ANNA PETERS CHINA

This is my small collection of hand painted china by Anna Peters. I have tried to find out something about the talented Ms. Peters, but keep coming to a dead end. Does anyone out there in blog land know anything about her?She is a master at painting realistic roses.

The large blue handled plate with the pale roses belonged to my mother, and I know she had it in the 1940-1950s.


Three of the scalloped plates I purchased in an antique store in the 1970s. The rest of the pieces I have acquired over the years. They are all signed either with "Anna Peters" or just "Peters".




I would love to know more about this talented china painter!!!!

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As you can tell, it never occurred to me to do a Halloween post. I'm just not into Halloween, I guess; as I haven't even bought the candy yet. I better get to Wal-mart. My little goblins will be here in a few hours wondering what Grammy has for them!!! Happy Halloween to all of you, my blogging goblins!!!

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Carrie of Oak Rise Cottage was able to find some information on Ms. Anna R. Peters, the talented china painter of my dishes. Ms. Peters had a china painting studio in Denver, Colorado from 1905 - 1907. RubyLane.com has a couple of her plates for sale - one of the smaller size of Colorado's state flower, the columbine, for $60 and a larger plate of roses similar to mine for $100. WOW! I had no idea my plates could be this old or this expensive. Mine were purchased at bargain prices! I'll certainly be on the lookout for more, now. Thanks, Carrie, for searching out this information for me.

Thanks for stopping by,
Sally

An Award, A Tag and Potholders

Sheila at Note Songs, in all of her diva-ness has bestowed upon me this award. I'm truly honored, Sheila, to accept this from you. You were the very first commenter on my very first post!!! Thank you for being such a faithful blogging sister!

Brettinsky at The Hostess with the Mostess has also given me this award. She is a young blogger with amazing organizational skills. Check out her blog for some great tips.

Along with the award came the tag to list six things I value and six things that I don't value. So here goes:

Things I value:

1. My relationship with God.

2. My family - 50 wonderful years of marriage to Bob with 2 great all grown up kids, Mike and Jenni, and of course, 2 of the most adorable grand kids in this universe, Caitlin and Wyatt.

3. My home.

4. Education and a thirst for knowledge.

5. Is it o.k. to value my dishes?? To me, they are a symbol of hospitality to others and a link to my ancestors.

6. The opportunities provided by this country and our freedom.

Things I don't value:

1. Abuse to anyone or anything in any manner.

2. People that are so wrapped up in themselves that you can't get a word in a conversation.

3. Brussel sprouts

4. Constantly whiny and grouchy people - at least pretend to be happy for the sake of others. Solve your problems and get on with it!

5. The current political climate - Didn't the candidates learn in kindergarten to work together to solve problems and that it wasn't nice to say nasty things about someone else????

6. Did I mention Brussel sprouts?

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I'm making potholders again from the paper pieced patterns of Irene Berry, an editor at Quilter's Newsletter Magazine.

This time they are for the birthday of my bird-watching friend, Jan.

First, a blue bird!

Then, a robin red breast!


If you are a quilter, please check out Quilter's Newsletter Magazine for wonderful projects.

Thanks for stopping by,
Sally

RECIPE PARTY BY SANTAMAKER!

A SANTAMAKER'S JOURNEY is hosting a party Monday showcasing simple go-to recipes. Please check her blog out for a list of those participating. Look at her previous posts, also, as she is an amazing talent with a beautiful home!!!

A simple, go-to recipe for me almost always involves the crock-pot. The following recipe is good for when I'm gone all afternoon, and we are going to need a quick supper. The grandkids love this on a bun for lunch, also. PLUS, it is good to take to a potluck or serve on a buffet table as an appetizer.

BBQ SMOKED SAUSAGE

Cut smoked sausage or kielbasa into 1" pieces to serve at a potluck or as an appetizer. Cut into 4" pieces to serve on a bun.

Mix together for a BBQ sauce:

1/2 cup catsup

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 tablespoon soy sauce

Put sausage into crock pot; add sauce over sausage and cook on low for 4 hours.

And what is a post without a picture!! Here I am in 1958 as a 19-year old new bride. I knew nothing about cooking; but look out June Cleaver, here I come with my house dress and apron.

And look at those shiny, new pans and utensils!

Thanks for stopping by,

Sally

A RECIPE AND "WORDS FROM MY SOAPBOX"

Do you have a surplus of green tomatoes in your garden?If you like fried green tomatoes, you'll like this casserole!

This is what you need:

3 cups of coarse bread crumbs (I make my own out of leftover ends of various breads)

1 tablespoon sugar (either white or brown)

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

4-5 medium green tomatoes, cut into 1/4 inch slices

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

2 tablespoons butter, broken into pieces

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a 6-cup casserole. Combine sugar, salt and pepper in a small bowl.

Arrange 1/3 of the tomato slices in the bottom of dish. Sprinkle 1/3 of the sugar mixture, 1/3 of the breadcrumbs and 1/3 of the cheese over the tomatoes in a layer.

