Milk Can | Chickens in the Road

Dec
2

My cousin found this old milk can and thought I’d like to have it. He was right, only I don’t know what I’m going to do with it!

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12-2
1:15
am

That makes me miss mine. I had one, that accidentally got left, during a move one time.. Enjoy yours!

Kiki

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12-2
1:46
am

That milk can just sitting around is good!

Melinda in Washington State

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12-2
2:16
am

It’s a flower or branch container/showcase!

Ms E

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12-2
5:17
am

It looks like a wonderful flower/branch urn to me.

Kathleen in Michigan

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12-2
5:54
am

I suspect it will hold many beautiful seasonal natural arrangements for many more years to come. Perfect for your porch!

caprilis

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12-2
6:40
am

In the spring… the look great with a big bunch of sunflowers in them

lisa

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12-2
6:46
am

Yep, I agree with those above!! It’s a great flower/fall weeds/pine branch urn. I’ve got 2 of them……they’ve seen multiple lives. At the moment they are table legs for a huge piece of granite out by the grill. Makes a great buffet table!

CindyP

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12-2
6:54
am

I have 2 of those milk cans. I have seen people make bar stools out of them, but I am getting ready to sand mine down, then paint a farm scene on them and seal them to use as decoration in my already overdecorated with sunflowers kitchen. lol.

amber

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12-2
7:07
am

Sandblast it…seal it…paint it with a folk art scene…
Use for a umbrella stand by the door or on the porch….

Or Sand it…seal it…paint it solid color…cut a small round top …Use as an odd table for a candle nite-lite……

Or Sand it…seal it…paint it…buy 10,0000000 long stem matches and store by your wood stove….

B. Ruth

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12-2
7:12
am

Hmmmm…..what to do with an old milk can? Looks pretty good just sitting there, Suzanne. But, to be a little more creative, since it’s almost Christmas time, I’d take the lid off, stuff some fresh cedar or pine branches down in it and drape a strand of popcorn and one of cranberries around….let it be a Christmas tree for your bird friends!

carol

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12-2
7:16
am

Love this photo and the can itself. Seems like a great decorative piece, but it may also be quite useful. Will you post a photo once you determine it’s final destination? :-)

TheAL

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12-2
7:17
am

Yes, though it may be a while!

Suzanne McMinn

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12-2
7:22
am

Clover and Pokeys cookie jar. thats what they suggested

Carina

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12-2
8:07
am

Milk cans are great! I have two. One will never be moved again as it is filled with dirt and I plant flowers in it every spring. The bottom is rusted out, therefore no movement. The other can…my Dad made into a round picnic table…complete with a hole in the middle that houses a huge umbrella. We dump about 40lbs of sand in the milk can to help hold the umbrella straight. Whatever you do with you can will be fabulous!

WatkinsGal

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12-2
8:17
am

Hey,….I love that idea…goats are very smart though….and could figure how to get the lid off the can..but still a great idea for the porch….
Our pet goat would sneak up on the deck..jump up on the railing on the deck…tip-toe along the rail to the porch covered edge. There from an over-hanging tree limb were wind-chime type bells ….and he would grab the limb and ring the bells until I came out and gave him a treat…go figure…LOL

B. Ruth

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12-2
8:18
am

WE used to have one mmmmmmmmmmmm -whatever did happen to that dear husband! Maybe way in the back-back-back of the barn! Memo to self:check that out when I get home!!

rain

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12-2
8:56
am

I have one on my front porch that I decided to turn into a planter this spring. An Aussie whose blog I read uses one turned sideways and mounted on a pole for a mailbox. If I ever get another milk can, I might just try that.

Jenni in KS

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12-2
9:24
am

Old milkcans make wonderful umbrella holders.

Amy S

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12-2
9:33
am

Find an old tub, bushel basket, or large bucket. Fill with kindling prepared by 52 or other male member of family. Put in house, close to stove to get really dry….maybe even keep a good wood supply in a dry place to add to your fire when other wood is wet or green. Must have a good supply of dry wood at all times….

