You know how I mentioned yesterday that I have been in Kentucky for the past two weeks visiting with family and helping with some renovations to my Mom’s house? Well, I’ve now been here 17 days, and I am barely holding my blog together, what with all the to and all the fro. For sure, I am collecting lots of stories — but quiet time with computer is way harder to come by. For example, I have a whole little story to tell about vintage Day of the Week dish towels — a wonderful story — with lots of delightful images, and resources, and memories from Grandma and Aunt Mary Anne and Aunt Tootie, too. But it’s super late (as I write this), and I just had a Dairy Queen, and I am totally absolutely pooped. So for today’s blog post it will just have to be: TGIF.
This weekend I am doing a painting project for Mom’s house and going to see a movie with Dad. How about you?
Sunday Share the Love: Upload photos of your weekend thrifting finds now — we wanna see! 
A new steel cabinet brand discovered this weekend! 
Become a fan
My husband’s family will be attending their church’s annual meeting this Sunday. It’s an old church in middle GA, and lots of ancestors are buried there. My husband, being one of the “younger” generation, will volunteer to help with maintenance of the building and grounds.
It’s going to be pretty weather, and it will be nice to see the old folks once again. I am bringing strawberry cake, and maybe hashbrown cassarole if I get up early enough.
I grew up in Middle Georgia. Just wondering where the church is?
Prosperity Church, just outside Butler, GA. Where are you from?
Well, this week I tried to moved a vintage pool table into my house. Loaded it up and measured. I think you can imagine where this is going… yep. Didn’t fit.
This weekend I’m on the prowl for a smaller bumper pool table to finish out my basement. Wish me luck!
Cherry Blossom Festival in Philly. Should be pretty cool, we’ve been wanting to go for a couple years, finally found time to do it.
Jealous. We LOVE Philly, and the weather sounds much nicer there.
I’m driving to CT to pick up some Chrome sink legs to use with a pink Drexel that is 9 months overdue for being installed. We’ve decided to make a family trip of it and the seller (who also has a young family) generously put together a list of kid friendly activities in the area. We plan to join in a kite flying event, visit the aquarium, and we might even make it to the discovery museum. Where did find someone with great vintage stuff and such a generous soul you ask? Why the retro-renovation Post-war steel forum of course! Thanks Pam for creating, cultivating and care taking a wonderful online community.
BUMPER POOL! Good luck vin-van
This weekend I will be counting the minutes until we close on Tuesday on our 1956 Mid Century brick ranch! First reno to be done will be the bathroom. Time to tear out the cultured marble tub surround and replace with 4X4 tile. I will be hitting several locations in search of cool items needed. Top of the list is a sink with chrome legs. First stop is to pick up a set of Franciscan Starburst dishes. Over 40 pieces for $40. Very excited! So wish me luck on my search. Can’t wait to get started.
So here is the update on the weekend plans…. got the Starburst dishes. Very excited. I was all over the place looking for a bathroom sink. Stopped at every place that looked like they might have a slim chance of having “my” sink hidding in a dark corner. About to give up as I was leaving yet another second hand store I spotted a man with “my” sink in the back of his truck. Long story short – $20 later she was in my trunk! Yeah! Now to find a great deal on a set of legs. Happy weekend everyone.
Wow, the RDGs sure recognized your tenacity in delivering that sink to you!
Pam,
I agree. I am new to your blog and new to having a retro home, so this was a great way to get started.
Getting mom’s house ready to sell.
Me too, only we are renting it out.
We are too, only we are selling Mom’s. Her Alzheimer’s has really kicked in since Dad passed away.
I’m sorry, Trouble. I watched my husband fall into dementia last year with complications from his treatment for a brain tumor. I had never realized how truly devastating it is before. You have my prayers.
My mother thinks she is 36 and that I am my father. She is actually happier now than she has been in 40 years, living in a great facility and has taken up with a “boyfriend”….It’s all good.
Gavin, that’s sweet. It’s good to hear there are some up sides to the aging/dementia issue.
Yes and no.
