Monday, August 16, 2010

What Followed You Home This Weekend?

     My in-laws asked us to come to their home on Saturday to clean out the attic of their garage. It had been years since they had been up there and they really had no idea what was there...but, they wanted it emptied.  The fact that we were in the worst heat wave that I can remember, didn't seem to matter. While I was more than happy to help them, I can't say I was very excited about the combination of 110 degree heat index and a dirty, dusty garage. We left our home early and drove the hour plus to arrive before the worst heat of the day. It was a dirty job.

     My husband was actually in the attic handing things down to me and a neighbor boy. Much of what was up there could go directly to the trash pile...lots of empty boxes, old coffee pots and space heaters. However, there were a few boxes full of treasures. I didn't want to bring home too much. I really did feel that my sister-in-law should have first choice of her parent's things, but she wasn't able to be there and I was told to take what I wanted, yet leave a good assortment for my husband's sister. Look what followed me home.


     Vintage ornaments so fragile I was afraid to touch them. I also learned that they should not be wiped with a damp cloth...the paint will come right off. Old Christmas light bulbs, just perfect for a big glass jar, my husband's childhood Santa and reindeer from the 50's and an old brush tree and bulbs and things that scream, Marty's holiday cloche party to me!


It was hot! I was so dirty that I couldn't stand it!
Worth it!


I have a giveaway coming sometime soon.
The one year anniversary of
I Need Mom is the end of the month.

One of this precious beauties will be in the box
of goodies for some special follower!


I am linking today with Mary @ Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

I am also linking with Sally @ Smiling Sally for Blue Monday (see all those pretty blues)



30 comments:

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

OH I LOVE MEMORIES... and I think you should have taken it all home with you and had your sister in law get it from you... Been there with my Hubby's family and things were thrown out!!! this way if she didn't want them "You would have them"... OH I WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT GIVE AWAY!!! Do you see me doing my "Little Happy Dance"... I WANT one of those ornaments SOOOO Bad... I remember them well, at Christmas decorating the tree with them... LOVE those memories(who doesn't, hehe)
Oh that MUST have been a HOT DIRTY JOB!!! Those rewards though are worth it!!!
Hugs to you, Donna

SmilingSally said...

Arghh, what a job! I don't envy you or your husband!

There are some nice vintage Christmas decorations, though.

Happy Blue Monday!

Marigene said...

I love those old Christmas decorations, they have so much more character than the new ones.

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

These are treasures! And you really had to go through some treasure hunting too! I have some of my grandmother's christmas ornaments and they are very precious to me!
Want to know what I brought home this weekend... a new tiny kitten! His name is Hobbes! We did not get him out of an attic though.
xo Yvonne

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Sue, what memories come over me when I see those big colored lights and those ornaments. They are just like the ones my grandparents had on their great big Christmas tree in their downstairs family room. Their tree was always bigger than ours so I have fond memories of it. Lots and lots of ornaments and those big colored lights and tons of silver tinsel. You found some great treasures and they will be perfect in a jar or cloche.

dee dee said...

Sue,
What excellent memories and finds! I love the beautiful shapes and colors... can't wait to see how you display them!
Dee Dee

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Wow - You did get some treasures. It is definitely not a good time to be in an attic!! :(

Judy@judyfriendphotography.com said...

I remember helping my dad put up those old, big, outdoor Christmas lights. What a great find! I still have one small box of ornaments similar to what you found. Jude

Kaye Swain - SandwichINK for the Sandwich Generation said...

Oh - Aren't you thrilled to have your sweet family memories for Christmas! And they are so lovely! Hmmm, a couple of those photos could be a nice addition to a family Christmas card or some cute Christmas Smilebox ecards. :) Happy Blogoversary!

Ruth Cox aka abitosunshine said...

What fabulous treasures you snagged for your efforts! I love old ornaments.

Blessings & a bit o' sunshine!
Ruthi
http://ruthireads.blogspot.com

xinex said...

Oh that is so much fun, Sue! I love rummaging especially if I can keep whatever I like....Christine

ChRiS said...

oh bless your heart no way with the heat we are having this yr would i go to the attic. My mom has 100's and 100's of xmas lights and bulbs thank goodness there in her basement isn't so hot down there. enjoy your finds!!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

The vintage ornaments are all so pretty and it looks like you got a fabulous assortment. What a special treasure. Hugs, Marty

JUST ME said...

