Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas everyone. This celebration day of the birth of Christ was a rebirth for me in some ways. With it I hope to strengthen my resolve to find calm, grace and peace in my world in order to help others find the same in theirs.

God's speed to my nephew...the Marine!

God's speed to my nephew, the marine. We received word this morning my nephew, seen here at my brother's memorial in 2005, has received orders for duty in the Middle East beginning in February 2008. He will leave behind his two young children and his lovely wife in order to fulfill his duty, proudly and with honor.

We wish you safely home, Kiki, and love you so very much.

Tea anyone?

This adorable demi tea cup is believed to be a salesman's sample due to its size. The tea cup was 1 1/2" high and the saucer 3" in diameter. It may have also been a rare pattern. It sold on eBay for the amazing price of $838.00.

Well, jumpin' jim jeffords, it's cold outside!

Brrrrrrrrrrrr! It sure is cold outside today. When that nor'easter blew in yesterday this ol' attic wench was scramblin' around the attic tryin' to plug the broken windows with whatever I could find up here. At first the closest thing at hand was great-auntie's old wedding dress inside a plastic bag, just layin' there on top of a cardboard box full of 1940's newspapers. I could here her voice telling me, "Go ahead, dearie, the dress never did me much good since the ol' fool I married ran off with the local town hussy and left me and the kids to fend for ourselves." Still, I thought better of it and managed to find a dome top trunk containing some old sheets and linens so I used those instead.

I hear tell that after great-auntie's ex ran off he eventually joined the Army but he was wounded in the left butt cheek and broke his left leg so he was discharged soon after. He wasn't any hero since the rest of the story that great-auntie told goes something like this: Her ex was home on leave corousing with his hussy girlfriend when the two of them decided to raid old man Tinkerton's barn lookin' for liquour. After they jumped the fence onto Tinkerton's property great-auntie's ex met face to face with one of the meanest and ornery lookin' bulls you ever laid eyes on. When great-auntie's ex tried out runnin' that old cuss of a bull he slipped and fell. The bull took great-auntie's ex right in the left backside with its horn, just like stickin' a fork in a marshmallow. After that the bull tromped his leg but somehow great-auntie's ex managed to crawl back out of the pasture and he and his hussy friend hightailed it to the nearest doctor. Great-auntie said for years after, that man walked with a gimp that was like watchin' a colt trying to stand on the first day it was born, all wobbly like.

Well, the old sheets stuffed in the broken windows are keepin' the snow out just fine. Time to mosey on downstairs to the kitchen and make a nice hot cup of cocoa. I can smell the stew simmerin' on the wood stove from up here. Smells real good. Next time I get up here to the attic I think I'll take a peek inside that old photo album I found in the bottom of the linen trunk. For now I'll just lay it aside and head on down to the kitchen for some warm vittles.

Merry Christmas From Our House To Yours!

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our little house to yours from everyone at Anna Q's Attic!

Wallingford's Vintage Fire Engine

This vintage fire engine has been lovingly restored by members of the Wallingford, Vermont, Volunteer Fire Department. On this day they were showing it off at the 2007 Memorial Day Parade in town.

Vintage Photo Journals

Up in the attic

Sure is hot up here! Need to open a window to let the air in and the dust out.

Summer is a busy time up here in the attic. The attic wench has been busy getting a website designed for her shop. You can find her now at www.annaqsattic.com. She's also been busy cleaning out some other attics, garages, sheds, homes and barns around the Vermont countryside this summer. Finding lots of great treasures. Recently found a Civil War badge that was sold at one of her estate sales.

Most Sundays throughout the summer you can find the attic wench at the Newfane Flea Market in Newfane, Vermont with a van load of estate cleanout items. Starting in July 2006 you'll be able to see her at May's in Brimfield with a load of cheaptiques and treasures from Vermont estates.

Summers get a little hectic here for the attic wench so there isn't always enough time to get as many listings up on eBay as she'd like. She's still raising a son and trying to build a home this summer. Feels like her life is in storage while she lives out of suitcases. As time goes by the attic wench will let you know how things are going up here in the dusty old attic. Right now she is stepping out for a breath of fresh air.

Looking out the attic window

Wow! Sure is getting chilly outside. The attic wench has a great view from the attic window this fall. She can see the trees turning bright red, orange and yellow from where she sits on a dusty old bench up here in the attic. She's been rather wistful lately. Her sister left for Florida for the winter and that makes her a little sad since they're like best friends and they both share a love of antiques. The attic wench always has mixed feelings about the summer's end partly because she can now relax after a hectic summer but she knows she won't see many of her flea market buddies until next spring. However, she keeps busy sorting and dusting off all the old junque scattered around under these old rafters.

With colder weather setting in it's time to concentrate more on getting the eBay store filled with fun stuff. The old trunks here in the attic are stuffed with years of accumulation and are being made ready for emptying so keep a look out for some great items on eBay. For instance, the attic wench just listed a 1914 cast iron baseball bank that hadn't seen the light of day for nearly 93 years.

Someone is calling from kitchen for the attic wench to join them for tea and scones. She'll be back later to finish digging through the old trunks to see what else she can find. Meanwhile, enjoy the colors of fall through the attic window and stay warm.

Rare Civil War Memorabilia

This sterling silver pin was offered up at an estate sale I conducted in the summer of 2006. It was found amongst some smalls in an old cigar box at the estate. This pin was made for John Francis Crossman who was apparently a member of the 8th Maine Co. G although family members were not certain of its history or his. They simply knew great-grandpa fought in the Civil War and he died September 9, 1902.










A newspaper clipping of Mrs. Crossman's obituary was found pasted in an old book which gave some insight into her husband's service. They were married January 30, 1868. A young descendant of Mr. Crossman purchased the pin.

Rare cast iron baseball bank

This is a rare find. It is a cast iron baseball bank from 1914 marked American National. It sold recently on eBay for $813.00. This bank was originally sold through a toy catalog in 1914 at a price of $.95 per dozen. This one had all its original paint and parts. It was found at an estate sale and had only one original owner. What a cutie!