After she told me she wanted to go home and “see the kids” I sat in my car and cried. It only re-enforces my belief that a natural life make a full circle.
sorry, “makes”.
I am sorry about the loss of your father. My mother passed away last year from dementia. This will be my second Mother’s Day without her.
Family members are one thing, but your parents? Losing them is tough…
My niece, NIL and great niece are coming to stay with us and I’m taking them “treasure hunting” in the morning. Should be fun as the little one is 19 months and absolutely adorable so we’ll use her as our “oh isn’t she adorable” discount to find more mid century items for me and cute baby stuff for them.
Patching and priming the front 2 rooms of my grandparents cottage that I’ve recently inherited (in central KY). Planting some azaleas around the front porch. Might attend the Home & Garden Show – I’m in the market for a reel push mower. Anyone have suggestions as to what model to (or not to) buy?
I will be going through the attic in preparation for our garage sale that will be held next weekend. Can’t wait to clean things out and make some $$$!
Can’t wait to read the embroidery post…I’m an embroiderer and love these vintage towels!
That’s what I was thinking! In fact, I haven’t embroidered in 30 years at least and can’t recall a single thing my Mom taught me, but our “new to us” home (along with some offers on eBay) brought out my desire for some vintage transfers and to make some dish towels, tablecloths, and pillow cases.
Pam – There is a site that provides images of old copyright expired transfers for free online. If you can’t find it easily on Google (or don’t have the time), just e-mail me and I’ll share the embroidery links I found.
Making new curtains for my laundry room. I decided to leave the (what I think is original) chartreuse paint on the cabinets and found a great Moda fabric to compliment it. The fabric is orange and yellow flowers in multiple shades…hoping it will make me feel cheerful and energetic when I go in to do yet-another-load of laundry!
(Good luck to Vintage_Vantage…we moved a pool table to our above-the-garage room and it *just* fit up the stairs, so I feel for you. I hope you find one that fits and are playing pool soon!)
(Hopefully) watching husband tear out the ceiling fan that looks like a big breast and replace it with a clean-lined, sort of Scandi-looking ceiling fan in the room that will be the baby’s room. Maybe he will paint the wall blue and paint the little white clouds on it, too.
Oooh! New baby! Congrats Rebecca!
Wouldn’t a fan shaped like a breast be appropriate in a baby’s room?
ICK! I have to spend the entire day tomorrow INSIDE interviewing legal interns for my local Bar Association – on a 85 degree day! Sunday will be spent finishing (hopefully) the tile work in my NEW pink bathroom in the morning and celebrating my daughter’s 26th birthday and hosting a family game night in the aftenoon and evening. How long does it take to renovate one small bathroom??? Apparently, months. Started this project in January! Sounds like you’ve been a busy renovator Pam, but what a great daughter you are!
First off, we are going to go to our rental house and pull weeds as we do several times every spring. Then we are going to hopefully finish selling all the vintage light fixtures we bought for our house (I kinda went overboard and couldn’t stop myself from buying more cool lights than our house could hold). If we still have time, we want to start moving some rock and plants around in our backyard in preparation for putting in some new trees.
Heidi,
I am in need of vintage light fixtures! Are you selling locally only (if so, where are you located) or have you posted your items anywhere?
Trina in PA
I am going to a creepy estate sale at a condemned house in Fort Worth:
ttp://www.junkerval.com/the-big-creepy-estate-starts-this-week
I don’t expect much, so I won’t be disappointed!
I will post pics on fb if I find anything.
Hopefully getting enough of the boxes unpacked and things cleaned up to qualify for Hoarders. Renoing for over a year and even with massive downsizing it turns out that even half of 3500 square feet doesn’t fit into 850 no matter how creative you are.
Sigh.
Blessings and joy to the new wee bundle of joy!
I feel your pain, Just another. When we downsized we had many yard sales, many trips to Goodwill, and ultimately, many dumpsters hauling away what wouldn’t fit. Good luck to you!
Oh, thank you, Cindy! Replace garage sales with auctions and I’m following in your footsteps. It’s encouraging that it can be done and life can return to ‘normal’ ;o)
Pam, I for one thlink you are “allowed” to take a day (or more!) off from the blog when you need to!
