NIB

     So often when I am trolling e-bay for treasures, NIB appears.  It means "new in box".  Everything is worth more if it's new in the box, the original box, mind you, not some Johnny-come-lately replacement box.  Now I have been looking for furniture for Mary Lincoln's room for some time.  She is taller than doll house dolls.  1/6, in fact, not 1/12.  That's Barbie size however most Barbie items are not old fashioned enough to suit Mary's taste!  But Bill has found something New-in-box!

 As you can see by the label, "Wood Dresser with Mirror"  Made in Japan, not occupied Japan so pre-World war II.  About the 1930's.  The style is just exactly Civil war era, called Jenny Lind, after the singer.  I was so pleased and I confess, happy to spend the grocery money this week on it!  We have installed the new window, the wall paper and the dresser but not the curtains and the scenery outside the window yet.

Note the tiny soap on a tiny doily.  Hand-made lace decorates the mirror and lies under the bowl.  Each drawer opens and I now lust after tiny gloves, hankies, a fan, and comb and hand-mirror to put in them.  Some people are never satisfied!

     Last week the most successful dinner menu was lamb stew.  I wasn't sure Bill would like it.  There was some ground lamb left in Rose's fridge when she moved.  I carefully added garlic, finely minced red onion and smoked sea salt and pepper and made large meatballs of the mixture, then simmered them in beef broth, with carrots, celery and mushrooms and a couple of tablespoons of barley.  It was a big hit and made enough for two meals for us, just with salad and toasted rye bread.  Yum-o-la!
More about our diet next time.