Nov 23, 2012

Who Knew What You Would Find?

Our dear Mimi passed from this life on September 26 this year at the ripe old age of 92. In fact her birthday was September 22.  She was semi-comatose at that time but still responding with the shake of her head or squeezing your hand,  and she knew it was her birthday and that her sister had made the long trip from the San Antonio area to see her that weekend. 

In the days since her passing we have cleaned the closets and drawers and been amazed at how much stuff she kept in such a small house. Every nook and cranny was packed.  It has been overwhelming!  Last weekend, we had an estate sale.  It was a two day affair, and late Friday evening --at the end of day 1--my little granddaughter commented that we hadn't sold very much.  I told her that I thought we had sold a lot, we just started out with a lot to sell. We sold much more on Saturday, and we have sold more items since then and had things picked up, and we still will have a BIG garage sale next week. 

One thing that Mimi collected was salt and pepper shakers. She had a lot of them of all types and styles.  The girls were aware of something in the attic of the shop.  Imagine their surprise when they retrieved a bag full of salt and pepper shakers?  And these were not just any salt and peppers.  They were obviously old and dirty. And they were all chalkware.  They had me washing glassware and dishes in preparation for the sale.  Well, we researched right quick and found out two things. One, you do not wash chalkware.  Two, it was made around the 1930's and was popular again in the 70's. Judging by Mimi's age, the condition of these pieces, and when she would have been collecting it, we decided that this is 1930's and 40's vintage.We also opted to use a soft dry brush to clean it as much as possible.

Pair of Skunks For Sale HERE


Westward Ho!

Indian Tepees



Red Devils

footballs listed on ebay.

Last night I listed some of the remaining sets on eBay.  I really hope these can go to a good home with someone who collects vintage chalkware and appreciates it.

There are probably eight more sets that I will be photographing and listing this weekend.

There were so many treasures it was hard to take them all in, and certainly hard at the moment to appreciate all of them,










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Sep 11, 2012

It's Band Season!

In the music store business, there are basically three seasons--Christmas,(or the pre-Christmas shopping season), Band Season (when school starts and the new band students get their instruments)and the rest of the year. 

Well, at Mr. Bandman Music we have survived (or endured) the rest of the year for 2012. And now it is Band Season! This starts in a small way the first of August when marching band practice begins and kids need reeds, oils, lyres, and flip folders for their instruments.  Now school has started and the beginner band students are looking for their instruments.  Band is in full swing!

At Mr. Bandman Music Store in Silsbee, Tx, we are proud to be an affiliate of NEMC.  As such, we offer an excellent rent-to-own plan for beginner band instruments.  We have a large selection of new and like-new instruments that are all well-known name brand instruments.  We have Selmer and Vito saxophones, Gemeinhart Flutes, King, Selmer, and Olds brass.  We also have some of the Jupiter instruments that many band directors are recommending now.



You will be happy to learn that there is no interest on any NEMC instrument, and with the damage waiver fee that is part of your payment each month, there is no added charge for repairs to your instrument.

I have to admit that I questioned the difference between like-new and used for a long time.  There is a difference.  The like-new horns have been restored to like-new condition.  You would be hard put to tell which horn is new and which is like-new.  Plus, the like-new instruments have a new warranty which goes into effect when you make the final payment and own the instrument.  While you are paying on the instrument. it is covered by the damage waiver fee. 

Visit us at our NEW location: 350 N. 4th St., Silsbee. Tx.
Just 2 doors north of the historic Pines Theater

We often hear parents and/or grandparents say they don't want to spend too much until they see if the student is going to stay with it.  We understand this thinking, but also know that having a good dependable instrument can make the difference in how well your student does.  A student who does well is more likely to stay with it. By renting a good name-brand instrument, you give your student the best chance to excel in band.  And, if they only play it for a short time, you can turn it in and have now further obligation,

This year NEMC has made it possible for you to fill out your contract and make your initial payment on line. Just go to http://www.nemc.com/ or http://www.nemc.com/mr-bandman-music-co/
If you don't see you school in our area, let us know.  If you live somewhere else, you will be directed to an affiliate in your area or can even rent a "horn" directly from NEMC if there is no affiliate in your area.

