My father was in the Navy during World War II and one of the expressions he came home with was “Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em; bum ‘em if you don’t”. He would hear those instructions whenever it was time for a break and it was safe to light up without alerting the enemy to their position. In those good ‘ole days sailors were issued a daily ration of cigarettes. My interpretation of that phrase today might be closer to “use it or lose it”, “tomorrow’s not guaranteed” or the more pleasant “eat dessert first”.

So what does that have to do with a photo of an old-timey lock and skeleton key? That’s from one of the dining room cabinets that used to house the china and crystal now packed in boxes in the garage waiting to cross the Atlantic. I should say “recross” since all of these items originated in France and are now just going home. Once they arrive at their new location, these special glasses and plates will no longer be relegated to holiday use only. Although not dishwasher safe (yes, we will have one of those modern miracle machines) we still plan to enjoy daily wine, whisky, or cocktails from crystal glassware before dining on gold-rimmed platters. They’ve been locked away far too long not to enjoy them frequently.

In the other photo you’ll see an update of what the garage looks like while we try to get all of the boxes packed that we’re taking. You may recall an earlier post that showed our first attempt using a 50-square foot crate that was going to cost $1500 to ship. The size of the container would have resembled a washing machine. We’ve now doubled that to 100-square feet, increased to the size of a refrigerator, with a cost of $2000. We’ve always felt that drinking cheap champagne out of expensive glasses tastes so much better; therefore, those first bubbles in France should be fabulous!