Living in the Past

A DELICATE MIST VEILS THE EARLY MORNING LANDSCAPE and
The suns rays gently blush the sky catching the morning dew on the tall blades of grass. Cows in an animated stance graze sporadically across the rolling acres of glistening splendor. Turn of the century homes with geraniums on window sills, their brick, wood and stone distressed from the elements of time, epitomize ”The Old Village Charm”. A tapestry of color, texture, pattern and form; each village we approach is in its own embodiment.
Bound for the allusive appeal of “something old”- connectors to the times and places of our past, we make our way through the quieter, muddled charm of the countryside. Surely you must have guessed were on a journey, a journey for antiquities, and a journey of discovery!
What better way is there to live the past than to boldly go where all men have gone before! To actually embrace an abject of a period in time in memorable and connect to its long past. To wonder at its form curiously and totally get the unexpected. I find it intriguing to my imagination with each new piece I obtain every time I take that special trip into the past.
The more the piece is worn and burnished by time, the more I’m smitten by its aura. Was it romance or sadness it possessed?
Obviously one must concede a new item would seem bland compared with an old piece possessing of such attributes. Quintessentially, indeed the new piece of today will one day be valued as highly. But let’s not loose sight of the fact that if you come across an item of little monetary value that that in itself does not prove its worth.

From the time I was a small child these objects excited attention and emotion from within me. I still can recall the time when I was rearranging my mom’s bedroom, when cleaning her dresser drawer, I tumbled across a beautiful rectangular shape encrusted with rhinestones. Spade shaped corners were adorned with four delicately woven bows. In between the bows there were four xs’s holding a centre circle. At the back of the see- through piece three brass brackets were joined. The middle one had two small teeth. Quickly I realized that it once must have adorned a beautiful gown as a belt buckle. Probably a gown worn during the Victorian era; oh no, there goes my imagination again. Oh, what a beautiful spell it had on me- Living in the Past!
Finding it difficult to come straight out and ask my mother for the buckle, I suggested on what a gorgeous frame it could be. Knowing her daughter quite well, my mother gave a smirk and said”keep it; I know that if anyone could find a use for it, It would be you”!! And so the Victorian buckle that could be from a Victorian lady’s gown; maybe worn on the Titanic; was mine.
This wasn’t the first time I turned something old into something new again, not only retaining its authenticity intact but accentuating its beauty making it a one of a kind item hard to pass by.
Through time I attained some very interesting objects minimal in cost and turned them into works of art. The purchase of a lovely spoon and fork turned into a pair of decorative wall accessories. Giving them a whimsical touch, I made for each of them their very own wire bows, dually useful for hanging and embellishment. Another find of some old dresser pulls turned out to be very enhancing to my paintings on the walls as picture swags.
Arriving to our destination, I spot a garage sale obscure from open view and we retreat indoors from the fine misty rain that begins to break into a pour. Anticipating another special heirloom find to add to my collection, I sip the tea that soothing me of cold trying patiently to wait for the rain to let up; but no, I can't wait. I must go!!!~ANNABELLE~