Baba's china

Hi everyone.  Been carting Carole to doc and labs for tests, searching online for her great grands' birthday gifts, and assembled one today.  Except for two results, cardio doc is pleased, so more tests the next three weeks and then a return to his NP.  As for me, my dryness has gone down my throat again and along with a very sore throat, I keep losing my voice.

 

Finally made it to the attic and haven't unboxed it all, but did manage to pull a few dishes out of Baba's china.  I don't believe there is a full set but I love it.  Not sure how it will hold up to daily use, the gold trim may be not be dishwasher safe, and with a stone sink and counter top, a minor bump could mean disaster.

 

I received a pattern today that was not what I expected.  The photo made it appear there were several slightly different patterns but there is only one.  And what really ticked me off, for a $10 pattern, it could use improvement.  The same pattern is in several reduced sizes on the BACK of the original.  So I still need to make copies!  I can't cut out any of them without ruining the one on the back side.  I'm disappointed and expected something other than a few pieces of copy paper.  At the very least, the reduced sizes could have been on another sheet.  And it's not even the pattern I wanted.  Oh well.  Buying online is usually a surprise.

 

Hope your week is going well!!  I'm going for pizza tonight.  I've been cutting sugar and white flour but have had more bad days than good so I'm having pizza tonight, and pasta this weekend!

 

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Thanks!

I enjoyed reading about your sentiments on family china and traditions.  When I moved Mom in 18 years ago, I had a large set of Pfaltzgraff Folk Art.  The weight of the dishes was more than she was used to and not comfortable for her.  No where to sell the Pfalzgraff and too heavy for mailing, I donated to the domestic abuse shelter for families starting over.  Perfect option for no longer used crock pots, pans, kitchen items and dinnerware.

My sister once scolded me for donating items that belonged to our parents.  Just because Mom had it, didn't mean she loved it and would not have discarded if she could afford to replace.  When she got to choose what to bring here, I was very surprised that she didn't care about most of her items and wanted new!  What about my grandparents, who came here from critically poor villages?  They were so glad to have anything and would never consider replacing items unless they were no longer usable.  But if a friend or neighbor was in need, they would offer what they could, even if it meant they went without for a while because they all knew what it was like in "the old country".  When my grandfather got off the plane from a trip back to his village after Baba passed away, he dropped to the asphalt and cried.  My mom and aunt ran toward him thinking he was ill.  He was sobbing and kissing the ground.  No luggage, no shirt, no shoes, no watch, no wallet, he left behind everything he could for the people in his village.  An undershirt with holes and pants with tears and no belt were worn on the plane.

 

So I need to make a decision whether I want to emotionally hold on to dishes, or offer them to someone who would use and appreciate them.  It's a hard one because they were a gift from my parents.  I need to look in the attic and check if those dishes are usable.

 

I like the old dishes pictured here, I only have one or two pieces.  But maybe I will be surprised when I open the attic's box!  I think it's time to have dinnerware that I enjoy seeing and caring for.  I think Mom and Dad would want that too.

 

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No help

There I am with no room left to empty more cupboard items, painting while not being able to see clearly, trying not to bend too much so the dizziness doesn't start again, and these two just watch.  Once in while they would walk by just to fly a hair or two on to the paint.  Bud is a little large for the box under the table but that's never bothered him.  My clappers came in it but I haven't had time to play with them.

 

 

And of course the more I put on, the more it doesn't look like the very large piece of paneling my paint sample covered.  So I plan to take the little sample jars and add to the gallon until it's right.  Flat paint looks fabulous and the same color with a little eggshell sheen turns into a yellow cast.  One way or another I will fix that.

 

When I picked up my floss at Michael's, I checked for paper mache boxes and found none.   Hobby Lobby only sells sets now and I only need one for an Eliza label that I recently found.  I am offering the label for a $5.00 123Stitch gift certificate if anyone can use it.
SOLD

 

Eliza Pomeroy is waxed and ready to glue to a 6" high round box only.  I have a Bugle Boy too for a 5" round lid and can't find that size either.  Not sure if I will hold on to him, he was always one of my favorites.  

