Odds & Ends

When I posted about my Limoges china earlier this week, I should have admitted that I hardly ever use it. The 24K gold bands decree hand-washing and  hand-washing does not appeal to this dish-washer dependant, especially for larger groups. The only time I have used it in the past 10 years was for dinner for four and dessert for a few. I remember thinking that when I finally inherited those fancy dishes, I was going to use them often. Yeah, right....LOL

Book Recommendation:  At Home, by Bill Bryson is proving to be every bit as interesting as his other books are - not that I doubted one bit that it would be. The interesting bits of history regarding shelter and how our  living spaces developed over time - most of which were never taught in any school I attended - are fascinating, and the almost incidental word histories and derivations are brain candy to this word-o-phile! (there is probably a better word for it than that.) I am only about 50 pages into it and I expect it to get even better!

Blog Recommendation:  I would like to direct you here - My Thoughtful Spot. Tracy took my theme on boxes and the saving of them and wrote a beautiful post which you all should treat yourselves to and read. It makes me happy to know that such a thoughtful writer reads my blog (but aren't you all? - thoughtful, I mean?) and this one only lives about twenty miles away!

We went out to dinner with friends on Tuesday evening and were delighted to discover that appetizers were half-price until 7pm and dessert on Tuesday nights is on the house. YAY! Since we were eating more items than usual, we decided to get smaller entrees than we might have otherwise. I started with calamari (tasty, but a little tough), a fish sandwich and fries (excellent) and chocolate fudge cake (terrific). Of course, the camera stayed in my purse. We were talking non-stop and it didn't even occur to me to take a photo. Plus I had a glass of wonderful shiraz, which may have fogged my memory a little.  It's too bad that shiraz has alcohol in it.  If they made a non-alcoholic shiraz I'd probably drink a whole bottle a day - that's how much I love the taste. What's your favorite wine?

Fine China

Searching through the web-site of a new branch of an antiques store here in this area, I stumbled onto this photo of some Limoges cups and saucers. I have been trying to find out the name of this pattern for many years, since it is the same one I inherited from my mother. I am not sure if it came through her mother's family or if my mom bought it somewhere. She was quite the bargain hunter and haunted antique and junk shops, as well as yard sales, in WV and Ohio.

I don't have a full set of it; just some luncheon plates, bread and butter plates, a serving bowl and cups and saucers. I have always thought it would be nice to augment my set if any became available. So I sent off a question to the consignee, asking how many pieces she had and the cost of the set. Suffice it to say that the asking price for her 57 pieces nearly knocked my socks off. Perhaps I should be asking her if she'd like to buy mine for the same amount?  LOL

Okay, now it is official - I HATE this template. I cannot put text where I want it to go and as soon as I have time to play around with the design, I'll be changing! I have no idea how this box got here, or how this text ended up here. It doesn't make sense! ARRRGH!

She Sells Seashells...**

No, she doesn't sell them, but she displays them - in a conservatory or terrarium or glass box - whatever you want to call it. For several years, I kept my shells and rocks in a decorative wooden 'window box' that sat on the floor under the window in my living room. The shells got too dusty and cobwebby there, so I cast about the house looking for a way to hold them that wouldn't allow them to get so dirty so quickly.

I spotted this container in my office. Many, many times it has held money envelopes given to brides and grooms at their reception, and it was perfect for that. It used to have a ring at the top of the lid which made it easy to remove the top. I put silk rose petals in the base of it and added one envelope addressed to the bride and groom, so that people would know that was where they should put their envelopes. After the ring broke off, I retired it from active use, and it had just been sitting around with nothing to do...... but no more..... as it is the perfect container for my shells.

You'll notice one rock labeled "Costa Rica". I have a habit of taking a rock or shell from places I visit. There are several of them in this collection, but only one you can see here. Do you have a rock or shell collection? How do you display them?

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** Regarding the shingles vaccine (Zostavax), I had no reaction to it whatsoever. I was told it might itch, swell, get red and things like that, but there was nothing to report. You can't take it if you are allergic to eggs or if you have a compromised immune system. Your doctor will know if you can tolerate it. Most of the cost was covered by our insurance (I just paid the co-pay). Having had shingles, I can say with no hesitation that getting the shot is far, far better than suffering a shingles attack. Speak to your doctor about it!

HAPPY EASTER! + New Frogs in My Collection

This is my Easter display on my dining room table. Simple is best, right?


My favorite new frog. He has attitude! His eyes sort of follow me all throughout the room.


This one appears to be praying. He should close his eyes, right?

This one was given to me recently by the people who own the florist wholesale I purchase from. They went to the mountains on vacation and thought of me when they saw this "Noel Frog". I don't care if he IS for Christmas, he'll stay on my mantel all year! It was so sweet of them to remember me.

Di said it better than I could. Enjoy these beautiful eggs and have a very nice Easter!

Lights on the Boardwalk

Starting before Thanksgiving, on the boardwalk in Virginia Beach, they have hundreds of colored lights on the beach, arching over the boardwalk and to the left of it. You pay $10 per car load and drive the length of the boardwalk (I'd approximate 30 blocks or more) to see the designs. I don't know if they are the same every year, or different, but we enjoyed them, especially our two granddaughters who were with us. Above: Yo-ho-ho and a bottle o' rum!!

Treasure chest on an island. My son took the photos since I was in the wrong part of the car. We didn't have the camera on the correct setting for shooting pix from a moving car - but I'm posting them anyway.

Lighthouse.


Lobsters, playing musical instruments.


A spouting fish.


Welcome to VA Beach!


Santa hooked a whale!


Schools of fishies



Santa water skiing.

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Thanks to all who have said they like my new December header photo. It is from a Christmas card I received several years ago from my cousin and her husband, and it came from Easy Street Publications in New Jersey.

It is a takeoff on the 1942 painting called "Nighthawks" by Edward Hopper - my favorite American painter.

Do you know what this is?

Click to embiggen.

This is a very old comedone extractor.

It belonged to my mom, and when I found it recently, I was struck by the design on it. A lowly instrument, but with such a pretty design! The newer ones might work more effectively, but they surely aren't as attractive as this one.

Have you ever used one? I probably fiddled around with this when I was a teenager, but most often my fingernails did the job for me. TMI, huh?

When I g*ogled comedone extractor, I was surprised at how many hits came up. Apparently they are more popular than I ever thought.

Have you ever used one?


BIG NEWS! I am honored to be Neil's blog crush of the day!! Go thank him for me, okay?

Can You Take a Few More Boxes?

Mr. kenju's corner on the bar area in our den. A wooden tobacco box, which I suspect was fabricated sometime in the last 25 years for sale at an antique show, and thus not really an antique. That didn't bother me, so I bought it anyway, and it holds some tobacco and matches (as well as the books stacked on top).

This is not specifically a box, but since it is an enclosed, wooden container, I think it qualifies. My mom picked this up somewhere; probably a re-sale shop or antique show.

This is an old dresser box. It used to be a part of a dresser; the boxes were beside the mirror and used to hold small items. I bought 2 of them at a junk shop, painted and antiqued them and decoupaged the design on top. It sits on my desk in the kitchen and holds junk of no consequence.....LOL

An old shipping/packing box. I keep it under the table between our TV chairs to hold magazines and crossword puzzle books.

Now.....would you believe this is not all the boxes I have? There are at least 3 more I haven't shown you, plus all the cardboard and plastic ones I have in the garage. So at this point, I probably classify as a real oddball, right?