Agustus 2013


Dawn Plummer and Diana Polson, two of our clients in Whitewood v. Corbett

So, I got married last weekend. It was a small wedding, performed in accordance with my observant Jewish faith and practice as well as in accordance with the law and regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And everyone had a lovely time, including me and my new husband, whose name is Sanford, but who is known as Sandy.

As we ran the errands and got all the required paperwork in order in the weeks leading up to the wedding, I couldn’t help but think about other couples who would like to get married, but can’t… like those who are a part of our ACLU-PA lawsuit to rid the state of its Defense of Marriage Act. Two weeks ago, as I waited in line to apply for and then a week ago when picking up our marriage license, I thought about those women whose loves may have the same name as my love, but who happen to be female Sandy’s. They can’t sit in a stuffy hallway in the Allegheny County Marriage License Bureau, smiling because you just can’t help it, and realizing how “official” everything is about to become. They and my gay men friends- couples who have been together for 20 and 30 years, and who have warned Sandy that he better treat me right – cannot know the tingle of saying for the first time, “This is my husband” or “This is my wife”, without anyone casting a sidelong glance.

Sandy and I are not exactly a young couple and we are combining two complete households, so we had no desire or need to register for gifts. Instead we thanked friends and family for the gift of their love and support and asked that if they wished to do something to honor and celebrate our marriage, that they make a donation to one of six specified organizations (including the ACLU-PA, of course). We received an acknowledgment from one of the organizations a few days ago—it was addressed to “Ms. Feige and Ms. R_______”. Obviously the Western PA Humane Society had no trouble acknowledging the marriage of what they thought to be two women!

As Jews, we break a glass at the conclusion of the ceremony as a reminder that not all is well and peaceful and joyful in the world and that our job is to make the world better – tikkun olam. I was happy and joyful on my wedding day but was reminded that not everyone can have that same joy and I am more committed than ever to doing what I can—as an individual and as an ACLU-PA staff member – to bring about the freedom to marry for all Pennsylvanians.

Barb Feige, Deputy Director, ACLU-PA

Mazel tov: Thoughts on my freedom to marry

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Running late with my post this week, so I'll keep it short and sweet...well, for me anyway. Friends will be coming for lunch in a couple of days, so I set a small table for four in the living room at the games table.

The flip-top tabletop extender has been stored for the evening...

...and I chose to forgo a tablecloth. I decided that the McGuire glass top table ...

...and the Persian rug were the perfect companions for my tabletop elements.

The Steelite by Royal Doulton cobalt charger anchored...

...the Royal Crown Derby Old Imari dinner plate.

Minimal stacking tonight...I couldn't bear to cover up this glorious design.

The Oneida gold tone flatware continued the gold accents.

A sedate Williams Sonoma linen hemstitched napkin was caught in the Waverly beaded napkin ring, a gift from Cuisine Kathleen. Tip: A wise interior designer taught me one time that if everything in a room is over the top spectacular, the eye will become confused and end up basically not seeing anything. It's good to have some relatively quiet support players on hand that won't fight with the focal point in your design. It's all about achieving a balance that is pleasing to the eye.

The AJKA Arabella cobalt goblet and the Glastonbury-Lotus gold rimmed goblet continued the color story for my design.

Makes me smile.

The centerpiece took me just long enough to look around the living room and say, "Oh, that will work just fine." The quartet of small Asian design boxes are actually tea canisters that once belonged to my Aunt Ida. She had lived in Tokyo for some years after WWII, and upon returning home, she was a committed fan of authentic Japanese tea. After she died, I brought some of the canisters home. They've been sitting in a cabinet for years, and I love that I'm able to use them for this table.

The Orrefors crystal bowl was a Christmas gift from my friend Joan, many years ago. It is filled with potpourri...no flowers today. I elevated it on an Asian stand, and the centerpiece was complete.

Ready - set - go...

At this point, I have no idea what the menu will offer...

...plenty of time for that later...

If you can make it for lunch, let me know if you have any special requests. We'll have a great time!

This week I'll be joining:

Let's Dish with Cuisine Kathleen
Tutorials, Tips, & Tidbits with Yvonne @ Stone Gable

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Seasonal Sundays with The Tablescaper

Royal Crown Derby "Old Imari"...Short and Sweet

Last week, after 21 years on Pennsylvania’s death row, James Dennis of Philadelphia finally had his moment of justice. Federal district court Judge Anita Brody ruled that the 1992 conviction of Dennis for the murder of Chedell Ray Williams was “a grave miscarriage of justice,” citing highly questionable eyewitness identification, evidence that was withheld from the defense by the prosecution, and ineffective assistance of defense counsel.

Judge Brody went so far as to say that “in all probability he did not commit” this crime.

In 1991, Ms. Williams was killed when she was robbed for her earrings by two men. Prosecutors presented no physical evidence and never recovered the stolen earrings. Dennis was convicted and sentenced to death on the basis of three eyewitnesses.

But half of the witnesses to the crime described someone who was taller and heavier than Dennis and didn’t pick Dennis from a photo lineup. Even those three who did pick him and testified initially identified him with hesitation. Ms. Williams’ companion that day described the perpetrators as people she recognized from her high school, which Dennis did not attend. And a witness who could have confirmed Dennis’s alibi that he was on a bus miles away from the shooting gave the incorrect time of day that she saw him, an error of which the prosecution was aware.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s office withheld this critical evidence from Dennis’s defense counsel. Meanwhile, his trial attorney never interviewed a single witness.

