Silver

The side benefits of helping Mama, in addition to the unconditional love she's shown me all of my life...even those two-seconds (hahaha) of teenage rebellion... I brought them home yesterday and polished them today. I know the scalloped spoon is a sugar shell (sugar spoon). But that pretty spoon with the cutwork design. I've got to do a little investigating. Anyone have an idea? Found it! eBay has one up for bid right now. They don't know what it is either...just calling it a spoon. It's going cheap...only $2.95 with $2.85 postage. No bids yet. http://cgi.ebay.com/NATIONAL-DOUBLE-TESTED-SILVERPLATE-SPOON-6-/220663323182?pt=Antiques_Silver&hash=item33608f1a2e

On the other end of the spectrum, I found it here http://www.goantiques.com/detail,vintage-silverplate-berry,1121795.html
for $38.50!!! What a difference in prices!! This site identifies it as a berry spoon.

Then there's this dresser piece. Isn't it just gorgeous and unique?! I have Sam's Aunt Joyce's deco hand mirror. They don't match...but they will compliment each other just fine. Found a photo of it.

None of the items are sterling silver...just silverplate...

Sigh

I thought I was going to have to do a head thump...several times. Mama mentioned hiring someone to clean her floors. I said, "No! I'll be over and do them for you." Sigh.

You will notice that I have not mentioned that four letter word that is longer than four letters...exercise...in a week or so. Due to the quilt retreat in which my 4-Runner had a problem with a tree, then dealing with getting the 4-Runner to the body shop, and lining up a rental...I had not been to the gym but once in ten days. I made it yesterday only to find that I've got to build back up to the 20 minutes on the elliptical. Yesterday I made only 10 minutes on the elliptical, did the arm weight machines, and the full 20 minutes on the exercise bike.

I've decided that I will go to the gym Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Tuesdays are dedicated to Mama. Thursdays to the library and running errands.

Today was the first Tuesday. I changed her sheets...we've got that down pat. Then, she proceeded to tell me how to mop the floor!! **head thump**

Here's the mop.
I can get it Mama, go sit down.
Here's the bucket.
I can get it Mama, go sit down.
Let me move that.
**head thump** No. You go sit down.
Just put that over there.
Okay. Go sit down.
Don't fill the bucket but half full.
**head thump** Yes, ma'am.
Did the water get hot?
Yes.
Oh. I don't pour the cleaner in the bucket.
I do.
She went to the living room to sit down.
And continued to talk...even though I couldn't hear her.
**head thump**

And that's how it went.

Oh, and how I love her!

Flowers and Bushes

Even though it's hot and dry, I still have color in my planting beds out front. I pulled a few of these "weeds" before I realized what they were. I have black sunflower seeds in the bird feeder. This one survived. And it has three more buds ready to open! Here's my Coxcomb (Celosia). My azaleas on one side are so pretty and green. Then...there's these... What is going on here? The 'best' one of these three...and the word 'best' is subjective compared to not the worst...is now turning yellow. I need to soak the ground, then pour on the iron soil acidizer stuff. It won't be today. That half dead azalea is a replacement. So...if all three of these die, I want to dig the soil out and replace it. Sam dug out the red clay and brought soil from the back of the property to build the beds. No telling what the previous owners may have dumped back there...