The ad in the newspaper was for an estate sale nearby. It stated that an artist lived in the house and although I was not fully motivated to stand in line with the many who I am very sure did, we finally made our way over to this sale several hours after it began.
The first thing I noticed was the dining room wall. It had seventeen Bing and Grondahl plates displayed
all neat as a pin and hung above the doors going to the backyard. The display took my eye all the way up to the high ceiling. I don't collect these plates, but seeing them all together like that was quite striking. When I went back the next day to take a picture of them, they were of course all gone.(The first two photos here are of plates up for auction on ebay right now...not mine)
Walking through the house though, I found other interesting items like cookbooks...
and that is when I started to realize that this house was not only the home of an artist, but one of Danish ancestry. She loved to cook and she liked to read. I think I would have liked her.
There was one cookbook that gave me a bit of a giggle. The Danish Sisterhood Treasures cookbook included thirteen recipes for Danish Meatballs. Each one a little different from the next.
Here are two for you to compare. One of the best parts of buying cookbooks at estate sales is that they often come with the bonus of a hand written note or two, or recipes taken from magazines.
Another book that I just couldn't resist was this vintage book about birds.
The illustrations are beautiful
and although I have never taken a book apart to frame the pictures, this one is very tempting.
The colors are clear and the pictures are on a heavier stock of paper. Definitely something to consider.
So, what does your house say about you? Does its decor show an international influence? Maybe it says you like modern or bare bones, does it display collections, family photographs,... or maybe it says that an artist, and cook who happened to be Danish lived here.
This post is being linked to Little Red House for Mosaic Monday, Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday, and Smiling Sally for Blue Monday. If there were a link out there that required a meatball monday, I think I would know where to go to find the recipe!!
♥, Susan
Great post, Susan! The plates are pretty, I wonder if they will all show up on Ebay? The bird book looks very interesting and you are right. The photo would look lovely framed. I hope you have a great week ahead.
Posted by: eileen | February 19, 2012 at 04:53 PM
Pretty birds. The cookbooks look fun, especially if you like Swedish meatballs :) My house will tell people that someone very eclectic and not so formal lives here!
Posted by: Carol @There's Always Thyme to Cook | February 19, 2012 at 05:04 PM
I love finding old cookbooks and the bird book is exquisite! ♥
Posted by: Lavender Dreams | February 19, 2012 at 05:49 PM
Great find with the cookbooks. The repetition of recipes makes me think of church cookbooks I have with so many different ways to make a certain dish.
The bird illustrations are lovely.
Judith
Posted by: Lavender Cottage | February 19, 2012 at 06:09 PM
Great post. I love old cookbooks. And 13 recipes for Danish meatballs! Wow!
Posted by: Lorrie | February 19, 2012 at 06:22 PM
"Meatball Monday", there's an idea! Funny.
I think everyone's house tells something about them, or should. I know my house speaks to me.
-Karen
Posted by: My Little Home and Garden | February 19, 2012 at 06:26 PM
If there's ever a Meatball Monday a whole lot of us will be visiting you for help!
My house might look a lot like the one you visited. The dining room is ringed with B&G plates all the way around, above a plate rail. There are Danish cookbooks in the kitchen book case and lots of bits and pieces of Danish pottery and art throughout.
Posted by: Pondside | February 19, 2012 at 06:35 PM
I have many of the B&G Christmas plates but no where to display them in this house we are in now. I stopped collecting them years ago. I do have the Mother's Day plates up because I only have 4 of those and those foxes and bunnies are two of them. TMI? I enjoyed your mosaics and maybe I'll reconsider where I might be able to display those Christmas plates.
Posted by: ellen b | February 19, 2012 at 06:38 PM
Ha-ha, I'm sure my house is saying, "Lady, you have way too much stuff" Some people I know says that it makes them sad to go in and buy things that someone once treasured. I say, when I'm gone let them come. If they love it as much as I did, great! I love the bird book. The photos are so pretty. I have seen plates like that before, but did not know the name.
Posted by: Jann Olson | February 19, 2012 at 08:58 PM
How interesting that you found so many wonderful cookbooks from your husband's heritage at this estate sale, Susan! The book about birds looked very beautiful and I do think those pages would look lovely framed.
My house would say I am a book and magazine reader, a collector of many little things and definitely in love with my children and grandchildren as I have so many photos of them on display :)
Posted by: Pat | February 19, 2012 at 09:06 PM
Your Audubon book is beautiful! I'd be tempted to frame those gorgeous illustrations!
