A December to Remember: The Season for Giveaways

'Tis the season when all is merry and bright, and gift-giving is in the air. In that spirit, I will have 2 giveaways (at least) each week in December.There may be more, who knows? I want to thank all my loyal followers and welcome new ones too, and this is the perfect time of year to do so.

To enter, simply become a follower, comment on posts, and if you have a blog add a link back to me. Your name will be entered each time you comment. How easy can it be? I will notify winners in a post, and winners will need to email their snail mail address to me. Don't worry, I don't keep, re-use or share your information! It's a one-time use only for the purpose of the giveaway.

Tell all your friends and let's make this a "December to Remember."

Starts December 1st!

If you'd like to join the fun on your blog, add your link on this page.  Write a post announcing your participation and add a link back to my blog. You may have as many or as few giveaways as you like--that's up to you. Add your link to this post so people will know you are participating, and then have a  "December to Remember" on your blog.  I will add the linky each time I post a giveaway so you can comment and add your giveaway links.

Ready to celebrate with me? Join here!

Kitchen Stuff

A couple weeks back my kitchen faucet began to leak around the place where it swivels. Not a big deal, really, or so I thought. Just replace the washer, right? Only this was a washerless faucet. It looked like a new faucet was in the offing.


Then Larry remembered that when our oldest son remodeled his kitchen, he took out his white enamel sink and faucet to install the new one that would match all the brushed steel they were adding with new appliances. (You ought to see that kitchen--they had a designer to plan it. It's beautiful.) Where was that white sink? Why, up in our cellar top. As it has been for lo these past, ummm, 9 years? Hard to believe it's been that long! We brought it home with us because we figured we'd need a new sink sometime, and here was a perfectly good one...the junker's mind is a dangerous place.

So while I was away last week, Larry put in the new sink. Now we only needed a faucet, but he figured he might as well change the whole thing. The sink is pretty cool--it's VERY deep and wonder of wonders, the sprayer works! It doesn't take much to get me excited, does it? My sprayer has never worked since we put it in back in 1997. Or maybe it was further back than that. The memory gets hazy.

But guess what? The "new" faucet leaks in the same place! This one, however, has a washer so it should be an easy fix.

The other change is even smaller. You know I love my Tappan Deluxe stove, the one that's as old as I am. One of the things I love is the lights on the back. They make such a pretty glow in the kitchen. One burned out a while ago so I found a replacement and after much finagling in a very tight spot, I got it in. But it didn't work. Disappointment ensued. I figured we needed to have a look at the wiring or maybe replace the light socket. But then I turned on the oven, et voila! A new light, one I didn't know was there, came on!

What I had done was replace a different burned out bulb. Now the other two lights are both out, but I've got this cool OVEN ON light. As soon as I can remember them when I'm in town I'll buy more replacement bulbs and do some more finagling to see if I can replace them. This time, though, I'll unplug the stove because last time I stuck my finger in some place I apparently should not have and got a little tingle. Larry thought it was right funny. I did not.

Speaking of my stove, this is how a 25-pound turkey fits in the oven:

It's a close fit, but the turkey cooked beautifully. That's the one I canned today. Did you know a 25-pound bird will fit into 6 quart jars? When all the bones and skin and etc are gone, the meat can be packed into a pretty small amount of space. I like having canned meat in the cellar for fast meals or unexpected company. I'm canning venison this evening.

Enough rambling for this evening!

Rosemary Oil

I mentioned yesterday that I planned to make rosemary oil to give some people on my holiday gift list. I thought some of you might be interested in how to make it. Believe me, there is nothing simpler.

First, find some bottles with good lids or that can be corked. I found that the best bottles and most readily available are those little four-packs of wine that can be found in most stores that sell wine. And just think, you have to drink the wine first! The sacrifices we make. Well, I suppose you could use it in cooking, or to make wine vinegar or sangria. The little bottles have screw-on goldtone lids and the labels come off easily so they are super easy to re-use. Whatever bottles you use be sure to wash them thoroughly and sterilize. I suppose if you wash them in a dishwasher they would be sterilized enough, but use your own judgement on that. Then let them dry completely. This is important, otherwise you'll have drops of water floating around in your oil, not pretty.

