This & That

Out and about this weekend I spotted a few things of note.  These dining chairs, a set of 12 at Barbara Farmer’s always charming shop, Parrin & Co.  They are not antiques, but a great look at a great price – $135 each.  And twelve.  Not always easy to come by.


A collection of silver birds would jazz up any tablescape for fall.

And, the swoon-worthy.  A green, chinoiserie confection that I would have snapped right up for myself except green is not so much my thing – I take my chinoiserie black –  and I did not have $1400 rattling around in the bottom of my bag.  It’s worth every penny.  If this were on your dressing table, you’d start every day feeling like a swan.

Also, driving by to stalk my favorite gate (I’m starting to have visions of the front yard thanks to Cindy Sutherland’s inspiration) I stumbled across this gem.
I’ve often wanted to post pictures to bemoan the monsterous McMansions, but have not as they are, in fact, someone’s house and that would be unkind.  But to my great delight, this new construction is going up in one of the most lovely neighborhoods in Kansas City.  I have kept the image tight, as I don’t know the owner and they might not want their home on the internet.  (I will know by noon as one of my friends will email or call to say, “Don’t you know the so and so’s?)  Anyway, they tore down a very bland and ignoble split level that will not be missed and are replacing it with this gracious home.  The significance of this not just the style, which will nestle right in, unnoticed as a newcomer in this gracious burg, but its proportion on the lot, which is… appropriate.  Bravo.


Then, on a trip to the grocery, I spied this across the street.  Harry.  Well, not Harry, but a look alike of the car my father purchased circa 1970 and allowed me to name.


Nearly all the joy of my early childhood can be summed up by this car and it was such a surprise to see one exactly the same in my own neighborhood.  Amazing.

And, a trip to the Antique Mall resulted in the very conservative purchase of one book, “Heart of Darkness.”


 It was the first book I bought on the attraction to the cover alone, then, upon googling it, find I can’t wait to start it.  Some things work out.  

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15 thoughts on “This & That

  1. WEll, I see you found things to keep you busy with everyone being gone! Don’t worry – you will LOVE having the house to yourself every day, trust me!! I even resent the days the housekeeper comes. hahah!!

  2. Call me crazy… only up due to the fact that son no.2 is moaning while some sort of cruel and dark virus works it’s way out. Only 2 trips to the ER.
    Alas, a trip to Mrs.Blandings to make it all right, that car, that book, that gate leave my heart thumping.
    I know, I said this about the last post,
    clever. Notice, I did not use “ing.”

  3. What a successful weekend. I love green chinoiserie. It’s rare compared to the red or black. And speaking of red, that car. A beauty.

    The book cover is wonderful. I won’t ruin it by calling it the next “I Married Adventure,” but the thought ran through my head.

    Hope the youngest had a good first day at school.

  4. Hope you’ll reprise “This and That” from time to time — interesting tidbits, like visual dim sum. Do those wheelback chairs look like they could be from the Mark Hampton Collection for Hickory Chair of about 15 years ago — maybe. Heart of Darkness is great — it provided the inspiration for Apocalypse Now. Joseph Conrad is amazing — and that cover is pretty groovy, a la “I Married Adventure.” “This and That” offered an engaging smattering — hope you’ll use it again some time.

  5. Joni – I was a bit giddy yesterday. I had made one plan each day this week to make sure I was not at loose ends – now I see that I’m going to be just fine.

  6. Patricia – I am so sorry you have someone down and out – hope he’s on the mend soon.

  7. Courtney – had the same thought on “Adventure.” And, no surprise, everyone’s first day went just fine. I heard later in the morning that my newly minted Kindergartener assumed the role of class president and official greeter. He made a point of showing his friends the dress-up area and warning them, “Don’t go in there, it’s for girls.” I wonder if that was advice from the older two.

  8. Nell – thanks for the feedback – I wish I’d thought to call it dim sum, much more engaging. I can’t be sure about the chairs, but yes, the look and the time frame seem about right – and excellent eye.

  9. THAT CAR!!!!!!!! Holy smokes. It would have taken everything in me not to go find the owner and beg for a trip around the block. Perhaps I would have asked him/her to drive me over to the fence so I could get a closer look…

  10. Courtney – you have no idea the thrill it was to finally be old enough to drive that car. Heaven.

  11. My best friend from university days’s father has a pale blue Merc just the same vintage as this red one. Occasionally, he’d be allowed to borrow it for a week, and we’d make sure we did a lot of driving around the coutry lanes near school.

    And Heart of Darkness… dark but very interesting.

  12. Now that is a fine day! Surrounded by beauty (and the sublime in the case of Conrad…) I have a neighbor who collects vintage Mercs. I’m hoping he might go in for one of these … maybe I could offer to wash it for him until my ship comes in. Or the kids’ car seats go out. Whichever comes first.

  13. My sister and I rode either unbuckeled in the front or crouched down in the back, which was never intended for passengers. The thought fills me with terror now.

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