While looking through my Sherwin Williams paint swatches I came across the perfect vintage color called, Refresh, and knew I would be getting a gallon of it. It’s funny how after seeing the color it brought back childhood memories. My brother and I grew up on a gravel road in the same town I currently live in and there was an old couple that lived in the farm across the street, and when I say old I mean to me and my brother they were ancient (in their late 70’s). The couple had come from the hills of Kentucky by wagon years before we had built our family home and they never had children. They took quite a liking to me and my brother and we spent many evenings chatting under the Catalpa tree listening to the Detroit Tigers on the radio.
My brother was about 4 and I was 8, my brother would walk over every morning and help the old man do the milking in the barn and when that was done he would belly up to the table for a breakfast fit for a king. Me and my mom have talked over the years and often wondered why she would let a 4 year old cross the road on his own, but those were different times back then and everyone lived differently than today.
Now back to the paint color: the memories that stirred reminded me of riding in the old man’s truck, and it was painted the most beautiful color. Mind you the inside wasn’t as pretty. He had a old beagle dog that went everywhere with him and the inside windows were covered in nose prints from the dog, and a coffee can filled with spit from tobacco sat on the floor (and yes it would tip over from time to time). Beside the man would be the dog, my brother standing up in the seat and me sitting by the window. I don’t remember ever having the windows up, we would ride with the wind blowing our hair around and the dogs ears would be flapping in the wind. The only thing I ever saw the man wear was blue and white pin striped bib overalls with a long sleeve flannel shirt.
When we weren’t riding in the truck I would be seated on one fender and my brother on the other of his tractor in the same beautiful shade of turquoise paint. Ah the good ole day, we seldom watched tv, we ate home cooked meals, fished in the stream, and spent time with quality people. It makes me sad to think of how the world is now. Oh the stories I have to tell about growing up across from that farm, but that will have to be another day. I wanted to show you what I painted with my new favorite paint color.
The chair that sits beside my bed, it used to be where the cat slept when she was alive, and I thought it was in need of some freshening up. I looked through my fabric stash and found a yard of the cabbage rose and thought it would be perfect for the bedroom. Lucky hubby doesn’t care about the decorating so roses in the bedroom are fine with him, actually he’ll probably never notice the change.
Do certain things trigger childhood memories for you? I know even certain smells bring back memories for me sometimes.
Oh I just love that color! So vintage! What a wonderful man to include your brother every morning! I am sure you both were a joy to him! I wish life was like that now. I often feel like I was born in the wrong time period! How lucky for you and your brother to have had such a wonderful childhood. So many memories to cherish.
Earlier this week I emailed you, did you receive it? I had some troubles sending it, so it may not have gone through! Enjoy the coming weekend! It’s going to be beautiful!
Jennifer, I did get your email and responded. Did you not get it? We did have a wonderful childhood and I also think I was born in the wrong time frame. Im not sure why life is so out of control these days, but I certainly don’t like it.
Gosh no Dawn , I sure dindn’t. I just checked the spam folder too, not there!
Jennifer, I will look for it again when I get home and resend, Im on vacation right now 🙂
Your childhood sounds similar to mine. Wasn’t it a grand time to grow up!
I love the color. My husband loves it when I use flowery or girlie stuff to decorate with. He not only notices but says it reminds him of me as soon as he walks in the door and that makes him happy.
Yes, I agree, he is a keeper. 🙂
It is a good think he likes it as I am planning some redecorating this winter when I can’t be outside in the garden. Right now getting the outside in order and getting organized to give painting lessons is consuming my time. In the meantime I am trying to gather materials and brainstorm ideas so when it is cold and snowy I have everything I need to get to work.
Pam, I bet you are crazy busy with your lessons, but in a good way right? Yep, loved my childhood, and am actually on vacation right now with my brother and all my cousins. It’s great to have us all together again, just like when we were younger.
Isn’t it wonderful to have such precious memories of growing up? I love the aqua colored truck and tractor. Your chair look darling and you will have good thoughts everytime you look at it.
Jdy
Judy, you are right that chair will always remind me of great childhood memories.
I love the color you have shown, it’s gorgeous ! I also love your story, it’s about how I grew up too. I want a chair just like yours! :). Hugs,
Sandi I actually purchased that chair for $1 at a garage sale over 20 years ago. It’s held up wonderfully and has gone through many color and fabric changes over the years.
I love that shade of blue/green.
Jann of Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson shared old kitchen utensils this morning and wonderful childhood memories came flooding back.
Aw Carol isn’t it wonderful when that happens. Im vacationing with all my cousins right now and we’re having a grand time talking about the good ole’ days. I’ve been laughing till I cried this week.
Love the paint color and your wonderful recollection of your neighbors. I think coming back from my mom’s house last weekend provokes a lot of memories. Going through family albums and driving by the house we lived in during our childhood. I remembered your pretty kitty. A beautiful, heartfelt post Dawn. Kathleen in Az
Kathleen, Im on vaca this week with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents and we’ve been going through albums and talking about the good ole days. What fun we’re having.
I too remember people from my childhood. I am seventy-five now and lived in a farming village east of Toronto, Canada. I was known as the little Irish girl. People would have us over on Friday nights to make puzzles and drink tea. We also had friends we called aunt and uncle. They were my parents lifelong friends. These days it is not the same. Sorry for our youngsters. As
adults we are even afraid to make friends! However, I did have a 14 year old girl and her Dad here last week. I was helping her with knitting and gave her some yarn. Nice family!! Hope I hear from her again.
Lorraine
Lorraine how fun to be helping with knitting, things like that just don’t happen much anymore. Good for you to take the time with a child, she now will have a great memory to share someday.
It sounds like you and you brother had a grand time growing up…those were the days my friend..be thankful that those old folks were your friends I’m sure they taught you many good lessons…
Nancy 0h you are right we did learn many valuable lessons. I so wish times were like that still. It makes me sad to see how kids have to grow up these days.
Dawn
What a great childhood memory! You were blessed to have grown up
in the country. I did too and I’m so thankful.
I’d love to have that turquoise truck.
Your chair turned out so nice too.
Kim I want that truck too. I want to drive it with the windows down, my hair blowing in the breeze, and the dust kicking up behind me. The country life for me 🙂
What beautiful memories you have of your childhood, Dawn. It sounds idyllic.
I love that color paint and it looks perfect on your bedside chair.
Susan thank you it is a terrific color right? I love it when I find a way to make a newer piece look vintage.
Glad you have such wonderful memories of your childhood. Love this vintage color on your bedside chair. Very pretty.
Kris
Thank you Kris, Im in lust with the new color and yes my childhood was wonderful.
Dawn, what a beautiful color and your chair looks wonderful! My dad drove a Ford truck just like your neighbor’s, but ours was a tan color. My brother still has it and drives it, but it would look much better painted that turquoise color! I, too, grew up in the country and felt like I was returning to my roots when we moved to our current home.
Jane how wonderful that your brother still has the truck, I think that’s so special and I would love to own an old one like that.
We have just bought a house in the country and will be doing a lot of fixer uppers and I have been trying to decide if that color would work in my kitchen? I’m a yellow kitchen kinda girl but taught i would change it and use a bright kitchen and the living room for the golden color to match the teal color, the rooms are connected with open space and wood for the ceiling in the living room. Thanks so much for your time and opinion on this.