Monday, July 27, 2009

Blue Monday - Japanese Tea Cups and Saucers

It's Blue Monday! To participate:

1. Post about something blue on your blog. It can be pretty, ugly, funny, old, or new as long as it's blue. Leave a link to this blog on your post.

2. Place the Blue Monday button on the top of your post so that people can easily spot it. Place another Blue Monday button on the sidebar of your blog.

3. Mr. Linky will be up after midnight. Return here and link in with Mr. Linky by leaving your name and the Permalink to your post. To create a Permalink, click on your Blue Monday post title and copy all the stuff in the http window. It is a longer address so that people can find your post even later in the week--whenever they get a chance to visit.

4. Leave me a comment. I promise that I will visit you and leave you a commet. Visit other Blue participants by clicking on their links. Make someone's day; leave a comment.

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These are four cups and five saucers that came to me from my mother. Obviously, something broke, but that was many years ago. My mom got them (along with several other things) from her Uncle Charlie--my grandfather's brother. I especially like the shape of the handles.

Here's a glimpse at the inside of one of the cups. I love the beautiful artwork.

Uncle Charlie first married Aunt Margaret and Aunt Margaret bought these tea cups. Unfortunately, Aunt Margaret died. When Uncle Charlie married his second wife, Aunt Betty, she wanted the house to be filled with things that better suited her taste. So, the china was given to my mom who later, passed them down to me. They're quite delicate. I use them for display in my china cabinet. I love the Blue color. There's a good bit of gold too, but that doesn't show up so well.

Here's a shot of the markings on the bottom of the tea cup.



Blue Monday Participants
1. Sally
2. ellen b
3. Elizabeth
4. Lana G!
5. Anne Fannie
6. Lavoice
7. Robyn
8. CailinMarie
9. Marjorie...Molly
10. bj
11. Annemieke @ The Netherlands
12. fitty
13. Ivory Spring
14. Gee
15. Gemma
16. Jeanne
17. NicoleB Hungary
18. Maria Berg, Sweden
19. Valerie@Snap-Pea
20. Hip chick
21. Itajeff
22. Mary@oOne Perfect Bite
23. Janie at Southern Lagniappe
24. Mojo,NC,USA
25. Barbara@Purple Goat Lady
26. cindy
27. Kathy
28. charli and me
29. DeniseMarie
30. Debra Kaye
31. Ms. Sharlotte's...Southern Reflections
32. Knitty
33. Annies Home
34. Becky K.
35. KayC
36. Candy
37. Claudie @ Bubblin' Over
38. Miranda
39. storyteller at Small Reflections
40. Fifi Flowers
41. Lynns Lovelies
42. Iris
43. charmine
44. TwirlandTaste
45. barbara jean
46. Kim: To Desire, Live -To Travel
47. Puna @ LifeSignatures
48. AnnA
49. Rita @ Cashjocky and the Old Salt

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Sunday, July 26, 2009

Don't Look to Adam



Romans 12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world.... 15But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. (New Living Translation)


Spiritual Sundays are hosted by gracious Ginger and charming Charlotte. To visit other participants, click here.


See you tomorrow for Blue Monday!



Saturday, July 25, 2009

Little Things Mean A Lot

Precious Beverly at How Sweet the Sound hosts Pink Saturday. Please Pause at her Place to see Plenty of other Pretty Pink items that Precious Pink Participating People are Presently Presenting for your Perusing Pleasure.

As Kitty Kallen sang in 1954, "Little Things Mean A Lot." If you're interested, I'm including a copy of her singing this lovely song. I've included the lyrics so that you can sing along.




Blow me a kiss from across the room
Say I look nice when I'm not
Touch my hair as you pass my chair
Little things mean a lot

Give me your arm as we cross the street
Call me at six on the dot
A line a day when you're far away
Little things mean a lot

Don't have to buy me diamonds or pearls
Champagne, sables, and such
I never cared much for diamonds and pearls
'cause honestly, honey, they just cost money

Give me a hand when I've lost the way
Give me your shoulder to cry on
Whether the day is bright or gray
Give me your heart to rely on

Send me the warmth of a secret smile
To show me you haven't forgot
For now and forever, that's always and ever
Honey, little things mean a lot

This past week, while shopping at Publix, a grocery store, I picked up a bunch of pretty flowers. They cost $3.00.




What a bargain!

See you in two days for Blue Monday!


Wednesday, July 22, 2009

When Treeless, Grow Your Own!

Susan at A Southern Daydreamer is the gracious hostess for Outdoor Wednesday. Life has become complex for her these days, but she still takes the time to provide Mr. Linky for those of us who are interested. Participants post pictures of anything that they might find outdoors. Come join in.

You may remember when I shared about my new rental and the pretty plant I placed by the door. I asked Blogland to identify it for me, and Mrs. Magpie told me that it is an Anthurium. Well, it looked a bit lonely to me.

Since I love palms, I decided that there was a perfect spot on the porch for an Areca palm.

The little porch looks so much better with the plant and the palm sitting in their matching red pots. They DO match, but the film doesn't show that.


See how happy they look? Think of the money we'll save by buying small and growing it ourselves.

Why, by the time my house is done, the palm may be six or seven feet tall! LOL


Tuesday, July 21, 2009

A Craftsman at Work

My friend, Diane at A Picture is Worth A Thousand... hosts 2nd Time Around. She's a creative and crafty lady. She finds what some may think is not worth much, and paints it or tweaks it a bit and creates a thing of beauty, function, and/or value for her home. If you'd like to join in the fun, click on the link.

I posted about how the movers damaged my china cabinet and promised to show you how the repair turned out. The first two pictures show the terrible gouge that the movers made.

A close-up allows you to get the full impact.

We called this repairman. After visiting once to access the situation, take pictures and measurements, he returned with this wooden plug that he had fashioned. 


He tried the fit, and then went to his truck to sand it down a bit more.


Here he is shown marking lines on the piece.

Next, he used a product called Wood Quick which begins as a putty-type substance and after working it until it begins to harden, he blends it in with the wood piece and attaches it to the china cabinet. Once again, he sands it.


He trims the piece.



 Next, he stained with four different stains and then a coat of varnish. Here's the finished job.


And, a closer look. 

We found him by calling a furniture company that deals with Drexel, the manufacturer of the china cabinet.  We are quite pleased to have this repair so nicely done.