Petty petty me.

I found out today that two very close friends of mine had dinner out Saturday night with another friend of mine (I introduced them, even) and didn't call to invite me. Should that have to call me every time they are together? Of course not. But it kind of hurts my feelings that they had dinner out together on Saturday night, while I had dinner alone. I thought they were out of town.

Petty, I know, but it still makes me feel bad.

One problem is resolved

A solution to one of two hat problems came to me this morning out of the blue, and I feel pretty good about that. On the other one, I'm just going to have to say a little prayer that my solution works. I finished up the fabric on one part today, and tonight I can start working on the other part.

I'm having dinner tonight with the guy from Friday. He asked, and he is a really nice guy, and I really wish I could be interested in him, so I'm going. There is a line after which you're leading someone on, but I don't think two dates crosses it. I'm giving him every chance to ignite some kind of spark. I hope it works.

Hatting again.

For some reason, I really didn't want to work on my hat tonight. I worked on it a bit this morning, and picked up supplies on the way home, and then just didn't feel like doing anything with them when I got home. I have two problems right now, one of which I'm not happy with the solution, and the other I know I should have a solution for, but it just won't come to me.

So I ate dinner, finished up my latest Sookie Stackhouse book, and forced myself to do a little work on it before I went to bed. I hate the structural parts. I just want to get to the decoration part. But of course the structural part is just as important.

So I'm reluctantly acting like a grownup. Kinda.

Hatting is officially started

Brushes went into glue tonight. I had started working on the Styrofoam this weekend, and finished shaping it tonight. The I started putting on the fabric. This year's hat is going to bring up unique challenges, but at least I have started....

I talked to Ryan and Christa from next door. They loved the Caponata, and were very complimentary. They are such nice folks. But of course complimenting my cooking is the fast track to my heart.

Birthday resolutions

The "Grimace" cookie jar. I just know this thing will be worth a fortune someday.

Seems like the last couple of weeks have been all about birthdays. First there was finding the lamp so I had something great to send Cindy for her birthday. Then there was getting dana's birthday party all together.

I talked to Michael this weekend, and he told me that my birthday present was on the way as of Saturday. My birthday is September 9. But for Michael, this is really fast work. He is notoriously bad about getting presents to people after he buys them. I personally know of one present he bought for a friend of his that he finally just kept. But hearing about my present got me started thinking about his again. Michael's birthday is coming up on 4-11, and I just happened to stumble across the absolute perfect thing for his birthday about two weeks ago, so I ordered part of it then. I went to see about the rest of it today, using my lunch hour. I risked life and limb to brave Woodruff Road at lunch time.

I also finally got Lisa's birthday present ordered today. I figured if I was already working on Michael's gift, I should get hers squared away, since her birthday was March 1. She had wanted a purse like one I got for my mother a couple of years ago for Mother's Day. The problem is, I couldn't remember where I got it, nor could I find another like it. I found one similar, but I knew it wasn't what she really wanted - it wasn't leather. So I finally found a leather one today that will do what she wants. It didn't cost the earth, but it cost a whole lot more than the one I bought for Mama. But I'm pretty sure it's exactly what she wants, so it's worth it.

Anyway, while I was up on Woodruff today, I stopped in the Goodwill up there again, but no dice. I think that one little bowl must be the only thing I was meant to find at that store. But I keep seeing this Grimace cookie jar. It has been there for weeks. It is real ceramic, and I know there are apparently a lot of people now who collect McDonald's stuff. It has some light wear marks on it - it's been used, but I just know it's going to be a collector's item someday, and I'm going to kick myself 30 years from now for not buying it. The problem is I don't want to store it for the next 30 years. I have enough crap already. I wish someone would buy the damn thing. It's only $5.50. *EDIT* Ok, I looked it up. It was made in 1997. Looks like they are going for $10-15 on Ebay. If I had a decent digital camera, I would get it to try and sell.

What. A. Day.

After the flea market, I knew I had to shake a leg today. Lots to do.

I put the sweet potato pie in the oven for BB, then started making Caponata. I chopped veggies for a good while, then put it all on to slow cook. Did some laundry and then got cleaned up to go to the nursing home.

I packed up my new Bubble Glass bread plates to serve the pie on, and cloth napkins and stuff to make it nice for BB. When I got there, Mom and Dad were there visiting. Dad called me after they left, and asked me to meet them for dinner when I left BB. BB was in pretty good spirits overall, and thrilled to get pie. The woman across from her is dying though, so there was a lot of her family in and out. BB pretty much takes it in stride. She says this is the seventh roommate she's lost, which is pretty sad.

After my visit with her, I met Mom and Dad for dinner. And Dad told me his side of the whole Cindy and Paul debacle. More drama and heartbreak. The whole situation is really sad all the way around. And now they can't see my nephew Brenden any more. They are pretty broken up about it.

I called Mama and talked to her a while when I got home. She spent the day in Charleston yesterday, and had a good time with her friends. We swapped dating stories for a while.

I went out on the porch for a while, and saw the neighbors carrying in pizza, so I dished up some Caponata for them to eat with the crusts and gave it to them.

And I am done, and in for the night.

What a great flea market day!

Sylvan or "Parrot" 10.5" grill plate in green, by Federal Glass Company, circa 1931-1932

Wow. Major find today. I didn't think there would be many people out today. Usually on overcast muddy days, it's pretty deserted. But since it rained all day yesterday, people were anxious to get out and SELL stuff! And good for me!

I warmed up by finding two blue bubble bread plates, and two saucers with cup rings for 0.25 each, so I got them. That woman had bought a bunch of box lots at an auction, and offered to let me go through the rest of the boxes in her truck. I did, but didn't find anything I wanted, although she had some cool stuff. She said she has more bubble glass she will bring for me to look at next week. She was really nice. I tried to tell her a bit about the stuff she had, but my knowledge outside of Depression Glass is pretty limited.

Then as I wandered through the other section, I saw the Parrot grill plate. Usually people that have this know what it is. It is fairly rare, and one of the more expensive Depression Glass patterns. The story is that a designer vacationed in the tropics, and was inspired to create the design, but Federal wasn't happy with it. They felt that there was too much open space on the pieces, and that utensil marks would show too easily, so the pattern was only made for about a year. I paid $5 for a grill plate that is old-book priced at $32. Mine does have a small chip on the edge, but is still well worth what I paid for it. When I was looking online, I noticed these pieces don't seem to be selling for book value. Probably the high prices have driven off people from collecting this pattern.

I ran low on money, and had to go get more to complete my produce buys, but with deals like that, I don't mind making a bank run at all!