I have a pantry filling up with mason jars. And I have a brain filling up with ideas on what to put IN those mason jars. Applesauce? Rotel? Stewed tomatoes? Salsa?

Before there were mason jars, there were clay pots for preserving. My grandmother’s grandma used these to store pickles and kraut in. They had loose lids, so there was no need for a wax seal or a pressure cooker. These, too, came from the Macomb Pottery company.

I much prefer the mason jars because of the clear glass. You can see what you’re reaching for when you get it off the shelf. And, it makes for a colorful pantry.

By way of recording photos and a little blurb about each item, I seem to be preserving a small piece of history. It amazes me sometimes how many generations back these items go. They’re valuable to their owners right now because there’s a personal connection – a personal story behind each one, and they’re valuable to collectors. But once the owners are gone, does the value fade if there’s no story?

Until we walk again …