The Mountains are Calling

The Tetons on Lake Jackson

Last month we finally realized the family vacation that was in the planning stage since last fall. It was over WAY too quickly!! It seemed as if it would never get here and then, poof, it's over. As with most things, like children growing up and leaving home, getting older, and life, in general, it seems as if that special event will never come but when it does it is over in the blink of an eye. Puts me in mind of that Abba song, Slipping Through My Fingers. Even makes me a little teary at times. Enough of that! 
This is about our first family trip since those children of mine have grown up, gotten married, and started their own families. Big thank you to my son-in-law who came up with the idea for this trip. Back in 2007 he and my daughter took my husband and myself for a week to The Tetons and Yellowstone. In 2009 my husband and I took my parents to The Tetons and Yellowstone. It was my Dad's last trip before he passed away in 2013. In all of his travels, he had never been there and it was the one place he had always wanted to see. So when the idea of this family trip came up the first thought was to share this magical place with the rest of the family. That would be my two sons, their wives and two grandsons plus my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter. You've already heard about the grandchildren in my previous posts. 

We arrived on Friday, July 15 and met our daughter, her husband, and granddaughter who also arrived early on Friday. We rented a house for the following week near Jackson, WY. Check in for the house was at 4 PM on Saturday so we had Friday night and Saturday morning to spend time with them in Jackson, buy groceries, and get ready for the rest of the family to arrive. My youngest son and daughter-in-law drove up from Colorado where they live. My oldest son, daughter-in-law, and two sons flew in on Saturday afternoon. Again, thanks to son-in-law for finding the house and planning the trip! Couldn't have done this without you!

Emma and Pawpaw Greg

An entire week devoted to My Favorite Things! Those being, family, travel, photography and viewing wildlife. Speaking of wildlife, Friday night after dinner we took a drive and had our first sighting. A doe and her fawns near the side of the road.

 One tip I had read about photographing wildlife was to stay in the car and take the shot from there. When you get out of the car they are more often spooked and run away before you even get your camera ready. They have become more accustomed to passing cars than people approaching on foot. In addition, warnings about approaching on foot are not to be taken lightly. More about that later. 

Sunday morning fishing for the guys and afternoon reserved for hiking. We (Husband and I) took off on our own for some exploring we had not done on the previous trips. The rest of the family hiked some of the trails in the Tetons. We drove to Two Oceans Lake in Grand Teton National Park, taking several photos of the wildflowers in bloom on the way. Add that to the list of favorites!

I have been researching western wildflowers and believe this is a False Sunflower.

Red Clover

My first two visits in 2007 and 2009 were Labor Day week. I only saw one Indian Paintbrush in 2007, none in 2009. This trip in July it was everywhere! The roadsides were covered in it! I believe this variety is Wyoming Paintbrush. Loved all of the wildflowers in bloom this time!  

Indian Paintbrush

Fireweed

This lovely Fireweed is a plant that I can now identify at a glance! Apparently, it will colonize abundantly after a fire thus the name Fireweed. It is considered the harbinger of autumn and blooms from bottom to top. I'll post another photo when I get to Friday. After all, it's only Sunday! 





Driving back to our "home away from home" we took a drive along the Buffalo Fork River where we spotted an Osprey in a huge nest. She was squawking at us and apparently not happy with us being there. But then again it could have been the two guys who got out of their car on the same side of the road as the nest. Remember that photo tip I mentioned? 












We stopped in the Buffalo Valley Cafe on the recommendation of the volunteer at the GTNP Visitor's Center. We were told they have the best milkshakes....and they do! 

Loved the old gas pump out front and couldn't resist taking a photo. One of these days I will have to post the photos of another trip we took driving a section of the historic Route 66 through New Mexico. That was back in 2012. 




What would The Tetons and Yellowstone be without the Bison? It is the one wildlife experience you can't miss even if you tried. They are everywhere! They also happen to be one of the animals that come with a warning to stay at least 25 yards (75 feet) away. This is true for all wildlife except bears. You should stay at least 100 yards (300 feet) away from bears and watch out for a mother bear with cubs. They can be overly aggressive if they feel their cubs are threatened. I am amazed by tourists who think they can approach any wildlife in the park within a few feet as if they were at Disneyland taking a photo with Mickey Mouse. What are they thinking?!!

Monday we all drove to Yellowstone for a day of sightseeing. First stop at Lewis Falls. The boys had a blast climbing over the log jam in the river. Photo op for the whole family. Next stop was Old Faithful which never disappoints! Just like the trip in 2009 with my parents, it is so much fun to share a favorite place with other family members. Even more so when grandchildren come along!

Emma has taken Logan's place as the rock thrower. Until recently if Logan was near water and there were rocks....funny I didn't see him throwing rocks on this trip. Too many other things to occupy him, I guess. 

Old Faithful Geyser

A picnic lunch under the trees. Loved this weather! Cool and low humidity. Even when the temperature went up it was still comfortable due to that ever low humidity. We used a bunch of lip balm, however. Seemed like my lips were so dry that I was putting it on several times a day! So glad I remembered to take it!

