Letting go

It's been since December, I believe, since I've put anything up for auction on Ebay.  I had so much fun with it and the little extra money that came in sure was a big help during the holidays.  With Carrie's wedding coming up in August, I'm once again realizing that my regular income isn't going to cover what's needed atop the normal living expenses.  There are still things I can sell - things to which I'm no longer emotionally attached.  This antique tool chest is one of them.  Strange story about this piece.  My ex-husband and I were driving back from a flea market, and along the way we spotted an "antiques for sale" sign in the front yard of a beautiful old farmhouse sitting on what looked to be about a 200-acre farm.  Unable to resist, we pulled into the drive and as we got out of the car, a lady appeared from the screened-in side porch and greeted us warmly.  We'd evidently caught her in the middle of cooking Sunday dinner as she was wearing her apron and a dusting of flour was on her dress.  She had a little out-building from which she occasionally sold some of the most beautiful antiques I'd ever seen.  Gorgeous hand-painted R. S. Germany plates, Prussia, Flow Blue and a wide array of primitive furniture.  She allowed us to mill around, and as I gingerly ran my hands over some of the older pieces, she told us the wonderful history of her family farm and stories of how she'd acquired her collection.  As we were leaving, I told her how much I appreciated her hospitality (we left her small shop empty-handed), and made a statement about how I'd longed for a spool chest.  Her eyes lit up and she smiled as she told me that her daughter-in-law living just a mile away had one stored in her attic that she might possibly sell if the price was right.  In a matter of minutes, she'd phoned her daughter-in-law and made arrangements for us to view the "spool chest".  It didn't take much wheeling-dealing to make the purchase...they'd just built a new home and obviously needed the extra cash.  We had intentions of selling it in our antique mall, but it just never made it out of the house once we unpacked it.

It's been here ever since.  I was able to hold on to it as part of the property settlement in the divorce, but it's been a reminder of things I'd rather not hold on to.  Under the circumstances, I think it's time to let go.  But I'm sure not going to give it away, if you know what I mean.  And all this time, I'd thought it a "spool chest".  Turns out, it's not that at all.  There is a label inside the lid - C. E. Jennings & Co., New York, with an arrowhead trademark.  Scott and I did the research (Google, of course) and found that the Jennings Company was a tool maker in the mid-1800's.  The tools they crafted are highly collectible.  We have never found a chest like this one anywhere, and believe me, we've looked for over a year.  I've come to the conclusion that it must have been specially made for display purposes - maybe for the fine knives the company made or possibly some other type of carpenter's tools. 

It really is lovely.  A wonderful piece of Americana and I hope whoever makes the investment will treasure it not only for its beauty, but for it's wonderful history as well. 

If you'd like to see more pictures, click the one above and you'll be directed to my auction.  If you happen across this weblog and have any information about the Jennings Company or the chest, I'd love to hear from you. 

Wish me luck on this one, friends.  The wedding band and engagement ring will most likely be next....

Have a great night :)

5:47:35 PM     comment []

Notice to People That Visit Our Home

The dog lives here. You don't.

If you don't want the dog to be near you,
stay off the furniture.

Yes, she has some disgusting habits. So
do I and so do you. What's your point?

OF COURSE she smells like a dog.

It's her nature to try to sniff your crotch.
Please feel free to sniff hers.

I like her a lot better than I like most people.

To you she's a dog. To me she's an adopted
daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours
and doesn't speak clearly. I have no problem
with any of these things.

Dogs are better than kids. They eat less, don't
ask for money all the time, are easier to train,
usually come when called, never drive your car,
don't hang out with drug-using friends, don't
smoke or drink, don't worry about whether
they have the latest fashions, don't wear your
clothes, don't need a gazillion dollars for university,
and if they get pregnant you can sell the pups. 

(...from the mailbox)

3:07:10 PM     comment []

Just a reminder...

1:18:18 PM     comment []

No big suprise here....it doesn't work.

WASHINGTON (AdAge.com) -- The White House anti-drug office will end its controversial drugs-and-terror advertising campaign and, in a reversal, shift more of its $150 million budget toward children's media as it fights for Congress to extend the program another five years.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy will also cease a polarizing $8 million annual study that found the ads aimed at youth were not working and that pitted the drug office against the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.   (LINK)

Finally!  I despise these ads. It's like playing Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon with terrorism and marijuana, and more than a little far-fetched for even my overactive imagination...

12:57:00 PM     comment []

The Poetry of D. H. Rumsfield

The Unknown
As we know,
There are known knowns.
There are things we know we know.
We also know
There are known unknowns.
That is to say
We know there are some things
We do not know.
But there are also unknown unknowns,
The ones we don't know
We don't know.

—Feb. 12, 2002, Department of Defense news briefing

"Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is an accomplished man. Not only is he guiding the war in Iraq, he has been a pilot, a congressman, an ambassador, a businessman, and a civil servant. But few Americans know that he is also a poet."

12:33:52 PM     comment []

Showing support

11:17:05 AM     comment []

#1 Reason to Buy the Extended Warranty

(from my mailbox this morning - I got a good chuckle!)

10:56:34 AM     comment []