I'd like to get a list of what she still needs so we don't overwhelm her with a monoculture! I just found a fabulous local nursery with lots of natives, but if natives aren't what she likes, I'd hate to overload her with them. JD has Turks Cap and Butterfly Bushes, I have loads of big salvia (Black and Blue, Indigo Spires, Tula) but I just don't know that she gardens the way I do. Heck those salvias are almost over my head and I'm standing up! I am open to a Friday afternoon planting session, if she is ok with that. Denise, if the drive is too far for you, I work in the Frisco/Plano (121 and Legacy) area Friday through Monday and we could coordinate a pick up if you want. Pam

Fascinating, follow me...(tidbits in the middle, good stuff at the end) ;) I googled the first part "Royal Warranted Best Ironstone China" and came up with a hit where they found artifacts bearing that label from Ft. Clatsop (where Lewis & Clark overwintered in 1806). Scroll down to Artifacts at that link, about the middle of the first section under Artifacts. The latter part of the marks of pieces unearthed there showed the label as "Warranted Royal Ironstone China - Charles Meakin England" and this immediately folows: "Edward Clark, Burslem, England". Your label looks like a "....K & Co." on the bottom, but no searches of the entire term (beginning iwth Warranted ending with Clark) turn up anything. However, I did find reference to this: Royal Warranted Best Ironstone China , H. Alcock & Co England. So I'm going to guess that's your manufacturer. More googling... Here's the link to the piece that was sold on eBay. It's dated 19th century. WorthPoint is the site, to get info for what it sold for you have to be a member (I see they have a free 7 day trial tho, enough to get more info if you don't need to supply a Credit Card, etc.) Another reference to Alcock I found is here. Scroll down about 3/4 of the way, to heading "JUGS, TEAPOTS, AND ANIMALS. 237". Vague company bits but mentions 1830's to 1860's as dates the "Alcocks" were manufacturing. It's vague. Another link where "H Alcock" is a hit is below, but it stalled while downloading the huge (5MB) PDF file for me on high speed. If you can access it, perhaps you can search the file for Alcock. Archaeological investigations at the Westney Farmstead,Mangere Best of all, here is your mark, looks to be exact were it intact: North Staffordshire Pottery Marks Henry Alcock 2nd mark from the bottom. Appears it was used around 1910?

Excellent Mojo, absolutely beautiful. I love the darker blue background (instead of the sponged yellow). The roses are perfect, they compliment the roses the blue bird is sitting on. Love the antiqued blue you did on the door piece and whatever those things are making the border around your pic are just perfect also. The drawer box is lovely also, very nice antiqued buttermilk color. Clap, clap, clap. Sal

Whether those crocks are in demand depends, I think, on location. I'm sure they do have some demand in some places altho the current economy has impacted that. The bottles would have value due to their age and the fact they have labels. Please protect the labels to keep the value. What I would do with them in my decor with the bottles is to group them together in an old tool tote or on a tray. I might use a silver tray for that rustic and refined look. If you use them in your Christmas decor just add a few evergreen sprigs to the grouping. Otherwise they could be grouped on your mantle but don't line them up like soldiers, group them randomly and overlapping possibly in groups of 3 or 5. The crocks could be on the mantle or better still on the floor. Twigs or tall grasses can be displayed in the crocks. Keep the lids as they are worth more with lids than without. Is the lid on the first crock wooden? Interesting if it is altho it's not likely original but if old still has value. The obvious choice of what to display with the crocks would be other vintage/antique items altho you don't have to be restricted to that. A plant, trays, platters, or large plates, or a wood, metal, or leather box could work. Add some candlesticks and avoid small delicate items. Shop your house and try various things to see how they look. I've used old crocks on my kitchen counter to hold utensils. Right now I have some in a kitchen cabinet that has glass doors. They are just grouped with other kitchen or pottery items with similar colors.