Columns

That’s Not Funny

As a kid growing up, my family enjoyed things that made us laugh. There were TV shows like the “Carol Burnett Show” and “I Love Lucy” and “Red Skelton.” Later came “Laverne and Shirley” and “Happy Days” and “Laugh In.” I remember enduring endless questions in the form of knock-knock jokes from younger siblings who roared with laughter when “tricking” us with their answers. Half the fun was in the delivery of such jokes. Just about everyone can recall someone who stood out as a jokester during his or her early school years. In grade school, I remember a ...

Collectors Enjoy Easter Sweets From Yesteryear

Though not as plentiful as Christmas collectibles, Easter items are a collectible category in their own right. In fact, rabbits stand alone as a collectible and include examples that are made of cloth, plastic, glass, pewter and paper-mache. Candy containers are another big collectible. Germany made the first composition candy containers in the shapes of Easter rabbits, ducks and chicks. These lovely old candy containers and statues are sought after in antiques shops and secondhand stores everywhere. Germany continued to be tops in most Easter novelties till World War II. Today ...

Kneeling Where My Father Knelt

I entered the side door from the parking lot, and the church was respectfully quiet. As I descended the stairs to the lower level, the smell of fried onions wafted up the stairwell. Downstairs I was greeted by apron-wearing ladies who were cooking up delicious food for the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church fish fry. One by one they said hello, and I stood in awe of their culinary abilities. But the fish fry was not the first reason I was there. The ladies, too, knew I had come to see the Wall of Honor placed upon a large expanse of wall just outside the kitchen. This impressive ...

Antique of the Week: Purse Passion Is Always In Season

With the arrival of spring, fashion turns to new purses, shoes and clothing. However, for purse collectors, new (old) bags are always in style. Antique and vintage purses offer a lovely example of elegance and design. Beaded, cut steel, celluloid and needlework bags are just a few of the ...

Snap, Crackle And Pop

All I wanted was a box of Rice Krispies. Sometimes I will purchase the cheaper store brand but I was craving the name-brand snap, crackle and pop version. That is until I saw the price of a skinny box of cereal with the cute elf-like creatures on the box. I guess I expressed my disdain for the $4.99 price tag a little too loudly as a woman approached me while I stood in the cereal aisle of a local grocery store. She, too, lamented the increased prices of everything from bread to bologna. We shared comments about the lack of some products and the challenges of stretching our food ...

Limoges Porcelain is a Classic Collectible

While in high school, I worked an after-school job at King’s Jewelry Store in Wheeling. King’s was always busy and my main duty was wrapping gifts. I learned a lot while handling and wrapping fine china, jewelry and countless wedding gifts. One of the first collectible treasures I ever bought was a Limoges porcelain box that I purchased on sale at King’s. A beautiful cobalt blue shade covered the creamy white porcelain and gold paint trimmed the classic trinket box that featured an 18th century couple in an idyllic pose. The round box measured 5 by 3 inches and was perfect to ...