Blessings

This has been a day of such goodness, and such sadness. This evening let me tell you about the goodness:

Last October when we were in Dublin, Ireland we happened to meet a lovely man named Leo East. We were looking at our tourist map, trying to figure out where we were and where to go next when Mr. East approached us and offered assistance. We had a lively conversation; he told us about many sites of interest within walking distance of where we stood, and a little about his life and family. We told him about our trip and our sons, and when we said we had a son in Florida, he said his sister lived there and was the owner of a motel in that city. Larry took a photo of Mr. East and me, and we said our goodbyes.

I have thought about Mr. East many times since then, recalling his warmth and welcome to two strangers. I wished I had gotten his contact information so that if chance took me back to Ireland I might have the opportunity to see him again. Sometimes we just connect with people, you know?

Earlier this week I received an email from a man in the Netherlands. He was searching for a school friend from years ago named Leo East, and happened upon my blog post about him. Did I know how to get in touch with Leo? He knew, of course, that the chances were slim that it was the same man as his friend, but thought it worth a try.

I wrote back that I did not have Mr. East's contact information, but I did remember the name of his sister's motel because we had considered staying there during our trip to Florida. I offered to look it up, and then after some thought, offered to call myself and see if I could get any information about Leo.

As luck would have it, Mr. East's sister herself answered the phone when I called. It took a bit for me to explain why I was calling to someone who wasn't too familiar with the internet, but after we talked for a while she offered to get in touch with her brother or his children and pass on my phone number and email.

This morning my phone rang; it was Leo East. Yes, he remembered me, and yes, he was the Leo East who was the school friend of the man in the Netherlands. He was astounded that I had found him, that his friend had somehow found me, and that he might once again speak with his friend. We chatted a good while and  I passed on the phone number and address of the man in the Netherlands.

In this wide world, we are really not far separated from any other person, are we? I am so happy to have been part of this surprising re-connection of old friends. I am planning to return to Ireland this summer with friends, and I hope that somehow on our trip I might get a chance to once again have a chat with Mr. Leo East.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Cold Weather but Hot Finds

Even with the cold and snow we've managed to get out a little and find new things for our booths and for eBay. The house is piling up with them, in fact, and I am hoping for some warmer days so we can feel comfortable leaving the house long enough to take new items out to the booths. The good news is sales continue to be  fairly strong at our locations, and eBay has been crazy, probably because so many people are, like us, housebound and browsing online.

Here's a look at some of the recent listings on eBay:

Just in time for Valentine's Day! Red glass and silverplate champagne flutes.

High-steppin' heels went sailing off the Hawaii. I played around a bit with adding unique shoes to the vintage clothes I have for sale, but I don't think I'll continue with that. They're selling well on eBay though.

This Blenko bowl (circa 1964 or so) has a funny story with it. It sold on eBay a couple weeks ago; the buyer contacted me this week and asked to send it back because it was the wrong size for his project. Apparently he is making a light fixture of colored glass plates, and they all need to be exactly the same size. I was glad to take it back, since it's  fairly rare piece of Blenko and I kinda hated the idea of it being drilled into for a light fixture--although I'd really like to see his finished product.

Sweet little salt and pepper set didn't last long on eBay either. This seems to be an older set than most of what I saw listed.

I've actually had this vase for a while. I bought it at an antique mall. Something about it screamed Blenko to me, and sure enough I was right. It's currently listed but no buyers yet. I've been studying Blenko Glass during this cold spell, and have learned a lot about the shapes, colors and identifying features. Even so, it's sometimes difficult to spot the real thing, especially online.

This Blenko bowl was easy to identify--it still has its Blenko sticker!

 I found this bright blue pitcher on a local buy-sell-trade Facebook site. If you haven't found those in your area, you're missing out. They're a great source of salable items at reasonable prices.

Unusual Italian wineglasses made by Vietri were a thrift store find. These still have their original stickers. I was surprised at the price they bring online. Not sold yet, but with their unique shape and colors it may take someone looking specifically for this brand.