I love those old vintage Christmas lights. When I get my first house, I plan on hanging them up everywhere, all year long.

Also - my AUNT told me to live in a tent too! I was referring to her suggestion! I forgot two people told me the same thing.

...but honestly...tents have no place to plug in hair dryers.

koralee said...

Sooo lovely...now you have me wishing for Christmas. Happy Monday sweet one. xoxoxo

Anita@Theycallmejammi said...

Cleaning out in 100+ degree weather, horrible. Finding memories, priceless.

Mosaic Magpie said...

You were rewarded for doing a good deed. My brother is in town visiting my mother. We saw some boxes in here basement that had not been opened since she moved there almost 40 years ago. I told him while he was there to try to encourage her to get rid of some of that stuff. So at least your family is on the right end of the decision making and wants the stuff gone. Good for them and good for you to help.
Debbie

Rebecca said...

Your header is gorgeous! I've already bought Christmas too!

nannykim said...

I am still sighing---yes siree!! oh wow oh!! Love it. Beautiful. So does it mean you can never wipe them off?? I am curious. What a fantastic collection. HOWEVER, I would have told the inlaws to wait until cooler weather...that must have been HORRIBLE!!! I forget where you live, but here the humidity alone can make one feel terrible.

Terri Smith said...

Aaah..my heart is melting. Love all the beautiful ornaments! Thanks for the cleaning notations..never would have imagined the surface reacting like that. And Thanks for Dropping by my place with such sweet compliments regarding my newest creations. :)) Meant the world!

Yes, I know what you mean about not getting my most current Blog Updates. I've already contacted Blogger twice when other Followers wrote me concerning the same issue. They've said the issue was resolved, but I beg to differ with them.

I've tried everything to reconfigure my personal data side of things..with no success. So, my hopes are you won't desert me. I truly would miss you my friend.

Hugs of Georgia Sunshine,
Terri

Sue said...

How I absolutely love all those large bulbs! I ran into 3 stands of them at a church sale and bought them all! Reminds me of when I was a kid. It is such work to be in a hot attic- it must get to 100 degrees up there and you drip buckets! LOL
Have fun w/ your goodies this Xmas.
~ Sue

Patty Benedict said...

Wonderful Treasures for you to always treasure! Have a fun week!!!
Bugs & hisses
patty

Jenny said...

What a sweet and caring heart you have! I'm glad you got some precious treasures for your potential heat-stroke!
They are lovely.

Entertaining Women said...

Thank you for stopping by for a visit. The linens on my daughter's table came from just such a box as you described in your post. We had gone through so many things to clean out my mother-in-love's house, and there were a couple of old taped up boxes remaining. "Do you want these, KC?" "What's in them, Daddy?" "Don't have any idea." "Sure, I'll take them...thank's Dad."

DUTA said...

Kudos to you for helping your in-laws free the garage!
The boxes with the little treasures (Christmas ornaments) were worth the hard , dusty work on a hot day.
Enjoy your precious finds!

Bobbi Ann said...

Hi, Very nice! I love Christmas and decorating! I hope that you have a wonderful day!
Hugs...
Bobbi

Gypsy Heart said...

Sue, you are definitely a better person than I. There is NO way I would do that in the heat we're having. I honestly don't know how you guys did it either.

The treasures are beautiful! My daughter loves Christmas more than I do and she adores all the vintage ornaments, lights, etc. You will have some gorgeous treasures to delight your family this year.

Hope you have a wonderful week!
xoxo
Pat

Shellbelle said...

You found some real treasures there, but gosh, after so long it seems a few more months wouldn't have made much of a difference and it would have been a LOT cooler.

I say this a someone who had a yard sale over the weekend in the heat. I guess when it's time — it's time. I was determined to downsize. My new little place was so stuffed and I just wanted it gone.

At least your effort paid off, mine turned into a disaster when it rained! lol

Holly Lefevre said...

The thought of being in an attic...awful...but the treasure sot be found WONDERFUL! Those are priceless objects. My Dad still has the Christmas lights that hung on my grandparent house and many of the ornaments. Fond memories.

Angie said...

Looks like you've got the trappings for a perfect, vintage Christmas! Eek, not looking forward to the start of winter though ;)