Look for our Big Yellow Banner at the new location


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Aug 28, 2012

Change is in the Air!

The times they are a changing!

Things have been really crazy here the last 2 or 3 weeks.  First of all, we decided to move Mr. Bandman Music to a new location.  We found a really neat smaller building downtown just 2 doors north of the Pines theater.  The address is 350 N. 4th St.  It is just a fraction of a mile down the street from our present location.  We hope to concentrate more on band instrument repair, along with having the accessories for band instruments--reeds,oils,etc. and guitar strings and picks.  

We've been greatly impressed with the new Ventura guitars and plan to keep a few new acoustic guitars in stock, as well as an occasional used guitar.  We can also order some super great violins from the same company that makes the Ventura guitars.  They are highly recommended.  Our catalog order department will allow you to purchase all sorts of guitars, amps, drum sets, what have you. 


We will continue to have a fantastic rental-purchase plan on school band instruments as an affiliate of NEMC.  We have been an NEMC affiliate almost as long as we have been in business.  They have an outstanding rental-purchase program that is a 0 interest plan.  You can check out them out at www.nemc.com.  You can even rent an instrument on line, and we we will deliver it to your child's school in our area.  We will also have used band instruments for sale.  You will be happy to know that all of our  used band instruments have been through our shop and have a 90 day warranty.  They are all well known name brand band instruments, too.


We are excited to be moving. The new building is better suited to our needs, and we look forward to seeing our area customers there real soon. We plan on being open for business there later this week--Saturday, Sept. 1 for sure.

The second big change is Hazel's HodgePodge is no more.  We had a big garage sale in preparation for our move.  A man came along and agreed to buy all of my HodgePodge inventory.  I may have an item or two or three left around to sell,but for the most part, I am out of business.  It really leaves a hollow here--both in the need to try to list and sell all that "stuff" and the physical presence of all those boxes to move and store.  I will definitely have more time for other projects and endeavors. As soon as we complete the Mr. Bandman Music move, I will be busy removing everything pertaining to Hazel's HodgePodge from the internet.


We have had a few set backs with health issues the past couple of weeks, but we are still excited over the move and confident that the "winds of change" will blow nothing but good our way.

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Aug 15, 2012

Add Some Sunshine--and Some Spice-- to Your Table

Last week on the ESN scavenger hunt we were looking for things about dining.  I am slower than slow, and just now looking through my fellow scavenger hunter's stores for dining related items. I decided to also find some things that might also relate to this week's subject of smiles.

The first item I found was at Bargain Express.  I always like bright yellow objects. Especially on  a dreary or cloudy day, something yellow makes me smile and seems like a little spot of sunshine.
Add some sunshine to your table with this pair of cups and saucers
from Bargain Express

Next I came across this cute set from Le Petit Marche.  These chili peppers could add a bright spot to your table and bring a smile to the faces of your guests.
Salt, Pepper, and Oil are perfect for Tex-Mex or Southwest Dining

Add to your dining experience and put a smile on your face with items from the ESN stores.

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Aug 14, 2012

What Makes You Smile?

The scavenger hunt on ESN this week is for a sale item that has to do with smiling.  I like to think that everything I have listed at Hazel's HodgePodge, and even all the stuff I have collected in boxes to list, will bring a smile to someone's face.  We hope that each and every one of our items will be "a treasure to brighten someone's day",when they find the piece to complete their collection , a replacement for the broken item, something that brings back good memories, or just the right finishing touch for their new or retro decor.

What makes you smile?  Sometimes it's hearing something slightly funny or cute.  Sometimes it's getting a gift or having someone think of you or do something special for you.  Sometimes it's finding something special you are looking for, or even remembering good times from the past, or anticipating good times to come.

As a teenager, I enjoyed walking down Houston St. in downtown San Antonio (where everyone went to shop before the days of shopping malls) and smiling at the people I passed.  It was good to see them smile back.  This holds true today. Going through Wal-Mart, or anywhere you meet people, even if only in passing, try sharing a smile with them.

