Reposting while I play catch up. I hope everyone is doing great and I’ll be stopping by and contacting you all. Thanks to Jamie for watering the plants. ; )
Joanne was talking about collecting on her blog, and I thought I’d dig out my collection of seaballs to share. Besides having a strong attachment to woods, i.e. being a huge collector of primitive wood ( note my 100 plus year dough bowl ) these nautical balls fascinate me—their journeys even more so. And more importantly these tangibles also serve as a reminder of one of my favorite quotes: the life lesson taken from James Patterson, Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas.
“Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends, and integrity. And you’re keeping all of them in the air. But one day you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls—family, health, friends, integrity—-are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered. And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls, you will have the beginnings of balance in your life.”
I love the seaballs’ imperfections—their flaws. A keepsake of their journeys—the badges earned along the way.
And you can actually see the wear pattern on the balls, i.e., a net pattern image—that occurred when the netting disintegrated over time…
This ball has what is called a frosted look—from surf and sand wear. And a small bubble hangs from inside under the seal buttons on these. This all determines age and rarity. I’ve always wanted a cranberry color… simply for no other reason, other than challenge…
How about you—do you have any favorite quotes, life lessons to share?
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What’s playn’ on my CD: Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Zephyr
November 21, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Gorgeous seaballs! And I love the primitive bowl, too.
I’ll have to dig out my copy of Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas. I didn’t remember that excerpt, but how beautiful!
November 21, 2008 at 6:56 pm
What a cool collection! Did you find any of them, and where do you buy such a treasure?
Quotes I love (both Erma Bombeck):
“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the ‘Titanic’ who waved off the dessert cart.”
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’”
November 21, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I’m so glad I inspired you to share this collection. They are so beautiful, and remind me a little of the gazing balls I talked about. What exactly is the purpose of seaballs? You mention netting, but I’m still not sure. And where do you find them, because I’m def feeling a new collection starting here, esp since I love the beach.
My favorite quote? Everything matters. Everything counts.
November 21, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Janna, hi there! Suzanne’s Dairy one of my all-time favorite to give as gifts!!
Angie, some were gifts as well some came from New Orleans area!! And I’ve found a few on beaches over the years!! Awesome quotes, Angie, and thanks, I love the talent one!
Joanne, the purpose of sea balls was the use in the fishing nets to weigh down the catch. The nets are sometimes lost. After years and years trapped in the sea, (travels eight channel) the ball’s constant rubbing against the netting (thus the net wear) causes it to break free. I think I posted a link to their history. There are a lot of replicas out there, so if you are thinking of doing some serious collecting, email me for more info.
In England and New England, they are called witches balls. A priest would bless the ball and it would be hung off the side of a ship–a protection against evil spirits, i.e, light draws in the evil and traps and prevents harm… many stories of such legend.
Lovely quote, Joanne, thank you for sharing.
November 21, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Sent ya an email you might be interested in looking at.
November 21, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Ooo, these are pretty and I remember seeing them. It’s always cool thinking about the history behind people and objects. The hands that touched them and their journey. Nice post and pictures, Kimmi.
November 21, 2008 at 11:52 pm
I love the quote from James Patterson. And what beautiful seaballs!
Here’s one of my favorite quotes about a life well-lived:
“Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting “Holy shit, what a ride!” – Mavis Leyrer, age 83
Big (((((hugs)))))) to you, my friend!
November 22, 2008 at 12:03 am
Angie, big thanks, got it and ohh so many new shinys, hard to resist!!!
November 22, 2008 at 12:04 am
Hiya, Tater!! Thanks, luv!
November 22, 2008 at 12:05 am
((Thomma)) Lol! How SahWeet!! Thank you!!!
November 22, 2008 at 4:19 am
Nice collection- very neat. A favorite quote of mine is, “Don’t take life too seriously. You’ll never get out alive.”
November 22, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I LOVE those sea balls. Where did you get them? I would love such a collection myself. I thought though that they only came in the bowling ball size and clear. How beautiful. Not kid friendly in the slightest as this would be a problem for me, but still, one day I would love that too.
November 23, 2008 at 4:09 am
Colby, cool quote and oh so true!
Elizabeth, hello, luv! Thank you! Yuppers, I’d imagine not too child friendly, maybe rubber balls that bounce for now!!
December 5, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I love those! Now I want some of my own.
December 5, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Hi, Rose!! Jus’ call and I’ll give you some tips for collecting, and I’m crossing for you today, C’mon, December roses for Rose!!!
May 21, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Hi, Kimmi! Welcome back. The seaballs are beautiful! And I love the lesson of the five balls — how true.
Here is a quote I recently fell in love with (the whole essay is marvelous):
“TO BE HOPEFUL in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.
What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.
And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”
— Howard Zinn
(((((((((hugs))))))))), my friend!
May 21, 2009 at 8:49 pm
“can i get your hand to write on
this piece of lead to bite on
put a knot to fly my kite on
do you wanna flash a light on…” zephyr song
always great to read you, Kimmi!
peace~
Chuck
May 22, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Those balls are beautiful, yes. We have one but a repro I think.
My favorite quotes…
Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones.
– Phillips Brooks
and
If you have made mistakes…there is always another chance for you…you may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call “failure” is not the falling down, but the staying down.
– Mary Pickford
May 24, 2009 at 11:05 pm
I love the sea balls. And your wooden bowl. When I lived in Hawaii we’d find the big ones on the beach after storms. I moved on and live inland now. I miss beachcombing. Now when we go to the coast…not beach, in Oregon, we look for agates. I’ve got tons of agates but only two small sea balls. I hope you find your cranberry one someday.
Love the quote, too. I’m unquotable today, but I just loved the quote Thomma Lyn produced. Amen to that. There isn’t much of me left at 65.
May 24, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Chuck, always a pleasure to see you.
Thomma, lovely quote! Thank you, happy to be back.
Jannie –nice to see you, I ordered your CD, can’t wait to get it. Thank you for the quote. Nice.
Dorothy — Agates, how cool! Love all sea glass etc. 65 young is not old, hugs