Remnants of my past

Mother’s Day weekend, Twenty-thirteen.
Hubby and I decided to go spend the weekend in Yuma AZ. A place I spent part of my childhood, a place I loathed, a place my mother feels I ran away from. Maybe I did, I don’t really know, but what I do know is that when I was old enough, I got out of Dodge and swore never to return. At some point each of them left too, only to return a short while later and that’s where they are to this day. Rooted deeply into the brown parched ground of the old desert town.

(The old counter where I spent much of my eighth grade, collecting money from clients, and totaling out the books at the end of each day).

When we cross over the muddy green waters of the Colorado, and pull into town, we always make a right onto 1st Street, then pass the old brick house where I once lived. About a mile down the road we make a left onto Avenue B. And that’s where they always greet me…so many forgotten memories flooding back to the forefront of my mind. There, stands the old shop that was once owned by my grandparents and now its sole owner, my papa. It didn’t come to him easily, In fact there was a huge price to be paid. The cost? His own personal dreams, shattered then tucked away in a little box, as the life he planned for his family was altered, and new plans were made by another. But it is finally his and he’s putting his own personal mark on the place, plus he’s cleaning it up at the same time.
My old grand-dad would part with nothing!

There is all manner of interesting objects hanging or propped precariously against the walls and I wonder if one of those objects might contain my papa’s hidden dreams. Does he take them down and sift through them from time to time…wondering what might have been, what could have been, but never was? Does he sometimes wonder, or is he content with the way his life turned out.

In the back yard of the old shop is where the true treasures can be found…

The faint indentations of my childhood memories, reminiscent of the old vehicles deteriorating in the yard.  Riddled with rusting holes and battered by the desert sands. Some of those memories are fond while others of them are not so.
Take this old Ford Vanette for example. I still recall the morning when my papa stopped five blocks from my high school to drop me off. My choice, of course. For what young sophomore wants to be seen driving around in an old Ford Vanette with two 6 foot long  yellow #2 pencils on top? And then the humiliation to follow, that same afternoon in the cafeteria when one of the varsity football players shouted from one end of the room to the other, “Hey, Hilsinger! I saw you get out of that giant bread truck with the yellow pencils on top! Where’d your dad get such a weird truck?” Like Bilbo Baggins used to do when wandering through the woods, I wish I could have reached into my pocket to slip on my magic ring, only to vanish in thin air.

Now I look at this lovely rusted heap and wonder to myself, “how much do you think it would cost to restore the old thing? Would it be worth it? Would it finally be redeemed in the eyes of a young impressionable girl, as something worthy?” Aah, one has to wonder.

Sadly, it has seen better days and most likely will continue to sit there until all hope for it is lost. Funny, but that’s how I felt about living in that dry parched town.

The old Mustang! Now she holds better memories for me. Memories of our family driving along the coast. Singing songs and stopping to buy peanuts from the “Peanut Lady” along the Palos Verdes peninsula. I still remember the day my papa brought her home. He wanted the fast back model, but mom being a little more realistic knew that you couldn’t fit three kids in the back seat of a fast back. “Really, Cloyce Hilsinger, what ever were you thinking?” He did get to drop the car off at Earl Schieb’s and have her painted candy apple red when I was in kindergarten. Now the red has faded and the old copper color is beginning to fade too.

I think hubby was asking himself the same question that I was asking about the old Vanette…”hmm, what would it take to restore this old girl. Would it be worth it?” He once had a Camaro Rally Sport that he called his sweetheart and I for one do not know if I could handle the competition of another lady in his life. Even if she is just a rusted bucket of bolts and rubber hoses “-).

So, we spent a lovely weekend in the old desert town and when it was time to leave,
I realized that I never ran away, I just went back home.

The Vintage Marketplace

Hello Hello! Once again I’ve managed to find my way back to this special little place in the blogisphere. A place where we share little snippets of our lives, dreams, and the inner workings of our hearts.
I love it here and have been inspired by so many of you, but alas, life has a way of twisting and turning while traveling down its own path. Sometimes, if we fail to pay attention the path leads us to who knows where and that’s where I’ve been of late, the land of “Who Knows Where,” doing “Who Knows What.” Life, school, working on my cottage, and other such things. Sometimes I feel like one day melds into a month and then a year. An entire year gone in three days…do you feel that way too?

Anywho, this past weekend I decided to take time off from Who Knows Where and visit The Vintage Marketplace in Rainbow, CA.

I’ve been following Christie and Rita on pinterest so naturally I was curious to see what the two were up to. Oh, in case you didn’t know, Christie and Rita are the two talented women who host the Vintage Marketplace four times a year.

