Laurie’s Cobalt World Blog

We are absolutely thrilled and pleased to announce that Blenko Glass is now part of the fine handcrafted glass offerings at Laurie’s Cobalt World.

The first of two pieces added to our on-line offerings is a Blenko pitcher, in cobalt blue with a topaz handle.  The second is their classic Blenko water bottle, also in cobalt blue.

Both items are also available at our vignette at Main Oak Emporium in Mount Airy, NC. 

This pitcher is simply elegant.  Tall and slender with a beautiful twisting design to the glass, the pitcher is a rare example of craftsmanship.

The color on both of these pieces is very strong.  The topaz, which photographed a little darker than in reality, complements the pitcher beautifully.

And this pitcher is made for practical use, too.  It holds 88 oz.  That’s 11 cups of tea, punch, water, juice, lemonade, or other beverage.

The pitcher can be special ordered in desert green and topaz. 

Just email me at laurie@cobalt-world.com to place your special order.  

The Blenko water bottle, is sure to become a new favorite at Laurie’s Cobalt World.  They began selling the very first day they become available!  It’s too bad you can’t feel the comfortable grip and great balance this piece features.  Fabulous!

The water bottle was first introduced in the 1930’s.  The design is so timeless that it looks like it could have been designed in 2030.

The water bottle can be special ordered in crystal, topaz, tangerine, dreamcicle, spring green, clover, ocean, electric blue, and vineyard.

 Just email me at laurie@cobalt-world.com to place your special order.

 More new items will be coming very soon.  Look for a tall Blenko vase and a large, round vase, both in cobalt and crystal.  We’re also adding a new set of large salt and pepper shakers.  Do I really have to say that they are in cobalt?  I didn’t think so!

Sure, I expected excitement, entertainment, beaches, clear waters, and lots of food.  But what I really didn’t expect was the absolutely wonderful wait staff we had for dinner each night.  They were fabulous.  I can’t say enough good things about them.

We cruised in June of this year on Carnival Triumph to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.  Our seven-night cruise was very nice overall.  I have to admit that my thoughts these days are preoccupied with plans of going on another cruise. 

Our days were filled with shopping, slots, games, a great nap, and pool-side fun.  But the gem of the day was our seated dinner.  Only the comedian Happy Cole was better than dinner (we were lucky enough to be entertained by him on the cruise). 

It wasn’t just the food, though most of it was very good.  My filet mignon was nothing to write home about, but most of my entrees were delicious.  I enjoyed most of the appetizers, though the peach soup was a little bland.  The Chateau Briand was the very best.  The fresh fruit cocktail never failed to please.  The desserts, to me, were somewhat hit and miss, but the melting chocolate cake was always there as a viable option.

No, it wasn’t the food that made dinner so special.  It was partly taking a leisurely 1 1/2 hours to eat and talk with our table mates - no cooking, no rush, no dishes.  But mostly, it was being pampered and entertained by Ivan and Panadda.

During the week, everyone at our table fell in love with them.  We loved how they remembered that my sister wanted a diet coke - and it was always waiting for her - and that my uncle drinks coffee with his meal.  Panadda remembered that I liked two rolls (hadn’t had many in the previous year - sure made up for that!). 

I loved to hear Ivan give his recommendations.  He was typically right on the mark. 

He made us feel each evening as he wished us “Bon Appetit” that he sincerely hoped we enjoyed everything.

And when the entertainment portion of the dinner arrived, Panadda encouraged us to sing or dance with her, depending on the song.  I definitely miss her warm smile. 

I really haven’t done Ivan and Panadda justice here.  It’s probably just something you have to experience for yourself.  In a world where customer service is practically dead and personal service is almost unheard of, it was a dream to be pampered like that.

As I look at possible cruises for the future, I see “free-style” cruising touted as a benefit.  I talked with friends when I got back from my cruise (okay, I talked about it to anyone who was willing to listen!).  Their experience with free-style dining was crowds, long waits, and then the choice to pay $25 per couple to go to an exclusive on-board dining room. 

That just doesn’t sound like it is for me.  I’ll book my cruise with the traditional seated dining and look forward to being pampered at a leisurely dinner each night.