Days of Grace

     Every day, no matter how boringly ordinary, gifts us with moments of sweet grace.  The first cup of coffee in the morning.  The smell of sun dried laundry.  The way my son's hair swirls around his cowlick.  A glorious sunset.  My husband's hands holding mine.
     Jordy of Jordy Liz Blogs has been documenting three such moments each day.  You can read about her experience here.  Pretty amazing.  Each day she lists three blessings, by the end of the week she has 21 Graces to share.  Jordy  posts her list each Friday and invites others to join her.
     So here is my first list For 21 Graces.

1. A "new" set of china, bought for a song.
2. Haircuts.
3. Morning walks.
4. Dinner with friends.
5. Sunflowers
6. Pat filling my car with gas.
7. Perfume in my favorite scent - Pure Grace.
8. A new-to-me car!
9. A dinner date with my husband.
10. Spending the day with a good friend.
11. Driving my new car.
12. Going to the movies with my daughter, Patty.
13. Movie popcorn.
14. Chickens in the back yard.
15. Making memories with my family.
16. Pat's mustache.
17. Going to the Renaissance Fair.
18. Talking to my Mom and Dad on the phone.
19. Goodnight kisses.
20.  Fireflies glowing in the summer night.
21.  A new purse - on sale!

Haviland Limoges China

     My heart went pit-a-pat when I saw these beautiful dishes on Craigslist.  The advertisement read, "1930's Limoges France Haviland Dishes - Venetian Pattern. "  Pictured were a few plates and a serving bowl.

A place setting

      These beautiful dishes were in a box in a garage wrapped in newspaper.  I looked at the top two dishes and bought them for $25.  I had almost no idea what was in the box.

Oval vegetable bowl

      Look at all the gorgeousness I unwrapped!   There are 7 dinner plates, 12 salad plates,  6 bread plates, 11 teacups and saucers, two lidded serving bowls, 1 vegetable bowl, a salt and pepper set, and a sugar and creamer.

Lidded oval serving bowl or tureen

     Each dish is white china with double gold edging and a pale lettuce green trim.  Each piece is perfect.  They were not used often.

side view of lidded oval bowl

      I have tried to find out more information on my dishes.  There are, I think, three different patterns.

Round lidded serving bowl

      Most of the dishes are like the ones pictured above.  I have been admiring looking carefully over the dishes and have noticed some differences.

Sugar and Creamer

      The sugar and creamer looks like it came from a different pattern.  It is marked "D & C France" on the bottom.  The creamer and bowl are creamy white.  They are painted with wild roses and green leaves that echo the green on the other dishes.  They are also dripping with gold.  Oh my, I love these.

Bread plates

     The bread plates are also different.  They are bordered by green leaves and tiny yellow flowers.  They are trimmed in gold.  On the bottom they have "England France Haviland & C., Limoges for Alfred Stanel & Son, San Diego, Cal."  These have a newer feeling about them.
     Can anyone tell me more about my dishes?    I'd like to know the age, pattern, and value of the various pieces.

Five Things I Learned in July

    1.  Lisa Jo Baker wrote the most beautiful post about love,  When You Think Your Love Story is Boring.

    There is a rumor, an urban myth, a fiction, a fantasy, a black and white screen cliché that love looks like the mad, romantic dash through airports for a last chance at a flailing kiss.And then the credits roll.And the lights come on.And we must go back to our real lives where we forget that love really lives.

     Extraordinary love in ordinary days.  Go read it.  It is worth the two minutes it takes.

     My love story is boring, too, and I'm okay with that.

2.  When a 12 year old boy is diagnosed with AML Leukemia, the Yankees will step up to bat for him.
     Caleb Gaylord is an athletic, musically gifted, 12 year old boy from New Milford, CT.  Caleb plays 3rd base for his travel team.  Caleb's dream is to one day wear pinstripes as a New York Yankee. 
     Caleb's life was forever changed on June 13th, when his Mom brought him to his pediatrician for strep throat. Thankfully, his pediatrician was suspicious and sent his bloodwork to top oncologists at Children's Medical Center in Hartford. Within hours the family was hearing the words no parent ever wants to hear, "Your son has leukemia." A couple of days later, Caleb started the first of four rounds of aggressive chemotherapy, to be administered over a span of six months. It is an inpatient treatment. To add to the difficulty, the family was in between insurance companies at the time of Caleb's diagnosis. 
     If God puts it on your heart to make a contribution to help Caleb, you may do so here. 
    The Yankees generously sent Caleb a Get Well gift basket.   Caleb was very excited to receive an encouraging phone call from pitcher, Mariano Rivera.
     Hats off to the Yankees.

