Reminisce....

A few years ago

I purchased a photo scanner

for my parents for Christmas...

Back in the Fall I asked my dad if I could borrow it.

 I wanted to have my own copies of some family

photos.

I have several family members who do not want to part with

their inherited pictures for me to bring them home

and copy them.

With this scanner however I can now

take it with me and copy them at their home!

I have had a few chances to sit down and copy

a few that my parents loaned me.

Looking at them I see all kinds of funny things

or remember stories

and I thought that my blog would be the perfect place to

share...

So here is the first in my series...

 These two mischievous lads are

my Uncle (left) and my Father (right)...

It was taken less than a mile from where I live now...

It is part of a Museum complex.

I'm sure when this was taken you could crawl in it and all over it.

Of course you can't now..

someone would get hurt and sue the city right?

Oh the dangers and adventures of being a child in the 50's! 

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad was brought through our area

waaay back in 1881 when to bring in coal to the port near our home

 for worldwide shipping!

They are standing on a piece of history that changed our farming

community into a major port and later a "City"...

Most people drive right by it now and have no idea why it is sitting

on the side of the Boulevard.

My dad and his brother have facial expressions and stances

in this picture that speak of their personalities even today!

They may have a few grey hairs now 

but they have the exact same eyes and facial expressions sometimes...

In a world where so many people move frequently

and away from the places they grew up...

I think it is vital to take some time,stop ,and look at where you are.

That strip mall may have had a grand hotel or a dairy farm where

it  sits...

Visit the library archives , use an online research tool

or

 better yet -

go talk to 

and 

make friends with some of your older neighbors .

You will learn history first hand instead of sitting on the couch

staring at a screen.

There is so much to appreciate in the scheme of things

and 

if we ignore history

we lose a sense of just how far our

country has come in such a short time .

I will continue to share snippets and photos weekly...

Have a Happy Wednesday everyone!

Thriftshare...

It's a two latte' kind of day today....

This week my Thriftshare is the best kind of thrift...

things I already own

and 
one gift!

Let me explain...

My husband and I have been working on emptying

out a storage space we have had for years...

I have decided to let go of a lot

and keep what I really love.

No longer hanging on to things just because they are old or pretty...

Do I really love them?

Will I use them?

Do they have a purpose?

So here are a few things I unearthed

whilst digging through the boxes this weekend.

 First is the green enamel pail thingy...

I have no idea what it would be used for 

but 

I know when I bought it years ago,

I did because it was my favorite shade of green!

The enamel bowl is also a favorite I was glad to finally

find in the pile!

If I can just keep my husband from ruining it in the dishwasher!

We like to eat popcorn out of it

and I often mix up cakes in it.

The yellow striped apron was still in the package!

So out she came and straight into use...

a gal can never have too many aprons right?

 My mustached little chef has been found!

Here is perfect example of -

YES

it has a purpose!

I just hope he is handled with care

 by Mr. and Little Keeper.

 I have decided if I keep everything in the cabinet what 

is the purpose of having it?

Hopefully I will find his little mate -a two sided basket/nut cup.

The little pot with the roses

was a gift from my mom.

She found it last month at a thrift store for 3.98!

I just have to decide what to use it for!?

Lots of my Jadeite collection is coming out now too.

That is one thing I won't tolerate being mis-handled...

Mr.Keeper knows if ANY of it gets broken he might as well go

and sleep in his car...

because he will have a LOT to do to make up for it!

I collected Jadeite before Martha made it so popular again..

I still curse her for it to this day!

It used to be so inexpensive 

and I just fell in love with the color and the sweet little designs on some of the sets.

SO anyway,

Mrs.Hen there in the background is going up on the shelf on display!
Check out some more fun finds over at
Apron Thrift Girl 
and

Lastly

A very 

Happy Birthday 

to 

my little sister...

 How cute is that?

Have a Happy Monday everyone!

An outing in Colonial Williamsburg.....

A few weeks ago

my favorite gal pal came to visit

all the way from her mountain top perch

near Asheville, N.C.

 (o.k. this is from a few -ahem- years ago but it is my favorite)

Determined to make overalls sexy!

ahh the 90's..

We have a particular love for

Colonial Williamsburg for many reasons...

so we decided to meet up there.. 

It was a rare 70 degree day in the middle of winter

and we could not have been 

more lucky!

 

 We had to make a stop

into the mercantile...

it always smells so good in there...

handmade soaps,

dried lavender, cinnamon, cloves, rose petals and vanilla..

During our walk we visited some

favorite sites

and 

some we had not seen in a while...

this tree has changed a lot....

 How crazy looking is that?

You can stand right in it...

having a creative mind -every time I look at this I see different things...

Here is a close up of some of the base of the back side of the trunk...

I see one cranky (and creepy) baby?!

