We had more thunderstorms last night. Wind, sheets of rain, the rumbling sound of thunder that went on and on. There was a time when Scout would have been going nuts. Border Collies have very sensitive ears and any sort of thunderstorm (or fireworks) made her incredibly agitated.
She doesn’t really hear them anymore. It makes things easier for us, but I confess it also makes me sad. She has cataracts. She doesn’t hear very well. She has arthritis.
But she remains the bright, precious spirit that she has always been. She still has a twinkle in her eye. I love my girl.
Do you remember when I went to the Country Living Fair? I mentioned in passing that I bought a little piece of miniature pottery on my first day there. What with the sudden offer of a job in Chautauqua and the flurry of packing that ensued, I never got around to showing it to you.
There it is. I rather like it.
And here it is with its brothers and sisters. I think I’m going to have to find another display shelf….I’m running out of room!
I tend to collect lots of things. (That’s an understatement.) One collection has required no monetary investment, just a good eye. The items are found here and there, on the property or on the road. I don’t have room for a Cabinet of Curiosities, but I do have a Transferware Plate of Curiosities. And yes, I do curate it. I just did that the other day. I cleared out and cleaned up and here it is:
Next to the plate: two pieces of china that I unearthed in our woods the other day. Love the crazing.
On the plate, starting from left center and moving clockwise:
A piece of china I found on the shores of Chautauqua Lake. The edges have been smoothed by the water.
A polished agate that Don gave me.
A cicada wing.
A piece that Don found. It looks like some sort of nozzle. I love swirly design in the metal.
One half of a nutshell. Love the texture.
Part of a yellow eggshell that I found on the property last year. Still haven’t determined what sort of bird egg it is.
An acorn cap.
These pods fall from the trees in the park I frequent when I am working in Hartford.
A robin’s egg that I found this year on our property. You know how I feel about that particular shade of blue.
Two acorns.
A piece of glass that I found on the shore of Chautauqua Lake. I’d call it sea glass, but I suppose a more accurate term would be lake glass.
All of them live on the sideboard in the living room. I like to stop and look at them a few times a day. They make me happy.
I’m so glad you like the book blog, by the way. There’s another post up today. Just click on this link. Needless to say, with two blogs up and running, I’ve been busy!
Happy Wednesday.
Collections from nature are a favorite of mine too! The pod you have is a Sweet Gum “ball” which were the literal downfall of many a child in our neighborhood when we would run around barefoot! I spent long days reading up in the branches of my Sweet Gum tree.
And I wouldn’t have spotted the cicada wing if you hadn’t pointed it out. So delicate!
Thanks for supplying the name of that little ball, Leslie Ann! When I was walking Scout in that park I had to make sure we avoided all the little gum balls.
The new mini is wonderful! Your shelf is full! The plate of items is so telling of who you are Claudia, I love the textures and interesting bits and pieces. I’m trying to get my head to stop hurting today so I can read some more. I hate headaches.
hugs,
Linda
Oh, feel better soon, Linda. A headache is not fun.
Love your collection plate Claudia! I have several small trays (2″ or so) or small bowls where I display various items from nature. It is always soothing to walk by and look at the items and sometimes rearrange them.
Soothing is the perfect word, Vera.
I love the new miniature pitcher. The shelf is wonderful too. It reminds me of a window.
My cousin, yep the dollhouse maker, made me a box to put my found treasures in. He made it out of old barn wood, dovetailed it, and put old old hinges on the lid. I love my box just as much as my little treasures.
These little surprises of nature are what bring us joy in the most unusual way.
Your cousin is awfully talented and a nice guy, too!
Such sweet little treasures Claudia..My son did this when he was little..we used to go for walks to gather aluminum cans to turn in for money to do something like go to a movie or out to eat..on our walks he would gather up little treasures he would find along the way..He kept them in a nice little box he had and we would get them out to look at sometimes..Thanks for bringing back a sweet memory for me!..Also give a hug to Miss Scout from me..Tell her I understand how tough it is to get old..
I’ll pass along the hug, Nancy. Don and I understand, too!
Love your plate of curiosities…all from nature! I was thinking of your new miniature…fits right in btw…so now you have a decision. Do you stop collecting…or get a bigger shelf? Me…I’d get a bigger shelf! ;)
I will either get a bigger shelf or an additional shelf! I can’t stop collecting!
There was a sweet gum tree outside my bedroom window when I was growing up in Connecticut. More and more I think that we were separated at birth: miniature pottery; transferware pieces filled with bits and bobs of nature picked up along the way; book-filled houses.
We may well have been, Margaret!
Old shards of china in the woods… makes you curious as to the life they had before, doesn’t it? And how old they might be? …
Yes, it does. I found part of a yellow saucer there last spring – it was Homer Laughlin/Harlequin line, so it could have been there for decades. As to the pieces in the photo, I have a feeling they are even older. I’d love to know the story behind them, Karen.
I love your fun little plate of curiosities…I think everyone needs one of those!
I do, too!