Newsletter Subscription

Saturday, January 10, 2009

IT TAKES TWO MEN TO PLEASE ME!

My favorite Christmas gift was this divided server. My husband went to my favorite antique store, which is in the middle of nowhere. I guess the name of the town (if you can call it that) is Etowah. There is one grocery store/gas station, a number of farmer's homes, and this large antique store, consisting of three buildings. Steven, who manages the shop, has become a good friend (because I'm in there so much). Steven probably knows what I like better than my sweet husband, who thinks I would like clothing more than an antique divided server.

I'll say this for my husband, he knows when to ask for help (after almost 40 years with me), so he went to Garden Point (the aforementioned antique store) before Christmas, and asked Steven if he had any suggestions for a Christmas present for Laurie. Steven immediately pulled out this divided server, and said ..."this is Laurie". Of course, Steven wanted to sell something, but he was SO right! This IS me! I am always attracted to anything that goes on the table. I am always attracted to quaint, charming pictures, and for some unknown reason, I am always attracted to anything with a Dutch theme, and I think this bowl is Dutch. So, my wonderful husband took Steven's word for it, and bought me the bowl. The two men pleased me very much (did you think I was going to talk about something else?)!


These pictures seem a little unrelated. I think they may have related to a nursery rhyme or maybe a folk tale.






Or possibly, several nursery rhymes.




These charming pictures are all over it. Around the edges on the outside...




Around the edges of the inside.







On either side of the handle.







On the bottom of the interior of the bowl.







Didn't my sweet husband do a great job of buying a gift for me?


And didn't Steven do a great job of showing him what to buy?


And isn't it great that it only takes two men to make me so happy?


I have no idea what it says on the bottom of this piece. If you can read this, I think your eyes are much younger than mine, or you have a much better set of eye glasses than mine, or you can read a foreign language. Please let me know if you know what it says.



