Treasures and Their Uses

While we were in Minnesota, we didn't stay all the time with the grand girls!

Piper after all napped a lot!

And Lucy went to "school"

So we went to some of our favorite haunts

in Eden Prairie, Chanhassen and Hopkins

I brought home . .  .

A nice basket

I adore baskets

But not just any old basket

This, to me, seemed special!

A watercolor

I adore handprinted pictures

especially of the English countryside

which this one was

Lovely colors, too!

Two hurricanes

How could I pass them up for $2.50 total?

A clam shell full of shells

I admit that I'm a shell junky!

Lots are from trips to beaches

(but if I find an interesting one, I'm not a purist --

shells don't have to be ones I find!)

A Johnson Brothers Indies Gravy Boat

Indies is our breakfast china

Why a gravy boat for breakfast china, you might ask

We are, after all, in the southern midwest --

Haven't you heard of biscuits and gravy for breakfast?

A cutting board

handprinted with European figures

Scandinavian I would think, but I may be wrong

However, there are a lot of Scandinavians in Minnesota . . .

A Wardian  case fitted for a fairy garden

It was cute and you couldn't even buy the base for what I paid!

And I love these and have longed for one for a long time!

A hand crocheted afghan

because you can always use another

when the winters get cold!

And the colors are perfect for our living room!

And do these finds go in the black hole of storage

Or do I find a use for them?

The basket in the dining room which will hold wine corks . . . 

I had something smaller there and I wanted room to grow!

I like the size of these hurricanes on the dining room table

with a bowl of fruit . . . or perhaps a vase of flowers

They give a "country vibe" to the room

Tucked into a corner of the living room bookcases

It's my first "clam shell" and I was excited to find it!

Stacked on top of the Indies plates

Ready for the next time biscuits and gravy is on the breakfast menu!

With the rest of my collection of cutting boards

Upstairs in the sunroom

I'm looking for some wee plants to put in it

So it can truly be a Wardian case!

The light should be good here for whatever I decide to plant!

And the afghan is tucked away with our others

It's far too hot to keep them out

Awaiting late September and a cool evening!

And the picture?

It sits on a chair in the dining room

I've not decided where to put it.

It is an original watercolor by Clara Bushnell, painted in 1950

(so it's almost 65 years old -- almost an antique!)

And I love the picture

But what I like most about it is what's on the back . . .

"Historic Chillham Castle and Church --
Built on site and part of wall - where the
Romans fought the Battle of the River B.C. 556
This properly has been willed from Kings to their kin thru
the old Roman Wall is preserved also Roman Keep.
Our ancestry dates back to the early 14th century
in the Church - where two windows have the
coat of arms - to one Robt Ensigne.   The Castle 
designed by a very noted architect - and in
1950 is occupied by a render, Lord Kilear
for 12 years ambassador to China from Britain
I have made this watercolor from a tiny snap
shot and knowledge of the scenery and history
after our trip there and seeing 1st handed
It cannot be called copying except in
the castle which is difficult from all angles
The Church of Goth - mixed architecture
with old graves and all preserved - even new
pews.   The castle has 11 bathrooms
and central heating - massive
oak paneled walls.   marble floor

written, I assume, by Clara and kept
for these 65 years on the back of the picture!
I shall continue to do so!

It's Monday and I'm sharing my treasures and their uses with Susan at Between Naps On the Porch for Met Monday.