This and That: Just Rambling

70°f21°C, raining this morning and continuing showers expected all day.

The rain is such a relief! For 3 days in a row we have awakened to the patter, and often the pour, of rain on the roof. This morning I laid in until 9:30, just listening! We haven't had any terrible storms like some places have experienced,  although I did drive through one yesterday afternoon that left some streets in the town I had just left (Parkersburg) flooded. Our ground is soaking it all up, and it is bliss to see the grateful plants turning green again.

An oddity though: a friend asked if we had noticed the lack of birds lately. Honestly, I had not. My work has been focused inside, and when we have been out in the evenings there are a few birds flitting about. I just wasn't paying attention, but now I must say my neighbor is right. Where did they all go??? I have seen a couple nuthatches, and here and there a few goldfinches. But other than that, nada.  I know the migrators have left, but where are our usual birds?  Perhaps this happens every year and I haven't noticed?

I've had to be out the last two days. Tuesday was milk pickup and my friend Suzy's birthday, so I went to lunch with her and a couple other friends. There were two other ladies there also celebrating their birthdays. All 3 were born on the same day, and Suzy and one other lady were born same day, same year and at the same hospital! How is that for small town life.

Yesterday I had an appointment with the heart doctor in Parkersburg. I really saw no reason to go as I have had no issues in over 3 years, but I went anyway, and on the way restocked my Ravenswood booth. The heart doc agreed that I really didn't need to come in, and I am now on an as-needed status. The last time I had issues it turned out to be dehydration, and the time before it was asthma causing chest pain, not my heart. So in truth, I have no heart issues, but it does make sense to get checked out when anything goes a-flutter in there.

While driving yesterday I listened to a history if Scotland on Spotify.  I must say, it was depressing! The book began around 4 AD, and basically just tracked who did what to who to gain power and land. Murders, wars, untimely deaths, poor little children suddenly becoming king or queen (and most not surviving to actually rule)---just very sad. Even beheading didn't end until about 250 years ago! That's kinda recent in my book. There was nothing much at all about normal life, which is the kind of history I enjoy. I could care less about who ruled, I want to know what people ate and wore, how they heated their homes, how they were or were not educated, things like that. The music, books, poetry,  etc didnt get mentioned in this book until the very end, and then only to brag about the most famous Scots.

Another thing that struck me was how aptly the subject is named: his story. Historians really only focused on men for years, with very little mention of women at all. And yet who was home maintaining the farms and businesses while the men were off fighting each other? Without the women they would not have had much to come home to or to be worth fighting over! If we have made one advance in my lifetime, it is that women and ethnicities are being included now in recorded history. To think that it took centuries for that to happen. Hmph.

I came home to bid in an online auction, and my word did the bids go high! This auction had a lot of Fenton glass, some of it quite rare. Needless to say I did not win much, but I did manage to snag a few things, which I will have to pick up tomorrow.

A friend asked for a photo of the amber pitcher on the right. I had to dust before I took this! I won this one in an auction a few years ago but have never displayed it very well. I think it looks nice with the old map in the background. All of this glass is Early American Pattern Glass,  made prior to 1915, and most is much older than that. I do love old glass, don't ask me why. Same reason history draws me, I guess.

A bit closer up.  This was made by the Cooperative Flint Glass Company in Ohio, around 1886.

Today I am back to listing on ebay, a good use of this rainy day. I did go out to the garden to pick the zinnias in the first photo,  and gathered some lettuce, peppers, kale, and bok choy for dinner. The garden is coming along well still, lots of food still to be harvested. Larry has just brought in a bucket of cider so I guess I better go find jars and get it processed. I am behind again on blog-reading, so I hope to catch up with everyone this evening.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Washing Up Day

20 this morning, sunny but no frost. Still very cold, not above freezing, as I write this, around noon. Yesterday it snowed off and on all day never getting much above freezing. And Saturday we had some heavy snow, but it only stayed on the ground briefly.

