Sunday, November 1, 2020

Thankful for our Small Home!


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Thankful for our small home!


As we age, we are in our 70's now, I'm really thankful for our smaller home. It's a bit short of 1400 square feet. We happily raised two boys here, I ran my business from here, and occasionally it felt small. With the large basement, someone could always escape. 


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This year, I am wondering if we will have a Thanksgiving. I skipped decorating for Halloween this year, but we put out candy for the Trick or Treaters. Since Fall is my favorite time of year, I decided to be thankful and decorate for Thanksgiving anyway.


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Hand-painted porcelain platter with pears/ and gold trim. Perfect for a Fall display. The transfer ware pitcher was my mom's favorite. 

Will we be gathered around the dining table or not? We will have to wait and see.

Thanksgiving has always meant FAMILY here, mixed with deer hunting (up North) and Football. Seriously, the small TV in my kitchen dining area, is there simply for Football on holidays. Less the sound, the boys can still see their games while we have a civilized meal.

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Normally, I plan on serving desserts, pies, punch, and beverages from this buffet in our living room. This year 

I've decorated with larger pieces. Because, I know there won't be the usual dessert bar here. At the most we will be 8, if we gather, buffet style and spread out about the house.

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I brought in a blooming Mandilla pot which was companion planted with a burgundy Sweet Potato Vine. The vine was frost nipped and has a bit of gold on its leaves now. I stuck a large rustic fruit/grape branch in the planter and set it in a large Aesthetic transfer ware bowl. We will see how long it lasts. 

I have lights behind, which casts a warm glow off the 1920's mirror from my grandmother's attic in the evenings or on cloudy days. 

Hubby bought the Pilgrims and the resin turkey a few years ago...perfect colors for our room and this holiday month. 
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The rest of the decor sits on a thrift store runner. Fresh Pumpkins and gourds and the Pilgrims 

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Here you can see the lights reflected in the mirror.

In the darkest corner, a piece of my mom's (broken)Staffordshire.  She would buy chipped or damaged pieces if she couldn't afford the perfect piece. 
I always smile at this, knowing it was bought with 'sugar bowl' money saved from being frugal. 

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Staffordshire with a faux leave arch.

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Most of our really good antiques are family heirlooms, like this brass plate with the noses rubbed off from polishing. This piece dates late 18th century.

Another treasure are family pieces of 
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P.Ibsens Enke, from Norrebo, Denmark from the beginning of the 20th century. The matte glaze was created in the early 1900's and used extensively by fine artists working in the Ibsen potteries. Even Georg Jensen designed and worked there. Enke stands for widow, Louise, wife of artist/designer Peder Ibsen. Louise and her son, Berthel continued the company until the 1950's after her husband's death in 1860. Yes, it is a very old company.

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As a potter/artist, I totally appreciate the design and especially the glazes on these stoneware pieces. And, they are treasured.

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Hope you enjoyed our little tour...
And, Stay safe!

Do you use treasured pieces for Thanksgiving?
PLEASE  STAY SAFE!

38 comments:

  1. Your home looks lovely with all your gorgeous pieces. There are so many pretties to stop and look at and appreciate the beauty of each item. I always love lights reflecting in a mirror. I hope you are able to enjoy Thanksgiving celebrating with your family.

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    1. Thank you, Kim. I love candlelight, but it's not practical to leave candles burning, or burn up batteries, so I rely on electrical. Thanks, for your visit! Sandi

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  2. Wonderful treasures,I love all of them! I also love your gorgeous furniture and that centerpiece with sweet potatoe vine and Mandilla blooming,it is amazing!We don't have Thanksgiving's Day here but I learn with blogland to celebrate it in my heart. Hugs,Sandi!

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    1. Hi, Maristella, Thanksgiving really is my family's favorite holiday. The food is amazing, but we always spend a long day together which is what it is all about. Start a new thanks/holiday---perfect for starting off the Holiday season, when Family is the reason.

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  3. Sandi, your home is about the size of mine, and I love it, despite the few times a year that it may feel a little small. Luckily here in Southern California, we can usually spill over into the gardens.

