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I am Sandra - faithful steward. listener. shepherd. dream believer. hard worker. collects brass bells, boots. Jesus follower. contented. star gazer. homemaker. farmer. prayer warrior. country woman. reader. traveler. writer. homebody. living life large.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Home again, home again, jiggety-jog...


~ Periwinkle Colored Bowls ~

Do you remember the old Mother Goose nursery rhyme "To market, to market..."? It goes:

"To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,
Home again, home again, dancing a jig;
To market, to market, to buy a fat hog;
Home again, home again, jiggety-jog;
To market, to market, to buy a plum bun,
Home again, home again, market is done."

I've been to market, several actually, and loved them all. Petticoat Lane, Old Spitalfields, Borough Market,  Old Truman Brewery Market and others. That's when I wasn't wandering around museums or getting lost on foot -smile-. One place I found myself was Covent Garden and spent a pleasurable hour at a small tea shop before venturing, again, into the "unknown".

Londoner's are mad for "vintage" and I couldn't believe the prices! Wool coats from the 1960's were $100 and better. A long, champagne colored Victorian petticoat was $80 but "just for me" the price was reduced to $70. Shoes that had seen far, far better days bore rather precious prices as well. Now, I don't mind wearing thrift store clothes...after all, there's the washer and dryer...but I draw the line at OPS's...other people's shoes. That makes me a trifle squeamish and I've had my arm up to the shoulder in the rear end of a ewe, helping out with the birthing process.

I'm home and settling into a familiar routine. When I got home, a week ago today almost to the hour, the temperatures were above freezing since the first of the month. We've had our share of fierce January winter weather and the warmer temperatures and rain have melted the snow. We're now seriously into mud season but that will change as temps drop again before true springs arrives.

Today is Vintage Thingie Thursday over at ColoradoLady and I've several offerings, beginning with the periwinkle bowls at top. The one on the right belonged to my MIL and we just purchased the left one at a recent auction. These are beautiful bowls and the left one has a "raw" lip where women would sharpen their kitchen knives. I've seen Grandmother Bennett do it time and again and always thought having a bowl serve more than one function was quite useful. These are my 'go-to' bowls for making cat head biscuits and they are "just right" for making six to eight biscuits. 


~ Hand made Scottish tea cozy ~
This lovely little tea cozy was hand sewn by...??? Someone's Gran, do you think? It has a bit of lace, some batting to keep the tea pot warm, an embroidered thistle and the words "Frae Scotland"; frae means from.



~ Thistle and "frae Scotland", embroidered all


~ Top handle ~
This is so clever; the center square where the thistle is located, has an opening and this little rectangle was stuffed inside. It's to hold the tea pot lid on whilst pouring tea; I love this! It shows someone actually meant for this tea cozy to be put into good use and so it shall.

Home Sweet Home and it's dear to me even with the rain and sleet that's absolutely pouring from the skies as I'm sitting in the sunroom updating my blog. It's below freezing and the wind chill is horrid, taking the temps to around 10 above so it's a good dayi to put the tea pot and cozy into good use. I'm headed to the studio and will play Loreena McKennitt while I work, perhaps an audio book later. I promised to catch up with everyone and I will, eventually. I want to visit your blogs and see what I've missed.My desktop computer crashed and the computer doc has been called and will arrive sometime today to take said computer to the shop. Hmmmm...didn't I just say that a few months ago? Seems like an all to recent happening but maybe it's my memory that's playing tricks, once again.

My studio time these past few days has been productive. I've finished one fleece throw, have two more to finish, a scarf for me and a couple of baby quilts pieced with batting and bottom and ready to be sewn. I am so blessed to be able to stay home and work on things that bring happiness so many times beginning when I purchase the fabric and begin to think of the project. Happiness is such a simple quality yet so necessary to our daily existence; so many people struggle to be happy and that is so sad. I find happiness in such simple things: a breath drawn deeply, a good body stretch, a baby's face when they see their quilt for the first time, an adult's face when they realize they were thought of and then action followed thought. Does that make me a simple person? Probably so but it also makes me a happy person.

Until next time,

Blessings ~ tea cozy ~ periwinkle bowls ~ home ~ warmth ~ happiness ~ simplicity ~

25 comments:

  1. So glad you're safely home! That tea cozy is awesome!

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  2. Glad that you are home and enjoyed yourself! I love those bowls! I'm a avid "bowl collector" so those certainly caught my eye. :)

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  3. Welcome home, Sandra!!!
    Lovely Scottish tea cozy!

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  4. Glad you're home, Sandra!
    d

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  5. one of the best things about going away - coming home! Glad you had such fun and saw so many interesting sights - too bad I've always given away "old clothes" or I could be selling lots of Jackie O style coats and pill box hats and gloves over the internet to Londoners!

