Scavenging....

So.....I have been dying to scavenge around here some more for 'treasures'.  Up until this point there has not been much time as I have been trying to get the house in working order and eliminate boxes completely from the first level and as many as possible on the 2nd level.  While working in the landscape a few treasures have popped up along the way which has continued that desire to get out and pick around some more.  As I understand it, back in the day, there was no garbage service and so farms had their own dumps somewhere on the property.  We just so happen to have a couple locations which would make sense if this place was settled back in the 1890's.

 

We brush hogged some paths which makes getting around much easier as the pastures have really filled in with wildflowers and weeds.  I set out with my 'trusty'  partner in crime....

This is a picture of her

trusty sidekick

 

She gets really excited when I go to put my boots on and head for the door.  Plus she doesn't talk much, always keeps a watchful eye, and she listens quite well!  Now if only I could get her to help me carry stuff.....haa!  Our first venture was to a section of woods near the creek where I had previously found a neat old cast iron stove door. It was rather heavy and so I was never able to take it out with me before.  It was a one item trip. Below is a picture of that.....

Jewel Stove Ranges

is the name on the door

Our next trip took us on the other side of the property where the larger dumps are located.  We first stopped off at an area that is typically a pond and under water but due to a recent dry stretch it was dried up so I climbed down in there and started rootin' around.  Found some old jars, car parts and other rusty junk!  I think there was an old mattress dumped in there as I found some springs(which I will later salvage for an idea I found on Pinterest!).  However the big find half buried in the ground....the rest of that neat stove!  Or so I think.  It is rather large, has some of the same ornate looking cast iron and is submerged in the muck.  I may need the tractor to pull it out, but you better believe that I will be revisiting it to see what I can do with it! 

 

A little further down the path there is a large drum tipped on its side, half rusted out and filled with old jars & bottles.  Of course a lot of them are broken but if you sift through the rubble, you are bound to find a gem or two! The next picture shows a few that I carried out of the woods in my galvanized bucket.

I should have rotated this....I am trying to decipher the codes on the bottom of the bottles if they lack markings, but it is a bit more of a project than I thought.  There is an old Faygo pop bottle, some Anchor Hocking jars that appear to be from 1937-1960(according to marking research), and a few other random ones.  I found a gallon sized blue ball jar out there but it was broken :(  Hoping to find a few more neat ones!  Then I plan to clean them up and use as flower vases or décor.

I also found this neat galvanized watering can:

 

 





It won't hold water because the bottom was buckled out but I am hoping that my handy dandy husband can change that with his magic work in the garage!  If not I have a neat new planter for annuals next year!! ;)  May even look cute with a mum stuffed in there this fall and a few pumpkins flanking each side!  One person's trash to another person's repurposed treasures is fabulous isn't it?!  The possibilities are endless!

 

The next few shots are things that I found right here in the immediate yard while landscaping and monkeying around.

 

This was dug up by previous owners but left for us because he felt it was good luck!

 

After a big rain storm, I found this lying on top of a washed out hill.  Mind you we have driven the pick up as well as several loaded dump trucks over the top of this and yet here it is with not a crack in sight!!

 

Dug this little thing up too.....not sure what it is, maybe it goes with the stove?!?  It obviously attached to something and appears to be a swinging arm.  I think that maybe a finial or something was on the end of the piece but the top has a look as if something broke off of it. Appears to be cast iron as well.

 

Well, I am going to stop here for now.  I know there is a lot more!  However I have chores to do and am starting to work on plans for the orchard and garden that we are putting in.....lots to think about and prepare for!!  Until next time! Have a great day/week!