Wednesday, May 30, 2012

My Favorite Cookie Jar

Wow! I can't believe it's been a full month since my last post! Well, I can believe it and I'm having some pretty intense talks with myself about that right now!!

So, maybe Knick of Time Tuesday, Rednesday and Vintage Thingie Thursday are the paths to getting me back in blog land!!

Today I'm sharing my favorite cookie jar -- it resides on the baker's rack in my kitchen and every time I look at it, I smile. It's really hard to sneak cookies out of it -- there's a distinctive clink sound no matter how careful you are to gently replace the lid. Gives me away every time!!  And, even though it's pretty beat up and isn't so lovely in the looks department, it's very special to me.




It belonged to two of my aunts -- they were my father's older half-sisters and if they were alive today, they would be well into their 100's. The older aunt was Aunt Annie and, after her husband's death, she moved in with Aunt Florence who never married.

Aunt Florence taught school and I guess was the typical "spinster school teacher" but I sure loved going with her sometime to her school. Made me feel like a big girl!! Aunt Florence wasn't the cuddly type but she did take a lot of time with me. She loved doing crossword puzzles and got me started on that (I remember going in their garage and finding stacks of TV Guides -- those were my first crossword puzzles!!)

Aunt Annie WAS the cuddly type and she was the one filling that cookie jar! I would sit on her lap and she would read to me. She was, shall we say, ample, and it was cushy love that she gave me. She had a great sense of humor too -- once, she said she was going to fix frogs' legs and, of course, I ewwwed and thought how gross. Well, that lady took me into the back yard where there was a small pond, and proceeded to catch a few frogs. We won't talk about what happened after that, but she had a good laugh and I had my first frogs' legs!! (taste like chicken, don't ya know...)

I loved going to their house in Alabama -- we would visit just about every summer. One summer I developed mumps on our trip -- and got to stay with Aunt Annie and Aunt Florence while my parents went on to visit some friends for a few days. I was thrilled!! There was a little boy that I could play with since he had already had the mumps, but the little girl across the street (who I really wanted to play with!) could only look at me through the screen door! I think I was about four or five then and it was a big deal to stay by myself with my aunts!

OK, back to the cookie jar!



It's a very shiny black with painted on red flowers and green leaves. The paint has chipped away a bit and, to tell the truth, the original paint job really wasn't so hot! I have no idea how old it is or the brand -- there are no markings of any kind.



My mother brought it to me after Aunt Florence died and I'm so glad to have this remembrance of my aunts. I have a few other things too, including a beautiful quilt which I'll share with you another time!

♥♥♥   I'm linking my cookie jar to Knick of Time Tuesday Rednesday at It's a Very Cherry World! and to Vintage Thingie Thursday at Colorado Lady 

♥♥

17 comments:

  1. A lot of the jewelry I wear belonged to my grandmothers. I love have something I can use everyday that reminds me of them. Sounds like that's what this cookie jar is for you with your aunts. Thanks for sharing!

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  2. What a special time to be able to spend with special people! It's great to have a constant reminder of that time with them. :)

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  3. Lovely time of your life! Thanks for sharing both the story and your cookie jar!

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  4. Your cookie jar is a Ransbottom.They used call that paint "cold paint" and considering the age it isn't in too bad of shape!I think they made that style awhile..1910's-1930's or so. It tended to peel and flake off as it was just applied not baked on. My mom has a similar-ish jar but the flowers were not raised just painted. It belonged to her Gramma. She broke the lid years back and was so upset. She used a saucer for years until I found a spare single lid in a box lot of items I bought that I thought would fit..and it did! "My" cookie jar is one like MY Gramma's..a yellow metal "Krispy Tin" with flowers on the sides "made" from photos of cookies, chips and pretzels. I think the sweetest thing about cookie jars are the memories!

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  5. Hi Sarah-
    I'm sooo sentimental, so I just love your sweet story about your two aunties! They sound like they were very special! The cookie jar is so cute! I can't wait to see the quilt from Aunt Florence and Aunt Annie too.
    Thank you for stopping by my blog as well. I'll be following you! Erica :)

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  6. I also had an Aunt Florence. I love the pretty cookie jar and the beautiful stories to go with it. Can't wait to check out your blog.
    Leslie

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  7. Isn't it wonderful the sentimental value of things?! Oh the memories they can elicit!

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  8. Wonderful post honoring your family and the cookie jar. Great story and history. I can see why it means so much to you.

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  9. More than a cookie jar, this piece is your own personal story. How wonderful that it reminds you of those precious childhood memories of your aunts.

    By the way, I had an Aunt Annie, too! She was actually my great aunt...my mother's aunt, and my next novella is based on her. I'm in the process of writing it.

    Blessings for the day,
    Marianne

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  10. Oh! I adore this post, love your cookie jar and the charming back story that goes with it! Really tugs at my heart.

    And I loved doing the TV Crossword puzzles too, it was my mother who got me started on them.

    Happy Rednesday!

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  11. Isn't it wonderful when such nice thoughts...like memories of your Aunts...are triggered by something you live with? Truly a treasure!
    Cheers.
    R

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  12. So many memories in family "heirlooms!" Love old cookie jars and I could just imagine trying to set that lid down ever so lightly and still clinking! lol!

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  13. I was going to say I thought it was Robinson Ransbottom, but someone beat me to the punch. I love those old cookie jars and the memories they evoke! I can see that you cherish it as you well should.

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  14. Such wonderful memories connected to that cookie jar. I can see why you love it so much! It's a real beauty, and I would love to keep our cookies in a jar, but I'd be clinking that thing all day long!
    Happy REDnesday,
    Carol

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  15. I love the cookie jar, and the story you told with it. Families and memories can be such wonderful things.

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  16. I loved the sweet story behind your cookie jar. Now wonder you love it so!
    Hugs,
    Jann

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  17. A lovely story with wonderful memories to cherish with each clink of the cookie jar lid.

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