Import Anxiety

The British tab's today showed this pic, Liz Hurley, Valentino's partner (right) and Valentino's "Brazilian Muse" (center); Ibiza I believe. Never mind the accessory phone or adorable little pocket dog, I loved the Muse's accessory Moroccan basket:
Clearly she possesses great taste :) I spy it a mile away as a variant of the new merchandise I am eagerly awaiting; here is an early sample pic:

A darker-than-normal palm, lambskin handles and trim. But I have added a linen liner, and longer handles:
It's accurate to say I agonized over this order. I have a lot of pieces in various sizes and shapes, unusual shapes, and I originally wanted them all to be lined in something fantastic:
I am sorry, I should not show that pic, because I am still salivating over the wide blue stripes. Until I got all the numbers crunched, and decided I would not yet like to be in the $150 basket range. If Bergdorf came calling, this is what I would show them. I am not there yet....

The 400 or so pieces that are now sitting on a Customs Hold at LAX are nonetheless fabulous. I spent so much time on their details, it is agonizing to have to wait yet one more day....

Good thing I don't smoke or bite my nails or anything; I'd be through 5 packs by now. Instead, I went for a walk, and got busy baking and setting the table for this evening:
A little dinner just for me and Mom; sheet from the market tables, flowers borrowed from the kitchen, candlestick borrowed from the living room; sober, simple, but pretty:
Dug out some NYC plates; I rarely use these for fear of knife scratches, but Mom understands:
Made Mom's fav, salmon en croute, with lobsters running across the top:

this was for me: sorta-rata-touille....layer slices of eggplant, sweet onion and tomato into a casserole of any size; stuff garlic cloves in, drizzle with olive oil and bake; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese at the end. I could just eat this for dinner:and scratch biscuits that both parents consumed in entirety; a pretty plate for Mom:
and another Nippon plate for Pop, who pronounced them delish and said "we should have this again sometime." Quite a compliment.
Monday, I pray, my shipment will be released. Stay tuned for the new pieces...