Some egg cups that are either too tall or too wide for the cubby. It’s so hard to get a good shot of this, as it’s in the corner of the den right next to the sofa and there’s no way to get a full on shot.
The egg cup gentleman is quite tall. The head is removable and the egg sits where his egg-head normally sits. It’s meant to be part of a set, and the heads are meant to be salt and pepper shakers, but mine has no holes, so go figure! Next to him is a red transferware egg cup. There’s a little egg held by a little clown on the second shelf. I have a feeling it’s not an egg cup, but a toothpick holder, but the clown is holding an egg, so I include it in my collection. The goose egg cup is lovely and it’s from France. Humpty Dumpty is from England. The wooden man and woman egg cups were a gift from a reader of this blog. The eggs are salt and pepper shakers. I bought the glass egg cup just this year because I loved the orange coloring. And the little wooden mama and baby ducks were found a few years back in an antique shop. I really love them. Everything is vintage, including the shelf.
I want to address something today – I want to be clear about the former owner of Ashley and Pliers. He’s a very nice man. We know him. He spent his life with horses, working as a farrier. He raised Ashley and Pliers and loved them dearly. Any neglect was not intentional, rather a result of diminished capacity. – both mental and physical. Horses are expensive. I don’t think he could afford repairs to their paddock. It got very muddy there after rains and the ground was unsafe for these now elderly horses. He did the best he could. But it got out of hand. He was encouraged to surrender the horses more than once, but always declined because he loved them and didn’t want to give them up. Those of us who knew them from walking the trail were concerned. The owner of a boarding facility that bordered the trail was concerned. Winter was coming and there was no way they would survive the cold without adequate shelter. And their wooden shelter was falling apart and far from adequate. To make a long story short, when things finally reached a tipping point with Ashley falling more frequently and both of the horses in danger, the owner knew it was time and was persuaded to surrender them. The boarding facility took them in until the Catskill Animal Sanctuary took over. And when it came time to load them into the horse trailers for their journey to CAS, the owner – as painful as it must have been for him – guided them into the trailer.
It’s a heartbreaking story with a happy ending. They got to live out their lives with food and shelter and a safe environment.
I want to remind you: this same gentleman lost his home to a fire not long after losing his babies. He had nothing – he managed to save his cat, but everything else was gone. He was a longtime resident of our community and many of us contributed to a Go Fund Me appeal to raise money for a new home for him. He now lives in a manufactured home on his property, funded by generous donations. He’s been through a lot.
Changing the subject: I want to point you in the direction of a video. Don brought it to my attention yesterday morning and, I have to say, the ideas discussed here make the most sense of any I have heard on the subject of fixing our broken democracy. You might find it quite compelling. For the first time, I feel there just might be a way to work around the corporate money and corruption that fuels many of the decisions made by Congress. It will make more sense if you watch it. The actress Jennifer Lawrence and the Director of RepresentUs, Josh Silver, narrate. It’s smart. It makes sense.
If you’re so inclined, here’s the link.
Still raining here. But it’s nothing, considering what is facing so many in the Midwest. I’ve watched video of the flooded rivers and towns and farms and my heart breaks for everyone impacted by this deluge.
Happy Friday.
Thank you for the background to the story of Pliers and Ashley and their owner, Claudia. I know the story, as you shared much of it in previous posts, but some may not not know. It’s also a good lesson in not judging…no one ever knows the full story.
Exactly. Thank you, Wendy.
And it is always good to know the rest of the story. I do remember you sharing with us as this was unfolding, but some people miss posts or are new to your blog. So sad, for the horses and for the man, too.
It is always fun to see bits and bobs of your different egg cups. I was thinking it is time for me to get the few out that I have for the season.
I will watch the video with my husband tonight. Being able to look forward to something intelligent and insightful in this new world is a treat, isn’t it??
It’s very insightful and I think you’ll enjoy it.
Is it egg cup season? Makes me smile. I watched the video…it gives me hope. I sent it to my sons, too. We all need hope…and this does just that.
Enjoy the rest of your day! ;)
It makes sense, doesn’t it? Don said he felt hopeful for the first time in a long time.
