Valentine Clock

Featured Item of the Week!
Since Valentine's Day is coming soon--sooner than we can imagine, the way the days keep slipping by--I am featuring a Valentine item this week.
This little clock would make a perfect Valentine for someone who collects angels, or for a clock collector.  The clock which is only 1 1/2 inches across is mounted amid cherubs.  One cherub is in a heart.  Take a look at this and other items on Hazel's HodgePodge.

See and buy it HERE

The ribbon hanger doesn't look it in the picture, but it is a pale pink.

Music,Music,Music???

The ESN scavenger hunt for this week has to do with Music. Well, hubby is the music- and plant-- person in this household.  He is a school band director, trumpet player, singer, band instrument repairman, song leader at church services, enjoys barbershop singing.....and has a super green thumb. Hmm, wonder if there is a connection.

Me?  I have a tin ear. I enjoy listening to music for a little while but not for long and have to hear a tune many times before I "know" it.  Hubby says I'm tone deaf-- but I can hear the difference in tunes just not individual notes. I'm sure I miss a lot of what most people hear in the subtleties of music. I certainly can't match a tone with my voice.  

All my kids and grands seem to have some musical ability, some are very talented. However, any talent in that area certainly skipped me. Have to say that their dad (grandpa) had a very good ear for music even though he did not play an instrument.  His family- especially on his mother's side-were very talented, artistic people.  And of course, the grand kids all get some good musical genes from their dads' sides of the family. 

The kids say that running a music store is the least likely thing they ever imagined me doing. But, I have learned the workings of the various instruments and the uses of different accessories and can serve my customers well.  In fact, many of them, from talking with me in the music store, would not even know that I don't play an instrument and, as the saying goes,"can't carry a tune in a bucket."
I have done a lot of study on dyslexia and worked with dyslexic students. Recently I came across something called auditory dyslexia. This is the inability to distinguish sounds. I think, it must be tone deafness to an even greater degree. Or tone deafness is a less severe form of auditory dyslexia.  Hmmm.  Since coming across this  disability, I have wondered how it could be remedied or compensated for.  Time for some more research.

Before undertaking that research though, I did some searching for musical items among the ESN scavenger hunter's stores.  Here are a few of the items I found:  And you don't have to be talented musically to appreciate these.

Bargain Express has a number of vinyl records in stock, such as this one.

Anyone have a record player around?  And no one would care if I sing along off key, right?

Here's Music to Everyone's ears: The Tinkle of this crystal dinner bell from Carolina Blue Lady's collection. Beautiful to look at as well.

One of many appropos quotes about music available from Walls that TalkWell, Maybe most of us understand it? A neat way to add to your decor.

Remember whether you are shopping for music, music memorabilia, decor, or whatever, you are likely to find something to fit your needs on  ESN.

I would also like to invite those of you in SE Texas to stop by Mr. Bandman Music in Silsbee for all your "music making needs."  We have horns, guitars, and accessories, and also do band instrument repairs. We also do repairs through on-line contacts. Mr. Bandman Music is on-line  and  at the corner of 4th and 327 in Silsbee. 

Watching the Sky

I've missed several scavenger hunts and blogging in general lately, but I am back this week and on the search for the ESN items.

Our theme this week is Sky.

My first thought was the colors of the sky. And I found this blue tee shirt that reminds one of the fair weather sky.  Even the yellow letters look like sunshine.



King of the Ring, ring bearer's t shirt from Embroidery Fashions Boutique
They have a good selection of custom t shirts for the wedding party.

When I was a kid, we always sat on the front porch and watched the weather.  For the longest time, I thought I had to be out where I could see the sky when it was threatening.  I don't suppose that was really a good idea, but if you can see what's coming, you can know what to do.

Here is another Blue item of a darker nature, maybe reminiscent of storm clouds gathering.



