Thursday, July 18, 2013

Estate Sale Adventures and Haiku My Heart

Several years ago, Carol Channing re-met and then married a long time ago friend, Harry Kulligian.  He was 83 and she was 82 when they married.  He lived in Modesto, CA and she picked up her life and came here too.  I was privileged to meet her on a couple of occasions when she performed at the university when I was still working.  


Last year at the age of 91, Harry passed on and Carol now lives in Palm Springs, CA.  

Two hearts, friends entwine
Golden years gladness embrace
Time moves softly on

A year later I got an email from a friend telling me that there would be an estate sale at the Kulligian/Channing home.  Did I want to go?  Well, duh!  Which brings me to this morning and of course, the absence of either of my cameras.  All the pictures below are from my cell phone and edited for clarity.  Thank God for cameras in cell phones.

This delightful tile collage was on one of the kitchen walls.  The wallpaper surrounding it was really sad so I took pity on you viewers and cropped the tiles panel to show just the picture.



The most remarkable collection of lamps was scattered throughout the house.  Asian lanterns, crystal chandeliers, beaded lamps,Victoria glass and much more were represented.  This chandelier was one of  a pair and had a bird set at its center.




A wise old man tucked away in a nook in a great piece of wood furniture.  Can you see me in the mirror?




Beads, fragile glass beads everywhere and a little ooh-la-la romancing beneath its delicate light.




One of the many Victorian hanging lamps that we found throughout the house.




The backyard rose garden came complete with its own carousel horse.




A gazebo and pool must have been the scene of many happy gatherings.



And what little treasures did I find?  A pretty pheasant from Mexico, a covered soap dish with numbers on the bottom but no other clue as to its origin, a small pottery urn from Japan that probably knew life at one time as a sugar bowl or salt bowl (with a top, of course).  I added a dainty pink rose to my porcelain rose collection, and last but not least, yet another tiny porcelain cup in my favorite brown transfer ware design.


Visiting their home was like traveling back in time.  Thank you, Carol, for the glimpse into the past you shared with us today.

17 comments:

Unknown said...

What a treasure of fun things...and what a treat to visit. The lamps remind me of the current Nick Cave exhibit at the Denver Art Museum!! I'm surprised he wasn't there to buy it all up!
x...x

Ginny Hartzler said...

So the estate sale was actually at the house, awesome! My whole family has loved Carol Channing. We always laughed about the time she once went to a play and sneaked a pork chop inside her purse! So the last picture is what you bought...fabulous! How many were there and could you just walk around the house and gardens? I DO see you in the mirror, you are wearing glasses!!!

Reading Pleasure said...

A beautiful treasure indeed. And a fine haiku

turquoise cro said...

LOVE the lil tureen or sugar bowl?!! Wish I could have went with YOU!!

Jeanie said...

I remember seeing her in Dolly when I was in 7th grade in Detroit and later in Lorelei -- always liked her a lot! What a treat to have your own treasures from her beautiful collection!

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

What fun!

Kim Mailhot said...

What fun and meaningful treasures here !
Happy Friday !

gma said...

Looks like fun! I love estate sales.

J C said...

Thank you for sharing this home's treasures with us. I like your treasures also. Don't you just love estate sales? It's like being part of the life of someone you don't know, but now you do.

DHLOL said...

Annie found me a really cool hard cover book, of sixty pages, concerning Southern culture in the mid 1800s. It was written before or in 1920 and published in book form ten years later. Really neat.

Lea said...

I loved this Annie, the love story and these treasure finds. They are so sweet and will hold so much more meaning for you. Thank you for bringing us along on your adventure!

rebecca said...

you are so kind to bring us along on your treasure hunt!

Anonymous said...

How interesting! That would have been fun!

Anonymous said...

Annie I've done a post on estate sales here with a link to you. I enjoyed your story so much!

Marie said...

I love the rose garden! Hubby and I were married in a rose garden in Cypress Grove Park here in Orlando.:)
I love estate sales! Don't have anyone around that really enjoys them other than hubby and his schedule isn't as flexible as mine. Such unique items you saw there. And what a sweet story of the two love birds. :)
Happy Sunday to you...
Marie

Nonnie said...

I love the story about Carol and her husband meeting again in their golden years, so sweet. The story makes your purchases poignant. I love seeing the personal side of people thru these kind of sales. I hope she fared well.

Joyful said...

I love Carol Channing but haven't heard anything about her for so many years. It was nice to get this glimpse into her life through your blog.