Posted by: Mary | February 20, 2012 at 03:19 AM
I love Blue & White plates. As a matter of fact, I hung a display of them over the doors leading to the lanai. We have 12' ceiling in the house - so the plates really draw the eye up. I use plates as decor all over the house.
Posted by: Pat | February 20, 2012 at 04:55 AM
Love old cookbooks...I always collect them. Great blue plates also a passion for collecting.
Happy Blue Monday!!!!
http://erica-sweetonyou.blogspot.com
Posted by: erica | February 20, 2012 at 05:31 AM
What a great post. I love those cookbooks and you did well buying some.
Posted by: Riet | February 20, 2012 at 06:00 AM
Oh what an interesting read this a.m., thanks for sharing.
Posted by: S | February 20, 2012 at 06:37 AM
hhaaahaaa...we sure know where to come if we wanna make a meatball, hu?
I love estate sales but sometimes, they make me a little sad. :(
I went to one once that had a LOT of handmade quilts...either she made them or collected them and I thought it sad that no one in the family wanted them.
xo bj
Posted by: bj | February 20, 2012 at 06:53 AM
I love those blue plates, although I've never heard of them before.
Happy Blue Monday, Susan. Be sure to check out my book giveaway.
Posted by: Sally | February 20, 2012 at 06:56 AM
Someones treasures being scattered throughout the country.
Posted by: LaVoice | February 20, 2012 at 07:45 AM
Sounds like a wonderful sale, Susan. Those plates are gorgeous.
Posted by: Pat@BPM | February 20, 2012 at 08:11 AM
Well - I can say that I was quite surprised to read Swedish in your first picture! And "Mors dag" means Mother's Day - so they are not Christmas plates.
The plates in the second picture are Danish, though. You can find loads of these plates over here, as you can imagine.
But the bird's book is great - I'd lika to have that one! All the birds are the same as those I feed outside my door! The big one at the end is my favorite, but it's shy.
Great post!
Posted by: Anni | February 20, 2012 at 11:40 AM
Great Dane in the Morning--sorry for the bad pun--but the post is Awesome!!!
Regards,
John
Posted by: john mcelveen | February 20, 2012 at 03:04 PM
I would have picked up the book on birds. The pictures are devine. V
Posted by: Valerie | February 20, 2012 at 04:22 PM
Wow that was a jackpot. My house says I have a lot of children and they are always bringing me something. Too many doodads I say. I like those plates would make a beautiful display.
QMM
Posted by: QMM | February 20, 2012 at 04:32 PM
I so love those blue plates. Our house speaks Filipino and American ^_^ more so when you open the pantry, cabinet or refrigerator ^_^ We have two different condiments Asian and American hehehe.
Blue Sky
Posted by: Kim,USA | February 20, 2012 at 04:54 PM
I love Estate Sales! So much fun to find treasures! Great finds!
XO Cindy
Posted by: Cindy | February 20, 2012 at 06:30 PM
Looks like quite a nice estate sale. Love those plates and bird prints. Have a great week!
Posted by: Joy | February 20, 2012 at 08:13 PM
It sounds and looks like it was a very interesting place to wander through. Yes, our homes reflect ourselves. Have a wonderful week and thank you so much for stopping by my blog to say hi.
Posted by: Jill Harrison | February 21, 2012 at 04:54 AM
Our small space doesn't have room for much "stuff" so I don't go to sales like this very often -- but I really loved this post. That bird book would really have tempted me. I wonder what they were asking for it.
I'm laughing about all those meatball recipes -- I can imagine the cookbook committee chairwoman not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings so including them all!
Posted by: Sallie (FullTime-Life) | February 22, 2012 at 12:48 PM
I'm green with envy, Susan. Yes, yes, the plates are striking, however, those cookbooks are a treasure trove of goodness. I can't wait until auction season begins.
Thank you so much for sharing...
Posted by: Louise | February 23, 2012 at 05:30 AM
I just bought a book, Drawings of the French Masters at a thrift store. My plan was to use the pages for pictures or projects. {{Sigh}} so difficult to actually do that. I'm working up the courage. Great finds. Cookbooks are my fave for the same reason. I believe I would have liked her, too.
Posted by: Nancy | March 05, 2012 at 01:12 PM