My boys and their dad!

More to come!

More Footprints

I recently posted about my grandson's new footprints in my garden. The idea started some years ago when my youngest son and his wife gave me a kit to make garden stones. It was a Christmas gift. My first grandchild was about three-years-old at the time and one of my garden friends was making garden stones with her grandchildren's hand prints. 

My "aha" moment! How much fun would it be to make individual footprints and then arrange them as if they were prints left behind in the mud? That, my friends, is how this all started. So now I have several prints from that first grandson. Only two from his younger brother who was not quite as cooperative until recently. And for the first time, footprints from my two-year-old granddaughter. We also made some for her mom to put in their garden.  


For anyone who wants to try this, dig holes big enough for little feet, mix some cement with water and you are ready to go. She likes to say, " I help!"

 I wonder if she is thinking, "what in the world are we doing here?"

After the holes are dug, a bucket, bag of cement, and some water is all you need.

She did say, "I help", so Papa put her to work mixing cement. I ask you, how many two-year-olds are this accomplished? 

Now we are ready for footprints. Nothing like sticking the kid's feet in cement!

We made these footprints at her house to dig up the next day to take home with us. 

It has been fun to see them when digging in the garden, remembering the day we made them and how quickly these grandchildren are growing up! Needless to say, the next ones are going to be just a little larger! And it won't take more than a moment in time!

The several small to larger size footprints from the grandsons are proof enough. 

Until next time.....these footprints in my garden are the footprints on my heart. Another favorite of mine!

Dishes

Gorham Buttercup

Oneida Silverplate

My sister passes along her old magazines and recently gave me a copy of Good Grit, The Character Of The South. First time I have ever laid eyes on this one and I LOVE it.... a new favorite thing! One of the articles sent me running to the computer to blog about china and silver. It is entitled "Sterling Silver" A Good Grit Guide! I have only recently collected pieces of Gorham's Buttercup pattern. It's the first time I have owned sterling silver in the 44 years I've been married.  I already had some rather nice Oneida silverplate that I purchased nearly 30 years ago. Before that it was cheap stainless flatware. My mother, a school teacher, bought me a service for eight from the lunch room lady where she taught. My youngest son and his wife have it now. A piece of my past that has been passed on. So, no money for sterling or fine china when you marry young, have three children to raise and spend your disposable income on them. I wouldn't trade those years for all the china in China (lol) but since they have been grown and gone for a time, now it's my turn!! I was pleased to see that the silver pattern of my choice happens to be on the list, The Twelve Patterns of the Southern Silver Zodiac. Not sure who the late great Maryln Schwartz of Dallas, Texas is but apparently she is responsible for giving us the list! Thank you Maryln! And thank you Good Grit for the article.

Gorham Buttercup

 Since I did entitle this blog "Dishes" I guess I should get on with it.....

Origin and History for china - "porcelain imported from China," 1570s, short for Chinaware, China dishes, etc. I started this article by looking up the definitions of china, obsession and fetish. I have decided that maybe in a very small way I might have an obsession. Once upon a time there was a discussion with my husband about someone's "fetish" at which he remarked that I happened to have a china fetish. I have to point out that this little obsession might not be all my fault. It may just be in my genes!

 In my genes, you ask? Consider that my mother's family are from the tiny town of Sebring, Ohio. For many years this tiny town revolved around the pottery industry. I have heard and known about the "Pottery" for all of my life! I have ancestors who at one time or another worked in one of the many potteries. At one time this small community supported more than just one "Pottery"! The Historical Society site lists 52 potteries between the towns of Sebring, Alliance, and East Liverpool. When one went out of business someone would start a new business, buying up the old site, molds, and equipment. A list of at least 10 "garage potteries" are known to have been started at various times.  My mother and aunt are always turning pieces over to see the mark and which pottery made it. One amusing story about my aunt was when she was having breakfast in a hotel restaurant with her husband and daughter. The waitress sat the creamer on the table for their coffee and not thinking she picked it up and turned it over to read the mark on the bottom and in the process spilled creamer all over the table. She couldn't stop laughing at what she had done while her husband and daughter were mortified!  Royal China is the one I have heard about the most. I have included at the end a short history of the town and the Sebring Family from the Sebring Ohio Historical Society. More information on the potteries and a history of pottery production on the Historical Society's website gives me insight into my family's involvement in the pottery industry since some of my relatives/ancestors worked in the potteries.  By the 1980s, however, most of these potteries had closed down.


 Another china/porcelain I collect is Theodore Haviland. Haviland & Company's  history is much like the Sebring Potteries. 
The Haviland family, like the Sebrings, started out with father, brothers, nephews all participating in the business. As time went by, the founder retired and left the business to his sons. They eventually go their separate ways. The company was sold and one brother started his own company. A nephew married into a family who was in the business. He took over managing and gave that company the Haviland name. As a result there is more than one Haviland company when researching and collecting this china. I happen to like Theodore Haviland Company.There are books that have been written about collecting Haviland and identifying patterns. Most are labeled as numbers and not named. The pattern I collect is Theodore Haviland Schleiger 152. Check out Haviland online for answers to "What is a schleiger number?" This collection began when I found five saucers in an antique store. Shopping with a friend who has that same china obsession, I was encouraged to start a set of Haviland. Thanks to ebay and antique stores I almost have a complete service for ten. This pattern is also why I chose the Buttercup sterling. The tiny flowers on both the sterling flatware and china seemed to go together. 

