Baby, Baby, Baby

Our family is expecting three, yes three, new additions of the baby kind in the next few months. In fact, one is on her way here this week! We are so excited! Since all of them live a couple of hours away from us, we decided to set up a little baby area in one of the guest bedrooms for overnight visits. Our bedrooms are small so it's a little tight but I think it turned out pretty nice. I tried to stay neutral since we will be having he's and she's. Nearly everything is thrifted or vintage or both.



Overall view.
The pull down wall map is an A. J. Nystrom from 1966.
I got it at a garage sale for $1 - no lie!
The other maps are vintage jigsaw puzzles.

 

The globe on the corner of the vanity is a Fisher Price.
It lights up so it should make a good night light.

The baby quilt came from a recent auction.
The mechanic rag will be great to lay on the sheet
 when changing diapers.
Don't you love the old skateboard underneath? I couldn't resist it!

The bag hanging from the corner of the bed is made out of
a vintage baby blanket. I put diapers and other necessities in it.

 

This is an old shoe shine stool stacked with children's books.
It is in the corner behind the rocker. I thought it would be fun
for the kids to go back there & look through books
 when they are old enough.



Cool Metal Vibe

I have always been drawn to metal objects. I have a hard time passing by a utility cart or a metal watering can or a metal tray, and more often than not, if the price is right, it will come home with me. Over the last couple of months, I have noticed that I have accumulated several metal pieces, a few that I think even Mike and Frank of American Pickers would "pop" on.

Craftsman tool chest, Craftsman tool box, and Eskimo Two Speed window fan

Love this copper handle

I have fond memories of Craftsman tools and accessories. I can remember shopping at the old Sears building at 22nd & Messanie in St. Joseph, Missouri with my dad and we always spent time looking through the tools. In his opinion, there were none better. I can still "feel" the store to this day. The small tool box I picked up at a local garage sale for 25 cents. It is rusty but in good condition and the Craftsman metal plate is in near mint condition. The large tool chest and Eskimo fan I purchased at this estate sale. The tool chest was $30 and is super cool - it even had a few jigsaw patterns in it. I am not sure if the red paint is original but I like it anyway. I am thinking of using it as a night stand or end table. The Eskimo window fan was $10 and I just love the aqua case and... it runs! The copper handle and that it was manufactured in Missouri helped sell it, too.

Here are a few more items I got at the same garage sale as the Craftsman tool box. The industrial metal hooks are super heavy and cost me a whopping $3. I don't know what I am going to do with them yet but I am pretty sure I am going to keep them. The five metal gas cans cost $3.40 for the lot. They all have some red paint on them and are in fair condition. Again, what to do with them is still being pondered!

Crosby Laughlin industrial hooks

Metal gas cans with red paint

Children's wagon wheels (maybe Radio Flyer?)

I absolutely love these vintage children's wagon wheels. I found them at the Big Brown Dog Antique store in Cole Camp. I looked at them on a couple of different trips but finally, broke down and brought them home. They were $10 for the set. I think I am going to make a shelf with the two that have the metal brackets.  They are sitting on a metal magazine table I also picked up at the same place and it was also $10.

Large metal tray and metal napkin holder

I have gotten more than one red metal tray in my lifetime but I think this might be my favorite. The graphics are so fun - who doesn't love a man in an apron and billowy white chef's hat?! And for $2.00 who could resist? Certainly, not me. The napkin holder is vintage goodness, too. And it was only 25 cents!

On a recent trip to River Market Antique Mall I managed to get a few goodies. This license plate is from a long closed meat packing plant in St. Joseph. I don't know if they put them on the delivery trucks or were just for the scooters and lift trucks around the plant. This plant was in the neighborhood where I grew up so I had to have this. It was a little pricey but a piece of history from my hometown was worth the price. It is too bad that neighborhoods are not the same as they were in the past.

Two-sided cushions and cool scroll work
made this purchase a no-brainer

Sleek silhouette

Another thing I picked up at the River Market is this fabulous vintage aluminum patio chair. I don't know if the cushions are original to it but they are definitely vintage, too. We just repainted our deck and now, I am search of vintage patio furniture. I can't find a manufacturer on this piece - does anyone know who made this? I would love to have at least one more chair to match. The cost for this beauty - $34. I thought it was a steal!

