Fabulous Finds From the Weekend

 

Image Courtesy of Jeanne de Arc Living

Over the weekend, I did a little antiquing and found some things to share with you.  

Silver Bowl - Purchase Here

Little silver bowls are perfect for seashells, acorns, jewelry, rosaries, little beach pebbles or a base for a candle - perfect for any arrangement.

It has been very cold here, but it seems that the sun will be shining on us once again today.  Halleluya!  It's something to get excited about around here as Winter continues to cover us with snow and cold temperatures.  Our family is sharing a cold virus that started with the youngest and is now making it's way around the family.

Small Ornate Candlesticks - Purchase Here

Tiny candlesticks are very ornate and small enough to tuck into any display where you want to add a touch of romance.

I did manage to get out of the house and travel to Hannibal, Missouri over the weekend where I found these antiques.  My husband was attending a historic wooden floor restoration workshop, so I went along and spent the days wandering while he was in class.....

I spent the morning browsing shops and then had lunch at a little tea house where I had a delicious spinach salad with mandarin oranges, cranberries and walnuts.  My Earl Grey tea was served in a vintage teapot with a vintage cup and saucer along with home made raisin bread.  Yummy! It was so wonderfully quaint and feminine...  I sat by the fireplace and read a vintage letter I found at an antique store written by a young woman who was staying at a hotel in 1896... it was a sublime moment.

Tiny Alarm Clock from Germany - SOLD

This little alarm clock from Germany is only three inches square and has glow in the dark hands.  It has the most charming tic.tic.tic sound which reminds me of my Grandmother's house as a child.

The first day was busy and fun, and then it began to snow... and snow.... and snow....  I had planned a trip to Quincy, Illinois which is across the Mississippi River from Hannibal the following day.  

I decided to venture out in spite of the snow and drove across the Mighty Mississippi - it took 18 Mississippi's to make the crossing.  I'll translate that for my international friends...  Here in the States, we count as children - One Mississippi, Two Mississippi, Three Mississippi and so forth as it takes approximately one second to say each one.  

As children we count the time between lightning flashes and the rumble of thunder to gauge how close the storm center is to us at night in our beds... in an effort to console ourselves.  We have violent thunderstorms in the Midwest during the Summer and they can be scary for the little ones.  Our parent's teach us this little trick to reassure us that we are not in danger.  Once we learn this counting method we use it during storms, games of hide and seek or just for fun as an adult to gauge just how wide the Mississippi River really is as we drive across.

Vintage Sewing Bobbins - SOLD

Vintage sewing bobbins are great for altered art projects or look great in an ironstone dish.  Use them in your jewelry making endeavors, add them to a chipped paint board with a screw for a whimsical hanger for artwork...

When I arrived in Quincy which is a lovely town filled with remarkable Victorian homes it was covered in snow and all of the shops were closed for the day.  It was disappointing, but not everyone has a four wheel drive vehicle so I am sure that there would not have been alot of shoppers that day.  That's the way of antiquing, you never know how the day will turn out which is part of the excitement.  I did enjoy driving around the city sightseeing in spite of the snow which I thought was really beautiful.

I love putting garlic, fresh ginger root and shallots in ironstone platters in my kitchen they seem to go together so well.  

It was an adventure traveling to Hannibal and Quincy over the weekend.  The shops were filled with friendly folks ready for conversation and to offer assistance when needed.   My husband's workshop went well and I had fun getting out of the house and exploring a bit.  I did miss my puppies while we were gone over the weekend, which was mutual.  Molly chortled and yipped in happiness at our return and Angus was at the door to welcome us as we arrived.

Tiny Dancer Silver Ring Caddy - SOLD

Isn't she pretty, a tiny silver dancer to hold your jewelry or to just look pretty on a dresser or shelf.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and that some of you had sunny, warm weather where you are...we were in the teens here in the prairie lands.  The landscape is all dressed in white, gray, blue, and driftwood tones - it really is beautiful.  There is more snow in the forcast for the upcoming weekend...

Historic Restoration of late 1800's Horse Barn

Another Historic Resoration project of a 1800's Horse Barn, by Pishny Restoration Services. Our historic restoration business performs restoration on all types of constructed buildings including Historic Barns. This horse barn with loose hay storage in the upper level was built in the late 1800's by the Douglas family and is located at our farm in the country. We are currently restoring the interior and exterior of the barn by replacing beams inside and wood replacement and paint outside. The windows behind the scaffolding are being custom built in our shop for future installation once the exterior is completed.

The restoration began just in time as this barn had fallen to ruin with gaping holes in the roof and broken support beams inside. The exterior of the barn also had holes, wood rot and boarded up windows. It was a shame...

Doesn't the barn look great with new paint? I have purchased a vintage green enamel fixture for the lower canopy that will be installed in the Spring. This barn is massive and is about 50 feet tall at the highest point. The double doors at the top would open and the loose hay would be lifted by pulley from the horse and wagon below at ground level.