Pick your rosemary on a dry sunny day, or buy fresh rosemary. Wash it and pat it dry. Then allow it to air dry until you are sure all trace of moisture is gone--for the same reason as drying the bottles.It's a good idea to leave it out to dry overnight in a dry spot out of direct light. If there is too much moisture in the rosemary, the oil could be cloudy and may spoil. I've never had that happen, but from what I have read, it's possible.

When bottles and herbs are dry, put sprigs of rosemary into the bottles. I usually use sprigs that go up to within an inch of the top of the bottle, and I put two of these in each bottle. Then use a funnel to add olive oil until the bottle is filled to 1/2  inch or so from the top. I prefer the lighter flavored olive oil. Olive oil assures a beautiful, clear golden oil with a lovely sprig floating in the bottle.

Then cap the bottle. That's it! It will take a week or two for the flavor of the rosemary to infuse the oil. You can add pretty trim or ribbon or whatever you like to dress up the bottle. Some websites suggest pouring the oil off into a new bottle without the rosemary as it will supposedly keep better. I've never done that, and have never had a problem with my oil going bad. It's best to store the oil away from sunlight--which is a pity, really, because it looks so lovely in the light!

What can rosemary oil be used for? I love it for tossing the veggies for roasted vegetables; it's also a wonderful dipping oil, or use it to saute vegetables or meats (I love venison with rosemary). You might want to include a recipe or two with your gift. It's also great to use as a hot oil treatment for hair, or as a facial cleanser. Italian women have used olive oil for centuries on their skin. I often use it myself--it's a great make-up remover.

I should mention that your oil will not smell like rosemary when it's in the bottle. But when you use it in cooking--ahhhhh. The pine-y scent of rosemary will delight your nose then.

Back to the kitchen. The canner of turkey meat is ready to take off the stove.

Thanksgiving Blessings

Yesterday morning dawned foggy, drippy and cold. But still, it was beautiful. Or maybe because it was still, it was beautiful.

Inside, though, things weren't still at all. Pies were made, the turkey got roasted, and the hot water pipe broke.

Talk about excitement! I've never witnessed a broken hot water pipe before, but it's a steamy affair, I can tell you. We scrambled around trying to get the water off. The new valves on the new hot water heater didn't work--that would have been too easy, after all. So Larry shut off the main water valve, meaning we had no water in the house at all. That was okay, though--the cooking was almost done any way. He made a quick trip to Wal-Mart for glue and the turkey was just done when he got back. While I made gravy and got the table set, he fixed the break. We let the glue set while we ate, and we toasted Larry's successful repair.

I did not make mashed potatoes this year. Instead, I used Jessica's recipe for roasted vegetables. I tried it a few weeks ago and loved it; I thought it was a great change from the norm, and it lowered our carbs for the day too. I mixed cauliflower, turnips, potatoes, carrots, celery and onion, tossed the cut up veggies with rosemary oil, herbs and some seasoned salt, spread on a cookie sheet and roasted them in the oven. Delicious, especially with gravy.

 It was good to spend some quiet time with Tommy, too. He's in college so we don't see him as often as we like. (He's our bodybuilder son--but maybe you could already see that)

Me and my baby!

Today we finished dressing out the turkeys. We did 5 on Wednesday, and had 5 more to do. The turkeys did not do as well this year. We started with 20 but lost eight as chicks before realizing that hay was not a good choice for bedding. Two more died later on for reasons we have yet to learn. I think they must be like sheep. My son's friend used to have sheep and he said they often died of the mysterious disease called DSS. I think turkeys get DTS. There was no other explanation. Still 10 birds will keep us quite well for the coming year.

For the rest of this day: 

1. Start putting away my summer clothes. Late! But you know, it has been so warm I haven't felt any rush to get this chore done. Today it's been warm enough to have the door open. We may find snow coming on the heels of this warmth, but I like having roses peeking in my kitchen window on Thanksgiving.

2. Make some more rosemary oil for gifts. No shopping for me today; Black Friday has managed without me for years. This year all our gifts to family will be something we have made or grown. I've asked them to do the same. We have plenty of stuff, and so do they; we'll see how this goes. I worry a little about the grandkids who might be disappointed but as we continue to adjust to retirement income (or lack thereof!) there are some changes that just need to be made. And this is one I think will be a keeper. I just hope the grandkids understand and appreciate the reasons for the change.

