For today's post, I wanted to share something that is simple and useful, and many of you may
have them in your home.
They are the old zinc porcelain lids for mason jars.
have them in your home.
They are the old zinc porcelain lids for mason jars.
When my mom was a child growing up on a farm in the Ozarks during the depression, they didn't
have many toys. However, my grandmother did lots of canning and she had many mason jars.
The lids would get rusty, and while we might like them that way in our vintage decorating,
they didn't work well for canning.
have many toys. However, my grandmother did lots of canning and she had many mason jars.
The lids would get rusty, and while we might like them that way in our vintage decorating,
they didn't work well for canning.
 |
| I'm told this word means "glass towel" in German |
When they started to rust, she would give them to her girls. They would take the metal off,
and be left with this little porcelain plate. These were their toy plates!
Of course, I haven't done that with any of mine :-)
and be left with this little porcelain plate. These were their toy plates!
Of course, I haven't done that with any of mine :-)
 |
| Do you see the little raised area? That was the bottom of the plate. |
My mom and her sister would have stacks of these little plates, and they would play house with them.
I have always loved the resourcefulness of the people of that era. As we try to find new uses for
vintage items, I just thought I'd share this dear old one with you.
My mom has been having some health issues this week, and while we hope it is now figured out,
I'm so glad to have her in my life, and the sweet stories of her childhood.
I have always loved the resourcefulness of the people of that era. As we try to find new uses for
vintage items, I just thought I'd share this dear old one with you.
My mom has been having some health issues this week, and while we hope it is now figured out,
I'm so glad to have her in my life, and the sweet stories of her childhood.
See more Friday Pretties at I Love Pretty Little Things and more Vintage Inspiration Friday posts
at Common Ground :-)
at Common Ground :-)
Enjoy your weekend my friends.
Blessings,
Marcia
Marcia
Oh goodness, I love that you shared this. I love the simpleness of life.
ReplyDeleteSo sweet! That reminds me of my childhood and playing with 'old' bits and bobs!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Christine
What a great idea! I have quite a few of those zinc lids as I love to collect old blue canning jars. Never thought to look at the lids as anything more than lids. You're right, now we would just throw them out if they lost their usefulness. But back then, people thought how to make the most out of everything. I hope your mom feels better!
ReplyDeleteI am always on the hunt for those glass jars and just adore them. I have quite a collection going these days. Some are dated from the 1930's. I'm always filling them with something. From craft supplies to macaroni, to sugar. My husband keeps saying,'don't you have enough'..NO...lol
ReplyDeleteI learn something new every day!
ReplyDeletewow very neat!!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I never knew this!!!
ReplyDeleteI've even seen those little plates for sale and didn't realize it.
I remember sitting for hours cutting paper dolls out of catalogs.
Marcia, I loved this post. Love hearing of memories from others.
ReplyDeleteZinc lids and children's dishes, who would have thought to do that. Wonderful story.
I am so glad that you shared this story. I love, love any kind of mason jar! I won't be able to look at the zinc lids without thinking a little girl playing house.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting and precious...see you are telling your Mommy Piggy Tales...I love this.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to your mom and may she have a fast recovery!
Thanks for sharing...
...Those are wonderful jar lids & wonderful stories...Thanks for telling this one!.....Hoping your mom is feeling strong!
ReplyDeleteI have a thing for those ole zinc lids too. When my parents retired they moved away to Oklahoma. When they bought the house that they lived in, right before heaven, the previous owner, had boxes of the blue mason jars with the zinc lids. I hope to go back there and get some, I loved that your Mom and sisters used the glass part for plates. That is so cool.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
That is such a sweet story. I love old items like those too, and the stories that go with them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment - yes my mom is doing quite better. It was not cancerous, and she recovered very quickly.
If you already know how to knit, maybe you should pick it up again! I have a quest to get everyone knitting as I think it's better for them. ;)
What a sweet story, Marcia. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. As I was looking at your beautiful photos, I thought what great candle holders they would make, too. I never really looked at them as seperate from the jars, so thanks for the inspiration! :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear your mom is feeling better... they are such an important part of our lives. :)
Have a great weekend, my friend!
Hugs ~ Jo
So precious! And I find it so creative... "to find" toys in every day items, not from stores..., and not plastic either, haha!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet story! Loved reading this..:)
ReplyDeleteI have never seen lids like these. I have one lid that looks vintage, maybe I did not look close enough at it? I have a few old jars but most of them don't have the old lids. New lids fit them, but I don't like the way they look on them.
I also love your little blue jar with the clasp wire handle on your sidebar. What a treasure to find that in "blue"!!!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
@}~`}~~~ Gloria
p.s. My husband's grandmother was from the Ozarks. I loved hearing all of her stories too. She is so missed by all of us. Saying a prayer for you sweet mom today...:)
I love it too-simple and pretty
ReplyDeleteI have some of those blue jars with the zinc lids. I have a slight obsession with them, actually.