March is certainly going out like a lion, at least in our area. It's hard to believe that last week we were working in the gardens. 

Yesterday I unpacked auction stuff. And there was a LOT of it. Our last auction pickup was on Saturday, and this one was mostly glass, although there were several other great things too. Right now Larry is taking a large load to the thrift, because when you buy lots, you get a lot of things mixed in that you don't really want. One boxload went straight to the trash--chipped or cracked pottery and glass, mainly. It's kind of heartbreaking to see some old piece that survived so long be in such bad shape, but there's no sense in keeping it. I did, however, keep one badly chipped old pitcher--I can just see it planted with ivy--and some lidless teapots and sugar bowls for planters.

So. Much. Glass. Only about half of in the photos above. I'm washing it up and identifying today, and then comes the hard part: what to keep and what to sell. I have a lot of Early American Pattern Glass already, which is what most of this is. So if I keep anything, something has to go. This glass doesn't sell easily, unless it's colored glass, but there are collectors out there that love it as I do, so what I sell will be listed on eBay which is where I am most likely to find these collectors.

Last week was a wild one, for sure. We worked in the gardens at the beginning of the week, planting peas, cabbage, and onions, and getting the ground ready for more planting. And then of course, this cold snap. We covered the cabbage plants with plastic jugs with the bottoms cut off. Now I just hope the onion sets and pea seeds will be okay. I think they will, but who knows.

Wednesday we had an auction pickup in Philippi, WV, a three-hour drive from here. It was nice to get out and see part of the state we hadn't seen in a long time. We came home with some good finds, including a mounted deer head, mounted antelope antlers, and a few other things. Taxidermy items sell pretty well, although this is the first time we've had any ourselves.

Thursday we unloaded the van and then went off to pick up our wins from another auction, this one not far from home at all. It took several loads, as we bought a bedroom set, some outdoor chairs and some other chairs, a china cabinet, and a lot of smalls. We were heading home with the last load when the auction clerk called to see if we wanted the mantle I had bid on but lost, because the winner could not pick it up after all. I said sure, but we had to work out how to haul it, since it would not fit in our van. My next call was to the owner of one of the antique malls we have booths in, to see if we could borrow her truck. She said sure--but we'd have to help unload it as the truck was full of furniture. 

So early Friday morning found us at the mall, unloading. She was right--the box truck was packed full. We got it unloaded in about an hour, then picked up the mantle, and brought it back to the mall. It needed a lot of cleaning up, as apparently it had been stored in a barn. So there we were, out on the main street of Ravenswood, cleaning it up. It looks pretty good; we were able to get it set up inside, but we will do more cleaning when we go back in, and then wax it up. 

We also moved in the bedroom set-you can see the dressing table and the chest of drawers here; the bed is hidden behind them. Making space is like shoehorning a semi into a pickup sometimes. The mirror to the dressing table is also hidden behind it. 

Saturday morning we were off again, to the last auction pickup, this one in Fairmont, about 2 hours away, through some driving snow.

It took a long time to pack this auction, as I had bought an entire closet full of odds and ends, mainly to get the few things in there we wanted, like these lovely crewel embroidery pieces.

Then there was all that glass. And a few chairs. Our reward afterward though was lunch with two grandchildren and their mother. Our son was called out to work so wasn't there, which was disappointing, but we still had a great time visiting. We ate at the Poky Dot, an iconic local restaurant famous for their ice cream creations. 

Grandson James and his girlfriend McKenna, and behind them the ice cream artists.

Who would not want giant sparklers in their birthday ice cream treat?

I didn't get a picture of granddaughter Michaela, who is a freshman at WVU, majoring in biology. She's such a smart girl, and managing to survive in the wild world of campus life, a big change from her small high school.

Here is one of my favorite finds from Saturday: a toy electric stove that actually works.

