Surprise Mason Jars

As we've spent the last year getting to know The Anniversary Home, there've been plenty of secrets and surprises to our enjoyment/annoyance.

Secrets like:

• the trick to getting the master bedroom fidgety lightswitch with a short in it to stay on. (That was fixed a few weeks ago by my handy husband.)
• how to master the fine line between perfectly hot water for a morning shower and scalding fire for a morning downer.
• the 1952 University of Kansas alumni directory found in the guest closet. (This tripped me out since I went to KU for a year.)
• the strange noises and creaks that happen in the middle of the night. (Yep, still don't know what those are, but at least I'm not scared of them any more!)

I've come to terms with the secrets of the hosue - it's just the way it is - but the surprises are what I really like/dislike:

• For instance, the lack of insulation in the entire house? Dislike. If you're coming to visit, bring an extra layer of clothes.
• The horse stall in the barn full of gardening and farming tools which probably saw some use during the great depression? Like. Reassuring to know we have a horse plow if we ever need one.
• The heating bill we get each month during the winter? Dislike. See bullet 1.
• The pretty daffodils which bloomed this spring (and hopefully the next?) even though I have no green thumb whatsoever? Like. Who doesn't love pretty yellow when the world is so gray.

But the ultimate, favorite surprise of the house - well, really, the barn - was discovered late last year. I'm not sure who found them first - me, or Mr. B - but since I'm allowed to revise history every now and then, let's just say for the sake of the story I found them.

On the second floor of the barn, in a crazy medicine cabinet, lived a set of 13 large mason jars complete with lids and rims for canning, I guess? Well, what southern girl doesn't love a good set of mason jars for water, sweet tea or beers. I found a weird way to justify all the many zeros we'd place for this place just to have these jars. A ridiculous reason for a mortgage but when you're in shell shock and poor, you need to keep hope any way you can!

I left them up there all year and finally brought them out of the barn to the house this past weekend. Let's just say that had been on my to-do list for a long time and it feels amazing now that they're safely in the house and clean! I've got a dozen (+) a spare to (=) thirteen which makes me over the moon happy. (Why? Because there's enough for me to use with my china. And if you're doubting whether I really would set my china with mason jars you obviously haven't read enough of this blog.)

Seven of the jars before meeting their fate in the squeeky clean, super quiet, and all around amazing new dishwasher. They were pretty gross before the great wash, and I was worried they wouldn't look so nice even after the wash. Side note: I am going to wash the lids/rims by hand. I don't know what type of metal they are - and because they already look like they've seen better days - I don't want to have a cascade reaction nightmare.  

Four of the thirteen following their deep clean. They came out looking beautiful and I'm so happy how they turned out. I just need to make some cabinet space for them to have a permanent home in the kitchen. (Side note: have I already outgrown my kitchen? Between the day to day glasses, plastic cups, tons of tea cups, two full sets of wine glasses and some other random glassware....I'm afraid I'm out of space? It can't be true.)

Up close and personal with Mr. and Mrs. Ball Jar. They shots don't do it justice, but these puppies are pretty big. Like spagetti sauce jars big. At least a liter of liquid? I wish it was summer so I could pour a couple cold ones into these for some summertime refreshment.

Do any of you share my mason jar obsession? Where do you gets yours? (And don't say Walmart!) Fleamarket? Garage Sale? Oh, okay, Walmart? Do you have any other creative uses for your jars?