Things That Are Bad For Me That I Want... Now.

Perhaps this is just me, so let me know, okay?

I've been longing for Italian cigarettes, limoncello (the bottle I bought here is still more than half full in the freezer, which should tell you something, right?) and my little apartment terrace in Rome.

Every single time I see a box of the good old Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, I want to prepare it and eat the entire package by myself. Needless to say, we don't keep that in stock around here.

Yes, I moved the *new* sofa into the den and moved the den sofa to our storage unit (while the son was here to help), so the living room has returned to the way it was before, except that SD agreed to take our Sony sound system and the 2 (large) speakers and all of our vinyl records from days gone by. Believe me, she now has a treasure trove of the 60's and 70's music She also took some framed prints and a few other things, further ridding us of more junk. The son took all of our old Revereware pots & pans and was thrilled to have them (almost as much as I was glad to be rid of them).

After finding Bufala (Buffalo/Bison) mozzarella at Central Market in San Antonio, I made homemade pizza with it and still have another ball of it left. Decisions, decisions.

Now, I'm craving that blue cheese with bluberries in it too.

Chili. Mmmmm.... Can't wait to make some hot, hearty chili. It's been a really *chilly* November, so I've been making use of the time not spent at the golf course. Also, Mr. Snooty did something to his neck & hasn't been able to play in quite a while, so golf has taken a backseat to our everyday lives and all its little dramas.

So I continue to think about things like Boeuf Bourgonionne. Potato soup. Chicken Soup. Wait. Just. One. Minute. This sounds like poundage in the making, does it not?. I need to stop this train of thought before it gets totally out of control.

Longing for some herbed brie with crackers as well as caviar on crackers. Dammit! Stop..

Someone needs to stop me. Or else, I need to stop myself. I'll end up weighing 250 pounds with my mind in the cuisine gutter like this.

I'm in big trouble, aren't I? What is wrong with me? Is there even a cure other than exercise (since I have such great difficulty doing anything besides swimming or snow skiing)? Yawn. So, I've been cleaning; ruthlessly this time. I've been giving all my throw-aways to my housekeeper, who has been in Heaven. I wonder if she'd just work for goods? Probably not.

What is it about this time of year, autumn, that makes me want to eat back those inches I worked so hard to lose this last summer? God help me. I'm not a Grizzly Bear going into hibernation for Heaven's sake. I think I need to get a real life. Or my own pool.

At any rate, I've cleaned places that haven't been cleaned in maybe 15 years and I mean a deep down cleaning, not just band-aid cleaning like the housekeeper does once a week. We'd forgotten we even had a wet bar, it's been hidden by *junk* for so long. Honestly, I've scared myself beyond belief this last month as I've attempted to rid us of all this *stuff*. I'm beginning to doubt my own sanity at letting it all get so bad. Of course, blogging hasn't exactly helped.

Being in the same house for 24 years allows one to stuff things in every little nook and cranny, which is, quite honestly, totally nutso. You also tend to forget where you stuffed things in an attempt to make your house look presentable to guests (as long as they don't open any closets or cabinets). You still have to eventually pay the piper and go through all that you hastily hid away, at some point. That time, for me, has come and I'm paying out the wazzoo, trust me. And, I finally parted with my 20 year collection of Martha Stewart Living magazines. How crazy is it that I kept them for so long? Don't answer that, please. My daughter already gave me that oh-yeah-she's-crazy-look and ordered me to get rid of them. I stacked them all by the front door and hubby took them to the recycle bin before I could have a change of heart. I detest my tables in the den but the son has expressed an interest in acquiring them once we move (if we ever move). Hubby just wanted to throw both tables away, so this makes me much happier. I'm tired of living in a *throw-away-world*, even when it isn't good furniture.

In spite of the fact I've been collecting hoarding for many years, somehow my greater common sense kicked in when I realized how badly I want out of this house that's truly meant for a large family, not empty-nesters. I've been cleaning out dust bunnies the size of baseballs, which makes me so completely ashamed of myself and how bad I've let things get. I keep wondering how I could have lost the pride I once had in my home. Oh. That's right. Life kept getting in the way. I was so depressed for a few years, which basically interfered with normal life as I knew it. That has all changed now. I feel like a furniture warrior, whether I am or not (which I highly doubt).