Yesterday was unloading day again, and then sorting and sorting. Larry got some rest, as he was really worn out, while I unpacked and sorted. First, though, I did this:

Four cups of good strong tea later, I felt charged up enough to get to work, and got a lot done. Nothing like tea for an energizer.

So we've kind of caught up with ourselves for the moment, although on my end there is still the ID and listing work to do. I've at least got sorted and packed up what will go to the booths, so I'm getting there.

Actually, I think right now? I need a cup of tea.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Covid Journal, Day 356: Biscuit Jars

41 and clear once again. A beautiful day, temps in the 60s, sun and a few clouds. 

Do you own any biscuit jars?

Truthfully, I'd never heard of biscuit jars until I got into old glass. I came upon a jar at an auction that I absolutely loved. The pattern was beveled squares that caught the light like prisms and I was entranced. I later learned that it was a biscuit jar, circa 1889, made by George Duncan and Sons in Pittsburgh. It was one of my first Early American Pattern Glass pieces, and still one of my favorites.

What is a biscuit jar? Well, here in the US we call them cookie jars, although from what I have seen biscuit jars tend to be a bit smaller than our cookie jars, generally. The jars seem to have originated in Britain in the 18th century, and surprisingly didn't really become popular in the US until much later.

In the UK, a biscuit is what we call a cookie--a sweetened round often served with tea. The early jars were glass with a metal lid, and were sometimes called biscuit barrels because of their shape. As time passed, the jars became highly decorated. In the US, ceramic jars came into use during the Depression--stoneware, often, and decorated with flower motifs.

One of my cookie jars, circa 1930's. From the home of my former husband's great aunt, a lady I loved dearly, and whose kitchen began my lifelong love of vintage kitchens.

Since that first biscuit jar, I've collected a few others. 

The two here, with the handles, are milk glass. The one in the back is a newer reproduction; the one in front right is old, I believe.  No clue as to the maker, as it's unmarked.

Although this was listed as "antique" on eBay, I'm pretty sure it's fairly new, but so pretty and spring-like.

A made-in-Japan jar, a recent addition.

And two more made-in-Japan jars that I just love, and use regularly.

Somewhere packed away is another favorite, an EAPG piece by Consolidated Glass company, circa 1895, called Florette. I have one like the one in the center of this photo from The Early American Pattern Glass Society website-- photo by Don Plank, an expert and amazing collector of this antique glass. 

Do you have any biscuit jars at your house? Any favorite ones, or stories about favorite cookie/biscuit jars?

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Covid Journal, Day 275: Old Glass at Work

28, cloudy, with a red sunrise, so I suppose some kind of wet weather is on the way.

Old glass isn't just pretty, it's useful too. 

As most readers here know, I have a love affair with Early American Pattern Glass. It's all over my house and I have become very strict with myself about what I buy now. No more chipped or cracked pieces, or pieces missing their lids. I have even--gulp--purged several such pieces in my recent cleaning. I only have so much space, after all, and I don't want my home to begin looking like a hoarder's house. Sometimes I feel like it's teetering on the brink anyway, at which time I have another cleanout.

For years I couldn't buy pretty things. Raising 5 sons and for most of that time living on a near-minimum-wage income, there wasn't money for extras. Sometimes I bought things at yard sales, and cherished each and every one. I grew up with my mother's china cabinet, remember, that was filled with beautiful glass and china. I well remember the crystal pieces, and still have one of her pitchers. She had many English porcelain cups and saucers too, so you know where my love of those came from. About 8 years ago I found my own china cabinet at a yard sale, and it's now full of beautiful old glass. 

I like to use this antique glass, especially for holidays and special occasions. I'm content to just look at it on shelves and in cabinets, but it's nice to have it on the table too. So this week I got out some of the spooners and other pieces for our table.

The spooners are a pattern called Red Block, or Captain Kidd, made by Fostoria Glass around 1890. The little sugar bowl I use for preserves is Derby, by Westmoreland Glass, around 1904. I can't remember the pattern of the tray, but I think it is later, probably 1920's, and was a dresser tray that would have held perfumes, powder jars and the like. Also never identified the salt and pepper, yet. Maybe one day I'll get to them.