Another Facebook deal; I tried to buy these Fenton jade-colored, iridescent candleholders last fall, actually but my schedule was so hectic I could never hook up with the seller. We finally got together last week.

I don't know the maker of this bright green bowl with a brass pedestal, but I sure do like it. It's currently listed, but I am using it in the meantime for my table centerpiece. I won't be brokenhearted if it doesn't sell!

 Yet another Facebook buy, from the same young man who sold me the blue pitcher and a Shawnee corn pattern sugar and creamer set.

Thrift store! I love vintage handbags and this one was a real winner. Needlepoint with a good snap closure, it looked like it had never been used. It sold quickly online.

This vase is probably my best find so far this year. I bought it at an antique mall, and was fairly sure it was Blenko. A little research verified that fact; then I had to do some cleaning inside because someone had used it for flowers and there was some residue. It's tricky to clean such a narrow-necked bottle, but I have a very long, skinny brush that I can bend.I wrapped the brush with a paper towel and got a lot of the dirt out, then filled the vase with a mixture of dish soap, water and rice and shook it well to get the rest. It worked like a charm. a rinse with vinegar and water gave it a nice shine. This is a rare piece; the color was only made in 1963 and 1964 by glassmaker Wayne Husted, one of Blenko's premier artists.

I have had these two "violettes" French-made mugs for years but I have too many mugs so I decided to sell them. They sold in less than two hours.

This big casserole, a thrift store find, was another fast seller; it was gone in 24 hours. Perhaps I could have held out for more money, but I am quite happy with what I made on it, and it won't be adding to my workroom clutter!

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Memories of Route 219

I stumbled on an excellent website this week while researching another topic. Traveling 219 is a project to record the lively variety of life, both historic and present-day along this scenic US highway. Route 219 travels the length of West Virginia through enchanting little towns, gorgeous countryside, some relatively little-known historic sites, and breathtaking vistas. The road follows the valleys of mountain rivers, tracing the footsteps of the first people and early European settlers. It is aptly named the Seneca Trail. I've often traveled 219 and I believe have been on every mile of its pavement as it meanders through the state. Each place holds special memories for me; the website prompted me to revisit my own blog memories of my travels along this storied highway to such places as:

from WV State Archives

Dailey, one of the homestead communities established by Eleanor Roosevelt,

Elkins, home of Davis & Elkins College and the Augusta Heritage Series

Mingo Flats with its surprising (and almost hidden) sculptures,

Davis and Thomas, tiny mountain towns with many resident artists and huge logging histories, and home to the state's first Poet Laureate. Close by are the stunning Blackwater Falls.

Lewisburg, artsy and comtemporary in restored period buildings, home of the famed General Lewis Inn and the scene of the murder trial in which the outcome hinged on the testimony of a ghost,

Sharp's Store, a step back in time to an unrestored but carefully maintained general store that has been in the same family for decades,

Marlinton, hardy town that has survived floods and fire, nestled in one of our state's most beautiful counties and home of the annual Great Greenbrier River Race.

...and many, many more fascinating places. I hope you have enjoyed this meandering armchair trip along a memorable road, one filled with memories for anyone who has found themselves traveling 219. Be sure to visit the Traveling 219 website, where you can read some fascinating and memorable history and posts, like this one about a special Christmas visit.








Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

The Falling Snow

For Snow

by Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965)

Oh the falling Snow!

Oh the falling Snow!

Where does it all come from?

Whither does it all go?

Never never laughing,

Never never weeping,

Falling in its Sleep,

Forever ever sleeping--

From what Sleep of Heaven

Does it flow, and go

Into what Sleep of Earth,

The falling, falling Snow?

--------------------------------------------

Farjeon had it right. Still it falls, and falls, and falls. Today's storm has added about 4 inches or more to the 2-3" already on the ground; the wind whipping around makes me wonder if the ridge road is drifting in. At least today has been warmer, up into the 20's even, which feels like a heat wave. Like yesterday, we've concentrated on home work. 

