Salty - Photo Hunters
This looks like an ordinary salt shaker, but it has a story of quotidian proportions. In the 70s, I remember my dad commenting on the fact that he liked his salt and pepper shakers that had big enough holes that the stuff would come out of it. I remember going to a store that I liked. It was called The Plum Tree and was in the new mall. Malls were a relatively new concept in the early 70s, and the thing to do as a teenager was to go to the mall and shop around. The Plum Tree was one of those stores that was a gift shop that had all kinds of what nots in it. In there I saw a set of salt and pepper shakers, a mesmerizing blue with the top being a 70s version of the green that permeated home decorating. So my gift to him was that set. i don't remember what occasion the gift was for, if there was an occasion, but I knew Dad would like these. So the salt and pepper shakers became a part of the family table and remained there until Mom sold the house after Dad died. By then, the top of the shakers had lost the paint, thankfully, leaving the top an aluminum finish. The shakers now reside at our house.
Let's talk about the salt in this shaker. You don't have to look too closely to notice there is something in the salt that doesn't look like it belongs there. Anyone living in a humid climate knows exactly what it is. Uncooked rice prevents the salt from clumping up.
Humble as it can be, it's a mighty special salt shaker to me!
What a beautiful story to go along with the picture.
Posted by: margaret | March 02, 2007 at 06:40 PM
We keep macaroni in our salt shakers. Nice story, Cathy. I remember when malls were new, but around here, that was in the LATE 70's.
Posted by: patti | March 02, 2007 at 07:22 PM
A great story with your photo. Yes we always have rice in our salt shakers. Happy weekend.
Posted by: incog & nito | March 02, 2007 at 08:42 PM
Lovely story. I like the blue salt shaker.
http://photogfrog.livejournal.com/
Posted by: Tanya | March 02, 2007 at 08:45 PM
That's a lovely story, even though I would have loved to see the salt shaker with its original coloured top.
Have fun on today's hunt.
Posted by: Waspgoddess | March 03, 2007 at 05:54 AM
What a great photo and I love the story that goes with it. Makes that salt shaker very special. And I can relate to the rice in the shaker!
Thanks for visiting my place...I do love Classical music and you're right, Cedar Key is a very "salty" place, in many ways. (smile) Have a great weekend.
Posted by: Terri | March 03, 2007 at 09:01 AM
What a great and sweet story.
I noticed the rice in the salt shaker right away. I remember the first time I saw that, right after moving to Hawaii. I wondered what had crawled into the salt! LOL
Have a wonderful weekend.
Posted by: Lisa | March 03, 2007 at 09:05 AM
Great to have a photo with a story. All the best photos have memories attached. I didn't know about the rice, not too humid here in the UK!
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Posted by: Sarah | March 03, 2007 at 09:09 AM
Love the commentary behind the photo!! Thanks for sharing.
Mine's posted this week...OLD SALTS
Posted by: Hootin' Anni | March 03, 2007 at 09:15 AM
Oh, I love the story behind the salt shaker. The second I saw the picture, I knew about the grains of rice in the salt (we live in south FL)
Posted by: Daisy | March 03, 2007 at 09:37 AM
Great picture and story! Thanks for sharing and for stopping by My Photo Blog
Posted by: Beckie | March 03, 2007 at 09:40 AM
Beautiful shade of blue on the salt shaker and what a wonderful story you shared.
Posted by: Amy in NY | March 03, 2007 at 10:25 AM
That's a wonderful story. I love the shaker. It looks much older and very unique.
Posted by: meeyauw | March 03, 2007 at 10:56 AM
What a beautiful memory to have. I bet that green on the tops was something else!
Posted by: srp | March 03, 2007 at 11:13 AM
Sounds like your dad loved those salt & pepper shakers. They are very neat looking. What a neat story and pretty shaker. Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend.
Posted by: Biker Betty | March 03, 2007 at 12:18 PM
What a great story behind the salt shaker. :) Full of great memories. And yep, the rice really helps to keep the salt from clumping.
Thanks for stopping by and have a good day!
Posted by: Caylynn | March 03, 2007 at 12:29 PM
Yup, I knew that was rice in there! :-)
Posted by: Jennifer | March 03, 2007 at 02:32 PM
What a lovely post. Thanks.
Posted by: Sue | March 03, 2007 at 03:24 PM
How sweet of you to get him the lovely blue salt shaker. :)
I recognized the rice right away. Apparently my mom used to keep rice in their shaker too, and this was special rice to them because she used it when they first got married. For some reason, when I was a kid, I dumped it out and there went her special rice. OOPS! lol :)
Thanks for stopping by. :)
Posted by: Crystal | March 03, 2007 at 06:09 PM
That is indeed a very special salt shaker! I always put rice in mine too, learned that trick from my mother in law many many many years ago:-)
Posted by: PEA | March 03, 2007 at 07:04 PM
Thank you for sharing that story. It's a special salt shaker because of its sentimental value.
Same here, we also put some uncooked rice in our salt shakers.
Posted by: Rach | March 03, 2007 at 07:45 PM
That was a very nice story - one that has special meaning behind the photo. Great photo for this week's theme. Thanks for stopping by my blog and have a great weekend!
Posted by: SJ | March 03, 2007 at 11:40 PM
we put the rice in the salt shakers too :)
Posted by: abe-hap | March 04, 2007 at 12:39 AM
Thanks for the background. Really creates this a great entry
Posted by: TorAa | March 04, 2007 at 06:36 AM
Love the color of the shaker. Good story to go with the pic too!
Posted by: RobK | March 04, 2007 at 01:50 PM