GIVE ME A BREAK. I AM A DISH ADDICT!

GIVE ME A BREAK and the cups did just that.  A couple of cups were broken as I unpacked them.  I didn't get too upset about it as I have plenty.  

I managed to fill the china cabinet full.  TOO FULL to get every piece in it. The really old BLUE WILLOW was unboxed and boxed again and will be on a shelf in the cellar.  

Having this done helped settle my nerves.  A goal was accomplished.  Like playing a game

INSIDE THE ANTIQUE CHINA CABINET IS FULL OF BLUE WILLOW DISHES.

CHILDREN'S MINIATURE BLUE WILLOW CHINA

I have got to find a way to not feel so deeply about all the messes about here.  It shouldn't be that BIG of a deal.  Getting to where the china is out of the garage has been a long time in coming.  It's a VICTORY having them in the china cabinet!!!  When it comes to worldly conflicts where nuclear bombs could be used, then the messes I have to deal with about the house aren't very big issues are they?

As I was cleaning up the HOUSE in preparation for company to come, I discovered a cardboard box full of Amber colored Depression plates with the Madrid pattern that I purchased a few months back that had not been unpacked and put away.  Making room for these plates to go into the Buffet in the Living room, I had to take out all the glassware and start again.

Patrician Spoke Depression Glass

Madrid Depression Glass

To my surprise, I didn't know that what I thought was Madrid pattern Depression Glass plates were really a style called PATRICIAN SPOKE.  The MADRID PATTERN dishes are more square.  SPOKE is rounder.  I have 16 PATRICIAN SPOKE DINNER DISHES that I will probably turn loose of.

Now I have 8 amber colored Madrid Pattern Plates that really are Madrid.  I am proud to have.  

The PATRICIAN SPOKE dishes were produced by FEDERAL GLASS between 1933 TO 1937 in which the market was saturated with it.  This is why even in the year 2024 they are in abundance. They'd come in bags of flour.  What a treat.

So I am a dish addict.  Seems kind of mild when it comes to addictions.

Other addictions:  I really like dishes, glassware, dolls, lipstick, nail polish, cars, houses, furniture, long drives in the country, going to antique stores, watching old movies, going to garage sales, touring houses, decorating, researching on the internet...well, I do.    

Blessings to you,

~d

I've Got The Blues

~BLUE WILLOW DISHES~

IN A BLUE AND WHITE DINING ROOM

Seeing blue.  I've got the blues in my dining room.  

Everything and I mean everything is bubble wrapped and in a cardboard box.  Each piece of china and crystal was bubbled wrapped.  I have no complaints as to how well the cleaners boxed and wrapped each and every item.  Deep breath.  Carry on.

NEXT the China Cabinet will get drinking glasses.  

This is what it is.  Slow.

Surely.

GLASSES unwrapped and placed in cabinet.

Back to the Living room this week-end.  

Our Living room furniture 

will be making her way to our HOME 

earlier than we had anticipated.

AUGUST is the targeted date.

I'm in shock.

THOUGHT I had until September.

It is happening.

~HOME SWEET HOME~

d

Gone Junkin'

JUNKIN FOR THRIFT.  One of the things I look for when I go JUNKIN' is crystal and Blue Willow dishes.  If the items are bargain basement prices, I perk up knowing I got a great price for a great item.  I spent a few days with my Mom this past week.  We went JUNKIN'...We stopped to see what a couple of THRIFT STORES had.

BLUE WILLOW heard me calling out when I showed up finding 4 BLUE WILLOW dishes in plate hangers.  From Japan.  Gawking at the 50 cent stickers on the plates, I didn't hesitate to put them in my shopping cart.  If I had walked away with just these 4 items it would have been a successful shopping trip.

Naturally I had to look around.  Mrs. Albee, the AVON figurine caught my eye as she jumped into my cart...well with some help.  She's lovely and will be a nice addition to my figurines that I hope return to me in good condition.  She's porcelain and in excellent shape.  Excellent.

I found some small pressed and cut crystal bowls that I will use as Berry Bowls.  THEY are not the exact same pattern at HOME, but I have a larger glass bowl that can be used along with the smaller berry bowls.  I will place them in my curio cabinet when it is returned to me after being refinished from the house fire.


All and all, I was a happy shopper. 
So HAPPY.

