Pretty Babies...

Happy Saturday...

I'm enjoying a lovely afternoon

just puttering around the house

 thought I'd share a photo

of my pretty bisque babies

Enjoy your day!

xoxo

My treat...

During this time of the year

I like to treat myself to fresh roses

it's a nice pick me up!

But, I'm always sad when they begin to droop

and I know the time draws near

 to toss them

When that time comes 

I decide to dry them

My dried blooms add the beauty

 and just the right patina

for my vignettes!

Have a great day!

xoxo

Thirty years and counting...

HAPPY 30TH ANNIVERSARY

Wayne...

TOM (the old man)

I like that we are growing old together!

Love you...

Your Devoted Wife

xoxo

Resolution...

Good Morning...

Fest Marienberg

Remember the disappointment

I shared with you yesterday about

my damaged German soup tureen?

(pattern named six castles)

The seller was helpful and kind

and I received a full refund!

I am so grateful 

that this ended with positive results

I think I was lucky

Fest Marienberg

I'm still on the hunt for another one
in my price range...

Have a great weekend!
xoxo

A Little Effort Please...

The post has arrived and I am all excited

'cause I was expecting packages this week!

After signing for both parcels

My wonderful postman (actually her name is Lisa)

handed me this box
Hmmm...
I heard rattling
not good...feeling nervous

covered in lots of priority mail tape

 It was an antique German soup tureen

So...

I'm expecting to find popcorn and bubble wrap

Not newspapers and plastic grocery shopping bags 

just piled at the top of the box!

I am now starting to feel a little sick

looked like a recycling container

 after moving all the newspaper and grocery bags 

this is what I find...

broken...broken...broken

My heart sank...

This beautiful antique ceramic soup tureen 

had not been properly wrapped at all!

Where's all the cushioning? Where's the popcorn?

not packaged to shipping standards

I could not believe that the sender

 would choose to package this antique piece
for shipment in this way...
CERAMICS ARE F-R-A-G-I-L-E

I am beyond feeling ill to just feeling angry
and feeling DISAPPOINTED

Not salvageable at all

Now I open the next box...

So far...so good

The items are all wrapped in bubble wrap

although there isn't any extra cushioning
because the items in the box
aren't fragile???

They are made of wood and DON'T NEED
to be packaged as carefully as ceramics!
it's okay that there isn't any popcorn
Two different sellers
with two different outcomes

the lone survivor

This seller was selling the soup tureen for an elderly neighbor

 it was a BUY NOW item

so,  I thought to myself...

it's a fair asking price for a beautiful antique piece

the money is going to an elderly person who needs it

it'll be a nice souvenir of the days 

when our family lived in Germany
sigh...

just a bit of effort was needed to avoid this loss

I AM SO DISAPPOINTED
at the loss of this beautiful piece 

 for the seller not taking

the time to properly wrap a fragile item
and package it correctly for shipping
Aaagggrrrr...

I have emailed the seller
to give the bad news and
I hope I won't be disappointed
at the outcome of this transaction!

Thanks for allowing me to vent
otherwise I may start crying...

xoxo

I LIKE...

French enamelware...

I have been collecting for years

and now with a move to a new city

planned for this fall

my collection... numbers found on Etsy

I have to start sorting and selling 

the pieces that aren't fitting 

into my desired decorating scheme

...sigh

It's a process...

I'm attached to ALL my stuff! 

I had packed these beauties away

so now... 

I have to find the right box

in my garage (darn)

and get them listed at my Etsy shop

Come on by and take a peek...

I'll feel better knowing...

 they have gone to a good home!

Begin the Day...

Begin the day with friendliness

And only friends you'll find.

Yes, greet the dawn with happiness;

Keep happy thoughts in mind.

guggy girl images

Salute the day with peaceful thoughts,

And peace will fill your heart;

Begin the day with joyful soul,

And joy will be your part.

Begin the day with friendliness;

Keep friendly all day long;

Keep in your soul a friendly thought, 

Your heart a friendly song.

guggy girl images

Have in your mind a word of cheer

For all who come your way,

And they will bless you too, in turn,

And wish you "Happy day!"

guggy girl images

Begin each day with friendly thoughts,

And as the day goes on,

Keep friendly, loving, good, and kind,

Just as you were at dawn.

guggy girl images

The day will be a friendly one,

And then at night you'll find

That you were happy all day long

         Through friendly thoughts in mind.

                                      Frank B. Whitney

My thoughts and prayers to the victims, survivors, and their families

of the Tucson tragedy that occurred recently.

xoxo

TOM...

I'm filled with anticipation at what will unfold in  2011

TOM... The Old Man

 (Wayne has dubbed himself this new title)

So, in the spirit of the new year 

 I too will refer to him as TOM...

Wayne aka TOM 1981

TOM and I have enjoyed many years together

 our 30th wedding anniversary is just around the corner

yup...

you read it correctly

30 years together!

Ski Trip 1981

As with any relationship there are the

wonderful UP MOMENTS...

and the need to learn from DOWN TIMES...

lately, we are dealing with major changes

JOB CHANGES 

and 

ADDRESS CHANGES

Wellington Harbor 2010

Our life is truly a journey 

never boring and overflowing with opportunities

I'm always smiling... 

counting my blessings

and looking forward to another day with 

TOM

xoxo

A Blog Of Her Own...

I decided that today was as good a day as any

to start a BLOG for Paprika Rose...

 my shop where I sell found objects on Etsy

www.etsy.com/shop/paprikarose

My current website which has been my online journal
these last few months
www.artichokerose.com

and upcoming online Brocante...opening the fall of 2011

a partnership with my sister, Del

...has been a great introduction into the blogging world

This will be a new experience for me 

to share my musings with you on this site

while learning to navigate through all the technology

I still struggle

I hope you stop by again soon...

xoxo