Saturday, April 11, 2020

J ~ Jugs

    Empty gallon jugs were a precious commodity at our house while I was growing up. Since we didn't buy milk, collecting empty jugs was challenging and slow.
    Every time we finished a gallon of vinegar we would cut off the bottom, throw away the lid, and then slide the jug onto the rope where all the other empty jugs were hanging in the basement.
    Once spring arrived and it was time to plant the garden we would place these empty jugs over some of the less hardy plants. The added warmth gave them more of a greenhouse affect and helped them grow faster and stronger than the ones we didn't have jugs for.
    Once the plants were at the point of outgrowing their cozy shelter we would remove the jugs, wash them, and string them back on the rope in the basement. They would hang there waiting until the next spring with hopefully a few more jugs being added to the collection.
    The bottoms of those empty jugs were just as precious to me as a little girl, as the tops were to my Mom. They served as plates, bowls, and pie pans in my playhouse and the sandbox.
    Many sand pies were made in them, carefully decorated with pine needles and dandelions.
    Back then I never imagined the day would come where I'm throwing several gallon jugs away each week. Even after all this time I almost feel bad every time I discard one, but I have no use for them so into the trash they go. It's also just a little sad that my children never got to experience the feeling of thankfulness as another empty jug gets added to a slowly growing collection.
   

15 comments:

  1. I cut one side out of plastic milk jug, slit it where the handle meets the body of the jug, and hang it over my clothes line to hold clothes pins. For a photo - https://tinyurl.com/rts774o

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    1. Here's another picture, without the bird's nest. https://tinyurl.com/wrn6gly

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    2. Thanks for sharing those photos. I wish I could have seen those squirrels. That must have been so entertaining to watch!

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    3. The Squire and I nearly fell over laughing.

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  2. I love memories like this. Sometimes I think life is too easy for our children. Since I grew up with depression era parents I learned you NEVER throw anything away. It always has more uses. Most people now don't keep anything but just buy more of what they want/need when they decide to.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  3. This is beautiful. I too enjoy looking back at childhood memories. Although our experiences aren't the same, the feeling of an earlier time is very familiar. It resonates. You capture it beautifully.

    Happy Easter... blessings!
    Brenda

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    1. I'm glad the feeling resonated with you.

      Hope your Easter was a lovely one!

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  4. Your jug story spoke to me because i save a few jugs to use around my house and garden. A simple half gallon jug gets cut into the shape of a scoop for bird seed,fertilizer or potting soil. The bottom cut off an orange juice quart bottle becomes a handy funnel for filling birdfeeders. I always save glass jars and even twine and string. It all comes in so handy.

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    1. I love how things can continue to be useful even after they're "done"

      I had never thought to make a funnel like that. I'll have to remember for this fall when we put our birdfeeder out again.

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  5. What a lovely memory! I too have used plastic jugs in the garden to protect the less hardy plants.
    Happy Resurrection day...blessings I'm Christ,
    Kelly-Anne

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    1. Glad you enjoyed my memory.

      Hope you had a lovely Resurrection Day!

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  6. Another great memory and such a great tip for the garden. I need to work out what I could use now to protect the seedlings.

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  7. We take a lot for granted these days. I'm hopeful the current situation will remind us not to so much.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.