Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Lamps and Other Miscellaneous Tidbits

Late last winter we acquired two beautiful old kerosene lamps from eBay.  


We've been using this one for a while now and are very pleased with it.


This one is in wonderful shape, too, but doesn't have a shade.  My most able researcher husband is in the process of trying to find a shade holder and shade to fit it.  We're not currently using it until then because I don't seem to have enough self-control (sense?) and when it's lit, my eyes keep gravitating right to the flame which I'm convinced will probably blind me.

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I sat down last Friday and sorted through my garden seeds to see which ones I needed to order more of.  There were actually very few.  Smallest seed order I've had in a long time.  I have really good luck keeping seeds viable for more years than suggested, and I always make sure we have an ample supply of everything I grow, both vegetables and flowers.

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A good friend of our daughter's received a set of my quilted pot holders about three years ago and recently asked if I would make her some new ones.  Glad to do it!


Her kitchen is done in blues so I used some of the left over fabric from the "winter" table runner I made recently.  (Shown in the lamp picture directly above.)


 Love this winter landscape scene used as a mid-tone.

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Taking a peek outside this morning, I see we have about an inch of new snow on the ground.  Forecast was for 5-8" starting during the night and going into today.  Snow's is still coming down, but I won't be too disappointed if it turns out we don't have to shovel and plow today!

20 comments:

wyomingheart said...

Beautiful potholders, Mama Pea! I can't wait until I have enough seeds put away, that I don't need to purchase any. Do you store them in the freezer? I have some seeds saved, but not near enough for my 100' X 75' new plot!

Mama Pea said...

wyomingheart - If you're planning on ordering seeds for your garden this coming season, I suggest you get them ordered as soon as possible. I used to wait until somewhere in April to order my seeds and very frequently found the particular seed or variety I had so carefully picked out was already out of stock!

I keep my seeds in covered jar-like containers (they're plastic -- glass would be better) that fit in a cardboard box that sits on the floor of a clothes closet in our entry room. The room is heated (only by air flow) but never as warm as the rest of the house. Most seeds are happy is they are in an environment that is cool and dry.

Your new 100' x 75' garden plot sounds like a wonderful size. You'll have so much fun planning it out!

Rosalea said...

Beautiful lamps. Do you use them to work or read by, or just for soft lighting? The pot holders are lovely, as your work always is! Just back from a snowshoe hike around the property, at -25C, but no wind, so just a little tingly on the cheeks and chin! Silver-white full moon was setting in the softly pink western sky, just before sunlight lit the tree tops. Garden planning is tip-top on the to-do list now! You are very right about getting your order in early! My saved seeds are in a BIG glass jar in the bottom of a dark closet, with desiccant packets in with them as well.

MrsDuncanMahogany said...

Those potholders are absolutely beautiful! Love the blues.

wisps of words said...

They are gorgeous! Yes, hope he finds a shade soon! ,-)

Your own seed bank! Permaculture 101!!!

OH yes, love that winter fabric!

Also Oh Yes, hope you don't get enough to have to shovel or plow!

Did you ever hear of the Upper Maine way of dealing with snow? They shovel/plow a very WIDE swath, first time. So that by last snow fall, they will still have a wide ENOUGH space.

Think about it... I think it's brilliant. :-) Another tidbit I picked up, on Heather's IG. :-)

Now I have to get ready to go out to my dentist. The %^(*&^%%$## Full Moon Effect struck again!!! Lost 'something', out of one of my teeth! Insert lots of *colorful* words here!!!

✨✨✨✨

Mama Pea said...

Rosalea - We've just been using the lamp for soft lighting but have been contemplating how comfortable we would be reading by the light or I always think of doing handwork if that was the only light!

Thanks for the pot holder compliment. Appreciated!

How wonderful that you got out for an almost pre-dawn snowshoe. Hubby just said he wants to snowshoe our loop now that we have more snow on it.

MrsDM - Thank You! I hope she likes them.

wisps of words - Looks as though we have 4-5" right now and it's still coming down. But very light and fluffy this time around which will be a joy to move around compared to those last two cement-like snowfalls! We, too, plow our driveway (about a quarter mile) as wide as we possibly can for the first several snows. There are driveways in the area that we've heard are way too narrow already. And we've got a lot of snow weather to come.

Your trip to the dentist . . . oh, how just the thought of losing "something" out of a tooth or having a tooth crumble and/or chip! It sends shivers down my spine. Years ago I was eating a wonderful caramel roll and the luscious gooey stuff pulled a crown right off a back molar. Do you know that ever since I can't bear the thought of eating a caramel roll?? Good luck with your appointment.

Susan said...

If there is a shade to fit out there, Papa Pea will find it! What lovely lamps. I love the light that is given off by oil lamps - it's more comforting or something. And I LOVE those pot holders! I know she will treasure them as much as all of us who are lucky enough to have a pair (or three) of your beautiful work. I am giving up looking out of the window. I am all about surprises this year. :)

Mama Pea said...

