Today an icon from the past is gone: Shirley Temple has passed away. Though she was before my time, her cute ways and lively dance will always remain with me–animal crackers in my soup.

Still no plans for Valentines except being the usual get together on Friday with the girls.

Today let’s look at cupid.

Cupid has been around a long time. He is a Roman God (aka Eros to the Greeks, from which we get the word erotic), son of Venus goddess of love, and himself a victim of love and a jealous mum, But his potential tragic story came out with a happy ending (ask Psyche–even a goddess of a mother-in-law isn’t necessarily a blessing).

Cupid is winged because lovers are flighty and likely to change their minds, and boyish because love is foolish and irrational. His symbols are the arrow and torch, “because love wounds and inflames the heart.” These attributes and their interpretation were established by late antiquity, as summarized by Isidore of Seville (d. 636 AD) in his Etymologies.

THE MEDIEVAL CHURCH HAD OTHER OPINIONS: Theodulf of Orleans (during the reign of Charlemagne) saw Cupid as a seductive but malicious figure who exploits desire to draw people into vice. Cupid’s quiver symbolized his depraved mind, his bow trickery, his arrows poison, and his torch burning passion. He was portrayed naked, so as not to conceal his deception and evil.

The god has evolved into a child/toddler with wings and a cherub face. Today, Cupid and his arrows have become the most popular of love signs, and love is most frequently depicted by two hearts pierced by an arrow, Cupid’s arrow.

Learn more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupid
http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/biography/history-cupid-valentines.aspx
http://www.theholidayspot.com/valentine/cupid.htm

Cupids are big time collectibles–none in my collection but if you have one you might check it out or let me do it for you.
Tan Chihuahua Dressed as Cupid Collectible Figurine Statue $20
Cupid’s Heart Collectible Art, Vintage Postcard $30
Vintage Kewpie Doll Cupid- Rose O’neil $100
CUPID Pink Roses Print Vintage Gesso Frame Tojetti (known for his fat cupids) $119
2 Cupid c1899 Engraving Print Virgilio Tojetti Antique Barbola Frame $139
Vintage 60s Ormolu Cupids Filigree Jewelry Trinket Box Hollywood $225

Make your day an adventure–write it in your card/or in a love letter just how much you care. Give a gift from the heart, not what is expected for the day–something specific for your relationship and lover.

RESPECT OTHERS IF YOU WISH TO BE RESPECTED

Any plans for Valentines?
Not for me I’m afraid. I was stood up for the Internet date. I was there and waited 1/2 hour, had a drink and left–what a waste of my Sunday. Maybe I’m too old for romance?!

So we’ll do romance for the rest of you this week. Let’s look at how we developed the present ubiquitous shape for the heart. There’s lots of theories:

From an African Plant: The silphium, now extinct, with a heart-shaped seed. It was used for birth control in the 7th century BC.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2006/02/the_shape_of_my_heart.html

From a Saint: In the 17th century when Saint Margaret Mary Alocoque had a vision of the shape surrounded by thorns.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/recycled/2007/02/the_shape_of_my_heart.html

“The color of hearts is generally red colored. Red traditionally represents passion and strong emotions in many cultures.” – See more at: http://www.romancestuck.com/articles/general/history-of-heart-shape.htm#sthash.L8gF2dcT.dpuf

It’s anybody’s guess: “…some people are guessing (and it is funny!) that the Valentine heart-shape as we know it today was done by a doodler to represent the human female buttocks or a female torso with well-endowed breasts or the imprint of lips (wearing lipstick) made upon a piece of paper.” http://www.brownielocks.com/valentinehistory.html

My google search found the following heart shaped collectible items.
M&M’s candy box
Star Wars box (My vote for weirdest)
Trinket boxes
Porcelain Tea Set (very interesting)
Jewelry box
Frames
A Poo (as in Winnie) watch (right up there with the Star Wars one)
Ceramic mugs(red on the outside, white on the inside)
Perfume bottles
Vases
and the most expensive (almost $60) a heart shaped music box.
Do you have any heart items laying around your house that might be a valuable (money not love) item to make a few bucks on?