So, what have you been hunting for lately? Do you dig metal? Or industrial chic? Whatever you are hauling home, I bet you have found some awesome treasures.

Friday Thrift Trip

I had the best day today. I headed over to an estate sale that was a little north of Jefferson City about 80 miles from our house. They had advertised some vintage state tablecloths and I was not disappointed when I arrived. On my way back, I stopped in Tipton at a place that is an antique store on one side and a thrift store on the other. The thrift store gives you a brown grocery bag and you pay $5 for everything you can fit in the bag and $2.50 for each additional bag. I only filled one bag but I got a lot of stuff in it. Here's my favorite item I stuffed in the bag.



Morgan Designs Bucket Brigade Ice Bucket

How totally fun is this ice bucket? It is really cool (because it's an ice bucket, of course) with the nautical theme as we live between two large lakes in Missouri. It will be perfect for those summer outings - oh, too bad we sold the boat! It will still work out on the deck. And it was made in the U.S.A. so that makes it even better. I don't know much about Morgan & Company except that they were located in Boston. I would guess this ice bucket to be from the 1960's. A great find for a $5 bag!

I've been a little remiss in posting to my blog (actually, a lot). I will share with you some more of my finds from my Friday thrift trip next week. I got some fantastic goodies including a vintage Craftsman tool chest! I think Mike and Frank would be proud. Have a super weekend!

Mod Lodge Stylin' - Rambling Ranch

Wow! It has been a long time since I've seen you my blog friends. This has been a busy, hot summer. I do believe this summer has been as long as our past winter and to tell you the truth, I would prefer 28 inches of snow to 100+ degree weather any day! Thankfully, today is cooler and we got some much needed rain. I hope this is a sign that the heat wave has broken and not just a teaser.

It has been four years today that we moved from our 1920's arts and crafts home in the city to our 1970's ranch in the country. We picked this property, not for the house, but for the 20 wooded acres, stocked pond, large garden area, wildlife, and 1 1/2 acre fenced yard for the dogs. I actually could not remember any details of the inside of the house when we got back home but we placed an offer on it anyway. I did not warmly embrace the ranch style house once we moved here - it was too new, too boring, too small. I absolutely loved the history of our old home and the style. Four years later, my attitude has changed. It has been fun trying to bring this place into our mod lodge style. We have made some changes to suit our lifestyle - some bigger than others. Here are just a few...

Hammered Copper Farmhouse Sink

We always wanted a farmhouse sink even when we lived in the old house. We grow a lot of vegetables (80 tomato plants out this year) and can a lot, too, so this type sink is perfect for rinsing and cutting large quantities. I picked the copper, not only for its rustic charm, but because it is the most anti-bacterial material and the hammered look does not show any dents or marks. If you are interested in a copper sink, I suggest you shop around. I found this at the eBay store for Copper Depot for about half the price they were charging at some of the large home improvement retail chains. And we have a guy who works with my husband that does construction projects on the side so we got a good deal on the installation. This picture is before we put in the vintage 1960's tile back splash and replaced all the hardware on the cabinets - I'll show that to you some day (when the kitchen is clean - it is canning season). Eventually I would like to replace the counter tops, too.

Sun room with bamboo floor & propane fireplace

When we moved into our house, the sun room had no heating or air conditioning and it was carpeted. Who builds a sun room and puts carpet in it? I mean, seriously. We installed a propane fireplace (ProCom heater) the first winter we were here for two reasons - we needed heat in this room because we use it all year round; and because our house is all electric, we wanted an alternative source of heating just in case. One of the best investments we made - we really enjoy having it and it gives us a little cozy feel without the hassle of chopping wood (although we have plenty of wood we could chop). Again, I shopped around for the fireplace and again, I think I got this one on eBay (or maybe it was Northern Tool). Then, this past March, we finally tore out all the carpet and put in the bamboo floors. We chose a dark, wide plank because the walls are a lighter paneling and we thought it would contrast nicely. The flooring came from Lumber Liquidators. Our guy installed it, too. I bought a couple of cowhide rugs at World Market to further enhance the mod lodge style. This picture, obviously, was taken before we put all the furniture back in the room.