This darling old truck set the stage for the entrance and was the perfect place for a photo opp, which would explain The many girly girls dressed in lace just waiting to have their pictures taken on the bails of hay. Me? I just wanted to take the truck home, but all I got were a few pictures…such is life “-).

There were so many beautiful displays and the vendor’s tents were works of art themselves. Above is one of the sweet little arm chairs Rita had upholstered in burlap and Christie painted with her signature roses. I talk (or type) as if I know them, don’t I? In case you are wondering, “no I don’t” but I did get to wear Rita’s socks once and I always stop and say hi to Christie, even tho I’ve never introduced myself. I’m a wee bit shy at times. Note to self…”never leave home without a pair of socks in your bag because you just never know when you may run into the perfect pair of boots.”

I loved this pink tufted chair but decided to pass it up since I have six of my own waiting for my upholstery skills to be put back to use.

One of my favorite vendors was there…Sweet Magnolias Farm. It’s a mother daughter duo and they always have the sweetest set up. Their theme for this event was glampin’. I thought the converted chicken coop idea was darling, but of course it wasn’t a chicken coop at all, but then I suppose if you had an abandoned chicken coop in your backyard it would be a perfect spot for an afternoon nap provided it had a comfy day bed.

The day turned out to be one of the hottest since I can’t remember when, but then many a day in southern Cal has been strange. Humid, hot, and always the sky filled with giant thunder heads. Very strange weather we are having. Very strange indeed. It was so hot that I didn’t stay as long as I would have liked, but I wouldn’t have missed the event either.

I came away with a darling shoulder bag crafted from fabric and peach colored lace, a new/old table scarf for my wee little backyard table, and a fun scrap of fabric embroidered with roses and butterflies. I’m still not sure how I’m going to put it to use, but I know I’ll think of something.

All in all it was a wonderful day filled with tons of inspiration and eye candy.

Now back to reality…the new semester started two weeks ago and I have classes Monday thru Thursday.
You would have thought I’d be done by now, right? Me too! I call it one of those twists and turns along the path of life. Somehow things seem to take longer the older I get. Well, that’s life!

I hope life has been treating you well and any twists and turns along your path have been blessings in disguise.
Until we meet again, in this wonderful little corner of the blogisphere…
xoxo cori

Pictures from a past Vintage Marketplace

Some Bunny thinks it’s Spring!

Even though it’s still blustery cold outside!!!!
But then Bunnies are always ready for spring even in the dead of winter.

Last week my friend Nancy and I drove to Riverside to check out the historic Mission Inn…
but this post is not about that.
It’s more about what happened at the end of the day.
Nancy had been wanting a new camera and finally got one for her birthday, so who better to call then her shutterbug crazy friend Cori. Off we went for a day of picture taking, exploring, and just plain ol” fun!
I met Nancy that morning at her mechanic’s in Tustin just across the street from one of my favorite stores…”Whimsy.” have you heard of it? Have you been there? Twice a year, Whimsy hosts one of the most amazing Artisan Fairs filled with, well, amazing artists and their wares. It’s called “GLITTERFEST,” and you guessed it! It’s filled with all kinds of glittery goodness.

(Me thinks this Bunny lady is taunting me with her tiara’s. Do you think she will let me try one on)?

Nancy’s car wasn’t ready by the time we made it back to the mechanic so we decided to venture across the street and visit Whimsy. It’s a wee little store jam packed with all sort of creative wonders and in the back, right out of view of the front door, is my favorite section. I never know what I’m going to find there, but it’s always a delightful surprise. This day was no different!!! 

As I rounded the corner, there she was…all decked out for Spring.
All I could do was stand there and laugh at her ridiculous expression and choice of silly attire. It was almost as if she was yelling at me, “HEY YOU! Yeah you! Come here! I want to show you what I’ve got!! How would you like to buy one of my tiara’s???” Can you hear her too, or is it just me?

Anywho, this spring’s Glitterfest will be held on March 10th and here’s a list of some of the amazing artist who will be selling their wares…
oh! And wouldn’t that be funny if my Bunny lady friend would be there to greet all the guests at the door?? I think it would be most delightful!!

Water Color Kittens

 

Hello! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I keep trying to find my blogging rhythm and every time I think I’ve found it, just like that, it slips away. I’m hoping 2012 will be better… when it comes to me and posting.

Can you believe that Christmas is just one week away? Me neither and I think it’s safe to say that I’m not exactly ready, but then I never am.
So where have I been lately, you ask? Well, I’ve been trudging through another semester of school. I say “trudging” because that’s the only way to describe what it’s been like. Even up to the last day with finals, my computer crashed 20 times. Oi Vey! Thankfully I’m done…until next semester.

