(re-post)
Some collections come about through intentional questing and acquisition. Other just sort of – happen.
Both are fascinating experiences.
I don't recall why pepper and salt mills started 'collecting' themselves, appearing at garage sales and church thrift stores; all different and all lovely and, suddenly, I had a growing collection.
They continue to appear but same-old-same-old halted my buying them.
And today I wanted the windowsill space more than I wanted so many of them so there was time spent on perusing and admiring and choosing.
These are on their way somewhere else.
These are staying. Owl has been with me for decades, such a long time that I cannot remember if it was once a pair – must have been – but has been a salt shaker for ages (or will be again once I find a small enough cork to keep the salt in).
Salt box is a long timer and now holds coarse grain sea salt in its most unprocessed form (researching that was an adventure). The bobbin pepper grinder may be what started this flurry awhile ago: I could not resist it; I could wrap some spun fibre around it. The clear grinder also has coarse (evaporated process) sea salt from a different source and serves to provide a sprinkle. The last two are both pepper mill and salt shaker. Pepper mill in the middle has also been around for a long time.
When a space is cleared, a vacuum results; it will be interesting to see what fills it.