    Your home looks festive with all your special and treasured antiques. Thank you for sharing your treasures and your heart, too. xo Lidy

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    1. Such a lovely comment, and thanks, hope you have a wonderful holiday! Sandi

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  4. Your Thanksgiving vignettes look wonderful...I hope you get to have a gathering!
    Jenna

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    1. AW, thanks, Jenna. We are in a holding pattern, it may be curbside pickup ---lol.

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  5. Sandi your house is twice the size of mine. We only have 780 sq. feet. I think our garage is almost bigger than the house lol! I have learned how to use every sq. inch of this house. I love living small. So much less to deal with. Easy to keep clean too. Love all your sweet Thanksgiving decor. I hope our numbers start to decline here soon.
    xoxo
    Kris

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    1. Oh, I know, Kris, I feel for you. But, your cozy home is adorable, and I know you have the basement, which helps anyone. I really have to cull stuff here though now...while I have some energy. The plan is to pass the house off to one of our sons, and maybe add an upstairs. Then we can all live here as we age...we will see. Hugs, and stay safe! Sandi

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  6. Your decor looks nice! Thanks so much for linking up with me at my #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 18, open until November 26.

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  7. Sandi, Everything looks lovely and homey. Your pottery is really beautiful. Here's to a good Thanksgiving that we can all be thankful for..Stay well..xxoJudy

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    1. Thanks so much, Judy. Yes, well my family is healthy here, and I do hope we have more to be thankful for. Stay Safe!!!

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  8. I'm finally getting caught up reading Blogs, I Loved learning about your Family Heirlooms and particularly Love that Vase with the Parrot! Yes, as I'm aging I appreciate a smaller Home too, easier for me to manage and Care for it. I've lived very Small {less than 300 sf} and very Large {4,350 sf} and everything in between... I think what I have now suits us, holds enough of my possessions I don't feel I had to downsize more than I wanted to, and I can Care for it without much Help. Of coarse the RV Garage was the Bonus... never had a big Warehouse size space on any property to just Fantasy Decorate Year Round if I want to. Looking forward to Cooler weather allowing me to get in there and run the Gauntlet of organizing, purging it and then Decorating it. Lockdown gives me plenty of Time on my Hands for all that.

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    1. I can't wait for you to get into your craft room, Dawn. And, I'm looking forward to having time to fool around in mine. I have so many supplies also, I can only dream that I will live long enough to use all of them. Hugs, for your journey and thanks for the visit! Sandi

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  9. All looks lovely. Enjoy the season!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and the encouragement! Sandi

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  10. A number of resonances here. Before living in the USA I was unaware of Thanksgiving, not surprising given the respective histories of our two countries. What I liked was the idea of family members travelling enormous distance to spend no more than than a few hours with "the clan". Also it was the least commercialised of the US holidays.

    As to houses, ours has four bedrooms and yet we are only two, both in our eighties. Eventually something will happen... But until then we go on enjoying the luxury of separate studies (mine doubling up as a recording studio). I must confess a cleaning lady is essential.

    Our county is Herefordshire and Staffordshire is just up the road. My father was a specialist in British ceramics and had a large collection, almost all broken in some way, but used as a reference catalogue to help him make judgments when asked for advice.

    I have responded to your beautiful revelation about Mozart in my blog, Tone Deaf. I will be yearning for further reminiscences about orchestral music you loved and - equally instructive - that you loathed.

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    1. I left you a comment for the music on your blog. I do hope we get to travel in the next couple of years...Ireland, England, Denmark and Czech republic. I was supposed to go to Denmark this year with my cousin, but that fell through--last hurrah to unravel some family tree issues. Husband needs to get into the church records near Prague, seems they are wary of sharing anything other than in person. I enjoy your responses, and I want your cleaning lady!!!

      Ah, on the loathing---music---totally hated those experimental modern pieces where each section of the orchestra seemed to play in different keys---long forgotten ANY of the composers.

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  11. You have such beautiful fall decor, Sandi and you display it so well. Summer is my favorite time of year, but you can't beat fall for decor. It's all so cozy and welcoming. Our home is tiny too and with all of us being home, yup, it's great to have a big basement to hide in! Ha! I do love the small footprint, like you said, we don't need more. Happy Thanksgiving to you in your lovely abode!

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    1. Thanks, Kim....yes we bought a ranch for the basement...and hubby built a two story garage, so he has a place to escape to. And, Happy Thanksgiving to you also!!

