Falling Treasures

In her post a few days ago, Joni told about her new French clock that she found at the Marburger Farm antique show last week. She loved it and was so happy with the way it looked above the window in her gorgeous kitchen. Then, quite unexpectedly, only a little while after the picture was taken, the clock just fell - yes, fell.... and broke into a million pieces. She was crushed. She was certain she had hung it securely and still doesn't know why it fell from the wall.

Joni's story brought back a memory for me. It was a number of years ago when we lived in Dallas. I was so excited about my new antique English pine plate rack and could hardly wait to hang it in my dining room. I was a vintage Mexican pottery collecting fool and couldn't wait to have such a great display piece!

I had two young children and time to myself was rare. I remember hanging the shelf one night by myself before everyone was in bed. I used long, big nails and felt sure they were sufficient.I planned to get up early the next morning to have time alone to arrange my pottery.

I had some very special, very old plates and it had taken me quite some time to amass a collection to hang together. I just loved them. I felt the shelf was securely hung on the wall.

The next morning I crept down the stairs quietly so that no little people knew I was up. I climbed up on a ladder in my nightgown and quietly began to arrange dinner plates, salad plates, a few little odd pieces tucked in here and there ..... arranging and rearranging to get everything just right - so balanced and pretty.

Finally I was satisfied and went into the kitchen to refill my coffee cup. I sat down at the kitchen table to enjoy my last few minutes of alone time, and then I heard it. I heard a slow, sliding sort of sound. Not quite sure at first.........kind of like slow motion........and when I realized it was the plate rack sliding down the wall, it was too late. The slow slide evolved quickly to a huge crash and I was horrified! I found my precious pottery collection smashed to pieces on the dining room floor. Surprisingly a few pieces survived with just a few chips, but most were lost.

I have collected more pottery now and still love it. I mix old with new as you can see above. I will never forget that morning, though. In my determination to get that plate rack hung and filled, all in such delicious, but too hurried, excitement, I lost it all.

Big lesson learned, big. My plate rack is now hung with super duper nails and butterfly something or others.....oh, and I did learn a thing or two about patience!