Soon to be treasures...

With the passing of my grandma comes the clearing out of my grandparents' house. This process brings my mom to tears - literally, every time we enter the house - not for the sadness of it she claims but the feeling of being so overwhelmed with all the stuff and what to do with it. I am trying to be of some help while I am here but I will admit, I am sorting through things right now finding what keepsakes I would like to keep and ship back to California. I happen to be the sentimental one of the four of us females (my mom, aunt and sister). Right now I can't get past the basement where a lot of the older keepsakes have been sitting. My grandpa's work bench kept my attention for at least 2 hours yesterday afternoon. What I'd really like to take back is this...

I know, I know, most of youy probably just see junk. I see a handmade workbench/table that my Grandpa made and transferred from one house to another. I see a redone craft table and blue spray paint or maybe white with some glaze to age it a bit - or maybe keeping it the light bluish green color that it is with the paint splatters and all.

However, sadly, with a big frown, I might as well stop "seeing" anything because I live too far away and can't have it. Any Illinois friends want to come and take this apart and make wonders out of it...

or how about this...

Story is when my Grandpa opened his flooring business back in the 40's, this was in the building and he brought it home for the basement. Again, craft storage, paint, keep the glass knobs...remove the doors for open storage....

hmmmmmmmmmmm...wishful thinking.

Any Illinois takers?

I just love it!

Am I the only one who sees potential in these pieces?

My mom just looks at me like I have reached insanity.

I see functional. potential. sentimental keepsake.

surely these have some craftin' value for some unknown project in my future...

 and these flowers were in a paper bag with only 4 in the bag - I convinced myself that Grandpa just left those there waiting for me to find them.

there's a coat hanger shelf thingamagig in the making with all of these hooks...

my favorite simple little find of the day...how cute is this?

and oh how I wonder the story behind this.

and this tall treasure is coming home with me somehow -- weather I ship it or saw it down to fit in my suitcase, I can see some type of picture holder with ribbon or wire in this piece...

So there's my rescued trash waiting to be treasured!

(Annie, I think you need these workbenches out at your house!)

Happy Day Everyone!