EDITED TO ADD: A VERY KIND ANONYMOUS VISITOR LEFT THE FOLLOWING COMMENT ON THIS POST:
Your divided bowl is quite lovely. Being a curious sort here, I began to search the identity of the name on the bottom of it. Here is what I found about it:Sarreguemines is the name of a French town that is used as part of a china mark. Utzschneider and Company, a porcelain factory, made ceramics in Sarreguemines, Lorraine, France, from about 1775. Transfer-printed wares and majolica were made in the nineteenth century. The nineteenth-century pieces, most often found today, usually have colorful transfer-printed decorations showing peasants in local costumes.
WHOMEVER YOU ARE, I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LEAVING ME THIS MESSAGE. I COULD NOT EVEN READ THE WORDS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BOWL. IT WAS SO KIND OF YOU TO GO TO THE TROUBLE TO GIVE ME THIS INFORMATION.

~~~~~~~~~~~


When I saw this award on other blogs, I just thought it was the cutest thing. My friends, my sister, and I used to have lemonade stands when we were children. I don't think we ever made more than $2.00 for an afternoon of selling lemonade, and if our mothers had required us to pay for the supplies, we would have gone into debt at a very early age.




The concept behind this award is that the blog creators have shown an uncanny knack for silver linings and making the best of bad situations (i.e., lemonade from lemons).The rules are simply to name ten sites that reflect this silver lining philosophy.

Wow! What a great concept. I have seen SO many bloggers that have taken lemons and made lemonade. Some have done it by turning trash into treasure, and some of done it by turning hardships into something wonderful. That is why I am so proud to have been presented this award by such great bloggers: Mary Ellen at Mary's Meanderings,
and Tardevil at Confessions of a 40-Something Mama Queen sure know how to make lemonade out of lemons. If you haven't visited them, please go by and see their fantastic blogs. Thank you so much Mary Ellen and Tardevil.

I'm sure it's no surprise to anyone that I am not passing this award along. I hate to be such a party pooper, but I really just can't ever decide to whom to pass it, especially since I think most bloggers have already received it.

Thank you so much for coming to visit my blog. Hopefully, next Saturday I will be able to begin the "Share A Space Saturday" postings again. I'm afraid the holidays have left me moving in slow motion!laurie

54 comments:

The Muse said...

Congrats on the award...and to your nominee...
also...LOL fab on the title of the post, naughty gal LOL...

so envious, ok not ENVIOUS in the mean nasty way...but I DO...LOVE your little decorated beauty...simply too cute!

Coloradolady said...

What a lovely dish. Husbands can surprise us sometimes! I have never seen a dish like this one, very charming.

Belinda said...

Laurie, I love this plate! Its so interesting, with such great detail. The depiction of the cow and the turkeys are wonderful! Your husband (and Steven!) did a great job shopping for you. :-)

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Oh Laurie I was expecting somthing juicy and you know that WOW sleeping with the BOSS and then another man...ok Gloria mind out of gutter girl..thats what happen after reading a Joan Collins book..any hoo I do so love your dish girl and all the little pictures on it..I bet it tells some kind of story..does Steven know anything about the piece where it came from etc?? you know me I am so nosey about antiques..Girl I pick our poor dealers brains apart when I go into their shops..hope you have a great week end dear friend..see you around the blogland..hugs and smiles Gloria

Carol said...

The dish is beautiful Laurie. The pictures are so interesting.
Smiles,
Carol

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

That is just about the cutest bowl ever! So many little stories in one place...love it! Susan

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Congrats on your award..I was beginning to wonder what in the world this post was going to be about...had be going there for a bit. The dish is beautiful.. your husband and Steven did a great job. huummmmm, I'm wondering what the gift for Valentines day is going to be... :-) Have a super w/k. hugs ~lynne~

Anonymous said...

Laurie the dish is so cute, Hubby and Steven did great, didn't they? Love Ya! Connie

Tardevil said...

Laurie,
Your husband did well! Lucky for mine, I'm not near that 3 building antique store. It always worries him when store owners know me by name! I guess he SHOULD BE concerned! You're right, it is hard to choose to whom to pass an award along.

Four Paws and Co said...

Whooo hoooo - you had me going there! The two guys were a dynamic duo and that's an amazing dish. I've never seen anything quite like it. You're certainly a very lucky lady! ♥ Diane

ps congrats on the awards!

Lady Katherine said...

I love your sweet,lovely bowl! How wonderful! To have two guys to pick out a present for you, that you would love so much!

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Laurie...Congrats on your award! And I love your server. It does look sort of Pennsylvania Dutch, doesn't it? It's adorable! Enjoy your weekend...Debbie