By way of reminscing--there was a hatter somewhere along Houston Street back then who had a mirror placed strategically above the sidewalk so you saw yourself coming.  It read : "look at your hat, everyone else does."  It could have said, look at your smile, or attitude; everyone else does.

Here are two of my items for sale,that share a smile or at least a weird facial expression.
Does Red have a crooked smile...or what?
See and buy this M&M candy jar HERE.

Ernie has a happy smile on his way to your birthday party with a gift.
Buy this cake pan HERE for that special party.

Look through the offerings at Hazel's HodgePodge and the other vendors at ESN to find something that will make you smile--"a treasure to brighten your day".  You can be sure that your purchase will bring a smile to the seller's face, as well as making you smile when your package arrives.




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Aug 12, 2012

Retro Dining

The scavenger hunt on ESN last week was for things related to dining.  This a good subject for someone with a store like Hazel's HodgePodge where we have all kinds of dishes,china,glassware, and also cookbooks, with more and more waiting to be listed.  I am just slow as usual about getting my blog together.

I recently acquired some FireKing cups and saucers.  These made me think of some of the dishes we had when I was a kid.  Of course we all sat down at the kitchen table for supper every evening.  We ate breakfast and lunch at the same kitchen table which was covered with oil cloth which was periodically replaced with a new piece from the neighborhood dime store.  Winn's was a south central Texas 5 and dime which had stores in the various neighborhood like the Dollar stores do today. Their slogan was: "Save a trip to town; shop at Winn's."  I even clerked at a Winn"s store while in high school, fulfilling on of my early ambitions.

Some other things we used for everyday meals was a set of various colored aluminum tumblers.  The ones we used most were a set of 4 shorter ones.  But Mama accumulated a set of 8 taller tumblers and a pitcher from the Borden's Milkman.  I am not sure if these were free or reduced price with the milk we bought several times a week.  I do remember the home delivery of  milk and ice--back when we had a real "ice box".
I remember getting green jade-ite and gold peach lustre fire-king dishes out of the oatmeal.  We had fire-king coffee cups and saucers and cereal bowls,  For Sunday dinner at Grandma's we set the round table in the dining room more formally and used the "good" dishes, which I have since learned were the Mildred pattern and came from the Kress store downtown.  Grandma and Mama both had some of these dishes.

Later Mama got dishes in the green Old Curiosity Shop pattern at the HEB grocery.  HEB, pronounced as initials aitch, e, bee, is a south Texas company.  You got pieces each week with your groceries, and both Mama and my aunt collected them for Mama.  My youngest daughter has these dishes today, and she has even found pieces to add to the set.  As even more time passed and I got married, Mama got me  a set of Onieda stainless steel flatware.  You might guess that in the early 1960's we got it with trading stamps.  I know S& H green stamps were popular across the country, and we got S & H green stamps some places we shopped--notably Piggly Wiggly, but the "silverware" was bought with Texas Gold Stamps from HEB.  There was even a Texas Gold Stamp Center attached to the HEB store in our neighborhood.  We got a lot of things with Texas Gold and S&H Green stamps.

The Fire-King cup and saucer that started these remembrances.
See and buy them here.

Check out our glassware at Hazel's HodgePodge to see more pieces of Fire-King.  Also take a look at ESN   for more items to enhance your dining experience.










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Jul 11, 2012

Soap Dishes!

Pin ItThe ESN Scavenger hunt this week is for items that connect with "splish splash I was taking a bath".
Well, I have two counts against me before I even got started. One, I am running half a week late.  Two, I have absolutely nothing in my store right now that I can remotely relate to bath time.  So, I decided to go scavenger hunting for soap dishes among the scavenger hunter stores.  I hit pay dirt right quick when I visited CarolinaBlueLady Vintage Collectibles.  She has a number of beautiful Avon soap dishes listed for sale.

I especially like this one and the little bird soaps that come with it.  You may have seen this in a TV commercial not too long ago. We've all heard the adage: "a bird in the hand is worth two in a bush"
See and buy this dish Here!

