Heirlooms

Some of my most treasured possessions are items that have been passed down to me from previous family generations. Here is a collection of lovelies I've inherited from my maternal side:


A painting done by my Great Aunt Pinky. It hung in the guestroom of my grandparents' home for years and I grew up admiring it deeply. It now proudly hangs in our own guestroom.

A teacup and saucer my Gramma passed down to me years ago. I use it for special tea times and it makes me feel very fancy.

Not as much an heirloom, but here is a postcard I recently came across that my Grandparents sent me from Kenya back in 1994. They were quite the world travelers. My Gramma's opening sentence, "Dear Deanne, The way you like jewelry, you would really get to wear a lot of it here! The ladies make all their own jewelry and it is very pretty."

The locket my Gramma passed on to me many years ago. Inside are two black and white photos: one of my gramma at age four, and one of my mom at age four. Besides my wedding ring, I think it is the piece of jewelry I treasure the most. I wear it often.

I never had the privilege to meet my Great Grandma Proffitt. She died of cancer when my Gramma was only fourteen. I have one of her porcelain gravy boats and an old handbag of hers. I love them both!

I inherited this beautiful rose-colored glass bowl from my Gramma. It was one of her favorite decor items, and my mom said it often sat on their dining room table, filled with floating flowers.

Two gorgeous ivory pins that belonged to my Gramma--some of the many items she collected during her world travels.

I share a few more sentiments about a few of these items in a recent post, A Letter to Gramma.

I Digress

"I pledge to read the printed word"--this phrase has always been displayed on the bottom sidebar of my blog. I am a book-lover to the core and will always remain so.

Now, I have nothing against Kindles, Nooks, or any e-readers out there. The Lord knows I really should have invested in one before I went to live in Hungary for eight months; I literally filled my carry-on suitcase to the brim with books and books alone. But to be perfectly honest, these e-readers make me a little scared--scared that books will slowly fade away and perhaps even one day cease to exist in society.

Because I can tell you that there is little more I love in this life than books. I love books so much that I have now accumulated a ridiculous amount of them. I love everything about them--the way they feel in my hands, the way they smell {especially old ones}, the sound of turning a page. I love libraries--I even signed up to be a student librarian in middle school just because I loved the idea of stamping a library card with a date stamp and cataloging books in their proper order.

And even more than I love fresh, new books, I love antique ones. Antique books are the first thing I search out in antique shops. I love to keep these treasured books out where I can see them, away from our main library of books.

You'll find many of my books filled with quotes and phrases I have underlined or notes I have written in the margins, and I've been known to re-read my favorite books over and over again.

So deep is my affection for books that I would never dream of abandoning them. And though I think the invention of e-readers to be quite useful, I just never saw myself owning one of them.

But several weeks ago, I received an email in my inbox from my Dad. I always love getting mail from him; he often writes just to tell me how much he loves me and misses me. Imagine my surprise when I opened the email to find him asking if I'd like to have his Kindle! Dad recently purchased the latest iPad and now uses that as his e-reader, so he felt he no longer needed his Kindle. Hmm--a free Kindle? One already loaded with lots of books? I just couldn't say no.

As delighted as I am to have this beautiful new-to-me Kindle, I must admit that I have yet to read one of the books on it, as I am currently in the middle of reading two "real" books. In the meantime, I am thoroughly enjoying playing the "Every Word: Crossings" puzzles. It's kind of like Scrabble and I'm positively addicted.

I was very excited to learn that I can "check out" books from our local library for my Kindle. The selection is very meagre compared to a real-life library, but I found a dozen or more Classics that have been on my To-Read list for some time. Plus my dad has so many great books on Faith and Christianity on the Kindle and I'm itching to read them all.

I have owned my Kindle long enough to tell you with the utmost confidence that while I think Kindles are handy and quite fun, nothing, I repeat nothing could ever replace a real book for me. I plan to grow my library until my dying day, hopefully one day achieving my dream of owning a vast and wondrous library filled wall to wall and floor to ceiling with that most marvelous of objects: the book.

A Visit from Mom

My mom stopped by for a quick overnight visit yesterday. It was such a short visit {way too short!} but it was exceptionally sweet.

Mom needed to get her old piano books back from me. She passed them on to me when my parents gave us their upright piano several years ago, but now that my mom received a gorgeous keyboard from my dad for Christmas, she needs her old piano music again. It made for the perfect excuse for a quick visit and a chance to snuggle her grand-dog, Annabelle!

