Somehow Hazel managed to bring a dead squirrel to the yard – something doesn’t add up tho because the squirrel’s tail was stiff and I’m wondering if the squirrel was injured when she found it or already dead? Whatever – she was very proud! Thank God she didn’t bring it into the house.
Awhile ago a friend asked why I didn’t enjoy these vintage planters along the ledge in my front room. Wouldn’t that be beautiful? Now they’re more valuable than ever and I’ll just have to look at them in this cupboard. OR find them shattered on the concrete floor. Someday I should lock all the cats out of the house and line these planters up on the ledge!!!
Reader photos
Now I really want to talk about this basket because I think it’s one of the most unusual ones I own.
The bottom is wooden and it looks like it’s been laced on somehow. There isn’t a broken piece anywhere and it’s very tightly woven. Is it handwoven maybe? Does anyone have an idea about its origin? It’s very unusual. I don’t think it could be this uniform if woven by hand. Just so curious – have never seen another.
Warm weather on the way!
Like Diane, our Blue should be next to that sign – he knocks everything down off the tables or windowsills! I just love Vicki’s 2″ star quilt! Love miniatures so this is right up my alley. I’ll have to attempt a few of those stars, haha! I think I remember at least one mouse being brought in by one of my many cats over the years but now our cats stay inside. Our road has gotten busier over the years and I would hate to lose one. That basket is just beautiful – so sturdy! It’s in great shape. Enjoy the first day of Spring everyone! Jan in MA
Your basket is so unique. I’m an avid basket collector and have not seen one like it. I’m guessing that the comments were correct in saying it might be an antique funeral flower bouquet basket. Sure looks sturdy. Of course, that the way things were made years ago— to last.
Connie – read tonight’s post – I have more!
Looking forward to tonight’s post!
Very interesting blog today! Between Hazel & Mortie they sure make life interesting! Hazel was very proud of herself wasn’t she? She’s just doing what terrier’s do. I’ve made a few baskets in years past & I think Dot is right about your basket. I’ve seen similar ones at funerals, but they had handles. It’s a beautiful basket. Many years ago I collected Longaberger baskets & have many above my cabinets in the kitchen. I still use several to carry food to friends when I take them a meal. Love my baskets! Today is a beautiful sunny Spring day!
Alice! I too love Longaberger baskets — the ones when they were still made here in the US, and not when they started making them in China. They were popular when we were busy raising children, and they were too expensive for us. Now that they are available secondhand, I have bought many, many, many of them. My little grandson asked me why I had so many. I asked him if he thought that I should use a screwdriver when I really needed a hammer. He said of course I shouldn’t. So I told him that I shouldn’t use a bread basket when I really needed a pie basket! He’s so young but he has already learned to just shake his head at me, just like his Daddy 🙂 🙂
In a former home, we had tall windows, with screens that were loose at the sides. The cats learned that they could slip in and out of that vertical gap when the windows were open. Once, one of my cats used that handy entrance to bring in a live gopher and let it loose in the house! Thank goodness, she caught it again and I was able to pick her up, gopher in mouth, and husle them both outside. And shut that window!
Looking at the photo of the basket bottom: I think the vertical stakes that the basket is twined on are placed through the holes in the wooden bottom. They would be soaked in water, and flexible. They would be the lighter-colored “stitches” on the bottom. And the darker-colored stitches are the material used for the horizontal twining.
My first thought about the basket was also that it is a funeral home basket. I remember them from the very early 60’s when my grandfathers died.
Hazel and Mortie sure keep you on your toes! Jack (the dog) and Calvin (the grandson) were able to play in the remains of our snow yesterday. They raced outside and one flopped down in the snow and the other one ran laps. You guess which one did which.
That bright star quilt just pops doesn’t it? Woke my eyes up when I first saw it.
LOL–This is why we can’t have nice things should have Squeak sitting next to it. She has never seen something sitting on a counter/table etc that doesn’t need to be on the floor!! She will swat at anything.
I agree with Martha from WY. I think that is a funeral home basket for flowers. I remember seeing one someplace. It is beautiful Squirrel–ugh. Good job, Hazel, now go get in the bathtub!!
Warmer here today–35*, better than the 18* we had yesterday. LOve all the quilts. Working on my DD.
“This is why we can’t have nice things.” LOL! I love this!
Mary, that basket reminded me of ones that I saw at my grandma’s home back in the 50’s. I thought that they were used for funeral bouquets. The vase would be set down in it. That made a nice looking bouquet.
Oh, thank you for posting the picture of your little white animal planters. I spotted a few of my favorites that I have collected over the years; the umbrella girl, 2 ducks, and a deer and a bunny, but mine are in assorted pastels. It would be fun to see the planter parade!
I haven’t seen a basket like yours, but my guess would be it is hand made. If they can make boots and geese woven from different materials, a square to round flared basket seems possible! I’ll be interested to know what you find out.
Still waiting for the snow to melt (only about 6″)…and it might be 66* on Saturday. That should do it. Kris in WI
I hope you praised Hazel in a big way! She was probably quite proud of herself, even if she didn’t kill it herself. I marvel at her steady patrols looking for any rats that may have turned up! Your post brought back wonderful memories of our 2 elderly yorkie sisters. One early evening I went into the family room and saw what looked like a ratty toy in front of the dog door to the back yard. I looked down and then called hubby to have him look, too. What I thought was a dog toy was in fact a dead broad footed mole! Our dogs must have waited patiently for one to pop his head out of the burrow and pounced on it. It would have taken both of them to kill it, drag it from the back yard, up the carpeted ramp (the door was about 15″ above the patio floor) and inside the door. They were both elderly – at least 10-11 years old, one had some pretty serious health issues, too. Yes, we praised them to the skies. These same dogs chased a HUGE white possum up the fence (I whacked it with a broom till it hopped down the other side – at 1 a.m. in the morning, in my nightgown), plus they cornered 2 young possums (at different times). No one got injured, but it always seemed to happen during the weeks hubby was out of town on his business trips in the wee hours of the morning! I wondered for a long time what the neighbors had to say about these things – as I wasn’t quiet about it when whacking the possum (he was hissing at me) and yelling for the girls to come in NOW! When it comes to dogs, where there’s a will, there’s a way….
Deb – and these wonderful stories are just more proof that you can’t make this stuff up!! Thanks for the fun!
Yuck, then Hazel wants to sleep on your bed. Loretta will find something disgusting, roll in it and want me to pet her AND sleep with me! Yuck.
I love all those star quilts.
The wind damage has been unbelievable here. I take a different street every time I go to town. Huge trees blown down. It’s amazing how shallow their root system is.