Carolyn Ellis

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12-2
10:12
am

Mine sits between the rockers on the front porch in front of my wagon wheel. I always sit some sort of cascading or wave plant on top of it in the summer.

KentuckyFarmGirl

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12-2
10:27
am

Is it clean on the inside? If so, have the outside sandblasted, paint with a wild pop of color and use it for a flour stand. No, I did not misspell flower…. That’s what my granny called the lard bucket she stored her flour in. Would also work for those ginormous bags of sugar you buy! Actually if its decent on the inside it could be used to store most anything.

cake

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12-2
10:30
am

Store your tall pieces of kindling in it–or umbrellas.

Mary

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12-2
10:42
am

I have a few old milk cans that I lightly sanded and painted years ago. My husband bolted old tractor seats on them, and we use them as bar stools. I also have one sitting in my kitchen and can’t believe how much use it gets for extra seating. Perhaps there is an old discarded tractor or mower seat back at the old house or at Georgia’s place. They look great and are really handy.

Mary

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12-2
11:04
am

please, don’t paint it. the beauty of the milk can is in it’s weathered, unvarnished state. to love an ancient milk can is to respect an ancient milk can…

Miss Becky

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12-2
11:18
am

I think it’s beautiful just by its self or it would look great on your porch with evergreens and branches for the winter and what ever seasonal things you want to add…pussy willows in the spring would look wonderful in there and sunflowers in the summer. I have two of them but they just sit by the chicken coop/garden shed. I did my duty and voted as usual..don’t know what I’m going to do once this voting is over…well heck…I’ll be reading your Sam-e blog that’s what!!!!!!!

Chic

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12-2
11:36
am

Lucky you. I’ve been looking for one — or 2 and have not had any luck. Looks good to me just sitting there with all its beauty.

Yvonne

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12-2
11:39
am

How about a stool.

Melody

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12-2
12:57
pm

My mom and dad have one right by their front door on the porch. It’s great when coming in with a load from the car, because you can rest the bundle you have there while you open the door.

I agree….don’t paint it…it’s beautiful just the way it is.

Emily Havens

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12-2
1:21
pm

Hey Suzanne!

That sure is a neat find! You could put some small branches in it that you have spray painted black or white and hang little bottles, beads and trinkets from it.

Angela

Angela

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12-2
5:05
pm

I love your milk can – I have one on my front porch and right now it’s filled with evergreen bows, white birch branches and red dogwood branches. My husband rigged up a spotlight on it for the Christmas season. I agree that you shouldn’t paint it because I like the natural look of it the best.

Rosella

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12-2
5:26
pm

Years ago,my Granny gave me a couple of her milk cans from their barn. Granny no longer milked her cows since Grandpa died,so she asked some of us grandkids if we would like some of the milkcans. I jumped at that one. I had just married and was trying to make the house a home. So I cleaned the milk can really well getting all the stuff off the outside of it. My husband cut me a round piece of wood about an inch or so thick.I made a cushion for the lid and he mounted it on top of the can and it made a great seat on the porch by the swing. So when family and friends came over someone would always put dibs on the milkcan seat. There are just alot of things you can do with your milkcan. Suzanne I know that you will come up with just the right idea for it.
Linda

Linda

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12-2
10:47
pm

Love mine sits on the porch, but I like the idea of making a Christmas tree stand for the birds it would look pretty too.

Bonnie Hembree

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12-3
1:30
am

That is an awesome milk can.

Jessica

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12-3
9:44
am

set it by your woosstove and keep small kindling in it….or full of sawdust to add to help start yoor fires with

lisa brawner

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12-3
11:25
pm

It’s cool regardless of how you use it. My family never had a farm, but I inherited an antique ice box. I love that thing alot. The old milk can another antique thing for you to treasure!

Jodie

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