There aren't many collectibles I haven't heard
of but war shield bibles are new to me.

War shield bibles were sent to soldiers from loved ones during WWII.
Metal plated, they were kept in the breast pocket to protect the heart.

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Catholic bibles also included a beautiful rosary.

The little information I could find on these unique
war-time collectibles indicated that most of the
shields were for small copies of the New Testament.

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I'll definitely keep my eyes open for one of these unusual
bibles while flea marketing.   Let me know if you spot one.

You're walking on the beach and stumble upon a small brass

lamp.  You pick it up, brush off the sand and a genie pops out.

He makes you an unbelievable gift of $44 million dollars!  There's

just one catch - it all has to be spent on just one purchase.

What do you buy?  Here are some suggestions:

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Shelter Island in Montana features 24 private acres and a gorgeous stone mansion.

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Located at 973 5th Avenue, this 15,000+ sq ft brownstone fronts Central Park.

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A 2.76 acre oceanfront building lot in Honolulu with 360 feet of ocean frontage

Or maybe jewelry is your thing . . . . 

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Designer-to-the-stars Harry Winston once owned this perfect

pink solitaire name The Graff Pink.  Worth $46 million, it is

the most expensive piece of jewelry ever sold at auction.

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO can be yours for a little over $40 million

Want to take a risk on the stock market?

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Warren Buffett's investment company, Berkshire Hathaway, is
currently the most expensive stock in the world - trading for
$200,000 a share.  Let's put you down for a portfolio of 200 shares.

Regardless of how you spend your windfall, an anonymous
phone bidder gave their genie a stroke by buying a ping-pong
table for $44 million dollars:

Actually, it isn't a ping-pong table.  It's New York painter Barnett Newman's
abstract painting titled Onement VI that was auctioned by Sotheby's. 


Barnett painted the 8.5' x 10' "masterpiece" in 1953.
Here is the artist with his creation:

Art aficionados are urged to not confuse Newman's
Onement VI with his 1951 painting Cathedra:

Yup, another ping pong table, just bigger.

I think the genie just shook his head and retreated back
into the lamp.  Could have had a NY penthouse.

Before I'd spend $44 million dollars on a painted ping-pong
table I'd create a foundation that encouraged recycling.

Happy Earth Day 2015

Update:  I have reached the stage of my indisposition where I feel

as if I might not be singing a solo in the Zombie Choir.

Given my feeble state I'm going to need your help.
Would you pick out the repurposing in today's photos?
I just don't have the energy for commentary.

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Etsy Vendor
This isn't just any old drawer being used as a magazine holder.
It's an old drawer from an antique sewing machine cabinet.  Cute.

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The next time you're thinking about adding shelving
to your bathroom consider using a drawer instead:

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Bolt together wood drawers, add feet - voile! instant book case.

That's it for today, boys and girls.  Taking my juice
and going back to bed.  Thanks for your help today.

cough, cough . . . . . hack, hack . . . . .

(sound of blowing my nose) . . . . 

yes, I'm sick.  And not just sick - I have the flu.

How's that possible?  I took the flu shot.  But the doctor told me

that there are several strains that the flu shot doesn't cover.

I'll be back when just blinking doesn't hurt.

Oh, those Royals.  They're always starting a trend.

In 1784, Britain's young Prince of Wales (future King George IV) began a clandestine relationship with Maria Anne Fitzherbert, a Catholic widow, whom he was forbidden from seeing, both by law and by his father, King George III.  Nevertheless, he pursued her.

Mrs. Fitzherbert rejected the Prince's advances and left for the Continent in order to escape his ardent attention.  The young prince faked a suicide attempt to show his great despair, they exchanged letters and Mrs. Fitzherbert's heart softened, blah, blah, blah.  She accepted his proposal of marriage then broke it off, more letter were exchanged, another proposal was accepted but instead of sending her an engagement ring he sent her an intimate small portrait of one of his eyes.  

Thus began the Georgian fad of painted eye broaches.

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Dubbed Lovers' Eyes, the optical art was often enhanced by a tear
to convey how much the loved one missed their intended.

It became a game in lovers' social circles to guess the identity
of the (often secret) admirer just by the painting of their eye.

Broaches weren't the only settings for the eye portraits - lockets, rings, small
frames and jeweled animal pins were also used to hold the unusual art. 

Because the tiny portraits were often discarded after the affair was
over, finding an authentic Georgian eye broach is near to impossible.
Today most of them reside in private collections or in museums.
It's estimated that less than 1,000 still exist.

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Oh, and the Prince and Mrs. Fitzherbert affair?  She returned to England and they secretly married on December 15, 1785, at her London residence.  Shortly after their marriage she commissioned a tiny portrait of her eye as a gift to her new husband.

Sadly, the Prince's father never gave his permission for the lovers to wed so the marriage was considered null and void.  In 1795 the Prince married his cousin, Princess Caroline of Brunswick but the two were completely incompatible.  Following the birth of their only child, Princess Charlotte, they separated and were estranged until their deaths.  Although he had many mistresses the Prince remained attached to Mrs. Fitzherbert the rest of his life.

King George IV and the love of his life, Maria Anne Fitzherbert

Imagine if reality TV had been around during their time!