If you shopped today, I hope you found bargains and had a great time. If you don't want to go out, check my eBay sales page. Maybe you'll see the perfect gift there :)

What Can You Buy for a Dollar or Less?

 Linking today to Colorado Lady's Vintage Thursday, and to Her Library Adventures Thrifty Friday. 

A handmade reversible apron,

An ashtray made by Blenko Glass Company in the 60's,

a Thanksgiving table angel (she's on a plate made by our friend Anastasia),

A cute and chubby frosted blue vase,

fancy silverplate (I think) teapot,

neat retro chenille bedspread--what will I do with this? No idea...yet. Suggestions?

I also found this lovely silk-like shower curtain,

cute cuddling snowmen salt and peppers,

vintage Christmas ornaments, and

pretty glass cups with gold trim and flowers in the bottom.

These are my finds this week. Most were 25 cents! I can't wait to see what everyone else has been doing.

Thanksgiving

Giving thanks this day for the plenty in my life: plenty of family, friends, food and fun.

So once in every year we throng
Upon a day apart,
To praise the Lord with feast and song
In thankfulness of heart.
 
Arthur Guiterman, The First Thanksgiving





Here are a few pumpkin recipes. Just in case you need inspiration!

PUMPKIN NUT COOKIES
1/2 cup butter 1 tsp salt
1 cup sugar 2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs, beaten 1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 cup pumpkin 1/4 tsp ginger
2 cups flour 1 cup raisins
4 tsp baking powder 1 cup nuts

Cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and pumpkin and mix well. Add flour, baking powder, salt and spices. Stir in raisins and nuts. Drop onto greased cookie sheets and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. 4 dozen.


PUMPKIN CAKE

2 cups sugar
1 cup salad oil
4 eggs
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
2 cups mashed, cooked pumpkin or 16 oz canned pumpkin
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Combine sugar, salad oil, and eggs in a large bowl. Mix well.
Combine dry ingredients; add to oil mixture, beating well. Stir in pumpkin. Pour batter into 2 greased and floured 9' cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Turn out onto racks to cool. Frost with cream cheese icing.

PUMPKIN PIE
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin (homemade or store-bought)
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
1 2/3 cup evaporated milk (13 fl. Oz.)
1 9" unbaked pie shell (if using frozen pie shells, this recipe makes 2 pies. Bake as pie shell package directs)

Mix filling ingredients in the order given. Pour into pie shell. Bake in a preheated 425-degree oven for 15 minutes; reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue baking for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center of the pie comes out clean. Cool. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.

SUSANNA'S PUMPKIN NUT BREAD
2 eggs
1/4 cup softened butter
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 /14 cups self-rising flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 cup chopped pecans

Beat eggs with softened butter. Add pumpkin, sugar, and milk. Add next three ingredients and mix well. Add nuts.
Spread in well-greased loaf pan (9x5x3in). Bake in 350 degree oven for 45-55 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Bread may be frozen for later use.

Cassidy: Her Latest Song

My granddaughter Cassidy has been working on recording an album and it's just about ready for release. Every now and then she puts a song online so we can follow her progress. I thought you all might be interested in hearing her most recent release. If you like it, you can join her fan page on Facebook and get any new songs she posts.

Blindsided by Cassidy Ford and Todd Wright

I might just be a proud granny, but I sure didn't sound like this when I was 16---or at any other age for that matter. She plans a career in music and I love watching her follow her dream. Her dad, Jon, would have been bursting with pride too. Cassidy writes songs, plays guitar, and sings. She's been working with Todd Wright, a musician and producer who lives in her area and has quite a career in music.

Cassidy has a Facebook Fanpage too. Check it out!
CassidyFordMusic

This Doesn't Look Good

It has rained since Sunday evening. Now the creeks are looking like this:

This is not good. Chances for rain the rest of today are 100%.

It has been a long time since we've had a real flood in Jackson County. I remember floods in past years that devastated homes, businesses and communities. Seven watershed lakes were built to hold back water that caused these floods and they've done a good job. The only downside is that communities behind the dams now see higher water than in the past because the creeks back up as they enter the lakes created by the dams. Still, it's rare now for anyone's home to be flooded, so a little inconvenience is worth it.