ReplyDeleteThey line my kitchen window sill. The sun shines right through that window in the morning, and the jars are so simple and pretty all lit up. I love that sight first thing in the morning!
I love your story of the little ceramic plates. I'm going to go look under my lids now!
Hi Marcia!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting and as always making me smile with your sweet comments!
I had to laugh when you asked about 'bits & bobs' as I never realized it wouldn't be used the world over!! lol!
It's just one of those colloquialisms you grow up with and simply means little left-over pieces and whatever is lying around. These things always make for the best toys and games!
Thanks!
Christine
Oh Marcia, what a wonderful story! People used to be forced into being resourceful due to the lack of material possessions. I'm afraid, as children, we were handed too much and may not be as creative as our parents were. How wonderful to think about your mother and her sister's delight when their mother gave them one of their new "dishes"! laurie
ReplyDeleteWhat a touching story! and what lovely plates they make! I really am touched...I cherish stories such as these from my mom, as well.
ReplyDeleteLezlee
Very sweet story. Love this post. It is quite touching and makes me appreciate how fortunate we are.
ReplyDeleteHope your mother feels better soon. It was wonderful to read this story. We often forget that kids back then weren't spoiled with toys like kids are now and they had to use their imaginations with what they had around them.
ReplyDeleteBtw your daughter is beautiful and in one of those pics she looks like Drew Barrymore when she was little.
xx
C
ps...love the new look of your blog
I always love hearing how people lived during the Depression! What sweet memories from your mom! Hope she gets to feeling better soon!
ReplyDeleteJody
What pretty pictures you've taken for this post. I will say a prayer for your mom and her health. I wish everyone would pass their stories on like she does, it's the way that memories last. Thanks for a great post that really takes you back and makes you realize that simple really is better.
ReplyDeleteHi Marcia,
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet story. I love how they used the insides of the lids as plates. People really made do with what they had back then.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Nancy
That is a sweet story. We used to make all sorts of things from around the house our "toys".
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet sweet story! Thanks so much for sharing it! I hope your Mom feels better, sending prayers and good thoughts out to you for her!
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed day!
Tammy :-)
What a neat story. I love hearing things like this because I think so many things that our mothers and grandmothers did are all now a lost art. Very sad.
ReplyDeleteI had not thought of those things in years. Isn't it wonderful how ingenious other generations were when it came to playing? So much more inventive than all the computer games of today.
ReplyDeleteI do hope your Mom is on the upswing with her health. You are blessed to have her... xxoo Diana
Sometimes, I really long for simpler times... a lot, actually.
ReplyDeleteI hope that your mom is feeling better and better!
How I wish we had zinc porcelain lids in Norway, but I have never seen that... only zinc glass lids!
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed your blog, I too have taken an interest in homeschooling! Late birtday wishes for your beautiful daughter; born the same year as my oldest son :)
Wishing you a lovely weekend!
Such a sweet story! Thanks for sharing it! Just hopped over from Vintage Inspiration!
ReplyDeleteHi Marcia! Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving your sweet comment. It's so much fun meeting new friends! :) The info on the zinc lids was so very interesting! I love reading about the history of the things we collect and treasure. Hey, prayers for your mother, too. I hope she's feeling better soon.
ReplyDeletexoxo laurie@heavens-walk
Hi Marcia!
ReplyDeleteI think they look so cute! I've been wanting to make a soap dispenser using a zinc lid and jar. I've seen that done on several blogs. Hope your mom is feeling better!
Blessings,
Janet
Hi Marcia, this is so sweet, I love hearing these kinds of stories. What a great idea to use these little inserts as doll plates. Thanks so much for joining in on VIF, hope you're having a great weekend.
ReplyDeletexo,
Debra
So many things that once were just things, are now so treasured. Sending healing thoughts to your dear mama.
ReplyDeleteHello Thanks for stopping at my blog, I love stories like this... In fact I have some on my blog as well about my mum and dad meeting each other, her favorite flowers and my dads secret dreams... just little stories and objects of the people we love. These mason jars I see at many american blogs, even in a beautiful bleu I think I have seen them
ReplyDeleteI will be happy to follow you ;) on my reader or facebook (haha facebook is the new tyhing I believe)
Happy sunday!
desiree
I have my share of old jars with zinc lids, Marcia! Jewels of the past, they are.
ReplyDeleteI hope you've figured out your mom's health problems....and that she's feeling better very soon!
God bless her!
I had not heard of this before. It was a nice of you to share this story. I'll have to ask my mother if she did this or not.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a sweet story of your Mother's childhood, Marcia...
ReplyDeleteHope she is feeling better- prayers and hugs to both of you!