something about nursery rhymes

my mother just moved last week, and while there wasn't a gazebo or a garden in the back yard as the landlord had promised, there is a mulberry tree. we had never had mulberries before, but they are super yummy, somewhat sweeter and less tart than raspberries or blackberries. the tree is chock-full, and i stood on the recycling bin, trying to pick all that i could reach. if i were another inch taller, i probably would have gotten away with double the amount. supposedly the best way to pick them is to lay out a sheet on the ground and shake the branches. we unsuccessfully tried to shake the branches and catch them in a bowl. didn't catch even one little mulberry. my sister wants to use them in a pie when she's home next week. in muffins. on cereal. i bought fancy vanilla ice cream to eat them on. what a holiday sunday.

here's pictures. sorry they're backlit. i am a truly horrendous photographer.


little babies for all the shelves i plan on hanging


also to be hung, one of my favorite finds so far this year


i caught the salt & pepper shaker bug recently, also for the soon-to-be-erected shelves


i paid too much for these, but they're quite impeccable given their age [1940s?]


do you think anyone ever actually used these babies as reference guides?