My Bavarian china just has a number. Not very inspiring, is it? Could have at least given it a name. It was a real * to find a replacement cup. Only took forty years. No, I have never set out to accumulate anything as a collection. It just happens. To qualify it just has to be old and interesting, preferably functional. My weaknesses are not frou-frou. They tend to be kitchen gadgets and pottery, tools.......particularly agrarian stuff. I was down in the cellar last week and found a single tree I forgot I had. Periodicals, and Victorian to depression era furniture. I like glassware, but try not to even go there because that makes the possibilities endless. I still have too much. And don't even ask me how I ended up with ten sewing machines.

I have to say decluttering is not all its cracked up to be. I went through a big one recently. Now I must admit... it felt so liberating... but there was a catch to that liberation. See, I was in the process of getting rid of a lot of things when one day I got a flyer on my door stating that a charity would be coming by and if I would like to donate then all I have to do is leave my bag on the front lawn clearly marked and they would pick it up. WHAT? someone is coming to get my junk? YES!! I had a week. and silly them for thinking it would only be ONE bag. They asked for it they are going to get it!! I thought this was soooo wonderful so I got busy. On the day of pick up I spread a large tarp in my yard and filled it with bags and bags of everything under the sun; from clothes to DVD's and VCR tapes, to books to old pots, pans and knives to furniture to whatever. I went through every room and purged and then went through them and purged again. On the day of pick up they left a few things behind that they decided they did not want either and I just put a "free" sign on it and it was gone by the end of the day. OMG you can never imagine how great this felt. I danced through the house in my new spaces. The elation did not last long though because while I love the way it made my house look so much neater there was a huge problem. NOW I CAN'T FIND JACK IN HERE. Say what you want but when you live in a lot of clutter there is a method to the madness and you know where everything is. For example... I moved my uniform shirts into a pocketbook rack in my closet. I thought this will be neat to have everything right here in one place. Made sense at the time. Next week I could not find them because I forgot where their new place was. It took me over three weeks and after ordering new shirts to find them. Oh yeah and not to mention that when I can't find something I assume I gave it way by accident. Like my uniform shirts, a pair of new shoes I still had in stretchers, and other stuff. COme to find out later I had them, I just couldn't find them. I damn near got in my car and drove to the charity place 4 hours away to see if they would let me go through my bags to find all my missing stuff. LOL. Okay so now to what to do about the dishes. I gave away things I wanted to hold on to for dear life as well. What I wound up doing is calling my daughter and nieces and gave them the story about the responsibility of being keepers of certain things in the family and I told them how important it was to preserve this stuff and NEVER give away. My nieces took the holiday serving platters and a few other things they really needed in their kitchen. Years ago I gave my son a whole china cabinet and it was full of dishes. It made him feel important and he thought it was impressive to be in his 20s and have a china cabinet already full of good china. I doled it all out like that and being that they know I am the family "stuff" keeper they felt it an honor to keep it for the family. Welp I hope that helped just a little bit, if nothing else but to give you a smile.

I actually sent the seller an email last night and mentioned about just giving me money back. Was hoping it would save her money and had I of bought this in the store I'd be returning it. She replied this morning saying the warehouse doesn't allow that, even for her. Oh well. I'll put it somewhere even if that means relist on ebay. As far as returning the box, I honestly don't feel as thought I should have to do anything other than send her pics. I live out in the country and it's an inconvenience for me to have to drop the package off at UPS. I don't know how returns normally work but I'm hoping they show up at my door. It's not my problem/fault it broke. work in progress - I've never had anything arrive damaged from ebay and I've been buying for a couple of years now. Usually sellers package things well. I am glad they changed the feedback thing that sellers can only leave positive. I did have an incident where it took almost two months for a purse to arrive. I could've drove and picked it up faster.(in the same state) He wasn't responsive. I debated what type of feedback to leave for fear of him ruining my perfect rating. Gave him a big fat negative because it's truly what he deserved. Plus lots of other people were having probs and doing the same. He never bothered to leave me fb or any of the others from what I could see. I don't sell that often but when I do I'm sure it takes the buyer forever to get to the item because of all the layers of bubble wrap, etc. When buying I always look at the detailed description of their feedback. I only buy from sellers with a good record. This lady has 100% rating from hundreds of items so I'm not real worried. So far she's been very nice and apologetic about the whole thing.

Stearling, ornate and heavy, polished to a soft sheen Poison Silk drapes French Doors A real fire place and a glass of wonderful port Hot and strong tea brewed in a thick brown pot, with milk and sugar Scones Oriental carpets Tapestry in faded colors Crown molding Detailed woodwork Carera marble A real christmas tree with white lights Mohair and cashmir (not my spelling) Burgundy wine Leather furniture without budda bellies Libraries Parlors Fabulous entry halls Antique quilts, both silk and flower sack warm colors Silk dresses Rubies on a red head :) Im feeling a bit homesick since I'm in hospital and we have an imminent death in the family so forgive me if I get a bit maudlin here... A new baby's smile A fluffy down comforter Comfortable pillows (ok I'm tired of sleeping in a chair) Cabernet, Burgundy and any other wine LOL A family, all together A meal cooked with love That fire place I mentioned earlier, with the family, baby and meal...and the burgundy :)