But this rain? If it doesn't let up soon, we're in for trouble, I think.

Home looked good after being soaked as I got in and out of the car in town. I don't mind being wet; I just hope the water doesn't ruin anyone's holiday this week.

I wonder, how is the weather folklore holding up to this deluge?

Around here, I have always heard that rain before 7am ends by 11am. That didn't hold true today, but it seems to be true most of the time.

Also, if it's foggy in the morning it's not supposed to rain that day. Not true today.

Frost in the morning? No rain that day. That one was true because it's unusually warm for this time of year, with a high of 65 degrees expected today.

Red sunrise portends rain but the sun was almost invisible as it came up today.

A cat scratching behind its ears means rain on the way too--Charlie is always scratching her ears, though (and always needs dosing for ear mites) so if we went by her activities it would rain daily.

Do you know any other rain lore? Does it vary from one part of the US, or one part of the world, to another?

Stay dry and warm, wherever you are.

Oh Dear, No Deer

Today was the first day of deer season, and this year the wild ones won. The hunters came back empty-handed tonight. No real surprise, since it was rainy, drizzly, foggy and generally miserable all day. Tomorrow, maybe their luck will change.

I admit that I am uneasy about hunting. We rely on venison as one of our staple meats, but the getting of deer is never something I get excited about. For that matter, I don't like hunting of any kind. This is one area that shows my foreign-ness to mountain culture, I guess. Hunting has been part of the culture here since before white faces every roamed these hills. A necessity for survival then, somewhere along the way hunting became a sport, and the quarry was the game. People no longer relied on wild meat for sustenance; they raised beef and pork. For many the taste for wild meat left their palate, and for some of those, the aim of hunting became not the getting of meat but winning--which in this sport means bringing down the quarry. For many others, the goal became to spend time in the woods, to observe nature, to learn the ways of wild things.

There is a culture around hunting today that is much like a holiday--there are special clothes to be worn, special supplies to be purchased. The colors for this holiday are camouflage and bright orange. The costumes are Carhartt and Timberline and Rocky and other brands I don't know. Paint is smeared on faces. Guns are taken from cabinets, cleaned and sighted for the big day. Stores face an onslaught of shoppers looking not for gifts but for ammunition, licenses, gloves, buck scent, sleeping bags and food.This holiday has its own food, of course--jerky, bread, bologna, beer, coffee, snack cakes, chili and more bread.

Much like Christmas, there is activity far into the night before the big day, and stealthy movements in the wee morning hours. No sleigh bells, though--the muffled roar of four-wheel-drive exhaust and four-wheelers echo from the still-dark hills as the hunters get into position. There are no bells at daybreak either--the tolling on opening day is the salvo of shots fired as the first bucks of the season are spotted and downed. Late in the day the revelers drag homeward, spent from their day's activity, full of stories of adventure, humor, and ones that got away.

Tomorrow the hunting gets more serious for my guys. Today was all about getting a buck. Tomorrow will be more focused on just filling the freezer. I will be glad of the meat even as I quell my uneasiness about how it is gained. I have lived in these mountains for almost 40 years now, and still this is one part of life here that I have yet to come to terms with. I doubt I ever will. But I will cook the meat and be thankful that we can still provide such healthy fare for ourselves; I will thank the hills and the deer who roam them for providing for us once again.

Tellabration!

The storytellers gathered. The audience rustled in their seats. The lights dimmed. The stories began.

There was laughter, there were tears, there was awe and thoughtful silence and hearty applause.

And now it's over for another year.

This year I was invited to participate in two Tellabration events, one just across the river in Ohio and one in southern West Virginia. (Storytellers are usually not paid for Tellabration events--the goal is to raise awareness of storytelling, to attract new listeners and if possible to raise money for local storytelling guilds.) I was happy to be part of this annual "international day of storytelling." The event continues to grow each year as more and more Tellabration sites are added.

