Glass Receptacles

ray a

Don has been begging several of the women on the forum to find him a red bottle for his tree. I was just wondering how the search is coming. Anybody come through for you yet, Don?

rad

I've been looking. The only thing that's come close is a red milk-bottle shaped vase but I thought that was cheating.

Don D

Red is red is red. Raymond. These are personal questions and it's none of your business. You may send me one yourself if you like.

ray a

Oops, my mistake. I assumed since you posted several times publicly, that it was not private.

Don D

Sorry Ray, I was just sayin', a gentleman doesn't ask certain questions. x:-)

rad

D'ya want the vase? Its in the flower shop in the lobby of my work building. It is garnet red, its got a slight amber tint in the middle if you look close, it may appear more so in the outdoor light. So I'm still looking.

I was so excited when I saw it, and explained to the florist why I was so happy. She said "A bottle tree? whats that?" I told her "It's a Mississippi thang" But I gotta ask, are y'all allowed to accept mail from Boston? I don't want anyone to think you are sympathizing with us Yanks. ;;)

Don D

Yes! Sure. I have about 22 pegs on my tree with no bottle on them. I can use a red, even a vase, I think. The secret is that all the spirits that visit the residence/property, drift around in the yard and eventually collect in the bottles and are trapped and cannot ever get out and therefore the house has no evil spirits. They are forever trapped inside the bottles. Reds capture certain sprits; blues, others. The greens capture the evil spirits from the Forum. I have my green bottles named for certain people on the Forum. Ship the bottle to 147 W. Hoy Road, Madison, MS, 39110 (business address) Attn: Don, Human Resources, Confidential and personal. Thanks for the spirit-trap.

HRinNH

Spirit traps? I'm not in any way trying to be insulting or mean here but I gotta know...is this a Mississippi thing or something you're trying out for fun?

mcmel

I've got to know, is there a bottle with my name on it?

Up here we believe in voo doo dolls. Has anybody on the forum been experiencing sharp pains to any parts of their body?

ScorpioHR

Oh my, yikes, is that WHY my left eye keeps twitching and having sharp stabbing pains???There is a bottle with my name on it???Bad spirits are living in said bottle and sending me "bad voodoo"? HELPx:'(

Parabeagle

Mel, I thought where you live all you believe in are large blocks of foam carved into triangular cheese shapes you wear in your head. x;-)

Leslie

Check it out....

[url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=369&item=4322692334&rd=1[/url]

and a bunch more where that came from...

Nicole

Two blue bottles coming your way from Central Florida, Don.

Enjoy!

Don D

Thanks Leslie, but I've checked that site before. The bottles are tiny. I can use only wine-sized or larger. The spirit-traps are not original with me by any means. 2-300 year old African and Jamaican (and probably older) folklore had it that you should hang glass bottles in trees near your house/shanty and the evil spirits would congregate in them and would forever be trapped and would sing and moan in the wind and never be able to invade the living space. They work! The other rule is that you cannot reveal who the bottle is named for, and if you do, the spell is broken and the spirits escape and they will envelope the house and bedcovers. x:-)

Shadowfax

What? Spirits only come in one size?
Why no petite, vertically challenged spirits?
Don, is there a reason, and, if so, do you know what it is, that 'wine sized bottles' do not seem to come in red?

ScorpioHR

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 09-14-04 AT 09:26AM (CST)[/font][br][br]"'wine sized bottles' do not seem to come in red? "

"No"true-They do in Europe :-)
Scorpio

oopppsss, I meant NOT, speaking 2 other languages has got me confused...How about "nein"!

Don D

I don't know. A true red glass is virtually impossible to find. I've never seen one in a liquor store. The red I thought was true has begun to fade after two years. Come to think of it, of all the antique, small bottles I've seen over the years, I don't recall a red, but plenty of clear, blue, brown, amber, yellow, gold and green. On a related note, I got an email from someone in California about a bottle tree article I wrote. They had started a tree and they are hanging the bottles, neck up, by cord. I cautioned that if they ever have a freeze, the rainwater will certainly freeze and bust the bottle, releasing all its spirits. bottles simply cannot be suspended in a manner which will allow rain to enter them.

ray a

Don, I suspect any red bottle you get will over time being exposed to the elements. Red tends to fade easily - my wife's bright red car is no longer bright red. I have a gallon of bright red paint I haven't used. I'll be glad to mail it to you.

ScorpioHR

Well now Mr. Rayx:D
It just so happens that I DID find The Don a red bottle or two in Europe. I am fairly certain, that unlike your wife's poor red car, they shall not fade! I had some fun looking for them and just wanted to let the forum know that I did not just lounge around and goof off in Europe, I was bottle hunting! Anyone else need some bottles?
;;)

ray a

Scorpio, you call hunting for red bottles for Don while on vacation in Europe valuable use of your time? I can see it now, you're visiting the Basilica in Rome but you are checking trash bins and looking around the ground trying to scrounge a red bottle completely oblivious to the great historic building in front of you. But now Don has to rename your bottles or else the spirits will escape and get him. You may have placed Don in great jeopardy.

ScorpioHR

Actually Ray A, one of The Don's bottles came from a charming Trattoria quite close to the Trevi fountain...and.. I threw coins (american) in the fountain with my grandbaby before I wheedled Don's bottle off a waiter;;) so there!!!

Parabeagle

So if the red bottle issue is already solved, why is Don still soliciting red bottles???

ray a

Replacements for when they fade.

ScorpioHR

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 09-14-04 AT 04:28PM (CST)[/font][br][br]Beagle, Maybe red bottles are like shoe's, you can never have enough!!! just a thought.

Don D

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 09-14-04 AT 05:58PM (CST)[/font][br][br]The issue isn't 'solved'. I have about 45 bottles on my multi-color tree and room for at least 15 more. I'd even take one from Oregon Parabeagle. Ray, your theory isn't correct. If you'll notice, red bottles have a thin lip of clear at the opening, meaning they are sprayed or dyed. Other bottle colors are solid, meaning they are made that color and the color is within the glass itself. The really old bottles made in old glass plants are thick, often irregular, containing flaws and bottoms almost a half-inch thick. These are rare today but were crafted in a glass factory and are true color. No colors fade except the reds.

When the tree was born, a Forum friend sent me two of these old, old bottles, one turquoise and one light green. The necks are much thinner than today's wine bottles and they have bas relief fruit on the sides. They have not faded in the least.