A Vintage Glass Corn Bread Stick Pan for Thursday Show and Tell

 

Do you have one of these in your collection of vintage glassware? I have searched and failed to find out much information about it.

 

 

I do know it was made by the Wagner Company, a maker of very collectible cast iron ware. One search thought it was made during World War II, with the company turning it's production towards using its' metal for the war effort.

 

 

Another site, I found on the Internet, showed the original wrapper with a price of $1.00. Some websites on eBay, listed today's price as $95.00 .....

 

Mine is simply used for "display only"

Meggie Mac

 

Inspired Sunday in a Small Texas Town

 

For several months I have been traveling the week ends, from the prairie to a National Forest, where my son lives. The drive takes me through about 15 small towns. I'm always looking for new sights to share with you. Today I stopped to photograph this small historical church.

 

 

The parish will be celebrating 150 years in 2014.

 

 

No luck for viewing the inside...the doors were already locked for the day.

 

 

In reading a history of the church, it said, "In 1890, Ernest Lord, an active church member of English background, was hired as the contractor to rebuild the new church building. He modeled the building after an English village Gothic-style church".

 

 

Over the years, care has been taken not to disturb the original appearance and beauty of the church.

Meggie Mac

 

Linking today with Inspired Sunday.

Click HERE for other links.

Friday Fences with a Side Trip to Oban Scotland

 

The trip to Oban was a last minute idea my daughter and I had. The town had always been on the list. Having so much ground to cover, I didn't expect to actually make it here.

 

 Our next trip will include Oban, allowing at least a full day.  It will also include a trip to the Isle of Mull.

 

 

Not doubt, you can see why I took this photo. The hanging flower baskets were spectacular in size and color. I also knew it would make a great Friday Fence story.

 

 

The Oban Bay is a near perfect horseshoe shape that is protected by the island of Kerrera. Beyond Kerrera is the Isle of Mull.

 

There is no shortage of interesting architecture, as with most towns we experienced on our trip. Obans' population of 8,500 increases during the tourist season to 25,000.

 

When I try to write a little history, in my posts about Scotland, I get so tangled-up in the events. There are so many layers of history, that I simply cannot do it justice.

 

 

The area where Oban now stands has been used by humans since Mesolithic times.

 

 

I failed to identify this church, but I believe it once was the Free Church of Scotland, now occupied by the tourism center.

 

 

We decided on a side street café, for lunch. Not knowing what to order, the owner stepped into his small kitchen and brought us a surprise.

 

 

Look at the flaky crust on the homemade bun.....filled with the most delicious roast beef and gravy. We took our lunch outside and ate it on the streets of Oban, laughing the whole time while the gravy dripped from our sandwiches.

 

We had arrived earlier in the day via a hired driver. Our plans were to take the public bus transportation back to our hotel in Kentallen. Before it was time to leave, we spotted the The Coffee Corner.

 

Would you believe me if I said, "A rich dessert and coffee was much needed, after all that walking"?

 

Sorry I ran out of time before I could write a postcard.....the last bus to Kentallen was ready to leave.

Meggie Mac 

 

 

German Pottery for Thursday Show and Tell

 

It's funny how sometimes you collect an item, and at the time, don't give much thought as to where it originated. This is one such piece. It was bought on a whim because the price was right, and I loved the simple design of the German Folk Art.

 

 

As it turns out, the pottery piece has a lot of history to go with it. It was made in the town of Marburg, Germany by the Schneider's Pottery, a sixth generation potter. The Schneider family has owned the business for over 200 years.

 

 

In this photo, I was hoping to show you how the paint is applied with a raised effect.

 

After some searching, on the Internet, I found Schneider's website, which is in German.

 If you click HERE , you can read about their history and see examples of pottery. With my computer, I simply right click, while my cursor is on the page, and I can translate it into English.

 

So now, after writing this post, I'm wondering how did the pottery plate find it's way to Texas. That story will probably remain a mystery.....

Meggie Mac

 

Leakey's Bookshop, Gallery, and Cafe....Inverness, Scotland

 

If you love browsing old bookstores, my dear readers, this is one you don't want to miss while traveling in Scotland. It is thought to be the largest second-hand book store in all of Scotland, with well over 100,000 books. It also has an extensive selection of old prints.

 

Not only is it a historical building ...but, it's walls have some very sad events to recall.

 

The Old Gaelic Church has beautiful stain-glass windows...

 

and, interesting architectural features, left intack from many years ago.

 

Some of that history is re-told on the bookshop cafe menu.

This is of particular meaning to me, since the trip was planned around a connection with my ancestors. I could almost hear Scotland's sad story whispered, of Jacobite prisoners, shot outside these walls.

 

My daughter and I laughed about eating our way through-out Scotland, many times tempted to eat "dessert first". I also enjoyed a wonderful bowl of carrot and coriander soup served with crusty homemade bread.

We decided to enjoy lunch, and browse later with the idea of walking off some calories.

 

The bistro-type cafe is on the upper level, with a view of the entire store. Books fill the shelves, with overflowing stacks displayed on tables.

 

To make it complete, there is a rather large black wood-burning stove, situated in the middle of the lower level. You can see the hefty supply of stored wood, to keep the fire burning.

 

Now that I am home again, thinking about the bookshop, I realize one could spend their entire holiday in Inverness, at the Leakey Bookshop.

 

Unfortunately, we only had a few hours of browsing...there was so much more to see.

Meggie Mac

A Thursday Show and Tell from Poland

Boleslawiec, Poland is known for beautiful vibrant colored pottery. I am lucky to have received this piece from my youngest daughter and son-in-law from their last years' travels to Poland. 

The word Unikat simply means unique. The pottery pieces painted by original masters, sign their work. These pieces command a higher price and are very collectible.

The hand-painted fluted bowl on pedestal, was purchased at the Night Market in the Main Square of Old Town of Krakow, Poland. The photo above was taken while they were shopping.

In the background is the Cloth Market and the free-standing Town Hall Tower.

This is the inside of the Cloth Market after hours. 

Blue Daisies cover the inside of the bowl...I was thinking Ambrosia with big chunks of oranges would be perfect served in my bowl !

Meggie Mac

Celebrating the 12th Day of Christmas...Three Kings Day

Instead of baking the traditional King's Bread, for today's celebration, I decided to make sugar cookies, using the camel cookie cutter I purchased last year.

To make my baking even sweeter, I used my mother's rolling pin. You may remember me writing about My Mother, who died about a year ago. If she had lived, tomorrow she would have been 91 years old.

The camels were not as easy as I thought they would be...as you can see, some of the legs are longer.

Misshapen cookies still taste good !

Meggie Mac