Granddaughter Hannah was with me and she captured a few photos:

The end of the Ohio Tellabration as the storytellers gathered onstage to sing "We Wish you a Merry Christmas." We had a Christmas theme for our event because the county flower show was being held in the same space and we were surrounded by beautiful holiday flower arrangements. It was a nice combination.
From left: Athens Ohio storyteller Thomas Burnett, Marge Cornell of Columbus, OH, me, Donna Wilson of Middleport, OH (event organizer), Mike Welsh of Reedsville, OH, and Curtis Spencer (Donna's son) of Pomeroy, OH.

Tom Burnett told a great, traditional Jack tale. He has the perfect voice and outfit for the story!

Well, it was a serious story!

Marge, on the other hand, told a funny story about a family reunion. She started the evening on just the right note.

Curtis Spencer was telling for the first time, and I hope he continues. He did an outstanding job describing a grown man's addiction to Hot Wheels. Who would have guessed it is men and not little boys who crowd the racks when new ones come out?

Donna did double duty as MC and storyteller and did a great job at both. Her energy is enviable!

Mike Welsh is a retired Ohio State Trooper who says he's actually a poet, but bills himself as a storyteller because the word "poet" frightens off a lot of people. He's probably right. I would call him a performance poet. He writes original poetry and recites it in a storytelling form. He told me that he does most of his work for churches. He's a talented, mesmerizing performer. 

After the storytelling, several of us adjourned to the local bed and breakfast, The Downing House (where Mark Twain was once a guest) to celebrate with a glass of wine and Donna's homemade lemon bars--what a treat. Then it was back in the car and home again to see my oldest son and grandson who had arrived for their annual deer-hunting trip.

This morning I made a good country breakfast for our company--oldest son, grandson, and two granddaughters. We enjoyed a slow start to the day, then it was time for me and granddaughter Hannah to set off for Beckley, WV which is about 100 miles from my home. We got there early and had time to browse one of my favorite antique malls. I liked watching 13-year-old Hannah in the store--she certainly has a definite sense of her personal style. She drooled over a vintage chrome and yellow plastic dinette set from the 50's and bought a yellow and white creamer and sugar set with its own matching tray. She wants a black and yellow kitchen, she says, when she has her own place, and would love to have a Murphy bed. 

Then we headed over to the Tamarack Arts Center, West Virginia's premier arts showcase and site of the Tellabration, which is held every year in the facility's theater. 

Tellers today were Jason Burns of Morgantown, WV, me, Fred Powers of Bluefield, WV and Sue Atkinson of Beckley, WV. Jodie French-Burr was our organizer and MC and we didn't get her in the photo, unfortunately. She did a great job, including quotes about storytelling and encouraging the audience to tell stories of their own.

Hannah was fascinated by the large plastic rat Fred Powers uses as a prop for his tales of life in the coal mines. Today he told stories of two brothers who were miners; one fought for the Union and one for the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Fred tells the story of the battle of the Crater from the viewpoint of a miner-turned-soldier. Compelling, as Fred always is.

Sue entertained with tales of a cat funeral and "elder laments" as I call them, of some of the surprises of aging.

Ghost stories are Jason's specialty and he didn't disappoint, with two tales of strange places and events. His ghost tour of the WVU campus a month ago had 100 people in attendance. He knows his ghosts.

I became suddenly blonde in the theater's lighting! I've always wondered how it would feel to be blonde...

The stories ended, and we made our way homeward, filled with stories. Rain and fog made it a slow journey but I had three storytelling CDs to listen to and that made the trip easier. It felt good to finally see the lights of home. Tellabration was over, for another year.

First Open Mic, And Tellabration is Coming!

No photos to share, but it was a fun night at the local library for the first open mic. I've wanted to do this for a long time; finally I found dates that worked for the library and for me and we scheduled the first in a series that will last through April.

How did it go?

Well, we didn't have crowds beating down the door. Eleven people came to listen or share stories, poems and songs. It was a good beginning, and I'm hopeful that we can continue to grow participation as word gets around. The mix was a singer/guitarist, an established poet, a  memoir from a lady who is venturing a bit into storyteller, some recited humorous verse, a man who had never stood in front of an audience but was inspired to tell two short funny stories, and me. It's a start. We also had someone volunteer to bring and set up his own (much better than mine) sound system. And we had lots of chocolate :)

In this area, there are limited opportunities for musicians, poets, storytellers and writers to share their work or work on new material with an audience. I sometimes drive as far as 3 hours away to attend an open mic, not just to participate but also to hear an inspiring array of voices and work. I figure if I am so hungry for something like this, others might feel the same way. So here I am, hoping to prove it true.

