When its HOT in Texas it’s time to give your car a little extra TLC.   Houston auto repair tips include checking your cooling system; door and window seals; electrical connections; fuse panels; and relays.  Both the heat and humidity can cause damage to your car.

To extend your engine life, make sure to get an oil change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Engine oil lubricates and keeps  internal engine components cool. The oil filter keeps the oil clean, preventing dirty oil from ruining the engine.  Just remember to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for the weight, grade, and type of oil to use. Using an incorrect type or weight may invalidate your manufacturer’s warranty.

Finally, get a tune up to replace and service worn items in the ignition and fuel system. Items that typically need to be replaced include: air filter, fuel filters and spark plug electrodes. The tune up will also typically include cleaning and de-carbonizing the throttle body and fuel system.

This Early French Majolica figural bulldog pitcher is 8 3/8″ tall X 7 1/4″ wide. It sold for $3,291 in July 2010.  It is marked Frie Onnaing MEPOCO Ware Made in France 36.

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This Sara Sax Rookwood Peacock Vase measures 4.75 inches tall by 1 7/8 inches deep, and 3.25 inches wide.  The vase is marked with the Rookwood RP flame logo, XXV noting the 1925 production date, mold #2840 and ink-signed SX Sara Sax signature. It sold for $1910 in May 2010.

Eames era large studio example of Gertrud and Otto Natzlers pottery measuring 3.25″ x 6.25″ sold for $2,225 in May 2010.

This Rare Doulton Lambeth biscuit barrel by Hannah Barlow decorated with cats stands 7″ tall and is dated 1888. It sold for $1762 in May 2010 with no chips.

McCoy Bird on Grapes Cope Designed Cookie Jar sold for $7,111 in April 2010.

Designed by the Copes and made in the late 1940s, this cookie jar may be only one of three in existance. It is done in the soft pastels of aqua and pink or coral, the same tones and soft matte glazes used on the hobnail and butterfly pieces of the 1940s.

The cookie jar is a bunch of grapes, almost as they would be hanging on the grape vine with a bird perched on top enjoying the fruit. The jar sits on three legs with the raised McCoy mark in the center of the matte glazed white bottom of the base. The leaves and vines form two small handles on each side. The lid is the bird, a small group of grapes and very detailed leaves. The bird has an over spray of brown, with the rest of the lid in the pink and aqua matte pastel colors. The jar is clear glazed inside. It stands 9 1/4″ in height.

Shawnee pottery gold cloverbud smiley pig cookie jar sold for $1,750 in April 2010.

Limited Edition Picasso Madoura Plein Fue ceramic pottery plate painted and glazed with  a black face with orange cheeks.   The plate measures 9.5 inches in diameter (24 cm).   The plate is blindmarked stamped with 2 stamps. French France art pottery.  The plate dates from 1950-1970.   This plate sold for $2025 in April 2010.

Wiener Werkstätte yellow and orange ceramic vase by Kitty Rix, from Austria sold for $1815 in March 2010. Size: 10.5×5 inches

Two 8 1/4″ William De Morgan (British, 1839–1917) pottery tiles in the Persian/ Iznik style sold for $1910 in March 2010. The tiles bear the Sand’s End Pottery mark.