Quaint Essential Thymes

Weiman Serving Tea Table

This Heirloom Weiman Quality Table from the 1940′s has me perplexed.  We discovered it over the weekend and have been trying to find out about it’s purpose.  It must be a serving table of some sort because of the round brass carrying handle on the top.  Perhaps it was carried from the butlers pantry to the guest’s chair.  Possibly for serving tea or fancy desserts in a hotel lobby or grand estate.

I love the brass “fence” surrounding the bottom shelf. Why is that fence there and what did that shelf hold?  Something that they didn’t want to fall off the table I guess. Or was the brass fence just for decoration?  Plus the top is inlaid in leather.  Very stylish and ornate.

I’m intrigued by this small Weiman Table and would love to find out more about  it.  If you have any ideas just send me a message.

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This Surfboard-looking beach chair brings me images of relaxing at a quaint beach cottage, taking it easy and listening to Jimmy Buffet tunes. It has just the right patina to make it work. Add a cold Land Shark Ale or better yet, a Pina Colada for refreshment. Just need to complete the scene with palm trees and our tropical Florida breezes and blue Gulf waters. AHHHH!

Land Shark Surfboad Beach Chair

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It pays to look first….

At a recent garage sale my husband bought two retro looking nightstands and sat them on the front porch for me to see when I arrived to open up in the morning.

They were a little rough. My first impression was UGLY!

Tom thought that he could refinish them, maybe in black or a 50′s aqua. Well, I guess they’d look better.

I just wasn’t that exited about them, so I put off researching them. Big mistake!

A customer came in the next day we were open and spotted them still on the porch. I quoted her a price, gave a little discount. As we were sealing the deal, I pulled out one of the drawers and there in all it’s glory, was the BIG Heywood Wakefield stamp!

I didn’t even get a chance to take a picture of the nightstands to share.

Here’s what one would look like restored to like-new.

So my customer got a super deal and I got another learning moment.

Sometimes we have to “pay” for our “education”.

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Pinky playing Robin Hood

Isn’t is funny how something in present day can trigger a flash back to something from your childhood?  That just happened to me this week.

I was out in the garage doing the laundry.  Yep, wish my washer and dryer was inside, but alas, it’s in the garage.  Here comes my kitty, Pinky, cautiously tip-toeing through the door to join me.  He’s slung low, slinking towards me looking up and down, left and right checking out the unknown.  He’s never been to this part of the hosue before.  Now mind you, I can get to the washer and dryer.  But the rest of the garage hasn’t had a car parked in it for over 5 years.  Yes, we used to park our car in there, but over the years, I don’t know, something happened.  It’s full.  I can at least see over the piles of who-knows-what to look out into the street but here’s poor Pinky wondering if he should or shouldn’t navigate his way through the meriad of winding “paths”.

And so it reminded of when I was a kid growing up in the country in rural PA that there was this little spit of woods between the lane going up to our neighbor’s house and the path to the dog kennels.  This enchanted woods was a treasure trove filled with bunny & groundhog paths, overhanging maple tree  branches and wild berry brambles, cozy sunlit honeysuckle forts lined with fallen leaves, and ewwwwwww, Boogie Lice!  Yes, I’ve said it!  Boogie Lice!  LOL.  Today we’d call those nasty weeds Spanish Needles but back then, who cared.  It was Boogie Lice.  Those jabby black daggers just embedded themselves into your clothes and stabbed the heck out of you. (Which now reminds me that my sister said I used to say “Queen Anne’s lace with a Boogie in the middle.” LOL  But that’s a story for another day.)  But hey, we were kids and kids just play and play and play.  That area became our Robin Hood play area.  I guess because it reminded us of Sherwood Forest and Robin Hood was such a hero back then?!?  And it was close to home so we didn’t have to go up into the meadow to play in the woods.  It was right there in the back yard! 

