Audubon Ruffed Grouse

Soooo, this is a framed print that I bought at the auction for the grand total (I think) of five bucks.  It just looked old to me and of course I have a thing for old prints.  When I got it in my hands I noticed the word Audubon in the lower left hand corner.  It stayed on the floor in the bedroom for a week or two and then I hung it up.  Then I tried to read what was in the lower right hand corner....hmmm, Havell 1833...hmmm.  I began to do a little research, and of course it is a reproduction.  Namely the main cue that it is a reproduction is the size...I have actually seen a Audubon double elephant folio and it used to reside about 5 miles from where I now live.  In the home of J.Z. George--"Cotesworth."  Of course I was in high school then and was impressed despite the fact that I didn't know what I was looking at. I wonder if they still have it displayed or if it is in a vault some where.

This is Cotesworth.
When I was doing my  research, I noted that the original double elephant print of my Ruffed Grouse was listed for $27,000 on one website ....so according to Wiki, "Of the 119 copies known to survive, only eleven are held in private collections. In March 2000 the Fox-Bute copy sold at Christie's (New York) for $8,802,500. In December 2005 an unbound copy, the Providence Athenaeum Set, sold, again at Christie's (New York), for $5.6 million
Although I didn't find a treasure money wise, I did find a treasure in that I learned a lot about the amazing Mr. Audubon...and that was worth five bucks, plus it looks great in my guest bedroom...

Victoria's Secret Finally Found Me

Yep that's right, they have been looking for me for about 16 years...let me explain.
I am a big girl.  Okay?  And apparently prior to my arrival in David's life he had never dated or even been around any big girls.  Our daughter is slim, his sisters are slim, his mother was slim and on and on.
On our first Christmas after we married we were all shopping in the mall.  Our daughter made her way into the Victoria's Secret store.  I went elsewhere. However, David  followed her in and began to look around.  He went up to one of the clerks and inquired about buying me some sexy lingerie.  The clerk asked him what size bra I wore...and he told her.  She laughed and told him that they didn't sell that size in there.  He slunk out -- embarrassed.
I have been a bit peeved with them ever since.
I mean she didn't have to laugh at him.  He was being sweet and apparently he didn't realize just how big a girl I am.

Now for some odd reason, they have found me and are sending me catalogs. What the heck?  I have never ordered from them. (See above--they don't have my size)  I have moved 3 times since then.  How the heck did they find me?  Why are they sending me catalogs?  I'm still a big girl, however I am on a diet and have lost 16.6 pounds.  Do they think that I will be a prospective customer?  Are they trying to make amends?  I still can't wear any of their stuff...they don't have purses in the catalog do they?  That's about the only thing that I could order.
Needless to say, I toss the catalog and never look inside.
And they are trying to sabotage this post!! I have tried to post pictures from their website twice and both times I was knocked off the Internet.
So there will be no VS pictures, I will post this picture of the puppies instead. 



So there VS!! Take that!!!

Mommy We Were

Wondering about something:
Me:  Okay what?
CiCi/GinGin/TanTan/BitBit:  Well it's acually two somethings.
Me: Okay what?
CiCi/GinGin/TanTan/BitBit:  Well first of all, why were you taking a bath in Daddy's tub with your clothes on?
Me: I wasn't taking a bath I was scrubbing it out.  It's too deep to bend over and get the sides clean and the stuff I use makes it really slick and slippery.  Soooo if I slip and fall and break something I won't be naked when the paramedics arrive.
CiCi/GinGin/TanTan/BitBit:  Oh.
Me: What's the other thing?
CiCi/GinGin/TanTan/BitBit: Why haven't you been clogging?
Me: You mean blogging.....so many reasons, the laptop is cranky, I've been busy trying to keep up with housework and stuff.
CiCi/GinGin/TanTan/BitBit: You sure have been going to the auction a lot.
Me: Yeah I know, they have been having Monday night sales...I may need to get into a 12 step program....maybe not...there won't be any more until August.
CiCi/GinGin/TanTan/BitBit: Why don't you show your clogger friends some of the things you bought.
Me: Okay.

 This little box is from oh heck I can't remember, one of those mall stores...mine for $2.50.

 Bean pot for $2.50...for David to keep his peanuts in.

Little planter, old brown bottle and galvanized kerosene can...I know I know....

 Ceramic magnolia for a dear friend who loves them...$2.50.

A Medical Dictionary published in '47, with this very sweet inscription.

These two very sweet canisters for $2.50.  I gave one to a friend and the other will hold the body cream that I make.

 Couldn't resist these 5 stitch encyclopedias...they too were $2.50.

 And last but not least, these maracas...why?  I have no idea, except that they called to me....$2.50.