Glenda said...

You definitely have a "keeper" there, Laurie. A rare man, that is not afraid to ask for help or advice. Smart move on his part and the best thing about it is, you reap the benefit. From where I sit, that makes it a win, win situation. He gained a happy wife and you gained a gorgeous dish.

Lynette said...

Your dish is perfect for you - isn't it so nice to be known so well? I'm afraid I can't help you with any info on it, but isn't that part of the charm - you can create it's own history?!?
Congrats on the award - well deserved.

kymber said...

Wow Laurie,
I am sure you are going to have some interesting "hits" on your blog over this saucy title!

Beautiful piece - he did well!
Blessing
Kymber

Kathleen Ellis said...

What a cute dish...I wonder if it was made for children? It does appear to be telling a story of some kind. Very cute,,I think it would be great to use in a nursery for organizing on a dresser.
Have a great week, Laurie!

playsdolls said...

Laurie your dish is so cute,it must be so nice to have two men who know you so well.

Tomarie said...

Oh my! What a beautiful and quaint dish...and piece of art!! Of course being a preschool teacher..makes me love it even more since I love teaching nursery rhymes! (We actually act them out on stage at the end of the year with costumes and all! :-))
And what a great thing that your men know you so well! :-) L~

Bo said...

Good morning Laurie...You know how to hook us with your post titles...
heehee! What an adorable server...I couldn't read the mark either...but wouldn't it be great to learn of its origin...let us know if some of your readers have a clue, OK? As for the award, you are most deserving...and like you said, they are difficult to pass along...so I prefer to do a blanket invitation to any & all...
Have a lovely Sunday! ;-) Bo

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Laurie, love the beautiful server. All the wonderful pictures on it are just too cute. How sweet your DH went to one of your favorite places to shop. He's a real keeper. Hug, Marty

ellen b. said...

You had me going with the title of your post. Now that man of yours has learned well. Any guy who asks for help is out of the ordinary :0)
The divided dish is fabulous. Steven made a good choice...

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Good Mornin' Girlfriend...

You know my friend...if I'd seen that dish sitting there all pretty by itself...and had to match it to someone...I would have picked you!!! It really is soooo "you"!!! I just love it and it reminds me a bit of your quimperware (Oh, hope I spelled that right!) I say that your two men knew you pretty well...hehe!!! What a honey you have...such a beautiful Christmas gift!!!

Hope that you're having a wonderful weekend, my friend!
Love ya,
Chari

Helen said...

I don't think I've ever seen such a unique and adorable dish...what a treasure!

Laurie - Decorating Fanatic said...

Haaa! Laurie! My eyes about popped out of my head when I had seen your title! haa! But oh what a lovely platter! I have never seen anything like that before, it's so sweet. And what a good man you've got, to ask for "directions" to keep his wife happy! Enjoy your day. ~ Laurie

Anonymous said...

Boy, you scared me at first:) That's a beautiful bowl and how great that you can plant something in his mind to tell your husband you want it. Very Smart.

Hugs,
Chris

Sue said...

Oh my !!!!!!!love your divided dish ---the two men did a great job, your husband can shop for me


sue

Anonymous said...

CONGRATS ON THE AWARD.DOESN'T IT MAKE YOUR HEART SING?AND I LOVE YOUR POST TODAY.I LOVE-THAT DISH.WHERE'S MY BIG PURSE?I'LL BE RIGHT OVER...ANN

Anonymous said...

love the dish, quite unusual isn't it, gotta love a man who buys you dishes ;-)

Sarah

Kristens Creations said...

Hi Laurie, What a great serving dish! Love all the little stories around it. Thanks for taking a look at the frames. I am getting lots of great ideas!! Kristen

xinex said...

Oh Laurie, I want that divided dish! What a good job Danny and Steven did! The pictures on the dish are amazingly gorgeous! It's truly a one of a kind find....Christine

SmilingSally said...

How beautiful! You have a GREAT camera. I can't get such sharp close-ups.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Laurie, the little dish is precious! What a good hubby! Do you think it's a child's dish?
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Stacey said...

Laurie your dish is absolutely amazing! Your two guys :) did a great job!! You have to find the perfect spot for it and show it to everyone who comes over. I would!

Congrats on the award too.

Ginger said...

I love a man that is not afraid to ask for help. He did great. I couldn't read the bottom either, but it looks like a signature of the maker, maybe.
I love the title of your post!!

Chris Kauffman said...

I just wanted to answer you varathane question, I built the island 3 1/2 years ago , I coated it then and coated it once since then , it has never chipped , the surface if pine so it does get a nic down to the unstained wood , which I can easily touch up , the varathane has worn beautifully , I would recommend it .
Chris

nikkicrumpet said...

