November 4, 2008 - life{in}grace

It’s election day, except I already voted for John McCain which you can read about here. So much for never discussing politics or religion….rules I frequently violate. In other news, guess what I found yesterday? C’mon, guess….no, I didn’t find cheap and gorgeous pieces of ironstone. No, I did not find a way to train for a half marathon without running…..and no, I did not find my sanity which I seemed to have misplaced a few months back. But I did find several delightful pieces of hammered aluminum at my local antique store. It seems they have some new vendors…..who have some new pieces. Or had some new pieces. For those of you who don’t love all things 1950, hammered aluminum was very popular back then and is harder to find these days because it’s relatively inexpensive and people who buy it…love it and don’t give it up. Why do I love all things from the 40’s and 50’s…..I don’t know. Maybe it’s because that’s when my parents were born….and we always idealize the past. Maybe it’s because I watched too many episodes of Leave it to Beaver….and Andy Griffith….and I love Lucy…and Happy Days. But I love old things….which sounds much better if you say ‘vintage’. And I absolutely can’t wait until Thanksgiving…..when my hammered aluminum will make it’s debut. Macdaddy loves this quote by Cicero, which seems so appropriate today,

“To disdain those things handed down by your fathers is to remain a child”

So, I won’t disdain them, I will wash them and display them and use them and think back to a quieter more settled time in history when home was the center of life….and mom’s wore aprons and made homeade bread and kids played outside…..all evening long…..and people knew how to do the east coast swing…..which I am determined to learn. Oh, and they served their families homeade food in hammered aluminum. Which I will do very soon!

Doesn’t it look lovely against the black bookshelf? This piece I will use for silverware.…
and these pretty little pieces will hold olives and pickles…..
and this sweet covered dish will hold my cranberries and apple dish……
and this…..will hopefully be finished by then. I’m painting the bookshelf black….then I have to distress it (to make it looked ‘worn’ )and then I will add maple stain(to make it look vintage)
and then I will add the hammered aluminum to make it look retro 50’s. Now, go vote. For John McCain. And find some beautiful pieces of hammered aluminum. And put on an apron and make homeade bread with your own two hands. And turn off the TV and send your kids outside to play. And dance. The east coast swing preferably. But I’m not trying to tell you what to do.

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