Susan - I've been reading about the philosophy of hygge in different countries and they all make mention of lighting. No big overhead lights or glarish/garrish lighting. Only small pools of soothing light in cozy corners. I guess the kerosene lamps fill that bill. (But there are times when good lighting to actually be able to see by is needed!)

Thanks for the nice words re the pot holders. I haven't made any in a while (which I love to do) so it was fun making these latest ones.

Lynne said...

The lamps are very nice. Love the shade on the first one. There's a catalog called renovators supply? I think that's the name. It has the glass shades. Not sure of the prongs that hold it on. I found one for my lamp at a yard sale a few years ago. Sometimes second hand shops have them. Good luck ! You do such a great job on your pot holders. Very pretty. I bought some backing for some pot holders, its quilted with the silveron it for heat resistant. I've keep thinking I've got to make them.

Pam said...

Loving that first lamp. Beautiful. Great pot holders.

Mama Pea said...

Lynne - We're watching eBay for the shade, too. The trick will be to find a holder that fits on that specific lamp. We have a couple already . . . but they don't fit!

Thank you for the compliment on the pot holders. You have the "ingredients" for making some so you should do it! Homemade pot holders are so . . . homey! ;o)

Pam - Thank you for your nice words!

wisps of words said...

Mama Pea... So agree on Hygge and soft soft lighting. Pools of light. And my beloved faerie lights!!!

I dislike overhead lights, except when trying to work in kitchen. Then I need all the light I can get. ,-)

This sweet lady in Sweden, does hygge lighting, wonderfully, to me!!!

Leigh said...

That first lamp is absolutely gorgeous! I have a couple of kerosene lamps but we never use them. Maybe we should start. Your projects are always so pretty to look at. I know that gal will love her new potholders. I'm looking forward to some sewing projects soon myself.

Donna OShaughnessy said...

First of all as an eBay seller, let me say THANKS for supporting the eBay community! I have two oil lamps that were my grandparents in the 1930's and I don't use them often enough. Now I will. We also did the seed inventory thing this past weekend and ordered our sweet potatoes for a May delivery. Nothing like an ice storm to get the spring dreams going!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Beautiful shade on that lamp. We have oil lamps without shades. I received one as a gift and bought another at a garage sale. We are in a rain storm now. Oye.

Mama Pea said...

wisps of words - Thanks so much for the link to sweet lady in Sweden. Oh my! Could she have created a more cozy, inviting atmosphere??! I feel like I'm living in a warehouse in comparison. :o\

Leigh - So eager to see your talent and creativeness (handwork-wise!) shine through when you manage to find the time!

Donna - Haha, we do a good job of supporting eBay! 'Tis a wonderful resource.

Ordering seeds and dreaming of this coming season's garden seems a world away from the outside scene right now, doesn't it?

Kristina - Do you use your lamps when you have power outages?

Sorry to hear of your rain storm. Can't be good on top of all your snow. :o(

Rain said...

Hi Mama Pea :) Those pot holders are just gorgeous! I love that fabric! The lamps are great! You know what I do sometimes? I gaze into the candle flames and just let my mind wander...kind of a fire meditation of sorts. It's very relaxing...don't think you'll go blind! ;)

Mama Pea said...

Rain - I can see doing that with a candle flame, but the flames from these kerosene lamps are BRIGHT! They are Rayo brand lamps and have a round wick instead of the straight one in most kerosene lamps. Very nice in that they throw off much more light! Thanks for the nice words on the pot holders. Very winter-y fabric, that's for sure.

Sam I Am...... said...

I love your lamps and you use them! I have thought about it but wondered how dangerous they are? I love the old ways and thought it might be cheaper than electric plus if we lose power.
I need to order seeds although I only can do container gardening here and even that is a bit much since it gets so hot and I pay for water here. In the summer I have to water twice a day sometimes. The lake is right across the street and people on the lake pump it and use it to water their lawns! That's the only reason I would want to live on the lake...free water! LOL! Do you think they'd notice a big hose crossing the street? LOL!
Your potholders are lovely! I didn't know you were a quilter. They are so pretty and you know someone liked your gift when they ask you for more! The table runner is so pretty too under the lamp. I have quilting and sewing to do but by the time my 'chores' are done it seems I just want to go to bed! LOL! I've been trying to use Fridays and Saturdays for that but it's still hard to make the time with my elder care pets and just regular household maintenance. One of these days!
Our snow is gone now and although 19 this morning it will get into the high 40's....I need to get the outside Christmas decorations down.
Stay warm and I hope you don't have to plow or shovel for awhile. My daughter in Iowa is tired of it too!

Mama Pea said...

Sam I Am - Thank you! Like so many things we all seem to collect for "when we need them," unless you take the time to learn their operation and how to use them before needing them, they don't do much good. Seems there's always a learning curve to everything! So that's why we're using our kerosene lamps. Plus they do give off a lovely, soothing, hygge type light.

Oooof, that's tough you have to pay for your garden water. We're very thankful for our well that has plenty of water, plus our small pond that is close enough to the gardening area to pump water from it.

You and I are both "retired" and yet seem to have more than enough to fill (and then some) our days. How does that happen??