So shen Pinky took his walk throught the boxes, buckets, chairs, cabinets, tool chests and what-have-you, it reminded me of my sisters and I kids playing Robin Hood, outside in our little neck of the woods.

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Growing up I would watch mom make Pumpkin Pies from scratch each Thanksgiving.  She’d start with a farm fresh neck pumpkin, peel it, cut it up into chunks, cook it down and put it through the squisher! (That’s what we always called the cone shaped sieve or chinois and had a blast working beside mom squishing the pumpkin the old fashioned way).

I did the same thing today as I’ve done every year since I’ve taken up housekeeping.  No  Libby canned pumpkin was ever used in making our pumpkin pies! LOL

We bought a Lancaster County, PA farm grown neck pumpkin here in Florida from the Amish Store.  So here’s how to cook raw pumpkin in preparation of making a pumpkin pie.  We’ve always used Neck Pumpkins to make our pies.  They have a very long neck which is all flesh and a small bulbous end that holds the seeds.  They might be a very regionally grown pumpkin but it’s what we grew up using for pies.  The Amish farmers always had plenty to share.

Cutting Neck Pumpkin into sections

I started by cutting our neck pumpkin into manageable pieces then cut the skin off each section. Once I got to the bulbous end I had to cut it in half and scoop out the seeds and that slimy membrane.  I saved the seeds to roast later.

Raw Pumpkin chunks in pressure cooker

From there I cut those hunks into smaller pieces and put them into the pressure cooker to cook them.  This shortens the cooking time considerably and the way my hubby always liked to cook pumpkin.  Mom just cooked her’s down and it seemed to take forever.  Five minute under pressure and it’s done.  Allow to cool slightly, drain and using a slotted spoon scoop into your sieve.

Pumpkin in sieve

  I allow the pumpkin to drain into a bowl and then toss out the water.  If you’re making pumpkin soup I bet that water would taste good as a base.

Rubbing Pumpkin through sieve

Then after 15 mins or longer of draining the pumpkin I start to rub the pumpkin through the sieve using a circular motion.  This can take 10 mins or longer and is a bit tiring on the old shoulder muscles but the end result is a creamier pumpkin pie.

Pumpkin meat

The cooked pumpkin is squished through the tiny holes on the sides of the sieve and will slide into the collection bowl.  I’ve been using my favorite Texasware bowl for my pumpkin since I got married and it’s just the right size.  This vintage sieve is 34 years old now and has seen it’s share of cooked pumpkin!

Left over pumpkin fiber

The pumpkin left over in the sieve is the consistency of playdough and is full of fibers.  I fed it to our inside birds : )

I scraped down the sides of the sieve and have enough cooked pumpkin in the bowl for 2 Pumpkin Pies.  The neck pumpkin this year yielded 4 cups!

4 cups of cooked pumpkin

This pumpkin yielded enough for 2 pies! 

Tomorrow I’ll be baking fresh homemade Pumpkin Pies for Thanksgiving Dinner.

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Schmid Gordon Frase Clown Cat

When new items come in to the shoppe I just get the urge to research their origin, manufacturer and artist.  Recently this cute little porcelain cat figure dressed in a Christmas or clown suit with Santa hat piqued my interest. The very weird part about this kitty figure is he’s holding a Teddy Bear “mask” in his left paw.  I don’t get it.  The vintage mark on the bottom is a Schmid Gordon Fraser 1985 made in Taiwan R. O. C.  This brown kitty with white face mask and paws reminds me of Puss ‘N Boots from back in the 60′s.

My reseach shows that Schmid Bros., Inc. in Massachusetts became a Disney licensee in 1970 and produced a large range of popular collectibles until the business closed in 1995. This kitty figurine is copywrited Gordon Fraser whom I assume is the artist that designed the cat.  Gordon Fraser designed a lot of porcelain collectible Teddy Bears and Cats each year and quite a few were music boxes.  Most are limited editions and dated.

