Another antique spool cabinet.
Seeing as how I just bought an antique spool cabinet… And seeing as how there may (?) be a limit to the number of these things that any one person needs… I said to myself— I don’t need that.
But Self was like – what? No. Erroneous.
NOW WE CAN HAVE A COLLECTION.
It was Friday night. And I’d had a REALLY LONG WEEK. And traffic would be MADNESS… So I went and asked Paul to talk me out of it.
(Thank you for your concern. Obviously I am unwell.)
I said to him – please talk me out of this.
Paul said – that seems like a good price?
I was like – this is the part when you say things like: didn’t we JUST get a spool cabinet?
Paul said – should I look forward to a new era where you only show me things we are not getting? Should I revise my expectations of you in such a way that I will not expect you to get all of the spool cabinets in the entire world?
So then I had to trudge out.
I also got an EXTRA extra-useless item: a fancy antique towel bar.
I paid $15. Which is a total bargain if you are willing to overlook the lack of brackets and also my general having-no-actual-use-for-it… aside, (obviously) as Scepter of Magnificence, (with which to knight Paul.)
And also as Pointer of Seriousness, with which to emphasize diagrams and charts illustrating the mathematical impossibility of me telling my husband something 17 TIMES and him STILL NOT REMEMBERING.
The really thick glass rods with large glass/ball ends are SUPER hard to find!
Mine is missing the brackets for mounting… you can see what they should look like on this pair on eBay (shockingly, that is considered a GOOD price for a pair!)
(Also horrifyingly expensive and covetable is this one with faceted ends and brass hardware.)
These are the towel bars I really wanted to use in our bathroom remodels.
But:
finding a vintage set
in the varying sizes we needed
with all hardware accounted for
in a time frame not measured in years
that did not require me to get a second job working nightshift to fund my exciting towel odyssey.
Sounds awesome and like something I could really excel at questionable.
Back when we were doing the bathrooms, I was resistant to reproductions partly because they are expensive! (And have about zero variety. Especially if you want THICK glass.) And I couldn’t wrap my brain around spending so much money for something not old, and decidedly not a GFT.
Plus, I couldn’t even find any with glass ball ends. Except these which were disappointingly puny. And also stupidly expensive.
But I ended up buying hardware at an RH outlet sale… they had all the sizes I needed, for both baths, and were surprisingly well-priced.
At the time, I figured I could always swap them out when I found something vintage… (which is why we didn’t mount through the subway tile) but I have never given it any more thought ever again; so I guess my towel bar principles are not quite as stringent as I’d like to believe.
The End.
New topic:
My last week has put me in a hole of sadness… not only is the circus in town, (necessitating that I spend every free moment doing my best to raise awareness/please read the second part of this post!) I also took the foster kittens to the adoption center.
And every day since have second-guessed myself with the kind of paralyzed uncertainty that comes with knowing there is no good solution.
I am sad that the wild-herd-of-monkey-babies are gone… especially the one who was so sick and was my special favorite.
When I took them to the adoption center, they reached their little paws through the cage and cried at me. Just typing this I feel crushed.
But then I remember that today, and tomorrow, and everyday after that, I will get emails, asking for foster homes for OTHER BABIES who are sick and scared and need a home to get well in.
But then I remember this face: MOM! HELP!!! WHAT’S HAPPENING?
What kind of monster am I?
Then the adoption center called me last night to say that two of them were going home together… which on one hand, wonderful. But I couldn’t feel good about it because my heart hurt for the one they didn’t want… she is a sweetheart and I know she will get adopted too, but she won’t have her sisters.
Paul really enjoyed my lengthy dissertation on:
hysteria,
I’ve done the wrong thing,
what if the kitten’s new mom doesn’t understand she has to be their mom. FOREVER?
I miss Elvis,
but what about poor left-behind-cat,
maybe I should go get her,
I should have kept them ALL,
maybe I should just go get new fosters tomorrow,
maybe I should find out who adopted the first two and try to get them back, and also get their sister back.
