Did you know... one of the many things Lilly of the Valley symbolizes is the return of happiness?  This is the first year ours has flowered.  Being an English major - and therefore well versed in the art of finding symbolism in pretty much anything - I'm gonna go ahead and run with it. 

 Serious.  Can you even STAND?!   

TODAY crowns the cutest, cuddliest puppy - TODAY: Pets - MSNBC.com

It's spring.  A time for fresh starts.  New beginnings.  Your dining room table wants the same, naturally.  And what can enliven quicker than festive linens?  Yeah, I can't think of anything either.  Here's a few of my favorites...

Click here to visit the Welcome home main page.

Click here to visit A great table welcome page.

Click here to visit the section on Linens. 

Or click on one of the pictures, above, to learn more about that particular item.

*and my disclaimer: in case you are new to this site and wondering what you’ve gotten yourself into, rest assured, I do not usually sell things. Actually, I never sell things. Magpie and Muttonfly’s Fantastical Finds is an Amazon “store” that I’ve put together just for fun. Basically, I recommend items on Amazon.com. Since the start, several have requested a way to see what’s out there without having to peruse every dadgum page. So here it is – and will be – every Tuesday…

You see them every year - veterans selling small paper poppies.  Every year fewer of us seem to take note - we simply haven't the time.  We should take the time, however.  For poppies, you see, are rather amazing flowers.  Though they appear frail, they are quite valiant.  Their seeds can remain underground, sleeping, for years.  All it takes is a good churning of the soil to awaken them from their slumber.  And that's exactly what happened on the fields of Northern France and Flanders during WWI.  Amid the death and destruction of the battlefield, red poppies began to bloom.  One day Lt. Col. John McCrae, a physician from Canada, looked out over the crimson blossoms and penned the following:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow; Between the crosses, row on row; That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly; Scarce heard amid the guns below; We are the Dead.  Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved; and now we lie In Flanders field...

McCrae died a few years later - joining those of whom he wrote, with a cross marking his place, in a sea of poppies, far from home.  But McCrae's words continue to remind us of the countless men and women who have given their lives for freedom.  They paid the highest price.  The least we can do is be thankful for the sacrifice.  So this Memorial Day let us take the time.  Buy a poppy.  Say a prayer.  Remember. 

Brains, integrity, and force may be all very well, but what you need today is charm.  Go ahead and work on your economic programs if you want to, I'll develop my radio personality.  -- Gracie Allen

I remember the first time I saw a black man.  I couldn't have been more than four and I loudly exclaimed, "Boy!  That man SURE is dirty!" Much to my mother's complete and utter horror. 

Finally, I found the flip side.  I'm currently reading What is the What, by Dave Eggers.  It's a novel based on the life of Valentino Achak Deng - one of the "Lost Boys" from Sudan.  He describes the first time he saw a white man:  I followed their stares and saw what seemed to be a man who had been turned inside out.  He was the absence of a man.  He had been erased.

If you think about it, it's the perfect description!  Now, if only adults could be like children and realize it's only color.  There's much more we hold in common, than in difference. 

In medieval Europe, pewter tableware was a sign of nobility. So you have every right to feel regal when it decorates a table all your own. And smart too – knowing your pieces will not be poisoning you with massive quantities of lead!

Click here to visit the Welcome home main page.

Click here to visit A great table welcome page.

Click here to visit the section on glass.

Or click on one of the pictures, above, to learn more about that particular item.

*and my disclaimer: in case you are new to this site and wondering what you’ve gotten yourself into, rest assured, I do not usually sell things. Actually, I never sell things. Magpie and Muttonfly’s Fantastical Finds is an Amazon “store” that I’ve put together just for fun. Basically, I recommend items on Amazon.com. Since the start, several have requested a way to see what’s out there without having to peruse every dadgum page. So here it is – and will be – every Tuesday…

So, I’m meeting a friend at the theatre on Saturday. We watch the movie and on the way out we chat about the Stepford Wives. We agree it’s creepy. We laugh. We part. I come back out to my car and parked next to me is a new Beetle. Now Beetles are usually friendly fellows – they tend to make you smile with just one look. This one, however, gave off an air of sinister. Why would you say such a thing? I will tell you why – because the whole back window was filled with mannequin heads. GASP! It was morbidly disturbing. So I did what any rational person would do – I took a picture. I ever-so-inconspicuously held up my cell phone, looked the other way, snapped the picture, jumped in my car and quickly drove away. Who knows what would have happened if I had stuck around …

Oh, and in case your wondering why said picture is not posted - here's the thing: I got a new cell phone.  And I can't figure out how to download.  Pitiful, I know.  Therefore, only close, personal friends get to view the alarming image - the rest of you must rely upon your imagination ...

Looking for a light, summer read?  Look no further than your Pier 1 Imports catalog!  And no, for the record, I am not smoking anything.

On any given day I receive a myriad of catalogs.  My modus operandi is this: flip thru pages, note anything I simply cannot live without - take a moment or two to mourn the fact that I simply must - read a couple blibs, and toss in the recycle pile.  Repeat. 

