In the kitchen, part 2 - the chickens

My introduction to Julian's extended family happened abruptly, without planning it and without time to think it over. Julian and I had really only been dating 'for real' for about two weeks when I asked him if he wanted to go back to Knoxville with me for the graduation of my college friends who were a year behind me. He sad yes and off we went. We got there and his parents emailed - his grandparents  (and aunts, and uncles, and neighbors) were in Knoxville for graduation, too! His cousin, Sara, was graduating from grad school and was having a house party so we stopped by. My first conversation with his grandmother went about like this:

Me: Hi, its nice to meet you!
Granny: Hi. (Put her hand on my knee and gripped, hard) Do you go to church?
Me: Yep! Was raised Presbyterian.
Granny: Ok! Do you want children?
Me: Yep! Four would be nice.
(What was I thinking? I knew she had four so it must be the correct answer. I was 23 then, too.)
Granny: Good! What do you collect?
Me: *panic* Collect? Oh, um. Chickens!
(What on earth? Why didn't you say something useful like... diamonds!)
Granny: That's nice.

Truth be told, it was the only thing I could think of and no, I had no collection of chickens. I also did not know that Granny collects collections: peacocks, rabbits, frogs, baskets, Christmas trees (yes, Christmas trees), etc. On the way home, we passed by a frontage road pottery shop - which in the south is code for a bunch of cheap house junk - and my sweet Julian said, "I suppose we should stop in a get you a chicken." If I were going to get stuck with a chicken collection, I would at least not be a liar anymore.  And so, my collection started with my dot chicken from Julian and now totals over 35 chicken themed articles, from salt and pepper shakers to clocks, to an apron holder.  They are, for the most part, a cheery lot, and my kitchen just wouldn't be the same without them.

PS. That green Aladdin lamp is from my father's side of the family. It was made in 1937 and was lovingly restored last night by Julian when we discovered that the vine had grown inside the gallery!

PPS. That box up there is a Mason Pearson Hairbrush box. I cleaned hotel rooms during the summers in college. One day I went in to clean a room after a guest had checked out and they left that box behind. Upon inspection, you can see that it has a $125 price tag on the bottom. Its a HAIR BRUSH, PEOPLE. I had a bit of a Scarlett moment and kept it as a reminder of my roots.

This is part two of my link up with Heather @ Beauty That Moves.