California House Tour #2: The Edde Residence: Rustic Charm meets Classic Refinement

This house belongs to my Grandma Edith and Papa Herb, otherwise known as the Eddes. My Grandmother Edith is from Tucumcari New Mexico. Her father came to New Mexico to Homestead in 1910. He was a Cowboy, the real deal. She moved to California when she married my Grandfather after World War II. My Grandfather was a Mechanical Engineer and he had his own business creating machinery for the Food Industry. He collected boxes from all of the companies he did work for and my Grandma made them into wall hangings for the backyard. Here they still hang as proud and decorative testament to his long hard work in the Food and Produce Industry.

This is the backyard of the house where we have had countless family events. Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter Egg Hunts, Weddings and Funerals have all been held right here in the backyard.

There are many different types of citrus trees of which we have enjoyed over the years. They are a tribute of sorts to my Grandfather's upbringing in Southern California as the only son of Orange Farmers.

 

To me my Grandma Edith's home represents a balance of Western rustic charm and classic refinement. Above you can see a direct example of this. Native American Art displayed above all of the silver plated serve ware she used to entertain clients of my Grandfather's when they came to visit on business. How charmed those clients must have been with my Grandmother, one of the most effortlessly charming and poised hostesses I have ever observed.

When I come and visit my Grandma Edith we always do two things: We start a sewing/craft project and go Antique shopping. Edith is one of those unique individuals who can make almost anything with a needle and thread. She spent many of her formative years out on her family's ranch in New Mexico being taught to sew and quilt by her Grandmother,Cora Belle. Cora Belle was a real Southern Belle. She was tough but refined, just like my Grandmother grew up to be. Cora Belle's favorite saying when she had to discipline my Grandmother was "Don't be ugly Edith", it's a Southern way to say "be polite". I am sure you won't be too surprised that my Grandmother has said this same phrase to me from time to time.

The photo above was taken in the living room. Here you can see a fine example of "Vaseline Glass" candlesticks. These candle sticks were a wedding gift to my Great-Grandparents. My Grandma Edith brought them out of storage for me too look at. Although they were not her first choice because of their unique color, she kept them because they were special to her parents. At one time these candlesticks were some of the finest things they owned, she tells me. At night they glow in the dark because of the high mercury content in the glass, they did not know that using chemicals like this in home accessories was not the best idea.

In the background you see one of my Grandma's latest projects, the refinished and reupholstered 1890's rocking chair. She rescued it from an Antique shop in town that was going out of business. This Christmas we all rocked my cousin's newborn daughter in this chair; a once forgotten treasure has a new life and purpose.

And last but certainly not least a photo from the kitchen window. Edith holds up an unexpected flower from a potted cactus. To me this photo says alot about what my Grandmother's greatest gift is. With her careful hands she has made such beauty from what other might think to be nothing at all. To me Grandma's hands are the most powerful hands in the world.