I’m wondering if there was a series of Teddy Bears and Cats dressed in clown suits for each Holiday?  I came across a Teddy Bear on-line, wearing a red clown suit with white Valentines on the red vest front and white stars on the red bow tie and a very similar red and white striped blouse like our kitty is wearing.  Seems like they range in price from $15 to $25 depending on style, condition and age.

Our Schmid Gordon Fraser is 4″ tall and stands on a white oval base that’s 2″ wide. 

If you know his story, let me know!

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Pinky gets Slobber-y

 Brownie points for my hubby!  We went to PetSmart for litter and catfood last night and ended up spending a tab bit more than expected.  duh….

Hubby Tom was checking out the bird treats and then followed me into the cat aisle while I picked up the kitty food and he noticed at the end of the aisle a sale on The Whisker City Play Cavern Scratchers.  The same exact thing with a new label is 4 times the price of the on-sale City Play Cavern. If you like this product go now before they’re sold out.  They’re closing out the Whisker City brand name.  We bought 2 complete City Play Caverns and 2 extra cardboard scratching refills since that’s all they had left.  I think we got a deal and a half! Or in actuality, paying full retail for this cardboard cat toy is just plain nuts.  

Our Orange Tabby Dan took to his right away, scratching the living daylights out of it and moving it around the screened porch.  It’ll never be in the same place twice! LOL

Our Yellow cat Pinky (don’t ask, okay you can ask…) could smell the catnip as soon as I took the plastic wrap off the corrugated cardboard scratcher.  His head lifted, nose in the air and eyes alert.  He was ready for his treat!

He couldn’t wait until the scratcher hit the floor. Once I found the perfect spot on the floor for the cardboard box, he was all over it, rubbing his face on the rough surface and slobbering big time. Yep, those dark marks on the scratcher are wet spots from Pinky’s slobber! LOL

It keep him occupied and quiet for about 5 minutes.  Mind you, this is a cat with adult ADHD and neurosis, so a quiet 5 minutes is golden : )

(Don’t look now, but this bonkers cat just jumped up on the counter, something he never does, and is now QUIETLY and I’ll repeat that because it’s certainly worthy of being repeated, is now QUIETLY curled up about ready to snooze!!!!) 

Note to self:  Go back to PetSmart and buy all the catnip in the store!  Why haven’t I thought of this before?  That stuff is Groovy man!       Peace V

I really love this cat : )

Donna

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Strawberry Rhubarb Pie with Lattice Crust

An order of fresh Rhubarb from PA came in to the Amish Store here in Largo, FL this week and I sent my hubby to pick up 2 pounds to make rhubarb pie and cobbler.  Here’s how I made the Rhubarb pie.  I added fresh strawberries to give it some sweetness and it reminds me of the pie mom makes too.

Rolling out Pie Crust

Make your favorite double pie crust recipe.  My hubby likes a traditional lattice top for the pie.

Wash Rhubarb stems and strawberries.  Cut rhubarb into 1″ chunks, don’t use the leaves.  Cut strawberries in half or quarters.  Allow to drain.

Rhubarb and Strawberries

Next I made a sugary mixture to sprinkle over the fruit.  This mixture helps to thicken the juice and make a sauce which firms up in the fridge.

Adding flour to sugarAdding sugar

Mix together 1/3 cup all-purpose flour, 1-1/4 cup sugar and 1/8 tsp. salt. Next line a 9″ pie pan with your bottom crust and layer in 1 cup fresh rhubarb and 1 cup strawberries.

Adding Rhubarb & Strawberries

Sprinkle half the sugar mixture over the fruit.  Now layer on the rest of the rhubarb, strawberries and sugar mixture and dot with butter.  I used about 2 Tbls. of butter. 

Making Lattice Top

Next weave on the lattice top, crimp edges and run knife along pie pan rim to remove excess crust.  Sprinkle lattice top with another tablespoon of sugar.

