CASTA CONNECTIONS Cont’d Reflections of a Casta Newbie Small Talk

A new resident explores the adventures of Casta.

Nevin Valentine

Do you remember collecting baseball cards, comic books, or stamps as a child? I never had a collection, and it wasn’t until my two children were away at college that I became a passionate collector of plates. Plates? Really? Yes.

My obsession with Blue Ridge dinnerware began when my cousin, who married my college roommate Pam, needed my care during his short illness. It was during this special time that I first saw Pam’s collection of Blue Ridge plates. It was love at first sight.

Blue Ridge was the everyday dinnerware during the 1940’s and 1950’s. Each piece was hand painted in an Erwin, Tennessee factory by more than 500 women trained in the art of folk painting. I like to imagine the women in that factory who carefully painted each leaf and blossom. There are more than 4,000 patterns, each with a name, and the factory produced millions of plates, bowls, cups, and pitchers until it closed in 1957.

The brightly colored flowers and leaves captured my heart. Pam grew up with one of the patterns, Wild Strawberry. She wanted to find the plates that were her family’s dinnerware, so she began hunting through antique stores looking for those treasures. I wanted to collect too but I didn’t have a family connection.

All that changed when, at the end of my stay, Pam told me to choose two plates to start my collection. I picked two Betty pattern plates with bright yellow flowers, and these became my sentimental link to Blue Ridge. The hunt was on, and I spent many happy days that turned into years, searching for plates in antique stores throughout California. I hung them on the walls of my house and used my ever-growing collection for mother-daughter teas, dinner parties, and everyday meals.

Imagine my absolute joy when I discovered our Casta del Sol home has a plate shelf that surrounds the dining room. One of my happiest days was when I unpacked my Blue Ridge collection and chose the most beautiful patterns to adorn the plate shelves. They look like bouquets of flowers, filling me with delight.

The Sheep and the Engineer

A freelance writer’s humorous spin on the ups and downs of life

Dorothy Frances

In the mid-eighties during a trip to Europe, we decided to take a train from Frankfurt, Germany to Rome. It was a great decision. The train took us past small, fairy-tale villages, deep forests, and rolling hills. The most spectacular views came as we went through the Alps and passed by the Matterhorn.

As we chugged along, the train suddenly came to a screeching, jolting halt. Our car was awash with exclamations in many different languages. Hearing shouts from outside, we all rushed to the right side of the car to peer out the windows. The Italian engineer was out there yelling and waving his arms at several sheep who had found their way onto the tracks. The errant sheep finally ran back into the wooded area and we were on our way again. It wasn’t even five minutes later when the train once again came to a screeching halt. Passengers gathered at the windows to find the engineer screaming in Italian at the sheep. It seems they had run through the woods, gotten ahead of the train, and were once again on the track. It was hilarious to see the bewildered looks on the faces of the sheep as the furious, red-faced engineer shook his fist at them.

With all the incredible sights we saw during that train ride, the sheep and the Italian engineer remain the most memorable. Too bad Michelangelo wasn’t alive to capture the scene in a sculpture that would surely produce smiles for centuries.

Homeowners Association Pet Rules

Pet owners must ensure that their pets do not disturb the peace and comfort of their neighbors. This includes having their pets relieve themselves in close proximity to residents’ windows. Also, they are responsible for removing all pet droppings and keeping their dogs on a leash. Pets are prohibited at Rec Ctr 1 and all buildings, courts, and vegetable garden at Rec Ctr 2, and should always be watched to protect them from possible coyote attacks. No pets are allowed to run free or be left unattended in any common area. Voluntary cooperation of pet owners is required to enforce these regulations. Please report stray animals to the Mission Viejo Animal Services by calling (949) 470-3045.