Red dinnerware

... is almost impossible to find. At least red dinnerware that "I" like.

Maybe I'm just too picky, or maybe I'm too cheap (or maybe both).

I painted my kitchen last year - a light minty green. Chose the color to go with a red garbage can I bought. Added more red accessories and love my red & light green kitchen.

I've had the same dinnerware for a hundred years - Pfalzgraff "Village" - and I have enough of it to feed Guntersville. But, I'm sick of it - and it does nothing for my lovely kitchen.

My DIL gave me two really pretty little bowls from a set of dinnerware at Kohls. I love them. However, the dinnerware itself is a bit pricy (for my budget) and the plates are those huge new ones that won't fit in my dishwasher. Why do they make plates too big to fit in dishwashers? Obviously a man designed that.

So, I thought - I'll get a solid red and get some of the little bowls as accents. Not nearly as easy as it sounds. I haven't found a red that I can afford and like at the same time.

I found a set at WalMart that I could live with, though the red is a bit darker. There's also a green - which is also a big darker, but they would probably work. However, the plates are square - and I'm not a big fan of square plates.

We visited "Old Time Pottery" in Madison today - thinking they might have something red, and I actually found a starter set that I liked and was willing to pay for. However, they only had ONE, and service for four at my house just doesn't cut it.

I've wasted waay too much time searching online. Found the pottery set online, but shipping was as much as the dinnerware - so not going there.

I'm frustrated!

Family is home....

.... and I missed them.

I'd definitely gotten used to living alone before they came, but with 4 our of 5 gone for several days (and the one left home is the quiet one), I missed them. I wasn't lonely - I'm fine alone - but I did miss them.

Off to work today - nothing exciting happening.

I don't eat enough...

....at least that's what my grandson thinks.

My son & his family are staying with me till they can get their house situated.

Son, his wife, oldest grandson and granddaughter are at a Pastor's conference (they've been gone since early Monday morning). Middle son (15) is home with me since he has both football and basketball practice.

He just decided I haven't been eating enough in his parents absence and he's very concerned about me.

Now, I've lived alone since my DH died in 2005. I've taken care of myself, survived breast cancer and fed myself. I haven't always eaten on a regular schedule and almost never cook anymore (did I mention, I hate to cook). However, I've managed so far. But, he's concerned that I haven't had enough protein (and I probably haven't, but I'm not telling him that).

I suspect his mother (my sweet DIL) told him to keep an eye on me and make sure I eat enough as she's always concerned about my eating habits.

It's really sweet that he's concerned. He offered to cook me some eggs so I could have protein. I don't really want eggs, I don't really want food right now.

I do appreciate his concern, but I've decided my kids and grandkids are getting awfully pushy in my old age.

It's Monday

.... and I had a lovely Independance Day Holiday weekend.

My oldest son came down from St. Louis and spent 3 days with me - mostly working outside (I usually have a list for him), but visiting a bit more since he had a brother and two nephews who could help with the big outside projects.

They got a bunch of fence taken up that I wanted gone, and the gutters cleaned trash and little trees that were growing there.

Unfortunately his family didn't get to come this time - short trip and grandson was headed to scout camp on Sunday.

DIL who's living here cooked us a great Independance Day dinner (with the help of oldest grandson). Fried fish, hush puppies, french fries, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocados. I ate waay too much.

One son and granddaughter went down the mountain to see fireworks on the lake. I stayed home and visited with out of town son.

She was going to fix blackberry cobbler for dessert but we were all way too full, so she made it yesterday afternoon instead. Hot from the oven, topped with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream. It just doesn't get any better than that.

The only thing that would have made the weekend any better would have been having the balance of my family here - but I just appreciate those that were here.

Happy Birthday America

I woke up this morning thinking of all the things we have to be thankful for in America. Yeah - we moan and groan and complain - but in reality, we have it pretty good.

That said - we should never take our freedoms for granted. We've lost many of of our freedoms - and probably will lose more as our country caters to the minority instead of the majority.

Another good reminder - our great country was founded on Christian principals and our forefathers weren't ashamed to be known to be Christians. I hope I can follow their example.

Such a small world we live in

... and it shrinks every day.

I've been online friends with a sweet lady in England (Jayne)for a good number of years. She sells lovely vintage type stuff online shop. A couple of days ago she posted on her blog about selling a selection of vintage china cups & saucers to a lady in the USA as she was planning a tea party for her sweet daughter's 3rd birthday. The nice lady (Tammy) had sent Jayne some photos and given her permission to post them on her blog.

I read Jayne's blog faithfully so I saw the absolutely adorable photos of a little girl's dress up tea party, and posted a comment.

Now, this tea party reminded me of little girls of long ago - you need to go and see the photos if you haven't already - and those little girls look like they're having so much fun.

Okay, I'm finally getting to the reason for it being such a small world. I got an email from Tammy this morning (she saw my comment on Jayne's blog) and she (Tammy) only lives about 40 miles from me (here in north Alabama) and her parents (he was the butler) are only about 30 miles.

She said the girls had a great time and particularly seemed to enjoy being waited on by a grown up butler (Tammy's step-dad who also had a great time), and stayed at the tables longer than expected.

Yes, it IS a small world!!!

Strange day...

... or it seems so anyway. I'm used to going to work on most Wednesdays and while I have PLENTY to do around here, I've kinda been at loose ends because my week is now totally different.

Not complaining - it's been kinda nice getting caught up on some 'desk stuff' and doing some online researching that I've been wanting to do. It's just strange for me.

Ariel seems to be feeling better - enough to complain about being bored. Her Dad told her she should have been sick when he was a little boy - 3 snowy TV channels with soap operas in the afternoon and poor quality AC. Then he said she was really lucky she wasn't sick when Gram (that's me) was a little girl - we just lay in the bed and sweated (actually, that's a pretty close description). Ariel wasn't impressed.

I'm still having a bit of a sore throat, though it may well be sinus. I'm taking the preventive meds and staying away from the rest of the family.