Judge Brody vacated Dennis’s death sentence and conviction and ordered a new trial within six months. Otherwise, Dennis must go free, according to the ruling.

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams has yet to announce his next move, but in a statement reminiscent of his predecessor, Lynne Abraham, he claimed that Dennis’s appeals team is lying. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

This case should shock the senses. The commonwealth of Pennsylvania sought to execute a man under these highly questionable circumstances. Governor Corbett even signed a death warrant for Dennis in 2011, which was vacated by the federal court.

While those of us who work regularly on this issue- I’ve been doing it for 13 years- don’t really lose the outrage factor when we hear about a case like this, we are certainly not surprised by the circumstances that created it. Mistaken eyewitness identification is the number one reason why innocent people are convicted of crimes. According to the Innocence Project, 75 percent of people who have been exonerated by DNA testing were convicted by eyewitness identification.

Regrettably, official misconduct by public officials too often plays a role in wrongful convictions. While the Innocence Project does not quantify how often prosecutorial misconduct occurs, it notes, “DNA exonerations have exposed official misconduct at every level and stage of a criminal investigation.”

Finally, the commonwealth’s broken indigent defense system regularly leads to breakdowns in the criminal justice system. More than 200 death sentences have been vacated in Pennsylvania since capital punishment was reinstated in 1978, and a majority of those involved ineffective assistance of defense counsel.

The confluence of these missteps in this case led to the conviction of and a death sentence for a man that a federal judge now says is likely innocent.

The death penalty in Pennsylvania is a failed government program. Jimmy Dennis’s day in the sun has finally come. And the day of reckoning for capital punishment should not be far behind.

Cross-posted at Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

"A grave miscarriage of justice"

"First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.
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We've had a blessed abundance of rain this summer out here on the prairie. Everything is green and lush. The colors are bright and blooms are prolific all over town. Our summer bounty was the inspiration for my table this week.

Lots of color....we could be sitting in the middle of the garden.

The colorful Zina Vasi tablecloth, an eBay find, set the color story for today's design.

A footed Jadeite bowl held large sunflowers...

...and each place setting was punctuated with a small Jadeite footed tumbler holding a small sunflower.

I thought that I would use either the Walmart rattan charger....

or the Bormioli red glass charger...

I ultimately decided to use them both. The rattan charger on the bottom effectively made the red charger look much brighter on the dark tablecloth.

Lunch will be served on the Fire King Jadeite Alice dinner plate. Tip: This plate is a good example of my philosophy of "take your time." I've watched 12 of these sell on eBay for $500.00. No way! I bought mine at an estate sale for $3.00 each x 13 plates = $39.00. I felt pretty darned cocky.

The Jadeite Lotus plate will hold our dessert...

...and the Jadeite Lotus bowl will be used to serve gazpacho for a first course.

Spicing up the table...the Vietri red optic goblet complimented the Fenton Empress amber goblet.

The Waverly beaded napkin ring, from Cuisine Kathleen, held a hemstitched napkin. They paired nicely with the L'Argent Sophia Gold flatware.

I liked the shapes, the textures and the colors against the florals in the tablecloth.

Vibrant...energetic...enthusiastic and fun are descriptions that come to mind.

I predict delightful fellowship and lots of laughter. If you're passing my way, just ring the bell. We'll add an additional place setting and pull up another chair!

This week I'll be joining the following parties:

Inspire Me Tuesday with Marty @ A Stroll Through Life
Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen
Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Jadeite and Sunflowers

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My friend Kathy really achieved optimum use of her back yard this summer. It was fun to let her choose things from my china and linen closets for her parties. About a month ago, Kathy and D invited friends to gather and celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. The gate's open...come on back and join us!

Another rotten day in paradise...

We get a lot of mileage out of these blue and white toile tablecloths. The black French wired baskets are back, and today they are dressed with pink Azaleas.

Great idea!

Low key munchies for a delightful afternoon...

It was a wonderful celebration for the happy couple! Here's to another 20+ years!

I'll be joining the following parties this week:

Let's Dish with Cuisine Kathleen
Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
Seasonal Sundays with The Tablescaper

Anniversary Delight

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Several weeks ago, the kids came over for Friday night take-out. You know the routine...Outback Steaks. Much of the evening would be spent watching Wimbledon matches, so I pulled together a few things that would remind my guests of our entertainment for the evening.

The green and white striped cloth is one of three that I found on eBay several years ago. I bought them for the three tables that live on the back porch.

The colors of the Wimbledon logo are hunter green, and purple...my color scheme was set.

A five-minute centerpiece...a quartet of the white Lenox urns topped with the green hypericum berry topiaries and one of the amethyst glass presentation bowls, elevated on an oriental stand.

Thinking of the green grass courts, I chose the green wood chargers that I found at a local estate sale.

Dinner was served on the Wedgwood Countryware dinner plate. This pattern has become quite the workhorse for me.

Another great English design, salads were served on the Wedgwood Majolica Grape Leaf plate.

Guess who sat at this place setting! See the clue? Flatware = four teaspoons. You got it!...Beatrice Emaline was coming for dinner. White Williams-Sonoma linen hemstitched napkins were captured by the Coalport Countryware napkin ring. Tip: Coalport originally made Countryware. The molds were eventually bought by Wedgwood when Coalport closed their factory. The patterns are exactly the same, but the Wedgwood can be found priced more reasonably than the Coalport....just in case you want to collect them. They can be found in abundance on eBay.