Read 'em and steep:

I have the most outstanding coffee/tea mug that I found at an estate sale recently for .50. I near soiled  myself when I saw it, honey, because it was awesome. Awesome. 

I saw Shakespeare by the frame, and looked on the bottom of the mug: Wedgwood, honey. 

Wedg.

Wood.

I've been enjoying tea and coffee in this mug all the more for the mug. I decided to peek at eBay and see if I could find more. 1964, Stratford-Upon-Avon Advisory Council.  Crap. I've seen the last of the fifty cent versions of these: there's a buy it now on eBay for $55.00. There's also a buy it now version for $21.96, but it's in England, and I'll bet the postage makes it closer to the $55 version. 

Turns out this was one of a series of five lithographed mugs designed by Wedgwood artist Victor Skellern to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the birth of Shakespeare. 

Well, no spares for me, but I'll contininue to

enjoy my cuppa, Bard-style. :)

Or maybe I should sell it...?

It's still here:

These photos were taken before the big storm on Tuesday night. Fortunately, nothing too dreadful happened in my neghborhood during the storm. 

Squeeee!

Oh, you beautiful doll!

So glad I'll get to see my oak leaf hydrangea blooming this year. I've been watching daily for a plague of caterpillars to rob me of my pleasure. The first wee blossoms have emerged. 

Sunday, Puppy Sunday: my little prince

Chuy is the most excellent boy. :)

Eagerly anticipating

My Oak Leaf Hydrangea is finally about to bloom!  I bought my house in 2010, and the plant was blooming when I planted it that spring. However, a year later it was ready to bloom when a marauding army of caterpillars came through and ate everything that was blooming, and half of what wasn't blooming. The plant survived, but never out flower spikes out again until now. I'm so excited. :)

My little murder machine

Sunday, Puppy Sunday: she's at it again

My sweet precious baby girl finally got hold of the sadistic squirrel that's been teasing her for six months. There'll be no more of that mess. 

Chuy followed up shortly by killing an adolescent squirrel, but his kill was much more tidy. 

Sunday, Puppy Monday:

Sorry for the belated post. This is one of the busiest semesters ever, but in a good way. I sang the mezzo part in a famous opera quartet in a recital yesterday, and I had a grand time. 

Here's a puppy photo of my velvet fur-tube: