Sometimes you just need to look at an old object in a new way, and sometimes you just need a reason to go thrift shopping. I’m always looking for ways to spruce up my garden in the winter when there isn’t much to be doing with seeds, vegetables and flowers. My winter gardening skills are still a work in progress, and we haven’t had time to build that recycled window greenhouse yet. There is always plenty of garden maintenance and clean-up to do, but I like to mix up my work with a little fun here and there. Modern homesteading, although much less demanding than old-time homesteading, is still a lot of work, so it’s important to make room for a sense of play to avoid burn out.
It all started with this one piece of glassware I found for a dollar at a yard sale. It’s been in my garden in some configuration for quite a few years, and I’ve always enjoyed watching it fill up with rainwater. When we moved to this homestead, I set it out on a stump in the middle of some rhododendrons as a sort of bird bath. For some reason it caught my eye one day and I decided to visit the glassware aisle at the Goodwill. Vintage glassware is one of those things that I have always greatly admired, and never been quite sure what to do with it. It must have been an important part of the American household because every thrift store has an entire aisle of it. Aside from my Great-Grandmother’s set of little jello bowls and ice cream dishes that I recently received and put into use, it seems much too fragile and fancy for my dinner table, and I’m never certain if it’s that lead crystal you’re warned about. When you look at all the different patterns, it’s really quite beautiful, and clearly meant to be shown off, so what better place to display it than in your garden?
I set a few of them around on top of mosses and ground covers, and am really enjoying the dynamic they create as little pools of rainwater. I’m sure the birds enjoy them as well. I’ve even been thinking about putting them on top of garden stakes with one of those super-strength craft glues to give them a little elevation among the flowers for the summertime garden.
Then I found the top to one of those glass chicken dishes at a steal because it was missing the bottom half. I just couldn’t help myself. I ended up with a chicken in a basket on my front steps.
It wasn’t too long before it had a friend.
This old glass lamp shade I found became one of my Do-it-Yourself Homestead Solar Lanterns.
With so many different patterns, shapes and sizes of glassware out there, and the workings of your imagination, there are limitless possibilities here for garden art. I’m starting to see those punch bowl and cup sets in whole new way.
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