Today I tackled my work room once again. This room can get out of hand so quickly, which I suppose should not be a surprise considering the amount of business I do in here. I really could use more space, that's the truth, as I spill out of here frequently into other rooms, particularly to price and pack for the booths. Still, I feel fortunate to be able to work from my home, particularly in this kind of weather.

We had several packages waiting for us at the post office. Normally our mail carrier brings them to the house but not in snow. So today Larry took our truck to the top of the hill and left it there, and the mail carrier put the packages in the truck. More than one way to get it done!

I was cooking again too. I am on a mission to use up more of the food we have stored. Today I made parmesan-coated chicken, roasted seasoned potato wedges and steamed broccoli. The chicken recipe called for dijon mustard, wheat bread crumbs and fresh parsley. Since I had none of the above, I substituted and it was delicious! Here's how I made it:

8 boneless chicken breasts

2 slices rye bread

1 tsp dried Italian herbs

1 TBSP olive oil

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

horseradish sauce

Spray a baking pan with cooking oil and place the chicken on the pan.

Tear the bread into small pieces and place in a blender. Add the dried herbs, salt olive oil and cheese and pulse until the bread is crumbled and the ingredients are well blended. 

Pat the cheese mixture onto the chicken breasts and bake at 40 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until done.

We have plenty left for tomorrow, so I already have dinner made. 

We had a little scare when the gas went off in the middle of the afternoon. Larry went out and tinkered around with it and got it going pretty quickly but with the cold we've had lately and are expecting later this week we don't need the worry of the gas going off. I am not sure what caused it but we'll be keeping an eye on it for sure. Free gas is nice, but it can also be a headache--ours has frozen off once last year and once the year before so I am far from trusting it if we have to be away in cold weather. We do have backups in place--in the country a person needs to back up everything and always be planning ahead.

Stay warm!

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Winter's Day-to-Day, and More Soup

Some weeks there's just not a lot to say. Life takes on a comfortable rhythm as we move from one familiar task to another.I am enjoying this slow-down period, I admit. There is something so relaxing about not having any pushing deadlines to meet, nowhere I have to be, nothing critical to be done. This has been one of those weeks; we're busy but with things of our choosing.

The continuing cold certainly impacts our activities; I'd have liked to go out for dinner tonight but with temperatures in the single digits and teens, the fun kind of goes out of it, doesn't it? We did make it out to our Ravenswood Riverbend Mall booth yesterday. A lady in Indiana bought the dining room set on eBay, so we went to rearrange and fill the space it left behind. And just before we arrived two other smaller furniture pieces sold so we had a little work to do. And I piddled around, moving things here and there, tweaking displays and changing things up to give it a fresh look. It's good to see sales still happening even though it's been so cold and snowy for the whole week. I noticed last year that smaller furniture pieces moved better at this time of year so I've been trying to keep a good stock of them in the booths.

We also made a run over to Athens to rearrange stock and begin the process of closing our booth there. After 6 months sales continue to decline and with the long drive it's just not profitable for us to continue at that location. I love having the booths, but it's not just for fun! This venture needs to be at least self-supporting, so with reluctance we made the decision to move out of Athens and concentrate on the two locations where sales are strong. Perhaps we never got a handle on what the people in that region were looking for. We'll be moving things out during February and be officially out of that mall by March 1.

With this cold weather I've been cooking more than usual. I do love to cook but seldom allow time to really get into it except in canning season. This week I've made tomato soup and butternut soup, pork roast and vegetables, chocolate orange shortbread cookies, cranberry bread, omelet, blackberry cobbler, snow ice cream...I just hope I'm not going to end up carrying it all into spring on my bones! Actually, I've been careful. The soups are low-cal and I've eaten sparingly of the rest of it. I just like to cook when it's cold out and I'm inside with no projects hanging over my head.

We made one other trip in the past week, too--all the way up to Wheeling, WV to tell stories at the library. It was cold, cold, cold that day, with snow on the ground and blowing around but the audience was warm and welcoming. Three storytelling friends came out to listen and to have lunch with us, an added treat that made the long snowy drive even more worthwhile.

