As the end of Winter approaches – somewhere between Valentine’s Day and President’s Day – I start to dream of the upcoming spring sport season for my boys and the spring allergies that come with the pollen overload from the flowering trees. Although a brief snow storm blew through last night with a promise of a half foot of snow, Old Man Winter only delivered two inches. Then the sun came out this morning and was warm enough to melt away all of the last evening’s weather concerns. On this bright morning I was excitedly on my way to see a new batch of vintage China.
Shortly after the posting of my first blog entry, a neighbor approached me through Facebook about several boxes of dishes she obtained after a recent home purchase. The boxes were filled with old pieces of China and she had no idea whether they were valuable or trash. I visited briefly with her and I saw several adorable pieces- a three footed Nippon nut dish and a Johnson Brothers tea cup with saucer were the most interesting. I then began to talk about my experience with antique stores and possible ways for her to sell her treasures either directly or indirectly to those most interested in them.
For some reason, I was surprised when she mentioned that she doesn’t go antique shopping. But why should she? Not everybody finds it as thrilling as I do. Heck my own family doesn’t enjoy it as much as I do. I scolded myself for being so close-minded, living in my own cocoon. Shame on me! Everyone has their hobbies and mine are as special to me as anybody’s is to them.
As I drove away, I thought about how this time of year, when I have been holed up in my home during the long winter, I feel so disconnected from my neighbors and friends. The boys’ sports seasons, in the spring, summer, and fall allow my husband and I to interact with numerous other parents who share the same love, the same hobby, which is watching our boys play their favorite sports. But this is the off-season and it is almost over – thank goodness!
Everybody has a cocoon from which we all will be emerging very shortly. So I will celebrate the February holidays with George & Martha W. (they hang in my library above the piano, but that is another story). I will toast the holiday if only because the boys will have a day off from school to catch up on sleep and continue to NOT do any of the chores I ask them to do. I will linger in my cocoon for a bit with my warm cup of apricot tea and my tasty little cherry cordial chocolate treat. Oh and thank you for letting me share this cuppa, too.
cookieandacuppa 