I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Saturday, May 16, 2026

Imaginary Flea Market

 


Hi! Spring cleaning--nope, never really did it, I do a Fall and Holidays cleaning instead. But this year since I lost Mo, I've changed my tune. Still scrubbing schmutzes on walls, vacuuming endless ''pug glitter''/ shedded fur. This week I'm washing and /or putting on new loose [ha!] slipcovers on my white sofas and chair. Oh it's hard to do, what a workout. Back is killing me. Instead of fitted IKEA covers I got inexpensive loose covers. They look a lot like sheets. I hope to get used to this look--at least they look clean, until I can finally save up for new furniture. 

I've been tackling closets and kitchen cupboards too. The kitchen has produced some very fun finds, long forgotten! Like these pink vintage mixing bowls. 

I don't collect pink bowls, have no idea why or when I bought them, prob at the Big Sunday Flea pre-covid?


I only remember the largest one, grey, white, and pink. I used it for dyed Easter eggs years ago. No memory at all of the others. Note the wobbly edge.

It is crudely finished, 1920-30s American. Unglazed base.


Then this 1940s-ish lusterware. Tacky then, tacky now.


A pink and burgundy stripe, Hull? before 1950s?



USA but no brand mark.

A small but fine RingWare Beehive, California Pottery or Bauer. on the left, Dusty Rose color. Art Deco fad, c. 1930s. This is the most valuable piece, they run over $40.oo-60.oo on eBay.


I also found my McCoy pots, all except the much wanted pink one. Why is it missing? [these are also expensive now, in $45-55 dollar range for tiniest size].


And I see some Swedish crystal vases, mid-century modern and Waterford. [My mom adored ''Danish Modern, despite my dad's total focus on American colonial and primitive] I hope to get someone to climb up on the ladder and reach them down. Note the ladybug planter, second row/right.


In the bedroom is a pine library file case; I use it to store my random treasures. I found the old letters from my mom, and old photos of my kids in primary school. And I found a lovely small travel alarm clock in a red lizard case, My grandma brought it for one of her Euro trips she took each summer. The case is a horseshoe. And it has glow in the dark numerals. My brother collects mid century small alarm clocks...so I mailed it off to him. Sorry I forgot to take its pic tho. c.1950?

Then I found a long forgotten old milk bottle. Actually eBay says it is a cottage cheese jar.


I love it, fun to rediscover . I remember it in my college apartment filled with daisies--or paint brushes, probably was  dump dug by my dad. The embossed logo says Drink Milk for Economy and Health. Good to know it endorses my cottage cheese and veg afternoon snack. And on the base it says Universal Milk Bottle Company. Not for Resale. Cincinnati. 

c. early 1900s

It's in the window now, I m hoping it turns purple. I'll fill it again with daisies soon, I hope.

Today's project was easy and pleasant: unearthing the blue and white  Staffordshire transferware plates and platters.


They get a good wash and will replace the black Staffordshire in the next few days. In recent years I have kept the black version displayed, as it's been my favorite. The blues were such joy to rediscover.

I also found this gorgeous big heavy spattterware platter. Bought years ago, never really looked at til I washed it today. Examining the base, I realized it's an old, antique even, piece, not an 80s Cute Countree revival copy.


Real fleas! Once years ago I had a chance to go to Brimfield but I blew it.

I am sad to be missing the fleas. Even the church white elephant will be exciting when I manage to get there with its current odd times and poor parking. HERE My brother has been stepping up and often sends me pics and finds from the Ohio fleas. Note the stenciled crocks, painted tool box, the quilts, painted butt basket!

Springfield Extravaganza: HERE

He and my SIL collect things that I don't so no conflict except we all love vintage Christmas, marbles thimbles and so on. She collects miniature sewing machines! And J  likes Rookwood, toys, etc. 



My brother has a great eye for the Americana prims I love. He sends pics--and boxes finds, so thrilled always.



He's been looking for pantry boxes and firkins for me. Often he is outraged recently tho by what he calls New York prices. I think he said this stack of maybe not authentic/ modern repro/ recently painted firkins was almost $700.oo.


Or---nevermind the firkins, lookit this red bench. swoon.


This pitcher--one of their best finds for me:


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meanwhile back in the sewing room I made my first mock up of Posies/ aka Lizzy's Last Garden:


and started my seeds on the deck.

At first I wasn't too happy w Posies but as it's hung there all week I am starting to love it. I think it's the polka dot leaves, an unintended touch.


I'm also working on Boardwalk, mostly. Soon I 'll be sidetracked bedazzling and tie-dying camp shirts and sewing doll clothes. K-pop Demon Hunter costumes, for oh so wholesome Am Girl dolls. Omigosh. Three sets!😧
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Sure was glad one rare warm day that I took down the storm windows and washed all the windows. (she said sarcastically). Gale warning instantly flashed up of course. But most of my seeds are in, early. Thing to do item  accomplished! ✅




Note the ''feels'' temp, brrr.



More soon!


love

lizzy 

gone to the beach...

weird Moby Dick cloud or is it a UFO?



