"Antique Grape" by Metlox Potteries

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"Antique Grape" was produced by Metlox Potteries, California, in the Poppytrail Division. Metlox Potteries was established in 1927 in Manhattan Beach, California. The company began making dinnerware in 1931. After Evan K. Shaw purchased the company in 1946,  the number of patterns were expanded. Metlox Potteries closed in 1989.

The "Antique Grape"  pattern has a traditional shape and is one of the more popular sculptured grape designs.  This pattern has a scalloped rim with a raised embossed grape design on an off white background. "Antique Grape"  was produced from 1964 to 1984 and then discontinued.

My Mother and I both collected this pattern. I now have all of her "Antique Grape" pottery in addition to what I have collected.

Stained Glass Playhouse celebrates 30th season

From Yes Weekly, 07-13-2011 » Page 38

Breaking ‘glass’: Stained Glass Playhouse celebrates 30th season

This year marks a milestone in Piedmont Triad theater circles, as Winston- Salem’s Stained Glass Playhouse celebrates its 30th anniversary season, kicking off with the July 22 opening of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic, The Sound of Music under the direction of Alvin Tyndall, the artistic director of the Stained Glass Playhouse.

So named for its production venue — shows are staged in the old sanctuary Marvin United Methodist Church (4401 Indiana Ave., Winston-Salem) — the Stained Glass Playhouse does not confine itself to religiousthemed productions, encompassing every genre in the spectrum: comedy, drama, musical, mystery.

“Our productions have grown from amateur original scripts to professional ‘Broadway’ productions,” noted Tyndall. “Our actors have grown from children and a few adults to a large group of community actors who are involved in multiple shows throughout the community.”

There were eight founders of the playhouse, which was formed “in an effort to expand on the performances of a musical group at Marvin United Methodist Church called ‘Resurrection Joy’ — a musical group of guitars and drums with vocalists,” recalled Tyndall.

Although Tyndall is not one of the original founders, David Webster, the Stained Glass Playhouse’s current board chairman, was. “I’ve not quite been with the playhouse for the entire 30 years, but almost,” Tyndall said.

Since its humble beginnings, “direction has improved, costumes are outstanding, properties are specifically chosen and appropriate for the historical era, equipment has expanded and rates with other production companies in the area,” he said. “We’re still a ‘black box theater,’ unique to most audiences who don’t know what to expect when actors are directly in front of them as part of the production.”

Having directed over two dozen Stained Glass productions and overseen countless others, Tyndall counts among his personal favorites 1776, Jesus Christ Superstar, Brigadoon and A Raisin in the Sun (which will be revived later this season). Of course, not every show went smoothly.

“I remember that during 1776 one of our actors — who must not have been awake — came to me just before the end of our first weekend and said ‘Goodbye, I’m off for Los Angeles.’ In a panic, I reminded him that we still had two weekends to go. He apologized, but was still leaving. We were fortunate to find another actor, who turned out to be a direct descendant of the character. The replacement was a better actor!” Other mishaps weren’t so humorous, including the time a lead actor suffered a heart attack, or the time that a lead actress came down with laryngitis and has to be replaced by the show’s stage manager.

To describe the Stained Glass Playhouse as a labor of love would not be an understatement, and after 30 years the accent would still be on both “labor” and “love.”

“Some of our productions were quite simple, but we involved a large number of community volunteers,” said Tyndall. “That was one of our original goals and still remains a chief function of the playhouse.”

The playhouse’s 30 th season will include such classics as Arsenic and Old Lace, A Raisin in the Sun and The Miracle Worker.

Blue Ridge Pottery "Yellow Nocturne" Pattern

Yellow Nocturne platter, dessert plate, and cups and saucers

Like many people in the southern mountains, I grew up eating off Blue 

Ridge pottery dinnerware everyday. Who would have thought that this Blue Ridge dishware would now be so collectable? The pattern my Mother used was “Yellow Nocturne” from Blue Ridge and Southern Potteries. Southern Potteries of Erwin, Tennessee, produced Blue Ridge Dinnerware Pottery and China  from the late 1930's until closing in mid-1957.

