While it's snowing in Colorado, we still have umbrellas of trumpets everywhere. Two of mine have shaped beautifully into perfect umbrellas. I have one blooming and this tinier one on the right that always seems to be "on the verge".
They're just so pretty. All of mine are of the pink variety, but I found these beautiful golden/orange ones on the way to the post office the other day. Acutally, Steward has one of these in the backyard.
I bet he'd be more than happy to give me a few cuttings to try for next spring. We'll be even MORE colorful on Columbus Street!
That Christmas of 2012 when I first returned to the states, Dali and Mom became great pals. Sammie Cat and I had been banished to the basement...not Dali. As you can see, she even helped Mom decorate "our" Christmas tree.
I'd brought our tree to Ferguson that winter of 2006, when I drove the rental truck up that carried my few remaining treasures from the storm and Columbus Street. For the next seven years, it reigned supreme at 411 North Elizabeth (even way beyond Christmas). I brought it back to New Orleans with me on our last trip. As happy as I am to have our tree here on Columbus Street with us again, it adds another layer of loss to my next journey to 411. The image of a huge, soaring helium balloon that is deflating and descending just flew through my mind.
Mom and Dad have been in assisted living now for almost three years and Dali passed just as many years ago. Sammie Cat and I have soldiered on. We continued our many visits and stays at 411 over these many years of stateside. I teased on the Thanksgiving trip about opening drawers and doors expecting things to be there; when not only were they not there...there was nothing-it was empty. I thought that experience might prepare me for walking into 411 after the estate sale. With that trip looming this week: I don't think so.
Each step along the way of this process brings us closer to a huge letting go and sweeping change. First the estate sale and dealing with what is left; then getting 411 ready and putting it on the market; next getting it sold; and, lastly-turning the keys over to the new owners.
Where does that leave us? Just like all the rest of this...
During 1996, Mom and I spent a week together in Paris. After our return, she made these collages for me and later used them in a quilted hanging she called: "Treasured Memories". Like most everything else I have treasured in my life; it now hangs in the Chatette in Cadrieu!
On that trip, we stayed at what our family has come to call the "Big Ibis" Hotel on the fringe of the heart of Montmartre. Although I'd been to Paris before, this was my first introduction to hotel petit dejeuners. It was here that I discovered the combination of ham and brie. Here, it was for breakfast. In Cahors, they'd put brie on my jambon et fromage sandwich at the Gare de Cahors.
Feeling France...wanting breakfast...I went to it knowing I had just the stuff: some nice ham from Terranova's and a very creamy pepper brie from Canseco's-et voila. In moments, I was sitting at the hotel table with Mom in Paris and waiting for the bus at an outside table at the Gare de Cahors!
Here we are again...getting ready to hit roads north next week. We've barely even unpacked and situated all our goodies from the last trip up and the return from Ferguson. Sam has settled in nicely to Mom's comforter that we now have on our bed. It shouldn't be a surprise. The green pillows were a favorite spot for her after-breakfast naps while we were there.
Although Sam and I will start out together, we'll be stopping on the way at Mahogany Oaks to visit with John and Mike. I'll continue north the following morning, but Sammie Cat will be staying with Mike and John this trip. I am very grateful!
As we are all getting older, all this traveling can be difficult. I forget that Sam is 13 years old and all this disruption can't be good for her, especially when car travel makes her sick. (Funny, she seems to do fine on trains, planes and buses.)
Sam is no stranger to staying with Uncles Mike and John. This will be the first time without me. I hope she behaves herself...there is a much longer stay coming up in her future. Hopefully, she'll be feeling right at home at Mahogany Oaks by the time I head off home to Cadrieu late April early May. One more HUGE MERCI to John and Mike-and a Happy Sunday to All!
What do you do with a 4 foot by 8 foot collage in your parent's basement? Actually, what do you do with THREE 4 foot by 8 foot collages in your parent's basement? I am my father's daughter...two of the three huge collages belonged to Dad and the one you see here in the photo above was actually mine.
We wanted to commemorate the bi-centennial of our nation. What better way to do that AND decorate all that white wall space in the basement at 411? Dad focused on the presidents. I focused on the life and times in the 70's with lots of social consciousness mixed in...and what looks to be a whole can of varnish!
Today is E-Day... the day for our public Estate Sale over at 411. This baby, and Dad's two are hanging on the walls in the basement. I had Kat take these pictures for me just in case someone wants to buy them. She'd mentioned to me that a number of people who'd come to advise about the sale loved them and thought they might sell. That was shocking to me!
They may just be fun and kitchy enough, but then how in the world do you get them home?
Happy Saturday and Happy E-Day...hope you can venture by. I don't think you'll be disappointed!
