Greentown EAPG - Overall Lattice or No. 38 Glass Pattern

I still have lots of boxes in the garage to go through that contain items to list in my online stores.  Trying to keep organized is hard because there is so much.  But, a couple of days ago I just had the urge to unpack some boxes.  I don't know what is in them until I unwrap the items - it's like Christmas morning.  It is so much fun!  I found some of the Greentown glass that we are going to sell and I have unpacked about 8 boxes - wasn't all Greentown glass.  I know there has to be more in the packed boxes somewhere, but I need to stop and get what I did unpacked listed before I get out of control again.  I decided to try to get all pieces in one pattern and list together.  My first group is the Overall Lattice or No. 38 pattern.  Only 4 different pieces so far, but it's a start.

The Overall Lattice pattern was first introduced in 1897.  Designed by Charles Miller, it is one of the first tableware patterns made by the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company of Greentown, Indiana.  It was originally just called No. 38.  Jule Braun, the outside sales rep for the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company unveiled the new pattern, Overall Lattice or No. 38 at the Pittsburgh Exhibit in January 1897 and described it as follows:

  

"Our No. 38 is a ribbed pattern, bright and strong, unfinished and cheap.  It is a short line, no high flyer, but a common sense set which will just suit the lower millions." 

I just thought that was too funny.  

 

Strawberries 'n Cream

Back in the '50s when I was a little girl (HEY.......it wasn't that long ago), a man use to come around late spring selling fresh strawberries.  Even though we lived in the city on a busy street, he drove a horse and wagon.  I think he use to go up and down the alleys or side streets most of the time.  While there was a busy street in front of our house, there was an alley on one side.  It really didn't seem that unusual back then.  It was always exciting to hear him coming down the alley yelling "strawberries, strawberries for sale."  I think I got more excited about the strawberry man than the ice cream truck.  His strawberries were delicious!  My grandmother would go out to his wagon and purchase a quart or two and make strawberry shortcake.  Her shortcake was the best - she would make a dough, pat it out and bake it in a tin pie pan.  I wish I could make it as good as she did - I can taste it now.............

I just finished listing a set of dinnerware that my mother purchased from the grocery store.  She really out did herself on this set.  She had purchased a service for 24 plus serving pieces.  It is Sheffield's pattern called Strawberries 'n Cream and was offered in the 1970s.

Made in Japan, some of the pieces have a strawberry decal and some are plain.  Both have a butterscotch trim.  I have both styles in the dinner plates and bread & butter plates.
You can find these dishes at CAROLINABLUELADY Vintage Collectibles.

It has taken some time to wash all these dishes, research and list.  All the while I kept thinking about the strawberry man and my grandmother's strawberry shortcake.  And here it is almost winter!

Lowcountry Refuge

Just returned from my Hilton Head Island vacation.  I think it was about 16 or 17 years ago when I first came to this gorgeous island.  The end of September is a beautiful time of the year - still warm in the high 80s without the crowds of the summer vacationers. 

The most beautiful place in the world extends from Charleston, SC to Savannah, Ga - this is heaven in my book and known as the Lowcountry.  The beauty of the live oaks dripping with spanish moss swaying slowing in the gentle wind, palmetto trees and the pink and red oleander take your breath away.  Watching herons and egrets walk through the marsh grasses; pelicans sitting on fishing piers waiting for the fishermen to throw bits and pieces from their catch of the day;  looking out at the ocean that extends forever into the horizon;  eternity.
 

The sounds of the gulls darting over the beaches looking for food left by the high tides.  The smells of the warm and cool breezes from the land and ocean all mixed together.

 

The feel of the heat hydrates my soul!  My Lowcountry refuge has renewed my spirit!

Wild Plum Tea On A Hot Summer Day!

The theme this week for Scavenger Hunters at ESN is:  Hot Weather.  After a rather cool June, we are finally getting some hot, hot weather.  100 degrees + that I think is going to last most of the week.  Love it!
My favorite drink in the summer is Wild Plum Tea.  I guess it was about 20 years ago, my mother, son and I went to visit my daughter in Tennessee down around the Smoky Mountains.  One day, we took a side trip to Gatlinburg and visited the Arts and Crafts Community.  Pottery shops, candle stores, leather shop, woodcarving shops - just all sorts of great places to browse and even watch some demonstrate their craft.  We came upon a small tea shop called The Wild Plum Tea Room.  We ate lunch and had the most wonderful miniture banana muffins and wild plum tea.  I bought Cindy Freeman Black's cookbook called "All My Best Recipes", but it did not have the recipe for The Wild Plum Tea.  Cindy so graciously gave me her recipe (see recipe at end of blog).  Lots of sugar - I keep trying to cut back on that, though.  It is just to die for and so refreshing on a hot summer day.  A perfect tumbler to serve Wild Plum Tea.