YES!! Thanks for sharing it! ;)
You’re welcome!
I was able to hold back the tears until the part where he guided them into the trailer.
I know. Breaks my heart.
glad for the happier endings. need those.
and that link looks good.
thanks for both.
been a long week here so am glad and grateful today is friday!!! hope everyone has a nice slow weekend!
kathy in iowa
Thank you, Kathy.
So sorry for the misunderstanding yesterday. I do remember you saying the owner was elderly and ill and could not care for them. It is always good to have the full story shared again.
Your egg cups are always so fun to look at. I will watch this video, goodness knows I need some hope.
You’re not the only one who misunderstood, Linda. That’s why I chose to write about it today. XO
I remember you telling us about the owner. As I was reading that IG post I was thinking that was an inaccurate account.
Love your eggcups. We would get along famously, I have an egg collection.
Have you ever thought about writing a book? You should, you write so beautifully.
I want lots of coverage on the doll house project! Do you know Chautauqua Miniatures closed up? I found out when I went to my art retreat last fall. So sad.
I have thought of it, in fact, I started writing a mystery years ago. But I soon realized that I didn’t have enough drive to finish it. But thank you for your kind words!
I’m sick about Chautauqua Miniatures! When did that happen? It was such a great shop! I wonder if they’re still selling online?
I don’t know, I went to the retreat the first week of September. I said I was going to the mini store and the girl teaching said they closed up. They do have some kind of online presence, just Google them.
I was thinking a book of essays. Wonderful little stories like you share on your blog. Instead of being spread out over a period of time, over a number of blog posts they would be condensed into one story.
I discovered that they were online yesterday. I went to their FB page and they closed the shop because they were retiring. But they’re selling online. I’m glad about that, but it seems to be getting harder and harder to find a shop where you can actually look at the items in person!
Thanks, Kimberly. Not sure if I’m up for a book of essays, but I promise to think about it. xo
I did remember the full story about Ashley and Pliers and their owner…I always enjoy seeing your egg cups…I am going to watch the video now!
Good! Thanks, Nancy!
As I remember at the time, you were not blaming the owner of the horses, but thank you for the rest of the story. What a terrible few years he has had. How wonderful that his community helped. Gives me hope during the challenges our national has faced in the past few years. I feel like this man could be some kind of symbol for our democracy, but that’s taking my English lit degree a little too far. Anyway, much good was done in a sad situation. Speaking of which, I continue to wallow in grief and impotent anger over our affairs of state to the point that it is seriously eroding my marital relationship. My husband agrees with my concerns but refuses to “focus” on them (he’s 86 so we’re talking some big differences in outlooks and emotional energy). I fret very much about what else I can do to divert my energy or distract myself so that I don’t keep lashing out at him. I admire you for keeping up with your collections, working on your mini-houses, planning your gardening, reviewing books, adding beautiful and meaningful things to your home. Your blog is a bright and hopeful place to visit where reality exists but is not a cloud of doom, rather a backdrop like a theater scrim. Maybe if I can picture it like that in my own lie and focus on the action out front, like my loving partner, the woods and animals around us, more access to the outside world even tho I don’t garden, and getting the piano looked at (yes, I’m still putting it off!!) I could put into action what you model. I feel that you are an emotionally motivated person as I am, so seeing how you muster your strength to keep your feelings from drowning you impresses me. Thank you for all that you did for the beautiful pair of horses and for their owner and all the ways you and Don contribute to peace and beauty in the world. XO
I recommend finding something to do that focuses your energy in a positive way, Nora. Reading, creating something, I’m not sure what exactly, but if I didn’t do that, I would go mad. Even so, I struggle with obsessive reading about Trump/Mueller/Russia/the erosion of democracy. I have to pull myself away from it at times. But it’s not always easy. Focusing on animals and birds and life that goes on no matter what is happening in Washington, DC is a good thing to do.
Having this blog is an enormous help. I have to write every day and that’s good for me. xoxo
Thank you for the link and the egg cup eye candy. And for sharing the story. It sounds like you have a very special and caring community and I admire that tremendously.
We do. Our town board, on the other hand? Not so good. But the people here are very nice.