Saturday, February 5, 2011

sgt. pepper


Is anything ever priced under a dollar?  Yes, amazingly enough. I just purchased this lovely vintage pewter pepper mill for 59 cents at Goodwill. F-i-f-t-y  n-i-n-e  c-e-n-t-s. Crazy, huh?  I've dubbed him Sgt. Pepper and he is the perfect size to keep my favorite rainbow peppercorns, a mix of black, white, green and pink, handy at the table. It's a heavenly little luxury I can't live without.  I've had a nine inch Greek copper mill for as long as I can remember. Last summer I found a brand new 12 inch brass one, never used, still in it's original box at a garage sale for a song.  The large one I like to use for regular black pepper and the smaller one for mixed. Never tried the mixed?  Take my word for it, you'll want to grind it on everything.

After stumbling across the cute little pewter guy, I had to stop by The Anderson's General Store for some peppercorns.  WT, along for the ride, grabbed a separate cart and we met up at the cash register fifteen minutes later.  My cart: one pound of homemade egg salad, one bottle of California Cabernet Sauvignon, two jars of mixed colored peppercorns and a bunch of seedless red grapes.  His cart:  rust remover, one light bulb, one loaf of marble rye, 20 pounds of birdseed and two quarts of prune juice.


Epithets, like pepper, 
give zest to what you write; 
and, if you strew them sparely, 
they whet the appetite.

Lewis Carroll

68 comments:

  1. What a cutie!

    I tried to use a pepper mill several years ago, but the one I bought never ground correctly and I finally tossed it. Maybe I'll have to try again....

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  2. Awesome. Just what I needed to get me away from the spiralling thoughts that are dominating my mind at present.

    THANKS;

    Bisous,

    Love and Light, Sender

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  3. Nothing like fresh ground pepper in the winter!

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  4. wow...amazing find...gotta love good will :)

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  5. Unbelieveable! One could NEVER find a treasure like that here in Sf for that price!!!!!

    Sgt. Pepper is beautiful! And....I love the multi-colour peppercorns! I must buy some!!!

    Tess.....shall I tell you it is sunny and 60 degrees here? (Oh, I just did....) It won't last for long...and has confused all the Cherry Trees....but, I am enjoying the warmth!

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  6. I like this little pepper mill. So petite. I love freshly ground pepper and will have to try the multi-colored peppercorns.

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  7. Nice collection, Tess! There's nothing like freshly ground pepper, I think. And don't you just love a good buy?? As my grandmother would always say, when she got a good buy, (God knows why) "Who would go naked?!"

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  8. I should make it a habit to visit all the re-sale shops. You find the best stuff.

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  9. Do you know Tess, I'm loving your blog more and more each time. You have a great 'voice' which is very sincere and your passion for writing shines through as well as your amazing photography. I enjoy coming back every time x

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  10. i love pepper on everything
    but have never tried the multi colored.
    on your suggestion,
    i will.
    i can't wait i bet it is yummy.

    xx

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  11. i love pepper on everything
    but have never tried the multi colored.
    on your suggestion,
    i will.
    i can't wait i bet it is yummy.

    xx

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  12. Will try your mixed peppercorns -- Pepper mills have always carried an aura of flamboyancy for me. -- barbara

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  13. Man, I love the mixed peppercorns. I have several pepper grinding machines, I love them all for making my food tasty.

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  14. I love the marble rye and egg salad a union of two baskets. One perfect for the other and while you are at it a little mix peppercorn freshly ground. What a lovely find!

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  15. there is nothing quite like fresh cracked pepper. do you have pestle and mortar sets as well? I really want to get one of those.
    i love how you and WT met at the cash register. we do the same thing, except his cart always includes dessert.
    great post, thanks for sharing.

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  16. What an incredible bargain!!! The pewter alone is worth a lot more at the scrap yard.
    I do like you selection of peppercorns and mills.

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  17. Liza, his has dessert? I'm going to have to give WT some pointers.

