Retail Therapy, 3rd Pumpkin and Caleb

So, you want to know what was in all those boxes the mail lady left on our back porch?  OK!  Well, you know about the museum display that another DAR lady and I install in the VA Hospital in Portland, OR.. right?  I always am looking for a few more things to make it even more interesting.  I noticed in one of the other DAR chapters display there was a patriotic doll.  So, I did a search on eBay and I found this wonderful porcelain doll depicting Betsy Ross!  I sniped the auction (waiting until the last 20-30 seconds before the auction ends) and got her.  I must say, my heart starts beating and I get short of breath before hitting that button, watching the seconds tick down.. :-D

I think she's beautiful and I love her heart shaped sewing basket and the antiqued 13 star flag she's sewing on.  She came with her own pretty antique style chair, too.

Do you think the real Betsy Ross was this attractive?  I doubt it!  

I also had looked many times on eBay and in antique stores for a vintage pair of spectacles such that the signors of the Constitution would have worn - to lay on my replica copy of the document next to the inkwell and quill pen... and I found these ca. 1850s pair for a very reasonable price!  (I photographed these on an open page of my other new eBay purchase).. "The Private World of Tasha Tudor".. oh what a wonderful book!

We have our 3 year old grandson, Caleb, here for 4 days as our son and DIL are on a getaway weekend to relax for a while.  He said... let me put those on.. so here are my spectacles on a very cute face.. :-)

My 3rd and last museum display piece that I found while doing a search on eBay is this very small but very cute bronze cannon with the brass plaque on the side that fits our display perfectly!!  Isn't it cute?

NOW.. the the fun stuff!  While looking for a few more Jadeite Fire King Alice plates I came upon this pair of salt and pepper shakers and they have the SAME flowers on them as the Alice plates.. I got a good deal on them and just love them!

I'm in love with these.. I have to run them through the dishwasher before I fill them. 

I was also the highest bidder on 1 Alice plate, 1 Jane Ray plate (the simpler ones with just the ridged rims) and 1 bowl - at a good price!  I'm now at 3 Alice plates and 3 Jane Ray.  AND.. another auction was for this nesting mixing bowl set of 4.  Oh yes.. all are perfect.  These were not very cheap but hey.. ummmm... errrr.. I wanted them? 

The basket we got at the OFFF festival. 

This is the bouquet of dahlias I bought at the Swan Island Dahlia farm visit.   

I plopped them in a 2 quart Ball jar - vintage blue of course. 

Caleb has been here 26 hours now and he's been an absolute doll!  Buddy has been a bit growly and nippy with these littlest guys as they are a bit aggressive with him.. but things seem to be improving as they get older and I was pleased as punch to see them checking each other out in a positive manner.... :-) 

Caleb received Buddy's seal of approval with some sniffing and licking and Caleb was giggling up a storm.. just simply precious. 

Caleb has been fascinated with my iPad and I knew he'd want to use it so I came up with an alternative -- our old iPod -- so here he is on my lap playing with it.. and now my iPad is safe.. LOL!

Grandpa held the yarn for me while I rolled it into a ball.. he's good that way.  Caleb was fascinated with the procedure.

And I even managed to crochet this 3rd pumpkin with our little guest on my lap too -- so now I have 3!  Which one do you like the best?  I like the variety of the 3 colors. 

Currently most of my Autumn table display has been relocated to higher ground.. can you guess why?  :-) 

We are thinking of taking Caleb to see "Ice Age 4" at the "Hood Theater" and out to dinner.  I hope your week will be wonderful!  Thanks so much for coming to visit!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)