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bj-sweetnothings.blogspot.com

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thanks, bj

Monday, July 15, 2013

A Drawer full of Memories.....

 Hi, Everybody....
 Thanks much for all the great comments on what to do with my 60 year old LANE CEDAR CHEST
that was a gift from my mama and daddy for my 15th birthday.



I loved it then....
but I am not too crazy about it now...

I thought about painting it...or doing SOME kind of technique to make it prettier.

Most agree that I should just polish it and forget painting....

 This photo on the left is a terrible pic of the little plaque on the inside of the lid..


"To Betty Jean Ramsey
From Mother and Daddy"
bwaaaaaaaaa
(I miss my mama and daddy)

Sooo.
time to tweak my olden chest....(cedar chest, that is...heh heh)

....so I got out my favorite "go-to" oil and went to town on it.
PLEDGE REVITALIZING OIL
works wonders on olden furniture.



Here's something meaningful to put on top of my chest....

 a little cutie wind-up clock with LUCY and ETHEL ....
"Friends Forever"
A good friend sent this to me several years ago...
I don't wind it but I love looking at it and thinking of my friend.



NOPE..still.not lovin' the chest at all...
(that's a glare on the front)

but maybe if I keep a cute BURLAP runner on it, it might pass...

I hate to hide it away in a closet again...sooo, I'll see if any of the 7 grand girls or 3 grand boys might want it...


...for the time being, tho...
I'll keep it here , at the foot of my bed with some cuteness on it.

OOO, and it has a secret drawer.




That's my diary from the '50's.....

It has some of the most absolute CRAZY stuff in it...

stuff written by a romantic teenager.


LIKE.............


THIS entry made me laugh my head off when I read it years later....

"...and Mother won't let me."
hahhhaaaa.
I had just turned 16 when this was written...and his name was SAM.

O, I did have a wonderful youth...
my teen years were so much fun and I have a LOT of it recorded in this little
RED LEATHER LINE A DAY diary. 

Now, don't you know my grands are gonna laugh and laugh and laugh their heads right off
at some of the silly stuff they will find in here.
When I was writing in it years and years ago, I never even thought about having
grandchildren some day....hahhaaaa.....ain't life grand !!

I can promise that there is nothing in my little red book that I would mind my family reading....
in fact, I hope they have a blast, trying to feature ME as a young, silly, romantic girly girl.

 
NOTE the phone number here...CA 4-7852...
how funny . The CA stood for CAPITOL.

106 lbs and 5'5 1/2".....I looked like a boy !!

By the awesome looks of this little "Line a Day",
it is impossible to know that it's OVER 60 years old by just looking at it.
It's been in that secret drawer all these years.
***

37 comments:

Audrey said...

Oh bj ... what fun to read your diary. I have one, but not a clue as to where it is. Maybe in a secret drawer someplace or a dusty old box up in the attic. Hope one of the grand-girls will treasure your cedar chest. Mine is in the closet too, and I do not have a grand-girl to want it.
Blessings,
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures

Linda said...

This is THE most PRECIOUS post!! I have missed getting to visit you as often as I would like. LOVE that cedar chest! LOVE LOVE your diary!!!
Your bedroom looks beautiful. I am going back to see what all I've missed on your blog!

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

I like the cedar chest. I also have one that is well over 100 years old.
It was my ex husband's great aunt.
How fun to find your diary.
Happy week.
Mary

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

I didn't have a secret drawer then but I do NOW in my bedroom wardrobe!

As for your diary, how cute is that?

You know I kept one and wrote in it every single day for 8 years - and threw them away when I moved. How stupid - definately a palm/headslap move on my part.

I loved this post and love that chest. Hugs.

Vee said...

Precious memories! I have the diary of a high school girl in the 40s. Girls have always been girls. Your grands will love reading that diary. I don't think that they'll have to use much imagination to think of you as a girly girl. (John is very proud of you for not painting the chest. So am I! It really is very pretty even if it's not your style. What about a slipcover for it?

Vee said...

Close parens

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

I live in Altavista, Virginia, where the Lane Company was (it closed in 2001). My father-in-law worked there for over 40 years. So Lane chests have a lot of sentimentality attached to them for me!

