Music Box via Savers

Found this at Savers for $2.99.  It spoke to me, of course, right off the bat, however, I left it, went back, etc. and finally decided to commit even though it was over $1.

It's a music box.  Don't ask what song it plays.  I think it would be even more cool if you turned the knob-thingy and typing sounds came out of it.

She reminds me of Marianne in "The Music Man."

There's tissue stuffed in the bottom of it; not sure what that's about, but it seems to work fine.  Hello, functional art? Not sure about that...but she speaks to me.  Not because of her bun, or high heels; not even because of her very casual writing-wear...but because she owns a cool typewriter and appears to have the time she needs to write her novel, without many distractions.  Talk about luxury.  That's the life right there.  If she has an ocean view and is within walking distance of a taco shop, even better.

I don't think the year 1983 had any clue what the future held...as far as distractions and technology go...they seemed to think flying cars and robot-maids were the next big thing...as least that's what I gather from watching "The Jetsons".

Part of me envies her and another part of me cringes at the thought of her having to walk to the library, go through card catalogues and microfiche in order to do her research, when if she was a modern writer, she could just whip out her i-gadgets and be done with it, allowing her ample time to beat the taco shop rush.

However, she's an inanimate object, so what she doesn't know, won't hurt her.  She's free to be blissfully ignorant and type, type, type, away.

Ancestry-ology

I found this amazing photograph on Ancestry.com.  I got a wild hair and started researching my family tree again; not sure what triggered it, but it resulted in me buying a basic month of Ancestry.com.  I downloaded the app as well, which is free.  It's my new crack.  I stay up late fixated on the leaf "hints" that are profuse throughout the software and when clicked on bring up previously saved documents, shedding even more light on ones ancestors.  I would need to fork out more money to buy the world membership, thus allowing me to see or download other documents. However the "hints" allow you to see names on past censuses which can allow you to add more names to your family tree.  It took me 10 generations on my dad's side of the family to get out of the United States and into Scotland, so I was able to gather a ton of information with just the basic membership; however this addiction for ancestry-knowledge is propelling me to want to buy a world membership.  Scottish people are very good at keeping track of their genealogy.

So back to the photograph.  So, the sister on the far left is my grandmother's grandmother.  I can see the resemblance.  The one on the far right has the same married name as my great-great-grandmother; so they were also sister-in-laws, how cute.

Ever since I was a child I've had a hunger to know about my ancestry.  Eventually I went into Marriage and Family Therapy because I was naturally intrigued by family dynamics and family history.  Sometimes I ask myself "Waz up?". It's not about the past, it's about present family relationships and making sure those are good.  Why does all this history matter?

My aunt, who is the great-granddaughter of the above, loves Ireland and she really doesn't know why.  Maybe there's a connection somewhere that I'll find and it will make sense.

Personally I'm sure that when there is enough time to fuel my addiction even more, I will discover that I'm related to J.K. Rowling.  The other side of my dad's tree is part of the Swinton line from Scotland.

Which, speaking of addictions, one of mine, Houzz.com has a really cool article by Catherine Macaulay about a castle in Scotland that real people live in.  It's one of the coolest things I've ever seen. http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/31828567/list/my-houzz-winging-it-in-a-scottish-castle.

Apparently, I need to add visiting Scotland to my bucket list.  Disneyland with my daughter, is first.
There are castles there too.

Pink Goblet via Honolulu, HI

My mom found this for .50 or $1, she doesn't remember which. She found it at Goodwill in Honolulu, HI.  She, my brother, and sister in law a.k.a "Uncle Mary" went there in honor of myself, who was not jealous they were in Honolulu as I went to work and lived my doldrum life, shopping at my non-tropical Goodwill.

I was proud of my mom, who knew I would enjoy this vintage piece.  I've seen a few online at Etsy and eBay. A set of 4 is going on eBay for $16.50.  Another set of 4 on eBay is going for about $35. I saw only one on eBay going for about $15 as well.  Good job mom! None of them say in their description they came from Honolulu though; pretty cool.

A brief thought crossed my mind about going to all the Goodwill stores in every state and if this is a worthy goal, worthy of this short life.  I don't think it could hurt...stopping at the local Goodwill store if one happens to be in that state, for other worthy reasons, such as visiting friends or family, or for business related reasons...or just for a family vacation.

Here's a picture my mom took in Hawaii.  I can't think of any reasons I should want to go there...especially now that I know that Honolulu, HI itself has several Goodwill stores...