I'm not one of you "dish gals" but I must admit that one would get my heart pumping...I love it and all the little pictures. Nice job hubby and Steven!

Kat said...

What a great serving dish. It's so charming with all the little stories. Your hubby sounds like a keeper! Hugs, kathy

Scooterblu's Whimsy~Rhonda said...

Sounds like you have a personal shopper! LOL! I was wondering where this post was headed...from the title! LOLOL! The platter is very unique and beautiful, both men did very well! :)

And I scrolled on down to your Tablescape post and it is gorgeous! Love the snowflakes on the napkins! ~hugs, Rhonda :)

Anonymous said...

Well, you sure got our attention you clever girl! Oh I can't tell you how much my heart fluttered when I saw that adorable dish. I do believe we are sister's that would of been my favorite Christmas present too. Such a sweet hubby and I think I would love Steven's shop too. Maybe you could take us virutal shopping? Love, Cindy

Kat said...

Hi Laurie - tag you're it. I've tagged you for the photo tag game. It's fun, so I hope you join in
Kathy

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Oh Laurie...Thanks so much for dropping by my blog and for the prayers. I so appreciate your support, my friend!...hugs...Debbie

squawmama said...

Hi Laurie.... What a great title to get our attention... LOL LOL Your husband & Steven did an excellent job of finding the perfect gift for you... I would have loved it too... It is a lovely dish and I am sure you will treasure it forever... How special...

(((HUGS)))
Donna

The Muse said...

Hello ms Laurie...I come bearing many thank yous for your most kind expression of support on the blogs, 100th celebration!
Through your help, and the comment of others, I hope I can continue to learn and grow.
Please know that I ever so appreciate your thoughtfulness!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Laurie, thanks for letting me know you got the Bissell! I hope you enjoy yours as much as I think I'm going to love mine. Still getting used to how it works & the only thing that bugs me is the cord won't stay all that well in that little cutout on the top handle. If you haven't found that yet, you can pull the cord all the way up to the handle & tuck it into a little cutout, but it doensn't always stay there. Other than that little quirk, I really do like it!

Unknown said...

That dish is beautiful! sorry I can't figure the marking out either.
Congrats on the award.

~Liz

Kathysue said...

Laurie, What a wonderful gift and it is so charming.I love all the pictures.What a thoughtful husband you have and I think Steve is definitely on your team.I bet you would have loved anything that your husband got you just because he was sweet enough to make such a special effort to get you something so thoughtful.He is a keeper,Kathysue

Rue said...

Hi Laurie :)

Your title made me laugh so hard I about fell out of my chair LOL

That dish is absolutely darling!! What a couple of sweeties :)

Your blogging dork... rue ;)

Miss Janice said...

Lord have mercy...when I saw the title of the post, I thought "What"? Love all the stories of the bowl and congrats on that sweet award...lemonade stands--such a sweet thing of the past

Anonymous said...

Your divided bowl is quite lovely. Being a curious sort here, I began to search the identity of the name on the bottom of it. Here is what I found about it:
Sarreguemines is the name of a French town that is used as part of a china mark. Utzschneider and Company, a porcelain factory, made ceramics in Sarreguemines, Lorraine, France, from about 1775. Transfer-printed wares and majolica were made in the nineteenth century. The nineteenth-century pieces, most often found today, usually have colorful transfer-printed decorations showing peasants in local costumes.

LillyB said...

Lovely dish! Hubby did good. Wow that was really nice of the sweet person (mystery) to help you out like that! Isn't it funny how we all have our talents? Thank you for not sending the award...they are so great to get but I never know who to send them too either!! I would rather just admire yours!!
Have a great day my friend!!

Sara's Sweet Surprise said...

I need Steven to coach my poor hubby on the "what to" buy me. My hubby is already breaking out in hives by the mere thought of having to shop for my Birthday and it's a month away!!!

I ADORE!!! those darling dishes. Oh my, I think my green is showing through LOL! The fellows did good.

Sweet Wishes,
Sara

Sara's Sweet Surprise said...

P.S What I meant to say was...those darlings on your dish. See what happens when your overcome by jealousy.

Sweet Wishes.(again)
Sara

Chandy said...

Laurie, that is one beautiful piece! I've been wondering where you got the image of your new header... Glad to know now. That's awesome that two wonderful men knew just what you would like. It certainly helps right? ;-)

Delightfully Wed said...

I love dishes, too. You're hubby did a great job with the help of Steven. I'd love to visit that 3 building antique store. I do love your divided dish...it is an unusual piece.

I am from a very small town in Arkansas, too. And I do mean very small...my kids are grown..one lives here and one about 20 miles away.

Catchy title! LOL You got my attention and curiousity.