Repeat with a second layer of tomatoes, sugar mixture, bread crumbs, and cheese.

For a third layer, add remaining tomatoes, sugar mixture and bread crumbs.

Dot with butter.

Cover casserole and bake 1 hour. Uncover and sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Bake 5 minutes longer. Remove from oven and let stand 15 minutes before serving.


Makes a good side dish to enjoy with meat.






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That's the recipe, now for some "Words from my Soapbox!!"


Please refer to my previous post about learning to read with Dick and Jane.


I am so amazed when I go into a first grade classroom today. It is as different as night and day from my experiences as a first grader. Even the physical aspect of the room is different. It seems so dark, the ceilings are low, and the room appears so crowded. Some kids are seated at round tables in a social enclave with their backs to the teacher, and some are lounging on the carpeted floors. The room is filled with interest centers where you can feed the fish, pet the gerbil, play house, finger paint, play on the computer, etc. etc. There are educational toys and games, lots of books, art projects hanging from the ceiling, bulletin boards loaded with calendars, pictures, and learning aids. There are jars of reward candy; sometimes even breakfast is being served. There are literacy aides helping kids, with other children going in and out of the classroom to other special classes. I've seen coffee pots, microwaves, refrigerators plus CD players and lights that can be dimmed for atmosphere in the classroom.


Oh my!!!! Even though I am an adult, I sometimes feel overwhelmed and unable to focus in this situation. Do the kids feel that way, too, I wonder?


In spite of all of these resources and the fact that the majority have been to preschool and kindergarten; there are too many children who are unable to read and are lacking any self-discipline. I know all too well that the schools are not solely the problem or the solution. I'm well aware of what teachers are faced with today, as my son is a high school teacher and my husband substitute teaches in the elementary schools. Discussion at our dinner table is often about this subject and the huge numbers of emotionally-needy kids out there. My hope is that every child can experience a joyful thirst for knowledge followed by the inner reward of learning. But, it appears to me that this is becoming a rare thought process in the children of the 21st century.


I certainly don't have the answer; I'm not even sure of the question!! Any comments?



Thanks for stopping by,


Sally

DICK AND JANE (PLUS SALLY)

I learned to read from the series of books entitled "Dick and Jane". Educators, writers, illustrators and editors produced these books that taught millions of children to read from 1930 through 1960.

Dick and Jane (plus others including little sister, Sally) lived in a wonderful world where the fun never stopped. For those of us that were depression or World War II children, it was perhaps a fantasy world; but one that we could aspire to live in to achieve the American dream.

Below are three original pages from Dick and Jane that I have found over the years. The first one is 16" x 20" and is from a teacher's table display.
"Mother Makes Something" is from one of the student books.

And my favorite: Sally CAN work!!!!



I remember how exciting it was to learn to read, and how proud I was that one of the characters in the books shared my name.

Even though my mother read constantly, my first real reading experience began with my first grade teacher, Miss LaShier. She was the same first grade teacher in the same classroom that my father experienced, and she was very knowledgeable about first graders. Some of us were still only five years old, and the room seemed huge to us with 33 wooden desks in rows and columns all facing Miss LaShier's desk. There were six large windows letting in lots of light and a third wall with a blackboard.

We knew from day one that we were there for one purpose and that was to learn to read, write, and do math. That was our job, and there was no messing around. Miss LaShier had on her desk a wooden ruler that we knew was not for a mathematical exercise. I never knew her to use it on a child, but we knew that we were responsible for the consequences of our actions. Even with all of this seriousness, it was fun to be at school.

We soon learned that acquiring knowledge and learning to read was a reward in of itself! Our deviation from the rows and columns of our desks in the classroom was to circle up on little wooden chairs while Miss LaShier read to us each day from Dick and Jane, other story books and even the encyclopedia. She instilled in us the desire for knowledge about the world beyond our door through reading.

Here is a picture of my first grade class minus one (I got angry with one boy and cut his picture out. I regret that, now!). We all came from different backgrounds; for some English was a second language; some had ribbons in their hair while some felt fortunate to have shoes on their feet; and none of us had been to preschool or kindergarten. That was not an option in 1944.

Miss LaShier managed with the help of Dick and Jane to teach all 33 of us to read during that first year of school. I graduated from high school with almost all of those same kids; and we all continued to read, learn, and excel in school and beyond.

Thank you Dick, Jane, and Miss LaShier. (Oh yes, and Sally, too)

Thanks for stopping by,

Sally

COMPUTER ROOM MESS!!!

Yesterday I was madly cleaning house, when my husband, Bob, said don't bother with the computer room as I'm ready to start work in there!!! We always have a list going of upcoming projects; one of which has been the computer room. It has been neglected and not painted for 10 years. Bob loves a project and always has to have one going, but I let him set his own schedule. So, when he says go, I go with it!!!!!

The first two pictures were yesterday - he was moving right along removing wallpaper, and dismantling the bookcases.

Now today, he started to put up the new crown molding!!!
I'm excited; but look at the computer all squashed up with a mess of wires!!!