We'll do it again December 16th. If you're close by, join us. If you're far away, join us in spirit.

Tonight at 7pm I'll be in Middleport, Ohio for the annual Tellabration event organized by my friend, storyteller Donna Wilson. Tellabration is an annual worldwide day of storytelling-all over the world, storytellers take to the stage, or invite guests to their homes, to share stories. It's a powerful feeling to be part of such a widespread event. I will participate in another Tellabration in Beckley, WV, at the Tamarack Arts Center in Beckley, WV on Sunday afternoon at 4pm. Stories abounding--I love it!

I hope to see some of you along the way this weekend. And of course I'll try to come back with stories to tell you about the storytelling.

Five Minute Friday: Grow

I found The Gypsy Mama's blog through Colorado Lady. Each Friday she write for 5 minutes--no edits, no thinking it out, no longer than 5 minutes. I'm going to give it a try today, so here is my 5 minutes on the topic she suggested:

Grow

It means more than a garden. It means more than height or weight or bank accounts. It's inside, in our minds. And it might be the most difficult kind of growing there is.

Each year I plant my gardens. I start hopefully with seeds in early spring, carefully pushing them into greenhouse pots, worrying over them until shoots appear. Then it's out to the garden: plant, weed, hoe, till and eventually, harvest.

New ideas need the same care. Plan first. Think it through, consider all the options, then move forward, planting the idea and letting to develop into action. Tiny steps first, then refining, weeding and developing into a project. In the end, perhaps there is a harvest, a reward for the work put into that first tiny seed of an idea.

The new log room is one of those ideas. We saw the old cabin many times and each time we passed it we would say, "Someone needs to tear it down while the logs are still useful." The more we said it, the more we realized that we would be the ones who would do it, if the owner would let us have the logs. We tried to contact him, to no avail. And then one day, miracle of miracles, he was home. Yes, he would let us have the logs if we cleaned up the mess.

We did. The logs are here now. The foundation is laid. Now we need more fertilizer (the green $$$ kind) to buy the floor joists and subfloor. But the idea is still growing. It's got roots now in the concrete that is embedded in our soil. A new room grows.

Stop.

The Oliveburg Store

Not far from Manchester and Ashland, Ohio is a general store in a little village called Olivesburg. Olivesburg is little more than a crossroads these days although at one time, according to Wikipedia, dynamite may have been produced there.

The store, founded around 1840 offers excellent ice cream, a room full of antiques and all kinds of kitchen gadgetry, but it was the baking section that got my attention. Never have I seen so many kinds of cake toppings in one place.

 My friend Donna was fascinated with something else:

Now that's a rolling pin!

I came home with a couple tubs of cake toppings to use at Christmas, and a couple bottles of local wine. Small stores like this one can be the backbone of a community, and make an interesting place to stop when traveling too.

I remember one such store not far from my first house, in a tiny community called Buckhall in Virginia. We stopped there for gas, milk, bread, chicken feed and just conversation with the store owners. I wonder if the store is still there; given the growth in that region it has probably long since disappeared or has morphed into a convenience store--and I bet there is no chicken feed for sale any more.

Thank goodness there are still places like Olivesburg, where ice cream, gasoline, milk, gifts, cheese, plumbing and baking supplies, and all sorts of other notions are still sold in an eclectic mix in a store with wood floors and shelving and smiling friendly clerks. 

Vintage Thursday

While in Mansfield Ohio the other day, I did a little shopping. Okay, I did a lot of shopping. Revise again: I did a LOT of shopping! not the usual mall, tourist stuff though--you know that's not my thing. My friends and I share a passion for the old, the quirky, the unwanted and the vintage. Since I've been selling on eBay my taste, and my searches, have broadened considerably.

This is good and bad. It means my brain is stuffed with a random assortment of odd facts about useless things. It means I buy all sorts of weird things and think I can sell them (I usually do). It means my home office is a total disaster, filled to overflowing with stuff I have not had time to get listed for sale yet. It means I dig into dark corners of doubtful shops seeking those odd things at low prices that I might be able to sell--or better (or worse, depending on your point of view), that I might want to keep.

