Merry Christmas

Barb, go here for a special message just for you.

Christmas reads

I just finished reading A Cedar Cove Christmas and before that I read 1225 Christmas Tree Lane. I enjoyed both, they are lite feel good books. Plus, I like reading "seasonal" books this time of year. I have one more Debbie Macomber Christmas book  and a couple Christmas devotionals to read before the end of the year. It's a good way to relax during this very busy time of year.

A month of Thanksgiving

Psalm 107:1 "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."

Thank you Lord for the beautiful weather we enjoyed today.

Vintage Friday

I found this vintage coloring book at an antique store last weekend. It  is in very good condition with only one page colored on. The cover is still very bright and while the inside has yellowed it has only one page that is colored one. It was published in Chicago in 1954. I am hoping it won't be too expensive to make copies of the inside pages. I had the cover copied and reduced  at Archivers. I hope to use the pages in a scrapbook about my school years.

Back to School

Brittany goes back to school today. Remember back to school shopping? We rarely went to the mall, instead we did most of our shopping at Turn Style or Zayre. Which fashions do you think Brittany would like?

My Three Sons

Most mornings I wake up pretty early, between 5 and 6am. I like to go in the family room and stitch for a couple hours before doing anything else. Recently I discovered My Three Sons was on at 7:30am, so now I stop stitching and go upstairs to watch T.V. This was one of my favorite shows, I never missed it. I still try to watch every morning.

Get ready for school

Ever since I can remember I have loved the first day of school. The last week in August was spent buying clothes and supplies in anticipation of the big day. Who doesn't love a new box of crayons and sharp yellow pencils. I would save the box from my new school shoes bought from Kenney's  and fill it with glue, scissors and colored erasers, Crayola 64 pack pushed against the corner to keep things neat.

 Next stop Zayre's and JCPenney's. Three new dresses, white socks and undershirts, maybe a new slip if it was on sale. I had my ears pierced in second grade so that year I got a new pair of earrings also. I was one of two girls in my class with pierced ears.

I took the bus in elementary school, same stop all five years. I walked two blocks, often meeting my friends at the first corner then we'd walk the rest of the way together. I always sat with Kari, lunch boxes resting on our laps. Always excited for the first day.

Another old building

I took these pictures in Oak Forest. This barn is thought to be the oldest structure in town. I really like the truck and I love the weeds growing out of it.

Vintage Father's Day

I found this card recently at an antique store. I just couldn't resist, the colors are so vibrant and the text is very corny. Still it's " there with the goods".

Just a little birthday humor.

Happy Birthday

I started this blog three years ago today on my 49th birthday. I didn't know where it would take me or if I would even continue beyond my 50th birthday. Today I start my fourth year as a part of this community. I have learned so many things and I've "met" women from all over the world. Happy birthday dear blog.

Happy Mother's Day

National Day of Prayer

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.  2 Chronicles 14

Il Divo - Amazing Grace

Vintage Friday

Another vintage Easter card to enjoy.

Vintage Friday

I received these potholders from Barb earlier this week. I love them! They are a great addition to my collection.

A vintage Easter card to enjoy.

A Memory

For as long as I can remember my mother hosted a Christmas Eve party. It was a big affair that required a lot of preparation. She would work for weeks on the menu, decorations, grab bag gifts, the bar set-up and so on. It seemed everyone we knew was invited, aunts and uncles, cousins, family friends and anyone else who wanted to stop by. ( Uncle Bob's brother is in the picture above) These parties lasted well into the night .( I can remember wanting people to leave because we were afraid Santa would not come because we were not bed) Mom would serve a huge buffet which always included herring. Bobby would  try and try to get us to taste it, I know I never did. Sometimes Mrs. Mundinger would play the piano and we would sing Christmas songs. When we weren't singing the stereo was playing Christmas records until it was time to track Santa on the radio. As we got older the parties were scaled down quite a bit. Eventually it was only our family which was a lot. People would stop by during the day to reminisce about the "old days". We all have such fond memories of these parties.

Vintage Friday

A few weeks ago I found this book at an antique store and knew I had to have it. I have actually been reading it and enjoying the advice. It was published by The Dartnell Corporation in 1958.

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for...

1. Christian radio every morning.

2. Roberta...today is her birthday.

3. Bryce has a new job.

4. A freezer full of food.

5. E-mail.

Vintage Friday

I found these pages while going through a bag of embroidery someone gave me. I don't know how old they are, however, I also found newspaper clippings from 1961 in the same bag. I really like Nora and Tilly, ( I've always liked paper dolls ). The colors on both pages are very bright.

1959 First EVER Barbie Commercial

Happy Birthday Barbie

I have always loved Barbie. I had this Barbie with several different hair colors. I also had a few bobbed hair Barbies . I played with my Barbies all the time. That's all I wanted for my birthday and Christmas. If my grandma was taking the bus to the "shopping center" I would ask if I could go with because I knew she would buy me a new outfit from the dime store. I would try to pick one with a lot of accessories,  things like records or books.

My Valentines

Thankful Thursday

1. I'm thankful the snow has moved on.

2. I'm thankful Bryce was able to get back to school.

3. I'm very thankful I didn't have to go anywhere today.

4.I'm thankful Jim was able to go to work.

5. I'm so thankful for the sunshine all day.

A man and his (littlest) boy.

Vintage Friday

I found this old aspirin tin inside a box of quilting things. The quilter kept her needles inside.

1000 Blessings

Some blessings need a little story. This is one of them. 

When I was little my grandma made a lot of clothes for us. She loved to sew and it gave her something to do. For many years she would make us flannel nightgowns for Christmas. They were always the same pattern, simple, only embellishment was lace around the yolk. They were always pastel. I remember a mint green nightgown with cream lace . No buttons, just snaps in the back. I loved this nightgown.

11. Handmade nightgowns.

12. Very special memories of the sound of Little's sewing machine.

13. A love of sewing.

1000 Blessings

I got this idea from a program I listened to on Moody radio.

1. My grandma lived with us.

2. I was able to go to college.

3. All my children were born healthy.

4. I have a warm place to sleep tonight.

5. I come from a large family.

6 .I am surrounded by books.

7. I have always had the best friends.

8. My husband has a job he likes.

9. I am healthy. 

10. I am an American.

Grace

All over blogville women are picking one word for 2011.  I was torn between grace and blessing, and after thinking about both I choose grace. I have received grace from our Heavenly Father and I want to extend grace to those around me.