A small change I have made to the front of the house is to purchase this Ranchero house numbers kit from Crestview Doors. I read about them on Retro Renovation, a blog that promotes loving the house you're in! Our place did not have any house numbers on it and I had been looking for something for over three years that suited the style and me. When I saw this, I knew I had to have it! Someday, I would like to replace the front door. Maybe that will be our next home improvement project - I better call the guy!

Mod Lodge Stylin' - Bird is the Word

Blue Jay nest with Wal-Mart plastic bag

As I was doing laundry this week, I noticed that we really didn't have much of a spring. Our laundry basket consisted of fleece pullovers and shorts - it didn't seem like there was anything in between. We basically went from winter to blazin' hot summer in a few days. If it weren't for nature, spring would have passed us by without saying hello. However, one of the many signs that spring did indeed visit us are the birds and their nests.



Apple picker bird's nest with baby birds

I perused the yard the other day to look at our fruit trees. We have four apple trees and it looks like we will only have a good harvest on one of them. Again, another indicator that maybe winter had lingered on too long. One of the apple trees, though, did have a blue jays nest in it so at least it was serving a useful purpose. And as I stared at this nest, I noticed that the blue jay parents had used a shredded up Wal-Mart plastic bag for part of its foundation. Well, how ingenious! And so "in", too. We have been hearing time and time again that we should "Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose" - and the bird world has been doing this forever. As I pondered this, I remembered that there was another bird's nest that not only was recycling and reusing with feathers and yard waste but also repurposing. Instead of using the apple tree to build the nest in, this pair of birds used the apple picker that was leaning against the house for a nesting location. Come to think of it, I repurposed that same apple picker as a snow removal tool on our satellite dish this winter. Bird brains think alike!

As thrifters, junkers, pickers or what ever you call yourself, we have embraced the "Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose" lexicon as a way of life. Not only do we thrift to be frugal but to bring once discarded items back to a purpose. Here are a few examples of what I have done in my own yard and garden to RRR. Most of these things are not overly original or even difficult to do but it gives an old item a new purpose. Plus it looks kind of cool.

I found this bucket in our shed when we moved here and have been trying to find its purpose for three years. I have a thing for galvanized. Finally, I planted some flowers in it and set it out by the front gate. I love it. So do Pearl and Chloe - doggie kisses to you!

The Delphos 3 gallon water cooler is being used as a plant holder. I think I picked it up at a garage sale for $1. It still has some remnants of turquoise or green paint but its mostly galvanized and a little rusted but I like it that way. It sits atop a BPS Paints box I bought from a neighbor many years ago. And the boots are from Target - they have a hole in them so I thought they looked good in this garden display.

This is an old wash tub that is being used as a plant holder, too. I just bought a hanging basket and set it in there - it works perfect for this because it already has a drain in the bottom for the water to run through!

This is an old refrigerator or freezer metal basket. I just used plastic ties to hold it on to the post, added some moss and potting mix and planted these wave petunias. Next year, I might add more moss to fill it up more.

I picked up this retro chair last summer at a garage sale for $1. I don't know what I thought I was going to do with one chair but I loved the atomic pattern so I had to have it. It has been sitting in the garage waiting for a purpose. Viola - now it's a plant stand. It works great for this as it is vinyl with metal legs so it should endure the summer's weather. Plus it looks mod sitting on the deck!

So what have you used in your garden following the mantra "Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose"? Has nature's way inspired your way? I'm sure if you look around, you will see that your thrifting is eco-friendly!





Ooo, Ooo, Ooo, Ooo, Ooo, I've Got a New Attitude

Well, I have been blogging a little over 8 months now (off and on) and decided it was time to switch it up a little. Some of the other blogs I follow have changed their header and I thought why not do the same - it is spring, time of rebirth or some such nonsense.  So here it goes...

