You’ll be proud of me. I had to see the dentist about that pesky crown (too long a story to tell here) and I actually made the appointment and went there yesterday. All by myself. I was a mess, of course, very nervous, very stressed, because this fear I have is bordering on phobia. I’d been dreading it all week.
But I did it. The dentist told me how proud he was of me and, as I was writing a check, snuck up behind me and put one of those little plastic rings they give to little kids on my finger.
It’s an orange spider.
Yes, I’m cool.
Totally random things I’ve been doing:
I wrote of the death of my former colleague and mentor in this post. As I was writing, I remembered a little silver pill box from Tiffany’s that Bob and Rick gave me and I very much wanted to find it. Turns out it was in that jewelry box that I found under the bed, along with lots of silver jewelry, much of it tarnished. I wanted to clean it but didn’t want to use a chemical-y silver cleaner. Then I ran across Ann’s post about cleaning silver naturally, using baking soda and kosher salt.
So I lined a shallow bowl with aluminum foil, filled it with warm water, added some salt (not even kosher) and baking soda (I didn’t bother to measure) and lo and behold, shiny silver!
The pill box is so lovely and it’s probably the only thing I’ll ever have from Tiffany’s. Oh wait, I have one other thing from Tiffany’s – an egg cup.
I wore those shiny earrings to the dentist yesterday.
I’ve had these plates for a long time – at one time I was going to list them in the Etsy shop, but I never got around to it. I found them in a local antique shop for $2.00 each. The marking on the back is Myott/Staffordshire England. Since I love flowers and aqua, these had to come home with me.
They’re dinner plates and I’ve been thinking about hanging them. But where? My thoughts ran to the studio. Perhaps on the same wall as the framed magazine articles? I even bought the plate hangers the other days at Lowe’s.
But after decluttering the studio, am I running the risk of it looking busy again?
I can’t decide. So hanging them is on hold.
I’m reading The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Why haven’t I read this before? Great articles, weather forecasts, all sorts of interesting facts – perfect for a gardener.
Oh, and I cleaned all the tiles and grout on my kitchen countertop with baking soda. Much better!
Don comes home in 2½ weeks.
Happy Thursday.
Almost forgot: Our monthly linky party for the Christmas Critter Felt Along will be this Sunday. The post will go up on Saturday evening. Mark your calendars!
I am proud of you! I think the worst part about the dentist is the sound of a drill. Eeeeeeee! And my sister was a dental hygiene professor. How? I haven’t a clue. Apparently she got the medical genes, though she began life as an English major and graduated with an English degree. I have a Chinese dentist who is wonderful, and I adore him. He does bonsai, and his plants are displayed in the waiting room. Plus he plays wonderful classical music (as he sings opera) and calming Chinese music.
On a different note, that is a lovely pill box and earrings. I heard that the method you used actually is a chemical reaction that bonds the silver which is tarnish back on the article. Sounds plausible. It is far preferable to polish which I avoid at all costs. When I do use polish on intricate pieces, I use Cape Cod silver polish. It smells a little like bubble gum. But I am chemically sensitive and have to be careful, always wearing chemical gloves.
Claudia, those plates need to hang. A grouping won’t look cluttered, but organized. They are the perfect colors. Can you use them in your bedroom? I would want to see them. If space is at premium, is there a narrow wall where you can hang them in a vertical line? Maybe you could hang at least three that way and find a place for the third. Like in your study??? I know, I am a clutter bug! ;-)
xoxoxo
Sheila
Oh, I get terrified at the dentist office. My legs tremble, my whole body is tense – it’s overwhelming.
Still contemplating the hanging of the plates!
Don will be home in 2 &1/2 weeks? You can do that standing on one foot!
Tana
Well, maybe!
Two and 1/2 weeks! Wow that went so fast. . . . . . . . .for me lol!
-Judy A-
Of course! But not for me…..there’s light at the end of the tunnel, though! That’s a good thing.
Good for you brave one.
Can’t wait for the critter party.
Balisha
Thanks, Balisha.
