The Delights of Vintage Travel

Do you dream of snapping photos on an African safari, experiencing an adventure
on the Orient Express or renting a farmhouse in Provence?

Me too! 

I love to travel and it's fairly easy today. But imagine what it must have been like in days gone by. 

There was a time when travel meant packing a trunk full of clothes for every occasion 

or a hard-sided suitcase with just the essentials for a weekend escape to the country.

Did you know those old hump-backed trunks were designed so no one could put anything 

on top of them, thus protecting their contents? 

I love old suitcases. 

They're great for extra storage but what I really adore is the materials they're made of. 

Old leather handles and tarnished brass. Love those.

Faded stripes, houndstooth, faux tweed and real honest-to-God leather.

I think the monogrammed suitcases are divine. Who does that anymore?

And inside, some are lined with beautiful fabric. Delicious.

Don't forget the accessories . . . a vintage umbrella, a scarf and pearls  . . .

an evening bag and gloves . . .

a hat or two in a special hatbox.

And don't forget your camera.

Oh, and outerwear.
I couldn't believe my luck when I found this vintage Burberry Trench at an estate sale for $40.
They sell for thousands new and I bet  a collector would treasure a vintage one like this.

The same sale offered this gorgeous little leather purse with the feel of a messenger bag. 

 I can just imagine the lady who wore this trench and carried this bag
with leather gloves and a Casablanca hat as she traipsed around the world. 

Maybe she was even a spy!

Travel may not have been as easy then as it is now, but it certainly was more romantic. 

Just close your eyes and listen to the clickety clack of the railroad tracks, 

smell the cigarette smoke from the attractive man across from you (it used to be glamorous), 

and sip your cocktail in the dining car while you watch the world roll by your window. 

Sigh.

Like the inside lining of this suitcase, let your inner travel dreams blossom.

Linking with:  Rustic & Refined, Dwellings, Between Naps on the Porch, Cozy Little House,
Coastal Charm, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, Bella Rosa Antiques, Elizabeth and Co.,
Savvy Southern Style, Knick of Time, Maison de Pax, Ivy & Elephants,
From My Front Porch to Yours, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, A Delightsome Life,
Northern Nesting, Adirondack Girl at Heart, Meadow Lake Road, Rooted in Thyme,
The Charm of Home, French Country Cottage, Creative Country Mom, Shabby Art Boutique,
Shabby Fu Fu, Thoughts from Alice, The Cottage Market

Thank a Vet!

Veterans Day, initially called Armistice Day, is November 11, a day to honor and thank

all Americans, living and dead, who have served in the United States Armed Forces. 

I'm proud to display our flag every day.

A little history . . . At 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918, an armistice was agreed upon to 

stop hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany in WWI.

This date came to be regarded as the end of the "war to end all wars." 

President Eisenhower later changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day 

to honor all those who had served in any war.

I do not pretend to be an expert on the many wars our nation has been involved in 

and my apologies in advance for any historical errors in this post. 

But, like so many in our country, Veterans Day is very personal to me. 

This is my dad, the handsome soldier. 

This day is personal to me because I went to high school with several young boys who died 

in Vietnam and I pray for the "boots on the ground" in today's battles so far from home. 

My grandfather served in the Army in WWI and saw action with the American Expeditionary

Forces, Verdun, Argonne, the March to the Rhine and the Army of Occupation.

 He doesn't look like the jolly grandfather I knew . . . so young in this official portrait.

My father served in WWII. 

Dad's the bad-ass one with a cigarette and without a helmet, upper right. 

Kind of a mix between Clark Gable and Tyrone Power. Or maybe George Clooney!

Ron's mother was a Rosie the Riveter during the war. 

Because she was so tiny she was able to climb into the tight spots of the planes she helped build. 

My father joined the Army in 1942 and served in the 811th Tank Destroyer "B" Company in WWII. He drove a tank in the Rhineland, Battle of the Bulge, Central Europe and Ardennes battles.

Like many veterans, he didn't like to talk about the war but I remember him telling me the story of how his tank was hit and he woke up hanging over the long gun on the front of the tank. I guess I get emotional about our military because I know how close we came to losing him that day. 

This photo has been damaged over time

but it's one of my favorites of my dashing dad and beautiful mother during the war years.

Dad wasn't directly involved in the liberation of Paris on 25 August 1944 but, like all who served, 

I'm sure his spirit was there the day Germany surrendered the French capital 

after four years of occupation. 

I can't even look at these pictures without tearing up. 

Can you imagine the glorious celebration it must have been with all the church bells ringing
across Paris and people crowding the streets to see their American liberators.

When I visited France, I noticed quite a few street signs reading "Rue de 25 August." 

Many of the people on my tour didn't know what that meant which I thought was a sad statement. 

Most of the small towns in France have a memorial in their center square 

honoring those who died serving their country like this one in Gordes.

In this country, Veterans Day is our opportunity to say thank you for protecting our freedoms. 

On Nov. 11, please take a moment to thank a Vet!

