La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I walked to the pharmacy yesterday evening around 7:30. It was 43˚C/110˚F in the sun (but only 41C/106F in the shade). I walked the three minutes in half sun and half shade. Today, I finally got out of the house at 11:30 to enjoy some fresh air ahead of the heat. I was too late, but it was better than it is now and I had an hour-long walk. I’ve been holed up since then. Right now, I’m awaiting our grocery delivery. Poor guy having to haul all that in this heat.
As promised, I’m back today with more of our tchotchkes on the breakfront of life. (I’m quoting Bette Midler, although she was referring to the Harlettes). And these are not the last of them. (I’m still not referring to the Harlettes.)
It astounds me to consider we downsized significantly when we moved to Spain in 2011. My guess is we gave away or sold close to 90% of our belongings. Or maybe 75%. But most of what we owned. And I can’t count the number of times I’ve taken things to the charity shop here. Conspicuous consumption?
Last night just before 11, San Geraldo said, “I feel a draft. Is a window open?” A draft? It was still 36C/97F outside and a window was, blessedly, not open. Besides, the thermostat was set to 22.5C/72.5F. He was sitting below a vent. A draft!
Ayer por la tarde, alrededor de las 19:30, fui caminando a la farmacia. Hacía 43°C/110°F al sol (pero solo 41°C/106°F a la sombra). Caminé tres minutos a medio sol y medio sombra. Hoy, por fin salí de casa a las 11:30 para disfrutar del aire fresco antes de que llegara el calor. Llegué tarde, pero hacía mejor tiempo que ahora y di un paseo de una hora. Desde entonces, he estado encerrada en casa. Ahora mismo, estoy esperando la entrega de la compra. Pobre hombre, tener que cargar con todo eso con este calor.
Como prometí, hoy les traigo más de nuestras curiosidades en la vanguardia de la vida. (Cito a Bette Midler, aunque ella se refería a las Harlettes). Y estas no son las últimas. (Sigo sin referirme a las Harlettes).
Me asombra pensar que redujimos significativamente nuestras pertenencias cuando nos mudamos a España en 2011. Calculo que regalamos o vendimos cerca del 90% de nuestras cosas. O tal vez el 75%. Pero casi todo lo que teníamos. Y no puedo contar la cantidad de veces que he llevado cosas a la tienda benéfica de aquí. ¿Consumo ostentoso?
Anoche, justo antes de las 11, San Geraldo dijo: «Siento una corriente de aire. ¿Hay alguna ventana abierta?». ¿Una corriente de aire? Afuera todavía hacía 36 °C/97 °F y, por suerte, no había ninguna ventana abierta. Además, el termostato estaba puesto a 22,5 °C/72,5 °F. Estaba sentado debajo de una rejilla de ventilación. ¡Una corriente de aire!
• Jarra “Roan” de Iron Mountain Stoneware. La empresa se fundó en 1965 y cerró sus puertas en 1992. SG trabajó en una tienda de moda en Sioux Falls, Dakota del Sur, en los años 70 (de moda en cualquier lugar, algo inaudito en Sioux Falls) llamada Larsen Designs. Allí compró muchos artículos muy interesantes y especiales.
• Cazuela Blue Ridge de Iron Mountain Stoneware. SG tenía una vajilla Blacksburg cuando nos conocimos, también comprada en Larsen Designs. Era preciosa, pesaba muchísimo, y se desconchaba con mucha facilidad. La donamos a una organización benéfica cuando nos encontramos con seis juegos de vajilla (sin desconchones).
• Cuando llegamos a España en 2011, San Geraldo tenía que tener un mortero y una maja en condiciones. Incluso los ha usado varias veces.
• Tablas de cortar (tablas para servir) compradas para la cena de Navidad en nuestra casa de Fuengirola en 2023. Haz clic aquí.
• Tazón grande. Ambas piezas de Wedgewood son de Leslie, de San Diego.
• Plato para pasteles, más de 100 años de antigüedad, que perteneció a la abuela paterna de SG.
• Going away gift to SG when he left Seattle for Boston. (From a boyfriend; it included a black silk rose which symbolized the end of a cycle; rebirth; mystery; and profound, unconventional love. I’m glad I didn’t know any of this until yesterday. I just always knew he liked the vase.
• Regalo de despedida para SG cuando se fue de Seattle a Boston. (De un novio; incluía una rosa de seda negra que simbolizaba el final de un ciclo; renacimiento; misterio; y un amor profundo y poco convencional. Me alegro de no haber sabido nada de esto hasta ayer. Solo siempre sabía que le gustaba el jarrón.
• Bandeja de aluminio de Arthur Court con ojo de ágata verde. De Larsen Designs, 1975.
Some wonderful tchotchkes. I lived in Minneapolis in the early 1970s but had family living in Western Minnesota. Like Larsen’s in Sioux Falls, you would have been surprised at the number of small gift stores out that way at that time that had amazing pottery, giftware and such I still have some of those items, though I happily got rid of a rainbow-glass (think v. gaudy, not pretty) cowboy boot vase received as a wedding present. Come to think of it, I got rid of that husband as well. 🙂 Mary
Mary:
There were some surprisingly cool shops in those years in unexpected places. A cowboy boot vase? I’ll bet you miss that now. But not the husband!
