These two tiny bells are hanging on the end of my Mother's clothes line. I walked by them many times without even noticing. One day they caught my eye and of course I had to take a picture. I have no idea why they are there.Up Date...I called my mother and asked her about the bells. She said she probably was going to put them around a goat's neck back when she used to keep goats (She is 89 now and no longer able)but decided not to because who would want that thing around their neck! I asked did my stepfather put the bells on the clothes line when he built it and she said she couldn't remember but I'm sure that must have been where they came from. So..that is the rest of the story. The bells make very little noise.
25 comments:
These look like a type of warning bell when clipped on a fence that would ring. Not sure why your Mom needs them on the clothesline though.
Love the way they've rusted and one has been repaired.
Great shot!
Gorgeous! Fantastic image and detail. Love it!
Hmm... interesting. Do they actually ring anymore or are they rusted beyond ringing now? Neat shot, Dot.
Ha! Maybe the fairies ring them when the clothes are dry. ;-) Much nicer than a buzzwer on on a clothes drier, I should think.
A terrific shot! How neat to have these hanging around. Do they serve a purpose other than as a bit of chiming? Perhaps to keep the birds from landing on/pooping on the newly washed clothes?
Maybe they ring when birds light on the clothes to scare them away. Hmmmm...ask her!
Hi Dot,
Maybe some type of harness bell? Handbasket bell, bell from a gate to notify when visitors pass? I don't know either. Interesting. Pappy
I think they are there so when the birds land on the clothes line the bells will clang together scaring the birds off. That results to....NO bird poop on clean clothes.
They make a great picture--so maybe they were just waiting for you to come along. It is amazing how something so simple makes such a great photo.
Dot: Great capture, I just love how the picture is so descriptive. I agree with June. I would think to chase the birds.
Neat old bells. My first thought also was that they would scare the birds off the line.
But I like the idea of the fairies ringing the bells better. :-)
I wonder if they were some kind of warning bell or did she have them there so they would ring when the wind blew.
I figure they were a warning if someone snuck in the backyard and was stealing her clean sheets! Ü
Precious photo. Precious story. And I applaud her for not putting bells on any animal's neck. I agree. Seems horrible to me, to live with sound every time it moves.
Miss Mari-Nanci
Smilnsigh
Photos-City-Mine
When Twilight Embraces
Oh what a neat shot they make. I LOVE it!
What a creative use of alligator clamps.
Perhaps, the bells were to warn someone if the laundry was being stolen.
They make a very pretty picture, nice story, wow 89 years old!!!!
Today I visit my aunt she is 88 years and doing well.
What wonderful little bells! I'm glad you called your mother for her memories of them. This is a great photo! - I like the blue with the rust and the spiderweb strands.
Wonderful photo
Think EG has the idea...
"the fairies ring them when the clothes are dry. ;-) "
I like that idea...
Nice shot and a very interesting story.
The bells look as though they have been there a long long time. Did you check to see if they still have clangers inside them?
Very good photograph with beautiful colours
Hi Dot
I saw this and it reminded me of a program I saw many years ago... it was some hill tribe or other that wove cloth... huge lines were strung from trees to hang the cloth.. The younger ones who could not weave would protect the cloth from dogs and goats... each line had bells on to warn the youngsters the dogs mere pulling the cloth or the goats were chewing it... maybe at one time goats were a problem on you parents farm.. or the yard dog took to pulling the washing off.
I love photos and stories about small or humble items.
Thanks for sharing this story.
Come visit,
Troy
My mom, who has goats in LA, said "Goat Bells", when she saw the pic with out reading anything...
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