Okay..Luvs...You asked for it...I'll share my 'Embarrassing Moment'..cause I could use a laugh myself! We had just arrived in Durango, there were 9 of us traveling cross country doing 500 miles a day. Dh/Me...My BIL/SIL.. and 5 teenagers - 2 cars. We stopped at a gas station to refuel. I jumped out of the car cause I had to go to the B/R REAL BAD (I have weak kidneys)...It was one of these tiny gas stations. When I walked in..there was about half a dozen local men..sitting around, just 'chewing the fat' and watching anyone who came in, as it was their entertainment for the day!! Well, I rushed in asked where the bathroom was..they pointed to the door right where they were sitting. I ran in, pulled down my shorts and started to 'tinkle'...well after a few moments, I realized I hadn't heard anything going into the bowl. The toilet was very low...and that's when I noticed it went all in my shorts!! I was soaked. I panicked..opened the door a crack..to see all these men staring at me..I asked if one of them, would call one of the ladies by the car for me. Well everyone came in, wanting to know what happened to me. I whispered to my SIL, that I needed a new pair of shorts. Everything was packed away tight with the camping gear..and they couldn't take anything out.. After much (to me) unnecessary discussion, and fuss over not finding any change of clothes...They finially decided to give me DH's Denim shirt to wrap around my bottom half. Of course, with the audience of these men sitting there taking everything in. So when I finially stepped out wearing DH's Shirt wrapped around me..looking to get out of there real fast, they started to clap and one said 'Mission Accomplished'!! Everyone started to laugh..I know my face was beet red. So, when I think of Durango...it brings 'Warm & Fuzzy' thoughts..lol jane

I was gone most of yesterday running errands. I'm glad you all liked my tablescape. Wanda, yes . . . that's what I was going for ~ Simplicity! I'm glad you noticed that . . . and glad it actually came out that way(LOL)! Trudy: yes, aren't they great . . . especially for $2 each! Party, that's not a dumb idea. I actually did roll the napkins originally, using the silver napkin rings and they looked very good that way. I think if I'd had more decs in the middle of my table, they would have looked even better but, rolled and placed above the plates, I thought they called attention to how empty it was up there (LOL!). Love your other ideas, too. I'll bet a pair of antique reading glasses would be great by/on the books. I'll have to keep my eye out for more possibilities for next year. Jeanne, thanks! I think OA's ideas for a Billy the Kid table are fantastic! I hope you'll do a table like that someday soon. Can I add a few more ideas? Blue spatter-ware tin plates and cups; horseshoes; bandanna napkins, rolled and tied up with a bit of thin, frayed-at-the ends rope; an old, rustic lantern; a battered tin or spatterware coffee pot filled with Black Eyed Susans? OA: of course I don't mind! I've already seen your table and it's fantastic! What you can come up with on the spur of the moment is amazing, just like your President's Day tale. My favorite, though, is still The Sandcastle Table. Kath/MMW: hello and welcome to our forum!! Happy Birthday, too! Cindy: thanks! Are you using the chargers in your latest table? I need to go look in a minute. Magpie, thanks so much. I agree with you on Washington and Lincoln. . . such great men! ****BTW, have any of you had a chance to see HBO's miniseries, "John Adams"? We originally rented ours through Netflicks, but it's rentable many places and for sale, as well. It is phenomenal, wonderful, beautiful, excellent, breath-taking and will make you incredibly proud of our forefathers . . . I can't (obviously) say enough good things about it. Even the music is fantastic. It's based on David McCullough's book of the same name, and follows our nation's struggle before and throughout the Revolutionary War and past Jefferson's presidency to the Fourth of July when both those great men (Adams and Jefferson) died within hours of each other. Paul Giamatti was incredible as John Adams; Laura Linney played his wife; David Morse played George Washington so well it was amazing. Both men should have won major awards for this piece. Anyhoo, it's really worth seeing, even if you're not a huge Early American buff. I bought it as a gift for the family at Christmas and can't wait to see it all again. Karen, thanks, I won't change it then. And an early Happy Birthday to your DH. What a great birthday to share! Luvs, thank you! Yes, I've often wondered that, too. He was an honorable, good man and a brave one,as well. Sometimes I actually have dreams that my DS is elected President someday in the future and the legacy, however distant, continues. Punk, thanks. Your comments are always so thoughtful and kind. I wasn't sure about the books but am keeping them because you all seem to like them there. The table's still set for at least the rest of this week. As for the napkins, they're the first I've ever attempted, but got inspired to make some from this forum. Jane: Yes, the tablecloth is really an old Matelasse coverlet . . . you have such a good eye for details! I do wish we lived closer. As it is, will you please plan another table soon, and/or reshow us past tables using your wonderful pewter? Your dining room is my all-time favorite and I always love seeing pics of it. Lynn

FYI: 10% off orders up to $900, 12% off orders over that, through tomorrow. Free shipping on orders over $99, but I think that's their usual MO, not just for during the sale. Here is a link that might be useful: glasstileoasis.com sale

Yes, I still feel that February 12th and the 22nd are special days. I loved it when we did school projects for those days when I was in the lower grades. Presidents day seems like such a generic holiday -- which it is of course! Maybe the teachers today do take note of particular presidents but since I don't live in the US anymore, I wouldn't hear about it.