How do you like my pineapples?

A couple posts back on my other blog I happened to mention that I love the hospitality symbolism of the pineapple, and I have a small collection of them throughout my house...nothing that is overly valuable, but just little things we've picked up here and there, or things that have been given to me as gifts.

Pineapples were a coveted commodity in Colonial America, and guests who were treated to them felt especially pampered. You can read some interesting facts here. I was amazed to discover that fresh pineapples were "rented" out to folks who wanted to use them as a table display to impress guests, but couldn't actually afford to buy them and eat them!

Here are some of my pineapples. I'm sure there are more, because every time I turn around I find one I didn't take a picture of.

A print we bought in Charleston, SC when we visited there a couple of years ago. We had it framed at Hobby Lobby and it hangs in our dining room.

One of my favorite pineapples, also purchased in Charleston...(the pineapple capitol of the world??)

This large tray stands on top of my china cabinet...I enjoy using it at Christmastime, as it was a Christmas gift from my hubby one year...

One for my foyer...

a gift from my friend, Jennifer, this welcome sign is in the kitchen...

I've enjoyed these handcrafted metal coasters for years. We bought them in Ohio's Amish country at Wendell-August Forge.

This tiny stained glass pineapple was a souvenir we brought home from Williamsburg, Va. It hangs on a dining room window:

As does this suncatcher...

...which we also got in Williamsburg.

A couple of "welcome" plates sit on a double shelf in our family room...

This Willow Tree "Welcoming Angel", a gift from my friend, Brenda, is part of a mantle display...

I painted this plate at a ceramic shop...

(notice I made the leaves blue to go with my decor...let's hear it for artistic license!)

This beautiful pitcher was a Mother's Day gift this year from my kids in SC.

A variety of little pineapple things I found in my kitchen...

Brenda started me on this collection of etched glasses with a silver rim...she gave me the first two, then I gradually added 6 more. I just love them...

My sister-in-law, Marcie, gave me this beautiful cut glass pitcher, which I love to fill with water and lemon slices...The etched wine glasses were another gift from Brenda.

A smaller pineapple tray and a silver dish, (whoops, where's the silver polish?) both from Charleston, SC...the glass candle globe with pineapple etchings came from my friend, Marilyn...who also gave me the beautiful salad spoon and fork serving set...

I found the little butter knife in Charleston...

Here is a Christmas ornament that I keep out all year 'round. The pineapple opens up and you can hide a tiny gift inside!

And last but not least...something for the backyard...

For some reason, the bees like this better than the birds!

Hope you enjoyed the pineapple tour. What do you collect around your house?

Move over Martha...

I finally put away the last vestige of winter this week as I threw my winterberry wreath in the trash. It had served me well for several seasons, but wouldn't make it through another Ohio winter! Here's what I put on our front door in its place:

I'm so proud of myself because during the winter I found the makings for this wreath at our local Salvation Army store. It is a 25 inch grapevine wreath, and there were about ten bunches of artificial spring flowers that came with it. All for $2.97!!!

So it took me about an hour to cut the flowers apart with a wire cutter, and hot glue them onto the wreath. The ribbon for the bow I made cost me $1.00 at Dollar Tree. So for a total of $4.00 I have a nice new look for Spring!

Then last week I found a little consignment shop that unfortunately is going out of business. But lucky for me, this beautiful ceramic pitcher was on sale for 60% off. My kitchen colors are butterscotch, barn red, and navy blue. I had been wanting to make a spring-like centerpiece for our kitchen table so this was perfect. The pitcher cost $7.00 and I added $3. worth of artificial daisies, which made the arrangement about 20 inches high.

Another "find" over the winter at a different consignment shop are these large 12 inch diameter House Beautiful heavy wooden charger plates. They are navy blue, and the original price was $22. each. I got them for $5. each! The large butterscotch colored cloth napkins I found at a discount store for 25 cents each. I love the new look of my kitchen table, which by the way, was green for about 12 years until we painted it barn red, except for the top.

I'm so excited that Spring is finally here. I love home decorating on a budget. I hope some of you will share some ideas with me! Happy Spring!

"...train the younger women...to be busy at home..." Titus 2