A Visit With Aunt Lou

Linda, Nancy and I took off yesterday to visit Aunt Lou, who is in the hospital with pneumonia.  She was in terrible shape over the weekend but she's doing SOOOOO much better now.  She looked great.  She sounded great.  She was surprisingly energetic.  OMG, we love her - she's always such a fun person.  She's one of those people that if you are around her, you know you'll be do a lot of laughing... even in a hospital!

We stayed far too long, but she was so perky and we were all having so much fun that we just stayed and stayed.  By the end, I was getting concerned.  I kept thinking about Rudy and how when people visited, he looked great, but then once everyone was gone, he'd feel terrible.  Once I got that thought into my head, I kept trying to herd everyone out.  I hope Lou didn't think I didn't want to stay for any other reason.  I want to see her well so we can all get together for the lunch we're starting to plan with more of the family.  We call these lunches mini-reunions.

On a funnier note, anytime Nancy, Linda and I are together, there will be some craziness.  For those who don't know, Nancy and Linda are my sisters-in-law.  Now, Nancy and Linda would prefer that I keep our latest adventure on the QT because their daughters, Denise and Carly, will raz them a bit, but that's not stopping me.  I know that when it's our time, our eulogies will contain references to the many times we've messed up.  Some of the stories are legendary in the family.  I am no longer embarrassed.  I found that once I accepted being nuts, I was able to relax and enjoy the adventure.

So, we got in Nancy's truck and headed North.  That's how many of the adventures begin.  Our destination was Gwinett Medical Center, which I'll refer to as GMC from here on).  Mike had given us good directions.  We made it there just fine and were please to be there.

We went in, marched over to the reception desk to state our business and verify the room number.  We were at the wrong hospital.  It was within the same system - see that little heart-like design on the building?  We'll see that symbol a couple more times.  So the ladies at the desk gave us directions to GMC.

I don't know why I decided to capture the parking lot scene, but I had a feeling there was a story in it.

So, back on the road again.

Luckily our destination was supposed to be close.  We'd been told to stay on hwy 120.  We couldn't miss it.

We stayed on 120.  I confirmed every step with Google Maps, which told me we were at GMC at our next stop.  We weren't.  We were at their rehab center.

We knew this wasn't right.  Linda and I marched in.  There was no reception desk, so we went to the first place we saw - a nurses station and I said (a little too strongly), "HELP!"  That probably isn't the best thing to say when walking into a medical facility when you only need directions.

Turns out we were close.  We needed to make a little turn and continue on a mile or two.

Back on the road again.  As I clicked this time, Linda and Nancy became more suspicious of my intent.

I'm happy to say, we finally made our destination and all was well from this point on, until...

On the way home, we hit a good bit of traffic.  There were lots of fender benders along the way.  We called the hero guys to help a motorist who was trying to push his car in the center lane of the expressway.  We played dodge car a bit, especially trying to get out of the HOV lane for passing emergency vehicles.  One of the funniest moments, which I'll leave to your imagination, involved the question, "Is this a lane?"

So here's the my take on this day.  To many, the whole arriving and departing craziness would be dreadful and exhausting and negative.  I disagree.  It's a big part of the adventure.  I had a wonderful time!

One more little thing... once I got back to Linda's, she showed me a family photo our cousin, Darlene, had given her.  Margaret Mitchell is in the photo!!!  MM was writing a story about the family.  MM is the one in dark clothes with a big black hat.  She's at the left end of the second standing row from the bottom.  There's a girl in mostly white standing right in front of her.  The photo is framed and behind glass, so my photo isn't great.  I think Linda said the photo is from the 1920's.  I'll put this photo on Facebook and hopefully, Linda and Darlene and anyone who knows will tag people they can identify.

OH MY! Lorene sent me THIS LINK.
It's a great excerpt from the article Margaret Mitchell wrote about this event (celebrating Virginia Elizabeth Veal's 102nd birthday). What a treasure!!!

Showing Old Dishes a Little Respect

Peter Walsh says you should only keep what you use and love. If something is tucked away in a box, it's not being honored. It's downright disrespectful!

Peter would blow a gasket if he saw the box of china my grandmother gave me. The china has been in a dusty box in the attic at my old house for years. I hated the pull down steps to our attic - I was sure I would be found one day in a heap at the bottom. My solution? Avoid the attic. Anything that went up there was in danger of being forgotten.

When we moved everything came out of the attic and is now in my new attic, which I can easily get to by going up our nice stairway. As I clean out the boxes up there I am finding all sorts of things that have been forgotten, including the dishes my grandmother gave me.

I have used plain white Corning dishes for years. They seemed safe. I never get upset when one of them is broken - which doesn't happen often. They match everything. But I am wondering, why use those when I have china? Who am I saving the china for? When I kick the bucket, they will likely be taken to Goodwill. Starting today, we will be using those dishes!

The pattern is not one that I was crazy about years ago when they were given to me. But I must say, they are growing on me. I have a decent number of pieces -

7 dinner plates
8 dessert plates
8 saucers
7 cups
2 serving bowls
1 platter

I have tried to find out more about them. I know they were produced from 1952 to 1957. They were designed by Russel Wright for Iroquois. They are part of the Interplay line and considered Mid-Century Modern. For awhile there was debate about the designer - there were 3 people in the debate, but apparently the debate is over. It was Wright.


In a 1952 ad for the line, it's said to be "a translucent fine china so rugged... so downright tough... it shrugs almost any kind of abuse. And here, for all it's suave beauty is a china you can cook in... roast, bake, or broil... serve in a step from oven to table."

There were 3 patterns to choose from in this set. I could find the names of two of them - Fleur De Lis and Arabesque. Wouldn't you know it? The one I can't find a name for is the one I have. Even Replacements, LTD just calls this pattern IRO36.
I sure would like to find out more.

New "Vintage" Kitchen Curtains

I had some very old fabric that came from my grandmother. I've had it for years and knew that I'd use it one day. Today was the day!

I had about 8 yards, but it was only around 35 inches wide. When I first saw this fabric, it didn't impress me. I loved the vintage look, but I wasn't crazy about it. Now, for some unknown reason, I really like it. It certainly looks good with my ironing board cover!


The fabric is Country Lane by Waverly. I have no idea how old it might be. I googled it and came up with nothing.

I decided on just a plain valance. This window faces east. I wanted the valance to be long enough to block with early morning (blinding) sun as it comes up over the trees. Here's the end result:

I love changing the items on the window sill. The sill is about 6 inches deep so it's easy to find things that will work. What's there now is the best I've got on hand for Fall. I'm watching for better pieces. Christmas is so close and I have a good many pieces that will look great with the curtains.

When we first moved in (almost a year ago!) I thought I didn't want any curtains on this window. I certainly exercised my prerogative to change my mind! It looks so much cozier.

Here are a few other kitchen sink areas I'm crazy about -
This is the kitchen of Tina Smith at Cherry Hill Cottage. Her sink and the curtain under the sink are so fabulous I nearly swoon every time I see it! The Eat Cake sign above the window is wonderful, too, and very fitting since Tina is always cooking up something wonderful.

This kitchen belongs to the people who own the Fresh Produce t-shirt company. It's in their beach house in California. I saw the article on their home on the Coastal Living website. Apparently, the article is no longer there. I love the bright green vintage-look counter top.

The photos below are more kitchens I love. Unfortunately, I no longer remember where the photos came from. I will try to find out and will update this page if I have any luck.