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  18. tess i love the simulcart meeting of you and the man! pepper - i love pepper - especially mixed peppercorns. i smell them and i want to cook, i want to eat, i want to shop!!! steven

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  19. this sounds like the beginnings of a pepper mill collection!

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  20. I love the rainbow pepper mix...and the makings for a lovely picnic....except perhaps for the prune juice:)

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  21. Yeah, is it two items, or three, that start a collection? For me, I think it's one.

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  22. A picnic? Yes! An indoors picnic, for sure.

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  23. F-i-f-t-y n-i-n-e c-e-n-t-s! Get out! I just love your homage to the pepper mill, the pictures are spectacular and well, especially the egg salad. Egg salad and fresh ground pepper = heaven.

    I remember being in Germany and my new fried stole a pepper mill for me...I cherished it for year, and when it lost it's grind, it was a sad day.

    Happy grinding!

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  24. I am going to try and find the multi-colored peppercorns here on the Island. I've never heard of them but I love collecting wooden grinders. Actually the pepper grinder that I use the most is clear Lucite, but it does a great job and is a handy size. Pepper is great on everything especially chjicken soup. Thanks for the great photos. Maybe I should take a few shots of my collection.

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  25. I'm a bit out of sync since I rarely grind pepper--- but I love the sergeant, a bit beat but still beautiful. If peppercorns were diamonds beggars would rise. Mellow wood, silver and marble are lovely together.

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  26. there is nothing better than freshly ground pepper...we have been known to travle with a good pepper grinder- cheers!

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  27. Has sgt. pepper organized a "lonely hearts' club" band," yet?

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  28. A pepper mill that works really well is a treasure. If you want to make a quick profit, I'll give you 2 dollars for it!

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  29. Oh Tess, I'd take your cart over his in a heartbeat!

    Goodwill has become my favorite boutique. I bought my daugher a gorgeous little Betsy Johnson original for $4.50. It looks fabulous on her.

    Pepper mills? I thought my 30 year old son was the only pepper connesuir in the whole world. Who knew? I may have to rethink his obsession. :-)

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  30. Antique Pewter has large traces of Cadmium in it due to the poor refining practices of the past,use it sparingly. Tis a beauty with a dark past.

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  31. Sgt Pepper is great name for your new acquisition. Will you still need it, will you still feed it, when you're sixty-four? You bet!

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  32. Funny. Every couple should take a grocery cart each and meet at the register later like you did and just see what we each are drawn to.

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  33. The artifacts are as lovely as the writing. Great post.

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  34. Great find....Love rainbow peppercorns....xv

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  35. Loved this little vignette of your day. Enjoy your purchase!

    and i want to come for lunch. love egg salad and a little wine!

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  36. Yes, an exotic mix of peppercorns will spoil one and returning to plain old black pepper will never enter your mind! Grind it baby - I was last evening, all over my steaming bowls of homemade cream of cauliflower (with nutmeg too of course) soup!

    Good find - I love it when under a dollar treasures are discovered, especially when they're usable and perfect.

    I loved the cart you were pushing Willow - my DH always tosses in more stuff than we need, or I want to bother with!

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  37. A great find!
    For some reason, I have a great affection for pepper pots.
    We use one that was a wedding present every day.....35 years!!!

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  38. I love that you called this Sargent Pepper -- and the clever rhyme at the end was perfect, too!

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  39. Oh, I'm envious! Brilliant find! I love your descriptions of the two carts, too. Tomorrow is my thrifting day and I'm already looking forward to it.