The point of this post is that as fast as he is moving, at anytime I may not be able to access the computer. Therefore, I may be a bad blogger for a few days. I do have some posts prescheduled. Just bear with us as we are going to paint the bookcases, etc. etc. in addition to the crown molding and new paint on the walls. Hopefully, I'll have a refreshed room to blog about when we are done.

Till then,

Sally

TABLESCAPE TUESDAY

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch is hosting Tablescape Tuesday once again. Please check out her wonderful blog for a list of those participating with beautiful tablescapes!!

In my family, these dishes are known as "The Oyster Dishes". My great grandfather's birthday was on New Years Eve, and my great grandmother always had friends in to celebrate by serving my grandfather's favorite - raw oysters, sandwiches, fruit and cake. She always served this meal using this set of Royal Rudolstadt from Prussia. They are hand painted and signed by F. Hahn. The sterling silver flatware was also theirs, monogrammed with their last initial of "D".

We aren't that fond of raw oysters, so the covered dish is used for soup with sandwiches, fruit, and cake for a buffet lunch.


My monogrammed napkins were a gift from a friend.

The peanut butter frosting recipe is from Dot at Picket's Place.

Instead of Dot's yellow cake, I made a chocolate cake with the peanut butter frosting. It is yummy - just like a giant Reese's peanut butter cup!!!

The crocheted tablecloth was made by my grandmother for our wedding 50 years ago.

As you can see, I'm very fortunate to come from a long line of dish collectors. Being the oldest grand daughter on both sides of my family, I have inherited some wonderful things.

And now, I just can't help it - it's in my genes - I have to collect more dishes!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Sally

BLUE MONDAY

Sally at Smiling Sally is once again hosting Blue Monday. Check out her blog for a list of participants with fabulous blue posts!

These pictures were taken on a beautiful day in Southwest Harbor, Maine in May 2008.

Does blue get any more blue than this?????

Thanks for stopping by,

Sally

HALLOWEEN AND BIRTHDAY FUN

The October issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine had some cute ideas for decorating Halloween cupcakes. Our October birthday girl loves Halloween, so I had the grand kids come over to try their hand at decorating cupcakes before her family birthday dinner at our house.

Ours were not necessarily magazine worthy, but we sure had fun!!!

Call the KITCHEN POLICE! Someone is licking their fingers.


Oh no, the KITCHEN POLICE are coming again. We can't find a ponytail holder anywhere to control that hair!!

Grammy is still looking for a ponytail holder, while Caitlin is making a bat from a chocolate cookie.



Thanks goodness, Grammy at least found a barrette. Caitlin is writing on tombstones!!




Ghosts and skeletons.




Witches and gremlins with a couple of candles thrown in for the birthday girl!





Thanks for joining in our fun,





Grammy, Caitlin and Wyatt

STYLE AND STUFF

Her name is Edith. She was the mother of one of our childhood friends and happened to be the daughter of the doctor that delivered me.

She was the first person in my life other than my mother that I realized had personal STYLE.

I can think of any number of beautiful homes where they lived in our small town, as she loved to move and she loved to decorate.

She had wonderful things like art, dishes, and antique furniture in her house; but it was a home foremost for a family where you always felt comfortable.

She was gracious in every way!

Her only child, our friend, was killed in an automobile accident when we were in our early 30s. He was not married and had no children. Edith was naturally devastated; I don't think she ever fully recovered.

Soon after he died, she called to say she had a couple of things that she wanted me to have, then pass on to my children someday.

She gave me this beautiful Victorian fruit dish that had belonged to her father, the doctor.

And, she also gave me this tablecloth from her youth.

She said her mother always used it for Christmas morning breakfast, as the design reminded them of Santa Claus!

In the 1990s, I was visiting with Edith at a party at my parent's house. We were standing near my mother's china cabinet, where this plate was prominently displayed.


Edith said, "You know, I gave your mother that plate when you were all babies and we were young with our future ahead of us. It makes me feel good that she has cherished it all of these years."



Edith is almost 100 years old now, quite fragile, and in a nursing home. Remaining with me are three beautiful items that have passed through many hands. I know that in the end, things are just things; however, the memories they raise and the emotions they evoke are PRICELESS.



Thanks for stopping by,

Sally

Blue Monday

Sally at Smiling Sally is hosting Blue Monday! Please check her blog for a list of all of those participating.

For twenty years, I was a full-time quiltmaker designing and making quilts for publication in magazines and books. This particular BLUE quilt entitled "Bountiful Baskets" was in a book I wrote called "Traditional Two Block Quilts".

It is cold and dreary in Colorado today, a perfect day to snuggle up in a quilt!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Sally

PUMPKINS DON'T GROW ON TREES, OR DO THEY?

We went to our local garden center to buy some pansies to plant, and discovered they had decorated two evergreen trees for Halloween. I thought you might enjoy seeing them!! The first tree was decorated with pumpkins, scarecrows, sun flowers, and gourds in baskets.

The second tree had a ghost and witch theme.

A witches hat as a tree topper!!

What will they think of next?

Thanks for stopping by,

Sally