29 March, 2010

Moving Right Along!!!


Spring may be peeking around the corner but it's a little cold to really start working in the yard. Soooo . . . I took advantage of Joanne and Ted recently being away for a week and started painting the living room. Like the rest of the house, we used Venetian Plaster. Goes on with a small trowel instead of brush or roller. Really lots of fun. Just smear the paint all over the wall, don't worry about being neat or covering everywhere with an even coat. I did the first coat, which basically covered the old paint. Joanne came back later and did the final, finishing coat. This is where more care is needed to make sure there aren't any spots with thicker paint. Like I said . . .Easy!!

Since the house was built in the 20s we wanted to add decorator touches that were popular then. Art Deco and Egyptian. The warm tan on the walls reminds us of a pharaoh's tomb. The large papyrus over the two chairs was brought back from Egypt by Joanne years ago.



This is another finished corner of the room. The framed papyrus, over the antique radio, was also brought from Egypt. The two plaques, on the left, were made by my father, Joanne's grandfather, almost 30 years ago. Lon did art 'n' craft shows and these were pieces from his Egyptian period. They look like pictures that were chiseled from the walls of a tomb.



The figurine of Ganesh, on the radio, will someday be replaced with Bast, the Egyptian Cat Goddess.

Still working on the other side of the room. Pictures later. :)

22 March, 2010

Strange Souvenier from South Carolina -- Man Holding Severed Head

Ted and I were in South Carolina last week, and I found this at a gas station / hardware store / antique store between Savannah and Charleston. The clerk didn't have a clue about its origin, but I thought it was kinda neat and picked it up to hang on the wall.


The little cups beside each bird look like they might hold candles. The figure has a curved sword in his right hand, pointing to his head. In his left hand he holds a severed head. There are what look like numerous wagon wheels, and near the bottom, two double-headed birds. Possibly eagles? It's brass, I think, has no makers marks, and each section is held to the one above with small nails, bent at the tip, instead of hinges. The figure itself reminds me of Colonial era funerary art for some reason. Anyway, it's like nothing I've come across before, and I haven't had any luck with Google.

Thoughts? (You can click the images for a better view.)

16 March, 2010

SPRING! SPRING!!



After taking the dog for a nice, long afternoon walk we returned home. Maggie wanted to cut across the yard, on the stepping stones Joanne put in last year. This is when we discovered Spring Has Arrived!!

These seem to be the first of the many Crocus bulbs we put in and the squirrels didn't dig up!

Don't recall what this is but it's green and coming back!

These bulbs, whatever they are, are coming up next to the stepping stones in our Moon Garden at the west side of the house.
So I guess Spring has finally arrived, or at least this week. Does this mean no more snow? I doubt it. Mother Natures has a wicked sense of humor. But I'll take what we have for now.

Boxhouse Mom