October 12, 2012

Buckeyes



When I was growing up my grandparents lived in Ohio, the Buckeye State, and I have vivid memories of my grandpa and I collecting Buckeyes (the large seeds) and playing games with them. Sometimes we'd plop them into the running water in the ditch, then race across the street and wait for them to journey through the pipe and come floating out the other side.

I had completely forgotten about Buckeyes until the other day when I came across hundreds scattered under a tree in the park (Who knew the tree can grow in the West?!). It was like seeing an old friend from 35+ years ago. I dropped to my knees and gathered as many as I could fit in my sweatshirt pocket. 

Back home I layered them in a glass hurricane vase with a candle. I'm going to go collect some more this weekend. They're so smooth and a fabulous reddish-brown color. Perfect for Fall decorating. And remembering my grandpa.

12 comments:

  1. Buckeyes... all new, for me!
    They look so hazel-nut like... any relation?
    What a dear find, to bring back happy memories for you.

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    1. I think Chestnut-related, as in "chestnuts roating on a open fire" but this variety isn't edible. They're larger like the size of a quarter.

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  2. What a wonderful memory! Thanks for sharing it with us. I have not had any experience with buckeyes, but they are very beautiful. Thanks for posting, Jenny...oh and I love the candle/glass/nut arrangement, too :)

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    1. Thanks Gracie. It is such a nice memory for me. My grandpa had an easy, refined nature. He was so patient and easygoing with me.

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  3. Oh you call them Buck Eyes. We call them Conkers here in the UK. They're from the Horse Chestnut tree and over here children, especially boys, collect them. This is so they can play the age old playground game called 'Conkers'.

    Basically you make a hole in the chestnut then thread a piece of string, tying a knot in the bottom. You are now ready to play. You hold your conker by the string, whilst your opponent with his threaded conker, proceeds to split your conker with his. If your conker splits and breaks apart, you lose. If not, you then reciprocate until a winner is declared.

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    1. "Conkers"! I love it! I'll have to give it a whirl. I was thinking of stringing some up anyhow since I've been on my garland kick. hee hee

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  4. Love this post Jenny! I didn't know that this is what a buckeye was! I'm learning so much. :) We first saw these on the grounds of the Daly Mansion in Hamilton. What gorgeous little fall treasures and reminders of your grandpa. :)

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  5. We call them Horse Chestnuts and there were a number of trees next to our house growing up in Portland, I thought they were beautiful little treasures (once they were out of their prickly pod) and always carried them around in my pockets-rubbing them and shinning them up-kind of like a worry stone! I've always been one to collect natural goodies so I love your vase full of them-good idea, and I love the connection to your grandpa and the memories :)

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    1. They do feel like worry stones ~ smooth and perfect. :)

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  6. You say "buckeye", I say "conker". I adore their smooth shape and colour. Someone told me they repel spiders (no idea how or why) and if you put them on window sills spiders will stay away. Handy at this time of year when they all come inside to escape the cold. I love that last photo of the hurricane lamp, so cosy. x

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    1. REALLY? Spider repellers? My girls will be elated to know this. They freak at the tiniest of eight-legged creatures. I'll have to have Kate sleep with one under her pillow (she's always worried a spider will come in her bed at night).

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