The other day I was trying to figure out what my decorating *style* is. Hmmmm... The conundrum is that my style is basically whatever we inherit from relatives and whatever is cheap enough to get by on until we could afford something better. Thank God the time that we can afford something better has finally arrived. So, I want to take things slowly until I get my decorating footing....

Trixie's Collections (The Pros And Cons Of Selling Collectibles And Small Antiques).... Part Two

Trixie's next most exciting collection was kept in her kitchen. Ahead of her time, she liked to mix patterns of china together for an eclectic look. This is perhaps the reason why her family opted not to take many of the items remaining in the kitchen. To the untrained eye it can often be just too overwhelming. However, being the bulldog that I am (when I choose to be), I persevered.


This woman had the most insane amount of French Limoges patterns that I've ever seen, although never more than a few pieces actually matched. Still, I had to buy The Collector's Encyclopedia of French Limoges by Mary Frank Gaston (THE leading authority on French Limoges) in order to identify the artist and the factory as well as the date each piece was made. So this is what I'll focus on today. Most other people would have tucked tail and split for parts unknown, but not I. I was totally enthralled and I felt very much like Sherlock Holmes in pursuit of Professor Moriarity. The game was always afoot, I assure you.



Some of Trixie's pieces were very old and highly sought after, while others were from the early part of the 20th century, but still very collectible. It was a bit more difficult to identify the exact pattern, as there were just so many made and often, they were made at one factory, then sent to another factory for hand painting or applying transfer ware patterns. There were even many pieces that were made for particular American china companies that were not decorated until arrival at their destination. All of these factors made it difficult, but certainly not impossible, to nail down.




The whole time I was cataloging items, I couldn't help but wonder what fabulous treasures the family had taken. I mean, the things I was seeing were wonderful, so I was convinced that all the family members (including grandchildren) had taken the creme de la creme of Trixie's collections. I was partially right. They did take a lot of the dinner wares and crystal, but they had pretty much left everything else, among which were some of the greatest collectibles I had ever seen. I ended up calling family members numerous times, just to be sure they didn't want these fabulous things I'd discovered. But, no. They had enough and weren't interested in taking on any more. Gah! Why I can't I be like that? Actually, none of them really wanted anything that wasn't a complete (or almost complete) set of anything. If I were in my right mind I guess I wouldn't either. However, I'm not like that and apparently never have been. I have a warped sense of taste, I think. I have a strange affinity for chipped, mismatched china which started long before I ever got to see Trixie's collection.

At one point, I had several sets of pottery and everyday china which had been wedding presents back in 1977. They were all very expensive, highly collectible lines. As the family (as well as the housekeeper) chipped and broke pieces, I decided to sell it all off before the entire sets were broken. I may or may not have regretted this decision, but probably not. In turn, I decided to buy vintage Blue Willow, Pink Willow, and Green Willow, whether chipped or not (as long as it was cheap), to use as our new everyday china.


I figured this way I wouldn't get upset when someone screwed it up. Talk about a lot less stress! It changed my life. I'm. Not. Kidding. As far as everyday china goes, to this day we have the same mismatched Willow pieces with a few English Chippendale pieces  thrown in for good measure. Of course, I have my two sets of formal china but we only ever used the formal dishes once a year, if I'm lucky. Besides, no one is allowed to touch those pieces aside from me. That way, if something gets ruined or broken (which it never has), I'm the only person I can be angry with. That. Is. So. Not. Happening. I'm quite careful, from experience.





Trixie's kitchen was a virtual treasure trove and took me many weeks to catalog. I enjoyed every minute of the chase.




Next time we'll delve into Trixie's other kitchen collectibles. To Be Continued....

What Do You Collect? Part Three Or Whatever Part It Is.... The Fascination Of Spinning Tops

First of all, I thought it best to tell you that you should never attempt to collect anything without the power of knowledge about what it is that you want to collect. Do your homework or you might just end up with a totally worthless collection that you have foolishly invested money in.

I thought that today I'd show you another of my collections. This is my spinning tops collection and I love it. Occasionally, when I'm exceedingly bored (which is almost never) I drag out my basket of spinning tops. My favorite thing to do is to try and get them ALL going at once, which is often quite a feat. Most of the time I can't do it, but just occasionally when I get them each going on the first spin, I can claim victory.

