Welcome to My Red Cape. Long ago in another time my husband Jack and I lived in a little old red house. It was the stuff of dreams to us for the few years that we were there. I live there still a number of hours every day in imagination, with old dolls and paintings and fabrics and feather trees. I draw inspiration and happiness from the memories of that space in time and share some of it here with friends who remember how to step with Alice through the looking glass and take delight in whimsies and antiquities. ~Edyth O’Neill

Thursday, December 27, 2018

A little of my Christmas 2018

My family and I pray with all of you for world peace and love.

Celebrating the season with some of my family is always sweet. The ones far away are so much closer by phone and photos than was the case years ago.


Poppy has unders and is waiting for a dress. 


 Camel from one of Steiff's earliest catalogs.

 Decorating the big north shore cupboard is always a joy. Magnolia leaves are from my yard.
Jack's treasured collections of stoneware and redware and pewter are on display as he placed them about this house. I have parted with only one of these, a piece of redware to a friend Jack would want to have it. Jackie has been gone six years now.  In the comforting way of old age, I feel he was here with me just a short while ago.  


White robed Santa from Bethany Lowe with a few Steiff friends added.

 The Christmas tree this year is smaller and simpler without the former collection of antique ornaments which finally became too much for me to enjoy  working with. 
 The little tree is from wmart , with just a few cotton orns I make like the star, and some pinecones and a few old balls with a string of old glass beads. Not much effort to put it up and not much to take it down and pack I am thinking.


 Christmas eve at the home of my Daughter Beth and her husband Gary means a sweet gathering of friends and family to enjoy carols and readings. The big cupboard is filled with a large nativity group.






 Three is old enough for a first bicycle! (with training wheels)

 Bailey enjoys time with her small siblings, She is back in Wyoming now.




A sweet Christmas day.     e

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

A heart warming start for the holiday season was this party today.


 I took a large bowl of my Pickled peach recipe   (clipped from a magazine in the 1950's)
1 large can Del Monte peach halves
½ cup sugar
½ cup vinegar
1 stick whole cinnamon
½ teaspoon whole cloves
Two days Before Serving:
Drain peaches reserving 1 cup syrup. In sauce pan combine syrup, vinegar, sugar, cinnamon and cloves.  Simmer uncovered 5 min. 
Add peach halves, a few of which may be studded with one clove.  Bring to a boil, cool, cover,  and refrigerate at least two days.  I remove the spices on the third day if some are left so they do not get too strong.
 To serve, drain peaches and heap in serving dish.  I double and triple it for large groups.

 The peaches are simmered a few minutes in the vinegar and spices and sugar and then refrigerated for two days.

Little touches in my kitchen remind my of my mother, so long gone now except in the hearts of her family. Mother loved the American Home Magazine. She loved Ironstone and pewter and ruffled curtains and house designs by Royal Barry Wills.  She made her kitchen curtains of this Pennsylvania Dutch design, and a scrap of it is made into a hot pad 60 years later beside my own cook stove. I am very like my mother, the apple does not fall far from the tree.  Do you see something like my "Bird and Pomegranate" rug design? 

 This will be my first time to use the huge Canton pattern punch Bowl.  A modern adaptation, it blends well with all things old and blue.  It is a perfect bowl to show off  my spiced peaches!

 I arrived a little early and took pictures before the party started. It was hard to pick as everywhere one looked there was another spot of interest, each distinct and well done.  As another treat for me, so many arrangements like this one incorporated a hooked mat.

 This unusual arrangement centered by a piece of driftwood  set the stage for our lunch.

 Our hostess loves all things Maine and also some things Texas, making a uniquely decorated home.

Seafoam colors of Blue and teal are repeated throughout.

A fire was welcome on this cold day!

As there were about 24 of us, two small tables were set like this one in the library.

A great group of this Texas Collectible, hand decorated pottery with bluebonnets, made for Tourists mid 20th century anchor one wall of the sunlit library.  And look at the blue cupboard full of homespun blankets!


Other blue items carry out the theme  also.

 A collection of Native American drums and beadwork fill another corner.


 The kitchen too is beautifully decorated. A lovely Rug hangs by the entry to a large panty room.
 Small collections are everywhere.


 Seashells are part of the Maine themed wall in the dinning area.


 A side table in the living room holds a group of painted tin.


 When friends arrive, the focus is on greeting one another. This warm group of collectors have known each other half of some very long lifetimes.   What a gift it was to see each other and hug and exchange news, some coming from over two hundred miles away for this gathering.

So many old stories to relive!



I love these women!

 Food was served on the kitchen island , centered by an amazing collection of stone fruit.

 Dear Friends since 1978.

Thank you my blog friends for coming along on this party with me. 

Christmas shots of this house plus my current house  are on this blog in Dec 2016,  

  e

Blog Archive

Visits