Saturday, January 29, 2011

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

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

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

Monday, January 24, 2011

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

Saturday, January 22, 2011

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

Thursday, January 20, 2011

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

Monday, January 17, 2011

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!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

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



Thursday, January 6, 2011

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




Tuesday, January 4, 2011

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