Spinning tops have been a favorite childhood toy in just about every culture on the face of the Earth, being found as far back as 2000 B.C. (although extremely rare to see these days, much less find). And Lord knows I'm still a child at heart. What makes tops interesting to so many is that they behave in ways that our minds tell us they shouldn't, thus defying imagination as well as gravity.

Spinning tops are so intriguing to watch as they dance around surfaces, weaving their way about until they eventually fall on their sides for lack of momentum or hit something, go boom and fall down. It's not difficult to believe that they were once a source of great entertainment. In my opinion, tops remain as enchanting today as they have since their introduction. Okay, fine. I can sit and stare at a roaring fire forever too. I'm simple minded like that.

To make it easier in understanding the wide world of spinning tops, they are generally broken into four categories which are finger tops, supported tops, peg tops and whip tops. The categories are based on how you cause the top to spin. Your method of launch is really what determines the length of time your top spins, but there are many other factors as well, such as torque, momentum, inertia and the nimbleness of your fingers.

A couple of my tops are still in their original packages for selling collecting purposes. The original packaging of an item always increases its value in the world of collectibles. You need to know this if you collect anything relatively new, and it's especially important to know if you collect anything antique. At any rate, many of my tops came in kids' meals from the various fast food chains (that my kids had no interest in), some I had slipped into the kids' stockings at Christmas (which they also had no interest in), while others were party favors for the kids, or given to me as presents. It doesn't matter, really. I love each and every one of them. In my mind's eye, they are each wonderful in their own unique way. Obviously, I'm not too picky.

I have two (spindle) tops that are shaped like little mushrooms called flip over tops (or *topsy-turvy* tops) which, when spun at just the right speed, will flip over to spin on their peg shaped spindle. In other words, they dance around until they flip and then look like tiny dancing mushrooms. I kid you not. They are adorable if and when you can actually get them to spin, because they are not easy to get started into a spin. It actually takes a fair amount of dexterity, which seems to be eluding me these days. (Could this be why it's so difficult for old farts like me? Nah! Well, maybe.)

One top (actually I bought two... just in case), called the Snake & Top (a somewhat *supported* style top) walks up and down alongside the thin little metal snake with the help of a magnetic spindle at the base of the top. Although it isn't as easy as most to get spinning, it really works it once it begins to spin. Another fascination entirely.

Next, I present to you the creme de la creme of tops. The King Kong of all spinning tops. The toughest mother that ever was made in the world of tops. The elusive American Hardwood Throwing Top. (a whip top) This and one other similar one, have stumped me from day one. I'm thinking maybe you need to be a very young boy to pull this one off, but then again, I might be wrong. I think these two are the reason I still occasionally pull out the bowl that houses my tops. It's like I'm being driven to make those two suckers spin sometime before I die.

I also have two delicate little tops that are from Germany and they will spin like crazy with just the right launch (finger spinners). Often times they are the last ones left spinning when all the others have finally come to rest, clearly at the end of their spins. I always like to have little contests to see who can spin the longest. By now you're probably thinking "Oh yeah. She's gone". Perhaps I am, but I've always simply been fascinated with spinning tops. I mean, I can't even stand on one foot without falling immediately over, much less spin like a ballerina. So sure. It definitely grabs my attention.

There is one called the Space Ball Flashing Top that runs the gamut of 32 different effect lights during its spin, that took me a while to figure out because it was made in China, written in English by Chinese workers. Seriously, if they hadn't added a picture to the back of the package I might never have figured it out. But, once you get this dull little guy going, he will rock your world with his light show. I try to not use it much in case there is some kind of battery I might have to replace at some point. I'm pretty sure I bought this one at a place on Galveston Island, the first year our friends had a house there, so it will be a while before this baby is worth more than retail price, but it does have the original packaging. Besides, it's *tres cool* and it mesmerizes me. It's actually more of a friction spinner, which is relatively new to the world of spinning tops.

Oh and let's not forget the ones that have battery free visual effects from their designs, when spun (also finger spinners). I think maybe you could hypnotize someone with these if you needed to. I sure stare at them as if I were in a trance when watching them spin. Two others I have might not immediately appear to be tops but by all rights, they spin on a tiny spindle on the base, so they are technically tops and they will often spin over a minute and a half. That's like a record among my collection of tops, so I guess that makes them the head honchos of the collection.

