One last goodbye...

A sampling of those from 2008 who, as my brother likes to say, "won't be down for breakfast."

Presents

Here's a couple of things I got for Christmas: some Christmas candles (which brings my Xmas candle collection to 896) and a Garmin! I'm not the easiest person to buy for, but I was happy with these.

Fiesta in Beckley

I was in Beckley, West Virginia this past Saturday and came across two stores which carried new Fiesta. These first two pictures come from Elder Beerman. The first shows their display of chocolate along with ivory, scarlet, and shamrock. There are a few pieces of peacock and tangerine in the background. The second picture is of Fiesta displayed just around the corner from the first. It doesn't look to hot, but the entire store in general was a disaster from the after Christmas shoppers. I wish I'd gotten a picture of the Genuine Fiesta Dog and Genuine Fiesta Cat bowls that were in shamrock and tangerine. I would have gotten them had they not been so expensive.

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This last picture is from the Belk store in Beckley, WV. Not too much variety, but at least it was displayed much better than the Belk stores here in Alabama.

Gratuitous dog pic

Emmie protecting her interests.

Sunday dish

Contemporary Fiesta: center; serving bowl in the newest color, chocolate. Disc pitchers, left to right; heather, peacock, lilac, Front; Individual oval casseroles in scarlet and cobalt.

Just sayin'

Still away from home and won't be back for another day or so. I'm in a part of the world where there is NO fast connection to the Internet.

If I were told I had to live with dial-up the rest of my life, I think I'd rather do without the computer all together!

Goodbye, Eartha

Eartha Kitt (Jan 17, 1927 – Dec 25, 2008)

Actress. Singer. BEST catwoman.

Eartha Kitt on IMDb
Eartha Kitt on wiki

Let Katie show you how to make an ornament!

Happy holidays

I will be leaving in the morning for a few days. For the past several years, I've spent Christmas at Randy's parents' house. Each year I make something and this year I decided to make three kinds of fudge; chocolate, white chocolate, and butterscotch. They turned out all right. Actually, this is the easiest fudge recipe I know. I can't think how anyone could mess it up.

one stick of butter
one can of evaporated milk
three cups of sugar
one 10 oz bag of small marshmallows
one bag of chocolate chips (or whatever flavor)
one tablespoon of vanilla

Heat the butter, milk, and sugar. Constantly stir and bring to a soft ball stage. Pour in the marshmallows, chips and vanilla. Stir until everything is melted. Pour into a greased pan. Allow to cool for about two to three hours. Remove and cut into squares. Easy!

Project Candolier

1. Find an old Christmas candolier. I got this one at a Salvation Army store for $0.59.

2. Tape off the openings and spray any color. Make sure to use a spray paint made especially for plastic.

3. Tape off the candles to spray the base a contrasting color.

4. Spray base then remove the tape from the candles.

5. Highlight the raised dripping wax features with a lighter shade of the candle color. For this particular example, I mixed the two colors together to get a light blue.

6. Tape the openings again and spray with a polyurethane. While it is still tacky, sprinkle glitter all over.

7. Add bulbs.


Now you're ready for Christmas!

Sunday dish

From left to right: Fiesta sweets compote in turquoise, egg cup in old ivory, 12-inch vase in light green, #1 mixing bowl in red, and #4 mixing bowl in yellow.

Christmas meme

via Ms. Val's Blog...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Never, ever gift bags. I feel the same way about gift bags as Joan Crawford feels about wire hangers.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. I don't have the patience to properly prune/shape a real tree.

3. When do you put up the tree? Last week of September.

4. When do you take the tree down? First week of January.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My dog, Peppy.

7. Hardest person to buy for? I never have a hard time shopping for anyone.

8. Easiest person to buy for? There are several. I'll just say it is easier to shop for women than men.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes; two.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail! (Email cards = gift bags = wire hangers)

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Clothes. I always get clothes that I would never buy for myself and never wear.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Charlie Brown Christmas Special. Does that count as a movie???

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I shop all year round and only buy things on sale. The bulk of my shopping is done by August.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Anything with sugar.

16. Lights on the tree? Yes.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Anything by Rosemary Clooney

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Yes.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Where I go we do it in the morning, but I prefer Xmas Eve.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Fanatical "Keep Christ in Christmas" people.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Shiny Bright ornaments from the 1950s and 60s.

24. Favorite Christmas dinner? Deep fried turkey.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A garbage disposal for the kitchen sink.

Two of my favorite old photos...

My grandma, Garnett, is on the bottom, far right. The others are her sisters Ruby, Eleanor, Opal, and Mary. I'm guessing this was taken in the very late 1920s to early 1930s.


My mom with her parents, Garnett and Ches.

Goodbye, Majel

Majel Barrett (Feb 23, 1932 – Dec 18, 2008)

"First Lady of Star Trek", Gene Roddenberry's wife, Actress

LINKS:
Majel Barrett on wiki
Majel Barrett on IMDb

Fiesta at Belk, part 2

I stopped at Belk to see if they had any new Fiesta (this is not the same one from several weeks ago). They had a pretty good selection of Fiesta and it was arranged much nicer than my local Belk, however, neither store has chocolate Fiesta just yet.

Memorial Highway

I took these back in November at a rest stop on I-65 at the Alabama/Tennessee border. It is part of the Blue Star Memorial Highways and has several memorials and a Saturn rocket.

