Mini barrister bookcase (and a foster kitten update.)
I never go to estate sales.
I used to, but at this point I’ve reached some kind of understanding that:
A- my time on earth is limited.
B- my eligibility for an episode of Hoarders is already imminent.
C- it is physically impossible to patrol a 100 mile radius around Philadelphia to ensure ALL OF THE THINGS ARE MINE.
It was basically for my own sanity that I had to back away.
In Philadelphia, estate sales are a professionally-run endurance sport: you have to show up hours before they start… get a number… wait in line… and then watch as all of the people in front of you walk out with the good stuff, (which was most assuredly NOT a bargain because even the crap no one wants is overpriced.)
Although, OBVIOUSLY if we drive by an unexpected estate sale, I basically leap out of the car before it’s stopped moving.
Which is what happened when we were driving through the middle of nowhere on a Saturday afternoon.
This petite little barrister is a combination I’ve not seen before!
You rarely see a barrister bookcase with claw feet… and I don’t know if it’s small because that was an option that Macey’s offered, or if it’s a salesman sample, or what.
Plus, it’s got a little drawer at the bottom where I can store other items of useless importance and unneeded fanciness!
Searching on eBay turned up nothing… although I did find this glorious representation of magic and inner peace embodied in a bookcase so far out of my price range that it fills me with sadness and covetous rage that my life will never be complete and I will have to die lonely and desolate.
Such a bummer.
Anyway. They wanted $150. I paid $100.
I don’t think that’s a STEAL… (I would have been way happier at $50,) but I couldn’t get them any lower, and I didn’t want to make the trip back the next day to see if they still had it.
Plus, it’s unique and I like anything oddly-sized. And it’s in perfect condition… these barristers usually start to have some veneer/finish issues, but this one is excellent!
We dumped it in the foyer because I have no spot in mind yet, which prompted me to realize that I never showed you the chalkboard mounted!
If you missed the acquisition of this brass antique set of hinged slate boards… it’s one of my favorite finds!
Hanging the chalkboard correctly (horizontally, so that the slate boards are moveable like book pages) would have made it too large for nearly any wall in this house, and I NEED the wall space I have left!
(WHO KNOWS WHAT GFT’S* 2017 WILL BRING?)
*Giant Fancy Things
Plus, this wall/location is where I wanted it visually… the size and shape are perfect for this small wall, and it adds interest (and note space) in the foyer, without adding any bulk.
On top of that, I feel like a vertical orientation is more sensible because it is OLD! Hanging it sideways would have placed stress on the far ends, and even though the hinges are huge, gravity is fairly persistent.
Paul cut a board to the outer width of the hinges, and then mounted that to the wall, (this way he hit all the studs, and the weight of the chalkboard is supported)… then we mounted the chalkboard to the board, which is mostly invisible now that it’s covered by the brass frame and hinges.
Since I was thinking of it, I searched to see if any more have come online for sale. (Because, why have one if you can have two?)
I didn’t find any. But I was reminded of this idea. Which I completely love and am storing away in case I find a fancy frame with no mirror. (Which I did one time, but had a mirror cut.) This would be such an easy DIY!
***
New topic: foster kittens update.
After much agony over left-behind kitten, when I called to go back for her – she had been adopted.
I am NOT sure I made the right decision with those three monkey babies. Most especially this one below (who got adopted with one of her sisters.) It actually hurts my heart to look at photos of her… I just want to reach through the screen and smooch her little face!!!
She was the one who was so sick, and she was my most favorite. (I know I’ve already told you this 47 times… sorry.)
I do not know how much of my ongoing attachment to her is the combination of that group being my first kitten fosters, mixed with losing Elvis, mixed with the basic fact of how lovable ANY kitten is.
On the other hand, I have emailed AND talked on the phone with her new mom (woman who took the two-kittens-who-got-adopted-together) and it could not be more clear how much she loves them… and that makes it livable.
I have not heard from left-behind-kitten’s new family. And that’s hard! But I realize that people have different levels of awareness about fostering. EVEN THOUGH they got a very personal letter from me about that specific kitten… it’s possible they did not even read it – maybe they just thought it was paperwork or something.
Either way, if I am going to do this, I have to accept a certain level of unknowing.
This is the crappy part.
Normally the way I deal with crappy parts is to just not do them… but I cannot see a solution here. I have to be able to accept and let go so that I can help more… like this little guy.
He is a MAD BUNDLE OF ENERGY… but after having three wild hooligans, having just one is like having NO cats at all!
He was plenty big when I got him, but too sick to get fixed. But once I brought him home, I was amazed at how quickly he started to feel better!
I got him fixed last week… and he’ll go to the adoption center when they have a spot for him. (no rush! I’m still snuggling him and telling him I love him!)
He is a love bug who comes when I call him and follows me around the house, so I know he will be adopted quickly.