The Look

My header is a panoramic mash of the Lake McDonald Lodge totem pole in Glacier National Park. For the past 6 years, we have gone to Northwest Montana in the winter for vacation. We usually spend a day at Glacier National Park (which you can only drive into 11 miles on the west side). This year I spotted this totem pole which I guess has always been there (at least since 1913) but I didn't notice it until this year. I just love it! The colors, the imagery, the rustic carvings. Since this is blog has LODGE in the title, this totem pole was meant to be there, too. And now, I have an obsession for totem poles. I am right now in the process of trying to find someone local to carve me one for my garden. I hope you love it too.

The 'Tude

I have not been extremely diligent about posting on my blog. Some weeks, I might get a post or two on here. Others, not so much. I love to write and I love taking photographs so I don't know why I can't be a better blogger. Sooooo... I have am going to attempt a new attitude and be more blog visible. In an effort to push me to this goal, I will continue to participate in Thrift Share Monday and actually try to post it on Monday, and on each Thursday, I am going to post the following:

• 1st Thursday - Mod Lodge Stylin' - this will show some of the things I have around here that I think fall into my Mod Lodge Vintage style. It may be a renovation, a craft, a thrifted item with a differnt purpose, etc.
• 2nd Thursday - Do Good Thursday - I will highlight a thrift store that uses its sales for nonprofit activities.
• 3rd Thursday - Travelin' Thursday - I will highlight a state, city, or destination through some of my thrifted treasures and personal accounts. I hope to uncover some tidbits that maybe we didn't know about this great nation and lands far away. It will be fun!
• 4th Thursday - Mod Lodge Hodge Podge - this will be whatever I am feelin' at the time. Maybe it is an obsession, or animal life, or gardening, or who knows. Plus it sounds cool to say "Mod Lodge Hodge Podge".

So, there you have it. I hope you will come along with me on this journey. And now, on to...

Thrift Share Monday

I have been doing quite a bit of garage saling the last two weeks. On May 7th, it was the Lincoln, Missouri Citywide Garage Sale. In this small town on the way to Truman Lake, there were 56 garage sales. I did not make it to all of them but I did hit a quite a few in about a two hour period. Some of the treasures I found included the orange topped Thermos for 25 cents, a pretty yellow and cream floral plate marked USA, an orange fired on milk glass pitcher (possibly Hazel Atlas?), a Cheinco Housewares tea canister, and a patchwork pillow, super cool made by Gertie in 1982. See..



I also picked up some vintage fabric at a couple of sales. Here are my favorites, all polyester (or double knit) from 1/2 yard to 2 1/2 yard pieces, and ranging in price from 25 cents to $1.00 per piece. They match the totem pole colors to a T!

This past Friday, I went to 5 garage sales on my way to shop in Warsaw. There is one place, Edmonson Trading Post, that has a garage sale once a month from about March through October or November. I always wondered how they could have "new" inventory and sell it for cheap, cheap, cheap, and this visit I found out why - they are real life Auction Hunters. Now, I don't think they find those high dollar, rare treasures like Allen and Ton (or maybe they do) but they do find enough stuff to keep a small building full for sales each month. This month, they had a lot of fabric and craft items from a storage unit they bought in Warrensburg, Missouri. In fact, they have so much from this unit, it will be spread over three months. My favorite buys from this month are these transfers which I got for 15 cents each for the small packages and 50 cents each for the larger ones.

I also picked up this patchwork quilt for $1 at this same sale and the wooden box with the bears, and at a couple of other sales, I got several '70's craft books including the two pictured below, a knitted lap size afghan, and a bag and box of vintage snaps on original cards.

I found several plates and vintage souvenir items for my eBay store that I will be listing soon and other goodies that I will share sometime, I'm sure. I also found the wooden cat at the Edmonson Trading Post that I posted here. Oh, and one more thing to share... even the screen I have for the back drop of my most recent photographs was a thrift find from a church rummage sale. It is a Da-Lite Flyer tripod projection screen and it was only $5!

So, how is your treasure hunting?

Weekend Sneak Peek

Even though it was a rainy Friday here in mid-Missouri, I managed to hit 5 garage sales and found some fun treasures. Here is a sneak peek at one of my favorites. This kitty isn't marked but it has some fabulous mid-century attitude. If you could gaze into her eyes, you would be able to see the golden yellow tone behind that stare. She's the cats meow. Oh, and my blog has changed it's attitude, too. More on Monday. Have a good thrifty weekend!