So back to that family connection with "dishes", the gene thing. As a child when visiting my grandmother in Sebring at some point she would want to take us to the pottery store. Since I can not remember I am assuming there was retail access at the factory site. Grandma liked a bargain and I have the recollection that she knew she could get a better price at the factory retail site instead of buying from the department stores. I have items handed down from grandmother to mother to me. My mother remembers her grandfather working at the pottery. Since the family had always referred to it as "The Pottery" I had no idea that this business encompassed several potteries and owners. Mom remembers going to the pottery and watching the workers at their stations filling the molds by hand and later watching the automated process when individual potters were no longer needed. 
 When someone we know is getting married I like to give a piece of fine china from the wedding registry as a gift. My mother will always ask, "are we buying them dishes for the wedding ?" She never says, fine china, a place setting of their pattern or any thing else except dishes! Just, "are we buying them dishes?" That probably comes from the gift of Royal China's Currier and Ives pattern given to my parents when they were married. The gift was from her grandfather, my great grandfather. Over the years those dishes were chipped and broken. More pieces were found at flea markets and garage sales so that when my parents down sized to a retirement home in 2013 there were enough in this set for them to have a service for four, my sister a service for four, and more than a service for four for me. Again, thanks to ebay and antique stores, I have ended up completing a service for eight! So there it is, my love of dishes must be in the genes! 

Royal China Currier and Ives

I had three different sets of dishes from the time I was married until we moved to Georgia 33 years ago. Two sets of ironstone that chipped and cracked and a set of Corelle that was eventually sent off to Goodwill. Some time in those years this china obsession kicked in! Possibly about the time I found this Christmas china!

I just know that when I found this Grenadiers pattern by Bernardaud it was a must have, purchased 25 or so years ago.  I liked this pattern because it was different from the other Christmas patterns with trees and holly. The back mark has written in French that this pattern celebrates the Nutcracker Suite. Appropriate since all three of my children studied French in High School and two of them traveled to France. My Christmas table cloth is black which is perfect to show off this china. Come to think of it I was shopping with that same china obsessed friend when I found this china. She already had Christmas China and was shocked that I didn't!




Then there are Spode dinner plates with turkeys for Thanksgiving.

Spode

Spode Delamere

I added salad and bread 'n' butter plates in a matching  pattern, Spode's  Delamere  Brown. 


 Before I found the matching Spode I bought a set of Johnson Brothers with brown flowers that I thought would coordinate. They are spring flowers, however. I decided I needed something that had the feel of autumn.  This pattern is Dover Brown. I still have this set. 

Johnson Brothers

For every day nothing will do except white porcelain. Two different Wedgwood patterns to mix and match as the china spirit moves me. Wedgwood Night and Day shown below and Wedgwood Grand Gormet in two sizes of plates, rice bowls, and English beekers (mugs). I have found that porcelain does not chip like ironstone so for every day I needed something that would hold up. 

Wedgwood

Wedgwood Cantata

I almost forgot about the Wedgwood bone china service for 10 that I bought 25 - 30 years ago when it was on clearance at Rich's Department store due to being discontinued. I had never  had fine china for special occasions and at $35 for a 5 piece place setting, well, who could pass that up? 

Noritake & Depression Glass

When mom gave me money two years ago for my birthday what did I buy? A Noritake tea set. Birthday in April, Azaleas blooming in April. Found it on...you guessed it...ebay! Cups, saucers, luncheon plates, tea pot, cream and sugar in Noritake's Azalea pattern. I have been adding to the tea set some pink depression glass plates to use as chargers. It is quite lovely and in keeping with the Royal Albert tea set I already have. Maybe it is more than just a little obsession after all! 
And so I close with a little history of my mother's home town and the family behind it.  




Sebring, Ohio  was founded by the Sebring family from 
East Liverpool. They owned and operated many potteries. 
The Sebring family dreamed of building their own pottery town
that would  stand as a memorial to their work and ideals. 
They decided upon an area in Mahoning County, 80 miles west 
of Pittsburgh and five miles east of Alliance. They chose 
200 acres of farmland near the Mahoning River that was near
a railroad line. Later, a 160 acre tract was added. 
Articles of Incorporation were filed in1899. 
In April, 1898, work began on the factories, stores and homes 
that would become known as "Sebring."  

The Sebring brothers, their parents (George and Elizabeth), and their
sisters each built beautiful homes. 
These potteries at one time employed approximately 3,300 workers. 
The Sebring pottery industry flourished for many years.  
At one time Sebring was known as the "Pottery Capital of The World."
From these beginnings Sebring has remained a small town.