Hello friends, welcome to October’s cozy living post! O C T O B E R!!! Seriously, how can that be here already? I adore Fall, but why oh why did the summer have to fly on by so quickly?
Cozy Living
This cozy living series is hosted by the very talented, Jennifer from Town & Country Living. We are simply a cozy loving bunch of friends and we love to share how we do cozy/hygge! There are SO many inspiring and creative ways to be and live a cozy life, this is an endless topic really. Please stick around because, at the end of this post the Cozy team is sharing more cozy ways that will surly inspire you!
If you’d like to see more of what we do you can also follow our, Cozy Living pin board here –> Cozy Living – Hygge
A cozy gift and so much gratitude
When my parents passed… it completely changed who I was, who I thought I was and it even changed who I wanted to be… I discovered the practice of gratitude when they left me within 6 months of each other. It’s actually strange that I found my gratitude at that very devastating time in my life, but I was literally on my knees, grateful that they were my parents – it filled all the corners of my mind and soul! In the time since they’ve gone, I’ve heard so many people talking about the generosity that were my Mom and Dad. They embodied generosity & kindness, I miss them every day and continue to be so very grateful for them! In a strange way that very personal reflection brings me to this antique corner cabinet! This cabinet was a pure GIFT! An extremely generous gift from my parent’s dear friends! This cabinet has been sitting in the same corner of their old farmhouse since the home was built, over 100 years ago! I was so blown away when Mrs. Leaman asked me, “come inside I want to show you something”, while we were having a visit to their porch last summer. She said, “we had some Canadian pickers here, and they offered me a lot of money for this cabinet, they wanted it bad! But, I want you to have it!” I was stunned, speechless and so touched. Mrs. Leaman began to tell me that this cabinet has been there as long as she can remember, she remembered her Mom painting it. I feel so honoured to know that she thought of me and my dear parents so much that she was willing to gift this to me. She very simply said, “I know that it will be going to a great home, it will please me to know you have it.” If we would have had a trailer, I would have screamed, START THE CAR and taken it then and there! haha – We had to wait until this past summer to bring her here, from New Brunswick to Ontario, an 11 hour drive on some very sketchy roads. I was cool as a cucumber! hahaha NOT, it was nerve-wracking to say the least. Bud did an amazing job packing it and protecting it, she arrived to her new home without any damage!
Here she is (very bad cell phone photo), before I cleaned and styled it, she fits perfectly!
Sneak Peeks
I simply loved filling this cabinet with my treasures.
Patina, crazing and chips… yes please!
Textures, vintage and special mementos are home!
I mean, hello pretty bottles!
I’m hunting for the elusive dundee in the wild – always scanning for advertising pots! Every time I go picking. Adding to this collection and filling this space, the potential is so exciting!
All of the treasures tell a little story, hold some meaning and are here sometimes, just because I like em’.
That Strawberry Jam crock… from Newfoundland (my Dad’s home) was the very first one I saw with an actual paper label intact! I am simply drawn to perfectly imperfect, it draws me in, every time!
Through the wavy glass
There is a sense of special when things are behind the wavy glass, don’t you think?
Reflections and treasures… no better match!
She’s home
This is how she sits today… I wondered if I was going to change anything, repaint or strip it and show the beautiful antique pine. I ended up leaving her as is and I simply love it, for now this is how she will stay.
Thank you all so much for stopping in and indulging my vintage obsessions some more. I hope you agree, this cabinet is home – and I have so much gratitude!
The Cozy Living Team
I can’t wait to see what my friends are up to for October!
Duke Manor Farm / Creative Cain Cabin / Sincerely Marie Designs / Town and Country Living
Vinyet Etc. / Finding Silver Pennies / Hymns and Verses / It All Started with Paint
27 Comments
Okay, tearing up first thing in the morning! What a special gift! And, I love how you have all of your treasures styled inside.
Aww, thank you Doreen! I certainly teared up writing it too! xo
THIS STORY is exactly why I love old furnishings. Each piece has a story to tell and adds so much character to a home. It looks made for your corner and I imagine how much fun it must’ve been to fill the shelves. And YES to wavy glass! I have wavy glass in some of the windows of my home and I love it. Thanks for sharing the wonderful story of your parents! Love you, friend!
Thank you Jennifer, I love talking about my parents! xo And, I agree, the stories are what make a piece so special. I had a complete blast playing with my treasures while I styled this gorgeous gift! xo
Such a touching story I sure enjoyed reading it and feel like I know you better now. I even had a few tears rolling down my cheeks. Have a wonderful weekend friend 🙂
Awww, hugs my friend, thank you for reading my heart! <3
What an amazing gift! And you’re right … a perfect fit! Loving all the cozy treasures you filled her up with. And I think she’s just perfect wearing her 100 year old patina!
🙂 Linda
Thank you Linda! I love her just the way she is too! xo
Laurie it looks great! I so happy it has a good home.
Hi Emerald!!!! I’m so glad you think so, your Mom really blew me away with such a special gift! This cabinet will be very well loved! xoxoxox
Oh my heart…sniff!! What a blessing not only from your parents alone, but the thoughtful gift. Hugs!!
Thank you my friend, it’s so wonderful when people share their hearts with each other! <3
You know how much I love this story! <3
How how lucky we are to have such beautiful souls in our lives!
That includes your beautiful soul! The world needs more of those! <3
You know I feel the EXACT same my friend, you are a gift and I am so grateful for you!
Absolutely beautiful all the way around. It really has found the best home.
Awww, thank you lady! I will hug her and kiss her and name her Georgina! <3
You’re going to make my cry! I couldn’t relate more. I think I’ve appreciated my mom a little more due to my father passing so soon. It truly makes you grateful for every moment. You mom and dad sound like they were wonderful people. I can’t believe my eyes with that cabinet, GORGEOUS! What a great gift! You’ve styled it beautifully friend.
Thank you so much sweetest friend! Losing our parents is so hard… this one life is so precious and those close to us, the best gifts! xo Hugs to you!
This story is so very special. I loved reading about the gift but also your gratitude. I can totally relate to what you wrote about your parents – feeling so grateful they were yours. That is how I feel about my dad. A day doesn’t go by without wishing he was still here, but like you so grateful he was my father. That cabinet just looks so amazing in your home, like it was meant to be there. LOVE how you’ve styled it with so much meaning. Enjoy this treasure, my friend! xx
Thank you my friend! I know you truly understand! <3 I will enjoy this treasure, every day! xoxo
how beautiful…. the gift, the cabinet and your heart.
Awwww, Laura what an incredibly beautiful thing to say, thank you! xoxoxox
What a lovely post, Laurie, It is so wonderful that your friend thought of you…she knew you would give a her special piece an appreciative home. It is so beautiful…and the way you have styled it makes it even more special. Love, love, love.
Thank you Linda, I truly love it so much, I’m so glad you love it too! xo
Such a beautiful post, Laurie! You honored this wonderful gift by filling it with such beautiful vintage treasures and it now looks like it’s been sitting in your home for many years. I can relate to what you wrote about your parents. I do what I do because my parents taught me how to turn junk or hand-me-downs into treasures.
Oh Marie, that’s so beautiful – your parents inspired you so. They teach us so much don’t they, I’m so glad I was able to let them know that while they were with me. My Dad influenced my DIY heart too, that man could fix anything! Thank you for your kind words, they truly do mean so much to me! xo
I love e this post because i c feel like I have found a kindred spirit. I also collect the pots like yours but I also collect other pots but these have held things like toothpaste cold cream and foods like fish paste. I have signed up for your blog and look forward to other posts!