My RED Kitchen

Years ago, I found the cutest lil' creamer in a thrift store. It was covered in tiny strawberries with lime green dots. Upon turning the piece over, I found the name of the pattern printed on the bottom to be called "Strawberry Swiss Dot".


And with that lil' ole' find, two obsessions were born...

Ebay and a ridiculously RED kitchen.

After the acquisition of the strawberry creamer, I diligently searched and found, piece by piece, the rest of the entire Strawberry Swiss Dot set. I have four dessert plates, four coffee mugs, the cake plate, the sugar bowl, and the teapot.





I added lots of strawberry items to my kitchen.













Upon noting my love of all things strawberry, my Mom gave me a beautiful set of embroidered strawberry place mats with matching napkins.



When I couldn't find anymore strawberry items, I focused in on cherry items.









My Mom painted this picnic basket with cherries and ladybugs. She also added the sweet cherries fabric liner. I love it!




I started collecting vintage cake carriers, tablecloths, aprons, colanders, trays, ice buckets, granite ware / enamelware, thermo serve items, and condiment holders.















This beautiful tablecloth was my grandmothers. My Mom tells me that grandma used to put it out on the fold away card table every time her friends would come over to play pinochle.



I then took a liking to anything that was red gingham.







And things that had to do with old time diner images, like burgers, popcorn & hot dogs.









I started looking for nifty things that had to do with Elvis and Vegas... as long as they had some red in them.









The buffet hutch drawers are full of wonderful textiles.







I honestly do not have room for another thing, but you know if I find something special... I'll make it "fit" somewhere.

Speaking of Elvis

I am a HUGE Elvis fan! Everyone who knows me knows this about me. I'm not the kind of fan that would have thrown myself at him. It's not love or lust. I just have this tremendous empathy for his struggles near the end of his short life. I have cried watching his last concert performance. My heart breaks because he's no longer here.

And so of course ...

I have most, if not all of his music. I have seen many of his movies.

I have an Elvis overnight tote bag that I get many compliments on from older folks down to the girls on my daughter's volleyball team.

I have an Elvis figure that hangs from the rear view mirror of my car. The hips are attached to the torso by a spring and so with every movement of the car... so goes Elvis.

I have an Elvis clock in my kitchen.


I have an Elvis purse complete with sequins that I take with me every year when I go to Las Vegas.

I've been getting Elvis Christmas ornaments from my kids and/or husband for years now.

Elvis is popular in my house and with my children. We listen to his music all the time. My kids sing along. They know all the words to his songs. And they like to introduce the music of Elvis to their friends. It was the popular CD of choice when I would chaperon their elementary school field trips in my car. My favorite song is Suspicious Minds followed closely by Blue Christmas. The kids like Jailhouse Rock and Hound Dog.

Whenever we are out at a restaurant, or shopping, etc and I hear an Elvis song come on, I'll say "Who's that on the radio?!" And whoever is with us at the time, be it kids, friends, parents, family .... they will simultaneously shout out "ELVIS!" I love it!

When I'm gone from this earth, (hanging out with Elvis) ... I hope that whenever my kids are together and they hear an Elvis song, they will turn to each other and simply smile.

Who's The King?

In the summer of 2000, we took our two youngest kids to Mackinac to visit all the "must see" tourist attractions in this historic city.











At Fort Michilmackinac, there was an interactive demonstration where the children got to go up with the soldiers. They were taught briefly how to handle the rifles and march within an army. During this demonstration, our group was also getting a mini lesson in history about the French, Europe... and whatever. (I wasn't really listening well because I was so busy watching how cute my kids were)

At one point in the lesson, one of the soldiers asked "Does anybody know who the king was?"

One little boy shouted ... "ELVIS!!"

The entire group was cracking up. Every parent was videotaping the event including my husband.

Two years later we were all watching "America's Funniest Videos" (It's still a family Sunday night ritual for us) The video was part of the show! My kids faces were blurred out, (legal reasons, I'm sure) but there they were! So cool.