My weekend plan is to get two scoops of mulch and spread on flowerbeds, if weather cooperates..
Running AKC Agility in Port Allen, LA. May the cool breezes blow! And may Grace do her weave poles with style.
Hi Pam,
I’m home recovering from a fall last weekend, left knee got damaged. I’m using the time to Paint three birdhouses I’m putting on top of my grape vine trellis supports. Also scanning native flower books and working on garden design for the yard. All things I can do sitting down in my easy chair while knee is elevated!!!! Have a great weekend you-all!!!
John aka AtomicHipster
I hope your knee gets better soon. It’s no fun being laid up, thinking of all the things you would rather be doing!
Finishing rewiring the Pushbutton Hotpoint stove so we can have a place for mom to sleep when she comes next weekend to help us wallpaper the bathroom!
Okay, does Mom sleep in the warm oven, or what?
I wondered the same thing, Jane. A mother-in-law, maybe, but no one that will help wallpaper should have to sleep in the oven.
I am going to be purchasing the tub and shower hardware for our 1955 bathroom. Thanks to this blog, I know just what I want and where to get it! And, I will be taking “before and after” photos of the pink and blue bath to share with everyone later…Also, I try to visit open houses each weekend, to see homes with our floorplan, scouting original materials in danger of being “renovated” by new owners…
Pam,
Love the pic of the towels. I have not had a DQ in years, my dad use to take us and my favorite was the vanilla dipped in butterscotch.
Have a great time with your dad.
Susan
Mopping up pollen!
If my kids (and weather) cooperate and actually let me get some stuff done, I’m going to try to build some herb & veggie beds, and *hopefully* some compost bins… Of course, I’ve been saying I was going to do this for years and have yet to actually accomplish it.
Going to an auction at the Antique Mall that has closed in town. Got lots of goodies already, but the 3rd floor items of the depot will be auctioned. Scored on the 1945 Westinghouse stand roaster a few weeks ago. I am sad that the place will be gone.
Working at the Lane Family Garden with Multnomah Master Gardeners and going to the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon’s Spring plant sale. Woohoo – it’s all outdoors, baby!
Hitting the Franklin Farmer’s Market first. The folks I get my CSA box from have fresh strawberries available, so I think I need to get there early. Hit the antique store at The Factory next, just to see what they have. They know me well there, since I traditionally skim the best of their hats and usually pick up at least one pretty while I’m there. I can always use a new compact or brooch!
Then it’s home for deep cleaning and maybe a project or two. Since I’ll be renewing my lease, I decided I should paint the bathroom. So… I have pink, gold, and green paint chips to contemplate
Am I the first one to mention taxes? We have to finish ours up. Then we’ll spend time with family members who are coming to town to visit husband’s mother, who now is in a nursing home (suffering from dementia and other issues, as others mentioned earlier). Also plan to spend some time packing up some boxes as we actually prepare to get our house on the market. Yes, after four years of listening to me whine about how I don’t like this house, fellow readers can feel relief that we finally are getting around to putting it on the market! Pam, hope the sun is shining bright as you work on your Mom’s Kentucky home.
Re: the day-of-the-week embroidered dish towels…did anyone else have a set of day-of-the-week (ahem) panties? I ADORED the ones I had when I was in second grade! Really, quite practical (and logical). Ha ha!
I read some time ago, about the reason they had ironing day on a certain day and wash day on a certain day, and I cant find it again.
But I do remember something about that ironing day was because of the electric grid. They ironed on I think Wednesday, because the electric company would add more juice to the grid for that purpose, usually they didnt’ have alot of electricity going during the day, because the men were at work, in the evening they turned up the juice to the grid all but that one day, so women could iron. Does anyone know where I can find that info at?
I’m sitting with Aunt Mary Anne, and I quote, “Any woman living KNOWS Monday is wash day. Don’t include men, because they don’t know anything about what women do.” Electric grid? “Who had electricity?” Tuesday is ironing day, because that is the day after wash day.