Everyone wants to make their bathroom  as attractive as possible.  You can find all kinds of bath related products among the sellers at ESN. (Just not right now at Hazel's HodgePodge.But we do have a wide assortment of items and will be adding more)


Jun 29, 2012

K-9 playing cards

We are continuing our search for puppies this week for the ESN scavenger hunt,

I came across this really unique deck of cards at La Petite Marche.  Isn't this the cutest little pink puppy as a case for the cards?  This features a different breed of dog on each card; making it a  neat deck of cards for the dog fancier in your life.  It would also be good for young children to learn to identify the various breeds of dogs.  Whether you play cards with the deck, keep it as a collectible, or use it to learn about dog breeds this is a truly different set of playing cards for you to enjoy.





See it HERE!


Be sure to take a look at the various stores on ESN. There are stores that specialize in a certain product or type of product and there are many that have a good assortment of collectibles and vintage items.  chances are that you will find what you are looking for at ESN.

Jun 25, 2012

How Much is That Doggie...

Pin ItESN scavenger hunt this week is for"Puppies".
The only "puppy" in my store, Hazel's HodgePodge, right now is this  stylized Basset Hound figurine. Don"t you love his soulful eyes?  
Check out this adorable pooch HERE!
I did enough research to find that a basset hound has a superb sense of smell, second only to a blood hound, and the word basset means "rather low". Bass meaning low.

Some dog lover, and/or hound fancier should like to have this cutie.

I have always been partial to collies, but we've also had an Irish Setter, a Beagle, and several other really neat dogs. I know there are fanciers of every breed of dog.

The nose on this figurine reminds me of a picture we have of my son with his Irish Setter way back when. You look at it and say "Like Master, like Dog".  

Also thinking about our dog's names.  You can bet the Irish Setter was called "Red".  We got a collie pup when the kids were small.  Even though "Dad" and I wanted another name, you guessed it, she was "Lassie."



Now when we see a doggie at a garage sale, Hubby likes to sing, "How much is that doggie in the window"?

Jun 15, 2012

Swimming in Thunder Bay


In keeping with our ESN scavenger hunt theme of swimming this week I went in search of things aquatic.  I doubt that Thunder Bay is a place to swim but it  does look like a real thriller--A mystery that will really hold your attention. The paperback book,  Thunder Bay  by William Kent Krueger, is available from Sirocco's Curios.  



Check it out HERE!
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Jun 11, 2012

A Swimming We Will Go!

Pin ItThe ESN theme this week is swimming. We used to sing a little ditty "A-hunting we will go, we'll catch a little fox and put him in a box, and never let him go.   We can change that around a bit to "A-Swimming  we will go,We'll catch a little turtle and put him in our jewelry box, and never let him go.  (Just don't want to catch him on our toe!)
See more detail and purchase here
This fine specimen of a turtle makes a really attractive brooch pin. It is a vibrant green on gold, and can add just the touch of color you need for your ensemble.  Or some youngster can treasure it as a novelty pin. It is a cute item.

Be sure to check out our friends at ESN. You never know what you might find whether it has to do with swimming or not.

Jun 9, 2012

Household Tips and Home Improvements


This week at ESN we are scavenger hunting for things to do with housecleaning. This has been a real challenge,  and to our credit, we have had some very creative approaches to the topic.

I felt sure I could find something appropriate at Comyc Gyrl Collectibles and she did not fail me.  This neat book is one I would like to look at. I am all for picking up tips to make things easier and being a true SHE (per flylady: SHE=Sidetracked Home Executive) I can use all the help I can get. 

ComycGyrl also has a number of books on Home Improvement, repair, and renovation, if you want to go one step further than housecleaning.


You can find all kinds of things among the ESN sellers.  We would be thrilled to have you drop by and shop with us.
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Check it out HERE!

