Double Take!

While visiting a local Antique Shop last week, Roadhouse Antiques, I came across an oil painting ~ signed~ yet unframed for $5. I was quite pleased ~not only with the reasonable price ~ but the subject matter of the painting.
It made me do a Double Take!

This oil painting of the birds in a vintage, galvanized pail hanging off the outdoor faucet is liken to that of an artifact "Mr. Ed" and I purchased while stationed in Germany.

When we saw this artifact in a shop in Germany, "Mr. Ed" and I were transformed back to his family farm on the Prairie of Kansas.

Birds nesting in a vintage farm pail on the Prairie is a natural occurrence. My beloved in~laws would not have disturbed this nest.

So~o~o. . .I knew these two would compliment each other for a Spring themed vignette On Crooked Creek. . .

. . .and needing to replace the Christmas vignette in the entry hall gave me a perfect place to perch the two.

Shopping the lower level On Crooked Creek, I brought up the wrought iron birdcage.

These faux moss spheres are velvety to the touch and appear to have bits of bird feathers in their composition.

The addition of the a birds nest adds to the authenticity.

Doing a Double Take. . .On Crooked Creek!

Until next time . . .

NOT Just Another Pretty Plate!

Dear Ones,

I won't bore you with the "No More Dishes" that I continually hear from "Mr. Ed" throughout this post... but I have to share that these gratin dishes are. . . 

NOT just another pretty plate!!!

Purchased on a recent shopping trip, I was hopeful that I would find four of these lovelies. I am, still on the search for one more.

So~o~o. . .in the meanwhile I will use these for "Mr. Ed" and I to enjoy eating our meals and left~overs from!

Since I am still employed part~time, I often times cook an entire recipe and then freeze a portion or serve enhanced left~overs!

Last week, I made a huge pot of spaghetti noodles and homemade spaghetti sauce.
"Mr. Ed" must have thought I'd invited guests without his knowledge. . .but I just decided to make an entire batch and only do the clean~up once! So~o~o. . .

out came the gratin dishes! I sprayed them with PAM Olive Oil, and began layering  in the left~overs! First the spaghetti noodles. . .

Next, I spooned on an ample portion of the left~over spaghetti sauce.

Then, I topped it off with a blend of Three Italian grated cheeses.

...and baked it in a 350 degree oven for 35 minutes. Just until the cheeses were melted and bubbling! The aroma that permeated the house was divine!

Of course, I had to set off those gratin dishes by placing them atop one of my restaurant oval platters!

These are not only pretty dishes...but clean~up was a breeze!

Left~over spaghetti served with mandarin oranges and pineapple chunks!


On Crooked Creek. . .

NOT just another pretty plate!



Until next time. . .

Lighter Look for 2012!

L i g h t e r ~
                                           as in less?

On Crooked Creek ~ l i g h t e r ~

       as in a s o f t e r hue for the built ~ in China Cabinet.

Removing all the vibrant hues from the China Cabinet and leaving only the creamy ivories, soft pinks, subtle purples and the whites of our heirloom China Rose China and our collected German Coffee Sets. . .

                                                           gives us a l i g h t e r look for 2011!

The soft pinks of these delicate roses on our heirloom China Rose pattern china with their platinum rims add much needed l i g h t and shimmer to our dark mahogany cupboard!

The upper shelf of the built~in China Cabinet is the only shelf that had the ample height to showcase the detailing of our heirloom china dinner plates. The German Coffee pot was taller than I had remembered ~ thus the display had to be re~arranged several times before I was pleased with the results.

I never tire of the intricate detailing of this Easter Tea Set! Sage green, soft pink and subtle purple against the creamy ivory give me immense pleasure each time I gaze upon the set. Even the pops of yellow are an appealing l i g h t contrast.

The Easter Tea Set combined with my vintage, pink fostoria cream and sugar for a continuing l i g h t e r  look for the middle shelf of the built~in China Cabinet!