Maaaaaaan, you two have some beautiful things! Every one made me shake my head and drop my mouth open in awe. I really love the ones that Jerry made– the colors and finish are just great.
So nice to see that photo of SG and Joan 🙂 I’ll have to go look her up in his book 🙂 (I’ve read lots and lots of it, but not cover to cover.)
I was busy dealing with the freakin’ trapped bird in my house, and a new blog post I’m working on, for the past few days, so I missed your two earlier blog posts, but I’ve read them, now! Can’t wait to see the aquarium! (And… whew… I think an aquarium that weighs a ton with water in it, might just possibly be a bit big, yes–ha!)
Judy C:
Oh, I often think about our art glass collection we left behind. Ah well.
OMG that gorgeous fish platter from Larsen Designs! So, after 45 years together, SG finally thought it was safe enough to mention that the vase came from a former boyfriend? Hahahahahaha!
Debra She Who Seeks:
That fish platter has hung in almost every kitchen since we’ve been together. And it gets used for special occassions, too. SG did tell me who the vase was from. I just never really cared to register who that actually was. Now, it’s just funny. Then I probably would have resented how he treasured it.
The Roan pitcher is lovely, as is the very early depression glass cake plate!
Can’t imagine the heat/humidity you guys are experiencing…….we are moaning about 81% humidity with a temperature of 21C.
Jim:
Currently 17% humidity. But, yeah, 36 degrees in the shade.
I had to take a picture of the fish serving platter. Could I do that in a ceramic? Why yes, I think I could. Not as well, of course, but a similar design. I wish I was capable of making things like that casserole or the pitcher. And I adore the Sarah’s Garden Wedgewood.
The vase? Not my favorite although I’m sure it’s very dramatic with the proper flower arrangement in it.
It’s 79 degrees on my back porch right now. It’s raining. I am literally wearing a sweater.
Mary Moon:
All SG had to do was paint that platter. But he had a lot of patience and fun inspiration. I’m glad you’re not figuratively wearing a sweater. I don’t think that would help. Over 100 again here. Tomorrow is supposed to be a bit cooler (mid 90s).
I have a green cake plate like that, but I have absolutely no idea where it is. I guess in a box somewhere from all my moves in the last 10 years. I like the roan pitcher with the utensils in it.
Michael:
Yes, I love using the pitcher for utensils. I love the green cake plate.
My mother had one of those fish platters and I have no idea what happened to it.
I love the Iron Mountain Stoneware pieces and remember reading of Larsen’s in SG’S book.
That clear green glass cake plate is stunning!
It sounds like you cleaned house before moving but kept the things that really mattered!
Bob:
The fish platter keeps going up in value. Maybe some day we’ll be able to retire on it… oh, never mind. I do love SG’s grandmother’s cake plate, and it looks beautiful in use, too. We gave a lot of thought to what was special for us. Still, we had to make some tough decisions.
I find it amazing that you know so much about these pieces. I’ve forgotten where and when I got at least half my stuff, even the artists’ names of some of the work in my art collection because I never wrote any of it down.
ellen abbott:
I wish I remembered more. Some pieces I only remember as acquiring when we were in Connecticut but I can’t remember if we bought them or someone else did. Frustrating. I especially hate to forget the gifts.
My fave amongst this “show’n’tell” is that lovely green glass cake plate. I don’t know why it “sings” to me, but it does. Jx
Jon:
The glass cake plate is so simple and so elegant. It sings to me, too. And very special that it belonged to SG’s grandparents, whom I knew really well.
I long for the day I give away or rid myself of 90% of my things.
Urspo:
It was definitely freeing. We have a lot of stuff again, but nowhere near we had before.
Every item connects to a story, a memory.
David:
I just wish I could remember them all. But it’s been a long, long time.
So many lovely things! I never get attached for long, so I have only a few. But I enjoyed wandering about your collection. Boud
Boud:
We’ve eased off significantly, but we still do like “things.”
Larsen Designs must have been quite the trendy shop. All of these are interesting and beautiful. I especially like the cake plate, and cool that it has a family connection.
We gave away or sold most of our stuff when we moved overseas, and now we have a houseful. And we rarely buy anything. I don’t know how it happened. (Well, aside from the stuff I found on the street!)
Steve,
It amazes me how much we left behind and yet how much we still have. But we brought only about 5 pieces of furniture.
The fish platter with the agate eye is BEAUTIFUL — and you know how partial I am to fish and other aquatic creatures, LOL. The green glass cake plate is pretty too and it’s good that SG has the provenance to go with it because so much reproduction Depression Glass has flooded the marketplace since 1985.
Tundra Bunny,
I didn’t know about the reproduction Depression glass. We also had a set of 5 berry bowls in the same color.
“It was 43˚C/110˚F in the sun ” That kills it for me right there. Not no, but HELL no!
We are having unseasonably COMFORTABLE weather here for end of July / early August; lows in the high 50’s, highs no higher than 80. Breezy. The central AC has been off for most of the season.
Rade,
And lows in the 50s would do us in. That’s long underwear weather for SG. We haven’t turned off the AC for quite some time. Fresh air would be nice.