Proud of you Claudia…you did good! Those plates are lovely…and I would want to see them…I’m sure you find a great place. Wishing you a happy Spring day…you deserve it! ;)
Happy Spring day to you, too, Donna!
We survived!! We made it to the other side! Happy FIRST DAY OF SPRING! As I write this, there are about 5 robins in the yard across the street doing the “robin-bobbin” that they do as they search for some morsels of whatever. Yay!!
Happy to hear your trip yesterday was a success!
I have used that “method” for cleaning my jewelry and it really does work! Nice to not have to use chemicals.
2 1/2 weeks…… well, that is just a “tip-toe through the tulips” after the rest of what you have done. I bet you and Scout are crossing off the days on the calendar… and, I bet Don is, too! Hope you have a wonderful spring day!!!!
We are so excited – Scout will have to get a bath – she stinks from all the darned mud outside!
Good for you for going to the dentist. I have a crown that I am a bit worried about, but hoping it will pass the next dentist test in April. I know how you feel. You were very brave. Love the silver box, earrings and plates. You must be counting the hours until Don returns. I am enjoying your blog.
I am counting the hours and now that I’ve realized how soon it is, I feel lighter.
I’m so proud of you going to the dentist and being a big girl. LOL Was the ring worth it??? I definitely think you should keep the plates they scream Claudia. What about putting them on your dining table or island, you could stand them up inside an old tool box or whicker picnic basket and put some silverware in a mason jar along with some napkins. It would make a pretty vignette for one of those spots.
The ring is made of orange plastic, Dawn! I’m saving it as a souvenir of being brave.
Good suggestion about the plates but I’m running out of counter and table space!
Hopefully you are finished with the dentist! Proud of you. Wear your spider ring with pride! LOL You definitely need to hang those gorgeous plates. They are too beautiful to not use. Love the aqua and red together.
Your little Tiffany box is pretty.
Is the snow going to be all gone about the time Don comes home? Go figure!
Have a great day.
Judy
Well, I’m not finished. I have two other teeth to attend to, but bless this dentist’s heart, he’s not rushing me.
Yes, probably the snow will be gone, though it’s supposed to get cold again next week.
I’m so proud of you Claudia. Glad you found the treasure your friends gave you. The plates are really lovely. I know you will be so happy when Don makes it home. I love having some time alone but when my Carl takes his mom to visit relatives I start getting antsy about the fourth day. By then I’m tired of being alone.
A week is okay. More than that is too much!
Well good for you brave girl..lol..I hope you called Don and let him know..he will be so proud..I have always liked silver better than gold..love the Tiffany box and earrings..and the pretty plates..I would take them on a little walk around the cottage and try to imagine them in different areas..they are just so pretty..$2.00 each is a steal..I’m so glad that Don will be home with you and Scout soon..Tell him his fan club is anxious for his return too!! lol
Oh Don was cheering me on and giving me the push I needed to go!
Yay! Good for you! most of my dental anxiety subsides once I’m actually IN the dentist’s chair. Going regularly helps to calm the nerves as well.
Beautiful plates. Maybe there’s a bit of wall in your kitchen area where you could hang them vertically. My problem is I want to put all my pretties in one place rather than spread them around in other rooms.
And I’m counting the days for you till your honey comes home :-) Hopefully he’ll get a chance to enjoy his Own bed for a while.
I already have so much on the walls that I don’t want to overdo.
Hi Claudia, I think you should use the plates every day! At breakfast, for toast or whatever, at lunch for fruit or whatever, at dinner for bread, pie, or whatever and of course at tea time for scones or whatever. They are much too pretty to be just looked at, they are meant to be enjoyed.
Yay, down to 2 1/2 weeks!
We have other pretty plates that we use to eat on. And I have a whole set of vintage china that we haven’t used. I don’t think I need these, too!
So proud of you Claudia! You and I have the same dentist issues, so you give me hope! I second the idea about using the plates to actually eat off of. Why not just enjoy them that way. I started using the vintage dish towels I had been collecting, wondering why I had them packed away. Might as well enjoy them the way they were meant to be used. Hope spring comes quickly to your house!