This is what the upper level is today....our son, Ryan has built a mini ramp in the upper level of the barn for he and his friends to skate while at the farm. We kept the integrity of the upper level of the barn, but allowed Ryan free reign to build his half pipe which he did with the help of his friends and a little assistance (okay - alot of assistance) from my husband, Dan. It can be removed later once the kids have outgrown skating and the wood can be recycled into another project.

Ryan loves his new mini ramp and spends most of his time in the barn while visiting the farm.

Here's Ryan getting ready to drop in...

Ryan purchased the wood from his savings and spent two weekends building the mini ramp and plans to use it for his upcoming 17th birthday celebration this month.

It has been a very long time since the upper level of this barn has been used and I think that the Douglas' would be pleased to know that the barn is being used again....

The granddaughter of the Douglas' that originally built the barn visited the farm over the Summer. She is now in her late 80's and she was very pleased to see that the barn was being taken care and restored. She has fond memories of the barn and shared stories of playing in the top level of the barn as a child. Now our kids are playing in the same barn...and with the restoration, children will be playing in this barn for another one hundred years or longer...

This is the reward of the restoration business, keeping the past alive in the present...and for future generations.

Kitchen Renovations at the Farm

Whenever I design a new space - I look for inspiration and often find it on the Country Living website. My cabinetry at the farm was honey oak which Martin Towe refinished to a antiqued black finish that I love.

I also love the wooden pot rack over the island. I won't have room for one of those at the farm, but I do love it.

I like the idea of combining the black cabinetry with the vintage glass front cabinet - so much so that I will be removing a section of the cabinetry at the farm and hanging a French inspired camel top glass front cabinet for my china pieces in its place.

This is the section of cabinetry to be removed so that the new cabinet can go in its place. This cabinet is visible from the front entry so I think it will make a nice focal point to pull the eye forward into the house.

This is similar to the type of china cabinet I have in mind for the space. If I cannot find one, I know that Martin can build one for me, but hopefully I can find one to refinish in a light oak color or whitewash.

This will be my color palette for the kitchen at the farm. Black cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, mushroom tinted walls, and slate tile backsplash. The countertops will also be a neutral in a slate tone formica top. I like the durability of the formica top and it can be changed out easily if I ever want to change the appearance of the kitchen a very little cost.My cooktop in in the island so I will need a vent hood, additional lighting and possible a pot rack. The island is approximately 10' in length and about 3' in width. A range vent will break up the space and add another interesting focal point to the kitchen.
This is the shape of vent hood I am thinking of for the island. I would like to fabricate my own design using hammered and etched metal. The ceilings are only 8 feet high so it would not be a large piece to fabricate. I will leave the lights out of the vent hood and place them on either side instead to showcase the hammered and etched metal.

I would also love to have this arts and crafts style clock in my kitchen area. I can fabricate the clock face and Martin can build the clock from Black Walnut. Isnt' is gorgeous?

Chris is a tall guy at 6'2", but the stilts really speed the mudding process up with no ladders or scaffold to deal with and he is so proficient with mudding the walls that they hardly need any sanding at all which is such a plus when you are pushing the schedule to get the renovation complete.
Here's hubby, Dan looking at all of the wires he will have to relocate that were hidden in the soffit - oops I didn't count on that little wrinkle when I insisted they be removed.

There is a pantry in between the cabinets (in the photo above). The door to the pantry is small at only 24" in width. I had considered using a vintage door with a glass window, but 24" is really small and a door that size with a glass window has proven difficult to find. A couple of different options would be a screen door, but again finding a vintage door in 24" will be difficult.

A door like this could be fabricated, but too expensive. So, I may have to settle for a small door with a chalk board like the one below. I like this idea, but would really like to find a door that lets the light from the pantry shine into the kitchen.

The soffits are gone and the sheet rock is up and mudded - this was a time consuming project due to relocating the wiring and moving the can lights toward the middle of the room. I am so happy with the results and like the open feel of the kitchen now that the soffits gone.

A few other ideas I really like and will try to find a place for in the house....

I like the look of the old general store shadow boxes on the wall. I have loads of small items that I have collected over the years and this shadow box cabinet would be perfect to display them.

This kitchen has the feel of the mud room I would like to have in the galley style room between the house and the garage. I have an old vintage sink and the cabinets would be nice to store odds and ends. I also want a crystal chandelier in the space - which I already have on hand. It's a nice dicotomy - a chandelier in a mudroom.

I also love these primitive looking lights over this table. They remind me of galvanized metal funnels - wouldn't they make great lights? Maybe in a bathroom over the sink......

Chalmette National Cemetery - Sara Rosetta Wakeman

My alter ego, you might say or "other half of my life" is spent with my husband and our business together Pishny Restoration Services. I thought I would share with you one of our current projects we are working on together.