Mom treated us to a scrumptious dinner at BrioTuscan Grille and then also bought us coffee from Starbucks. This morning my mom and I went out for the loveliest mother-daughter breakfast at The Original Pancake House. {Which makes us reminisce about THE first Original Pancake House in Portland, OR--my mom grew up dining there}. Yes, it's true--mom {and dad} absolutely spoil us!

It was gorgeous day today with sunshine and a balmy 66 degrees {weather pretty much unheard of during March in Michigan}. We browsed some quaint shops I had never visited and had such a relaxed, happy day filled with so much good conversation.

And of course, Mom came bearing gifts!

She showed up at our door with these lovely and bright tulips in hand, perfect for welcoming-in Springtime:

She also passed on to me my Great-Grandmother's Bible {which is perfect in light of my recent family genealogy craze}.

I never had the privilege of meeting my Great Grandma Proffitt--she died when my Grandma was very young. In a way, I now feel connected to her by inheriting her treasured Bible.

It is in really poor condition and the first several pages are missing, so sadly we cannot know the year this Bible was published. Many pages are torn or have water damage but I treasure this book as a family heirloom, not as an antique.

This grand Bible is filled with beautiful artwork, too:

I feel very honored to now possess this.

Mom also brought me a cute recipe card-holder {which I needed!}...

...and a good book to read.

I so wish my mom lived closer so I could see her {and my dad!} more often, although with the size of the expansive US, I can't complain that my parents are only about 4 hours away!

Oh, how God has blessed me with the best family...

Antique Mega Mall

Last weekend, Matt and I were in Lansing, Michigan, the city where we resided from 2007-2010. Matt had his monthly drill weekend for the Army National Guard, so while he was busy during the day on Saturday, I went about to some of my favorite old haunts in Lansing.

One of my stops was at the Antique Mega Mall, located about one mile from the apartment complex where we used to live. I used to love going there, even though I didn't usually buy much.

I was drooling over a few items:

I have mentioned before my love of antique books. I really debated about buying the book about Hungary {seen above left}, but the spine was in such poor shape that I decided not to. {Slightly regretting that choice...the book dated from the 1850's...}

This gorgeous table was $200+. Ah well, one day...



It really bothered me that the employee, whomever he/she was, misspelled and wrote "Wedgewood" on the tag. Especially when the back of the plates clearly say Wedgwood. Again , the perfectionist in me.



Like most antique shops in the US, treasures must be found hidden amongst a ton of JUNK. It's really pretty humorous to me that many items found in US antique stores are somehow considered "antiques."

One will find anything from the odd...

to the just plain scary.

Antique shops in Europe are a whole different story, however. I gawk at the items and lust over practically everything. So, having gone into numerous antique shops in Europe, I have whole new eyes for seeing the very interesting items considered as "antiques" in America.

That's not at all to say, however, that there are no wonderful antique shops in the US; there most certainly are. Matt and I came across one such wonderful shop tucked away in Hot Springs, Arkansas. In fact, I imagine there are thousands of really quality antique shops across our great nation--it's just that I haven't had the good fortune of coming across too many of them.

On another note, have you ever been in a consignment or antique shop, and come across an item that was previously yours?

Well, that's exactly what happened to me in the Antique Mega Mall.

Waaay in the back, I came across this old, familiar item:

I am about 95% positive this belonged to me, and here's why: Across the street from our old apartment complex was a Goodwill store, where I frequently made donations. This above Halloween decoration was passed down to me from my mom {she had used it to decorate when we were little}, and after several years of not using it, I donated it to that Goodwill across the street. Let me reiterate that this Goodwill store, like our old apartment complex, is located only a mile from the Mega Mall.

So, I am sure because of the proximity of the two places, this little guy was purchased at the Goodwill and brought down the road to be sold by an individual vendor at the Antique Mega Mall.

Plus, the handle with leaves catches and sticks the same way I remembered that it used to.

I saw it. I felt sentimental. I kind-of wanted to buy it back.

I've actually always feared coming across something I had given away at Goodwill. This fear was so strong that I stopped going to the Goodwill across the street from us because I was certain I'd find something that had been mine; I donated there so often. And I knew that the stupid sentimental part of me would probably want to buy that item back, however strange and irrational it seems. I love shopping at Goodwill, and I was so mad at myself for making the one across the street from us a "trap."

