all style; no thrift*

Sunday, we toured Brookside, formerly known here as the Bass Mansion.  John H. Bass was founder of the old Bass Foundry and Machine works and dean of Fort Wayne's pioneer manufacturers. For more than 60 years, Mr. Bass was a leader in the financial and industrial life of Fort Wayne, Indiana.  His country home, "Brookside", was one of Northern Indiana's most attractive suburban estates. The Bass mansion, surrounded by 300 wooded acres and artificial lakes, is now the home of Saint Francis University.

 Local florists decorated each of the rooms and halls for the Christmas tour.

This place is ALL style and NO thrift!
*(I don't mean anything negative by that "NO thrift" comment.
The restoration was done "correctly", I think,
thanks to the generosity of many donors.)

What a pleasure to take in the beauty of this lovingly restored place!

 Obviously I had difficulty knowing which photos to eliminate!

 

comfort and joy

Burgundy velvet.  Empire waist.  Comfortable. Versatile.

A garage sale purchase from earlier this year.
I'll be playing the keyboard at church
and then going through a lovely mansion
decorated by local florists.
Maybe Pizza Hut pizza after that?
Simple pleasures on this Second Sunday in Advent.
Dressed for Comfort and Joy.

<~candles, mantel, plaids~>

Inspired by an enjoyable Holiday House Walk yesterday,

this morning I lit a few of the red candles I'd grouped on a silver tray.

 Later in the day, I gathered some red and white items

 and arranged them on our mantel.

 I decided to place the small, white ceramic tree I made either last year

 or the year before that inside one of many creches I have.

 

Three plaid tins add a little more color and fill in the empty spaces...

All I need is a plaid lamp shade.....hmmmmmm.  

Maybe a wide ribbon tied around it?
Speaking of plaid...I'll be wearing this to a Christmas luncheon today.

I found the cummerbund at a thrift store recently (I always check out the belts).
I think it makes a festive statement with this jacket
with its OWN plaid binding.

no rhyme. no reason.

 My first day of December 2012 ended at Bear Creek Farms

 where my husband's office celebrated the season with a buffet dinner

 followed by an Old Fashioned Christmas musical show.

 Here I am.  In Between.  In the gift shop.

 Wearing a dress from the Give and Take Table at church 

 topped with a vintage, black jacket found at a thrift store,
carrying a purse from the same...

(and apparently yearning for some of the Flair of the Floozie)!?!

Earlier in the day, my husband graciously threaded a needle

and mended a few stray borders of the rug above.  

It lies between our kitchen island and a bank of cupboards and refrigerator.

It's old.  It's well-worn.  It's beautiful to me.

 This one, above, is in front of the kitchen sink....

...and THIS one (under our table) is the only one purchased new many years ago.

An assorted lot of rugs, I know.

Just as this post is a little "assorted" - with no rhyme or reason - and
mostly rugs!

december first

 A quick run to my Second Favorite Thrift Store yesterday morning

 netted me a few gems...

 Joy, Peace, and Noel now hang on my little white tree ($.35 each)...

 ...and the pieced-Christmas-tree-thingie in the middle of the table 

 was only $.50!

 I've posted a few of the other ornaments on my white tree

 HERE, if you'd like to take a look.

I'm Dreaming!  Yes, I am!

is this better?

 You shamed me into it!

 I folded up my three corduroy skirts (black, olive green and burgundy),

- and, yes - that's how I store them...

Well, not on top of my jewelry box, but folded and on shelves....

and donned a pair of blue jeans.

Same black Tee, though.

"Is THIS better?"

I STILL say I'm as comfortable in my skirts as blue jeans.

Thanks for your comments.

It was interesting to read them

and to try and figure out why I'm so "different".