I use my glass for seasonal decorating too, changing the colors with the season. Here is some of this year's glass on display on the buffet.

The cake stand under the tree was a recent ebay gift to myself. For once, I actually paid retail value but I decided I had earned it after a stellar month of selling. The ruby goblet is a reproduction, made by Fenton for LG Wright glass, in a pattern called Strawberry and Currant. The green spooner on the left is called Croesus by Riverside Glass, circa 1894, and the little glasses are, I think US Glass's Mirror and Fan. The date on these is vague as the pattern was made as late as 1962. The green hobnail I think is probably a recent piece, but it's green so in the display it goes.

The red plate--actually amberina, with shades of orange in the ruby--gives a nice glow here. I think it's also a newer piece, but handmade. Maybe Blenko? The sugar and cream set is called Arched Ovals, US Glass, circa 1904. The tray they're on I have not yet identified, but I believe it is from the American Brilliant Period cut glass. The green compote is the Shoshone pattern by US Glass, about 1898. It's also called Victor and Blazing Pinwheels. The goblet on the right is Paneled Daisy and Button, and has pretty amber panels between clear glass sections.

Let's see--the compote on the left, is, Regal, also known as Paneled Forget-Me-Not, by Bryce Brothers, around 1883. And the large compote in the center is Plume, by Adams, around 1889. The tall green vase is also EAPG, but I can't recall the maker. And the red goblet in the background is reproduction Fenton. In front of the tall compote is an amber and clear spooner called Victoria, by Riverside glass, circa 1889.

And more glass--the ruby plate is new, I think, but I've not been able to find one like it. The spooner on top of the cake stand is called Petticoat, an apt name because it has the prettiest base. It was made by National Glass circa 1900. The cake stand is called Fashion--don't you love it? Made by Imperial Glass around 1908. The green bowl is Pride, by Model Flint Glass, 1898 or thereabouts. The goblet inside it is Rising Sun, by US Glass about 1908. Behind the green bowl is a compote called Block and Fan, made by Richards and Hartlet about 1888, and inside it a green spooner named West Virginia Optic by West Virginia Glass, 1894. In the back, a tall green vase in the States pattern "Delaware" by US Glass, C. 1899. And last, the big lidded compote called New Grand, by Bryce, Higbee Glass, about 1888.

So, more about glass than you ever wanted to know, right? If you want to identify your antique glass, there is a fantastic online database maintained by the EarlyAmerican Pattern Glass Society that has several ways to help you find your piece: by motif --pinwheels, ovals, flowers, etc; by maker, by shape--compote,spooner, etc; or by name. I began my journey about 8 years ago by joining the Facebook group Early American Pattern Glass Society, a large group of knowledgeable experts and beginners alike. It's a friendly, polite group of good people who will help anyone who wants to know about their antique glass--and if your glass isn't within their pervue, they can usually direct you to a good source. 

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Covid Journal, Day 243: Sunlight on Glass and Simple Pleasures

37 this morning, and the promise of a sunny day with highs in the 60's. 

The sun coming into the kitchen this morning caught the glass on the buffet, and caught my eye too. 

A simple joy for this Thursday. This is mostly Early American Pattern Glass, made between 1880-1914. The cake stand was a gift to myself last month, a reward for working so hard on ebay. 

Larry is off to a doctor's appointment, and I'm puttering--cleaning the kitchen, doing laundry, tidying up the bedroom, sweeping. All the little tasks no one notices, unless they're not done. I have bread raising in the oven too, with fingers crossed that it will come out well. My luck with bread has been hit and miss this year, for some reason. 