May you have a delightful day.
God bless,
d

NOT Blue About A Staycation

The Blue Cup by Joseph DeCamp

~DAY ONE STAYCATION~

With the HELP of WIKIPEDIA we can better define and describe staying put this year instead of going somewhere far away to get away for a much needed VACATION.  

A staycation is a period in which an individual or family stays home and participates in leisure activities within driving distance, sleeping in their own beds at night. They might make day trips to local tourist sites, swimming venues, or engage in fun activities such as horseback riding, paintball, hiking or visiting museums. Most of the time it involves dining out more frequently than usual. Some people may include one or two overnight visits at relatives, friends or a longer trip. Staycations achieved popularity in the US during the financial crisis of 2007–2010.  Staycations also became a popular phenomenon in the UK in 2009 as a weak pound made overseas holidays significantly more expensive.

Common activities of a staycation include use of the backyard pool, visits to local parks and museums, and attendance at local festivals. Some staycationers also like to follow a set of rules, such as setting a start and end date, planning ahead, and avoiding routine, with the goal of creating the feel of a traditional vacation.

Well…...there you have it.  WE are having a STAYCATION.  We don't have a pool in the backyard, but that does sound like a winner.  The eating out….will do along with THRIFT MEALS because we must…we must.  

Debated on taking a real vacation FAR FAR AWAY from everyday living on the Prairie…..and decided on a STAYCATION for our time off.  Easier on the pocket book and easier on the decision making for getting away.  This year we stay HOME and through out the year, LORD WILLING, we will make plans to go many a mile from here.  

This year, I get to sleep in and allow my body, soul and spirit to hopefully get refreshed as sorely needed.  We discussed if Hubby should work on the Kitchen.  I said, "YESSSSSSSS!"

After giving it some more thought, I knew I needed to let Hubby clean out and organize the Garage before moving on with the Kitchen.  So I asked him one afternoon about it.  He agreed that the Garage was in need of his time and muscle.  One event after another has taken precedence over the Garage for 7 years.  SEVEN YEARS.  That's a very long time to wait for an organized Garage when you love ORDER.  We took the bull by the horns and worked something out between the two of us.  

If he can make headway on the Garage then he will have more space to work on the Kitchen Cabinet fronts and the Kitchen will come together faster.  It will be a more enjoyable experience if he can have the Garage cleaned out and space to comfortably work on the Kitchen.  I need a happier Camper.  That's the recipe for a happier Husband.  A CLEAN GARAGE.

DAY ONE:
TODAY, I had VICTORY!  I decided on THE THEME of my vintage Kitchen and what she will be.  Since the cabinets are white…and I have been collecting BLUE WILLOW DISHES…it seems like a BLUE WILLOW THEME.  Like the idea.  Crisp and clean.  It may sound so silly to some that a grown woman cannot decide on or make up her mind about a theme for her personal Kitchen…..I am one of those tired, weary, worn out peri-menopausal Ladies that wasn't able to decide with the Kitchen under construction what THEME to use to decorate.  Today, this was put to rest.  I could have easily had a Celebration of LIFE Service for the death of the lack of decision making.  Final last words...You were a nusiance and I'm glad you left the building.  Tell Elvis Hello for me.

It feels good to be able to say…finally…I want this particular theme.  

A few weeks ago, I was at Dillons Grocery store to see if they still were selling the Blue Willow Dishes that I had been buying off and on for the last two years or so.  They were, plus I noticed Tea Towels with the BLUE WILLOW THEME on them and a rush of excitement surged through me.  My passion for decorating returned.  It seemed like I had met up with a dear friend that I hadn't seen in many a year.  Or like having the sun finally come out after weeks of having rainy days.  

Bought a tea towel and thought after a PAY DAY I would go back and buy more of these.  I haven't seen tea towels like these before.  Whahlaah.  SHE COMES HOME WITH MAMA.

Hubby got up early today for DAY ONE OF OUR STAYCATION.  He's working like hotcakes getting the garage cleaned out.  It seems impossible that we have been here in this little TOWN for 7 and a half years.  You've heard me say it before….life got in the way and the garage took on a different life than being a garage to park our auto in.  The window of time to go through this mess of a garage was not opened until now.  Right now.  

I know that I know that I know that I know that the Garage had to be placed first on the list of our STAYCATION THINGS TO DO.

We had made a deal that while we are staying HOME for the week that we will occasionally dine out in nice restaurants for luxury.  Hot today, so there is need to cool off during the heat of the day.  


