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How Sweet It Was

I’m not sure who enjoyed Easter more, my mom or my dad. They each had their own reasons for fully embracing the holy day that marked the Resurrection of Jesus. Of course, their Catholic faith played into it as they diligently adhered to the traditions and teachings of Lent and Easter. We ate a lot of fish sandwiches and mac and cheese during Lent. Our family, along with several other large families in the parish, kept the fish markets in clover during Lent. Even as very young kids, our parents made sure to take us to Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, and of course, Mass each ...

Easter Egg Hunts Attract Collectors

Collectors love Easter eggs! The smooth oval shape of a simple egg can be painted, dipped, and copied in various mediums, including precious metals, crystal, marble, porcelain and jewel encrusted to create an egg to delight even the most discerning of eyes. Egg collectors seek fancy examples like colorful German papier mache eggs, vintage spun sugar eggs with scenes inside, hand painted eggs of all kinds, carved examples, African Ostrich varieties, Ukrainian Pysanky, and jeweled eggs like the most famous eggs of all, Faberge. I have a few treasured Easter eggs myself. My favorite is ...

That’s Not Funny

As a kid growing up, my family enjoyed things that made us laugh. There were TV shows like the “Carol Burnett Show” and “I Love Lucy” and “Red Skelton.” Later came “Laverne and Shirley” and “Happy Days” and “Laugh In.” I remember enduring endless questions in the form of knock-knock jokes from younger siblings who roared with laughter when “tricking” us with their answers. Half the fun was in the delivery of such jokes. Just about everyone can recall someone who stood out as a jokester during his or her early school years. In grade school, I remember a ...

Collectors Enjoy Easter Sweets From Yesteryear

Though not as plentiful as Christmas collectibles, Easter items are a collectible category in their own right. In fact, rabbits stand alone as a collectible and include examples that are made of cloth, plastic, glass, pewter and paper-mache. Candy containers are another big collectible. Germany made the first composition candy containers in the shapes of Easter rabbits, ducks and chicks. These lovely old candy containers and statues are sought after in antiques shops and secondhand stores everywhere. Germany continued to be tops in most Easter novelties till World War II. Today ...

Kneeling Where My Father Knelt

I entered the side door from the parking lot, and the church was respectfully quiet. As I descended the stairs to the lower level, the smell of fried onions wafted up the stairwell. Downstairs I was greeted by apron-wearing ladies who were cooking up delicious food for the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church fish fry. One by one they said hello, and I stood in awe of their culinary abilities. But the fish fry was not the first reason I was there. The ladies, too, knew I had come to see the Wall of Honor placed upon a large expanse of wall just outside the kitchen. This impressive ...

Antique of the Week: Purse Passion Is Always In Season

With the arrival of spring, fashion turns to new purses, shoes and clothing. However, for purse collectors, new (old) bags are always in style. Antique and vintage purses offer a lovely example of elegance and design. Beaded, cut steel, celluloid and needlework bags are just a few of the ...