No sales for me this past weekend. I had a deadline for a magazine story, a weekend houseguest, and most importantly ...
prom night! (My daughter doesn't like it when I post her picture on the blog. But doesn't she have pretty wrists?)
Prom night is a blast in our town, even if (or probably especially if) you aren't going to the prom. All of the kids go to the park by the lake to have their pictures taken, and everybody in town goes down to see them, even if they don't have a child going to the big event. Hundreds of people show up. It's just one of those small-town things.
I can't help myself here.
{she'll never notice one little picture!}
As in many other places in the country, apparently, it's done pretty much nothing here but rain. The weather was glorious Friday, especially for prom picture-taking, so really I wasn't going to complain about the whole weekend being a washout.
At some point Sunday afternoon, though, I was tired of looking out the window at the rain, and I needed a writing break, so I came up with a really good idea.
"I have to go downstairs to make sure the sump pump is running so the basement doesn't flood," I said, "so maybe I'll just clean it while I'm down there."
Oh, the fun things we can find to do on a rainy day!
Most families have objects that they really don't want to keep, but that they'd feel bad about throwing away. Members of these families look around and choose the one person who is a) very sentimental and b) has an outbuilding, and they give her the stuff they don't want, knowing she can't refuse.
In my family, of course, this would be me.
And so when my mom asked if I'd take this set of dishes, which she bought at the W. T. Grant store in my hometown right out of high school with her tiny secretarial salary, I could not say no. But I must say, I wasn't crazy about them. I liked the story behind them. But they probably weren't something I'd have picked for myself.
Which is why they ended up in a box in the basement. Never even made it to the outbuilding. Which is how I found them Sunday.
Perhaps absence makes the heart grow fonder, because now I think they're awfully sweet. However, I do have kind of this farm thing going right now. And I haven't seen too many other sets of dishes printed with tiny barns and fences and farmers. I couldn't decide whether the piece on the right was a creamer or a gravy boat.
Then it dawned on me. A cow. I think it's a creamer.
What a beautiful picture of your daughter. Those dishes are very charming too.
Posted by: Kim K. | May 16, 2011 at 10:04 PM
Pretty girl! Sweet dishes!
Posted by: Tina | May 16, 2011 at 10:14 PM
Pretty is as pretty does! What a sweet tradition to have the whole town come out for prom pix.
Posted by: Mary Kay Andrews | May 16, 2011 at 10:14 PM
Glad you snuck a picture of the prom girl in! What a sweet tradition for the town to gather by the lake for pictures and pre-prom fun.
I wish I could shop in my basement and discover treasures like that - laundry, pantry and storage and a water heater is about all that keeps me company down there!
Posted by: laurie magpie ethel | May 16, 2011 at 10:40 PM
Love how you snuck that one photo in--she looks great! That prom gathering sounds like a blast -- much more fun than the actual prom!
Posted by: Gina at Vintage Junk in My Trunk | May 16, 2011 at 11:35 PM
Your daughter is so pretty! I like the dishes too. I wonder if this works for me too. I have some sets of my grandmother in the attic, which I am not particular fond of. They are there since 2003, which may be not long enough. Mmm I guess I just wait for 10-20 years.
Posted by: LiLi M. | May 17, 2011 at 03:54 AM
Beautiful daughter!
I love the dishes. So cute!
Posted by: Gina | May 17, 2011 at 06:22 AM
Gorgeous daughter...she will never know. The dishes remind me of the illustration from the old children's books. I love the gradient color and the tone of the figures. Very charming...thanks for sharing...Smiles..Renee
Posted by: Renee | May 17, 2011 at 08:39 AM
Oh my...you DO live in a "Bedford Falls" town....and here I'm stuck in Pottersville! :(
I'm jealous! Great pic of your beautiful daughter.
Posted by: Angie | May 17, 2011 at 09:04 AM
Let's see. . .
beautiful daughter
handsome son
beloved husband
adorable farmhouse
charming village
the most wonderful vintage treasures
It sure sounds like an idyllic life, and I'm so happy you share some of it with us!
Posted by: Martha | May 17, 2011 at 10:27 AM
Your daughter is adorable! I hope you have good luck at the auctions you attend this spring! Go get 'em, Barbara!
Posted by: Mitzi Curi | May 17, 2011 at 10:41 AM
Your daughter is so sweet! I hope she had a good time at the prom, and I love the lakeside gathering for pics.
My Gram gave me boxes of stuff 20 years ago which I put into storage in CT when I married my husband. I dream about what is in them, I hope it's yellow farm dishes. I'll find out this summer when we finally unload all our storage stuff.
PS I envy your rain.
Posted by: freckled hen | May 17, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Gosh, you guys always do it up right over on the lake. I don't think we have that tradition over here by the river. Although I still have 5 more years to go before any of my boys go to prom. Love your daughter's purple dress!
And, I love your Mom's sweet dishes. I have never seen ones like those before.
Our sump pumps sure have been getting quite a workout this year in CNY.
Posted by: Joy | May 17, 2011 at 07:44 PM
Your daughter looks lovely and quite happy despite the picture taking...you and I must fall into the same category wrt our families (I need to stop telling them about my thrifting). My latest "family heirloom" was the silver tea service my father received for 30 years of service (right before they gave him the golden handshake). Neither my brother (who had it) or my sister wanted it so guess who they turned to. Unfortunately it just is not as sweet as your dishes and with the company name on it (that did my Pa wrong) its hard to have much enthusiasm for it (may use for garden art, what do you think LOL). J
Posted by: Julie | May 17, 2011 at 08:04 PM
Your daughter looks so elegant in her beautiful dress. Sounds like prom was off to a great start.
The vintage housewares shopping in your basement looks very prom-ising as well. Sorry. I couldn't help myself.
Posted by: Into Vintage | May 17, 2011 at 11:16 PM
Imagine my surprise to find out you've got a daughter- I think I "know" you from your blog, after all I've seen many rooms in your house, and I know and adore your dog- but a daughter- wow- I think she looks darling- just like Pam on The Office.
Posted by: Beth Leintz | May 18, 2011 at 10:38 PM
Your daughter is adorable! And how cool is that to have the lake tradition? You really DO live in Bedford Falls. Love it......
Posted by: Maria (Magia Mia) | May 21, 2011 at 12:28 PM
What a lovely tradition. I love seeing all the excitement that surrounds prom night. Your daughter is very pretty, and oh my, what beautiful wrists she has!
Isn't it funny, how our tastes change with time? I think these dishes would make breakfast feel like a charming event.
Posted by: Lena | May 21, 2011 at 05:39 PM
love that you snuck the pic of dd in there. lol. my daughter had prom a couple weeks ago too, but they dont have the fun gathering at the park. they actually bussed the kids to the city!! never heard of such silliness. ah well. sweet story about the dishes
Posted by: susan | May 31, 2011 at 03:03 PM