The absolute smallest top I have was handmade in India, which measures one inch in diameter and one inch in height, from the tip of the bottom spindle to the tip of the top spindle and I adore it. It is very tiny and delicate, yet it has survived this household for the last 20 years. That's no small fete. The prettiest top I have is actually an Easter holiday top that is basically a chicken trapped inside a disc that spins low to the surface and it's really cute even though it won't spin for very long.

And, last but not least, we have the *felt tip* tops (also finger spinners) that when spun, make marks on paper as if they were little tornadoes twisting their images onto the paper. They have little covers on the tips to keep them from drying out but it probably won't last much longer as they are over ten years old.

So, there you have it! Another of my *Ho-Hum* collections. However, my intention was that I might be able to teach you something about the whimsical world of spinning toys, and I sincerely hope that I have. Humans have been and continue to be fascinated by the mystery of tops that spin, often defying gravity, since 2000 B.C. In The Eliad, Homer describes a character who "reels like a top staggering to its last turnings". That  undoubtedly speaks something to me.

I've seen many antique tin and wooden tops but after reaching my highest bid, I was unable to bring myself to bid what it would have taken to acquire them. Luckily, I'm a patient woman. Ultimately, I hope to have brought you closer to a knowledge you didn't previously have about spinning tops. Yes, I'm generous like that. Sometimes.   ;-)

I'm a Collector of Many Things... What Do You Collect?

I'm a collector of many things and I suppose I always will be. I believe that everyone should collect something, no matter what it is, as long as it's something you have a passion for.

My largest collection is probably my collection of antique American Brilliant Period Cut Glass, which was made between 1875 and 1915.

I received my first piece of American Brilliant Period Cut Glass from my mother when I married, who had inherited the piece from her mother. At 25, I wasn't impressed. However, at age 45 I rediscovered the beauty of ABP when I inherited a number of pieces from my mother-in-law, and I've been collecting it ever since. ABP was highly popular among the wealthy, as it wasn't something the common man could afford. Brilliant Period pieces were hand blown and hand cut, but toward the end of this era, labor-saving steps and the onset of WWII resulted in the death of this incredible art. Basically, the owners of the glass houses (where cut glass was made) discovered that they could eliminate the person who did the hand-polishing, with a machine that did the same thing. However, the glass came out a bit more blurry than it would have, had it been hand-polished, and ultimately, it became too expensive & time consuming. There is no way these could be produced today, to be exactly the same.

Baby-Boomers have rediscovered cut glass with the ultimate realization that not only is it part of our own parents heritage, but it could never be made in these times at the prices we pay for these exquisite pieces of art. Since our parents' generation is slowly leaving us, it seems we are striving to preserve some of the beauty produced during their - and their parents' lifetimes.

The cost to make cut glass comparable to ABP would be astronomical in this day and age. The hundreds of patterns made were intricately detailed with the finest craftsmanship available and a high content of lead, unlike pieces made today. It only takes a quick turn of an ABP piece under a light or the sun, to experience the bedazzling qualities each piece possesses. The American Brilliant Period is a moment in our history that can never be repeated, only appreciated by collectors, new and old.

Unfortunately, most people cannot tell the difference between cheap pattern glass and ABP cut glass without a fair amount of study. Personally, I collect specific pieces to several different patterns. So, when I come across pieces in other patterns I offer them to my customers at reasonable and affordable prices.

Often, it takes months of research to finally determine a pattern, while other patterns are quickly identified. If you want to know more about collecting ABP cut glass, then you'll need to do your homework. In my opinion, 'Evers' Standard Cut Glass Guide', Warman's 'American Cut Glass', and 'Collecting American Brilliant Cut Glass' by Bill and Louise Boggess are several of the best guides, because they have precise, clear drawings or pictures of various patterns shown in numerous different pieces, as well as detailed explanations about how it was made. However, there are dozens of other very good guides as well.

So, if you don't collect anything, I suggest you give it a try. It's a wonderful way to preserve the past and make yourself feel good, at the same time. I'll tell you about the other things I collect at a later date. So, what do you collect? If your answer is "nothing", then get out there & start collecting!