weather donkey

[mimififi]

To bore you all with a small anecdote from my humble childhood, I shall begin:

Whn I was a tiny girl, I used to visit my Grandmother who lived by the sea. This was a beautiful setting and I experienced many idyllic sunday afternoons playing delightfully in her large, and once imaculately kept garden. In her old age, the garden had become a haven for wildlife and a secret playground for me. I was particularly fond of sitting for hours under her large Apple tree, enjoying the peacefulness of the country side in contrast to the usual hubub of the urban town in which I lived. So fond was I of this activitiy, I was always afraid that it might rain and I would have to go in. not that playing inside Nanna's house was without it's advantages, on the contrary, it was simply that this was my first choice.

In order to satisfy my hope in fair weather, I would run around to the front porch, open the squeaky door, and standing on tiptoes (as I was a tiny girl) would peer onto the eye level shelf. Amoung the spider plants and cacti, was a beautiful ceramic donkey. She was pale blue and had glitter on her and was perhaps the single most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my short life. The most magical thing about her was that she changed colour depending on the weather. Thus satisfied, I ran back to the tree. Thus concludes this sepia memory.
My question is, what was this magical artefact? I would like one of my own for my children to be enthralled by. I haven't the faintest idea what or where it was from, I don't even know what it was called. All I remember is being told that Nanna had died and I wouldn't be able to visit her apple tree anymore, or eat her cakes, or snuggle up with her, or peer at the beautiful donkey ( I thought). It was the first real sadness I remember.
Anyone know where I can get me a weather donkey (and a tissue, now)

[Scarlett]

It is quite a specialist thing you are looking for! I did a search on ebay but this was the only remotely similar thing, but I am sure is not what you want..

http://cgi.ebay.ie/1950s-DONKEY-WEATHER-PREDICTOR-SPILL-VASE_W0QQitemZ7370843140QQcategoryZ70039QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[mimififi]

Oh thanks for that, but sadly, no, that's not quite it. This donkey was very palest blue and had glitter on her and was kinda made out of that rough feel ceramic. The was just a donkey on her own and didn't have an explanation of anything, she just cahnged from blue to pink. I can't remember which way round the colours went according to the weather either. I was only about 5 or 6 at the time!

Thank you for your help tho, how kind you are to search for me.
*hugs*

[maggie01]

You used to be able to buy them in all the sea-side towns years ago. We had a little girl with an umbrella but there were lots of different ones. I don't know where you would find them now except maybe in the Summertime looking in some gift shops and maybe you will be lucky.

[Dolly1308]

I remember the weather donkey when I was a little girl too but have no idea where you could get one ,wish you luck with your search. By the way mimififi do you ever write stories ?Your descriptive way of writing is ideal I think for an author .

[mimififi]

Oh DOlly, you say the sweetest things: Actually lots of stories, and many more in my head. I speak the way I write and often see my speech written down in my head before I say it; however, all the stories I've ever written are unfinished and far too trite to even think about letting anyone else read them, so I confine my ramblings to AB. It is good therapy hehehehe

shame about the donkey, I will scour the sea side shanty shops in the summer. Thanks for taking the time to answer, I really do appreciate it!

[mimififi]

Gosh, that sounded terrible. Iv'e just re-read my answer and did not intend it to come across as so arragant!!!! I didn't mean it like that, I jsut meant that I would love to be a writer, but (as my last answer proves) I am awful at actually writing what I mean!!!!! and the rest of the time, I'm just well, trite!

Sorry folks, and great big tomatoey blush there from me.......Shame on me!

[MangoPete]

MY grandparents had a weather Owl which changed from blue to pink. Must have been a post war thing may be 60's 70's. Good luck

[Robinia]

I remember those. I think it's something to do with silica gel (could be wrong!) mimififi, which turns from blue to pink when there's moisture in the air. As many chemicals are now classed as dangerous maybe that's why you can't buy them any more.
Try asking in science - plenty of boffins in there to explain I'm sure. If you'd asked in there first I wouldn't have seen your beautiful story though - I never venture in there - does it smell of bunsen burners & meths??

[mimififi]

Hi Robinia, Icant really remember the smell, because the only smells I remember from my Nanna is the sea side smell, and pear drops! I might post is science aswell, though ill scale down the story incase those science boffs dont feel like wading through my purple prose! LOL! you could be right, they may have been withdrawn, it would be interesting to find out. I wonder who had my nanna's donkey? I hope it did't just get chucked away. i wish someone had asked me if I had wanted it, but then again, no one really knew how much I loved it, and I was only 4 or 5 at the time. Thanks for your help though, I do appreciate it!

[Robinia]

Hi me again! I've been doing a bit of research & apparently the chemical which changes colour is cobalt chloride (silica gel can be impregnated with it) & it is classed as dangerous. So probably no more weather donkeys!

[funnywebsite]

Sounds a shame you cannot buy them anymore because I would buy one. You were luky to have a nice grandmother that had a lovely house by the sea. It's a shame it had to come to an end. I reminisce sometimes when I see things that remind me of my childhood. Blue sky reminds me of family holidays. I seem to be reminiscing alot recently, I think it is because I am moving house after living here 16 years. I have a lot of memories. I see programmes on T.V and it takes me back. It's a lovely feeling when it happens.

[Dolly1308]

Hi mimififi ,me again ,try to put your memories down on paper for your children and future grandchildren ,they're worth more than all the money in the world .I wish I had the ability to do so .You'll be surprised how it will all come together on paper ,it can be proofread after you've finished and all tidied up . I'm sure many authors start that way .Have you read any of Catherine Cookson's books? Dolly .