Buck Special Edition Knife Set

Buck Special Edition Knife Set - Author's Collection

The picture shows a Buck Special Edition Knife Set. It includes two knives. One is a 389 Canoe, and the other is a 385 Toothpick. They cost roughly 23 dollars.

Vintage Candy Dish

Ruby Red - Author's Collection

"The object in the image is a vintage Indiana Glass Ruby Red Tall Footed Compote Dish with a Diamond Point Lid. This piece features a clear glass pedestal base and a lidded compote bowl with a distinctive ruby red band or rim, accented by a diamond point pattern. It was manufactured by the Indiana Glass Company in their 'Diamond Point' pattern, also known as 'King's Crown'. This pattern was produced from 1965 through the 1980s. It is commonly used as a candy dish, for displaying nuts, or as a decorative centerpiece. Hand washing is recommended for cleaning this type of glassware." Source: Google Image Search and AI. Price: from $40 to $20 or less. Mine is in perfect condition.

Grand Admiral Thrawn's Chimaera

Chimaera Unpackaging - Author's Picture

I have a number of Star Wars and Star Trek models. The pictures on this page show the latest piece in the collection, the Chimaera.

Chimaera - Author's Collection

"The Chimaera was a modified Imperial I-class Star Destroyer captained by Imperial officer Thrawn during the Galactic Civil War. It served as his flagship following his promotions to commodore and later admiral of the 96th Task Force and transferred commands with him from the task force to flagship of the Seventh Fleet upon his promotion to Grand Admiral." Description via Star Wars fandom.

Dagon Vibes

Dagon Vibes

The picture shown above gives me "Dagon vibes." Not the biblical Dagon, but the Lovecraftian creature. The picture source is Meta. The artist is not known to me.

"Then suddenly I saw it. With only a slight churning to mark its rise to the surface, the thing slid into view above the dark waters. Vast, Polyphemus-like, and loathsome, it darted like a stupendous monster of nightmares to the monolith, about which it flung its gigantic scaly arms, the while it bowed its hideous head and gave vent to certain measured sounds. I think I went mad then."

Dagon at the H.P. Lovecraft Archive.

Spring Ahead

Recipe Book - Author's Picture

I will be spending some of my time updating and catching up on posting my knife collection onto the blog. Speaking of the Spring season, two things come to mind. First, at least in Texas, snakes will start to become active. Yes, I've seen snakes out and about in March.

Second, in March, the hummingbirds (at least in Texas) will start to return, and they will want to be treated to your feeder's sugary, good water. It's time to get the feeders out (unless you leave them up year-round) and it's time to clean them. Then, it's time to make what the birds want: a sugar and water mixture. Here's how to make it:

Hummingbird Food

• 4 parts water (4 cups)
• 1 part sugar (1 cup)
• Mix until the sugar is dissolved.

It is not necessary to boil the water or add food coloring to it. Adding dye is generally not recommended. No evidence suggests that it is safe.

Note: Hummingbirds (in Texas, anyway) generally begin to return in March. They start to leave near the end of September.

Dale Earnhardt Playing Cards

Dale Earnhardt Playing Cards - Author's Picture

Dale Earnhardt Playing Cards. 2 Decks of cards. Sealed; 2001 cards. 12 dollars. Collector's tin included.

Grapette Jar

Grapette Jar - Author's Picture

"The object in the image is a vintage Grapette Clown Bank, originally a syrup bottle that could be repurposed as a coin bank. These glass bottles were produced by Grapette Products Co. in Camden, Arkansas. They initially contained Grapette syrup, a concentrate for making non-carbonated soft drinks at home by mixing with water. The bottles feature a figural design in the shape of a clown and come with a metal screw-on cap that has a slot for inserting coins, allowing them to function as a bank after the syrup was consumed. These Grapette Clown Banks are now considered collectible items, particularly by those interested in vintage advertising, bottles, or character-themed memorabilia." Source: Google Image Search and AI.

This jar was recovered from an old neighbor's home (really a shack) that we were given permission to go into and take what we wanted. My daughter actually found the bottle, and it had about 50 cents' worth of wheat leaf pennies in it. The coin-insertion lid is not on the jar. I don't know if the screw-on lid in the picture was stock or if it was a lid that someone found. I found one of these online for about 14 dollars.