Visit the Arts and Crafts Community of Gatlinburg.    
Visit CAROLINABLUELADY Vintage Collectibles for other great vintage glassware.

Wild Plum Tea
1 quart boiling water
4 family size tea bags
2 cups sugar (I don't use the full 2 cups anymore)
2 cups water 
2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 cups cold water
orange slices if desired

Steep tea bags in boiling water 5 minutes. Combine sugar and water and boil for 5 minutes. Add to tea mixture. Stir in orange juice and lemon juice along with cold water.

Makes 3 quarts
Nothing better on a hot summer day, than to sit in a rocker on the front porch with a tall cold glass of wild plum tea and remember all the wonderful memories of the past. Enjoy!!!!!!!!              

Sunday Dinner

Our ESN Scavenger Hunt theme this week is Church.  Growing up, my brother and I would go to Sunday school and occasionally, church services.  We lived across the street from a large Presbyterian church, Tabernacle Presbyterian Church.  Located at 34th Street and Central Ave in Indianapolis, In., they had a large recreational ministry.  Four baseball diamonds were active just about everyday and evening during the summer.  Boys and girls of all ages from the north side of Indianapolis came to play softball and baseball at Tab.  I think I really only played softball 2 or 3 years before I realized it was more fun to just watch the older boys play.  There certainly were some cute boys that played baseball.

View of baseball field from our front porch in winter

OK, back to the theme - church. So, while my brother and I might go to Sunday school on Sunday, my grandmother always listened to church services on the radio in her sewing room and my mother had to catch up on laundry and ironing. That was back in the day when we used wringer washers and hung laundry on a clothesline to dry. It wasn't a throw a load in the washer and push the button. No, doing laundry back then took continuous active participation. But the best part of Sunday was Sunday dinner. Our big meal on Sunday was midday. We didn't have counter space for preparing food, so we used the kitchen table for preparing dough or mixing up a cake. My grandmother would roll out the "pot pie" dough (flat dumplings) and let them dry on the table. She would either boil beef or chicken and then let me help drop the pot pie into the boiling broth - not too fast or it will stick together. Sometimes she would boil a beef tongue. Now don't make that ugly face, beef tongue is really good and one of my brother's favorite meals. Or we would have fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy. There is nothing better than chicken fried in a cast iron skillet. It was always the best meal of the week and, in my eyes, my grandmother was the best cook in the world.

My sister helping my grandmother with a Sunday dinner 

By the way, I now have my grandmother's kitchen table and chairs in my kitchen. It may show some age, but it reminds me of some of my most treasured memories with my grandmother and Sunday dinners.  I also have that hand beater my grandmother is using.  Make sure you spend time with your grandchildren - cook together and share your memories and stories.  What better way to give them wonderful memories to share in the future.
    

OK, so do you see where I am going with this?  I really don't have any "church" items in my store.  But, you can find some great vintage mixing bowls at CAROLINABLUELADY Vintage Collectibles.  Here is an Anchor Hocking Gay Fad Fruits Large Colonial Mixing Bowl.  I also have one in the medium size and one in the small size.  I just love this pattern - it is so bright and cheerful.  Just makes you want to smile!

I bet these vintage Anchor Hocking mixing bowls could help create some wonderful memories for your kids or grandchildren!  

Moon and Stars, A Vintage Glass Pattern

Our ESN Scavenger Hunt this week is about the Moon.  The vintage Moon and Stars glass pattern is one of the most familiar glass patterns around.  Just about anything imaginable has been made in the Moon and Stars pattern - candy dishes, relish trays, lighters, lamps, compotes and the familiar canister set - think I have one of those somewhere in boxes.  The Moon and Stars pattern actually had its beginning back in the late 1800s and was first made by the Adams & Co out of Pittsburg, PA.  They called the pattern Palace.  Adams & Co became a part of the US Glass Co. 
The Palace pattern became known as Moon & Stars because of the star-like design with round moon-like depressions.  This pattern has been made by several different companies.  Sometimes it is uncertain of who made what.  Moon & Stars came in many beautiful bright colors.

Here is a beautiful Moon & Stars Banana Boat in amberina from L.E. Smith.  L.E. Smith called the color flame.  Moon & Stars was one of L.E. Smith's most popular patterns and was considered part of the Heritage line.  Based on the label on this piece, this was probably produced during the 1960s.  You can find this lovely centerpiece bowl at CAROLINABLUELADY Vintage Collectibles along with some other great Moon & Stars pieces.

And, did you know that there is a Moon & Star Glass club?  http://www.moonandstarglassclub.com/  You might want to check it out.