Old Desert Treasures
The desert harbors it’s old desert treasures and often hides them from many peering eyes. Old treasures are often hidden among the canyons and draws out in the sagebrush sea. However, if you’re anything like me the wandering of back roads often lead us to such hidden gems. Oh, but maybe not gems to you. I think I told you about my younger self, just a kid, that loved to explore and create from things I found from an old dump out in the desert near our ranch. Many carefree afternoons were spent looking through some of its rusty, crusty treasures.
Exploring for Old Desert Treasures
Every now and then while exploring back roads I have come across an old city dump or dump on the outskirts of an old ranch. These are the hot spots. Now you can find almost anything – mostly rusty cans, bottles and lots of broken bottles. On one of these occasions, I happened to find this hot spot while out riding horseback checking cows. This was some time ago. In this old dump was a smashed blue and white metal bucket. It caught my eye. Now not too many people horseback is going to step off a perfectly good horse for a smashed bucket with no bail. I did. Can’t you just see my husband rolling his eyes? I handed him the reins of my horse picked up the bucket and poked around and found what I envisioned as a bail to this bucket – an old piece of twisted wire.
Together they formed my inspiration.
A Leaver – Right
Do you know what a leaver – right is? Well, when I was a kid, I enjoyed looking at rocks and always heard about finding gold in the hills. I imagined myself finding gold in the mountains. If I was out riding or exploring, I would pick up rocks and ask my dad if it was gold. He would say, “Nope, that’s leaver – right.” My answer was, “What’s leaver -right?” My dad’s response was “Leave it right there.” So, to this day I figured my husband was thinking that this bucket was like that rock, a leaver – right. A leave it right there! As you know that didn’t happen.
Desert Relic
I obviously enjoy old and tattered that adds to the possibility of life’s romance. This old bucket or kettle had a previous life and I like to imagine what that was. Maybe hauling water, boiling up a stew, or washing dishes. Who knows? I guess it was my obligation to piece it together the best way I know how. Not any old desert treasure will do.
Here, holding pretty blooming tulips it looks a little sophisticated and have a bit of dignity.
Vintage Cobalt Blue and White Enamelware
Not any old desert treasure will do. It has to be a cobalt blue and white enamelware swirl. You can now find these as antique/vintage and reproductions. Some of this enamelware dates back to 1924. This definitely displays a great deal of wear and imperfections.
This is the smashed side that I had to wrench up a bit. Where’s the come-a-long?
This is the side that my husband so graciously tack – welded to hold the sides together.
What Speaks to Me
I guess you could say that this old desert treasure is just something that speaks to me. I like antiques, I like old things, my soul must be very old. Because I envision things with rust a great patina.
I just loved the blue and white of the enamelware. For now, it’s holding a few pinkish tulips. Today, in the house, for tomorrow she’ll rest outside.
“I always find beauty in things that are odd and imperfect – they are much more interesting.” ~Marc Jacobs
I hope you like the old desert treasure and how I styled it. This artifact is one of the first things that inspired the name of Rustic and Refound and how I came to this life of blogging. So, if you like this, please give me a shout. I would love to hear your thoughts.
