Welcome to an 1864 farmhouse…life is good!


Thursday, September 04, 2025

the cupboard is home!

 

Yay - happy dance - over the moon - tickled pink! You name it, that’s how I feel! 

Like the joy felt spying the twinkle of far away stars on a summer’s eve!



A few weeks ago, I mentioned I was on the search for an old cupboard – one that would hold all of my scrapbooks. It was a tall order, the shelves would need to be 14 inches deep and everything I came across just wouldn’t work.

And although the rules have recently changed, luckily for me at the time, Facebook Marketplace would let me look at items for sale, but without a Facebook account, I couldn’t message the seller. I found a cupboard that looked like it had promise, and smart gal that she was, the seller put her hometown on the description. In no time at all, I was on Google looking for antique shops in that town and miracle of miracles, her Facebook page came up and I was able to see the cupboard!  

She was about an hour and 45 minutes away, so I chose a day, hopped in the Forester, and off I went with high hopes.

When I walked in, this is what I saw…80 inches tall, 52 inches wide, 24 inches deep - made of hickory and probably weighing in between 400 and 500 pounds.




The shop owner let me know what her plans were for it and I asked for a price - I also asked if I bought it, could I bring old hinges and a keyhole cover that I had from my farmhouse. She said absolutely, and the price was unbelievable. She said that she marked it low because it was so big she thought no one would want it. She was smart and kept saying: How many steps do you need to go up? Can you get it through the door? Do you have some strong lads to help you?

I was in love with it, and my brain was saying, yeah yeah yeah-I’ve got this. So the sale was made, and she began her repairs:



I
would like to have refinished it; however, it just wasn’t a project either one of us had the gumption to tackle right now, so a light coat of black paint went on, topped with wax to protect it.

I rented a U-Haul-a first for me, and my daughter, and I set off to retrieve the treasure. Sadly, this U-Haul didn’t have a ramp-so boards were placed across the back and on the steps. Somehow, we got her on her side, put several heavy, moving blankets across the boards, and slowly slid her across the porch, over the threshold, through the foyer, and into the front room.

Square nails and dove tailing!







By the time all this was done, my son had to get back to university for work, and so here she sat- just waiting. She is so heavy, there was no way that we could’ve gotten her upright, luckily two strong lads came to lend a hand and in no time at all, she was in place!

I got to work putting all the scrapbooks inside, plus all my supplies. I put a wreath on the front, then took the wreath off and tinkered some more - you know how it is.

I felt like she needed a pop of red, so I had an old section of a red whirligig pattern quilt, that had a sweet little patch on the front. 



Over the door it went, and then a candle, followed by a small willow wreath  

Here she is…



I could not be happier! Every time I pass her, I give her a little pat and a smile. 

The seller called her a canning cupboard-what are your thoughts?

Oh and Janice - you asked if I’d gone back to look at the bee sting crock. I went yesterday $265 and the lid was mysteriously gone this time.  She had another one and it was noted as having “many cracks “and it was $195 - yikes! I need to make a trip up north!

Thanks for reading along-hope all is well where you are. The weather has taken a turn toward Fall here - hallelujah! 

10 comments:

  1. Thanks Cathy! Wouldn’t mind finding another one, it would be fabulous in the kitchen-I’m sure it would hold just about everything!

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  2. Isn't that a fine piece of work(wo)manship! She will give you joy for the rest of your days. Loved hearing how it all came together. Be Blissed!

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    1. You’re so right Daisy - can’t be sure who built it, but a clever/creative woman brought her back to life. She inspires me-working on all kinds of furniture others might toss and making them beautiful again. And yes - every time I pass her I’ll remember how she could have easily fell off those boards while we tried to slide her in. A picture I took of my son - who was providing the muscle, I didn’t post because he’s putting his all into it, but I can tell in the back of his mind, he’s going: What were you thinking?!

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  3. Wish we could sell crocks for that much money. Yikes for sure. Great purchase on that cupboard. That red quilt makes it pop. Being a heavy one reminded me of an old blue oak one we use to have in our kitchen. That thing was a bugger to get in and out of our house. Heavy like yours. Janice

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    1. Isn’t it crazy how regions vary in price for Antiques ? As much as I wanted one, I just couldn’t do it - if I would’ve bought both of them, it would’ve cost more than my new giant cupboard!

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  4. She is absolutely and positively GLORIOUS Mary!! Yay you! (And the team who orchestrated this "resurrection and relocation." I would never have space for one of her - let alone two - in my kitchen. Now go do another happy dance over that moon...she's so very worth it! Lucky you!

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  5. Aww thanks Robin - you always cheer me on! I would love to find another, but it would overwhelm my kitchen, too. This is in the front room/living room/parlor…back in the day. You know, the room no one uses! She was such a bargain – hope it’s not haunted ;) I told Janice if I would’ve bought both of those bee sting crocks, they would’ve cost more than she did! Hope all is well in Nod, I have to get back to replying to MaryJane’s comment-so are you a fan of the Nomad too?!

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    1. ..."[A] fan of the Nomad too?? Well??? I wouldn't have ever necessarily said that, but I ended up owning one (the one to which I referred). It was the last "collector" car my husband purchased before he passed away...and is the most "significant" feature in his collection. And now it's mine, for better or worse. I hadn't thought of keeping it at first, but I'm warming to the idea.

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    2. Oh Robin you’re killing me! I think you’re living my dream life - cornzebo, Nomad, up north where the summers aren’t so awful - I’m completely jealous!! Not like I don’t have 1 million other things to spend money on - this old farmhouse still needs tons of TLC and barns that need painting, but if I had a windfallI I would so be in that Nomad for Sunday drives! I can just imagine putting all kinds of snacks in the back and a blanket - my daughter and I just got home from a little drive - we both tested positive for Covid (oh joy) yesterday and feel lousy, but had to get out of the house for a little bit. There’s a spot, not far from here, on a little hill with the most beautiful scenery - hated to leave. Oh and that Nomad would hold such fabulous flea market finds and antique hauls! Man-I’m swooning just thinking about it. Gas her up, and go for getaway - Oh, and she’ll need a cool name too! I’ll have to live my dream through your adventures - sigh.

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