3.   We are big fans of the Harry Potter Series in our house.   

     Our youngest son, Connor received his letter from Hogwarts on his eleventh birthday.  I made him a letter and scrapbook about Harry Potter. 

      Now Diagon Alley is on Google Street View.

4.  That it is worth it to get up very early in the morning to watch hot air balloons take off over the Hudson River.  You can read about it here.

5.   I love the Minions Banana Song.  It makes me smile, every time.

     What did you learn this month?  Linking up with Emily at Chatting at the Sky.

Advice From the Ocean

Be shore of yourself.

Sea life's beauty.

Come out of your shell.

Avoid pier pressure.

Don't get tide down.

Eat ice cream!Make a splash!

Red Light, Green Light 1, 2, 3

     One of the games we played when I was a child was Red Light, Green Light.  On many summer evenings, a group of neighborhood kids would line up on the lawn.   The child who was “It” stood about forty feet away, with their back turned to the crowd.  “It” would shout, “Green light!”
     We would all thunder toward him, until a split second later, “It” would yell, “Red light!” and turn swiftly around.  We all had to become as still as statues. If momentum carried us forward, if we teetered or tottered, or just tipped over - we had to go back to the starting point.
   Oh boy, I was slow to begin with and I hated to have to start over.  All of us loved the freedom of “Green Light,” but none of us wanted to hear “Red Light."
    Many of us don’t want to take the time to stop.  We're too busy.  There is too much to do.   We have no time.  But when it comes to learning about God’s word, to serving Him and worshiping Him, we can’t afford to continue in motion.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
   I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
   When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’  ~Matthew 25:34-40

     We were made for service and worship.  So let’s stop.  Not because it is convenient, or because we feel like it, or because it doesn’t conflict with something else.  Red light.  Let’s be still.  Let’s bless the Lord.

Cake Boss Cafe, Times Square

      Life is a little bit sweeter in New York City.  The Cake Boss Cafe has arrived in Times Square on 42nd Street and 8th Avenue.  It was a treat to visit.  The Cake Boss Cafe storefront is much larger than Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey.  We were there on a busy Saturday morning, but happy customer's were being served quickly.
     You can read about our trip to the original Carlo's Bakery with our aspiring baker, Patty, here.

     Cake Boss Cafe was a piece of cake to get to and there wasn't a wait to get inside to see all of the deliciousness.

      Here is a tip:  There is a ticket dispenser by the front door.  Be sure to grab one!  You'll be served by number.  We were fortunate to see Mary working the counter in Hoboken, but we did not see any family members today.

     In addition to the fondant frenzy of cakes, cupcakes, and sweets galore the Cake Boss Cafe offers fun souvenirs.  There are shirts, mugs, and the most adorable little Buddy bobble heads.

      The store features a huge bobble head of Buddy himself.  Behind me you can see part of the huge TV mosaic playing TLC's Cake Boss series.

     Next time, we will come back to visit the CakeBoss Cafe with the kids!  They will love it!  Get your cake on!

Buddy Valastro has no idea who I am.  I did not receive even a crumb for the post.  I just wanted to share for Cake Boss fans everywhere.

Hat Stand DIY

      Do you have a special hat that you would like to display?  My boys have a few hats that they enjoy.   When I updated their room, I decided that I would make some simple hat stands.
      I combed the local Goodwill Store and found some wooden candlesticks.  At Hobby Lobby I found the wooden discs.  The paint was a free sample from Lowe's.  I had used it when I painted a small nightstand for their room.  Cost:  candlesticks: $3.00,  paint: free, discs: $3.16

     First, I painted everything in the dusty blue paint.  I liked the way the wood showed through the paint giving them a more vintage look.

      Next, I added some lighter blue highlights by mixing some white craft paint into the paint.  This was whisked on with a stiff dry brush and smudged a bit.  (While editing the photo, I noticed Pinterest on the scrap paper I was working on.  Smile.)

      Finally, I glued the discs onto the top of the candlesticks.  I made one taller hat stand by gluing two of the shorter candlesticks together and placing a disc on top.

     One more picture.

     Wouldn't this be cute for Mickey Ear souvenirs or baby hats?  What hat would you like to display?