For Thanksgiving hubby and I decided to drive up North and spend the Holiday with one of my Aunts and cousins. We had a wonderful time enjoying the cold weather, slow pace, and the beautiful stars shining in the night sky. Living in Southern Cal a girl can easily forget that there are so many constellations overhead. I can’t tell you the last time I saw the Milky Way, but there it was, shining ever so brightly, illuminating the sky.

Since my Aunt’s house was filled to overflowing, hubby and I, along with our pups, spent our nights beyond the orchard in the motorhome. Many times throughout the night I woke and lay there gazing up at the stars. I think the stars remind me of how small I am and How Big my Lord and Savior is. After all, He is the One who flung the stars out into the universe.

The following morning we went into town to explore the local antiques shops. This is where I ran across these adorable water color kittens. Tucked beneath a pile of books was this half tattered children’s book with 3/4 of its pages missing. But the illustrations where so delicate and the colors exquisite. My pictures can’t possibly do them justice.

As long as I can remember I have adored children’s books and this little one captivated my heart, so home with me it went. When we returned home I became curious about the markings and set off on a little fact finding mission.
What did I discover about my little tattered book…
It was published about 1893 by a well known author named Ernest Nister from Nuremburg, Germany.

He created many books having movable parts as well as pictures that dissolved into other pictures. And after my search I also discovered that many of the beautiful Victorian illustrations that I love so much were used in his publications.
Sweet little water color kittens

 

Things that are Lost

I have spent the last few days obsessing over those boots. Obsessing to the point of even calling my mom to see if she had them stashed somewhere in the back of one of her closets. She just giggled at me and said, “Oh, Lainey, that was over 30 years ago.” Yes, I know, but it seems like yesterday or maybe just a year ago.

But then, it made me think of other things that have been lost with the passing of time. Objects once loved then passed on to a new owner for safe keeping. Will they cherish them as much as I once did?

My mind moved from objects to people. Friends who have come and gone. I’m not talking about friends who have passed from this life into eternity, but friends who have stayed a short while only to move on due to circumstances or neglect. You see, I’m an excellent listener and all my friends know this, but when it comes time for me to talk no one listens, so I retreat into my own little world neglecting those around me.

Last week I was cleaning my guest room and ran across an empty envelope from a friend postmarked some 20 years ago. I’ve often thought about her over the years but somewhere in between her moves and mine we lost touch, so I decided to look her up on the internet. Marvelous thing this internet. Low and behold, I found her and sent a quick email. In a short time she emailed back. Many things in her life were the same but there were also many changes. Heartbreaking changes.

My mind then went from lost friends to those who had become lost to Him…The Lover of our souls. Some have walked away because we’ve been hurt by the church or disillusioned by the tedium of life (is that a word…tedium)?
But it is He who has come to save the lost, to find those who have wandered away, and to restore us and make us whole again in Him.

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;  for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
LUKE 19: 9 & 10
So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
LUKE 15: 3-5

(More images from The Vintage Marketplace)

The Vintage Marketplace

Have you heard of the Vintage Marketplace? It’s held once every three months in a small town called Rainbow somewhere in between Temecula and Escondido, and is hosted by two very talented women, Christie Repasy and Rita Reade. 


This is my sweet friend, Janet, who decided to join me at the last minute. Just as we were getting ready to leave the blue sky disappeared while thunder clouds started rolling & rumbling followed by lightning bolts. It was kind of fun and exciting in a strange sort of way.
My hubby was on his Saturday morning bike ride, with some buddies from church, when it started pouring down rain. So they hid under an overpass for 20 minutes until it stopped. When they finally reached Seal Beach they were pelted by hail. Weird weather we’re having.
Sorry for my little bunny trail…now, back to the market place.


 The very first thing I saw, as we rounded the first row of booths, was this old pair of Tony Lama boots…chocolate brown with wing tips and buck stitching. It was like seeing a dear friend for the first time in 30 years. How I LONGED to wrap my arms around them and twirl and dance like I did many many years ago!! Maybe even give them a kiss or two, but I was afraid people would think me odd.  You see I owned an identical pair back in 1976 when I was in the 8th grade.  Each day after I wore them I’d give them a nice little buff with a soft cloth and place them in their special spot in the closet. How I loved those boots and how I miss them now!!!! This pair of boots represents some of my most cherished childhood memories. Summer days spent on the racetrack in Prescott Arizona. Mucking horse stalls. Climbing the fence on the backside to watch the horses do their morning workout and just spending the weekend with my mom.
I stood their staring at them for the longest time thinking they had to be the very pair I once owned. A woman suggested I try them on and so I did, but I was unable to get my heel in. If you wear boots you probably know what I’m talking about. The point where your toes are in but there’s that last tug before your heel drops down. I felt just like one of Cinderella’s ugly step-sisters trying to force her foot into the delicate glass slipper. Now that I’m writing I think I could have tried a little harder and maybe, just maybe, I would have been able to get them on, however my shoulder was causing me too much pain and the idea of having to wrestle the beloved things off my feet were just too much for me at that very moment.  I’m still convinced that they are the very pair of boots I once owned, size six with the same marking where a horse once stepped on my foot.
I wore a size six up until about ten years ago when my toes, not so politely, informed me that they would prefer NOT to be smashed into such a tight shoe. Alright enough about the boots. Beside, my heart is breaking at the thought of leaving them behind…sigh.

