For Auld Lang Syne

This is an old Scots song that actually means "long long ago". That is perfectly fitting for this blog. The treasures left behind by our ancestors are from a place long, long ago whether they are in the attic of your grandmother's house in a trunk, in a safety deposit box or buried in the basement of an old delapidated house. I've had fun discovering some old houses in my days that were set in some remote part of the country side, alone, forgotten and decaying. It was always with a bit of melancholy that I approached places like this. Often times, I would say a prayer over the house, the land and its contents and especially for the people who once lived there. So to all the old forgotten places that once held the hopes and dreams of those who lived there, I dedicate this song. May the trinkets and treasures that arise out of the ashes mean as much to their discoverers as they did to those who left them behind.

Here are the words as found on Wikipedia.

Should Old Acquaintance be forgot,
and never thought upon;
The flames of Love extinguished,
and fully past and gone:
Is thy sweet Heart now grown so cold,
that loving Breast of thine;
That thou canst never once reflect
On Old long syne.

CHORUS:

On Old long syne my Jo,
On Old long syne,
That thou canst never once reflect,
On Old long syne.

And I urge you to reflect upon your own life often. Dig deep into your past and perhaps you will gain some insight to your today. I also implore you to remember those who have gone before you because without them, where would we of the present be?

The Midnight Writer

Remember those elegant lace doilies like your Grandmother made

In my opinion, there is nothing with more style or class than the doilies like my grandmother used to crochet. The thread textures were fine and exquisite. The patterns were elegant, intricate or even  dazzling. Ladies decorated their homes with these lovely hand made table covers to accent their finest furnishings or to make the simple handmade cabinet look luxurious. Vintage doilies are more than an accent piece for your home. They are collectible items. They are treasured keepsakes. That is why they can be found stored in the family cedar chest or in that trunk in the attic.

It is a common occurrence to find stacks of these underneath linens in old cedar chests. The smell of the cedar takes me back to my grandparent's days. I used to look at the old doilies that I found and daydream about those days as I fondled the thread and studied the patterns. I always wondered how different my life would have been if I had lived one hundred years earlier. Nostalgia pulls me into another place where I can travel for hours in my thoughts. It must have been quieter in those days without the distraction of television, radio, the internet and the bustle of automobiles outside the window. Crocheting in a rocking chair is a great form of meditation, at least in my experience.

Have any of you ever found a trunk full of old doilies or table scarves or baby layettes made from delicate thread? Would you care to share your stories here on Trunk and Attic Treasures?

The Midnight Writer

Old Letters and Old Postcards are intriguing

Have you ever found a box full of old letters and/or postcards in the attic of an old house? I have and it is an exhilarating experience! The musty dusty box is intriguing at first. When I first found a box like this, I gingerly pulled out the bundle of dusty letters that were faded with a musty smell. I savored the scent of antique mystery for a few minutes before I spied on someone's personal life. I read the details with the utmost respect for the writer and the recipient. I always felt a little embarrassed at first for snooping into another's private life but that always waned within the first few minutes. The words took over and carried me into a time machine.

I lingered in that dusty attic reading one faded musty letter after another. My hunger for more mystery, history or intrigue could not be satiated. I became a serious seeker for the old box of letters in the attic of old houses. My Dad was a carpenter who often remodeled such houses so my opportunities were not too rare. I collected these antique remnants of history with a sense of pride that I had salvaged a piece of history from one lifetime that had already left this earth. It was a surreal emotion that I cannot rightfully explain. You had to be there to see and feel the precious words like I did.

So the next time you get the chance to explore an old house, check the old desk then head straight for the attic and seek out that dusty box of letters and postcards. You'll either find it at the bottom of a trunk because personal letters were very private in bygone days. If you don't find the box of letters there, look for an old cubby hole in the attic and check far back in the shadowy corners. Enjoy the adventure!

The old Trunk in the Attic is my favorite treasure

Do you get excited about finding treasures in old houses? Have you ever found an old trunk in the attic? Well, I have and its like finding a piece of history that has been secretly hidden away for years. The finder gets to unlock the mystery to share with the world. What a rush!

I found an old trunk that looked a lot like the one in this picture complete with the nineteenth century clothing. It was such a thrill. My siblings and I touched the old dresses and gowns tenderly like we had fragile baby garments or precious silks in our hands. I remember feeling so amazed at the style and age of the clothing in the trunk. I don't remember how many dresses or hats or shoes were in those trunks but I do remember trying them on until my mother told us to pack them away. She let us play for a little while though and I cherished that time. 

I imagined that I was a fine lady who lived in the colonial times that was all dressed up for a fancy event. The hats were so stylish. I think I fell in love with old clothing during that trunk rummaging experience. My parents bought an old house. We found the trunks in the attic after we moved in. There were cubby holes in the attic and two full rooms upstairs. I still remember the musty antique smell. It was intoxicating to my sense of the mysterious. 

Let us explore the treasures that people find in old trunks and items folks find in attics, as well as other places. Let's see, flea markets and yard sales are good places to find antique treasures that others sell after they have cleaned the attic or garage. It will be one endless treasure hunt. Be sure to write to me to share your special finds!

Email themidnightwriter1@gmail.com.  

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The old trunk in the attic is Captivating

Have you ever been captivated by the discovery of an old trunk in your attic or your grandparent's attic? The mystery of the old trunk draws me in every time. It is a lure into the darkest and creepiest of places. I put aside my fear of ghosts in the attic and other sundry ideas just to get inside the trunk to discover its secrets long forgotten. The contents of such trunks are usually years old because most folks fill them with keepsakes and family heirlooms then tuck them into the furthest recesses of the house where the trunk awaits to be discovered. These trunks are almost always locked. This makes this quest even more alluring. Another quest. Another mystery to go along with the first hidden mystery. My mind races wildly about the possible secrets that I might find hidden away in that old trunk. Then it fast forwards to the key. Where would the keeper of the mysterious trunk in the attic have hidden the key?

The Midnight Writer

A place to share my passion for old things

I love yard sales, flea markets, historic museums and historic sites. I love finding old abandoned houses that contain lost and forgotten treasures. I love ghost towns! Anything old, forgotten, mysterious with a story to share excites me. This blog will be the place to share my passion for old things and lost treasures from times forgotten.