From A Different Perspective. . .( Tour)

Spending more time than usual within our home,
On Crooked Creek, has made me pause.
To see things from a different perspective, literally.

Today,
I hope you'll join me as we enter through the Garage Door Entrance
into On Crooked Creek's Dining Room.

Standing on the second step of the Garage Door Entrance,
I am welcomed home to this view of On Crooked Creek's Dining Room.

I adore this view of the sun streaming through the Patio Doors!

Not exactly 'open concept' but the L~shaped Living / Dining Room
combination does have a moving flow about it.

Literally, standing outside of the Patio Door,
you can see how the two rooms join to one another

I rarely,  ever,
photograph On Crooked Creek's Living Room from this perspective.

("Mr. Ed" and I are contemplating refinishing a piece of heirloom
furniture for the open area, but until the 'stay at home' orders are lifted,
we've decided to postpone this DIY project.)

Arriving On Crooked Creek,
"Mr. Ed" and I realized we needed something to fill this wall space.

This Entertainment Center has been the most amazing option!
Not only does it house our television and my oversized stereo system,
but the display area and storage are exceptional.

The right side can be taken off,
should we ever 'downsize' our living quarters and have a smaller space.

My comfy club chair and ottoman give me an amazing view
of On Crooked Creek's Dining Room / Living Room combination.

This Flea Market $8 table find looks amazing after a combination DIY
of my paint technique and "Mr. Ed's" hand rubbed staining.

(With the 'stay~at~home' order, houseplant shopping will wait awhile longer.)

These velvet tufted chairs

make comfortable additional seating for guests and gatherings.

Other than On Crooked Creek's Entertainment Center,
this is my view from my comfy club chair and ottoman.

To pause, in these troubling times, can be a 'good thing'.
It helps one to visualize life from a different perspective.

It is my hope that under these ordered 'stay~at~home' times,
you, too, are taking in the views of your home. . .from a different perspective.



Until next time. . .
                           Pat

Beginning March 30, 2020 @ 12:01 AM, Governor Laura Kelly
has issued a Kansas Statewide 'Stay~At~Home' Order through April 19, 2020.
Stay home.   Stay Safe.

Restaurant. . .Dining In!

Currently, our county is under a 'stay~at~home' order.
Restaurants have closed to dining in.
Carry~out or take~out, only.

So~o~o. . .
using my vintage restaurant dinnerware,
I set the Dining Room table On Crooked Creek for. . .Dining In!

My maternal grandmother owned and operated Ford's Cafe
during the late 1940's and early 1950's.

When Grandmother  Susie Ford passed away,
her personal belongings were divided among the family.

I didn't receive any of her restaurant ware. . .
but, I have spent many years collecting the similar pattern
from various flea markets and antique shops.

Spring cleaning within On Crooked Creek's Galley Style Kitchen
and Dining Room seemed to be the perfect combination with our
'stay~at~home' order and dining in.

Although I've used modern day tablecloth, placemats and napkins,
the vintage intricate white overlay cloth is also my Grandmothers.

Everyday Oneida flatware and Libby glassware complete each place setting.

These adorable vintage pepper and salt "chick" shakers from Japan
"peep" to us that Spring has arrived On Crooked Creek.

Oh, yes!
While I didn't inherit any of Grandmother Susie Ford's restaurant ware
from her Ford's Cafe, I did inherit her 1950's Dining Room Table and Buffet!

The perfect spot to set the heirloom table for "Mr. Ed" and my. . .Dining In!


Until next time. . .
                            Pat

My Heirloom Secretary. . .

What a history this Early American Style Secretary has!

I do believe I might have been seven or eight years old the first time ever I saw it.

You see,
this Secretary belonged to my MoMa. . .
                                                        and years ago, was gifted to me by my Dad!

So~o~o. . .
while we're 'social distancing' ourselves,
I decided it was a 'perfect timing' for 're~stylin' the Secretary!

* * * *Tutorial * * * * * * * 

After emptying completely and a through dusting and polishing,
I prepared the 'pigeon holes' for a bit of a refining
of the materials used on a daily basis within my Secretary.

Beginning with the center,
I placed some flora and personalized notecards with a blue color palette.

Next,
I added the brushed gold framed miniature photos of my dearest Sister and I.

Filling the voided space,

I used a vintage, shell shaped, hand painted bird motif miniature dish.

Next,

working from left~to~right, I began filling in the remaining 'pigeon holes'.

Hand crocheted miniature doily, and some Victorian seed packets
provide a vintage backdrop for my size 2 and size 3 vintage inkwells.

Spring flora note cards tied with sheer olive green ribbon,

a remnant of sheet music and a pair of silver birds complete the left side.

A touch of bright blue in my Thank You cards

brings the eye all the way across the 'pigeon holes' to the opposite side.

Die~cut Lily of the Valley note card

and a trio of hand~stamped oval rose gift tags complete the 'pigeon holes'.

Quite a refined and refreshing appearance to the once hodge~podge of items.

Beginning once again in the center,
I filled the back space of the desktop with a Tulip print note card
and a vintage brass and glass inkwell.

I use the space, that would have been used for writing pens
to the side of the inkwell, for elegantly inspired postage stamps.
I adore these Madonna and Child postage stamps from Christmas!

From left ~ to ~right,
I've placed the items that are used weekly from my heirloom Secretary.

While this may seem to be an excess of notecards, postage, stationery
and thank you cards, at least one or more of these items is used on a daily basis.

Oh, and I mustn't forget the most important items on the desktop!

Honestly, 
I would be lost without my many "lists".

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Like the freshness of the air after a gentle Spring rain
is the 're~stylin' of my heirloom Secretary.

Until next time. . .
                           Pat

Dear Ones,
My heart goes out to each and every follower of On Crooked Creek
during these extremely trying times we face as a Nation, as each State,
as each County, as each Town and as each family.

The Land of Blog has remained an outlet of my creativity and expression.
But, do not let it appear that my heart is not deeply troubled during this
'social distancing' as prescribed to 'flatten the curve' during the Covid -19 pandemic.

"Mr. Ed" and I, like many of you, are doing our part by staying at home,
except for necessities, and want to encourage and uplift you as you do the same.
May God pour out His blessings upon each and every one of us as we endure.
In my heart, I do believe. . ."this too, shall pass."
Fondly,
Pat