We're beginning to think ahead to Sunday's apple butter making. The applesauce has been frozen for a couple months--we make it ahead, so then we can cook the apple butter whenever it's convenient for everyone. So we need to get it out to thaw soon, as it's in gallon bags and that will take a while. Larry will bring wood around to the cooking site, and I'll get the kettle cleaned up, wash the jars and get the lids ready--fortunately I have enough, because lids are scarce this year. We have enough jars too, after I scavenged around to get enough at the end of the summer. Just need to go to the store for sugar and cinnamon oil.

Last night we planned to cook hotdogs over the firepit, but it was just too chilly and windy for that. We haven't gotten acclimated to cold weather yet, with this fall being so nice. So, we compromised, and cooked them inside in the fireplace instead. It was fun, and I think we'll do that again. 

Simple pleasures. As the election drags on and the virus spreads, we need to see and appreciate what's still good in our lives. As an elderly friend said, every day upright is a good day. Something to keep in mind.  

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Covid Journal, Day 112: An Ordinary Day

72 this morning, not as humid so it was a pleasant day until later in the afternoon. Today's high was 88, much better than the 90's we've been seeing. Still no rain in sight.

We dug up the carrots today and put them in the freezer. Not many but a nice size so we had 6 baggies to freeze. I think tomorrow we'll cut the kale. Larry planted more beets and kale, and planted Tenderette beans where the onions were.

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When the beets come out...hmmm....what to plant? Maybe leave the space open until August and plant more lettuce then? I ordered some broccoli seeds and will try starting some plants to put in for fall broccoli. My sister suggested buying this agricultural fabric row cover to keep the cabbage moths off so I'm willing to try broccoli again if it works. Cannot stand those worms that get in it!

What else have we been doing? Well, Larry had to work on the freezeless hydrant because it was leaking down under the ground. That meant he had to turn off the water to the house, so we filled many buckets just in case the repairs took longer than expected. He had to make a trip to town for parts but still got it finished up by mid-afternoon. One more thing to check off the to-do list.

I'd planned to can more veggie soup today, as there were things in the freezer that we need to use, but without water that plan went out the window. So I finished up the end tables I was painting and worked on another cabinet.

This is one table, finished.

And the other, before paint. Both tables had burns on the tops that were too deep to sand out, so I opted to paint them. I liked them in their original finish but they would not sell with those marks on them. I'm happy with the way they look now.

I didn't like the way that cabinet came out when I painted it over the weekend, so I sanded it off and re-did some of it. Looks much better now, and just needs wax. No photo yet, maybe tomorrow. I listed several things on ebay too--three really good finds from the antique mall where I have booths.  Two are Early American Pattern Glass, and fairly rare. The little creamer is a pattern called Duchess, by King & Son, circa 1898 I believe.

Then this large water pitcher was made by US Glass, same year. It's called Aquarium. I really love this one, with the fish swimming around and seaweed floating.

And last, a pretty gravy boat in purple toile that is also apparently quite rare.

And then I worked on revisions to a couple of poems I wrote some years ago. The poetry group has gone back to in-person meetings but I do not want to do that with the virus spreading so fast right now. So I will have to work on my own. While taking a break I read Wendell Berry's book of poetry, The Peace of Wild Things. I've read it before, but it is just so, so good.

That was our day. Nothing spectacular, just the usual routine of staying-at-home. How have your days been going?

Food diary: breakfast--scrambled eggs, bacon, sliced tomatoes, toast, applesauce. Snack--sliced orange. Dinner--mostly leftovers since no water to cook with: meatloaf, baked beans, and sliced cucumber.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Recent Finds

I thought I'd show some of the interesting things I've found lately. All of these are either listed on ebay or sold.

First, this paperweight. It's millefiori (Italian meaning millions of flowers, I think). I thought it was interesting when I picked it up at the thrift store, but was surprised to learn that it was made here in WV at the turn of the century, in the Morgantown area. The glass company was John GentileGlass, and these paperweights were one of their specialties. His wife was probably the first female paperweight maker in the US.

I got these green Depression glass plates from a local picker. The second photo shows what's cool about them.

