Fan Girl Wannabe

So I returned to the Mikasa outlet store to pick up 12 luncheon plates (Ambiance - with embossed calla lillies) and 12 soup plates (Global Cuisine - a shallow circle with a piece 'missing' from the edge).  That makes two sizes plates - lunch and dessert, two similar sized salad/soup plates (the pre-existing one is clear glass), a fruit bowl and a small ramekin.  The only thing I don't have a matched 12 of is dinner plates!  

Mikasa does have a pattern with a spiral rim detail, similar to what we already have, but there was only ONE left in the store.  There was just no point in bringing it home, ya know?  Then, there was the Maison Blanche dinner plate, a really nice octagonal shape (same pattern as the fruit bowl) but it was barely bigger than the lunch plate, so we passed it up.  They also have a plain, bistro-style rimmed plate, but it's too something - it seemed cheap instead of like fine china.  The only other simple, pure white plate that I liked there was way too expensive, even with the extra discount.

That leaves me still looking for dinner plates.  I hadn't planned on acquiring all these pieces so quickly; I had envisioned this being a project that occurred over time, with the dinner plate being the first new piece, but the super deep discounts were too good to pass up.  I want a white white plate.  I like simple designs.  I like rims, but they're not required.  I also like square plates, but I'm not sure I want my dinner plate (which will be the most frequently used) to be square, and most square plates are fairly thick like stoneware instead of thin like china.  So I have no idea when I'll happen across the perfect dinner plate.  In the meantime, I've rearranged the open dish cabinet, and it looks even prettier than before with all the stacks of white dishes.  I've pulled out all the stuff we really don't use, and made a space for the new teapot.  

All this just in time for christmas season, when I traditionally swap out the daily dishes for the Spode Christmas Tree.  We use that every day from T-Day plus 1 to New Year's Eve.  It just seems pointless to have a set of china you only use 1-2 days per year, (and this year we'll get a full 40 days out of it!)  We have 10 dinner and salad plates, plus 4 cereal bowls, a platter and a relish tray.  There were cups and saucers in the beginning, but I believe we're down to one.  I had thought I'd continue to pick up pieces to make a full service for 10, but I've kind of lost the urge, owing to the fact that the pieces I pine for are the most expensive.  Why the heck is a soup plate 2-3 times as expensive as a cereal bowl?!  It's that way in many patterns.  And serveware is outrageous!  I love the idea of a soup tureen, but honestly, would I really use it?  This time of year I make soup all the time, so I'd have the opportunity, but the idea of ladling out the soup from the pot to the tureen and then again into bowls - it seems like a waste of time and heat.  And then you have to wash the tureen, and I would probably kill the kid who broke it, since a Spode tureen is likely to set me back $200-400.  I could (and would) get this instead, and if I ever do decide to get a tureen, I should get one that can be used anytime.

The to-do list is shorter these days, if you're only looking at the major items, or longer if you're paying attention to th picky details. Here's what I've got: 

Rupert's Bathroom:
- Re-caulk the junction of the tub and the bath surround. The first try didn't take, so I had to clean off all the original silicone to start over.  But it's done now.
- Clean the adhesive off the new vinyl floor
- Install the TP holder Go Rupert!
- Install the shelf Go, Rupert!
- Install the switchplates Go, me! - I had to cut the holes in the paneling bigger, and reinstall the devices before putting on the covers.
- Set all the finish nails and seal them
Miscellaneous:
- Receive and install the post lamp at the end of the driveway
- Find and install a cupboard in the main bathroom Yay! Got to do a project with B!
- Finish getting rid of the trash
- Get rid of the old appliances Completed spring 07 by B and busman
- Turn garden beds
- Seal and wrap outdoor table for winter
- Clean up the garage so the cars will fit inside
- Move coat rack to a better location
- Decide on dining area rug completed 07
- Change light bulbs in music room
- Clean up music room
- Install gas heater in basement
- Make sure the insulation above the kitchen is all in place thanks busman!
- Repair the sofa
Kitchen:
- Paint the old cabinet doors winter 07
- Reinstall the old cabinet doors spring 07
- Finish wiring the 2 floor outlets
- Paint the new cabinets (maybe 2008?) sheesh
- Install cabinet hardware (started 11/11)
- Finish the cubbies (getting closer - the shelf is in, and the baskets are there, but no paint yet)
- Cut and install the shelves at the end of the counter
- Cut and install the paneling above the cabinets Fall 07
- Caulk the countertop
- Return some drawer organizers
- Install drawer and cabinet organizers
- Find a mop that works better than a Swiffer!
Decorate for the Holidays! (no real tree or greenery this year)

Everything that has been completed so far, looks really good.  We found a really nice rug for the living room area, and Cosmo heartily approves.  Yes, some things got done more than once, but the extra effort really paid off.  We learned enough on the first go-rounds to get it right the second time, and we're well-equipped to take on new or similar tasks in the future.  And, we're still within the original budget we envisioned, with a good half of the work being paid in cash.  That's a really good feeling. \o/