60 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Dry with a paper towel. Better than new!

Remember, when visiting these old towns, be sure to leave Main Street and check out the neighborhood. There are some delicious old houses not to be missed. 

This is why we live in Colorado. It's full of these magical little towns.
(I want this house!)

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