The Gimmes

Not all the treasures at the Oxbow Public Market in Napa are edible. When I saw these lovely little napkin rings on a shelf in one of the shops, I was immediately struck with a serious case of the Gimmes.

The Gimmes, according to my mother, is an illness that hits little kids when they see things in a store that they just can't live without and they pester their mothers to buy for them:

Give me=Gimme.

Most people are worried about getting H1N1 - I'm more susceptible to the Gimmes and beautiful table wares frequently give me the Gimmes.

The birds are made of pewter in marvelously detailed castings. They stand solidly on their rings and the birds and branches are wonderfully delicate and precise. I could just picture them on my table.

I may have learned to control the Gimmes but My Beloved recognizes the signs now and, although I had passed them up as being too expensive, he bought four on the sly and presented them to me over cupcakes and milk at Kara's.

This amazing man gives me the Gimmes, too.