Maybe you'll start liking it again, or one of your family members will want it. I love the secret drawer! And how fun to read your old diary. I have some of those, too.

Sarah said...

BJ, I think it's awesome that you still have your diary. Have no idea what became of mine, but it looked much like the one you have. Had to keep it locked! '-)

What about making a cushion with a skirt to cover your chest is you don't like the way it looks? My sister got a cedar chest from our parents. We called them "hope" chests to fill with things for a future marriage. For some reason my parents never gave one to me. I wanted my mom's, but one of my nieces has it. Boy do I remember how much fun it was to open the chest and look through the treasures my mom kept in hers. Everything in it was something special that she wanted to keep safe. ;-)

Jeanne said...

Hi bj, I do like your ceder chest. Your mom and dad sound awesome. Passing it on to one of your grands would be very special. I would paint it I think.

I too was a very silly 16 year old girly girl as well. I weighed 115 lbs and was 5'5 1/2 exactly. I always wanted to be taller. Your diary is a treasure. Thank you for the big smiles today.
xo
Jeanne

NanaDiana said...

I had one of those line-a-day diaries , too, but have no idea whatever happened to it. I think your old chest (cedar one) is great. I do hope one of your grands wants to claim it someday- xo Diana

Pondside said...

What a cute post, BJ! I had a diary too, and I loaned it to my sister when she wrote her second novel - yikes!!!

Kathleen Grace said...

I don't have a secret drawer but I have always, always wanted one! I found my pitiful little diary years ago, I didn't write much but what I did write was so ridiculous I threw it away, lol. I sure wish I could suggest a way for you to love that chest again. It is beautiful, if only for the sweet plaque inside and the memories of your folks it invokes.

Beverly said...

I do know what you mean about your cedar chest. I had one I didn't love the looks of either. So...in the 70s I antiqued it. Yuck! Didn't love that either. So...I painted it. Better, but I still didn't love. Kept it for thirty more years, and then gave it to my cousin's daughter. Now I miss it.

Pat said...

BJ,
Your cedar chest looks great at the foot of your bed, dear freind!!! Like you, I don't know how or what to do to give mine a face~lift either!!!
Oh, BJ. . .I, too, have my diary!!! Mine is blue. Haven't read it in years, though!!!
Thanks for sharing the sweet, romantic notions of your youth, dear friend!!!
Fondly,
Pat

Rettabug said...

Oh BJ...I'm so glad you've decided to keep your cedar chest in its original state! I think the way you've styled it is just darling & I KNOW some future generation is going to thank you for preserving it AND your wonderful childhood memories for them to enjoy.

The ideas of adding a cushioned seat to the top & a fabric drape all around...perhaps with similar ruffles, like your little runner, will make you happier to live with it. I wish you lived closer...I'd whip it up for you in a heartbeat. I just recovered a friend's ottoman for her & it wasn't hard at all.

I love your black & white bedroom & am still considering doing that to my guest room. I think I'll wait until my grandkidlets...esp. the boys...are done coming for sleepovers. LOL

I hope you're getting some of that rain I saw on the TX map this morning.

Stay cool Hugs,
Rett

Theresa said...

Oh what a sweet memory! I think your chest is looking much better now:) Love that diary! I have mine also from SO many years ago! SWEET memories! Have a blessed day dear BJ, HUGS!

Madeline's Album said...

Never kept a diary, to busy being a tomboy. I loved sports and being better then the boys. I still have my hope chest my parents gave me. Have a blessed day. Madeline

Susan K said...

Hi BJ, I think it is wonderful that you still have your diary! I used to have one but sadly have no idea where it is now (sigh). My sweet 87-year-old Mother has a Lane cedar chest exactly like yours ... she has such wonderful treasures stored in there like her 1942 high school prom gown, my Dad's WWII Navy uniforms, Japanese silk kimonos (one is a beautiful wedding kimono) that my Dad sent home when he was in Japan right after the war (my Daddy passed away 33 years ago), an original Mickey Mouse watch that she owned as a child (before they began to put Mickey's picture on watches), some of my own baby dresses from the late 1940s ... just precious things I LOVE to look at! Thank you for a really great column! Suzy from PA

Balisha said...