 

If interested, email me rather than leave a comment since I can't reply.

 

How's the weekend going?

 

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China. The plate not the country.

When I was married, the tradition for brides was to choose a china pattern, flatware, crystal, tablecloths and such.  Bridal registries are the greatest idea since hair dye, but do couples still want china and the good stuff?  I don't.  I haven't used it for many years for several reasons.  The rim of the plates make the serving area smaller (probably a good thing), I have to be careful when handling, and I don't really care for the pattern.  Same with the dark green crystal.  Maybe that's what it boils down to …. appeal.  So what do I do with it all since I am trying to rid the house of unused items.
 

The only young couple in the family would get it after my demise and I truly believe she would either break them to use pieces for a mosaic or glue some God awful crap to it for another craft project.  So what?  I'll be gone and at this time, have no plans for haunting her.  Yet.  Looking at Macy's site (our only local source) and seeing the very low sale prices, it's not as expensive as I thought. and finding a buyer for used pieces would drop the price considerably.  I'm sure some patterns are costly but I'm looking at my range of quality which is Buckingham by Sango and still available on Replacements.com.   The more I write about this, the more I think I should buy new dinnerware that I like!  I certainly don't need a dozen place settings.  Choices mean decisions, not good.
 

 

 

I have no idea who the crystal is by and am less inclined to use it than the china.  Maybe I will make a few calls to Ohio shops and see if any vendors would be interested.

 

My goodness are they dusty.  I took the doors off the china cupboard for painting and need to remove and wash it all which I used to do every six months.  When mom was living here, spring cleaning ceiling to floor had to happen that often!  My aunts felt the same.

The cupboard also holds every size of pie plate I could find.  I have some small ones and these 5" ruffled edge are too sweet.  Sizes range from 4" to 12" and although rarely used, these I want to keep.  It's pie, baby.

 

Many years ago everyone used their "best" for family dinners as did I, and I'm sure many still do.  Do you use it every day?  How many of you have china packed away and just can't bear to dispose of such items because of sentiment?  Just curious!   I have a few pieces of one grandmother's dishes, all crazed (crackle finish from age), lovely small floral.  Is it safe to use very old pieces that have crazing?  Was lead used in them 100 years ago?  I think I'll visit my attic and see what I have.  But I should first finish the project I started since the cupboard's contents are spread throughout the room.

 

Happy June!! 

 

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Request

Janet and Maureen - you're no-reply - can't contact you!  Please email your addresses so I can mail your cards.

samplersandsantas@gmail.com

 

And to JustGail - brilliant!  Thank you, stones will work very well if the little hoppers have any smarts.

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DMC card

I have two extra dmc color cards W200N of actual thread still wrapped in cellophane.  Color numbers 3801-3830. I will probably keep my older guides so I can have them in other rooms.  Not that I stitch there, but my odds of finding a misplaced guide are much greater if there are three.  Although many dye lots have changed somewhat since the original booklets were offered, the majority of my floss is from many years ago and matches them.  If you are interested in this card, the first two requests will get one, either comment or email.
Updated - both gone. 

 

If any of your homes have basements, please check outside in the window wells for toads and frogs.  Every day for two weeks I have found small to large ones unable to get out.  After removal I set them in heavy cover from the cats, and they end up in the same place the next day.  So I put a wide board inside the well at an angle hoping that will allow them an escape, until we get covers for the wells. But for the next few days I will still be on a toad check. 

 

How do I prune the petunias?  Any shorter stems coming from the center of the plant get cut back to the first leaf.  I then carefully separate the thick clumps of flowering stems and pull out about a dozen, and clip those too.  You can clip first and then pull out, doesn't matter, just be careful to not break others while removing.  You end up with stems a few inches long in the center.  I do this in July also or whenever the edges of the plant are too heavy.  The Vista varieties don't really need this or any trimming, but I do anyway.  You can see several new stems including buds already branching out from a cut 10 days ago and this keeps the center full.  I fertilize too.

 

Took Carole to her doc today and she is a little better, fluid is gone, strength will take some time to regain.  Cardio appointment next week.  Thank you very much for your prayers and concern.
 

That's it. bye.

 

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