In the Details

 Last Monday when I arrived home from Bible study group, I noticed I only had one earring. I looked in the collar of my coat (it was a very cold morning) which I had pulled up around my face, but I found nothing. 

Monday afternoon I had choir practice and thus returned to the main building. I went a little early so I could retrace my morning steps. Looked in the coatroom, walked outside and looked around the spot where I had parked, looked at the lobby carpet. Again nothing. They were an older pair so I just accepted I would no longer be wearing them. I felt a little sad though because they had been a gift from my husband. 

Yesterday afternoon as I placed my Bible in my zippered carrying case getting ready for today's gathering, I noticed a glint of metal. There was the earring. It probably got caught on the strap of my nametag as I took it off over my head; I also store the lanyard nametag in a pocket of that case. 

I had taken the Bible out last Monday afternoon to work on the new study questions. It wasn't until I stopped looking, that God restored my missing item to me. He knows the details of our lives, not just the big things. I thanked Him for this loving gesture. 

Another Miss Elaine Nightgown

 

I tend to think of my clothing as BP (before pandemic) or AP (after pandemic). Two of my warm weather nightgowns are BP and probably about 8 years old. They are serviceable, but I know I will need to replace them down the road. 

I decided to search Miss Elaine nightgowns on Kohl's on the internet with the thought that they would go on sale around Mother's Day. I would keep an eye on any I liked. I saw one marked 40% off. Might as well buy now rather than wait. 

This is definitely a summer nightgown. It is made of seersucker which I have never bought before. I was concerned about opacity, and it does have a see-through quality because of the thin seersucker fabric. It fits well so I will keep it. 

I turned my electric blanket on last night. Definitely will not be wearing seersucker for a while. 

No Cents

 In November 2025, the United States stopped minting pennies. They are, however, still legal tender. That is not the way it played out for me recently.

I seldom spend cash when purchasing items. Last week I bought a small item at Staples that was $6.87. I had gathered up my pennies throughout my house and started carrying them in my wallet so I could spend them.  I started to count out seven pennies to go with the $10 bill I handed the cashier. She refused them. She said Staples no longer accepts pennies. 

She gave me $3.20 in change. At least she rounded down so I came out ahead. The store lost 7 cents. I can understand rounding when the store has no pennies but I was giving her pennies so she would not have to give me 13 cents back along with the dollar bills.

Has this happened to you? This was the first time for me.

Fine China

 When I was married in 1977, most brides still chose a china pattern to list in the gift registry. My selection was Milford by Noritake.

I guess you are probably not surprised to see blue if you are a long-time reader of my blog or have been in my home.

I seldom used the dinnerware; maybe 3-4 times a year. Even less since retiring. Because of the silver rim and band, it cannot be used in a microwave. I prefer to handwash the dishes so it means extra work when I use them. I did get them out on Easter because for a change we ate at home on the Sunday holiday. We also had two guests. 

My grandfather died shortly before my wedding. My mom gave me some of her inheritance to buy things for my home. I chose to use it to help me buy some china. I thought of it as a wedding gift from my grandfather. I asked for some additional plates as Christmas gifts, too. I ended up with 10 place settings. The set also has a gravy boat, salt and pepper shakers, a butter dish, creamer and sugar servers, 2 serving bowls, and a platter.

 I did not use all of those on Easter. I tried to keep things simple. For example, we had no rolls so I left the butter dish in the china cabinet. 

Brides also chose crystal goblets, etc. and Sterling silver flatware (utensils). I did not list nor buy any of those. Some of my sisters-in-law have/had those. I already had nice-looking Oneida stainless steel forks, knives, spoons which I used as a single person living in an apartment. I did list that pattern on the gift registry. 

I sometimes wonder what will happen to my china if/when I move into an apartment. It does take up a fair amount of storage space. I might keep the creamer and sugar set for nostalgia's sake; I really liked how they are shaped. I know that today's younger women want nothing to do with fancy china. An acquaintance that sold things in an antique mall told me the fine dishware she tried to sell just sat in her booth. 

Do you have china? Do you use it often? I still love the Milford pattern so I guess I chose well. (I still love my wedding ring, too, after almost 49 years; I helped to select it, too.)