I’ve lost control of this narrative and I don’t have the energy to fix it so I’m signing off.
Please enjoy this video of a cat raised in a horse barn.
November 16, 2016 @ 6:31 pm
Love your spool cabinet , love your towel bar and sorry you feel bad about sending your foster kittens to their new homes . Perhaps you could go get the last kitten , that didn’t get adopted…. and then someday get an old cat that no one else wants ! Until then … foster kittens with the help of your “didn’t get adopted “kitten. As you can probably tell , I would not be a good candidate for fostering kittens.
November 16, 2016 @ 6:47 pm
Thank you so much for fostering the kittens. You’ve given them love and hope. And if the last little kitty doesn’t find a home – go get it!
November 16, 2016 @ 7:30 pm
So the poor kitten who didnt get adopted lost her siblings and the home she remembers and you? Please, go get her! She wont be understanding all the changes…..her world has been turned upside down. Elvis will understand!
November 16, 2016 @ 7:46 pm
Fostering is hard – there is an inherent sadness to it. Because of that it doesn’t work for everyone, but if you can do it, you will be helping many, many cats and kittens find homes. By socializing them, caring for them and giving them a safe and healthy place to grow you are helping them become well-rounded and happy moggies. I wish you much success.
November 16, 2016 @ 7:47 pm
Please adopt an older kitty (or 2). I just adopted a 13 year old who was given up by his single owner because (supposedly) he was wetting inappropriately. There’s a special place in hell for those people. I believe an animal is more of a sacrosanct commitment than a marriage. Now please send a wish that my first cat will eventually accept the old man kitty!
November 16, 2016 @ 8:33 pm
Go get the little leftover girl and give her a forever home. Then get more foster kittens. You will be more prepared for the process, and your kitty will help raise them.
November 16, 2016 @ 9:15 pm
Please get another cat!!! You cannot keep breaking your heart over and over again. My heart could not stand fostering, I admire those who can.
Two great scores with the spool cabinet and towel bar!
November 16, 2016 @ 10:01 pm
Everything you said is the reason I no longer foster. Well, that and we failed to be able to give one up….. and then there were, and still are, three. Turns out it’s the perfect number
Having admitted my failure, try to remember that they are on their way to lovibg homes, and that frequently, cats could care less about growing old with a sibling.
Pat yourself on the back and anticipate fun with the next batch. You did good!!!
November 16, 2016 @ 11:50 pm
I don’t think you need to worry about not loving a new kitty. Your capacity for love is undeniably huge. What would Elvis have commanded you to do? (I almost wrote “wanted you to do” but then I remembered that cats don’t ask, they demand.) If you think that Elvis would tell you to go back for the leftover kitten, then the next step would be for you and Paul to sit the kitten down and show it pictures of Elvis and explain how it was Elvis’ input that saved it. If you think that Elvis would say it’s not time yet, then you can rest assured that the right kitty mommy will adopt it soon. There is no wrong choice here.
November 17, 2016 @ 12:01 am
Oh man, (or woman) a second cabinet and for such a ridiculously cheap price? Almost worth getting on a plane and coming to buy it! So jealous!! And the reason Ive never fostered and I know I wouldn’t give a single one back. (And I have 3 ladies now, think I need one more so every one has a pal)!
My G & Gs house in NH has all that hardware, just part of the house and its not coming out! Very cool stuff.
November 17, 2016 @ 9:03 am
You are awesome for fostering!!! I did it for a long time but for various reasons stopped. I sort of want to start again, but it is a lot of work and mess and stress. And a heck of a lot of fun and so rewarding!!! But I don’t feel emotionally prepared for it any more. Maybe someday… Thank you for fostering.
November 17, 2016 @ 11:27 am
I just told my husband that it was hard to believe, but I found someone JUST LIKE ME on the internet. His question?? Does SHE cook?
