Some Things Are Just Meant To Be!

Edited: I'm linking this post up to Rhoda's Today's Thrifty Treasures Blog Party. I found this great treasure just after the close of last season's blog parties but I am so proud of this find that I wanted to share it with you all!

Do you believe that some things are just meant to be? Do you think that everything happens for a reason?

Even though I sometimes do not like the outcome of things or situations or wonder why they happen a certain way, I try to stick to the belief of "it was just meant to be" or "it happened for a reason." There's no sense in dwelling on it if we can't change it. I guess it's part of my "roll with the punches" or "go with the flow" kind of outlook on life.

Well. This is the story of my latest "it was meant to be" that ends with a happy ending.

It all starts one day back in the middle of September when I had to go to Cranberry to run some errands. When I go to Cranberry, I always make sure I stop at the Goodwill store there. It's just under a year old and much bigger than ours here in Butler. Anyway. I walked in and I spied this beautiful china cabinet. I fell in love immediately! The ticket on it said $100 which was a very good price. HOWEVER, with quitting my job in June and not starting a new one yet, I talked myself out of it...which wasn't an easy thing to do! I took this pic with my cell phone to show Curtis. I don't know why because I WASN'T buying it. Right? Oh, and I didn't go back to Cranberry the next week to look at her again. No. I didn't. I'll deny if you say you saw me there! After all. I did have this one that I bought at Salvation Army about 8 years ago for $20. It's not what I had envisioned for a china cabinet. I actually bought it for Allison's room to hold books, coloring books, crayons and such. It was in her room for a little while without the glass doors. I was just about to paint it, when I bought her a bedroom suit. Now it didn't fit in her room so I moved it to our eat-in kitchen. I put some of my dishes in there but I NEVER liked it in there. I finally settled on making it over using beadboard wallpaper that I saw on Rhoda from Southern Hospitality's blog. I was hoping it would make it not so 60's/70's style.

About 3 1/2 weeks later, Curtis, Allison and I had dinner at the Olive Garden in Cranberry. He wanted to stop at Radio Shack and I said "Only if I can stop at Goodwill." He agreed. Well! I as soon as I walked in the door, I saw HER! She was STILL there after 3 1/2 weeks! I couldn't believe it! That's amazing for Goodwill. Usually pieces like that only last a day or so. I walked back and rubbed my hand across her. My heart was happy like I saw an old friend. I went to the van to get Curtis. He had to meet her! He wasn't as excited as I was but he supports my whims so you've got to love him! I really wanted him to see if he could fix her. Yes. She wobbled or rocked back and forth like she lost a bit of her foot or something. Thankfully, he said he could nurse her back to health, told me to use her wobble as a bargaining tool and then announced he was going back to the van.

So. I walked up to the counter and asked if they ever discounted items that have been here for a while. The young man said he would send a manger to me. The manager met me at "her" and said "Ya, it's been here a while and we were just getting ready to get rid of her so I could come down on it if you want it." I pointed out her wobble and the manager said it wasn't there when they put her out so maybe the floor was uneven or something had rolled under her. I then asked what she would want for it...secretly hoping for $75. She said "How about $40?" I think I choked on my own saliva but managed to get out a "SOLD!"

Can you believe it? She was coming home with me! She was truly meant to be mine!

Curtis and his brother picked her up for me one night after work. She had some scratches on her that quickly disappeared with Liquid Gold. Curtis couldn't believe how beautiful she was after a little TLC. Oh, and guess what? She DOES NOT wobble or rock! Bonus for me!

Isn't she pretty? I had planned on painting her either heirloom white or black in the spring but I think I may change my mind. My concern with heirloom white is that my Pfaltzgraff that is cream might look dirty against the white but it will show off my pink and green depression glass beautifully. Painting it black will showcase my Pfaltzgraff but won't do anything for my depression glass. So I might leave her the way she is...she even matches my dinette set. What do you think? Heirloom white, black or as is? By the way, please ignore the orb on the picture below...why do those happen anyway?

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I stayed up until 3 in the morning polishing her, cleaning her glass, washing all my dishes and glasses and playing with how to arrange her. It's like Cindy at My Romantic Home says "because you are never too old to play house." Click on her link and you'll see her beautiful china cabinet makeover.

I've always admired my Mom's china cabinet with all of her pretty dishes in it. I'm so excited to have one of my own! A couple notes on some of the items I have in there. The white rooster soup tureen was made by my Aunt Carole. It was hers and you can read more about how I acquired it and what it means to me here. The other rooster figurine was my Grandmother's (my Mom's Mom) and was handed down to me. Being sentimental, they mean the world to me and I'll cherish them forever. I hope Allison will cherish them and pass them down too.

Here's her bottom...she has so much storage that I desperately needed!

The semi-side view. She has a light too but it didn't photograph well.

One more photo and I'll end this lengthy post! After the above pics were taken, I felt I needed something in the pink depression glass bowl on the bottom shelf. I thought about little pumpkins for fall, ornaments for Christmas, eggs for Easter but then what do I do in between holidays? Well. I filled it with my Grandmother's cookie cutters! Perfect!

Have Fun!

Pin It