Although, just like all the others – he refuses to understand how charming it would be if he would sit adorably in the tartan pram.
I tried to explain them that I need him to cooperate so that I can have the perfectly Christmas kitten Instagram. But he was all – lol lady, let me show you my claws… so I gave up on my dream and sold the pram yesterday to an adorable YOUNG guy who bought it for his mom’s Christmas present– she collects vintage dolls. He said that when he saw it he was like– oh my gosh! Mom will LOVE this!
I told him to be sure he told his mother that I said she clearly raised a superior human.
Anyway.
I am so thankful to have all of these kittens come through my life… they have made an enormous difference in how I have experienced Elvis’s death. I miss her UNBEARABLY. But also, this little guy marks 5 lives I have shared! Polydactyl kitty, the three sisters, and this boy! They have brought me joy and comfort and a feeling of truly making a difference, and I am deeply grateful for them.
AND FOR YOU… you are my people.
In case I haven’t told you lately how much I love you: your comments, your humor, having a place to share aspects of my personality that no one in my real life “gets”… Is a wonderful gift. Thank you for it.
Ok! I think that’s it! As of last night at midnight, both of my brothers are home and I finally feel like it’s Christmas!
MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANUKKAH, MERRY SOLSTICE,
HAPPY NEW YEAR, MERRY BOXING DAY, HAPPY KWANZAA…
•••
WHATEVER HOLIDAYS YOU CELEBRATE,
I HOPE YOU GET TO SPEND THEM WITH THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE.
xoxo,
VEB
p.s.- I didn’t do any holiday posts this year because it was basically greenery and bows… no glitter cannons or life-sized disco reindeer, so please enjoy these recycled posts.
My “How To Make A Bow” post has now been pinned 147,989 times… please go pin it so I can make it to 150,000 and feel like my existence on earth has been validated via social media.
December 21, 2016 @ 1:12 pm
Thank you. I suffer from Clinical depression and your posts about treasure hunting, kittens, witty repartee and good tv/books/charities make me feel better. Good luck with your mad foster!
December 22, 2016 @ 1:14 pm
I suffer from depression also. Unfortunately, my fiancé and I broke up just before Thanksgiving, so this holiday season is especially dreadful.
December 21, 2016 @ 1:13 pm
LOL! One more post closer to validation!
December 21, 2016 @ 1:14 pm
Elizabeth you are my soul sister – blessings to you and your loved ones this Christmas season (so glad your brothers are home )
December 21, 2016 @ 1:24 pm
We discovered our house at an estate sale. It was a three day sale and we went back a million times and brought various family members with us to see it (and all the work it needed). It took a few months, but we bought it (the owner moved it at the age of 2 in 1930 lived there until he went to an assisted living home last year) and spent 6 months fixing it up the best we could (we had him and his family over and they love it). Now whenever we go to an estate sale everyone is nervous about what we might buy. Also, we foster dogs and kittens and we thought that one of the dogs we fostered this spring was the one that got away – she was great but hated other dogs and we didn’t think that would work for us long term- but then we got a bunch of pics of her with her new family and realized that she was in the perfect home. It made us feel a ton better.
December 21, 2016 @ 2:11 pm
OMG, Kristen, I think we both resemble Kathleen Turner in War of the Roses! I found our current abode at a post parental death clean out sale. I wrote lovely letters [in cursive, on proper linen stationary] to the children letting them know that we would be the custodians of the property. We would fix it lovingly. Live in it fully. In a neighborhood full of tear-downs, we appealed. Our offer to continue to house their child [who had lived with and cared for the homes owners] combined with the ‘of course you should feel free to stop by and visit]. Though the back porch is still storing close to 1000 sq.ft. of tile, we did screen it in, we do have enough furniture to serve them drinks on if they ever stop by.
December 22, 2016 @ 1:07 pm
ha- my mom bought a new car at a yard sale once!
December 21, 2016 @ 1:27 pm
You always cheer me up, love those kittens!
December 21, 2016 @ 1:27 pm
I’m so excited to see you in my news feed again!! Never stop doing what you do, lady– I love you too!
December 21, 2016 @ 1:36 pm
Ok, that mini barrister is truly fabulous. We found a typical one with 3 shelves for my cookbooks in the kitchen. I love it.
May you and Paul have a joyous and healthy holiday season!
December 21, 2016 @ 1:42 pm
I think that may be a music cabinet. Nice find!
December 21, 2016 @ 1:52 pm
YOU bring me joy! Thank you and Merry Christmas!
December 21, 2016 @ 1:53 pm
Your post always cheer me up and i needed one today..thanks and Merry Christmas!
December 21, 2016 @ 2:35 pm
Kittens! our 18 year old cat makes Grumpy cat look like Dale Carnegie. I think a kitten would be good for him, make him play, get up, move around, jazzercise! break the forcefield of couch gravity! It’d be good for his arthritis. If he hisses with enough oomph, I think it would count as cardio.