So imagine my surprise when I found the pumpkin decoration from my childhood in the Mega Mall. I never expected my Goodwill donations to end up there! I then proceeded to have an internal battle over what to do about said item:

"Oh my gosh. This is it! The one mom passed down to me! I gave this to the Goodwill down the road! Hmm...I kind of want it back. Should I buy it? Wait. They're selling it for six dollars. SIX dollars? No way. Maybe if they were selling it for two or three. But then, even if I did buy it back, would I use it? Actually set it out as a decoration? Honestly, no. Ok then, not going to buy it. Oh, I have my camera with me...I'll just take a picture of it, and that'll be good enough."


In the end, I left the Antique Mega Mall with one purchase last Saturday: this lovely Fiestaware cup and saucer.

I was introduced to Fiestaware by Martha Stewart, on her old half-hour TV programs. I was a young teen at the time, and I clearly remember her explaining the history of the product and how to identify true Fiestaware. Since then, I've always wanted to own some, and not necessarily a whole set.

Excellent. One more thing checked off my "List of Things to Do Before I Die." {never have cared for the term "Bucket List"}

And one more excuse to drink more tea and coffee!

Gone With the Wind

I have mentioned before my adoration for antique books.

On Sunday, my father-in-law presented me with an antique copy of Margaret Mitchell's classic Gone With the Wind that he had picked up at a garage sale. He is so incredibly thoughtful! {thanks, Dad!}

I am especially thrilled with this gift because of my love affair with Gone With the Wind. Yes, we do have a love affair.

And look! The book is a beautiful shade of baby blue... 

{Upon research, I discovered that this is a book club edition print}

Back to the love affair...

My love affair started when I first saw the Gone With the Wind movie at age eight. I instantly became obsessed. I watched it over and over, mesmerized by the story and the complex, vivacious character of Scarlett O'Hara. I was fascinated by the actress Vivien Leigh's portrayal of Scarlett, and I was also certain that she was the most beautiful woman who ever lived.

Thus, my Gone With the Wind collection started. And grew, and grew. I had two huge GWTW movie posters on my wall and even a GWTW clock. I still have all these memorabilia...tucked into a box somewhere. Among them is all my Hallmark GWTW special edition Christmas ornaments I was gifted year after year and my GWTW watch that plays the movie theme song.

As I teenager, I read the book and loved that, too, but it was the movie that I truly first fell in love with.

I have a beautiful book dedicated to all things GWTW {but mostly the movie}:

It has gorgeous movie stills and gives all kinds of history and background behind the book and the movie.

I also have this book: 

One of my most cherished GWTW treasures is this beautiful music box, given to me by my wonderful sister Erin when I was in high school.

Since then, it has always sat on my dresser.

I used to wind it up before I got into bed at night so that I could listen to the lovely little tune as I drifted off into dreamland.

Do you have a love affair with any particular movie?

Book Worm

As each year passes, I become increasingly more obsessed with expanding my collection of books. This mostly involves my hunt for antique books; the older, the better. I have established a fair collection of antique books, mostly in the subject of history, but some in the subjects of literature and theology. The "hunt" for these books is part of the fun. Antique shops draw me in, enticing me with beautiful heirlooms, but my eyes pass them over, searching instead for the old, musty books tucked away on bookshelves in the far corners of the shop.

There's something about the smell and the feel of the fragile, yellowed pages that fills me with wonder. The hardcover of the book holds knowledge passed down from those that have come before me. And I always find myself imagining who the previous owners of these books might have been. I enjoy finding books with names and dates written in the front, or notes scribbled in the margins throughout the pages. For me, it is a way to participate in the lives of others who lived before me, others I will never know. These scribbles, or other times elegantly written notations, connect me to these previous owners, and it makes me feel special.

I have collected books from various states around the US, mostly from antique shops, but also from my favorite bookstore, Powell's. It is found in Portland, Oregon, and is the largest new AND used bookstore in the world, encompassing an entire city block. Any place that consists of wall to wall books is a place to where I'd happily commit several hours of my life. Be it Powell's, a library, or even Barnes & Noble, I relish my time browsing leisurely through the stacks, scanning titles and making notes of books I want to add to my "To Read" list. I get lost in those hours. It's a stress reliever for me; a way to escape reality for a short while. During my junior and senior years at Anderson University, every Monday evening, I'd make a 40 minute drive (each way) to the nearest Barnes & Noble in Noblesville, IN. I'd bring my homework along, and though I was sometimes diligent enough to sit in the café and do homework, I'd mostly spend my time sipping a Starbucks Frappucino and browsing the aisles. My senior year, I took my dear friend Sara (Spitters) McDonough with me on these Monday trips to Barnes & Noble. It made for some great girl times!

