The Aesthete's Alphabet - J is for Jugs

 

I have long had an obsession with jugs. I have been collecting white and cream ones for many years but have now finally forced myself to stop. The withdrawal has been hard. I seem to be drawn to them, like a moth to a flame. If I came across a giant one like this one below, I know that I would fall off the wagon!

 

 

I justify it ....saying to myself, or anyone who cares to listen....that they have such varied uses...as vases for flowers, containers for cutlery on the table, as a holder for wooden spoons next to the stove, for watering pot plants, filling bird baths, I could go on and on. But if I am honest, mine are mostly decorative.

When I first started oil painting classes may years ago, my first paintings (see below) were of jugs. Anyone visiting our house would be instructed by my sweet husband to "come and see my wife's jugs" !?! I suspect the male visitors were always somewhat disappointed!

 

 



But enough of my prattle, I will let you enjoy these images quietly on your own...

 

I will end this post with a picture of a painting my favourite artist, art teacher and friend, Belinda Arde. See my sidebar for a link to her website.

 

Stay tuned for k is for......

 

Till next time

 

Sharon x

 

Image source: Image 2 Veranda Mag, Images 5, 10 25 & 32 Own pictures, Image 11 via Design Chic, Image 16 Tone on Tone, Image 37 Belinda Arde, all other images via pinterest and Tumblr

 





Silver Jugs and Iced Tea

A while ago I was lucky enough to win a competition and the prize was a 3 night stay at Bushmanskloof. It was voted best hotel in the world in 2009 by USA Travel and Leisure and it is truly a magical place. The prize was for 4 adults and 4 children so my husband and I took our 4 sons and my mom and dad.
 
     

We stayed at a private lodge called Koro Lodge  and on arrival we were met by 3 staff members (a chef, a game ranger and a maitre'd) who were at our beck and call for the 3 days. Simply amazing!





It was so hard going back to our normal lives after that. But, I digress. The point of this post is that they served high tea every afternoon and amongst the spread of tempting eats was always a beautiful glass and silver jug filled with the most delicious iced tea. My children couldn't get enough of the chilled iced tea (it was very hot while we were there) and I couldn't get enough of the beautiful jug. I got home and was on a mission to find one.

    

I searched through my own collection and found the ones below. The one in front is very sweet, but way too small, the one on the left is a bit too modern (the check pattern etched on the glass is not quite right) and the the one on the right has too much silver and no glass. (Yes, I know ... I'm far too fussy)

Then, joy of joys, I stumbled on this one (below) in a shop and it was on a sale! So naturally it came home with me.

Then, tragedy struck! The second time I used it, the silver top bit parted company with the glass bottom bit! Luckily the glass didn't break. I took it back to the shop where I bought it, hoping they could replace it, but it wasn't to be. They didn't have any more and weren't able to repair it so gave me a refund instead. So the end of the sad tale is that I have my money - but no beautiful jug!!


So I am still on a mission.

However, I did manage to get the recipe for the delicious iced tea and have been making it every week. (Let me know if you would like the recipe and I will happily share it).




I make a big pot full and decant it into recycled tomato sauce bottles. (My kids eat a lot of tomato sauce! I wonder if it counts as a vegetable?). But it would be so much nicer if I could put it in a big beautiful glass and silver jug!

Till next time

Sharon x