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  6. What at wonderful visit I've had here! Thank you for visiting my blog, Marmielu's Nest, and taking time to comment. I love your bowls, and I heartily approve of using that delightful tea cozy! What a terrific idea with the little piece for holding the top. I enjoyed my own cup of afternoon tea while reading your post.
    Mary Lou

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  7. Glad you are home safe and sound! Sounds as though you had a lovely trip. =)

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  8. I love your tea cozy. I haven't used one lately not many people over to serve tea too.I have been here 9 years but not many friends, it is a different culture and very rural so there are lots of chores to be done and not as much visiting as in the big city where I come from and little family. They are all out west. Your bowl are great and very pretty. I think when we stop and slow down we are happier...you have to take time to smell the roses. GLad your back:)

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  9. Welcome home! Doesn't it feel good? I love home.
    Kelly

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  10. I really like your bowls and I enjoyed reading your post. The tea thingy is really pretty.

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  11. I love your periwinkle blue bowls! they would be happy here at my house. :-) And I love your tea cozy too with the little hot pad for the lid. I wish I had gone with you to the market!

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  12. Welcome home! I actually have a tea cozy very much like the one shown in this post. My mother bought it at a garage sale in the 70's. I use it often, it keeps a pot of tea hot for hours.

    My ideal day is a quiet one at home with handwork to do and Loreena McKennit music playing. I have all her CD's. Bet your husband and animals are very happy to have you back!

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  13. Popping by again to say thank you for following my blog. :-)

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  14. I've always admired those old blue bowls, because the color is so soft and beautiful. Yours are lovely, especially the one that once belonged to your MIL. I never knew the raw lips on these were for sharpening knives. The things I learn on blogs!!
    Love that fabulous Scottish tea cozy as well!
    Happy VTT!
    Carol

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  15. I love your vintage thingies and I love your blog. I'm becoming a follower. Thank you for visiting junkblossoms and leaving a comment. I have found so many wonderful blogs this way. I hope you'll come back to junkblossoms again and again. Pat.

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  16. Anonymous8:33 PM EST

    I love those bowls!!!

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  17. Welcome home Sandra!
    It sounds as if you made wonderful memories. And i am sure more stories of your trip we have not heard yet!
    I bet Dave and the "kids' are happy you are home, too!
    xo, misha

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  18. Beautiful bowls but what are cat head biscuits?
    Your simple life is an enviable one, Sandra, the kind from my youth in Australia.............sheep & all!

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  19. Glad you made it home OK and enjoyed your trip!

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  20. Anonymous7:54 PM EST

    So glad you're home safe and had a good trip.

    I really like your blue bowls at the top of the post. I have one similar that I think was made by Rosewood? Really nice & heavy. I use it all the time.

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  21. Very much enjoyed the article about your farm in Country magazine! I am a needle felter and found your article very interesting. What a beautiful life! Thank you for sharing it with us.

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  22. Thanks, Affectioknit - great trip but glad to be home.

    Hi MountainHomeQuilts - as much as bowls can be "loved", these are loved.

    Hi Timi - the tea cozy is as useful as it is pretty.

    Hi Deanna - thanks for stopping by.

    Hi LindaSue - yes, but then you'd have nothing to wear, eh? -smile-

    Hi Marmielu - thanks for visiting Thistle Cove Farm and am so glad you've enjoyed yourself.

    Hi Penny - wonderful trip, about the time I figured out the Tube, it was time to come home.

    Hi Alice - unfortunately, I know 'exactly' what you mean. We've lived here almost 15 years and it's always been a struggle. Thankfully, decades ago, I decided to become the friend I've always wanted so now, between Jesus and me, I'm never lonely.

    Hi Kelly - yep, like you, I LOVE home!

    Hi KK - thanks for visiting, come back soon.

    Hi Garden of Daisies - wish you could have been at the markets with me; such FUN and amazing sights!

    Hi KathyB - how glad I am you and I have become e-friends; such pleasure you add to my life!

    Hi Carol - the bowl lip gives a very good sharp edge to a knife; so useful...twice!

    Hi Pat - not only am I returning to junkblossoms again and again, I'm becoming a follower...with pleasure. Thanks for visiting Thistle Cove Farm.

    Hi Marina - thanks, they are great bowls, aren't they? -smile-

    Hi Misha - you're right and will blog more about London later. It was a FABulous trip!

    Hi Roslyn - will tell you more about cat head biscuits but later and thanks for visiting Thistle Cove Farm. Tis a joy to be simple, tis a joy to be free as the old song goes. Thank God, because of Christ, I am both.

    Hi Leslie - great trip, thought of you often when you went to Bath.

    Hi Julie - not sure who "my" bowl makers are, will have to check.

    Hi Lovinclaydolls - thanks for reading that article; it was such fun keeping the diary for the mag. I've visited your site, your work is amazing!

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  23. mary from michigan5:56 PM EST

    Love the periwinkle bowls, I'm crazy about anything in that color; if I lived alone, my entire house would probably be painted in that color! And the tea cozy is darling!

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  24. Welcome back! I'm so glad you had a marvelous trip. I dream of one day wandering those wonderful markets of London. I love the bowls! They are such a beautiful color.

    Simple pleasures are best. I love the feel of a warm cup of tea in my hands, a blanket draped over my shoulders, and the sound of rain out my own window instead of the windows at work. This weekend was perfect for that.

    Jen

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  25. Welcome back! I've been away for a few days and am just now catching up.

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