My antique, pink depression creamer and sugar paired with a small pitcher keep this l i g h t e r look along the entire length of the shelf.

My all time favorite cups and saucers gifted to me by my beloved mother~in~law!

I hope you can enjoy the interiors of these cups in the enhanced photos. The pink cup and saucer is my absolute favorite!

 The completion of the German Coffee Set, resting on the bottom shelf, is a dessert set for six. Europeans must have begun that popular saying,

                        "Life is short ~ eat dessert first"!

"Mr. Ed" and I remember being invited into several German nationalist homes while serving in Germany . . .  and eating dessert  f i r s t !

Here is the first of four German Coffee Sets we purchased while serving in Germany! I adore the imprinted white lacey pattern of the china, the subtle purple flowers and the long curve to the spout! It appears to have vintage and art deco influences.

Another of my beloved mother~in~laws footed tea cups. This one has hues of aqua blue with all the sage greens, soft pinks,subtle purples and pops of yellow!

The final cup in our l i g h t e r look for 2011 is one of my MoMa's tea cups. I don't remember it ever having a saucer, perhaps that's the reason it now resides in the built~in China Cabinet On Crooked Creek. Unique ~ and slightly askew ~ like me!

On Crooked Creek ~
s o f t e r  hues for the built ~ in China Cabinet ~
                                                                and a l i g h t e r look for 2012!

Until next time. . .

To see the before photos of the built ~in China Cabinet On Crooked Creek be sure to check out a post from the past titled, The Wait Is Over. . .  at the link below:

http://oncrookedcreekct.blogspot.com/2010/10/wait-is-over.html

www.betweennapsonthe porch.blogspot.com

On Crooked Creek will be joining Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch with our sweet hostess, Susan! Be sure to visit and be inspired to do a make~over in your home decor!

Work Horse!

Arriving On Crooked Creek , we have been abundantly blessed!
Our 1970's Ranch Style home contains four bedrooms ~
three of which are located on the upper level.

Directly across from the Master Bedroom ~ and facing the neighborhood lined cul~de~sac is our Work Horse!

Work Horse in this context refers to our home office On Crooked Creek!

This room houses and eclectic mix of furnishings, "Mr.Ed" and I spent many weekends armed with paint brushes, drop cloths and stencils until all the mismatched pieces had a unified decor look!

A Montgomery Ward, maple, Early American desk purchased early in our marriage for "Mr. Ed's" desk. The bottom half was painted black on the back, sides and behind the drawer fronts. The open hutch was made by our son in his early years of Shop class from scrap pine and received a complete coat of black paint. "Mr. Ed" backed the hutch with pine paneling to mimic one I had seen at our local Ethan Allen show room.

All the shelves are filled with the necessary items to keep our Work Horse running in top shape! This is the look we put together after arriving On Crooked Creek. . .

. . .here a more streamlined look after the new carpet was installed in 2011!

Yes! We still use an answering machine!

Housed behind these "stable doors" of the armoire is our computer, copier, and some filing drawers! The vignette atop the armoire was changed to feature the two of us. The storage boxes hold keepsake cards, graduation and wedding announcements.

My Moma's love seat! An heirloom piece that had rolling casters until "Mr. Ed" changed out the legs!  The throw and pillows camouflage the worn cushions!

The living room coffee table turned sideways makes a perfect side table for the love seat. This is a great place to read a book and there's just enough room for a cup of coffee or tea!

This VCR cabinet contains stationary. . .occasional cards, note pads and Christmas cards! This is how the cabinet was staged when we arrived On Crooked Creek. . .

and here's the change since the Fall of 2011!

 Seating changes came about after I began having back problems. On Crooked Creek left the "old grey mares" behind. . . 

and in their place is a new, more sleek, saddle back desk chair

that fits my back to a "T"!

From paying the bills, to checking e~mails...designing and posting my blog, and hearing from all of you. This home office gets a work~out every day On Crooked Creek. Therefore the name Work Horse lovingly applies!


Until next time. . .