Antiques
Old-Timey Telephone on the Wall
Posted on December 4, 2013 by Billie Crumly — No Comments ? Using this modern iphone is a far cry from the old telephone we had when I was growing up. John’s great uncle — a blind man — owned the telephone exchange. John’s grandfather built the switchboard for his blind brother. Now I know…
Read MoreGrandmother’s Pitcher
This could be called the mystery pitcher as I’ve showed it to numerous so-called pottery experts and no two agree on where it was made or how old it is. In the 1990’s a rep from the Birmingham Museum of Art came here to photograph things made in Alabama prior to 1930 and she told…
Read MoreAnother Windy Knoll Tale
Years ago (I don’t know about now) a cat would sit on the front porch (or any other surface with spaces between the boards) and get his tail hung in the crack. Well, that’s how the old saying came about “got my tail in a crack.” That’s exactly where I am today — I’ve got …
Read MoreTrunks 2013
The definition of “trunks according to my Webster’s (and it’s an old one) is “a box or chest for storing clothes or other material, esp. of a traveler.” I wonder what a new dictionary would give as the definition – I doubt it would mention the traveler part. Following my mother’s death, unfortunately there was…
Read MoreAbout Sand Mountain Pottery 2001
A visitor to our recent plant sale asked me what I knew about Sand Mountain Pottery and I began remembering what I had heard and read on the subject. It seems the visitor owns a Sand Mountain Pottery churn — a valuable piece of pottery. Several years ago we attended a most interesting auction in Fort…
Read MoreReminiscing with a Friend 2000
It was during a Sunday afternoon nap when, what John calls our “doorbell” started ringing – actually it’s the barking of the dogs – telling us that company had arrived. A longtime friend was out making pop calls on this beautiful March Sunday afternoon and stopped by the Windy Knoll. First our conversation covered the…
Read MoreWashing Quilts 1991
As I put a quilt in the washing machine I couldn’t help but remember when we used to wash quilts (and such) at the Windy Knoll. Back then Daddy would build a fire around the wash pot filled with water that had been drawn from the well by hand. Soaked pieces seemed to come clean easier — or so it…
Read MoreAntiques and The Windy Knoll
Here at the Windy Knoll, antiques it is — residents and furnishings as well. When I started to appreciate antiques is more than I can remember, but now as I look back I’m reminded of how much I let get away. As I’ve said to you before, hind sight is a marvelous thing to have.…
Read MoreOld Tools and Old Terms February 2008
It’s interesting how the subject for this article came to mind. Last week we visited dear friends who live some distance from the Windy Knoll and the conversation of old tools came up. I knew immediately that would be my subject for this week. In the conversation John mentioned how he used to “frail” stove…
Read MoreReminiscing with a Friend March 2000
It was during a Sunday afternoon nap when, what John calls our “doorbell” started ringing – actually it’s the barking of the dogs – telling us that company had arrived. A longtime friend was out making pop calls on this beautiful March Sunday afternoon and stopped by the Windy Knoll. First our conversation covered the…
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