Jun 4, 2012

Housecleaning without a Hassle

Pin ItThis week we are concerned with House cleaning on our ESN scavenger hunt.
I am featuring this Cherub Clock as my contribution to " Housecleaning".  This is not a usual tool for housecleaning, but according to Flylady you can do anything for 15 minutes.  By cleaning clutter (or anything else) for 15 minutes at a time and following daily routines you can have a clean, uncluttered home.  A number of years ago my house was in a worse shambles than usual.  It, I'm sad to say, bordered on filthy, and I was tired and depressed.  There seemed to be no hope.  Then I came across a Dear Abby column in the local paper telling about flylady. I looked it up and tried some "babysteps" and some basic routines.  I even ordered Flylady's timer and calendar.  The place became much more livable and my depression lifted.  I have never been a full fledged "flybaby", but I do enough to keep things going, and I extol the virtues of Flylady every chance I get.  Since being at my mother-in-law's and seeing after her needs and appointments in addition to ours, I especially see the value of routines to get the everyday things done and a calendar to make sure we schedule everyone's activities and appointments with no conflicts.
This is a fine whimsical clock to keep track of your fifteen minute challenges or it is a nice addition to your nice clean, well organized home after Flylady. 
See more details and purchase here.
We have many more decorator items and collectibles at Hazel's HodgePodge.
Also take a look at our friend's stores on ESN.  You will find such an assortment of merchandise. There is sure to be something for everyone.

Jun 2, 2012

Love is a Song for Mother

Pin ItContinuing the Singing theme on ESN this week, we went scavenger hunting in the stores of our fellow ESN bloggers.  Right quick I found this fine collectible at Carolina BlueLady Vintage Collectibles.

What can be nicer than sweet young voices in song and what better than a Song for mother!  Love is a Song for Mother.  That has to be so special for any mother.
See this Avon collectible plate here.

May 29, 2012

Singing--off key and Remembering the good times!

Pin ItAs I was looking through my eCrater store for an item to go along with this week's ESN theme of singing I came across this pair of black and white cows outfitted in full western regalia. You might well ask what these have to do with singing...or music of any kind. Well, they triggered memories of "way back when" I was just a little girl.  Remember riding across Zarzarmora Street in San Antonio going to or from my grandmother's and singing "I'm an old cowhand from the Rio Grande".  We only sang a small snatch of the song and from what I can find now we didn't even sing it right word-wise. I remember puzzling over how someone could ride (a horse) before they could stand. Mama explained that my little brother had ridden (in the car) before he could stand.  I had no idea until just now the origin of the song and that it was a spoof, I only knew and remembered the phrase we sang as a family.  And it was no doubt off key as well as the wrong lyrics.  We were not a family of singers.
Daddy had been  a real cowboy in his earlier life and he would sing "Get along little doggie, yippee,yi oh kyah!" and taught brother and I a crazy song that went  "Sheep and a hog, walking in a pasture. Sheep says "Hog, can't you walk a little faster?" Hog says, "Huh?"Hog says "Huh!"  Researching that I come up with a fiddle tune called "Sheep and Hogs Walking Through a Pasture."  I can only guess that Daddy made up the lyrics...Maybe so, maybe no...

Here's my "cowpoke" cows, that triggered my memories.
Purchase them HERE!

May 23, 2012

My Store--Hazel's HodgePodge

Pin ItMost of you know that among other things I am a private tutor.  My main focus  is on reading disabilities, especially dyslexia, and teaching beginning readers.  However, this spring much of my tutoring time has been spent helping students improve their writing skills. I am working with a GED student on developing an essay, and I have a 4th grader who needed work on putting together sentences and paragraphs.  I don't think we learned such a formal approach to writing an essay when I was in school.  Maybe that is why freshman college English put so much emphasis on writing. (And was so hard for so many of us.)Anyway one prompt I worked with recently was about starting and naming a business.  I proceeded to apply the prompt to my business and answer the questions.

1.  Write down the name of your store and why you chose that name.
     Hazel's HodgePodge
     I chose the name Hazel's HodgePodge for two reasons. First, I think it sounds good.   Secondly, I have so many different types of things to sell, and HodgePodge means an assortment.  It is very seldom that I have two of the same item to sell. There are other words for a random assortment of things, such as olio, mishmash, jumble, or collection.  Again, none of these have the alliteration of Hazel's HodgePodge. Thus the choice of the name for my store.

