Our Alley

 Wednesday, March 24, 2026

A view of our alley from the alley of the block north of us. 

Sitting on the Porch with Dale

 Tuesday, June 23, 2026

We got a lot of rain this afternoon. 

Dale and I sat on the porch during the storm and it was quite pleasant. Overall June's been lovely.

Spring Cleaning

 Monday, May 11, 2026

I've been working pretty consistently lately at getting the upstairs cleaned out of all my school stuff. Dale's current project is to clean the windows inside and out. 

He's off to a good start. 

Signs of Spring

 Tuesday, March 10, 2026

March is an interesting month. You really start to see signs of the changing seasons from winter to spring. 

                                    

A couple of day ago, Sunday, the temperature got up to 60 degrees. An anomoly for this time of year for sure but it's a sign of things to come. I actually sat outside with a cigar the whole time it took to smoke it for the first time this calendar year. 

Collecting - Santas

Thursday, December 18, 2025

I've been collecting American Santas for a while. I set them out recently. 

It felt like I was missing some. 

I don't usually set them out on this shelf so maybe that's what looked different. 

Anyway, not too long after setting them out I found another box in the coal room where I store most of my Christmas stuff. That's where they had been hiding. 

I added them to the display. 

Mom never promoted the Santa with us when we were kids. When I asked her why she said it had something to do with Dr. Benjamin Spock in the 60s and that you shouldn't have kids focus on fairy tales. Anyway I think that the fact I still ended up believing shows the power of how prevelent the Santa Claus myth is in the culture. 

Decorating with Books

 Friday, Deember 5, 2025

Books look great on a shelf but as I've said before I also think they look very nice stacked and displayed. They help reflect themes and interests, like in this case, Christmas. I also think they add warmth and personality to a space or even a whole room. 

Dining Room In the Dark

 Sunday, November 30, 2025

The darkness of the late afternoon and early evening is definitley upon us. 

It's perfect for candlelight. 

Christmas Tree

Friday, November 28, 2025

Started decorating the new tree a couple days ago. 

Finished yesterday (Thanksgiving). I think it looks great and Dale really likes it too. 

Collecting - Fiestaware

 Thursday, November 27, 2025

I've been collecting Fiestaware for the past 35 years although I haven't bought any in quite a number of years. After all, you can only have so much. I've heard.

My most recent aquisitions were bought about 10 years ago. 

I bought three place settings in distinctive fall colors. 

They look particularly good when mixed and matched. 

The fourth place setting is pieced together with fall-like colors from my regular collection. 

Mom and Dale at Thanksgiving dinner. 

From Wikipedia: "Fiesta is a line of ceramic glazed dinnerware manufactured and marketed by the Fiesta Tableware Company of Newell, West Virginia, United States since its introduction in 1936, with a hiatus from 1973 to 1985. Fiesta is noted for its Art Deco styling and its range of often bold, solid colors."

"The company was known as the Homer Laughlin China Company (HLCC) until 2020, when it sold its food service divisions, along with the Homer Laughlin name, to Steelite, a British tableware manufacturer. HLCC in turn rebranded itself as the Fiesta Tableware Company, retaining its retail division, prominent Fiesta line, factories and headquarters in Newell, West Virginia."

"Fiesta's original shapes and glazes were designed by Frederick Hurten Rhead, Homer Laughlin's art director from 1927 until his death in 1942. Fiesta products before 1986 were semi-vitreous pottery, and after 1986 were vitreous china allowing marketing it for food service applications. Several of the original shapes had to be modified due to this change in material and other new shapes were added by Jonathan O. Parry, who became Homer Laughlin's art director in 1984."

Thanksgiving 2025

 Thursday, November 27, 2025

We had a lovely time with Mom over.

The turkeymeister.

Thanksgiving 2025 - New Christmas Tree

Thursday, November 27, 2025

A couple days ago Dale and I ran out to Menard's to buy a new artificial tree. Last time I bought one was in the early 90s the December before I met Dale. 

I think this one looks pretty cool and it fits just right in this cozy dining room corner. I meant to buy the same one I helped Mom pick out last week but they were out of those by the time I was able to get back to the store. Also, I realized I hadn't made it clear to Dale, when he asked, that this new tree was going to be in addition to the old tree and not to replace it. Oops. 

Anyway, this tree is pre-lit which, although not my preference, is growing on me. 

AND Sylvester loves the box!

Thanksgiving Is Tomorrow

 Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Thanksgiving is tomorrow. I can't believe it's here already.  

The platter is from the Currier and Ives dinnerware line which was manufactured by the Royal China Company and introduced to the American market in 1949. We had a set of these dishes when I was growing up and whenever I see a piece it reminds me of the house on Stevens. I seem to remember Mom inherited the set from someone although I can't remember who. 

I incorporated some elements in the display that have a little bit more of a Christmas vibe but didn't want to overdo it too much at least until we're officially past Thanksgiving. Want to get the porch freshened up for Mom's visit tomorrow. 

A Sunny Day in November

Friday, November 21, 2025 

November's been typically gloomy but today we got some sun. 

Collecting - Hall Autumn Leaf Dishware

Tuesday, November 19, 2025

Another of my many collections is Hall Autumn Leaf dishware. Although I've picked up a couple of my own pieces over the years however the vast majority of my collection is inherited from Mom. 

Here's the AI overview: "The Autumn Leaf pattern is a well-known, vintage china design produced by the Hall China Company exclusively for the Jewel Tea Company from the 1930s until the late 1970s. The design features orange and yellow flowers with brown and tan leaves on an ivory background, often accented with gold trim."

I remember Mom collecting this pattern. She displayed a lot of it on top of the kitchen cabinets. I asked her if any of the pieces we originally in her mother's collection. She said no. That said, Baba had some dishware that was somewhat evokitive of the Autumn Leaf pattern.

What do I like about this collection? It's a connection to Mom, it calls to mind autumn, one of my favorite times of the year, the softness of the yellow, orange, and brown colors, and it goes well with Thanksgiving. 

November

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

The autumn chill is really starting to become more pronounced and although I won't abandon the yard entirely it will become much more desireable to spend my time inside.  

I enjoy being outside in the winter except in the most bitter cold. Even in more mild winter weather it is always lovely to enter the house and feel the toastiness of the warm air and experience the coziness of the surroundings. 

"Home means more to us in cold weather. Making ourselves comfortable is a duty. Making friends and family comfortable is an art."

                                     -Nigel Slater