Bird Brain!

I've always loved birds and at times I've thought of myself as a "bird watcher."  When my girls were little, we would go camping and hang pine cones coated with peanut butter and birdseed all around our camp site just to lure the birds!  I love this time of year when the birds are making their nests and are busily flitting about right outside my kitchen window.  They often build their nests under the eaves of my roof or in the trees in my front yard.  When they're done and have abandoned their nests, I often salvage the nest for my own collection.

My favorite is a little intricately woven birdie Bjorn-like nest.  It is made of horse hair and the polyester fibers from the twine that bound the hay bales. It's just so amazing!!!

Just a quick note about collecting nests, make sure you put them in a zip lock bag and place in the freezer at least overnight to make sure any mites, etc. are gone before bringing them into your home. You can also do this with straw stuffed teddy bears or cloth pull toys, etc.


 I have a couple of birdbaths and the birds take full advantage of them!  It's so cute how they splash about in the water to get clean.  They always put a little show on for me as I wash dishes!

My backyard has been a bit of a swallow refuge in the past.  They don't come back every year, but quite often.  The only problem with Swallows is they make mud nests.  They get dirt in their beak, and then swoop into my pool and get water to make a beak-full of mud, and then make their little adobe nests under the eaves in the back of my house.  Half the mud lands in my pool and on my patio as they diligently work  It's quite fascinating, really!

Of course, being the collector that I am, I have been drawn to collecting bird related items. Love old books on birds!

I've found a couple of cute bird lamps!

 And I love, love, love hand carved wooden bird folk art!

At Down Home, we have all sorts of bird related antiques in stock right now! There are bird baths, bird cages, bird books, bird houses!  Love our little feathered friends!

xo, Peggy

My Bunny, Sunday!

Since its close to Easter, it's bunny time!  Of course, my favorite bunny, is my bunny, Sunday.  She was a mother's day gift last year from my kids and she is a big beautiful French Lop.  Sunday hasn't always been the friendliest bunny.  In fact, she has growled at me on several occasions!   I wish I had videotaped her so everyone would believe me - yes, bunnies can growl!!!  I know...alarming!

Well, I vowed to myself I would become the bunny whisperer, and I have come very close.  Sunday loves me now!  She is an inside Bunny and has taken over my hall bathroom as her domain.  She doesn't go too far down the hallway since a couple of  rooms away is a room that my cat, Liberty tends to gravitate to. Generally when they see each other, they both run in opposite directions!  My goal is to have them love each other too, but that has not happened yet! Sunday is totally potty trained to a litter box, and has had no accidents since the first night I had her!  These days, she follows me down the hall and likes to run in and around my feet which trips me on occasion, but at least I know she wants to be near me! She even lets me hold her like a baby. Love my Sunny-Bunny!!!

                                                           How cute is her little head!

Since it is Easter, we have all sorts of fun bunnies in the store too!  Of course, none are as precious as Sunday, but we guarantee them not to growl!!!

Some bunny loves you!
xo, Peggy

Spring is in the Air!

Any one who knows me, knows I do not like cold weather.  I guess growing up in Southern California has made a bit wimpy when it comes to low temperatures!  So once Christmas is over, I'm ready for Spring!!! And it's coming!!!!   I love seeing the signs of Spring.

The first sign was my little Christmas Cactus in my kitchen window! Isn't she pretty!!!

The second sign of Spring...my Saucer Magnolia tree in my front yard started blooming! 

And then the third sign... Down Home's Spring Open House!  We're getting ready!!! We've been cleaning and tagging, and putting aside some fun garden and spring related treasures!

 Just cleaned all these latest finds from the weekend!  I love this old galvanized metal washing machine!

 Can't wait to get these piles of treasures off my driveway and into the store!!!

Lots of metal and iron pieces!

Love these chicken feeders and canvas carts with wheels!

A few Easter Chocolate molds and Candy containers we just found!

We hope you all have a wonderful Spring and we look forward to seeing you at our 

Spring Open House on March 9, 2013!  

xo, Peggy

On the Road!

I have a goal to take more pictures of antiques and antique shows, while I'm on the road. The problem is I have a one track mind when I'm shopping!  I shop!  I often call my shopping technique "the scan and grab." When I get in my shopping frenzy at flea markets and antique shows, I'm terrible at taking pictures!  I just don't take the time to aim and shoot while shopping.  I try, but I find I take more pictures of the scenery on the highway and in nature, then I do of antiques and shows! I love old buildings and old barns and gardens!  Here are some photos of things I like to take pictures of when I'm  supposed to be taking pictures of antiques.  I love living in California, but it's so fun to see our beautiful country! These were taken on our way home from New York!  I can't wait until our next buying trip!  We leave in March!!!

It's a little hard to see, but this fence is so cute with hoes and shovels used as fence posts!

Nothing more beautiful than a field full of sunflowers!  A very happy moment!!!

Tomatoes out of our friends' garden in Ohio!  Good job Rick and Karen!

Saw this beautiful field of flowers from the truck!

How beautiful is this - look at the clouds reflecting in the lake!

Nothing more charming than stone buildings!!!!

Love this old barn and lots of old windows in New York!

Who doesn't love a silo?

A little garden with MORE sunflowers and the cutest twig fence!

Nothing like a road trip!

xo, Peggy