More pink petals snow so loved by me and  Baby Mo on our chilly May walks.


erosion, sandbars: 









Saturday, May 9, 2026

Happy Mother's Day


Happy Mother's Day, dear friends ♥️


In memory of my mom who was the inspiration for this blog. We wrote real letters weekly and shared journals traded every month, since I left home age 18. This blog was created to fill empty spaces when she died.

And remembering my sweet MIL who made the holiday ALL about her as was her way. My ex husband planted an azalea every year in her yard in Brooklyn.  I wonder if they're still there, much larger but still beautiful.


And to Baby Mo, who filled the empty nest spaces in my heart for 12 loving special years. He let me be  his mom, he was my dearest boy.

You are always in my heart, Mo, we'll met again someday in time.



love to all my friends and readers. Hugs across the miles from my heart.


love

lizzy

gone to the beach....



Saturday, May 2, 2026

MAY

 


Hi! It's May! May, yes it's  May. Don't get me wrong---here at the Beach,  May is still spring---cold grey, windy, depressing. Rain, rain. But a tulip blooms and hope springs eternal. May is better than February. Maybe.

Yesterday on my walk I noticed that the few ornamental trees , planted years ago in the common area near my home, have overnight burst into leaf and bloom. The red leafed black cherry has , well, green leaves, where a day ago it was barren.


The ancient peach tree and crabapple have bloomed, the winds  scattering Mo's much loved pink snow [petals].


The giant dwarf  Japanese maple has abundant burgundy red leaves; even the ugly locust has knobs of green budding leaves and the chittering squirrel is back.

.

I'm not fooled though! My flannel sheets went back on the bed. I did finally change out Winter Marsh quilt for this lovely pink make-do, a fave of mine. 


I call this quilt block Chimney Sweep or Album Block.


Juliann has an interesting post with another version called Granny Squares, inspired by crocheted afghans. Blog post link: HERE


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With trepidation and sadness I'm starting to plan my deck's container garden.


I'm being brave and carrying on but this may be my last effort to garden [and sew]. Sewing Hour just won't be the same without Mo,



We had twelve summers together--it started because I had a severe pain flare up summer of  2016, could barely walk/ no beach or swim etc.  I created a routine indulging his Pug mindset that so loved a strict routine--out at 3--he'd see me make his bowl of ice water and prepping the sewing box. Then we'd set up, gentle play time, brush his  copious fur, reward of small jerky chew then nap while mom sewed with occasional alerts of gulls or helicopters overhead. We'd be so quiet, what a joy--visits by bumblebees, hummingbirds, butterflies, ladybirds. The sparrows. all noted later in my scribble journal

Then, ice cream, just a spoonful, was delivered at 4.30 in his special snowman bowl. He'd see that bowl and just be so excited, he'd wiggle all over. When clearing away his things, I just could not discard that little bowl. By five-ish we'd head indoors, a rest [yes again], then dinner and walkies as the hot summer day cooled down. Pugs adore routine and can tell time--variations were greeted with sulks and refusals. Heaven forbid dinner was late! But also--he'd scorn his food bowl until 5.30 on the dot.

I had a dream about Mo the other night, he was glaring at me, in his special  communicative way and his mental telepathy voice in my head, whined:

 "Mommy I do not want a damn bracelet, I wants treats and my own bed!" It made me realise what a useless gesture the memorial bracelet is,  it's just for me. Self-indulgent.

Oh no, heaven is not measuring up??

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I made quite a bit of progress on the Boardwalk strips. This most recent batch is, I think, successful, finally. It's pretty!



I'm pleased! I think I have captured the feel of the original. [the blue plaid at the bottom front is another quilt]


 Inspiration quilt, no pattern.

I laid it all out on my bed



and took notes, made a list of the next steps, since I will be out of service next week to ten days due to my bimonthly medical infusion treatment. I hope I remember what the notes mean, lol. 

And still waiting for a different background fabric/ yardage for Posies.

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I did some food prep  yesterday and today. Made a big casserole in my Le Creuset pot. A silly but easy to eat comfort food, my grandma always made it for me when we'd visit. Something that said Love after the long tedious drive. [my dad would drop us off and go hunting or sailing w my uncle...] She called it goulash, much to my mom's annoyance. My mom made a gourmet Hungarian goulash w sweet paprika, and so dubbed Grandma's Hamburger Helper-ish food "Grandma's Dish": Ground beef, onion, pasta, can of whole tomatoes, water, herbs on stove top. A variation could have mushrooms and sour cream. Perfect kid food, or after medical day nourishment. (gets gloppy if overcooked w too much water, takes a focused cook to get it right)

I made salads too, in single serving containers: slaw and also Belgian endive w radishes and avocado, lemon vinaigrette. I do love the peppery crisp early spring vegs, this week's radishes are at their peak.

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Back soon though. I want to get back to posting on Fridays. Do you have a certain day you prefer to read new posts. Like w Saturday AM coffee? Or...? Pls tell me?

A May Basket block from a British quilting mag, so pretty.

Have great weekend and enjoy May/ springtime [or fall, of course]

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...