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  40. Let hear it for those well-placed
    epithets, Leo. Epithets are like
    sparkling jewels in the right
    mouth, sprinkled just so in a
    lady's conversation can cast
    a spell, and sprinkled discreetly
    in poetics, it draws the reader
    into a real space, like a playful
    slap or one cheek or other.
    Sgt. Pepper is such a perfect
    moniker for the mill.
    Peppermill looks and feels
    like the name of a fantasy
    village in a yet-to-be-written
    Kincaid opus, haiku, or the naming
    of a new kitten. When I met my wife
    twenty years ago, and took her to
    a restaurant, I noted that she liberally
    sprinkled pepper on her meal, and
    it was pepper-love instantly. A woman
    who is not afraid of spices is churning
    with passions untapped, inexorable,
    never boring, overwhelming experiences
    swirling out of the decades yet to
    descend. And Tess, it is a joy to now
    know that you are a pepper girl too.

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  41. I have been looking for a good sturdy pepper grinder! Yours are fantastic and I must say I am a bit envious but inspired to go on a hunt!

    Fresh ground is the best and my dad obsessed. I have an ex who says every time he grinds pepper over a salad he thinks of my dad, who puts pepper on his food just until he sneezes. Then we know he's done.

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  42. 59 cents! Rural Montana has thrift shops with amazing finds, too. My daughter and I are planning a seven town thrift shop tour of the Montana hi-line this summer. It should be a kick! My secret wish is to be a picker. :)
    ~Brenda

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  43. What a wonderful buy! I have done very well in thrift stores over the years, finding anything from Ironstone platters, a mahogany worktable from NY ca. 1830 (needed work), and the true score of six Chinese export armorial plates made for the US markets, ca. 1810. Each for only 50 cents. Makes all the unfruitful visits worthwhile,and yes, I also donate. Cheers, Reggie

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  44. Once one has had freshly ground pepper...it is HARD to go back!

    Beautiful pepper mill.

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  45. Sgt. Pepper and "Your Guy" - what more would want wish for? ;-)

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  46. i have a little pepper grinder that looks alot like that one...only wooden...it is from France and i LOVE it !!!

    nice score at the Goodwill...i LOVE Goodwill-Hunting...i almost went the other day....

    i haven't been in a blogging mood lately, and don't know why...but am stopping by some of my favorites this late afternoon...and had to come and visit with you, my friend

    hope this finds you well

    sending love,
    kary
    xxx

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  47. Reggie, yes, I donate to Goodwill, as well. That's the beauty of it, don't you think? It completes the circle.

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  48. makes The "Daily-Grind" Worthwhile!

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  49. You're very welcome and thanks for the Add. Please share the info with your friends,even Pewter jewelry worn against the skin poses a risk.

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  50. A nice little collection there!

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  51. I understand the light bulb and rust remover ... prune juice and pepper, that's something else.

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  52. Great find for a great price adn a darling name. :)

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  53. Sgt Pepper looks like a chess man, maybe a bishop? A-A-A-CHOOO!

    (Sorry, Willow...I'll try to be good tomorrow!)

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  54. Pepper mills. We got one, not as neat as your two but nonetheless, neat. Made out of wood, ordinary wood, with metal parts, and pieces.Still cranks good. Pepper corns sort of old and cranky but still better than bought pepper dust with flakes.

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  55. I love pepper, I love thrift stores, I love the photos. Great post!
    :-)
    ==lennie==

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  56. I like what's in your cart better.

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  57. I have to remember to point my wife in the direction of your blog. She's big on pepper mills, and has only been using the store bought plastic ones that come pre-filled.

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  58. adore your pepper mills and also the two carts. I havent tried the colored peppers so now I will look for them but up here in the boonies they might be hard to find.

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  59. Hah! My man also likes to buy hardware store stuff ... and bread.

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  60. You always seem to pick up a bargain. Cadmium or not, it's still a work of art.

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  61. What a fabulous find! Love that pepper grinder!

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  63. Copper, brass and pewter. I like the combination. Can't wait to find some mixed pepper corns to try!

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  64. What a great find! I love the photo as well!
    Sarah
    theweatheredword.blogspot.com

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  65. Keep up the fantastic piece of work, I read few articles on this web site and I believe that your blog is really interesting and has got lots of good information.

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)