One of my favorites is the antique book and toy table
I couldn't tell you why, but this display of chairs on our upstairs back porch is my all-time favorite! I see all of them sitting there, looking for a home. I want to scoop them all up in my arms, kiss each one, and say: "Come on, you're coming to New Orleans with me!" I know it's impossible. It's so different to see them in one place instead of sprinkled throughout the house like they'd been for over 40 years!
These displays are incredible and so beautifully well-done. For a family who loves "their stuff", we couldn't find a better team than Michael Lloyd and his staff to love our stuff and present it in such a gorgeous light! I can't think of a better way to have a last hurrah...can you?
I can't promise that all of the items you see here will still be available at the sale on Saturday. A private sale was held on December 9, but I'm sure you will find more than enough remaining to wet your whistle!
A special thanks to Kat for scooping these photos for me!
Yesterday, the estate sale company we're working with had a private-invitation only sale at our family home on 411. Kat had already sent photos of many of the "displays" they'd set up, but had asked me not to put anything on the blog or on Facebook until after the private sale was over. I have more to share and will, but today I want to write about this piece above.
My first stop with Kat on my last trip up was the basement. We went all around and checked everything out together. I stopped dead in my tracks in the furnace room. I was suddenly three years old again. There in the middle of the floor was this stove that had been mine as a child. It worked just like a real stove and may have been a floor sale sample.
Totally speechless, I stood there looming above this stove that probably met my height mid calf. Suddenly, I saw myself sitting indian-style facing the stove that only reached the top of my head. I was opening the doors and the oven. I also removed the various heavy iron stove-top pieces to cook with my tiny iron skillet that was smaller than the palm of my hand is now. I was Tom Hanks.
I wanted "my" stove. Kat and I talked about it some, but had agreed that if I were ever to sell Columbus Street that family pieces or valuable pieces would return to the family. I explored those options further and decided to leave the stove for the sale, but as soon as I got back to Columbus Street-I regretted it.
The shot above is of the stove in the "Antique Toy" corner. Kat said that it looks like our old toys were some of the most valuable things we had. So, we shall see. Did it sell yesterday? I'd guess it did, but if not...it's coming home to Columbus Street with me on this impending trip and will sit on top of the refrigerator in my kitchen-even the colors match.
I've been a stamp collector from a very young age. I hit pay dirt in France. I've shared many of my favorites here over the years. When France issued a stamp with one of the Louise Bourgeois spider sculptures, Dad sent me on a mission to find and send.
Once I found them at La Poste in Cahors, I knew we had to have the whole sheet. I was able to send some to Dad and Kat, sending Dad a full line so he could see the writing on the edge of the sheet...sheet of 30 stamps!
Over the years, I've had many favorites.These chocolate bars above top the list. Not only are they fun and pretty, but they smelled like chocolate.
My second would have to be L'Ange au sourire, who I saw and photoed in the flesh at the Reims Cathedral in 1998...through a chain link fence no less.
I could go on and on, there are so many more. But, I'll leave you with a sheet that should be no surprise...dolls!
As you can see above, I found the Bourgeois Spiders once more while sorting at 411. There they were, pristine and ready to send. These might be in your future Evelyn!
Buried deep within my Mom's chock full to the gills Doll Cabinet, I discovered a treasure. Treasures might be "treasured" because they are worth a lot of money. Mine is treasured for simple childhood memories.
There sat my twirling china ballerina. She'd rested in that cabinet for ages, hidden among all the rest of the many many MANY dolls that my Mom kept there. I'd forgotten her...such a sweet surprise.
I scooped her out with tears in my eyes.
I made her dance.
She was coming back to New Orleans.
AND, will be coming home to Cadrieu.
I have just the spot.
Monsieur Winkelmann will be very excited.
But for now, she rests on my bedside table with the antique lamp that also came home with us. It's the perfect level spot for her where she can do her very best twirling.
What's the point of being a ballerina if you can't make many full pirouettes at once?
Wishing you a day of childhood love and laughter, in a life of many easy and full pirouttes!
For those of you who are in St. Louis and the surrounding areas, I hope you can make it by the estate sale that my family is having very soon. Mark your calendar for:
Saturday, December 12, 2015
10am to 3pm
411 North Elizabeth Avenue-Feguson, MO
You name it, we've got it...antique toys and games, dolls abound, Hummels, Snow Babies, gorgeous furniture, movie memorabilia, books, Christmas everywhere, antique sewing machines, vintage clothing, hand-painted china and glassware, antique clocks, artwork, baseball cards, puzzles a plenty and on an on. Don't miss it. Get there early. You have the basement and two other floors to peruse.