So what are you doing on Valentines?
If your unattached like me you could
PLAN A GIRLS’ NIGHT IN
One of the first things to do on Valentine’s Day if you are single other than go to a romantic dinner is to plan a girls’ night in. Call all your single ladies over, cook up a great dinner and pour some wine – for each other! Valentine’s Day is about having a good time with your supporters, and your girlfriends are definitely it. Kick back and watch your favorite movie, chit chat like old times or plan a craft you’ve all been dying to make. You’ll soon forget what day it even was! http://love.allwomenstalk.com/things-to-do-on-valentines-day-if-you-are-single

Remember he (or she) who has hope has everything.

I am damp but not mildewed yet. How about you?

What are your weekend PlanS? I have a “date” to meet a gentleman from my dating service this weekend so wish me luck.

Keeping in the warm category: Today it’s coffee or more to the point coffee cups. I have a couple in my inventory: A collectible with Norman Rockwell painting on it and one I’m researching today: A Halloween Horror Nights (Universal Studio’s extravaganza) with a jack-o-lantern being attached by a chainsaw, neat huh?

OK Google found me an interesting group:

The most popular theme seemed to be various M&M figures ( there were a lot of various companies, place and attractions cups of course)
The weirdest a Lady Godiva mug with a very out of focus nude on a horse appearing on a coffee mug
The most expensive was a large Bugs Bunny ceramic mug for $24.99.
And finally I haven’t a clue from Spokane Washington “collectible” with a Sherriff Ozzie Knezanich picture and emblem on it.

COFFEE FACTS:
1. Legend has it a 9th-century Ethiopian goat herder discovered coffee by accident when he noticed how crazy the beans were making his goats. http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/23-facts-about-coffee-the-worlds-most-important

2. New Yorkers drink about seven times more coffee than any other US city. THAT EXPLAINS A WHOLE LOT http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/23-facts-about-coffee-the-worlds-most-important

3. Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. that grows coffee. http://theoatmeal.com/comics/coffee

4. The coffee bean is actually a seed inside a bright red berry. http://theoatmeal.com/comics/coffee

5. Once a coffee-lover made a world record of consuming coffee. He drank 82 cups of coffee in 7 consecutive hours. NOTE TO COFFEE-LOVER: IT IS ESTIMATED THAT CONSUMING 100 CUPS OF COFFEE AT A TIME CAN KILL YOU! http://coffeeloversunited.com/17-fun-facts-about-coffee-some-weird-interesting-untold-coffee-facts/

6. It used to be custom in Turkey that if a husband did not provide his wife with coffee, it was grounds for divorce. TILL FOLGERS DO US PART. http://likes.com/misc/12-awesome-facts-about-coffee?page=3

7. The word “coffee” comes from the Arabic “qahhwat al-bun,” meaning “wine of the bean.” http://likes.com/misc/12-awesome-facts-about-coffee?page=3

8. Coffee Contains Caffeine To Attract Bees FOR POLLINATION http://listverse.com/2013/09/27/10-interesting-facts-about-coffee/

9. The world’s most expensive coffee is said to be Kopi Luak coffee, made from beans eaten and excreted by the luak (palm civet) of Indonesia. NOW THAT’S SOME RECYCLING I THINK I’LL SKIP http://www.express.co.uk/fun/top10facts/432503/Top-10-facts-about-coffee

10. A car fueled by used coffee grounds made the 250-mile London to Manchester trip in 2010…It was called the ‘car-puccino’ and made the trip on the equivalent of 11,000 espressos. http://www.express.co.uk/fun/top10facts/432503/Top-10-facts-about-coffee

SO I’M TURNING YOU LOOSE–GO ADVENTURING THIS WEEKEND. PLEASE

I know given that our cold spell means a low of 55 tonight doesn’t leave a lot of room to complain, but I swear this is the dreariest winter we have had in a long, long time. I can hear you all saying: “Get over it GF, our city just ran out of salt for the ice.”

So let’s think of something warm to hot today:

As you know my objectives with this blog is to get you to 1. Have more Adventures
2. Start looking about your house and storage for
collectible items that you might want to sell through
consignment.

I Googled Warm/Hot collectibles and found:

A vintage coin collection from warm places (like Jamaica and Greece)

An ad featuring Goofy and a kid from 1977 for Walt Disney World stating “We got Your Sunshine.” And with an asking price of over $7.00.

A Vintage Soviet Electric 220v Body Warmer Heater Grelka Hot Therapy …Don’t ask I have no idea, but it’s almost $30.

and then there’s a Hummel Collector Plate “August Hot Summer Days Calendar Collection”

Did you know that the Hummel figurines developed from sketches done by a nun: Sister Maria Innocentia in the 1930’s. A Swiss publisher put them on post card called Hummel’s “art cards”. Franz Goebel, porcelain maker acquired the rights and began making the sketches into figurines in 1935. They were introduced into the US at this time, but didn’t really get popular until after WWII went soldiers began sending them home. The popularity grew and prices skyrocket in the 70’s.