We stopped at the Wells Inn in Sistersville for coffee and dessert and had a nice chat with owner Charles Winslow. You know, that's something I dearly love about this state and about storytelling--wherever I go we have friends.

I've been doing more catch-up work while looking out at the cold. Things like sorting out more drawers--the top drawer of my dresser is a real junk drawer and even Clyde the cat left in disgust when I dumped it on the bed. I've found all sorts of missing things and broken things and bits of things and just plain junk. I've also been sorting receipts from the past year in anticipation (dreaded anticipation, I should say) of doing the income tax return. No fun, but it's got to be done and this is the time to do it, while life is slow.

photo by Lawrence Pierce

I've also been planning and practicing for the upcoming Groundhog's Day program. Judi Tarowsky and I will be the opening act for French Creek Freddie, the weather-predicting maven of The French Creek Wildlife Center here in West Virginia. So I'm brushing up on groundhogology and getting a few songs lined up in preparation. The Center s planning a fun time for visitors on February 2, as the groundhog makes his appearance and lets us know what to expect for the rest of the winter. Judi and I will entertain before and after Freddie, and we're excited about being part of this fun event.

That's about all we've been doing, in addition to the usual pricing for the booths and Larry's furniture refinishing. He finished the washstand he's been working on; isn't it lovely? He's moved on to two or three new pieces in addition to just keeping things taken care of around here--winter weather means extra attention to the animals, keeping firewood ready for the fireplace, clearing walks and keeping the vehicles running. I feel lucky to have a man around to do all that cold, heavy work. I'm spoiled, I know.

Simple, homey things, delightfully unimportant and yet important for the winter-bound soul. What's been happening at your house?

Oh, and here's the recipe for the Butternut Soup. It's absolutely delicious!

2 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed in 1" cubes
1 large onion, diced
2-3 tablespoons butter
6 cups chicken broth (I used bouillon and water)
salt and pepper to taste
nutmeg to taste

Melt the butter in a large pot. Add the onions and cook til soft and transparent. Add the broth and squash; cook until the squash is soft and mashable. Dip the cooked squash out of the liquid and blend in a blender until smooth. Put the pureed squash back into the broth, add salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste.

That's it! Easy and delicious. I would never have thought I'd like it!

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Another Snowy Day

And once again we're snug inside with all sorts of projects going on. I'm busy listing on eBay and sorting some of the finds from the past two days. Larry is working on different furniture projects. The fire is going, the cats are sleeping, Fresh Air is on the radio, soup's on the stove. A good winter day.

The birds are busy at the feeders today, especially the cardinals. Or maybe they just stand out more.

A little of that red is reflected in the kitchen windows. I know lace curtains don't hold in the heat, but I enjoy being able to see out, and to let in the light, especially the bright reflected light of snow.

 Outside is is still snowin' and blowin' and very cold. I remember the days when I would be eager to bundle up and get out in the woods. Where did that want-to go? Today I am much more content to stay fireside and look out at the weather doing its worst.

 I wonder if I had never left the farm to go to work, would I still be cheerfully tramping about in wintry weather, hiking back into the woods alone (and with no cell phone)? I remember getting out to run the mail when I was a substitute mail carrier, driving all day with the windows down, and coming home to do chores, care for the livestock and get in firewood with the boys. I remember building fence all day in winter, working in sub-zero temps to get the water running, walking the mile to the bus stop to meet the boys on their way home.

Did those 20-plus years of indoor work ruin me, or is this just a natural progression and would I have ended up in the same place anyway? I thought when I retired I'd be out and about every day, but such has not proven to be the case. Instead I take short little walks, just enough to look about me and enjoy the beauty, but not far enough to worry about slipping and falling or getting too worn out. I ask myself these questions, then make a cup of hot chocolate, curl up by the fire and pet the cat. I think I've gone soft!

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Small Comforts: A List in No Particular Order

I was folding laundry this morning and came upon one of my favorite nightgowns: soft flannel, faded to the point that the pink roses are barely visible. "I love flannel nightgowns," I thought.