See what I mean? What's so special and appealing about Hawaii is beyond me.  I'm glad I stayed home and stayed true to my normal routine.  Going off beaten paths is for the the birds.  Speaking of birds, apparently, in Hawaii there are chickens that run wild.  Isn't that so cute?

My mom knew that lately I've come to appreciate "Depression Glass", which was a cheaper form of glass that was mass made in the Depression era. It's easily found at thrift stores although from what I've come to see sometimes it's priced kind of high, so I usually just buy it if it's on sale.

If you Google "Depression Glass" it will give you tons of information and images.  Some collectible things are not aesthetically pleasing, but in my humble, uneducated opinion, Depression Glass is appealing to the eye, although some items aren't as functional in today's culture, which I guess is true of a lot of vintage items. It does have a minimalist look that is appealing as well.  It's beautiful and has a unique, pretty look, without being too frilly or gaudy, as some antique items are.

As always I wonder about the previous owners of these items, that come into my possession.  Goodwill is probably not overly curious about the immense amount of history that walks through their doors everyday.  What is neat is that they give items a chance to live on and continue to create history, instead of being tossed away.

Our culture definitely seems to be reckoning to its past and the days of old, where vintage items are symbolic of a culture that was more simple than it is today.  It makes sense why we want to have a piece of this part of our past, because a lot of it is non-existent now, except for the oral traditions, the pictures, and the items that we pass down from generation to generation and the historians who try to preserve the memory of these items and the people and time they represented.

I hope that I can find a twin for my pink goblet.  Only she knows where her other siblings are and how they came to be separated.  Maybe fate will help her reunite with a long lost sister.  If not, she has other cousins in my closet that she can reminisce with.  Someday she'll have a hutch or something of that nature where she'll be proudly displayed and/or used.

Which reminds me of a story about dinnerware and glass, real quick, and then I'll be done.
So, my husband and I registered for our wedding gifts at Dillard's and Target.  Someone told us we should register at both, so we did.  The lady that helped us register at Dillard's didn't seem to mind that we were keen on all the Fiesta ware, but she was also insistent that we register for China.  I tried to explain to her that I'm not really a China kind of girl, but she was having none of it and said we needed at least one style of China for entertaining; Again not an entertainer by nature; a people-pleaser, yes, so I spent several minutes looking over all the China options behind the glass walls, until I was able to narrow my choices down to two options, and then one.  I proudly told the lady my China choice, thinking she'd be proud of me too for picking something which fit my personality.

She looked at my choice and stated: "Well, that's so casual, you might as well just stick with the Fiesta.".

BTW I've tried to find Fiesta at Goodwill but haven't had any luck :( yet....

Green Vintage Candy Dish

I found this for $1 at Goodwill because yesterday purple and blue were $1.  I love Thursdays! It took awhile but I finally found it's twin going on eBay for about $35. Since I don't know yet how to sell on eBay, it occurred to me that maybe I should use the things I buy instead of have them sit in the back of my closet with my wedding dress and great-grandmother's quilt. I intend to hang up the quilt but need to find a place on my wall that's not hit too much by direct sunlight.  I feel so out of my league sometimes in loving and caring for vintage items.

I don't want to be a mini-hoarder or a real hoarder.  Every item has a story, whether we know it or not.  When it comes from Goodwill one can only imagine the travels the item has taken in its life.  For vintage items, like this one...it's been a long life.  It's outlived my grandmother's who owned it without breaking or cracking or getting tossed out with other junk or trash...and it finds itself on a shelf at Goodwill.  I'm sure it got to be a candy-dish at one point, probably earlier in it's life.  Who knows how long it's sat in a cupboard or hutch, looking pretty, because now as a vintage item, it's job is to look pretty, and not break.  I wish I knew its story and the story of its owner(s) who loved it and bought it or received it as a gift.

I don't think it belongs in the back of my closet until the day I decide to learn how to sell stuff on eBay, but I don't want it to break, get lost or stolen.  The cats would have a hey-day with it.  If I put candy in it their little paws would have no end of fun trying to get all the candy out, onto the floor and spread around the house.  If I put little scraps of paper in it, even better, from their perspective.

I guess I need to invest in a hutch.  Not sure when I might find one at Goodwill, or somewhere else.  If I could quit my day job to hutch-hunt, I would.  I think I missed my calling somehow.  I've been doing some thinking about that and how items reflect our culture (Material-Culture).

I'm pretty sure I was meant to be a hutch-hunting studier of Material-Culture/Recorder.
Oh well, for now I need to focus on one thing at a time...
My priority is to find a place on my wall for that quilt.