Happy Halloween

Wishing you a wonderful Halloween

China, Ebay and Family

I've been busy listing some items on Ebay, I decided to list some of this beautiful Haviland china that I inherited from my dear grandmother. I got it over 40 years ago but have never used it. The kids are not interested in it either.
The set was originally for 12. However, when I got it, many of the pieces were broken. As it was a big set, there are still enough for a service of 8. It includes 8 beautiful dinner plates, a casserole with lid, 6 soup bowls, 4 teacups with saucers, a gravy bowl and 3 platters, increasing in size to a turkey platter. Also 12 butter pats which are darling.
Haviland is one of those china sets that has increased in value over the years while others have declined.
Grandpa and Grandma lived during the Great Depression. Grandma bought this set piece by piece from a neighbor during that time so I'm not sure what the real age is for these.

They are all in beautiful condition. So far I've listed a tea cup and butter pat. So delicate and pretty. Below is one of the butter pats...darling huh? They are only about 2 inches across. I have the pink Depression glass glasses that Grandma teamed with the set but I'm keeping them at this time.

The above vintage photo is of my grandmother...She was German, the daughter of German immigrants. She grew up in Ottumwa, Iowa on a farm outside of town. Her and her siblings went to "English" school during the week, and German school on Saturdays. They were staunch Baptists, attended church and Sunday School.

Here she is with her Sunday school class..pretty lady in the bottom middle. It was a  large class too...

 I was fortunate enough to get a few of these old photos...Grandpa took my mother and I into the basement. He had a trunk full of old photos like this that he went through. Gave us a few of them. We found out later that after he passed..my aunt took the photos and gave them to the thrift shop. Sadness. She thought no one would be interested in them. So happy we got a few anyway.
I am rambling and will post this now...if you are interested in the china....here is the link to my Ebay sales....China Lake Auctions

Applesauce Thoughts

We've both been busy the last few days. We traveled up to apple country and came home with two bushels of apples, Jonagold and Winesap. Yesterday and today we made and canned applesauce. Wow! is it good?! We now have 15 qts and 14 pints of sauce for the winter.
Our weather here in California is getting cooler. We don't have the dramatic change of seasons like you do in other parts of the country but we do have seasons. The days are in the 70s and nights in the low 60s. Later in the winter, it does get down to freezing at night.

We did our voting also. We vote absentee. As Republicans, we know our vote won't count for the most part but will on some of the propositions. Our governor seems to think we will all vote to raise (temporarily, if you can believe that) to help the schools. I've been voting in every election since I was 18 and there is always some proposition that supposedly will save the schools. Its why our state lottery was approved.The lottery was said to save us from ever having to worry about the schools again. How did that work out? Thank you, Governor Brown, but no. Guess I'm just cynical.
I will be glad when this election is over and hopefully we have a new President. We need someone who understands business, and economics. The old President has never really held down a real job and no one on his staff (and I mean no one) has ever had a job in the private sector.  It was especially obvious in the first debate.

I've been working on and off on a cross stitched monkey quilt for Jayden. Hope to get it completed soon.

Nancy Huggins will be binding and finishing it for me so got it get the 12 squares finished. It will have a flannel backing so will be warm and comfy this winter. Its difficult to embroider with the little guy around but it is possible!

I've also started selling on Ebay again! I used to, years ago but took the plunge again this month.  My name on Ebay is ChinaLake Auctions mostly selling things we find at estate sales...I have a beautiful butter dish that we found at an estate sale about a week ago. The lady had been a avid collector of glass....
its such a pretty dish, almost didn't want to part with it!

This sold, thank you!

Inspiring!

  I wanted to share also with you one of my favorite artists,,,this is Jon McNaughton's work...you can find him on Facebook...he's a talented artist as you can see. His work is very inspiring. This work is about the second coming....Every warrior from every time period kneels before Him.

 Jon also has many other subject matters, many political and he also does lovely landscapes.

 Here is the link to his website...McNaughton Fine Art....just looking at the art on his site is like walking through a fine art gallery.

A Wonderful Giveaway!

Brenda from the Rusty Thimble is hosting a wonderful giveaway and I wanted to share this with my readers. There will be 24 winners..yes, 24 winners as 24 different craftspeople have donated wonderful Christmas items for this giveaway....I will post a button on my side bar for this and hope you will sign up.
I can't post all the wonderful things but here are a few...

A Christmas Mouse from Buttermilk Creek Farm

A Rolling Pin Rack from the CrackerJack Kid

and a 

 Primitive Santa Hat from

My Stitches to Treasure..

Please sign up and also on Brenda's blog, The Rusty Thimble..there are links to many of the crafters blogs........