Put them under black light, and they light up! This is due to the tiny amount of uranium used in the glass to make these, back in the 1930's.

 I don'e know if you can see it in this photo, but this is a Frigidaire advertising piece, showcasing their "decorator colors" for appliances. It's also a measuring cup. This was in an auction lot.

These beautiful glasses are also old--over 100, actually. I found these one at a time at a local thrift store. They are Early American Pattern Glass, so each pattern has a name. Front is Captain Kidd (aka Red Block), back left is Dakota, and right is The Hero.

A complete "table set" as it was called: butter, creamer, sugar and spooner, by Imperial Glass, c 1904.
No nickname for this one. Most EAPG has both a common name and an OMN (original manufacturer's name). The OMN for this one is just No. 4. )On the glasses above, I've given the names the pieces were generally known by--sometimes these were the same as the OMN, sometimes not).

I have 5 of these, still unidentified. Picked up at an antique mall for $1 each. I haven't listed them yet, as I don't know the pattern or maker.

This sweet pitcher sold within minutes of listing, for $150. I found it for $4 at a local thrift store. It's very old, and unusual in that it has a metal bottom and a lid. Salt-glazed pottery.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

New Glass, Old Glass: Two Nice Finds

I had a doctor appointment today, which pretty much took up my whole day. But there was time to go do a little thrifting afterwards, and I found two things I wanted to share.

First is this gorgeous Blenko pitcher. Those who have been readers for a while know my love of Blenko glass, which is made right here in West Virginia. Their clear colors and clean lines just really speak to me, and in front of a window? Heart-stopping. This pitcher was made around 1990 in the color Blenko calls Dusty Rose.

Each of their designs are given a number. This is 9027-S (for Short, I suppose, since the 9020-L is 4 inches taller). It's heavy, and at 8 1/2" a nice size.

The second piece is another love of mine, Early American Pattern Glass. It's completely at the other end of the spectrum: ornate and old, dating to 1870-1914. This particular piece is a compote in the Job's Tears pattern, made about 1880-1890 by Adams & Company.

It's heavy, the one thing it does have in common with Blenko glass. Most of what I have found in the old glass is in crystal; although there are some colors they are harder to find and generally more expensive. I seem to be getting quite a collection of compotes without really trying--I believe I have 15-20 of them now.
It's the same story as the Blenko; I started with one piece, learned about the glass and got hooked.

So even though going to the doc isn't fun, I did end up having a pretty good day anyway!

If you are interested in glass, there are quite a few groups on Facebook that are invaluable resources. The Blenko Collectors group has excellent files, friendly experts and even a few of the glass designers as members. The Early American Pattern Glass group is also welcoming and knowledgeable. The only caution to joining either is to be prepared to do your homework before asking for help! Read their pinned posts, look at the files and become familiar with the resources they offer before jumping in with a piece to identify. You'll save yourself some embarrassment and you'll save time for all the busy group members. I've certainly learned a lot by being a member of these groups, even if I am often just the fly on the wall, reading and learning from the excellent posts of other members.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Morning Windows

It's a cold one today. We started out at 25 degrees and it has slowly warmed up. This was our first killing frost, so the flowers I posted yesterday are gone. The mulberry shed all its leaves in about 2 hours time this morning.

The sun sparkled up the windows when it arrived.

It's hard to believe this big jar is over 125 years old. This is pattern glass, and the pattern is "Block" by George Duncan and Sons, circa 1889. Isn't its sparkle beautiful? I bought this in two different places. I found it first in an auction lot, but the jar was cracked. I kept it anyway because I just loved the way it glinted in the light. A couple years later I found a replacement jar, so now I have a really nice old piece.

In the kitchen, the windowsill has been taken over by trumpet-shaped vases. Some are old glass, some are newer, but apparently I like this shape because I suddenly realized I had a lot of them. The red one in the center is stretch glass and is currently listed on eBay.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.