New Cookware

 A lovely set of enamel cookware from the Emmanuel Episcopal thrift store today. $35 for three pots with lids and a sauté pan. Brass handles will be hot but add a nice touch.

The pattern is similar to this $5 ceramic bowl found at a ReStore thrift several years ago.

Under the kitchen island I made from a wood table/desk, the low shelf holds my cook books and a variety of ceramic ware: oversized bowls and platters. One of few things of any real value is an inherited platter from the first cousin of my great grandmother. All but two of the ceramics come from thrift stores. The cook books are collected over the years between me and my husband, who came with some interesting vegetarian and health-nut books. An old tea tin holds family recipes I keep, but don't use. Next to it is the worst mortar and pestle ever made. (Please recommend one!) I won't get rid of it yet until I find a proper set. The blue and white stripe bowl is one of two, the smaller nested inside. These were 50cent finds at ProjectSafe. I love my collection of bowls that I use for bread making, salads, soups, and veg platters. Lance even likes eating ramen from the medium sized serving bowls. I guess it's a man thing...or a pig thing. 

And the new cookware is similar to a crock I found for $3 at the ProjectSafe Thrift store. They don't match each other. They are all made from three separate companies in three different countries. Yet I adore them all. 

Atop my frig rests a $10 spongeware vase with blossoms (far rear). A thrift store picture of Robert Furber's Twelve Months of Flowers hangs behind it. This was one of two I bought as set for $12. Additional prints in the collection in smaller sizes adorn the walls of my kitchen ranging from 1-3$ each. The copper spritz bottle was found for a buck at a thrift market. It was regularly used until I found another watering can with a longer spout and a better balanced handle. The cabbage soup tureen was an amazing find at $2 from the ProjectSafe Thrift. I relish any chance I have to transfer a thick stew into this lovely piece. The large copper tea kettle unfortunately developed a leak. It was bought in the Lohne twice-weekly market. Like many German markets, Turkish brass often finds a corner at the Alter Markt.