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  12. You have done such a great job making your home inviting and festive!

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    1. Oh, Thank you Michele...strange year not to have company---but I did just enough to enjoy the season. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, and thanks for stopping by! Sandi

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  13. We celebrated Thanksgiving in October so the pumpkins have all been put out for the birds and wildlife. But I do love pumpkins! I do enjoy seeing the Pilgrims! You have many lovely pieces, Sandi. Thanksgiving was an empty house for us this year as well. We had planned to have dinner together but a Covid outbreak was in another province where my son had visited that weekend so we had to postpone our plans. Now here we are planning for Christmas. Hopefully nothing will interfere with that. It has been a strange year but we try to keep a good attitude and give thanks for the many blessings we do have. Thanks for sharing with my party and Happy Thanksgiving!

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    1. Hih, Sandi, I couldn't remember if you were in Canada...We are hoping for Christmas too. My d-in-law manages a car rental service so she is out there in the public---at least she is in charge of safety and cleaning in her building. Very strange year...we are just decorating super Heavy outside to put some smiles on our neighbors faces. And now it snowed...LOL. Still a bit to do out ther! Hugs, and stay safe!

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  14. Hi Sandi, Thanks for your visit to my blog and your comment. I've always been drawn to unique stoneware pieces. Yours are lovely. Our guys here are hunters and we have an annual hunting weekend here in Colville, Washington in October. Hope how ever small or large you have a Thankful Thanksgiving!

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    1. Hi, Ellen. Thanks for stoppiing by---you have to look at some of my antique posts. I was a stoneware potter, and my mom an antique collector---I have a great collection of bowls. Just search stoneware bowls and you will have some fun perusing them. Hubby's family are hunters, but the cabin was sold last year, and well we are OLD now. Hope you get some deer or bear in your area! Sis-in-law got a huge bear two years ago with a bow...yeppers---real hunters. Hugs, and please visit again! Sandi

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  15. Oh, Sandi, I am new here, after meeting you over at my place. We are both joining Sandi's "No Place Like Home Party". I enjoyed seeing your Thanksgiving/fall display of family heirlooms and special pieces that have such meaning! I love them all! I see other things on your page that I want to go explore now, as it looks like we have other interests in common. Thank you for visiting me, and now I am happy to meet you and get better acquainted. I do hope you will have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving, no matter how many are around your table! (((hugs)))!

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    1. Hello Pam, I really enjoyed visiting everyone that was up for the party---like opening a present when You don't know what you are clicking on! We are throwing dinner out the car window for our kids sans, sides---and then we will facetime on phones, I guess. Please come back and visit, I'm a pretty eclectic person---AND NO ADS...lol. Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! Sandi

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  16. Hello Sandi, I'm visiting from Sandi's No Place Like Home party. I very much enjoyed seeing all your treasured pieces and love that you have them out on display. Your china is very pretty in the cabinet. We celebrated Thanksgiving in October here in Canada, and who knows what Christmas will look like. I like using my china on special occasions- most of it wedding gifts from long ago. I have a special crystal bowl from my MIL that I use to serve fruit salad because that's what she served in it.
    Have a Happy Thanksgiving, no matter how many of you gather together.

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    1. Hi, Lorrie. The blue and white is Royal Copenhagen from Denmark porcelain that has been handed down. There are actually some pieces from the early 1800's in there...the family has had for so long. We do use it, I just can't afford to replace any if broken, so we are very careful. Hugs, and thanks so much for visiting, Sandi

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  17. Your home is beautiful decorated. Happy Thanksgiving Thelma

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    1. Aw, thanks Thelma, nice to see you, and I'm trying to catch up to people I haven't been getting notices from. Sandi

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  18. Hi Sandi,

    I'm visiting from the other Sandi's No Place Like Home Party. I'm admiring your lovely collection of blue and white dishes!

    Hope you have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving.

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    1. Thanks so much Margie, I'm a real Blue and white lover...hugs, and thanks for visiting! Sandi

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    1. Thank you so much, just a bit of cheer for the season. Thanks for visiting! Sandi

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Thank you for any and all comments. I will be happy to answer any questions or comments in replies or email! HUGS!