Place a cookie sheet on the bottom rack of the oven to catch drippers and put the pie on the middle rack of a preheated 425 degree oven and bake for 40-50 mins. or until crust is brown.  Let cool before slicing.  Refrigeration will firm up the juices so it won’t be as runny.

With the leftover crust we’d always make Pigs or Pig tails.  So I did the same thing with my left over crust.  Roll out leftover crust then slather with butter.  Top with a mix of cinnamon and sugar.

Making Pigs using excess pie crust

  Start at one end of the crust and start rolling to form a log.

Roll crust into a log

Cut in 1″ wedges and place in a baking pan and bake while you’re baking the pie.

Pigs in the pan

I check it every 10 mins.  Makes a nice snack before the pie is ready! But let it cool or you’ll scorch the roof of your mouth and burn your tongue.

Next up is the Rhubarb Cobbler.  Just as easy to do.

Mix together 1 Cup sugar and 2 Tbls. cornstarch in a saucepan.  Add 5 Cups 1″ chunks of rhubarb and 1 Tbls. water.  Bring to a boil and cook and stir for one minute.  Pour into a 1 qt. casserole, dot with butter and sprinkle with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon and spoon biscuit mixture on top.  Bake at 350 for 30 mins.

Make a biscuit mix using 1 Cups flour, 1 Tbls. sugar, 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder & 1/4 tsp. salt.  Cut in 1/4 Cup softened butter until like course crumbs. Mix 1/4 Cup milk and 1 slightly beaten egg.  Add all at once to dry ingredients, stirring to just moisten.

Drop biscuit mix onto hot rhubarb mixture by spoonsful.  Sprinkle with sugar.  Bake for 20 mins in 400 oven.

Rhubarb Pie and Cobbler

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Paleleaf woodland Sunflower

We’re celebrating Earth Day at Quaint Essential Antiques today by planting a new Florida native Tree called Summer Haw or Crataegus flava for all those Botanists out there.  It’s just a bitty thing right now but will be a small tree in a few years.  We’ll have more songbirds flocking into the yard for the small yellowish berries it produces after flowering in the Spring. 

Summer Haw

Since Tom installed the new fence and I spent the better part of a week painting it I’ve been planting new starter plants in beds around the fence in the front yard.  Here are just  a few samples of what I planted.  Some are native and some are not. 

Most of the plants are larval and nectar plants for the Sulphur Butterfly, Pipevine Butterfly, Monarch Butterfly, Painted Lady Butterfly and the Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly and other pollenators.  We have plenty of roosting areas nearby so the butterflies can get out of the mid-day sun and lots of water for the thirsty ones. 

Bahama Cassia, Senna mexicana var. chapmanii planted for Earth Day 4/22/2010

The front yard at Quaint Essential Antiques really took a hit this winter.  Everything died back and it looked so bare.  Now with the new fence and plantings it really looks like somebody cares! LOL  Here’s a listing of some of the plants:

White-topped Aster, Stokesia tortifolius
Mohrs thoroughwort, Eupatorium mohrii
Scrub Mint, Conradina canescens
Coral Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens
Creeping Sage, Salvia misella
Lakeside Sunflower, Helianthus carnosus
Eastern smooth Beardtongue, Penstemon laevigatus
Twinflower, Dyschoriste oblongifolia
Rosinweed, Silphium astericus
Paleleaf Woodland Sunflower, Helianthus strumosus
Dutchman’s Pipevine, Aristolochia tomentosa
PawPaw, Asimina reticulata
Dotted Horsemint, Monarda punctata

Tropical Sages, Red, Pink & White

Tropical Sage, Salvia coccinea
Mexican Sage, Salvia mexicana
Lyreleaf Sage, Salvia lyrata
Beach Sunflower, Helianthus debilis

Butterfly milkweed, Asclepia spp.

Blanket flower, Gaillardia pulchella
Bahama Cassia, Senna mexicana var. chapmanii

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