OHHHHH BJ...Keep it.
Balisha

Sweet Tea N ' Salty Air said...

What a nice story! I always say whats olden is golden, you have such a priceless treasure.

Love Of Quilts said...

I was thinking as I was reading that you didn't care for it any more and may paint it, why not ask if one of your grand's wanted it. Them you said it, so glad they will love it. More then one will want it. Guess they could draw for it.

Cottage and Broome said...

So fun you still have your old diary! I'd be afraid to got back and read mine, so silly as a teen. Love your chest! Laura

Gypsy Heart said...

I don't have any diaries left...my mother read everything I wrote so I stopped doing it. I think it's wonderful that you have this treasure!

Paint the chest! :)

Trying to visit a few folks that I've been missing...

xo
Pat

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Oh that secret drawer, is the best-est part of the chest!!!! ,-)

"Auntie"

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

No secret drawer here. I used to have a diary when I was in 8th and 9th grade. I don't know whatever became of it! How fun that you still have yours.

Debbie said...

I did have a secret drawer growing up. It was under the skirt of my kidney shaped vanity table. Now, you have me dying to yank it down from the attic and dress it up again.

I love this post so much for so many reasons. I actually love the chest. I have a used cedar chest on my want list. I have one, but I want another. I love them.

Now, I'm a huge respecter of leaving wood in its original glory. I've even harped about it a time or two on my blog. But if you really don't love the look (I do...) you could paint it. As one who strips furniture, I can tell you that chests are one thing that strip back to the wood really easily if you change your mind. (Just saying that because you mentioned putting it back in the closet not because I don't love it as is, especially with the diary sitting on top.)

Life on Royal Lane said...

Please tell us where you got your lovely burlap runner. Love the trunk with the runner

Jolene said...

How fun! Thank you BJ for sharing your memories!

Sue said...

I have almost the exact same chest. I thought it was the same until I saw your secret drawer...I don't have one. At least if I do, it is a secret from me! Mine was purchased by my parents as a "Hope Chest" when I got engaged in 1974. It was old when they bought it and certainly older now. Like you, I love the memory of it but don't have it out anywhere. Mine is in my "dish room" full of Christmas dishes.

Unknown said...

B.J....dont if you saw my post about my Moms cedar chest....she also was from Lubbock and her cedar chest looks exactly like yours....we just sold our home and all our things are in storage because our home isnt ready yet.I think I am going to have to crawl in that unit and see if mine has a secret drawer...Dont know if I can stand it until we go there the next time..I will keep you posted!!!! :-):-):-) pat k.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Yellow Rose Arbor said...

I enjoyed this, love nostalgic stuff! I think the chest is wonderful and looks good with the burlap runner on it. That secret drawer is great and wonderful that you kept the diary!

Katherine

Our Hopeful Home said...

I'm a new follower! And cedar chests have a special place in my heart. My mom always kept our special baby things in hers. Unfortunately, after she died, my dad gave the chest to GOODWILL with all the stuff still in it!!! That pain will never go away. But I do have a cedar chest of my own now, with my wedding dress and the kids' christening gowns in it. Yours is beautiful. And that red diary ~ priceless! Whatever happened to Sam:)

Ricki Treleaven said...

Oh, how much fun, BJ! I had a hope chest, too, and now it's in one of the girl's closets with old baby stuff in it. Mine looks like the eighties...seriously, you can so tell it's from the eighties. BUT mine didn't have a secret drawer to hide a diary in. I never wrote in a journal or diary because my mom would have snooped and read it! I kept everything to myself!

Thanks for linking-up to My Happy List!

xo,
RJ

bj said...

TO LIFE ON ROYAL LANE:
I have no way to get in contact with you as your email has a NO REPLY.
No posts on your two blogs...
So sorry.
OK...SONYA at Behind the Screen Door
made the burlap runner for me. I believe her address is
behindthescreendoor.blogspot.com

Hope u come back by to read....
xo bj

Helen said...

I loved this post .. no doubt we are of the same generation .......

Irene said...

No secret diarys here. I have it all in my head and i'm taking those with me when I die. LOL