Had I been able to squeeze my heels into those gorgeous boots I would have bought this lovely pink gown to wear with them. Wouldn't that have made a lovely ensemble? Yes, I believe it would…double sigh.
This was the sweetest display…all white with burlap and silver jewelry.

The tents were all so gorgeously decorated. One even had a Tutu dangling from the cross bars and a swing behind it ready for afternoon tea. I think this was Rita’s tent…I  had to borrow her sock to try on the boots so I’ve decided the next time I go to one of these lovely events I’ll take along a pair of my own, just in case ;-O.

I loved the expression of this solemn angel as she watched the shoppers moving about.

There were so many lovely displays filled with trinkets and treasures and
the day turned out to be perfect with a cool breeze and white puffy clouds.
In my next post I’m going to show you the sweetest little gem of a trailer all dressed up with a tin ceiling and Victorian Gingerbread…It was so delicious I thought I was going to swoon and faint from it all.
Until next time, I hope you all have a great day
xoxo

Death by Chocolate!

A couple of days ago was my birthday so I made my all time favorite birthday cake and thought I would share it with you all. It’s super rich, creamy, and very heavy so a small slice is all you need. This recipe serves 18-20, but I made a smaller version that will serve 10 very happy people.

8 oz fine quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces

2/3 cup water

1 1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 eggs, separated

2/3 cup, sour cream

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

pinch of cream of tartar

chocolate curls

raspberries and confectioners’ sugar to decorate (optional)

1 lb. fine quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1 cup unsalted butter

1/3 cup brandy or rum

3/4 cup seedless raspberry preserve

1 cup heavy cream

8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped

2 Tbls. brandy

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 10 in. springform pan and line base with waxed paper. In a saucepan over medium-low heat, heat chocolate, butter, and water until melted. Stirring frequently. Remove from heat, beat in sugar and vanilla and cool.

In a bowl, beat yokes lightly, then beat into cooled chocolate mixture; gently fold in sour cream. Into a bowl, sift flour, baking powder, and baking soda, then fold into chocolate mixture. In a bowl with an electric mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff peaks form; fold in chocolate mixture.

Pour mixture into prepared pan and bake for 45-50 minutes until cake begins to shrink away from side of pan. Remove to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes (cake may shrink in center, this is normal) Run a sharp knife around the edge of pan, then unclip pan and carefully remove side. Invert cake onto wire rack, remove bottom of pan and cool completely. Wash and dry pan.

Prepare filling in a saucepan over medium heat, heat chocolate, butter, and 4 Tbls. brandy until melted, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and set aside to cool and thicken.

Cut cake crosswise into three even layers. Heat the raspberry preserve and remaining brandy until melted and smooth, stirring frequently. Spread a thin layer over each of the cake layers and allow to set.

When the filling is spreadable, place the bottom cake layer back in the pan. Spread with half the filling, top with the second layer of cake, then spread with the remaining filling and top with the top cake layer, preserve side down. Gently press layers together,

cover and refrigerate for 4-6 hours or overnight.

Carefully run a sharp knife around edge of cake to loosen, then unclip and remove side of pan. Set cake on wire rack over a cookie sheet to catch any drips. In a medium saucepan, bring the cream to a boil. Remove from heat and add chocolate all at once, stirring until melted and smooth. Stir in the brandy and strain into a bowl. Allow to stand for 4-5 minutes to thicken slightly.

Beginning from the center of the bowl and working out towards the edge, whisk the glaze until smooth and shiny. Pour over the cake using a metal spatula to help smooth top and sides; allow glaze to set.

Slide cake onto serving plate and decorate with chocolate curls and raspberries. Dust with confectioners’ sugar. Do not refrigerate or it will become dull. (Oh, I always refrigerate mine).

My chocolate curls weren’t exactly cooperating so they turned out more like ribbons, but they still tasted delicious! And just in case you make this deadly cake I’d love to know what you thought.

ENJOY!