The first two pictures are of a Saturn IB Launch Vehicle. A plaque at the base reads: Developed by the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama and Associated Contractors. Erected by the citizens of Alabama as a tribute to the men and women who made it possible for this nation to explore space for peaceful purposes. Through the cooperation of National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama Space and Rocket Center. State of Alabama. July, 1979.


Saturn IB Launch Vehicle


Saturn IB Launch Vehicle


The Alabama Vietnam War Memorial


The Alabama Korean War Memorial

Well, duh!

I took this picture at the hotel we recently stayed at in Kentucky. I can't believe people are so stupid they need to be told it's not a good idea to hang things from a sprinkler head!

The King

There's a new Tuesday Morning store that opened down the road. I have an aunt who LOVES TM's, but I've never liked them. Supposedly you can get great buys there, but I've yet to walk away with any kind of deal (unless it was Christmas decorations in June). I spotted these Elvis toby-like mugs and thought they would be fun to give as presents. I figured they'd be $20.00 each at the most. Wrong. $99.99. I have a feeling they're going to sit on the shelves for a long time.

Sunday dish

Fiesta Ironstone platter in Antique Gold glaze. I have several pieces of Fiesta Ironstone in the original packaging like this, but this is the first one I've come across where the term Ironstone isn't used.

I love Bea

Goodbye, Van

Van Johnson (Aug 25, 1916 - Dec 12, 2008)

Actor.

LINKS:
Van Johnson on wiki
Van Johnson on IMDb

Goodbye, Bettie

Bettie Page (Apr 22, 1923 - Dec 11, 2008)

Model. Playboy Playmate.

LINKS:
Bettie Page on wiki
Bettie Page on IMDb

Computer voice

On July, 23 of this year, I posted this regarding Majel Barrett:

Considering the First Lady of Star Trek, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, is the only actor to participate in all six Star Trek TV series, both the TOS and TNG film series, and even the animated series, it would be a crying shame if she were not asked to do something for the upcoming Star Trek flick.

TrekMovie.com reported yesterday she will be doing the computer voice of the Enterprise in the new Star Trek movie. Full story here.

New camera

I got a Casio Exilim digital camera for Christmas so I've been trying it out...

All those dishes...

Thousands of pieces of new Fiesta. These large bins were sitting outside the factory when I visited in October. They were leftovers from the recent tent sale and were pushed together to go back into the warehouse.

Goodbye, Robert

Robert Prosky (Dec 13, 1930 - Dec 8, 2008)

Actor. Hill Street Blues, Veronica's Closet.

LINKS:
Robert Prosky on IMDb
Robert Prosky on wiki

Quesadilla cooker

I usually don't go for these gadgets which promise to make life easier, but I have to admit, the quesadilla maker is worth its weight in gold. This is a Christmas present from mom this year and so far I've used it five times. I used to make quesadillas in the oven and bake them and I've tried them in a skillet before. This is by far the easiest way to cook them.

Sunday dish

Fiesta comport in old ivory and bulb candlesticks in red

Goodbye, Beverly and Nina

Beverly Garland (Oct 17, 1926 - Dec 6, 2008)

Actress. Shown here with Fred MacMurray from My Three Sons.

LINKS:
Beverly Garland on IMDb
Beverly Garland on wiki



Nina Foch (April 20, 1924 - Dec 5, 2008)

Actress. Shown here from 1952's An American in Paris.

LINKS:
Nina Foch on IMDb
Nina Foch on wiki

Goodbye, Paul

Paul Benedict (Sept 17, 1938 - Dec 1, 2008)
Actor. Mad Painter from Sesame Street, Mr. Bentley from The Jeffersons.

LINKS:
Paul Benedict on wiki
Paul Benedict on IMDb

You can read about all the Mad Painter segments here. I didn't know Stockard Channing played a part in them!

Fiesta display

These are pictures I took of a Fiesta display at the Pottery Festival held in East Liverpool, Ohio. I think they are from either 1984 or 1985. The pieces themselves are unremarkable, but the original cardboard displays are quite rare.

Hello, Dolly!

The other day I was going on how I found a Carol Channing recording of Hello, Dolly! in perfect condition for next to nothing. Richard challenged me to find the Pearl Bailey and Mary Martin versions. I found them on eBay and just got them in the mail. They've obviously been played, but look to be in good shape!

Carlton Zerkle

Last month I took this picture of my great-great-uncle Carlton’s headstone in Locust Hill Cemetery in Chester, WV. He was my great-grandmother’s brother. Unfortunately, most of my family members who knew him are gone as well.

Supposedly, Carlton Zerkle had two children, but when he died nobody could get in touch with them or their mother. He was buried with this simple headstone. I’m posting this here in case any of his descendants should google his name and wish to make contact with long lost relatives.

meme tag

Sean from The Fortress of Solitude tagged me in a meme - go to you flickr account (or equivalent) and hit the 6th image on the 6th page. Since I don't use photo accounts, I'll just post the funniest picture I've seen today...

Sarah Palin as Seven of Nine: You will be assimilated, you betcha, by golly, wow!

You can see Palin the Borg and other Star Trek political images here.

Snow ornaments

Besides getting a vintage sauceboat the other day at Macy's, I got these large Christmas ornaments at 1/2-off. I remember us having some that looked just like these when I was a kid.