P.S.  I was born shortly after the war ended!!

Linking with:  Rustic & Refined, Dwellings, Between Naps on the Porch, Cozy Little House,
Coastal Charm, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, Bella Rosa Antiques, Elizabeth and Co.,
Savvy Southern Style, Knick of Time, Maison de Pax, Ivy & Elephants, A Delightsome Life,
From My Front Porch to Yours, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, Northern Nesting, Adirondack Girl at Heart, Meadow Lake Road, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, French Country Cottage,
Creative Country Mom, Shabby Art Boutique, Shabby Fu Fu, Thoughts from Alice

Attack of the Carpenter Ants - Before & After

It started with a leaky roof. 

The ceiling seam connecting the original back porch to a 1970s addition 

leaked every time it rained. And the windows all had a permanent foggy look.

The house was built in 1907 and the front looks pretty.
But wait til you see the back!

Like most renovations, the leaky roof turned into a major project.

When Rob, our contractor, tore into the ceiling, he found a huge mess. 

Carpenter ants, who apparently prefer wet wood to make their nests in, 

had attacked the ceiling, the wall, and the framing around the windows.
It was more than an ant farm. It was an ant estate!

The more Rob removed, the worse it looked.

 The insulation was sopping wet and the wood crumbled to the touch. 

Who knew tiny little ants could do this much damage. 

 He finally recommended we just replace the entire wall and put on a new roof. 

Of course, that lead to a discussion about the old plate-glass windows. 

They did let in a lot of light as well as cold air and moisture. 

We couldn't open them in the summer and couldn't use this room in the winter.

I decided I'd prefer windows that matched the rest of the windows in the house 

instead of the 70s look. Might as well get good energy-efficient ones while we're at it. 

The insulation then got new lap siding, the kind carpenter ants don't like! 

Inside, we got fresh new wood and a smooth dry ceiling. 

A little paint made it look like it had always been part of the house.

Indoors I painted the trim around the windows a crisp white
and stained the new raw wood to match the old walls.
Now, the room is warm, dry and cozy year-round.

Everyone enjoys this room now . . . except the ants!

Linking with:  Dwellings, Rustic & Refined, Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm,
Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, Bella Rosa Antiques, Savvy Southern Style,
Maison de Pax, Knick of Time, Ivy & Elephants, Elizabeth and Co., Northern Nesting,
From My Front Porch to Yours, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, A Delightsome Life,
Adirondack Girl at Heart, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, French Country Cottage,
Shabby Art Boutique, Meadowlake Road, Creative Country Mom, Shabby FuFu, Thoughts from Alice

A Pioneer Cemetery

Most people celebrate Halloween by dressing up in scary costumes,
telling ghost stories or watching vampire movies. 

But I see this holiday differently.
I think Halloween is a perfect time to visit a historic cemetery. 

I don't see old cemeteries as scary. In fact, I think they're beautiful, timeless places. 

They give us the opportunity to honor those who have passed on 

and left something for the next generation to value. 

Whether it's preserving our union by fighting in a war . . .

or helping to build our country as pioneers or early civic leaders  . . .

 these historic cemeteries are inspiring and beautiful in their way. 

So on a cool cloudy day just before Halloween,
we drove to Riverside Cemetery on the northern edge of Denver. 

Riverside is the oldest cemetery in Denver and many of our early settlers are buried there. 

In fact, it's referred to as Denver's Pioneer Cemetery.

I applaud an ongoing project to make this an ecological space
by planting native prairie grasses and restoring a nearby wetland. 

I think these old cemeteries are beautiful, peaceful and sacred. 

Some of the monuments are works of art.

Some are grand.

Others are small and sweet.

Some tell a story. . .

some make you smile . . .

others tear at your heart . . .

and some simply give you a feeling of peace.

This time of year is celebrated in various ways in different countries.
Many venerate those who have died with prayers or by placing candles and food on graves.

I think it's a beautiful time of year to reflect and remember
and be grateful to those who came before us.


Sharing with:  Dwellings, Rustic & Refined, Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm,
Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, Elizabeth and Co., Bella Rosa Antiques,
Savvy Southern Style, Maison de Pax, Knick of Time, Ivy & Elephants, A Delightsome Life,
Adirondack Girl at Heart, The Vintage Nest, From My Front Porch to Yours, Rooted in Thyme,
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, Meadow Lake Road, Charm of Home, French Country Cottage,
Shabby Art Boutique, Creative Country Mom, Thoughts from Alice, Shabby FuFu

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!)

Sharing with: Dwellings, Rustic & Refined, Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm,
Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, Kathe with an E, Bella Rosa Antiques,
Savvy Southern Style, Maison de Pax, Knick of Time, Ivy & Elephants, The Vintage Nest,
From My Front Porch to Yours, Rooted in Thyme, Charm of Home, French Country Cottage,
Shabby Art Boutique, Thoughts from Alice, Creative Country Mom,
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, A Delightsome Life, Meadow Lake Road, Adirondack Girl at Heart,
Shabby fufu