Today the Goebel company still produces the pieces and all prototypes must have Sister Maria’s Convent’s approval before production. Hummel in German means “bumblebee”. According to Dr. Lori (Ph.D. Antique Appraiser) some figures are valued “in the hundreds, even thousands, of dollars per piece.”

Particularly valuable pieces include:
“For Father” (Apple Tree Girl)
“Globe Trotter”
“Little Goat Herder”
“Going to Grandma’s”

Is your piece real:
Again according to Dr Lori
The mark of Sister M.I. Hummel is incised on every authentic piece.
All Hummels have a mold number incised on the bottom of each
And the Goebel stamp trademark is also on the bottom–these have changed over the years

So is your item hot, warm or cold?

Go do something today—even if it’s just planning a winter vacation in Florida (that’s a Key West Sunset) where the sun still shines occasionally.

NEVER FORGET YOU’RE IMPORTANT…ACT ACCORDINGLY.

I apologize for the following information: It was 87 here yesterday, yes that is degrees ABOVE 0—today it’s gonna be high 70’s and tomorrow dropping to a low in the 50’s and a high mid- to -low 70’s.

I just finished Nora Roberts’ WINDFALL: two shamelessly romantic pieces that are a great escape for those of us who spend too much time working and not enough socializing.

I have one signed first edition that’s gonna be listed: THE MAMMOTH HUNTERS BY Jean M. Auel. It’s part of the Clan of the Cave Bear novels.

My second autographed book is Postcards from Paradise: Romancing Key West by June Keith.

Key West is one of my favorite places to be. It’s about 8 hours by car or an hour by plane from most of Florida and is like leaving the states without having to have a pass port. Key West’s nickname (one of them at least) is Key Weird and I can’t deny the place is a little off the normal straight and narrow (maybe more than a little). It has beautiful old homes, beaches, 3 old forts (one the Key West Museum with a very scary doll; one almost gone but now a Garden Club and the final one a state park)and enough t-shirts to cloth all the tourists who come here for years and years. There’s Duval Street which stretches from Atlantic Ocean to Gulf of Mexico from Gay to Straight and everything in between. There are fine restaurants set on decks overlooking the water (Louie’s Backyard) and bars on top of hotels (La Concha/Crowne Plaza) where you can see just about the whole 2×4 mile island. There’s the writers: Hemingway (who’s house you can visit) and Tennessee Williams whose plays are presented in the multiple small local theaters to name a very few. Things are special there and they’re always ready to celebrate–in fact every night they do just that with a sunset revel that includes tight rope walkers and Scottish bagpipes. And the activities here include scuba diving and the Duval Street Crawl–both involving liquid, just not the same kind. The food is wonderful and varied, the drink ever flowing and the banana pancakes (at Blue Heaven) are divine. A great place to go for an adventure. I by the way stay at Courtney’s Place (see picture)–a little compound close to Duval.

Dance, live, love your way through life’s adventure.

Did you miss me? Afraid I’ve been goofing off, what with my Friend’s Birthday on Wed. Getting ready for garage sale on Thurs. Doing the Garage Sale on Friday and Sat. and cleaning house on Sunday. I had plans to get back in the groove on Monday but some family issues came up so I was out and about TCB most of the day. Today isn’t a great day either as I’m just trying to straighten and organize. So Hopefully, Wed. will be back to business. At least I’m back on the blog.

Oh I’d like to give a big Thank You to Peter—one of my favorite bartender (and artist) at The Enzian (Maitland, FL) who cheered me up while I ate lunch there on Monday.

This week I hope to get into my trunk from my days as a Beatles Maniac. I haven’t opened it in years, and have not done any major review of it in forever.

Did you know that it was 50 years ago this month that the Beatles Landed in the U.S. and we were never quite the same. According to Kovels (Newsletter for Collectors, Dealers and Investors) “…Today that (Beatles merchandise) is highly collectible–with Beatles fans young and old competing for everything from ticket stubs (a ticket to Forest Hill Music Festival recently sold, with newspaper clipping detailing how to win tickets, for $115—the original cost of the admission by the way was $5.95), to metal lunch boxes (A Beatles lunch box with matching thermos and complete with dent sold for $411).

