Precious Memories

Note the "sugar saving" suggestion 1944:  rationing days

My mom had primary colored Pyrex bowls;  why is recapturing items from my childhood so important?  For the last three years I have been searching for these precious pieces of Pyrex like nuggets of gold.  I found the big yellow one first; the popcorn bowl in my memories.  Last summer at one estate sale I found green and red!  The elusive blue could not to be found in my acceptable price range.  The thrill of the hunt I told myself as I went to every flea market with that bowl on my list.

Do you search the estate sale photos for something from your childhood memories?  I found IT last week. I persuaded Mr. Wonderful to go with me; two sets of eyes to find IT.  I told him the other items in the photo that IT was sitting by.  I made a run for the basement while he searched for a room with paneling; IT was in that room.  My quest in the basement (cinderblock walls in the background):  knee hugger elves. 

I went upstairs finding after only one elf, someone else had scooped the boys up.  I stopped in the kitchen where I found a recipe box, smelling of storage but full of 1940s recipes all written in the same beautiful handwriting.  Mine for $ 2.00!  A little bakelite syrup server for a quarter...bliss.

The cookies and cakes section of the recipe box was the fullest, a woman after my own heart!  We're dessert eaters here in Scandinavian territory.  I love all these little bonus recipe books found in the box.  And then I spied it, the Pyrex bowl for $ 5.00, my top price but at last, it was found!  

My Little Grama used to sprinkle clothes with a 7up bottle filled with water.  The bakelite topper is cracked but a $3.00 price tag brought back another precious memory.  When Grama would pick me up after her job at the bakery we went home and drank some coffee (mine 90% milk) and she ironed while we watched General Hospital.  I had forgotten that piece of Grama history until I saw the bottle at the sale.  I sat the bottle down next to my Grama's cookie jar, a Gay Fad treasure.  

Cards of buttons and a needle book to add to my craft stash.  Did you dump your Grama's button box and play with them?  I can't tell you what I would give to have one day with her, sorting buttons, playing hide the thimble and going to the park to feed the ducks.  I was her first grandchild, when I had my first one I took him to meet her.  It wasn't until then that I knew how lucky I had been; there's something magic about the first one.  

What price can you put on memories?  I spent $16.00 for a bowl, buttons, Christmas decorations, syrup pitcher, recipe box, a crocheted pillow case  and a vintage story book.  In reality, no price can be put on my precious memories but a few dollars can trigger them.