Author: Rene

My feed had an article on things you should always buy at estate sales. Of course, now I’m reconsidering my sofa decision. My sofa has amazing “bones,” and it probably should be reupholstered. Sigh.

Anyway, #9 on the list gave me hope that my children will have a fine inheritance, and not just because the author and I share the same last name:

9. Dishes, Glasses, and Flatware

You can often find nice collections of vintage and antique dishes, glasses, and flatware that come with a story, and Jenkins recommends you capitalize on them when you see them. “[They’ve] been around for a reason, and [they’re] going to survive,” he says. “I have been encouraging people to not wait until holidays to break out their fine china, but rather to enjoy these beautiful things every day. Why not break those things out and enjoy them now?”

Whew! I have many stories in many different locations and am happy to share them with you. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll resurrect the dishes stored in the basement and find a home for them again. Or maybe the set in the pantry above the plastic ware? I already use the other three sets within my reach.

Yes, my dishes and glassware are a history museum unto themselves. There is plenty of celebration left in them.

Often departures from events or trips end with, “We’ll have to keep in touch.” “You come visit us, you’re always welcome!”

Lovely words, yet rarely do they come to fruition. After our Panama trip I did try to keep in email contact with a couple of new friends. Sometimes when you are the only one initiating you feel like a pest! I still wonder about many of those people.

Last night I dreamt of Turkey in some fashion and our tour guide was there. This morning – no lie – I had a message at the top of my screen encouraging me to say, “hi,” to Orhan on Instagram. ? It was just a suggestion because no one had messaged. So, I sent him a photo of the gorgeous new rug we received yesterday (yes, we caved and bought one) and thanked him again.

My waitress friend, Burku, from one of our restaurants in Turkey, still sends me a weekly email. I am apparently helping her improve her English while I shamefully write back in English. I and “Pusan,” my bus mate, send chats back and forth as she continues to explore the world. One month and I am heartened to receive missives from three Turkish friends. (Pusan, you are now Turkish!)

That led me to think that we should have a national “Reach Out” day. It’s where you intentionally contact someone from a very far distance, either physically or in your past. Reconnect – in a good way. Say, “hi.” Have a fun memory up your sleeve.

That’s the platform I would run on should I be forced into political office. (That and a national “Clean up your yard” Day, with free composting and recycling trucks running 24/7 for a week.)

Enough deep thoughts. More coffee. Peace.

Yesterday I spent 45 minutes waiting in line for the 14 patrons in front of me to mail packages with the one civil servant at the Post Office. Actually, attrition took one out of line before I moved a step. And although two more workers came in, the one initially on duty obviously had to go on break. It was a little like a “Laurel and Hardy” episode, though not everyone was amused.

I met the three people around me and we chatted, even getting one woman to put her phone away and stop her gaming. It was also an opportunity to redesign the facility which is definitely in need of renovation. I’ll be submitting my ideas online with the lovely survey at the end of my receipt. And the three self-service stations I was hoping to employ? They were on strike, also.

I stuck it out, working on my “patience is a virtue” practice. When I left, I gave the longer line the ref’s touchdown call, happy to have chatted amicably with people and have one errand under my belt.

Write to someone today and remember, always use commemorative stamps! (Reminder from the philatelically-inclined)

The pitch clock! Major League Baseball’s big change announcement. I don’t know.

First of all, a baseball game attended in person is great. You get to chat with your friends and not pay any attention at all to the field for most of the game. If you miss something – replay on the big screen! No problem. You get outside, enjoy the sun and fresh air, and might be able to snag a few winks in a slow inning. Of course, the crowning glory is the “Rocky Dog.” One delightful piece of some-meat-with-onions-relish-mustard. You can enjoy your treat and still not miss any action.

Timing the seconds between pitches? This could mean a serious need for attention. The game speeds up? The crowd needs to respond. Dogs are going to be sold early, beer consumed speedily, and neighbors elbowing you to watch that last out.

Personally, I’d still go if my friends and I could play bridge during the game. That was a good double dipping day. Oh. Go, Rockies!

The news feed informed us that some two-dollar bills are worth upwards of $4,500. Check your stash.

This is a public service announcement for all grandchildren of my parents. Every time we would visit my father played what we termed “the two-dollar-bill game.” (Imagination runs rampant in our family.) My father would head to the bank and buy a bunch of bills. Then the guessing game would commence. He’d choose a number from the serial code and each kid had a guess. This went around until a winner was announced. Then he’d start on the next bill until each child had one.

We had a big pile of bills upon his passing. I let my kids save or spend them, so who knows if they have one of extreme value? I’ll tell you one thing though. You can’t look at a two-dollar bill and not think of Grandpa!

Yes, you, too, can create a masterpiece to adorn a lonely corner of your world. (That was a fun little comma experience!) All it takes is a modest inheritance of sewing scissors, gifts of sewing scissors, and your own sewing scissors. Oh – and an old glass pickle jar. It’s an easy Pinterest project.

Next, place this lovely display where your eyes will see it every morning before descending the stairs. Perhaps in your entryway? Maybe on the kitchen counter for a week? The possibilities are endless.

Happy Designing!

Yesterday our furnace took a vacation while we babysat and watched the thermostat drop. This morning we’re experiencing a veritable heatwave set in as temps have already risen from -2 to -1. It’s a bit nippy.

My husband coaxed the old mechanism back to life and we were fine by evening. The sun has returned here, hopefully to shed more warmth on those with and without homes. So here’s a beautiful pic for you – the sun dogs over my brother’s home this morning. He is blessed to live on a lake.

Reminding myself to see the beauty through the cold.

Of course my memory is evolving and most likely devolving as I traipse along through the seasons. It just seems colder this year and I am a little annoyed with the snow still hanging around. Even my trees haven’t budded early as they usually do, only to be walloped by Mother Nature a few times before giving a half-hearted bloom.

Moaning? We have more snow on the way this evening and I am thinking of past visits to Hawaiian warmth. Good thing I have my “babushka” hat, as my spouse has termed it. It is serving its purpose.

Maybe I’ll clean the oven tonight? It’s either that or a dance party. It’s getting desperate!

Avocados. It is impossible to have a dish which previously enjoyed an avocado to come out of the dishwasher clean. You might as well cave and wash it yourself.

Just doing a little clean up from the Sunday night gig. A healthy meal filled with lively banter and cheer. On to another lively week of cleaning!

It did occur to me as I was painting my piano room pink that I was channeling my inner Liberace. I am not a prodigy as he was but I do occasionally enjoy a bit of flamboyancy. I truly loved watching him perform – all that glitz and glam.

My neighbor, “Pann,” visited and viewed the progress and new digs yesterday. Apparently she noticed the nod to Liberace, too, suggesting I need a crystal chandelier to add the perfect touch. “Oh.” I already have a chandelier hanging in the corner.

I think the room was always supposed to be pink.