Today is supposed to be a record rainy day here...

so recalling a nice sunny day is a help

to ward off the gray!

Hope you have a lovely Saturday whatever your weather!

Dreaming of Spring.....

Just a little photo

to say 

"I am ready for Spring!"

Hope you are having a lovely week...

Girl Scouts broaden their network.....

This has become a favorite
that I have started to post round' this time
every year...

It's that time of year again.....

You try to walk into the grocery store,

and there they are...

You try to go into the gas station to pay,

and there they are....

You try to get into the mall,

and there they are....

watching you,

calling out to you,

you feel the pressure

as the other addicts are there getting their fix...

These doe eyed little devils dealing their drugs...

I mean..... cookies.

Well organized and dating as far back as 1917

Girl Scouts are the mafioso of baked goods...

Their reach is felt far into all of society...

Early ring leader...

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt!

In the beginning,

girls were taught the recipe and cookies were baked at home..

They were sent out in roving gangs to peddle their "goodies"

 at.25 to.30 cents a dozen.

During WWII when sugar,flour,and butter were in shortage

they were smart enough to diversify and sell calendars for a time...

To involve all age groups

the girls are broken up into gangs.

Daisies,Brownies,Juniors,Cadettes...

These girls are taught to keep up a wholesome image

so as to hide the true nature of their network...

"Service projects" for the communities they live in...

From rescuing helpless kittens

to visiting with the elderly....

These cherubs are well organized and compensated...

Selling to earn badges , status, and recognition in their gangs,

or as they call them "troops".

Troops supported by of all people,

 their mothers...

Distribution has gone Worldwide involving the U.S. Military

Now look who is in negotiations to get in on some of that

well organized cookie action.....

The network (or council) is expanding to show they don't discriminate!

Low fat,

Sugar free,

Kosher.

Once excluded,

 diabetics ,dieters , and even the Jewish can eat them now!

What has this world come to?

Soon they will retreat back into their underworld

to replenish their supplies for next year..

Until that time stay strong...

If you see those colorful boxes in a loved ones freezer,

sneak them out so they won't be tempted to fall off the wagon.

Seriously though

I have to admit...

I am a recovering Cookie-Holic...

I was even once a dealer!

I still have my box of badges and medals hiding in my closet!

***for 2013 a friend of mine in New York posted this pic***

 Now they have trucks!

You can go to a website and it tells you where the trucks are located for the day!

My-OH-My!

Are you in recovery?

Drop me a line or join my support group...

Looking forward to your comments...

Thrifty Goodness!

I have been trying

to be good....

staying away from the thrift stores...

Until...

Valentine's Day.

My hubby and I had a bit of time to

use up after our lunch 

and before we had to pick up 

Little Keeper...

He asked if I wanted to make a quick stop

at my favorite thrifty spot?

Like he even had to ask ?

A few small items and a big one from my childhood...

 Teeny tiny nativity scene for .13 cents!

and some rick rack for same thing .13 cents!

(It was half off day!)

Too bad baby Jesus is missing ..

I'll be able to use it for some project next Christmas.

 Tiny Whitman's Sampler tin

and some bits and pieces all 3 in a bag for .55 cents.

When we walked in this was sitting right on the front counter...

 A Fisher Price

Sesame Street playset straight out of my childhood...

I figured someone was buying it since it was on the counter.

When I went to pay for my whole dollar something worth of purchases

I asked how much it sold for and the

lady at the counter said no one had purchased it yet...

They only wanted $12 dollars for it.

I know the vintage Fisher Price items go for a lot more than that.

So I bought it with the intentions of reselling it.

This had so many original pieces and a lot 

don't have any of them.

I have a few pieces left from my set but only 2 or 3.

 Mr.Hooper's store on one side
and the alley ways where Big Bird's nest 
and 
the other where Oscar the Grouch's trash can are....
 

 Bert and Ernie's room...

a chalkboard in the center...

a lunch counter...

 The other side is the brownstone that everyone was always

playing or sitting out in front of.

The trash truck was a bonus...

I have only seen a few online.

I hate it when I buy things like this to re-sell...

My Little Keeper saw it and immediately wanted it.

The more I see it sitting on the table the more I get attached to it too.

Childhood memories do that sort of thing don't they?

I guess I can let my little guy play with it a bit

and sell it in a few months?

What did you find this weekend?

Happy Monday everyone.

Valentine's Day Fun!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope you are all having a lovely one...

Here are my

treats that

Elizabeth

 at

Creative Breathing 

sent to me for

Valentine's Day!

  Aren't her cards just the bees knees?

I want to have some of these made this year too!

She made this basket and filled it with chocolates!

The little birdie on top is made of pipe cleaners

He is so sweet holding that little paper heart in his beak!

 My Birdie Valentine

Elizabeth has a true eye for detail

which I absolutely love about her..