Check out Carolina Blue Lady for this and other Fat Beagle Pottery pieces





It's always intriguing to watch the night sky. Especially if you are out in the country away from all the city lights.  Another good way to see the stars is to visit a planetarium.  My first experience at a planetarium was as SAC (San Antonio College) It was very impressive. It is now called the Scobee Planetarium.  And sounds like it would be even more impressive today.

Way back when, we used to sit on the front porch out in the piney woods and watch our little patch of sky between the pine trees. About dusk each evening, we could see satellites go over. The setting sun would hit them just right for us to see them easier that time of day.  This was a good diversion in the cool of the evening.

Here's a pretty dish to remind us of the night sky.



Vintage Moon and Stars Candy Dish is one of the pieces in this theme
available at Bargain Express



 Eons ago, San Antonio chamber of commerce must have advertised San Antonio--where the sunshine spends the winter. Because half an eon ago I heard my parent's version as San Antonio--where the sunshine spends the winter behind the clouds.  Actually, here in Texas we see the sun in all its glory a good bit of the time and this yellow ashtray made me think of sunshine.

Shawnee Ashtray available at ComycGyrl Collectibles

It's nice to have lived a life that has allowed a lot of porch sitting and sky watching. Even now we enjoy our front porch. I have been blessed.

Hope you will take time to shop all the stores on the Ecrater Store Network. You are sure to find some real treasures. Also would invite you to checkout our treasures at Hazel's HodgePodge.  Now that our other little "job of work" is complete, we will be adding more treasures each day to our on-line store.

Happy Birthday to You!

The ESN scavenger hunt this week is about Birthdays. 
This made me think of how kid's birthday parties have evolved.  What ever happened to the simple little parties we had as children?  Picking the invitation, filling in the time and date, and delivering it was just the start of the process. On the designated day and hour, neighbor children, schoolmates and their siblings, family friends, and relatives of all ages dressed up and came together to celebrate the honored Birthday Boy or Girl.  The games, in our circle, were pretty much the same at each party. We played Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Drop the Clothes Pins in the Bottle and probably Drop the Handkerchief and/ or The Farmer in the Dell. There was always a prize for the child who got the most clothespins in the bottle.  By the way, The bottle was a glass milk bottle until the late 50's when they started using paper cartons for the milk.  The one who got the least got a "booby" prize.  The person getting the Donkey's tail nearest the correct spot also got a prize and the one getting farthest from the spot, again got the "booby" prize.  After the games, the honoree opened gifts which were humble by today's standards. This was exciting to the Birthday Boy or Girl.  Next, "Happy Birthday" was sung, the candles blown out as a wish was made. Then,lastly the cake was served, usually with punch,ie, kool-aid. Sometimes, a scoop of ice cream accompanied the cake. Guests received a small Party Favor, thanked the hostess for inviting them and the party was over.  It was a time for learning manners as well as having fun.

Summer before last my Sister-in-law put together and old fashioned birthday party for my granddaughter Anna.  Anna and her siblings enjoyed Pin the Tail on the Donkey, an egg  and spoon race, and a dart game.  Aunt Bev made a beautiful chocolate cake with cherries on it. We also had
 ice cream sodas before the games.  Anna was truly the person of the hour.  Since she is such an animal lover, the book she got was a very special gift.
 Afterwards, Uncle Bobby let them all ride the horse, Old Gray.  He was waxing nostalgic about pony rides we had as kids also.

I decided to look through the ESN pictures for things reminescent of the parties we had "way back when".  Here are 3 of the items I found.

Mama might have served kool-aid from a pitcher like this one
from Carolina Blue Lady.





Darling Book for Recording Memories of Birthdays and other Events
Available at Eccentric Thrifter
Maybe your mom kept a book similar to this for you?

You might have won this as a prize or taken it home as a "favor"
at a mid-century kid's party
Get it now from ComycGyrl's Collectibles


Whether you are looking for the perfect Birthday Gift for Someone Now or if you are waxing nostalgic and want something collectible, ESN is a good place to start your search.