Which got me to thinking, what other small creature comforts really, well, comfort me? Here's some of what I came up with:

1. French Vanilla coffee--make that with cream and no sugar please!

2. Soft worn jeans--the ones that slide on and into place instantly, like they remember me.

3. Bright red homemade berry jam in one of those little quilted crystal canning jars.

Taken May 3, 2008 in my kitchen. I can't wait for the violets to bloom again.

4. Fresh flowers in the house, at any time of year.

5. A bowl of fruit.

6. A flickering fire to greet me when I come home. A flickering fire at any time really.

7. A made-up bed. First thing we do every morning, and it gives me pleasure to see it all day. Why? I can't say, but maybe it's that taking-care-of-things feeling it gives?

8. Flannel gowns. Talk about feeling wrapped in comfort.

9. The smell of toast in the morning.

10. Music, especially live music being played at my house by a friend.

That's my list, at least my list for today. There are so many little things that make life beautiful. What are some of yours?

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

A Round Tuit Kind of Day

I have been feeling dragged down and foggy-brained this week. Maybe it's the weather, or maybe it's just winter. I bumble around like a bee trying to get into a honey jar, trying first one thing, then another and never feeling like I've accomplished anything. But today, I got to some of those little things that wait until I can "get around to it."

First was defrosting the freezer in the gas refrigerator. I love my fridge; the electric bill took a nosedive when we installed it and it works beautifully on our free natural gas. The only downside is that it needs to be defrosted once or twice a year. I hadn't planned to do that today, but when we got up we discovered that the freezer door hadn't shut properly last night and the process was already started.

As we were clearing out all the packages we had literally stuffed in there, I found tonight's dinner: packs of frozen cabbage, green beans, green peppers, celery, venison, corn and carrots. All I needed to do was combine these ingredients with some onions and potatoes, a few spices and I had a huge pot of soup. So, two round tuits accomplished before noon. (You can see my recipe for this soup here.)

While I was on the hunt for my missing ring the other day I moved my jewelry box and managed to dump most of the contents on the floor. The result was a tangled mess of necklaces, pins, rings and earrings. I'd been meaning to sort these things out soon anyway as I seldom wear much jewelry now and when I do it tends to be the same favorite pieces, especially the earrings and rings made by Robert Riffe of Mystic Crystal. Since I didn't seem to be able to focus on anything else, I sorted my jewelry and ended up with a lot of pieces that will go to one of my booths to be sold. (Costume jewelry, nothing special!)

Then there were the totes we brought home from the booths the other day. Selling is a stuff-in, stuff-out kind of business. If something doesn't sell within a given time, I take it out and either take it to another booth, put it on eBay or take it to Goodwill. So the totes returning can have an odd assortment of all of the above. Today I worked through them and re-organized so they're ready for the next trip out.

The lingerie dresser is another of my "round tuits" for today. How do I end up with so many odd socks? It amazes me that with only 10 steps from the bedroom to the washer I still lose socks. And there were all sorts of other weird things in those drawers too--little bottles I stuck in there because I liked them and didn't know what to do with them, the battery radio for when the power goes off, greeting cards from my sons, a broken belt...the little dresser is right by the bedroom door and apparently I think it should be a catchall.

I did a little eBay work too, looking up prices and was pleased to see that a second piece of furniture sold through an eBay listing. I haven't tried listing furniture before but lately I've added some of the pieces for sale in my booths to my eBay listings with a "local pickup only" option. A dining table and chairs I've had since May sold last week, and today a china cabinet sold. I'll be doing more of these kinds of listings now that I've seen that it works. The cabinet to the left is currently getting a lot of lookers online. Larry repainted this one, painting the inside back red, and we bought replacement vintage pulls for it since the ones on it were not the right kind. I think it came out great. You can see my eBay listings here if you're in the mood to browse.

Last thing I accomplished was reviewing my list of stories for my program Saturday at Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling, WV. I am looking forward to being in Wheeling again, and to lunch with good friends and storytellers. Even with this yuck kind of feeling, that makes me perk up and smile!

So it was a day of no major accomplishments, but lots of little to-do's checked off the never-ending list. And that's enough.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.