Notice the wings and hat are made of scrap paper from

old valentines...

I am sure it is no coincidence

 that the wing had the word Valentine on it...

He is just too precious!

 I really enjoy seeing how she takes the

images from Vintage cards

and gives them a new life...

I may just keep this one out year round!

She was also so kind to send these Vintage Valentine's...

Something my family is surprised 
that I do not have more of !

I think I have a new collection to grow.

Mrs. Elizabeth has such a creative and giving soul.

She asked that we not send her hostess gifts-

that our ornaments would be enough.

Then she spoiled us with these extras.

Please stop by

to

see some of her wonderful creations

and 

read some of her

great stories

here at

Creative Breathing

Thank You Elizabeth!

Hope you all don't mind

Techno Thursday will be back next week!

Have a great day and hug someone you love!

Candy Box Swap Part II

I was so excited when

my candy box from 

Michele

at

Something Special 

arrived

on my doorstep!

 Here it is!

Lots of vintage  paper and images....

and

 lots of goodies!

 and 

here was what was inside the box!

LOVE 

the vintage hand towel!

She included vintage and some of her handmade cards....

 Vintage wallpaper border..

teaspoon..

tiny tea cup...

vintage felted bird, sewing notions, and millinery flower..

Tins, trims and lovely napkins...

 Michele handmade this

pretty little bracelet.

I'm not sure if she knew it...

but 

the heart charm is Murano glass...

from a place close to my heart this past year

Italy...

I can't think of a more fitting hand made gift

for me!

Thanks to Michele for hosting

such a fun swap!

Please go by her blog

Something Special 

and see some of her lovely creations!
Don't forget to sign up for my
Craft-It-Forward
fun
here 

Happy Wednesday!

Craft-it-forward!

I recently signed on

for an

interesting concept...

Craft-It-Forward

you can call it pay-it-forward too if you like also...

If you would like to play along

here is how it goes...

The first 5 people to comment and leave their  blog address will receive from me, sometime in 2013, a small gift handmade by me....a surprise in the mail! In this age of digital everything, who doesn't love actual  mail you can hold in your hands?

There will be no warning, but once I know that the recipient has indeed received the surprise, I will blog about the gift I sent and count down the five surprises with all my blog readers!

The Catch:

Those 5 people must make the same offer on their blog!

If you're interested in participating, making some new friends in blog land, and sharing your creative talents, then please leave me a comment.  I will be contacting the first 5 people who comment to get your mailing address so I will be ready to send your surprise in the coming months!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Happy Creating!

So what do you think?

I hope you will join in!

I also wanted to share this little piece of work I created

this weekend with my TAG gals

at a 

Monart 

drawing class.

 

 Only allowed to draw in ink.

No erasing.

It actually was pretty relaxing.

Not bad for my first attempt.

I feel like I could go design a coloring book now!

Please sign up for the Craft-It-Forward!

Happy Tuesday and next I will share my 

Candy Box Swap from Michele!

Valentine Candy box swap!

Today I am sharing

my

Valentine Candy Box Swap

that I made for 

Michele

at

Something Special 

I wanted to wait until she

received it before I showed it to you....

The task was to take a candy box

like a Whitman's Sampler

or

 a heart shaped box

decorate it and fill it with something

you handcrafted 

and

 lots of other goodies and ephemera....

Here is just a peek at some of it...

This is the lid I created with

lots of paper , glitter, stickers, and a bit of trim...

I wanted it to look aged 

and 

have a bit of a modern take on Victorian Valentines.

 I totally covered the inside with the pages

of an 1880's copy of the works of Shakespeare...

at the top is a vintage stamp inside a brass piece that has an opening window.

I stuffed all kinds of goodies inside.

Lots of valentine papers,

photographs,

a cabinet card,

some vintage furniture tacks,

and more...

This is the second layer...

Vintage gloves,

velvet ribbons,

and a tart mold that I filled with

trims,

jewelry findings,

glitter jars,

and a tiny vintage shaker.

I knew Michele collected shakers for her glitter

and even though this one is tiny

I thought it was just too cute!

Two pink fluffy chickies

I added some fun to the little tin

with buttons in it...

and instead of chocolate

I decided on these

Red Hots which I made a little cuter too!

I also filled this tiny tin box with

lots of vintage stamps...

I made a necklace for her which I forgot to photograph before I wrapped it..

 I made her this little

journal/idea notebook...

I found these awesome little books at Michael's on clearance

and have had so much fun decorating them.

I thought she'd love the little lady.

I hand stamped and painted the designs

and aged it myself.

 Fit for a queen!

I had so much fun making this...

I really enjoy the process of creating something like this

but I always worry if I have created something that is to my partners liking...

Tomorrow I will share the box Michele

sent to me...

It is Fabulous!

She got me right on!

Happy Monday everyone!