Sunset at Chalmette Cemetery

The restoration of Chalmette National Cemetery, in New Orleans, Louisiana. We are repairing 82 marble monuments, restoring the iron gates at the entrance, the cannon monuments, the flagpole and the GAR monument.

Iron gates at Chalmette National Cemetery entrance.

Bronze medallions painted pre-restoration.

I recently traveled to New Orleans to check on the job and to work on the iron gates at the entrance to the cemetery. As I walked through this historic and picturesque cemetery, I felt a sense of pride and honor that the National Park Service has deemed the Chalmette Cemetery worthy of restoration and preservation.

Cannons converted to monuments with cannon ball top..

I have a passion for our heritage and the preservation of our important historical landmarks and parks. Bringing these places back into service for future generations to enjoy and obtain a better understanding of our history is a priviledge. Maybe this is my parent's gift to me as we traveled extensively when I was a little girl visiting all of our National Parks and Monuments, Yellowstone, Redwood Forest, Mount Rushmore, etc. My parents instilled a respect for our National Parks and the history of our Nation.

The GAR monument in Chalmette National Cemetery.

The Chalmette Cemetery serves as the burial place for Union Soldiers during the Civil War, and is rumored to be the burial place of British soldiers from the War of 1812. The Chalmette Battle Field adjoins the cemetery and as only a few British officers were taken back to England after the war, it is unknown where the fallen were buried. Some think it is around or in the Chalmette Cemetery in unmarked graves.

Unknown soldier grave marker.

Walking through this picturesque cemetery, I am proud of the restoration work on the marble stones that gleam once again in the sunlight. The cemetery was covered with four feet of water after Hurricane Katrina suffering additional damage to the brick walls and monuments. Many of the majestic trees were lost at this time.

Hurricane Katrina

The monuments are now repaired and standing upright in one piece again. You would never know that the stones were ever broken or damaged. Our craftsman have received extensive training and are certified to perform these repairs and the results show their skill.

Vintage Postcard of Chalmette Cemetery.

Repaired monuments at Chalmette Cemetery

To understand a restoration project, I feel it is important to know the history of the structure or project. In my research of the Chalmette Cemetery, I discovered the role of women during the Civil War. I was familiar with the nursing efforts of the wounded, the fierce determination to provide for their children and families once their husbands and older sons had gone to war, and the tradegy of loss. My GGG Grandmother's house was burned to the ground during the Civil War when she was left alone with only her elderly father. She begged the soldiers to allow her to keep her family Bible. It was all she had left after the fire.

Iron gate restoration in progress.

What I didn't realize was that women also went off to war with their husbands and sons, or disguised themselves as men to enlist and serve their country. Some did it for honor and other's for the wages. A man's pay enticed many women to enlist disguised as men to earn money to send home to their families. These women were generally women of the frontier who had traveled West settling new farmsteads, they knew how to shoot a gun as well as their husbands and brothers and felt they were protecting their rights to their land and country.

Sara Rosetta Wakeman, alias Private Lyons Wakeman

One of the more famous of these women is buried at the Chalmette Cemetery. Sara Rosetta Wakeman, from New York who enlisted in the Union Army as Private Lyons Wakeman, 153rd Regiment, New York State Volunteers on October 18th, 1862 after Abraham Lincoln had ordered the recruitment of an additional 300,000 soldiers to serve in the Union Army.

Private Lyons Wakeman grave monument

Recruitment of soldiers was quick and involved little more than a handshake making is very easy to enlist. Many young men enlisted, underage and anxious to serve their country. It is estimated that approximately 400 women also enlisted disguised as men, but the numbers are suspected to be much higher. The appeal of $20.00 per month was considered a high wage for the time and could be part of the motivation for men and women alike.

Grave monuments stacked together.

What makes Sara Wakeman's story so important, is the letters that were found in the attic of a farmhouse from Sara to her family. The letters provide the insight of a 19 year old woman serving her country as a soldier in the Union Army while in disguise.

Joined hands monument for Mathias Troye

Sara's gender was not discovered until the letters were found and her grave located at Chalmette Cemetery. A book is written, An Uncommon Soldier by Lauren Cook Burgess documenting Sara's life and her letters home to her family during the Civil War. Her letters are filled with pride, the eagerness to help provide for her family in New York, the uncertainty of her future and the desire to own her own farm someday.

"You musn't trouble you Self about me. I am contented. I want you to get along the best way you can until this war is over. I believe that God will spare my life to come home once more. Then I will help you to pay you debts. I will send you more or less money while I am a soldier.

Our regiment don't expect to stay here long. I don't know where we shall go to. Some think that we shall go into a Fort into heavy artillery. For my part I don't care where we go to. I don't fear the rebel bullets nor I don't fear the cannon. I have heard the roar of the cannon." - Sara Rosetta Wakeman, alias Private Lyons Wakeman

Sara died of dysentery in a hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana and is buried at Chalmette National Cemetery.