Something For Everyone...New Bern Antique Show 2013

Fancy Blue Ridge.

Each February the New Bern Preservation Foundation sponsors an Antique Show in the Civic Center---a beautiful venue for the show.  And for over ten years now, I have been a vendor at the Show.  It is always a lot of fun.  And sales are usually pretty good.  There is always something for everyone.  Here's some of those somethings from this year.

Pretty Blue Ridge plate in my booth.

Unusual Blue Ridge wall pocket in my booth.

As I was unpacking one of my boxes during setup, I discovered a little hedgehog that I didn't remember having.  I was debating whether to sell it or keep it.  I love hedgehogs.  My friend Marcia came over, bought it, and then gave it to me for Valentine's.  That's called "having your cake and eating it too."  Marcia is a great friend.

My cute little hedgehog.

Virginia, a vendor whose booth is across from mine, usually has something that I can't resist.  This year it is a lovely maple bowl with a hand-painted design that I bought for Dan as a Valentine's gift.

There's always lots of furniture.

Nice chest in one of the vendor's booth.

Usually some vintage toys.

Vintage baseball figures.

Pretty vases.

Victorian picture frame in my booth.

Can't you see how much fun this is?  I always look forward to this show where many of the vendors have become good friends and where there is always something for everyone.

Low Sodium Sloppy Joes

When we were in Key West a few weeks ago, we ate at the famous Sloppy Joe's Saloon, and I had a Sloppy Joe sandwich.

Sloppy Joe at Sloppy Joe's in Key West.

That was the first I had had probably since my children were small.  I had forgotten how much I liked a Sloppy Joe.  We are trying to stay on a low sodium diet whenever possible, so I decided to make some low sodium Sloppy Joes.

I found this recipe online at this website.

This is another quick sandwich meal that will cook while you are out. Small children and teenagers seem to like this too, so it's great for a party or family get together. Hunts makes a low sodium catsup that seems to be pretty widely available.

1 1/2 lb Ground Beef
1 Onion,Chopped
1 c Low Sodium Catsup *
1 Green Pepper,Chopped
2 T Brown Sugar
1/2 t Garlic Powder
2 T Prepared Mustard
3 T Vinegar (I used balsamic vinegar.)
1 T Worcestershire
1 t Chili Powder

 * I used about 1/4/ c low sodium catsup, 1/4 c low sodium tomato paste, and 1/2 c salt free pureed tomatoes.

In a skillet, brown beef and onion. Drain. Stir together remaining ingredients in crockpot. Stir in meat and onion mixture. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours.

Yield: 8 Servings

Beef and onion in skillet.

Brown beef and onion.

Mix remaining ingredients in crock pot.

Add meat and onions to crock pot.

I cooked for six hours on low in crock pot.

Ready to eat.

These were very good, and I really didn't miss the salt.  

Preview Night at the New Bern Antique Show 2013

Camellias and pretty glassware.

Last night was the opening of the New Bern Antique Show where the public had an opportunity to have first dibs on items for sale.  The members of the New Bern Preservation Foundation (sponsor of the show) had wonderful fruit, cheese and wine offerings along with many different sweets.  Here are some photos I shot last night.

Rose Cottage's pretty glassware.

 Lots of pretty fashions by folks attending the preview.

Beautiful scarf.

Beautiful scarf in back.

Food.

More food.

The sweets were brought around on trays.  There were so many delicious ones. 

Sweets.

More sweets.

Cherries marinated in brandy and covered with chocolate.  So good.

One of the dealers near me always brings her dog, Simon, to the show.  Simon is always dressed to the nines.  Last night he was wearing his "tuxedo".  He's a delightful dog.  Always very well behaved.

Simon in his tuxedo.

A valentine handkerchief for sale in my booth.

Today the show gets underway in full force. 

Happy Valentine's 2013

 Happy Valentine's Day everyone. 

Goodie Bags for Grands.

Hope your Valentine's is special.

Wallpaper Off, Paint On---Den Transformed

While we were away in Florida a few weeks ago, Steve transformed our den.  He removed the wallpaper which had been up for at least 15 years, repaired the plastered wall, painted the trim and ceiling, and painted samples of wall colors.  It was good to get this done while we and our pets were away. 

The trim throughout the house is painted with Benjamin Moore's dove white in an oil based paint, and it was nice to have that done while we were away.  I am bothered by the fumes.

Steve had painted samples of a pretty yellow, "manila" by Benjamin Moore that I suppose is named for the color of manila file folders but it's a much richer yellow with a hint of terra cotta.   The second color he had chosen was a taupe which was pretty, but the yellow seemed so bright and cheerful that Dan and I liked it best.  In one day he painted the walls with a flat latex paint---no unpleasant fumes.

Benjamin Moore's manila. (Patrick suggested the color should be called "cantaloupe".)

After the painting was done I allowed Steve a wide berth in going throughout the house to select art work, pottery and African baskets in our collection to use as accent pieces.  We  purchased only two new items---a pretty narrow bench and new pillows from Crate and Barrel for the sofa.

Narrow tribal bench, jute and acacia wood.

Accent pillows for the sofa. 

One of our favorite paintings, a black giraffe in a black frame, was moved from the living room into the den where it provides a nice sharp contrast against the yellow wall.  We moved a jade plant that requires little light from the dining room into the den, and we purchased a narrow tribal bench to anchor the painting.  I found the bench online from CB2.  The jute rope for the seat hints of Africa and the acacia wood blends nicely with the black frame of the painting. 

Giraffe painting with black frame provides nice contrast to wall color.

Jade plant moved from dining room to den.

Our TV is housed in a corner cabinet and the cable box and framed photographs were sitting on top but Steve remedied that.  He was able to find space within the cabinet for the cable box and the DVD player freeing up space for pottery and other accent pieces on top.  

Corner TV cabinet.

Pottery and other accent pieces.

Dan's James B. Duke chair was moved across the room to blend with the other black pieces.

Two unique art deco pieces were moved from the guest bedroom to the den, and a Rwandan basket was moved from the study to the top of the bookcase.

Unusual art deco pieces.

African basket that Dan brought back from Rwanda many years ago.  Still a favorite of ours.

Our favorite Dhurrie rug. 

We have kept the small Dhurrie area rug that matches a larger one in the living room.  I looked for a new area rug, but found nothing that we like as much as this one that we have had for years. It's "an old friend".

We are delighted with our "new" den.  It is more cheerful and inviting and for a very low cost---less than nine hundred dollars---for the whole project.   It's amazing what a new coat of paint and some rearranging of accent pieces can do for a room.

P.S. Everyone needs a Steve.  He's great!