I also think it would be really complicated to keep them out of each other’s food. and the Rx food he is on would be no good for a kitten, and as he’s half his previous weight, so the all day buffet needs to stay open. Oh, and the Mr is allergic [not badly, just enough to make him keep bringing it up].
But kittens! I WANT Kittens. KITTENS !! I have won the last 3 out of 4 most recent arguments. And I havent won the one about more kittens since the subject was first broached in 2011 [after we lost our other pet]. In fact I think he keeps letting me win other arguments just so I wont win this one. But I’m pretty sure I am wearing him down
December 21, 2016 @ 2:45 pm
Love the barrister bookcase….in that condition $100 was a great buy! Kudos to you for fostering🐾🎉! I cant do it, I just adopt 🙂….
ps love reading your posts & blog….and envious of your finds. Happy Holidays 🎄
December 21, 2016 @ 3:52 pm
I have never been more jealous of one of your fabulous finds. If you ever tire of it please let me know.
Merry Christmas!
P.S. I pinned your bow post and now I feel I should go make one.
December 21, 2016 @ 4:29 pm
I’ve been fostering for basically always (real time: over 15 years now) so I know how hard it is to see a special case go out the door and never hear an update. Especially when you’ve made yourself available like that. But! Sometimes you get to watch one go and just know that everything’s going to be great forever, and that little furball has already forgotten you because their new life became so awesome within minutes.
I have found, as a person who doesn’t like wondering, that I cannot foster for groups that send animals out into the world and don’t do any follow-up or community support. There are adoption groups out there that not only do background checks on the adopter, but also keep in contact with them, building up a network of adopters who support one another as well as the organization and the animals. Breed-specific adoption groups do this, as do many sanctuaries and second-chance shelters. It might help you to have a look around and consider other options.
December 21, 2016 @ 5:34 pm
Your posts always make me want to settle in with a cup of tea and savor. Thank you, I feel like I just got and very special GFT.
December 21, 2016 @ 6:21 pm
It’s always great to read your posts. I feel like I’m reading a letter from a friend who had to move away and leave me alone in the weirdo corner.
My grandfather died and I want to know how in the triple hell you expect me to make it through Christmas without a disco reindeer from you?
December 21, 2016 @ 9:48 pm
Love the MFT (mini fancy thing)! And I agree, that price was within reason. Not that we WANT to pay what is asked, but still, it’s a good price for the quality. Love also the chalk board there. Perfect fit!
I often think of fostering, but A. my spouse is not agreeable and B. I don’t think I could give up even one foster, also C. What if the said foster is a monster in fur? My sister in law has one now that cannot be in the same room with one of her own dogs, so must be locked away in a bedroom. Said dog has also bitten her spouse when he tried to separate a fight. Still, SIL will not give up this pup, and it is causing discourse. I could not endure the tension of that, and would deem myself a failure. I assume cats would be easier, but hubs is more of a dog person, while I am an any animal person.
I am glad you have another fur baby to care for, and Hope you may decide to keep one someday! He is a cuddle bug!
A very Merry Christmas to you, Paul and your loved ones!
December 22, 2016 @ 10:31 am
First time commenter here (I think!). Just wanted to say thank you for being a foster mom. We adopted our dog almost a year ago…middle aged pit bull, found as a stray. Luckily he was a good candidate to be fostered so he was at the shelter for about 5 weeks then brought to a lovely foster family, where he stayed for a few months because middle aged pit bulls with unknown histories are not most people’s first choice. Anyway, we adopted him and he is THE BEST DOG IN THE WORLD! We will always be grateful to his foster parents for taking such good care of him. Takes a special person to do it.
December 22, 2016 @ 1:14 pm
Just so you know, I’m newly signed on, and absolutely, without a doubt, you’re my new BFF! I almost choked on my pb ‘n celery at the start of this post! Your humor is perfection and the fact that you rescue precious little fur babies is all the more better! I’m going to move to Philly so I can live next door, and we can go on buying jaunts together, and rescue animals every day, all the day long! You’re my new hero…Ok just so you know… See you soon! 😉
December 22, 2016 @ 12:54 pm
First, I laughed out loud at the price of the magnificent, overwhelming GFT that you had to pass up – thanks for that! Next, I wish you and your entire family a fabulous holiday season. So much to love in this post, but the new love bug is adorable. For me, he would be hard to let go, but actually, so would they all. Kudos to you for sharing the love with those kittens in need. Thanks for all you do!
December 22, 2016 @ 12:54 pm
I wonder about the barrister who owned the bookcase (assuming it is not a music cabinet, as Lynne may have correctly identified). Why did he have such a tiny library? Maybe he was a small claims lawyer.