See above answer. I already have lots and lots of pretty china!
Oh, kudos! I had to bribe myself to go to a new dentist after 5 plus years.
I wanted the LIW Little House books. I got my first one just for making the
appointment. I, too, get very nervous. After I got into the car, I would
cry for a while then head over to the bookstore. :)
Now I have a ten minute ride (rather than 25) and the nerves are not as
bad due, in part, to the wonderful desk staff who sympathise when the
bill is much higher than I expect. Paying is the most painful part, now,
though “Dental Health” is still not my favorite place to go.
My first dentist visit was traumatic. I wonder if you were triggered by
something similar.
Might have been – I’m not sure. I’ve always hated going and I’ve put it off for periods of time until something happened that made me go. Then I feel guilty because I haven’t gone. And then I get fearful. And they cycle goes on and on.
I’m with you on fear of the dentist. Don’t know if you read my post a couple of weeks ago about having to go get a root canal. And then I have to go to my regular dentist next Tues. to get a temporary crown. Two weeks after that, more dental work for the permanent crown. I think we deserve a lot more than a plastic ring for our bravery. ;-) I’ve cleaned silver the way you described, too. So much better than using chemicals.
I have a lot of crowns on my teeth, so I know what you’re talking about!
Happy Spring, Claudia! I guess it’s true what they say – the only way TO it is THROUGH it. We have made it to the other side of Winter! I can’t wait for robins, the special new green you only see in the Spring, daffodils, tulips, crocus and my favorite, pussy willows and forsythia. And for the first time I can comfortably leave the house without needing a coat or jacket. Hallejuah! Have a great day…. :>)
Me too. Right now, it’s windy and cold, so it doesn’t look very spring-like out there.
Happy First Day of Spring! Good job at the dentist! I feel bad for dentists- nobody wants to see them. But healthy teeth are the best reason for sure! And you got a ring!
Funny thing you talked about Tiffany today. I made some signs for my desk at work and told my boss that the font was Tiffany. I told him that the font is the only thing Tiffany I will ever have! I use the font all the time. Back in April 2012, I had a Tiffany Inspired Tea Party. You can see it here
http://totallydonebyme.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/tiffany-inspired-tea-party-41512/
and here
http://totallydonebyme.wordpress.com/2012/04/15/today-was-the-day-tiffany-inspired-tea-party/
Have a great day! PS: Happy for you that your husband will be home soon!
I love that Tiffany blue box – such a beautiful shade of blue!
Since moving I’ve put off finding a new dentist and so I’m way past my check up date. I’ve GOT to do that soon!! I am not a fan of the dentist and I too have real anxiety, so I’m very proud of you. Love your silver and the little pill box is so sweet. I also love those plates and i know they would look lovely on the wall, but you will want to find just the right place for them. I had a good day today and I’m feeling much perkier. Got my hair cut and that always makes me feel good.
hugs,
Linda
Oh how I hate to go to the dentist! I shake and can’t help it but I always tear up. I am thinking that maybe I should be put under , but then I am afraid of that too!!! Those plates are gorgeous!
Blessings, Joanne
Good for you! Finally made it to the dentist! Love those pretty plates! I have hanging plates in almost every room of my house. I think they are great for color and inexpensive wall decor. You sound very productive!
Hugs, Patti
I need to go to the dentist but don’t trust them here. It’s been 3 years. Yikes! Oh well! Thanks for the tip on cleaning silver. I have some very tarnished pieces that could use a good cleaning. Will give it a try. I seem to have a thing against empty walls :) The plates are lovely. Have a fabulous Friday. Tammy
I love having random days like that, Claudia, where I find things, clean things, discover things. Those plates are so dear. They would make lovely tableware for the summer, in your kitchen or out on the porch. And your silver is so lovely. I’ll have to try that solution on some of the silver I have. Sometimes I like a tarnished look, but then when I actually go to use something I realize I want them to be cleaner looking! Wishing you a lovely weekend.