But then I opened this:

As usual, I started in the middle and read this:

Banana Armchair

Cream pies, sundaes, cereal topping: the banana family has given us so much.  The newest treat, however, is for the eyes.  An exotic but comfy chair, hand-woven from the exceptionally durable banana leaf and accented with dark mahogany legs.  Pair it with a Pier 1 cushion and the result is, well, sweet. 

Now I don't even like woven furniture ... but after reading this bit I was about ready to and purchase a piece.  So I started at the beginning and read the entire way through.  A couple times.  Then I read aloud to anyone who would listen.  Now I'm blogging about the darn thing. 

Moral of the story:  words matter.  I only hope Pier 1 Imports realizes what talent they came across and paid him/her A LOT of money.

Veritas Fine Books & Coffeehouse is having a birthday!  Tomorrow - Saturday - May 17 they will be celebrating their first year by giving YOU a present.  Free coffee!  FREE people!  And have I mentioned they have the best coffee EVER?  Sigh. 

If you're in town, head on down; if not, sorry for ya.  

I’m perusing through a magazine the other day when I spot the following ad:

And so the question begs to be asked: who thought this was a good idea? Seriously.

Now I’m an advocate for a good, healthy breakfast. And despite the fact that diet nazis will tell you it’s a serious no-no, I’m all for a tasty breakfast cereal. But lounging seductively upon the cold marble of a kitchen island, in a slinky dress and heels – for a bowl of cereal? Not so much. Now I might consider such a pose for a mound of fettuccini, eggplant parmesan, chicken and rice noodles with crispy spring rolls, double-decker tacos, large slab of pizza, cheeseburger with sweet relish and caramelized onions, or a dark chocolate fountain surrounded by a sea of strawberries and Nutter Butters …

If you could play and help feed the hungry, would you do it? If you said no, you need therapy; if you said yes, visit freerice.com today!

FreeRice is basically one big vocabulary game (so yes, it also gives you the ability to become much more impressive with your verbiage - it's a win-win). FreeRice gives you one word and four definitions. Select the correct definition and 20 grains of rice will be donated. 20 grains – what good could that do? Sure, 20 grains alone is a measly amount. But what if we ALL donated 20 grains? And I’m telling you now … it’s addicting (the more words you get correct, the harder the words get). So chances are you’ll be donating a helluva more than 20 grains. I wonder who counts the grains? Okay, that was a totally random thought. I have no clue, but check ‘em out anyway:

Don’t believe it?

Yeah, I wasn’t so very convinced either. So I looked it up on Snopes.com and Snopes says it’s true. Click here to see for yourself.

Looking for some great stoneware (and who isn't really)?  WELL - look no further!  Magpie and Muttonfly has links to some great stoneware - with the occasional earthenware or porcelain piece throw in just for the heck of it. 

Here's a peek ...

Click here to visit the Welcome home main page.

Click here to visit A great table welcome page.

Click here to visit the stoneware section.

You can also click on one of the pictures, above, to learn more about that particular item.

*and my disclaimer: in case you are new to this site and wondering what you’ve gotten yourself into, rest assured, I do not usually sell things. Actually, I never sell things. Magpie and Muttonfly’s Fantastical Finds is an Amazon “store” that I’ve put together just for fun. Basically, I recommend items on Amazon.com. Since the start, several have requested a way to see what’s out there without having to peruse every dadgum page. So here it is – and will be – every Tuesday…

Yes, I’ve been wretched at posting anything for the past few days. But it was our annual Mother’s Day Extravaganza. My aunt drove down from Oregon, my cousin flew in from Colorado, and I dare say it was good times had by all. As usual we ate copious amounts of food and laughed ‘til it hurt. I would share a hilarity or two, but I'm fairly certain we would be the only ones to think it funny.  We shopped, we spa-ed, we chatted and watched a chick flick.  Not necessarily at the same time, naturally. In keeping with tradition, we also participated in the Komen Race for the Cure on Saturday morning.

Despite the fact that I think getting up early on a Saturday morning is of the devil, I usually have a grand time at the event. This year, however, we were forced to pause and reflect. There were a lot of people. There were a lot of rude people pushing big obnoxious strollers. My mom literally had to push me out of the way at one point, or some lady would have actually ran me over. Of course, I’m not so sure my mom did it all for me. After all, I’m not exactly demure in such situations. I’m feisty. And if I got ran over, I was taking the mother down with me!

Now we heard rumors that a shootout for the cure was also planned for Saturday morning. By the end of the race we were thinking that sounded like a brilliant idea! Not only would it be fun – and for a good cause – but if someone got on your last and final nerve you could shoot something. What’s not to love?!

Anyhoozle, here’s a few pics from the race – sisters/moms, cousins, and a stranger’s dog. That’s right – I am no relation to the pup, below. I had never seen the dog before – nor had I ever seen one quite so spastic. He made me laugh, so I snapped the picture.

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." -- Washington Irving

And oh how blessed I am to count it true!

The Welcome home section of Magpie and Muttonfly’s Fantastical finds has some great things for your home (oddly enough).

So where does a great party usually take place? Why the kitchen, of course! A great table points you to kitchenware of all sorts and varieties – all meant to add color and life to your next gathering.