2.  Describe what it is that your store sells. Do you sell things or provide a service?
    I sell things in my store, but I also strive to provide superb service.  I shop at garage sales, estate sales, and flea markets to find collectibles and vintage items.  I have replacement china and glassware, along with other kitchen items, decorator items such as pictures, lamps, and boxes, toys, dolls, games, and more. Clothes are not my specialty, but I even have a few clothes and shoes in my stock. You will find clocks, cookie jars, Christmas ornaments, and music boxes at Hazel's HodgePodge.   As far as service goes, we make sure all our merchandise is clean, and we describe it in detail. When the customer makes an order, they can expect prompt delivery of a well packaged item that is exactly as described.

3. Describe who your store benefits.
   Since Hazel's HodgePodge is mainly an on-line store, it benefits those who like to shop from home. The vast array of vintage and collectible items benefits collectors who need that special "something" to complete or add to their collection.  Maybe you are looking for a replacement piece for your old set of dishes. You could certainly benefit from shopping at Hazel's HodgePodge. My store also benefits anyone who is looking for something nostalgic or anyone who is looking for that unique item to complete their decor.  We



May 21, 2012

Misty Eyes,Best Friends, and Hugs

Pin ItI've missed  out on more than a few weeks of blogging and ESN scavenger hunts.   I spent over a month "working" at "regular" job. It was only regular in trying to get in a 40 hour week and in getting a regular pay check. I worked at home and set my own hours within the time frame set by the company.  I will say that these old eyes needed more rest than at the same computer work 10 or 12 years ago AND it sure seemed to be harder to get in hours at home than when I spent consecutive hours at their facility.  The good part was not spending gas and time to travel to and from work, being able to rest my eyes every hour or two, and even though I couldn't give her direct attention while I was working, I was here in the house with Mimi and able to cater to her needs and wants during rest breaks.  I was also able to take off for lunch at the senior citizen center  each day. We've come to take that for granted now.

Anyway,    I'm Baaack and looking at the ESN scavenger hunt topic this week.  I think they get harder and harder to find. The topic this week is Misty.  My thoughts turned to "misty eyed" and I found two items in my store that go along with that theme. The first is a wall plaque that I think is cute. The handmade-ness of it makes it desirable to some. Seeing the two friends hugging made me think of how sometimes when you are distraught and/or misty-eyed for whatever reason how good it is to have a good friend to just give you a big hug.
Purchase this for your special friend
The second item is a holder for your tissues to dry those misty eyes. It is a unique southwestern themed item.
Add to your southwest decor and keep those tissues handy.
Never know when you will mist up and need one.
Stop by ESN and shop with our friends there. They have a huge assortment of things for sale.  Also take a look around Hazel's HodgePodge.
It's good to be back and we hope to do more listing now.  Since I know now I can get a good amount of time in on a job each week, I should be able to get more time in on my store if I put my mind to it.

Apr 3, 2012

Jumpin' Frogs!

The ESN topic this week is FROGS! Horrors! I don't have a single frog listed on my ecrater store--Hazel's HodgePodge.   Maybe there is a frog somewhere in my boxes, but it would be an exercise in futility to look for it now. Sometimes I think  the only frog around here is me.  I jump around here everyday like a frog. (actually, I have another analogy for how things go here, but we won't go there now.)  I have so many things going on that I seem to do justice to none of them.  I have been considering a garage sale here, but can't seem to find an open date and good weather for it. I was considering yesterday dropping the ecrater store, or at least the time for promotion on it.  This morning I am writing a blog and doing the ESN tasks. Talk about jumping around like a frog!
Come to think of it, I did have  a neat deviled egg plate that featured frogs sometime back,but, fortunately for me at the time, or unfortunately as I write this blog, I have sold it already. I do still have an Easter type deviled egg plate-complete with bunny salt and pepper shakers. Someone needs to get this to use for Easter. It will add to my Easter dinner table, I'd rather someone else have it.
Grab it now, in time for Easter!
Take a Look at ESN for last minute Easter items and for Frogs and related items.