Dragging with me my hubby….before heading out for an early Supper, I had already penciled in on my calendar that I was going to go look around at a shoppe that's only open on Saturdays to LOOK at the store's BLING.   Cha-ching.  A looking I will do.  Guess what we found?  Blue Willow Dishes.  Same brand that Dillons sells.  Was so pleased.  Bought them at a fantastic price.



As we drove to PAXICO for BAR-B-Que at a rustic restaurant, my sweet Hunny said it looks like you're having a Blue Willow Birthday this year.  I thought he meant because I had these dishes.  No, he couldn't keep quiet and said that he had some Blue Willow for me for my Monday Birthday.  With excitement I asked, "Did you get me a PLATTER!!???"

Shocked, he asked, "How do you know these things?"  He had bought a Platter for my Birthday gift along with more of the BLUE WILLOW Tea Towels, Baker's Gloves, and Hot Pads.  I am really excited about it all.  He went ahead and gave me the Platter and etc. when we got HOME.  EARLY BIRTHDAY.  Was thrilled.

We did have a very relaxing Supper at PAXICO'S LONGBRANCH.  The environment wasn't busy, service good and the food was great.   We enjoyed our time together.    

So ending DAY ONE, I eye balled some BLING, purchased BLUE WILLOW DISHES at an awesome price, decided on Kitchen Theme, had a great Supper with my Hunny, received my Birthday gift from Hubs, Garage Clean out is underway and the evening is here.  PRAISE THE LORD.  Should be able to rest tonight knowing we have begun a much needed stay at HOME.  

I don't do well with a messy house all about me.  Low energy levels and time restraints have been a challenge to my ailing body.  I have to work when I can.

My prayer today is:
Dear LORD…..Please Lord, let us have a time of refreshment.  We so need it.  Please allow us to have this much needed Staycation at HOME where we can get caught up.  Please LORD.  No Family deaths, no illnesses, no emergencies, no injuries, no torment, no rude interruptions, please God.  Please.  

In Jesus name I pray and ask, 
AMEN.

It's root-beer thirty.  TIME to slow down and unwind.  I would like to wash my BLUE WILLOW DishES and get them ready to be placed in the Dining room China Cabinet.  AND though I know that there are wars going on in the world, pressing issues of all kinds….the war that rages in families is a heart ache.  I need my HOME to be a HAVEN far, far away from the hellish breakdown of families and relationships that have gone sour. 

There is always HOPE with GOD.  He is much bigger than the problems that might be pounding the death out of families.  God is good and greatly to be praised.  He definitely has a good plan for each person.  May we embrace HIS ways, be healed and set free. 

Blessings,
d 

1 Corinthians 14:40 

Let all things be done decently and in order.

Brookville's Fried Chicken For Hank

He'll meet you at the door.

Abilene, Kansas is the HOME 
of the Brookville Hotel that's well known 
for their FAMILY Style Chicken Dinners 
served with Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Creamed Styled Corn that you could drink, Cole Slaw, Flaky Biscuits with Butter, Strawberry Jam also Relish Dish.  Coffee, Iced Tea or Water then

 Ice Cream Dessert.

People come from miles around to eat here,
tour the facility, 

and visit the Gift Shoppe.

Brother-In-Law Hank met up with us there 

to celebrate his retirement.  

Old enough to retire.  

Young enough to eat Fried Chicken.

 That's HANK.

We'll dine on Blue Willow Dishes 

in The Teller Room.

We sat near by this Teller Station to where we could see 
the action at the Teller Window.
Kind of appropriate since my SIS works at a real BANK.

Menu

Relish Tray

Pickles 

Candied Apple Slices     

Peaches

Bread

Baking Powder Biscuits with Butter and Fruit Preserves

Sides

Cottage Cheese

Family Pennslyvania Recipe Sweet-Sour Cole-Slaw

Vegetables

Creamed Style Corn

Mashed Potatoes with Creamy Gravy

Meat

Fried Chicken

Beverage

Iced Water

Coffee with Cream and Sugar

Dessert

Dish of Home Style Ice Cream

After eating a leisurely Fried Chicken Meal
off of Blue Willow Dishes in a quiet room, 
we toured the upstairs Museum Hotel rooms.

a previous look at the upstairs:
http://homehavenministry.blogspot.com/2012/08/parlour-and-3-bedrooms.html 

End of Part 5 with Sis.
d