I thought I'd list here some of the titles and dates of these books I have scooped up:
-Treasure Island 1930
-The Simple Life 1901
-Last Day of Pompeii 1884
-Quo Vadis 1897
-Nicholas & Alexandra 1967 (not that old!)
-The Last Days of Pompeii (sadly the pages with the copyright are missing, but based on the condition of the book, I'd place it somewhere in the late 1800's)
-The Literature of England, Vol. 1 & 2, 1941
-The War of the Revolution, Vol. 1 & 2, 1952
-Napoleon 1926
-History of England and Greater Britain 1916
-The Story of Scotland Yard 1935
-Bartlett's Familiar Quotations 1919
-History of Europe 1927
-A History of the Ancient World 1912
-The Emperor 1881
-A Dynamic Faith 1901
-Four Great Americans 1897
-Wuthering Heights 1953 (the name of a lady and 'Belfast' is written in the front!)
-Stories of Legendary Heroes 1909
-The Secret of Salvation 1896 (by E.E. Byrum, of Byrum Hall, for all of you AU Alums)
-The Man of Galilee 1907 (also by E.E. Byrum)
-In His Image 1922
-Anna Karenina 1939
-Our Father's House 1870 (!!!)
-The Light in the Dark Ages 1949
-History of the World 1937
-The World of the Past, Vol. 1 & 2, 1963
-Mont St. Michel and Chartres 1933-Facts about France 1918 (given to me by my dear friend, Amy Woolsey)-La Quartero 1858 (a novel written in French; my oldest book!!!)
-Library of Wit & Humor 1901
-The Complete Works of John Bunyan 1873 (!!!)
-Caesar's Gallic Wars 1897
-First Year Latin 1901

I imagine my search for rare, antique books will continue my whole life. Each antique shop I see is an opportunity to locate another treasure to add to my collection. To me, pure happiness can be found curled up on a corner of a couch with a book and a cup of coffee or tea. And each time I open one of my antique books, feeling the worn pages and smelling the musty smell of decades past, I feel special all over again.

I leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

You can never get a cup of tea large enough,
or a book long enough,
to suit me.
~C.S. Lewis

Hot Springs

Two days ago, Matt and I spent the day in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It was a wonderful place where we spent our time leisurely walking around and enjoying the warm weather. The town is nestled among the trees of the Ouachita forest. Along the main, historic street in town, one finds “Bathhouse Row.” Most of the hot springs in the immediate town have been developed by these bathhouses and this is where visitors must go to access and enjoy the hot springs. The bathhouses are historic and gorgeous and date back to the early 20th century. The first bathhouse was built in the 1890’s. Some of these bathhouses are now combined spas/hotels, but several bathhouses along historic “Bathhouse Row” are no longer in use. The buildings are vacant and falling into disrepair which is shocking. Matt and I didn’t bathe in the hot springs, basically because we were too cheap to pay for the spa services and we both have bathed in natural hot springs before.

There were also several antique shops in Hot Springs. I love antiques, but the vast majority of antique shops I’ve been to in Michigan are mostly overcrowded with items of no value whatsoever. Matt and I found an antique shop in Hot Springs that is, by far, the most amazing antique shop I’ve ever seen. Matt and I agree that probably half of the items in that shop could be in museums. Almost all the items are European and most have historical significance. For example: King Louis XV of France’s leatherbound portfolio cover, the “Cup of Souls” from the coronation of Nicolas Romanov (the last Czar of Russia), items from Napoleon’s residences, wooden figurines from China that are over 1,000 years old. Granted, these items are naturally quite expensive; I believe there were some “bargain” jewelry items for $250. For any significant purchase, one would really need to be prepared to spend AT LEAST $6,000 but likely much, much more. To me, some of these items would be well worth the price simply for their historical value. Maybe someday I can start an amazing collection of historical items such as these, but for now, well…let’s just say the income of two newlyweds can’t quite afford these luxuries. And the lovely owner of the shop gave us a tip and sent us off to some gorgeous botanical gardens about 20 minutes outside of Hot Springs.

It was a great day, and that night, I fell asleep pretending that one day I’ll be able to have my own, private collection of historical pieces and perhaps that one day when I retire, I’ll open a little antique shop of my own. But -- that does conflict with my plans of retiring to my own big house in the mountains of Montana, complete with lots of land and lots of horses. Ah….choices, choices.