The decoration just doesn't fit the crock. I think it is a crock, a stoneware one, and somebody picked it up cheap and decided to tole paint it. Stoneware can indeed be reglazed after decorating, and it's my gut feeling this is what happened. The crock looks reasonably old, that style painting isn't. The lid, may or may not go with the crock. Often they didn't have lids. My old crocks have wooden lids handmade after the fact. I don't think it's a cookie jar at all, or at least wasn't intended to be. Most cookie jars, even stoneware ones don't have the raw edges around the top. Pris is right, the paint on the top of the lid knob is an afterthought. Perhaps somebody wanted to give the crock a lid after the fact, or maybe they were just touching up worn glaze where it had worn off. The country fad of the early eighties found a whole lot of nice old stuff being refurbished with embellishment and there is a special place in Hades for people who inflicted damage done to nice old stuff. ;-) That's just my impression.

I think I understand what your concern is - when you raise the blind, the lining will pull away from the fashion fabric and create a lumpy looking product, right? I'm a huge fan of using blackout lining on all my blinds and curtains - I can't STAND daylight peeking in at me before I'm darned ready to get up. But I've only made roman blinds and I've stitched through all the layers - which I don't advise because you'll end up with thousands of pinpricks letting in that sunlight. Here's a thought - how about using a fusible to bind the 2 layers together? You wouldn't have to use it over 100% of the area. Something like stitchery witchery (or whatever the heck it's called) Use it in place of tacking stitches. Shouldn't show through and it would keep your lining and fashion fabric together. Good luck!

PWM, I'm assuming you'd like the amounts converted to something other than metric? There are many conversion tools on line, one gave me these conversions. Islay, please feel free to correct me if I am wrong: 450g (2 cups) dark brown sugar 175g (3/4 cup) ml evaporated milk 30g ( 2 tbls) butter 1 tsp vanilla extract 55g (1/4 cup) chopped walnuts. Butter a 20 or 30 cm (8 or 9 inch square) tin. In a saucepan, stir together the sugar and milk. Boil until temp. reaches 112 to 116°C. (232-240F, soft ball stage) Or, until a small amount dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface. Remove from the heat, stir in the butter, vanilla and nuts. Continue to beat until the mixture loses its gloss. pour into prepared tin, score with knife and set aside for about 5 minutes. Cut into squares. I hope this helps. Annie

Everyone! Harry sends his heartfelt thanks for all the good wishes. He's back to "normal" now and just waiting for the next feast. Ole Joyful - I was worried for him. Chocolate is not good for dogs; I understand it, and raisins, builds up toxins in their liver. There were just a few of the treats that had chocolate chips or drizzle, and he's a big active boy, but I'm sure he's had his limit for 2015 and 2016. Sam wasn't' left out in the cold, LOL. But he was locked in the mudroom so he couldn't "share" in the bounty. He's still Harry the Perfect. It doesn't mean he doesn't get creative and mischievous now and again, he just does it perfectly! LOL Sam the Not often follows his lead. Phoggie - I don't know if pumpkin would help our tummies or not. It probably wouldn't hurt to try it. I don't know the science of research on pumpkin, but the vet once recommended it so I keep a few cans on hand in case either dog seems to have an ache. Socks - Harry the Perfect has never once in his 12 years, 11 months, and 2 weeks (give or take a few days!) had a boo-boo in the house. Not even when he was a baby puppy. Of course, had the cookie feast resulted in an accident, I would have understood. I would not like it; but I would understand. Watchme - Sam is the world expert on "stinky." He has two favorite treats when he's out on the prairie for a hunt. Mice, and Moose Poop. He ranges so far out that Wes can only watch and wonder what he's into now. Mice are easy; both boys do the coyote jump, up high, down on the front paws, grab the mouse, toss it in the air, jump up, catch it, and swallow it whole. Disgusting. But coyotes will be coyotes. Harry (the Perfect) does not bother any type of poo. Neither does Sam - except for moose poo. Oh Gracious. It's nasty (like huge, huge rabbit droppings) and he has major, loud, nasty, gas for days and days after he gets into some. Wes is trying to break him of this habit, but once Sam goes after a moose trail he's so far out there that Wes can't see him. We don't hunt moose; Wes tries to avoid them, but Sam is bound and determined to "retrieve" one. Little Goofus. Lukkiirish and Jo Mooney - Harry and Sam are both Deutsch Drahthaars; a German breed of versatile hunters. They hunt, retrieve, track, point, anything from a quail to a bear. My boys hunt upland birds, waterfowl, and small game. I've told Wes they are not allowed anywhere near even the scent of bear or pig. That's for other people and their dogs - not mine! They are as serious and dedicated in the field as they are silly and uncontrolled in the house. Upland bird hunting...Sam on right. Harry is actually much bigger, but he doesn't look it here. Sam in the duck boat wearing his floatie vest.