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Mar 18, 2012

What do you read?

The ESN scavenger hunt this week is on reading.
I used to be an avid reader.  Daddy used to fuss at me that I was going to ruin my eyes reading so much. He was also the parent who loved to read. He teased that he or I "had a yarn by the tale (tail)" when we would read a book in one sitting. Mama read to brother and I when we were small and she was one to read magazine articles or romance magazines, but I don't recall her reading books or novels. She would take us to the Public library and bring home stacks of books for Daddy.  He would sit up late reading said books. I also read to my youngsters--I think I read Walt Disney's Peter Pan at least a zillion times!  I also read the books the kids carried home from the school library. I was on whatever level of reading they were on through upper elementary and jr. high school years.  We all enjoyed Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House Books before the TV series. We even read the books written by Mrs.Wilder's daughter, Rose Wilder Lane.
Another favorite I would like to find and re-read was  The Summer of the Monkeys.  I don't know who wrote it or for sure that is the exact title, but it was a really funny book.

In more recent years, there have been times when I needed to upgrade glasses and have not done as much reading or sewing as in the past.(Maybe I did ruin my eyes reading, but I think it is age and heredity.)Even more recently, my attention span has gotten shorter and shorter. I think this partly due to watching news on TV and reading short items on the internet.  It is so hard to concentrate to read even a short article.
As a result, I sometimes look at a magazine, but you might say my reading is limited to what is required for my tutoring sessions and reading the labels and marks on the merchandise for Hazel's HodgePodge.

My kid's grandpa told me once that when he was a child and they visited his paternal grandparents, the table was set with the plates upside down.  His grandfather would say grace, and when he asked his mother what he was saying, she told him that he was reading what was on the bottom of the plate. I don't know the why or where-for of this scenario, but now we do a lot of reading the bottom of the plates and other items at garage sales before purchasing something.


Bavarian China Platter has rare marking


This platter and its partner were made in occupied Bavaria after WWII
between 1945 and 1949.

I know that a lot of my friends at ESN have a good selection of books for your reading pleasure. Take a look there if you are looking for things to read, either for pleasure or information.



Mar 16, 2012

Pancakes and Syrup! Ummm! Good!

This week for our ESN scavenger hunt we are thinking Breakfast. Several of my fellow scavenger hunters have already posted some really good breakfast ideas.  One of my favorite breakfasts, (or breakfast for supper), is pancakes. Pancakes with lots of butter and syrup, and served with sausage on the side. I know that many people  like hot coffee with their pancakes, but I prefer a tall glass of cold milk with mine. I used to make a lot of things from scratch, and have even made pancakes from scratch, but pancakes are just as good or better made from a mix.  Eccentric Thrifter has this 1983 Aunt Jemima Pancake tin that would be a nostalgic way to store your pancake mix. I remember "Aunt Jemima" Pancakes from even further back in my own childhood.
Who hasn't eaten Aunt Jemima Pancakes?

Store your pancake mix in this vintage canister.
Be sure to look at all the shops at ESN.  Our friends have such a variety of things listed for your shopping pleasure.

Mar 14, 2012

Yellow Sunflowers for the Breakfast Nook

Our ESN scavenger hunt this week has to do with Breakfast.  I envision a home with a separate breakfast nook off the kitchen or as part of the kitchen--or maybe a kitchen table where the family has breakfast and informal lunches. These cushions would be a pretty addition to your "kitchen" chairs.  I actually got these with intentions of using them myself. I had some assorted wooden chairs with slat backs and bent wood ice cream parlor chairs. I thought these cheery sunflower cushions would tie the eclectic chairs together. I never implemented that plan, and now our living arrangement has changed. Perhaps someone else can spruce up their breakfast nook or kitchen table with them.


Cheery Yellow Sunflowers on a Blue Check.

Buy this set of cushions HERE.

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Hazel's HodgePodge.
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