And it all starts with Glass. Here’s a glimpse at what you might find...

Spanish recycled glass vase - it's green, it's lovely, what's not to love?!

In Argentina, if you receive Nambe for your wedding, it's considered good luck.  Maybe these Nambe champagne flutes, perhaps?!  Hmmmm?!

More Spanish glass ... Ooh-aahh!

Not only cool, but they've been receiving rave reviews.  Impressive, I know.  Bodum Assam Double-wall Old-Fashioned glasses

Nothing quite like Swedish glass - Orrefors drop bowl

That darn Swedish glass again - Kosta Boda Meteor Dish.  And no Donna, it doesn't DO anything. It's just BEA-U-TIFUL.  Sigh.  :)

If you're interested ...

Click here to visit the Welcome home main page.

Click here to visit A great table welcome page.

Click here to visit the section on glass.

Or click on one of the pictures, above, to learn more about that particular item.

*and my disclaimer: in case you are new to this site and wondering what in the heck you’ve gotten yourself into, rest assured, I do not usually sell things. Actually, I never sell things. Magpie and Muttonfly’s Fantastical Finds is an Amazon “store” that I’ve put together for fun. I simply recommend fun items found on Amazon.com. Since the start, several have requested a way to see what’s out there without having to peruse EVERY dadgum page. Here is it – and will be – every Tuesday…

"A hero is a man who does what he can." --Romain Rolland

Rating:  PG13

Genre: Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi

Gist:  Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) For most of his life he takes his fame, fortune and genius for granted.  He also takes for granted his personal assistant, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), his close personal friend, Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard), and his mentor, Obadiah Stane (a bald Jeff Bridges).  But when a business trip to Afghanistan goes bad and Mr. Stark is taken hostage, everything changes.  The terrorist holding him captive are hoarding weapons his company developed.  Men and women in his convoy were killed with the weapons his company developed.  He has received a potentially fatal wound from the weapons his company developed.  And the terrorist want more.  They demand he make the most destructive missile of all.  Instead he builds a programmed suite of armor to escape; deciding that in the future, rather than take lives, he will help save them.       

My take:  First off, my disclaimer - I have yet to read an Iron Man comic.  That said, I have no clue whether or not this movie is an accurate depiction of the original character.  Given it's a movie adaptation, I think it's a safe bet to say it's probably off the mark in one thing or another.  So, if you are a die hard fan of the comic book, perhaps you'd best just stay away, rather than be sorely disappointed and ruined forever.  Or...

Go for the fun of it all.  This movie was pure enjoyment.  Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark.  He plays the part to perfection.  Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges and Shawn Toub (the actor who plays the man who saves Stark's life) all give strong performances.  Even the gadgets came alive superbly.  There is, of course, violence, light swearing, and suggestive behavior - but it is overshadowed by the character development and witty reparte (though not appropriate for young audiences).  I've heard some critics blast the lengthy background story.  Personally, I think it's vital to the character development.  In order to see how far he's come, you must see where he was before.  The only criticism I would have is the final battle scene seemed a bit drawn out.  But it's certainly not enough to keep me from suggesting the movie - and seeing the movie again - and buying the movie.  After all, a great hero is always good to have on hand.              

An aside: I think the true measure of a action/adventure movie is the reaction of the audience.  Half the fun of this movie was watching/listening to the people around me.  There were gasps, claps, and whoops.  Women were calling the bad guys names, guys literally sobbed when a vintage car was destroyed (okay, slight exaggeration; but they did let out a collective whimper).  In other words, for a brief moment in time we were more than a bunch of strangers stuffed into a large IMAX theatre.  We were right there in the middle of the action.  And that, my friend, is what a good movie is all about. 

I received a few questions regarding Magpie and Muttonfly's Fantastical Finds.  Since at least a couple of the questions were posed by several individuals I thought I would share them here.  With the answers.  Naturally. 

Q:  What in the heck is Magpie and Muttonfly's Fantastical Finds?

A:  It's a "store" of sorts - filled with links to treasures of all sorts and varieties, all of which can be used in and around your home. 

Q:  You're selling stuff on the Internet?  [GASP!]

A:  No, no I am not.  Basically I'm just a treasure hunter of sorts.  I've scoured page after page on Amazon.com to find great items - all so you don't have to.  Or, as a friend once put it, I gather a myriad of lovely things so my friends may then peruse and dream about what they would buy if only they had the money.   

Q:  What made you think this would be a good idea?

A:  Actually, I never thought of it like that.  I simply thought it would be fun.  And it is.  So there. 

Q:  How can I access Magpie and Muttonfly's Fantastical Finds?

A:  Just click on the link, located to the right of the categories. 

Q:  But it's so jumbled and hard to find things.  Couldn't you at least make it easy to navigate?

A:  Alas, not so much.  Amazon.com gives you only so much creative license.  However, to give you a glimpse here and there, every Tuesday I'll highlight a section, and show you what you might find.  So, if you're interested - Tuesdays are for you.  If you're not - Tuesdays are a good day to skip reading Mapgie and Muttonfly.