Other items that sold was a Beatles pin back button: “I’m a Beatles Fan” for $95
A George Harrison Yellow Submarine Figural bank for $411
A Yellow Submarine watch with face chips and wearing and a leather band “period” replacement for $847
The highest at this particular auction (Hake’s Gallery that specializes in pop culture) was
A Beatle’s promotional display “Here They Are The Fabulous Beatles” with a photo, die cut cardboard with one vertical fold for display and marked “Printed in England” 1963 went for $1,496. Oh MY
www.hakes.com

And the auction by the way coincided with the iTunes release of a new Beatles album–44 BBC recordings from 1963 which can be down loaded for $1.29.

So Lord willin’ etc more tomorrow.

AND Remember: All you need is love—everybody now——

EVEN ATLANTA HAS ICE A SHOWIN’

Baby it’s cold out there—well we’re damp and ONLY very chilly here but…

Have a quiz for you today:

What was the original Twinkie filling flavor

1. Chocolate
2. Strawberry
3. Banana

and the answer: Banana, the flavor was changed to vanilla during World War II due to rationing issues and never changed back. (Thanks to Fox News for that one)

Favorites today as promised: Snow theme. I have some Boyd Bear snowmen.

Murphy McFrost Fire and Ice: A firesnowmam, tall and so cute with fire hose and crystal water drops falling from it.

Slurp and the Snow Cone Stand

Snowmom the Nanny: I love this tall snowmom carrying two snowbabies. She’s in her cap and robe, secured shut for modesty with safety pins.

Jack and Frost: Another tall one with a Christmas tree and two snowkids one at the base holding snow flakes and another one climbing in the tree with a basket of snowballs.

Windy With Book: (book says “thou shalt not frown”) is seated wearing an impossibly tall, twisted, knit cap

Half Pipe the Hot Dogger: And his skate board. Also seated and reading a book. This books says “Speeds of 100 MPH not recommended…But yuh never know dude.”

I.B. Coldman…Ice is Nice: A fisherman complete with a fishing rod, a small companion, tackle box and a fish looking up from his hole in the frozen pond

and finally Jingle and Son with Wreath.

Each piece has edition and number on the bottom
Each piece also has a quote (In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities– Janis Arany on the bottom of Windy) or a proverb (Fall seven times, stand up 8–Japanese–on the base of Half Pipe).

For more information on Boyd Bears company: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyds_Bears

Had a great day off yesterday. Just didn’t get to blog. Sorry about that.

I will wind up favorite week tomorrow between Yard Sale chores.

Happy birthday to Phil Collins who is 62 today.

My Thursday adventures is cleaning out the garage. Who knows who what’s hiding in the corners!!!

As for you–Today is all about you–If you can please only one person pick you today. You deserve it. And if you have choices for the day: Pick an adventure. You also deserve that as well.

Until tomorrow, the mess in my garage is calling.

It has warmed up enough here to get me back walking–hurray. Florida was foggy but warm this morning which I can deal with on a walk–driving not so much.

Favorite of the day is a Hayasi Fine China Kutani tea set complete with a a Geisha visible at the bottom of the tea cups. This china is so delicate and so finely done that it amazes me that it’s made for something so crude as eating and drinking.

Kutani by the way means Nine Valleys and is the name of an area as well as a village. All ceramics marked Kutani were decorated in this area, but can come from a multitude of artists and companies. Kutani is also a style and can be done in different areas of Japan but will not be marked Kutani but the area where its done at. HUH????

My husband picked these up at a friend’s yard sale. The friend was stationed in Occupied Japan which makes this set late 40’s or early 50’s. Its a beautiful pattern with gold trimmed hand painted scenes and the Geisha at the bottom of the cup never fails to amuse me. I’m still researching this as the exact pattern hasn’t shown up on any of the sites, however the trademark and by the history I believe these are very authentic.

The next couple of days are gonna be crazy, I’m working on my “store” all day today and tonight I continue research for our trip to Europe. Wed. is my best friend (and traveling companion) Susi’s birthday, which means wandering about to where ever the spirit takes us. Thurs, Fri and Sat I’m working on a yard sale and Sunday I’m relaxing till it all starts again on Mon. I will try to keep this up too but if I miss a day or two you’ll know why.

More favorites tomorrow. Given the weather in most of the country how about something with a snow theme!

Try finding an adventure out there–eat some place new, do something different. Step out of the box, turn off the TV and read a book. Turn off the computer and really TALK TO SOMEONE FACE-TO-FACE. You’re never too old to go out and play. TRUST me I don’t just stop to smell the roses, I’ve been known to get lost in the garden for days-on-end.

Until the next time…ENJOY.

Look at some of my favorite things that will be included on my web site (coming in March hopefully) and my store front (by Sept. I hope).

Hi, so how was your weekend? Come on—somebody must have something fun or adventurous to share. I got my nails and toes done—nothing kinky unless you think manicures and pedis are weird—course the toes and nails are now tipped in green so a little strange (unless you know me and then you wander why so conservative).

The favorite item to start the day is a Christmas Polar Bear from Coke. He’s plush and wears a nice Christmas hat. I also have Oreo brand cookie Christmas tins and a Coke one as well.

Holiday collectibles have been around for ever it seems and not all of them are product logos. At Christmas for instance nutcrackers are very in lately. These seem to have been popular since the 4th century at least with an Italian bronze one being the oldest known to exist. If your budget isn’t quite up to that the Italians have also made ones from the 1700’s (Groden Valley) with some popular ones from the 1920’s (Anri firm) to name a few. There are also many others from all over Europe, with the German ones being a particular favorite.

After Christmas one of the favorite holidays for collectibles is Halloween. One item which has became popular are the old hand made and vintage children’s Halloween costumes. For example Ben Cooper Halloween Costumes from the 1970s in their original boxes are something that might be particularly interesting. My Halloween collectibles include four M&M character ceramic candy jars.

One of the holidays that seemed a bit short changed is Thanksgiving. Coming between Halloween and Christmas it just doesn’t seem to have the decorative spark the other two have. However the turkey is alive and strutting his stuff.
The British, with an attitude of if we can’t beat them we’ll take their money instead, began producing plates and platters and other items in the late 1800’s for the American market. Spode, Royal Doulton and Wedgewood, were all major producers of Thanksgiving decorative pieces in the the late 1800 and early 1900’s. One of these pieces might well go for over $1,000 in today’s market.

What do you have tucked away that might be WORTH LOOKING AT?

UNTIL TUESDAY KEEP ADVENTURING.

HERE WE ARE AT FRIDAY—FINALLY.

The last of the weird for the last of the week.

My late husband was from New York State–Old Forge. He had a thing for Utica Club beer and their two animated characters Dooley and Schultz. While wandering the antique shops in Sanford (Fl)a few years ago; I came across a set of bar lights with the characters on them.

For those of you that aren’t real up on New York beers Utica Club was produced by the former West End Brewing Company (Utica) 1888. The name Utica Club (replaced brewing name) came from a line of soft drinks the company produced during Prohibition when their beer production had been shut down. After Probation ended they kept the name and during the 50’s and 60’s it was promoted by Dooley and Schultz (Jonathan Winters did the voices). The brewery later returned to its West End name.

Brewing has been around as long as mankind and its civilization and has been found in hieroglyphics. It was a craft in Africa, Egypt and Sumeria with 6,000 year old records confirming this. The Sumerians even had a goddess of brewing: Ninkasi. They are also believed to be the first civilized culture to brew beer which they called the “Divine Drink.”

Some beer fact:

2000 BC Egypt–First record of drunk driving. The impaired charioteer ran over a vestal virgin and was crucified on the door of the tavern that sold him the beer.

Beer contains major minerals and was a staple in the European diet during the Middle Ages.

George Washington had his own brew house on the grounds of Mt Vernon

1814 London, a huge vat (388,000 gallon) of beer ruptured and flooded sections of London, there was property damage and lives lost

There are 400 types of beer with Belgium having the most.

The Czech Republic drinks the most beer per person with China’s consumption showing the most increase. The US ranks two by total amount consumed, but only 11th per persons consuming.

Beside the lights my beer-related inventory includes a Miller Lite Rusty Wallace pool table light, multiple other NASCAR beer sponsored items and several Budweiser Christmas mugs.

So do you have any beer collectibles–the Bud can your husband crushed on his forehead head doesn’t count.

YOU WERE MEANT FOR SUNNY DAYS—MAKE THE WEEKEND AN ADVENTURE.

Sites for more beer facts:
http://www.factslides.com/s-Beer
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/beer
http://gizmodo.com/5992543/24-things-you-didnt-know-about-beer