Treasure Tuesday

Today's treasure is a new acquisition--a country bell--and one I have been interested in enjoying as a decoration in our yard since last summer when I wrote a post about finding a wonderful old bell at a yard sale. However, that bell was a lot out of my price range, so I put one on my wish list for the future.

My mom gave me this bell last month, and Tom and Jonathan recently installed it--after many trial and error placements. Hannah and I were pretty good at telling them to move the heavy post here...and then move it there...and there...and eventually we moved it back to almost the original spot again. :)

Hannah then worked with a string on the lawn to scope out the exact shape of the new flower bed we wanted around the bell, and Tom killed the grass there. Over the past weekend Hannah and Sarah tilled the area because we originally thought plants would go in that spot this fall, but the ground was much too hard to dig. We'll scoop some manure at stables close by and add it to this flower bed so it will be enriched through the winter and ready for planting next spring.

Here's where the bell finally ended up--right by the driveway--and I like where it's placed. It's a good thing, because (I've been told) that's where it's staying! We still need to attach the cord/rope so we can hear it ring occasionally.

I've taken pictures of old bells that I spot when we've been traveling so I would have pictures to go by whenever we planned our bell area. Here's the bell we saw when we were on the tour of Sherwood Forest, John Tyler's plantation home, during the History of the World Conference--the bell's post is an old tree!

And here's a bell I liked in Georgia when we visited last year.

Do you like country bells? Do you have one? Do you call your kids in from play with its ringing?  I'm looking forward to enjoying mine in the months to come. Now this winter I can dream and plan what I'll plant there next spring. Any suggestions?

~Deb

Comments

[Susan]

How neat, Deb! I would have never thought of having a bell in my yard. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of it next spring when you have the plants around it.

[Dorothy]

That is such a fun idea! I have never seen anything like that before. I love the idea and would love to do that in my own yard one day! It looks like your place has really changed since I saw it last.

[Dana]

How fun!

I would love to have a bell at our house! I am sure there must have been one here originally (or at least at some point) but hmmmm, I don't know where I would put one (but I am confident that I could find a place if I were blessed with a bell!).

I can't wait to see how lovely your bell looks once you get the flower bed finished!

Have a blessed evening,
Dana

[chris]

Well , You know what they say, "good things come to those that wait" :) How fun! Looks like a perfect spot!
We don't have a bell but We do have a iron heart hanging from my back porch that has a rod iron clanging "stick". I use it to call the kids sometimes. My mom has had one for years on her back porch and I have always loved it. One day this past spring, Casey had visited the Wmsbrg Pottery and saw a blacksmith making them there and brought one home to me! Joseph made an iron hanger for it and up it went. Looks positively CUTE! :)
I love your bell, maybe one day we can put one of those up in the yard. My mom found a neat one last summer in Georgia that had an iron cow above it and the whole thing stands on her kitchen counter. Very neat!

[Tammy]

The bell reminds of being at camp-the bell ringing signals dinner is ready!!

[Carol]

Here's a "word to know" for all bell aficionados:

** campanology **

"The art of bell ringing"

It comes from "campana," the Latin word for "bell." A good desk dictionary will have a fascinating list of related words. If you have ever played in a handbell choir, you have been a *campanologist.*

[Deb]

Thank you all so much for commenting; I loved hearing what you had to say about bells. Carol, thanks for the word lesson. I don't think I've ever heard that word before!

Chris, the iron heart and clanging stick sounds very unique! That would be a neat tradition for the kids to grow up with--being called in to the sound of that!

Dana, I've said the same thing as far as fitting new stuff in. As full as my walls are, I could still make room for something else!

Dorothy, yes, a couple of changes here and there...a little something new each year as we get around to it.

Tammy, you're right..I remember the BJU bells ringing whenever we were there for homeschool camp.

Susan, you'll have to plan to swing by here whenever you visit SC again. I'd love to give you a tour! :)