Melancholy Day . . .

The melancholy started with this small pitcher.

I was driving down the highway the other day

and saw a sign for

HOPE Outlet. 

I turned around and pulled into

this used furniture, clothing, misc item outlet,

 parked the car and

 walked inside. 

I often look for small pitchers,

usually in white

  to use as vases for flowers. 

White seems to enhance the look

I enjoy

to showcase flowers.

I immediately saw two small pitchers and

the one above was marked 49 cents. 

This pitcher was marked 99 cents.

I began to realize it wouldn't be long and

 I would have a new collection on my hands.

The white pitcher above was one I purchased

 at an estate sale earlier this summer.

 (more cents, like dollars, still a steal)

THREE IS A COLLECTION, DON'T YOU THINK?

Back to the melancholy . . .  

I realized I was in "a full bloom" of heart filled memories.

My parents in their later years loved auctions. 

They enjoyed collecting pieces of

Haviland, lead crystal, fine silver and their favorite,

ROSEVILLE  

Although my interests were not the same as my parents

 my love of collecting, no doubt, came from them. 

In the past few years I have been attempting

 to clean things up and 

not have so much stuff here and there. 

(not so many collectibles out and about)

 I like my new look although

I have realized in the process

I have lost part of who I am

by putting so many things away.

This summer I have found 

I have been bringing back, bit by bit,

  some of the

"old me." 

 It feels right and good.

Someone once told me

. . ."never ever give all of your self away. . ." 

Back once again to the melancholy.

It set in big time

when I turned the 49 cent pitcher

over and saw

Meakin Ironstone, England

And into the hutch I went to find

mom and dad's collection of

Tea Leaf Meakin

The memories were overwhelming.

I pulled out this and that

and started clicking pictures.

 

A 1977 Norman Rockwell Plate

First Edition

The Toy Maker

My mom's handwriting where she was

listing the value of this plate.

Not current value for sure.

Plate collectibles which were popular in the

70's and 80's are sometimes "giveaways" today.

I have most all of my parents

collections of plates

and mine as well. 

Oh my !! 

Some milk glass pieces

from my mom's collection.

 

Silver bread and butter knives in various patterns.

I was swept away with memories of my

loving family who once was.

The memories are the gifts that remain.

Dad died in 1968 and mom died in 1996.

My brother lives in Iowa.

We see each other as often as we can

but less than in the old days

when we 

traveled more

 to the cabin

skiing

boating

sailing

and 

all those other things

which made up our life as

FAMILY

Today

the hutch has new touches

of the old

and my heart

is dancing with

HAPPY MEMORIES