I came home with literally boxes and bags full, enough to fill my friend's trunk and half of her back seat. I should feel ashamed and I would if it were not that my friend Donna knows me well and is willing to humor this strange passion I have.

Here are a few of the things I dragged home (but only a very few, trust me--there's lots more. I need a store!):

This is a gilt-edged lipstick tray. See the holders for the lipstick tubes? I had never seen one of these before.

I love these plates! The photo doesn't do the pattern justice. Marked "Betty Pepper for AMC" these are so retro and classic with their red and white design and stylized flower print. I have found only a few examples of this pattern online.

This is an unusual item--a pressed glass plate with a reticulated border (the things you learn on eBay!) with an image of Little Miss Muffet in the center. These seem to be fairly rare, and this find is in good condition.

This beautiful piece is ceramic with Mary and Joseph depicted in decoupage. The crazed surface makes me think this might have some age on it; gold felt on the back is quite worn. I think it's lovely, even aged as it is.

A vanity trinket box or powder dish with flowers in perfect condition on top. The base is a very light blue. So often the china flowers on these pieces are broken or chipped but this one has survived intact.

Linking to Colorado Lady's Vintage Thingie's Thursday again today. Stop by her blog and check out the neat things other bloggers have to show.

Over the River and Across Ohio

...to  Mansfield we went!

My friend Donna and I took a 2 day mini-vacation to visit our friend Bizzie in mid-Ohio. Did we have a good time? I'll let you be the judge.

It was a wild and rainy night when we arrived. The winds howled around the roof of Bizzie and Mick's 1850 log cabin but the house is snug and tight because siding has been applied over the logs outside, and on the inside the walls were plastered smooth so no drafts made it through. I spent the night in an upstairs dormer bedroom, thinking about who might have slept there in the days when the cabin was new and probably much more primitive.

Despite the rain, we headed into Mansfield to browse downtown. Donna dodged raindrops to get inside the Hospice thrift store. We found a few bargains there, including a brand new, beautiful eggplant-colored dressy dress and jacket that we cajoled Donna into buying. When she tried it on she looked so amazing it had to be her dress. Brand new from David's Bridal! Amazing buy.

We crossed the street to our next stop, an antique shop. I look for bargains, you know, and those are rare at antique shops. Still, I found some good buys--and we had a good time with the owners. Donna told them we were storytellers and that I sang ballads. They asked if I could sing one, so I sang Railroad Boy. It was surprising to see people coming from the shop aisles to listen. The owners were very enthusiastic and had lots of questions for us about storytelling. So many people still don't know what it is.

 I love old downtowns. This one is lovely and seems to be staging a comeback.

And Mansfield has this:

A carrousel! And not just any carousel--a real genuine carved one made especially for the city by a company called Carousel Works. The Richland Carrousel opened in 1991, and features animals carved in the style of the great  G.A. Dentzel, who was famous for his hand-carved carousel animals in the early 1900's. This was the first new hand-carved carousel to be built in the US since the 1930's. It is stupendous, beautiful and unique with 30 horses, 2 chariots, and 22 other animals--ostriches, bears, goats, lions, bears, tigers, rabbits, cats and more, all beautifully rendered. Here are a few of them:

A merhorse?Or a seahorse?

It was difficult to find a place  to get a full view of the carousel; this was the best I could find.

The Liberty horse, I would guess?

The Civil War horse--I had to take this photo for Larry :)

Of course we had to ride. We got our tokens (3 for $2, what a deal!)

...and got on board.

It was so much fun--years since I last actually rode on a horse on a carousel. I've taken my sons and grandchildren but I was always standing. This time I mounted the steed myself. What a treat!

Rain didn't spoil our day. We had a great time. I want to go back sometime so Larry can ride the carousel, and there is so much more to explore, like Malabar Farm where one of my heroes, 1927 Pulitzer Prize winner Louis Bromfield, once lived and wrote about sustainable agriculture years before it was the in thing.

Bizzie and Mick were great hosts. We stayed up late talking and sharing stories. Then it was time to head home, so Donna and I packed up and headed east. But I haven't showed you everything about our trip yet, so tomorrow, more photos !