Monday, June 22, 2009

perfectly imperfect

georgianna . a tiny pair of shoes . transfer ware & pewter .
old ironstone . walnut table . old lamb & humble
~~
while I polished and scrubbed my little old farmhouse, I realized that nearly everything here, each little cupboard and table, the bookcase filled with dog-eared books, the candle sticks and the old crackled ironstone plates and cups that we have used for many years
are all a little worse for wear.
Edges that were once fine and new, now worn smooth and some nearly gone.
All of these things are dearly loved.
They are "perfectly imperfect" and that just makes them more dear to me.
I am comfortable in my crooked little old farmhouse,which I'm quite sure was built without a square or a plumb bob. She is filled with worn and tatter'd, beautiful and perfectly faded.
pewter & old paper

The old wood floors have a definite tilt to them and so does my favorite "tippy tea table"....and if you turn the table just right, the beautiful old pewter teapot, properly dented,of course, with a visible half moon hollow in her side, rests comfortably on top.

~

Like the old gilt mirrors, their silver now clouded & tarnished, the kitchen cupboard with the make-do knobs filled with chipped transfer ware and ironstone, I fit in here.

old doll

We're like old friends all together. all of us have a story of survival made even more beautiful with our imperfections and beautiful fading colors showing.

~

My favorite ironstone cup has an elegant curved handle, cracked and carefully glued and put back together again.

Our walnut dining table from the early 1800's has a small patch of veneer missing along the top edge of a beautifully curving leg. It also survived a fire. There on the very center of the only leaf it came with is the distinct outline of a large book. It was left by the family Bible that also survived the fire. The table and chairs weren't burned, but they do have some wonderful crazing in the old varnish...and we had to buy them because they are all exactly like the table and chairs that my great grandparents had in their farmhouse kitchen when I was small.

When we learned that the old table & chairs, along with the old family Bible,

had survived a terrible fire,

I knew that it should live with me in my little old house now.

There's the old oriental rug with it's lovely colors faded and worn.

The silver and pewter, dented and mellowed with years of loving use.

An old chalk lamb leans gingerly on 3 legs against an old iron urn on the mantle.

Everything here has a story.

humble

and in the evenings, with the glow of candles being the only light, everything has a wonderful softness of the many years of being loved,

tenderly repaired and kept for many more years of use.

just like me, my things are a little worn around the edges.

Made graceful and more beautiful by candle light...

we all fit in here.

perfectly imperfect.

17 comments:

cathypentonatelier said...

Well my friend just a beautifully written post, when I read your blog I always feel grounded...It has been sooooooooooo long since we have chatted I so hope everything is beautiful in your world....Love to you always Cathy xx

Old World Primitives said...

This artfully written post really made me smile. :)

Stephanie

Katie said...

Love this mom! Your pictures are so wonderful...the words are just beautiful!

Finegan Antiques said...

Christine,

Your spoke to my heart. My house is full of wonderful olde things. They all have a story to tell if you are willing to listen. Many hours can be spent pondering on who made them and what their lives were like. History is a living thing. If you understand that then you have an undeniable and unexplainable connection to our past.
Donna

a little work of grace said...

Dear friend,

What a beautiful post! What a relief to be 'imperfectly perfect', house and all. There is ease and a kindredness that speaks to our own souls from the dents, scratches, and faded marks left by another time. Thankyou for warmly welcoming us into your imperfectly perfect home.

oxLaura

prairiegirl said...

I've missed you and your beautiful, faded, well loved life.

Barbara Melotto said...

Christine,
I can so connect with the imperfections and out of plumb with my 1832 house. Your words are so beautiful written and show the love you have for the simple life and the wonderful items that have endured the test of time, even if a bit tattered and worn. Not like the throw away world we now live in.I felt a tug of heart at the mention of the name Georgianna, my Mom's. Who is your Georgianna?

Barbara

Carole said...

So beautifully said. Thank you for your wonderful and wise words.
Carole

Heather said...

such a beautiful post...I wish I could crawl up into this world and have tea :) old things are often times much-loved and well made. I hope to fill my home in much the same way...

Carole said...

Dear Christe', I really enjoyed reading this post this morning. Your photos are beautiful as always, and of corse the way you write is always so lovely. A little chip or nick is never a problem with me either, it's for sure that I'm not perfect!
Love
Carole

Queen Of The Armchair aka Dzintra Stitcheries said...

Oh Dear Christine...Perfectly Imperfect...what a perfect post...All much loved and treasured...all by the glow of candlelight...just absolutely delightful. Words spoken from the Heart and so very very comforting. Enjoy your little old farmhouse and all it's wonderful treasures...Dzintra♥x

Anonymous said...

Such a BEAUTIFUL post, my friend! I savored every word and picture. Thank you for sharing a glimpse into your world. :0)

xo,
Mira

Susan McShannon-Monteith said...

Perfectly, imperfect and content...
In a world so absorbed in material gains it is the simple and treasured things that have stood the test of time that bring us comfort.
I hope all is well my friend with you at Deerfield farm.
xo Susan

Gayle said...

You say what so many of us feel so well...

and your photographs are truly evocative.....

lovely,
Gayle

Stacey said...

I love the chips, dents and cracks of my old treasures too...and listen for them to tell their story. I can't help feeling that I was there when they were new.

I apologise that I don't get as far as my heart does these days.~
Stacey

Dixie Redmond said...

Christe' - "perfectly imperfect" - I love that phrase and idea. When I have been saying to myself for a while, "I am going to go start an imperfect painting."

I wrote about saying goodbye to my granddad's house on my blog recently. I think you would like some of the pictures in the post Attic and Barn. It was a perfectly imperfect place, too.

Dixie

Lena said...

I've always felt the most kinship with people and things with a bit of character and soul....and a story to tell. Kindred we are, in so many ways my friend. Your words feel like a reflection of my own heart when it comes to such things.