Christmas on the Front Porch

 For some reason this year I am totally drawn to black and red, in particular the cabin plaid of a throw I found over at Walmart last week. So to decorate my front porch for Christmas I decided to move the white wicker love seat (a roadside find no less) which usually lives on the back porch, to the white sided wall on the front porch. Then I just added my new throw with a few other black and red items from around the house. 

The wool gloves were borrowed from my entry. I did this when I decided to use its matching scarf to wrap the skis together. Oh and the skis...solid wood with bamboo poles...vintage yard sale find from last spring for only $15. To read more about them just click here.

Vintage post card included!

 Around the front door is fresh garland purchased from a local farmer's market. 

The door received a bouquet of fresh greens mixed with faux berries and a big red bow.

The Coke box was a find last winter when visiting with some college friends. We went to a fabulous thrift store which was a actually a barn filled with all sorts of treasures!!! I loaded my box with pine cones and silver Christmas balls along with a little faux tree.

Another wicker piece works well as a stand for my little lighted tree.

Here's hoping for a little more snow!

Have a wonderful weekend!

XO

Sharing this post at link parties over at these most gracious blogs...

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Incredible Yard Sale Find ~ Vintage Wooden Skis with Bamboo Poles

I never thought I would be looking at snow skis this time of the year, but yesterday I was in Pennsylvania with my sister Kim and we decided to hit a few of the areas yard sales. The kids were with us...each child armed with 5 one dollar bills which provided a couple of smiles along with more than enough cash to buy a few fun things. 

Anyhow we were using the local paper and Kim's GPS to find various yard and garage sales in Bucks county, and at one point Kim led us to this private driveway which appeared almost to be more like a small thruway. I swear the driveway was an easy 1/2 mile long on about a 70 degree incline. We climbed the hill and parked at a designated parking area. Now this was actually a private residence...but oh my was it one amazing spot. 

(With the owner's permission I snapped these next few pics of her property)

We immediately began to check out all of the goods for sale which ranged from antique yard decor to your more typical yard sale finds. BUT...and a big one at that...there was one item which caught my eye and my imagination. There, in front of the main garage, was this beautiful vintage set of skis and poles.

The kids had already milled around and found several items to contemplate buying, however for me, well this set of skis and poles had at the moment my undivided attention!

 Leather wrist straps on bamboo poles, over six foot log solid wood skis complete with leather bindings.

 As you can see, the set has been embellished with greens, pine cones and what appears to be a red scarf (cool idea) to give it a wintry feel. Also included was this vintage postcard which is mounted to a small piece of particle board.

Courtesy of the New England Ski Museum. 

OK so are you chomping at the bit yet to know what I shelled out for this incredible ensemble??? Hold onto your keyboards ladies and you few gents who may have hopped onto this post by virtue of pure intrigue. Not $100 or even $50, which is what I thought they would go for...but a mere $15!  US dollars that is!!

As you can see the manufacturer's emblem is almost all but gone. What remains is the shape of a red teardrop and the last letter of the ski's brand looks to be the letter "R". Not much to go on but I would love to find out about the true history of these skis. I figure they must be at least somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 years old. 

Anyone out there know anything about vintage wooden skis?

Hope you are enjoying a relaxing Spring Sunday

XO

Linking up to parties over at these super blogs...

Coastal Charm

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