Camouflage

I use to have this on going joke that after I divorced, the next house I would buy would have to be big enough so all my kids could live there if they needed to. And actually, a couple of years ago that DID happen! It was a little intense with six adults and one toddler, but we survived. The main reason I bought this house was because of the room above, it is really big with an open beam ceiling. Now, my son Bryce and his wife Justine and their baby Morgan live with me. Not too long ago, I gave them the little playroom I had for Riley & Morgan. The toys, tables, books had to go someplace so I resorted to trying to "camouflage" it all. Above is my family room and if you don't look too close you really can't see the toys. And if you are looking close, the two blue picture frame look the same because I haven't added the photos yet! I bought this cabinet last week. I think I am the fourth person at Country Roads to have it. But, being the fourth means I got it super cheap. It has great storage below, and I took off the screen doors for the kids books and my little vintage kids collections. So, until the cupboard is filled with books, I put "my stuff" up high from little hands. I love the old bears, especially the ones that are falling apart. They've been loved, as you can tell. I've always loved the old vintage toys, especially the drums. The memories of little kids in past banging on them warm my heart and thankfully not my "ears" as well. I also love the old stieff cats and and a few of those as well. Below, you will see how I've semi camouflaged the rest of the kids toys!
"behind"

"under"
And "behind" again!
The furniture in my house is easy to have with little ones. I don't have to worry about saying over and over, "don't touch", as there isn't too much they can get into. Or should I say get into "yet"? Even though I do have a lot of antiques and vintage things, I use many of them each day. I don't want to live in a museum where people aren't comfortable, especially "my girls", Riley and Morgan!

Too Much Stuff?

I was kind of updating my other blog,Random Stories that I have on my sidebar. I've been trying to upload stuff I've written over the years, and post it with a picture or two so I wouldn't lose the articles. I came across an article I had written several years ago about one of my favorite pieces of furniture in my house. It's an old pine, squared nailed stepback cupboard. It's got the original, wavey glass and I just love it. I've also got it filled with children related antiques and vintage stuff. As you can see in some of these pictures, there is a variety of vintage children's stuff like some juvenile Roseville, and a variety of baby plates. Over the years I'd pick up a piece of this and that. I have some kids vintage Hire's root beer mugs and couple of Bosie the Cow mugs as well. There is an old school autograph book, a toy horn just to name a few of my favorite little things tucked inside this cupboard. When I see stuff like those old little kids ice skates, it just takes me back to when times seemed like they were so much more simple. Kids made do with what they had to have fun, and most of the time it wasn't a lot. It touches my heart in a way I can't really describe when I look at these little children vintage toys, they are dear to me. Maybe because I love little kids adds to those feelings. Just the fact that these toys were handed down from generation to generation in one piece is pretty incredible. Right now our world is such a crazy place! And then I look at those ice skates and see a little child so easily entertained as he glided across the ice with his buddies. One of my goals this year was to try to "simplify" my life. Then I start to feel guilty because I've got cupboards filled with antiques and vintage stuff and I ask myself, "what is really too much stuff"? My antiques are more than just stuff to me. I see cupboards filled with history, little vignettes in my house telling a story of a much different time in the world. And I guess in that, I find the simplicity and meaning to my own question. Our homes, if filled with things we love, are much more than stuff, they are a part of our hearts and leave stories for future generations to tell their children.