Sunday, August 4, 2013

Equestrian Style

The ideal high school graduation present for most kids would be a car, not for me!  Mine was a horse, and not just any horse.  My Aunt and Uncle who lived in Illinois, had a half Arab mare who had been bred to a gorgeous Arab stallion and had  given birth to a baby colt.  The summer I was 16, I got to stay with them to learn to ride.  I spent every day at the barn where they boarded their mare.  There, I worked, learned all about horse care, and best of all learned to ride.  I was able to choose the style I wanted to learn and picked English hunt seat. I was lucky enough to get to do basic hunt seat, a little jumping and some dressage.  ( It didn't hurt that the owner's had a gorgeous son who was in his first year of college!   Yeah, it was the best summer ever!   I not only got to learn about horses,  I got to know my Aunt and Uncle who I hadn't spent a lot of time with since they lived so far from CA.  They were the best!   Sadly, the summer after I was there, while out at the barn with their mare and her baby, my Uncle suffered a major heart attack and passed away.  At the time, they were planning on moving to a small farm near us in California and raising horses.  My Aunt made the choice to go ahead and move out to CA and bring Tewa, the mare but was going to sell her baby.  I'd been babysitting since I was 12 and working at a neighbor's carwash, (ugh, that's another story), and saving my money.  I convinced her and my Mom that I'd send her whatever money she needed to
take care of Ahweha, ( sounds like it's spelled, Indian name meaning the wanderer).  They agreed and my Aunt and the 2 horses came to CA.   I couldn't afford to buy him but took care of him and paid for his upkeep.  My parents surprised me with his papers on my graduation day from HS.  We had many fun adventures and some misadventures during our years together, and as horse people know, we had that special bond where we could almost read each other's minds.  Anyway, what this means is that I have loved everything horse forever and one of my favorite decorating styles is Equestrian Style.   
 
Here are some examples of my favorite of Equestrian Style
from one of my favorite places that I visit  to be inspired,  Pinterest.

One of my old riding hats and some of my favorite books. I love books
with outdoor titles.  Notice the title of the last one?  One of our favorite
 dealers in our old store gave it to me and even managed to find
one with my BF and store partner's name, Wanda in the title.

















 
 



 One of my favorite books!

 
 




 
 
Had to add this one, becoming an equestrian is hard work!



modern day riding outfit

 
 
Vintage riding outfits
 


Ralph Lauren dinnerware

 
 

 
 

 
 
 Ladies, I couldn't resist ending with some
Equestrian eye candy, Nacho,
the most famous Polo player around.
You may have seen him and his beautiful
wife in some of Ralph Lauren's adds.

œ
 
 
Till next time,
Rebecca
 
This week I'll be partying at:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
 
 
 
 

Friday, July 19, 2013

Summer Cabinet

My chippy, white cabinet is ready for summer with some of my favorite beachy things decorating it's shelves.  I love the photo of the toddler bathers all lined up in a row.  I got this a few years ago at one of my favorite antique malls in Franklin.   My newest find is the turquoise dump truck that I got at the Nashville flea market last month.  As the seasons change, I think I'll be able to find lots of fun things for it haul!  I got it for $10.00 which I think was a very thrifty find.  For awhile there, I was obsessed with sea shells and started finding lots of them at yard sales for cheap.  For the time being I've managed to overcome that addiction! I think I've got enough.  Is that even possible?  The little Florida plate was a $2.00 yard sale find, loved the colors and gold trim.  Then there are my clocks and little fan,  you always need a clock to know how long you've been in the sun and a fan to cool off with when you come in from that 90 something degree heat!   That my friends, is how I justified using my clocks and fan in my "beachy" cabinet!  The little sailboat in front of the basket says Cedar Key Florida.  I got it on a visit there one summer with my husband's sisters, he has six.  That's where they spent every summer growing up with their Nanny and Aunt.  Their house down there is still in the family.  I've only showed you the top half of the cabinet cuz the bottom 2 shelves haven't been changed, they still have the stacks of ironstone platters that have been there for a while. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 





 
 





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Till next time......
Rebecca
 
 
This week I'll be partying at:
Monday

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Yard Sale Furniture

I showed you part 1 of what I'd picked up while yard sailing a couple of weeks ago.  Here's the two furniture pieces that I found.
 
This chest needs a little work but overall it's in pretty good shape.
Price: $20.00
 





 
I got this bookcase at the same place.  The owner said his grandfather built it.
I originally got it for Kailyn's room and planned on painting it white, but, now I'm
having 2nd thoughts.   It's perfect cuz the shelves are big enough for toys and books.  
The 2 drawers would be handy for small things
 
Price: $15.00
 

 
 

 
(Sorry about the color on these last 2 pics.,)
 



 
 

 
 
I got this mantle for $50.00.  I debated getting it cuz it needs some work and it's more then I usually pay for things.   In the end, I couldn't pass it up because of it' wonderful patina.
 I ended up selling it on Craig's list for $115.00
 



 
 

 
 
 
This vintage locker was only $15.00.  If you love rusty and crusty, this one's for you!
If it doesn't sell on Craig's list, ( I've got it listed for $85.00),  I will probably sand it
down and repaint it.
 


 
 

I love the latch, sorry for the blur!
 

 
 
The inside is in pretty good shape except for the bottom shelf,
It's really stained with  paint etc.   
 
 

 
Till next time....
Rebecca

I will be partying here:

Monday
Boogieboard Cottage
Between Naps on the Porch
Alderberry Hill
I should Be Mopping the Floor
The Dedicated House
Creative Cain Cabin
Rain on a Tin Roof
The House in the Roses
Be Colorful
Dwellings
Tuesday
Knick of Time
Cedar Hill Ranch
 Our Delightful Home
Kathe With an E
Elizabeth and Co
Cozy Little House
Coastal Charm
Our Home Away From Home
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Wednesday
The Thrifty Home
The NY Melrose Family
Yellow Bliss Road
No Minimalist Here
Savvy Southern Style
Ivy and Elephants
Momma Hens Coop
Mrs. Hines Class
Beyond the Picket Fence
Time Washed
Southern Lovely
All Things Heart andHome
Thursday
The Brambleberry Cottage
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs Olson
From My Front Porch to Yours
Delightful Order
Between Naps on the Porch
The Charm of Home
Beyond the Picket Fence




 


Monday, July 1, 2013

Summer on the Mantle

It's summer and that means beach time!  Since I'm not in California anymore with access to some of the most beautiful beaches anywhere, I have to improvise and do what I can to bring a bit of
the beach to my family room mantle in Tennessee!  This summer, I kept things simple and used
a lot of my "thrifty finds".
 
 



Window was free, found by trash in an alley
 



 
 
Sailboat picture was a yard sale find, cost: $5.00
 


 
Small mercury glass candle holder, Kohls on sale after Christmas, $4.00
 
 



Tall mercury glass candle holder, Marshalls on sale, $8.00




 
 
 


  
Life preserver, yard sale, $3.00
 

 
 
Till next time......
Rebecca
 
 
This week I will be partying at:
Monday
Tuesday 
Wednesday
 Thursday
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs Olson
Friday