December 21st, 2009
Ok, this is just getting crazy now. As I mentioned in a previous post, I’m helping a friend of mine deal with his late aunt’s estate. I’ve been friends with the family most of my life. During this process, he has offered me a couple of the items in her collection. Perhaps as a thank you for the help, or just because he knows I like this sort of stuff. Regardless, I’ve acquired a couple of absolutely stunning antiques.
The latest is this:
From what I can tell it’s the real deal. I’m no expert, but there are pictures from the late 1800’s with this item on the wall in the background. I can see the impression from the plate, and after studying it for some time it’s pretty clear (at least to me) that it’s an authentic, 150 year-old engraving print.
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December 14th, 2009
For the past two weekends I’ve been helping a friend deal with his aunt’s estate. While cleaning out some items, he gave me what appears to be an original 1857 print titled “The Return (First Class)”. I’m not an antique specialist by any means, but I have a decent interest in this sort of thing, and have definitely seen my share of Antiques Roadshow.
I know a lot of these are reproductions, but I took a closer look when I got it home (out of the frame) and the image is actually pressed onto the paper. There are no “print dots” or signs of mass-production. In fact, you can clearly see the impression marks around the border from what I assume was the engraving plate.
I’ve done a little research, and learned the image was originally part of a set. The other (I don’t have) was titled “The Departure”, and my friend thinks he saw that in the estate as well. He’s looking for it for me.
The paper is great condition, and only has minor discoloration. I can’t believe how good condition actually, considering the “assumed” age. On the back of the frame, there are some papers glued to the wood. One is a letter to the directors of the “Branbury and Chatham Railroad”, dated 1875, requesting some sort of railway extension or something. It’s pretty cool.
I have no reason to think it’s a fake, it came out of an incredible collection of items from 1700 – 1900. I’m wondering if anyone has any information on this sweet Victorian-era antique? I’d love to learn more.
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August 16th, 2009
I took last Friday off with the intent of going camping in Pawtuckaway. Well, let’s just say it didn’t go quite as I planned.
I woke up early (normal work morning ritual), did some things around the house, and then called Pawtuckaway to see if they had any spots available. This very friendly girl said she had three spots left, but they are “first come, first serve,” so I better get there fast if I wanted one.
I thought sure, I can be there in just under an hour including the time it takes to pack my jeep. It was still early on Friday. I’ll beat the weekend crowd for sure – no problem.
I went outside, loaded up all my gear (tents, chairs, stuff, bags, beer, etc.) and headed to the park to get my spot. After about 30 minutes of driving back roads into New Hampshire, I pulled into the main parking lot at Pawtuckaway State Park. I parked my Jeep, walked inside the main building, and just as I stepped up to the counter – the girl put out the “campground is full” sign…
I said “awe, c’mon!”, and walked back out to my truck – defeated. I had missed my chance, but was not going to take it lying down. I was already in NH, had a Jeep packed with gear, and my Viking instinct was craving fire burgers and beer. There had to be somewhere else I could go.
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Tags: Bear Brook State Park, Camping, New Hampshire, Pawtuckaway State Park
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August 12th, 2009
Missed band practice last night. At like five o’clock I got dumped on with work that needed to be done. I couldn’t really bail on work, so I bailed on practice at the last moment. Yeah, I’m dick… I get it. Oh well, I was pretty much cranky anyways and didn’t feel like driving 50 minutes to practice for an hour, then drive 50 minutes home. No thanks…
I put in for a day off today! This may not sound like a very big deal, but I’ve used almost no time off this year. I’ve been saving my hours for when the baby comes. But, seeing I have a ton of time saved up, and could really use a day off before the baby comes (and takes up all my time), I’ve decided to take Friday off and go camping for a couple nights. I’m pumped.
I’ll probably go by myself for the first night (Friday), and Dan and JG will said they may come down on Sat. for a bit to have some beers and play some guitar. Danielle would come, but she’s like mega-ultra pregnant right now and would probably rather chill on the couch. I can’t blame her.
I love to camp. I do it as often as I can. I also don’t think you need to drive way the hell up north to get a decent camp site. I usually go to Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham NH. There are decent spots, great hiking, and if you get a lakeside spot – very nice kayaking right from the campsite. I suspect I’ll get there at about 3pm, set up, and be settled in with a fire and a pint in hand by 4. Pawtuckaway is like 30 mins. from me, so it’s really a piece of cake.
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Tags: Camping, Pawtuckaway State Park
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August 11th, 2009
What’s up today? Well, it started with some mega-thunderstorms that rolled through and dropped a beat-down on Portsmouth. Now it’s just hot and muggy.
I got a completely kick-ass neon Guinness sign for my house yesterday. Two of my office mates went over to help clean out the old building and claimed it for me. So, huge props to Mel and Bryan – I’m extremely pumped. It needs a new bulb, but who cares. To a big Guinness fan like myself, this thing is completely kick ass!
I saw the President today! He traveled to Portsmouth to do some sort of meeting at a local high school and landed at the Pease international Trade Port. I work on the trade port, and went down the road to see if I could catch a look at the motorcade as it went by. Well, not two minutes after parking and walking over to the side of the road it came by. How cool is that!? I saw the big Presidential limo and the big motorcade of SUVs and police cruisers drive by. It was sort of surreal. Not ten feet from me was the President of the United States. I felt, and still feel all patriotic.
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Tags: Guinness, Portsmouth
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August 10th, 2009
I’m not bubbling with excitement to be back in the office today. I feel like the past five weekends have been so busy that I never really had much time to chill. So, being monday (again), I’m feeling a little bit like I’m done with this week already.
Well, what can one do to improve one’s attitude at work? That’s simple… make ice cream sandwiches! I just ran out and grabbed a gallon of Cookie Dough ice cream and bag of chocolate Chip Cookies and announced it was “make your own ice cream sandwich day”. There was a veritable stampede. Good stuff.
Now, two sandwiches and a bowl of ice cream later, I feel like it may actually turn out to be “get sick in the bathroom after a major sugar rush” day. Yikes. I can feel my heart pounding and I feel like cornholio from Beavis and Butthead. I could push the limit and get a NOS energy drink from the vending machine, but I’m not certain I’d survive.
Speaking of NOS, we (Jamie G and I) made what could arguably be the worlds first Office NOS can wind chime. The design is a little cheesy, and is basically an empty NOS can taped to a desk, but it’s a wind chime to us. Now all we need is a little breeze in here to make it chime (bang against the desk).
What the hell is wrong with us?
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