Florence, I could spend hours at the decorating forum. They have 3 sections, I check the off topic just about every day, there are more people there then here any more. Sue, someone else sent me the link. WOW! Judith has some wonderful china that I lust after! She is a genius. Carla, I think I sent you the link before I moved. If you actually read her posts (instead of only looking at pics) she shops at places like Marshalls, Ross & TJ Maxx. I don't know where she finds room to store everything lol What kind of dish pattern are you looking for? I know of another pattern that I was going to buy but am unsure of now. I have the glasses that go to it, not sure if I want printed dishes now. I need to commit to new dishes too but this whole shopping for the new house is a lot of work. I ordered my son furniture back in June, it never came in; turns out they discontinued it. I went and purchased the floor model Sunday, spent 3 hours at sears. We got it home yesterday, Charlie is setting it up and after waiting 3 months the bed frame is huge. I don't know if I can get a frame that will work with the headboard only :(

Thanks for the link, natal--it gives me the willies. Proves what will happen if I don't get my own habit under control! Clearly, compared to that woman I'm not that far gone, yet. [I do admit I have 4 plates in Thomas Jefferson's White House china pattern close at hand, just in case I need to wax historical. Plus I have 3 other sets of china and lots and lots of odd little items besides. But I'm not as bad as that woman!] Agree that it's nice to have microwavable everyday plates. We have more than a dozen red glass plates--love them. I also use them as lids for casseroles--allows me to stack items in refrig and then put the casserole into microwave for reheat. FWIW, I've come to understand that you don't need a whole new SET of dishes, you only need a new look to give a change. Having matching plates and cereal bowls is usually sufficient for most of my needs. Oh, and a number of the second size of plates. Skip the cups saucers mugs servingpieces etc. Now that we're retired, having 4 matching plates is often sufficient. We put in one drawer in new kitchen that I designated as "deck" stuff. All winter it holds my deck tablesetting dishes, tray, salt&pepper, etc. Now in summer, I've put some of my regular plates into it and put my deck plates into the everyday stack of dishes. Works for me! I've got two complimentary sets of 4 plates in happy colors that allow me 8 plates at picnic table if I need that many. Plus a few tablecloths. Finite--if it doesn't fit, I can't have it. My idea of fun. End of summer, back they go for winter slumber. Meanwhile, the everyday ones are not far away if I want them and I have plenty for parties. We do not use disposables. If we're informally serving coffee at a party, i just put out my collection of everyday mugs. No big deal. And we mix our china, glass dishes, odd plates, who cares. People who know us say we live our values.

Maybe we should start a TKA forum; there certainly seems to be a lot of people who have had or are having one. There are already good forums out there, though. I don't want to hijack this one with my knee stuff. Good luck to all of us! I did go to town yesterday and looked at BB&B for stoneware to match the Mikasa. I didn't find anything I liked, but have concluded it does need to be a matte finish. My plan is to continue on hobbling through various places that you guys have suggested until I find what I think harmonizes perfectly. You all have given me lots of ideas, and thank you very much. The Mikasa rep I chatted with said they have nothing that will coordinate with Garden Harvest. I asked her about your suggestions, olychick, and she said all of those are glossy. I guess the search will continue. I didn't make it to anywhere but BB&B and Kohl's yesterday. Thanks again, everyone.

SnidelyWhiplash: In regard to your question about aluminum contacting ceramic ware: I have experienced aluminum marks on dinner ware during manual washing dishes. The marks came from aluminum pot, pans, skillets, and ice cream dippers. When an aluminum object rubs across a plate hard enough, the plate may get an aluminum mark similar to a pencil mark. These are normal accidental scrapes and dings that happen during the course of washing, rinsing, and racking a mixed load of dishes and cook ware. The term weld is descriptive of how tenacious the mark adheres to the substrate. There is no torch-like item involved. The marks develop a molecular bond stronger than paint and is difficult to remove. Run a little experiment. Take a ceramic crock and mark the rim with the edge of an aluminum pot. Now, try to remove the mark.