November 17, 2016 @ 11:32 am
Congratulations on fostering. I love fostering both dogs and cats. They leave holes in your heart when they go to their new homes or to the adoption center, but new ones come quickly and help you heal. Foster homes play such a vital role in the adoption of pets and the homes are hard to find. Keep up your great service to the animals. (PS. LOVE your spool cabinet. I am a quilter so you know I am coveting your cabinet. )
November 17, 2016 @ 4:28 pm
Always look forward to your posts! You’re way of thinking is closely associated with mine; love the way you express yourself and your thoughts.
As regards the foster kitties: You will always want to keep at least one out of the bunch (my granddaughter did this several times, and there was always one we just didn’t want to part with). Can you imagine if you kept one out of each bunch? Cat city! Cat hoarder! No no no…it’s hard to have common sense at these times (or any time for that matter!). Of course one kitty just might come along that you HAVE TO HAVE no matter WHAT.
As for the spool cabinets-if you have room for them, go for it. My weakness is dishes: China teacups/saucers, teapots, flowered anything!
Stay well and happy hunting til your next post!
November 17, 2016 @ 8:26 pm
Hi!!
The kitty issue would do me in. We have 2 dogs and 3 cats(use to have 6 birds but we were tricked into taking them in and when we found that out we had to keep them) and we’re feeding a homeless cat that probably was left behind. We would love to bring him in but one dog and cat goes absolutely crazy when he comes to the window.
I don’t know how you do it!! Let me know what happened.
Have a great weekend!!
Pam
November 18, 2016 @ 3:40 am
I adore your posts. You are as zany as I am. I wish we were next door neighbors. What trouble/fun we would get into. I feel for you about the fosters. And about your spool cabinet addiction. I don’t have that particular one, but I understand the habit. You can never have too much of a good thing. Keep on living the bright and bold life you do and capturing it here in your blog. You inspire me for mine!
November 19, 2016 @ 12:50 am
Are you selling the last spool cabinet you bought? I’m a seamstress and a commercial embroidery business owner (Gypsy Threads Custom Embroidery – Black Cat Gypsy) and I would love to own one – or more – of those cabinets! I never knew they existed until your email! Oh – Me – Gosh! I NEED a collection of those now!
Change of topic – I have just raised three orphaned kittens from 4 weeks to 6 months old. Bombay Cats they are – jet black with red gold eyes and subtle strips and spots. I call my group monkey babies too!
November 20, 2016 @ 12:56 pm
Awww, you’re so kind-hearted! It’s a blessing and a curse when we love so much, isn’t it? I want you to know I will never buy anything with down EVER AGAIN because of YOU! I don’t and can’t know what goes on to get the down, I just know you alluded to something horrific and that’s enough for me. See, you’re helping more than you even knew! Now go pamper yourself!
December 21, 2016 @ 1:59 pm
After of my original three kitties died (one from old age and one questionably from something stupid I did) I thought I wanted more cats but none of the ones I visited at adoption events seemed like MY cat.
I might have told you this story before but it’s fun so bear with me.
But when I was dropping off my dog at the kennel to stay for the weekend, I happened to look over at the window that goes to the cat room (where all the cats are boarded, aka a room full of cats, aka heaven), one of the kitties looked right into my eyes, cocked her head to the side, and smooshed her face into the window like she was trying to hold her head out to me to pet.
And I was like OMG CAN I PET THAT CAT WILL THEIR OWNER MIND and the staff said, Not only can you pet that cat, you can ADOPT that cat! That’s one of the rescue kitties we board indefinitely as foster cats! So, I brought home that cat, and her baby, who is not a baby anymore and fat and bigger than her mama. All because the mama kitty sweetie stared into my soul.
You will find your kitty loves again, keep raising the foster babes and others will find their true kitty loves because of the work you are doing.
December 29, 2016 @ 12:57 pm
I have an antique towel rod that I also had no use for until I brilliantly decided to mount it at the end of my kitchen island to hold dishtowels. I’ll bet yours would be spectacular in that capacity.