Yellow Nocturne dinner plate

The "Yellow Nocturne" pattern has a bright yellow petal flower with a brown center, lovely green leaves and a thin yellow line on the outside edge on a white background. The pattern is in the Colonial shape and each piece is slightly different since they are hand painted. All her dishes have chips but are still usable but the serving pieces she had are now broken. I have been collecting extra dishes, cups and saucers, and platters.

Tomato Basil Pie

TOMATO BASIL PIE from CML's Kitchen

Found this recipe in the Carolina Mountain Life Magazine from CML's Kitchen by Adele Forbes. Really sounded like a good summer dish using fresh tomatoes and basil. I used Roma tomatoes and fresh basil from my planter. Will make this again with fresh tomatoes from the garden. To quote the author, "Male friends have eaten a whole pie at one sitting". I agree with her that should speak for itself.  It was delicious!

1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella cheese, divide
1 (9-inch) baked pie shell

5 Roma tomatoes (out of season) or 4 regular tomatoes

1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves

4  cloves of garlic

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

chopped fresh basil for garnish

Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the mozzarella on bottom of pie shell. Cut tomatoes in wedges and drain on paper towels. Drain well...turn them over and make sure that you get all of the moisture that you can out of them or your pie will end up soggy...and who wants to eat a soggy pie? If you are using garden fresh tomatoes (in season) peel them and slice about 1/4-inch thick and seed if needed and drain well on paper towels. Arrange the wedges or slices over the cheese in the pie shell.

Process the basil and garlic in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Sprinkle over tomatoes. Combine remaining 1 cup mozzarella, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese and pepper. Spoon evenly over basil mixture to cover top, making sure to spread all the way to the edge of the crust. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Serve warm garnished with fresh chiffonaded basil. Delicious!

Cooks Note: to chiffonade basil, stack several leaves together and roll up like you would a cigarette and then cut in slices with a sharp knife. A fancy and fun little trick.

Stained Glass Playhouse "The Sound of Music" Cast

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Stained Glass Playhouse

Director: Alvin Tyndall 

Performance Dates:

July 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 & 31 & August 5, 6 & 7, 2011 Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm Sundays at 3 pm.

     

"The Sound of Music", Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse: The final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein was destined to become the world’s most beloved musical. When a postulant proves too high-spirited for the religious life, she is dispatched to serve as governess for the seven children of a widowed naval Captain. Her growing rapport with the youngsters, coupled with her generosity of spirit, gradually captures the heart of the stern Captain, and they marry. Upon returning from their honeymoon, they discover that Austria has been invaded by the Nazis, who demand the Captain’s immediate service in their navy. The family’s narrow escape over the mountains to Switzerland on the eve of World War II provides one of the most thrilling and inspirational finales ever presented in the theatre. The motion picture version remains the most popular movie musical of all time.

Maria - Hannah Rivers

Sister Bethea - Kelli Flick

Sister Margaretta - Angela Hodges

Mother Abbess - Steffanie Vaugan

Sister Sophia - Marilyn Bledsoe

Captain Von Trapp - Cameron Williams
Franz - Jere Dailey
Frau Schmidt - Meredith Whitworth

Liesl - Kate Kellum

Friedrich -  Patrick Burke

Louisa - Caroline Hale

Kurt - Elijah Short

Brigitta - Maggie Booz

Marta - Riley Cullen

Gretl - Amanda Burke

Rolf - Matt Smitherman

Elsa Schrader - Mary Lea Williams
Ursula - Heather Osterer

Max Detweiler - Roberts Bass

Herr Zeller - Mark Walek

Baron Elberfeld - Mickey Hyland

Admiral Von Schreiber

Nuns - Gina Belmont, Holly Bostick, Kelli Letner, and Heather Osterer

Postulants - Michaela Cockerham, Rachel Hale, and Symone Thompson

Guards - Matt kellum, Julian Thompson, Guideo Villaba Portel, and Kenny Gaylord

Neighbors - Jolanta & Scott Kellum, Kay Smitherman, and Jennifer Robinson Short