Remembering Mother Today!

I have probably had this photo for years but didn't notice it until just the other day. I wish I'd found it before Mothers Day so I could have posted it then. But very soon it will be the anniversary of my mother's birthday so this is a good time to share. (I think that's me in the photo and, yes, our house number really was #13!)

My mom was a stay-at-home mom for us six children for many years but later in life she found great pleasure in becoming a presiding officer in some of the women's groups she joined. In church, she became our choir director. As a lovely soloist, she was often asked to sing for community and church events. Many people from my hometown in Upper Michigan remember hearing her voice in church on Sundays, weddings, and funerals. Her Ave Maria was enough to make the strongest person weep for joy!

Thinking of you Mom on this beautiful Sunday morning! Miss you...love you.

Bunny Rabbit Reading Song!

Did you have music time in your grade school classes? I don't remember how many times a week we had singing sessions but I know I looked forward to them all the time! I just loved hearing the entire class singing at the same time. Oh, the sweet melodies!

Treat Yourself to a Visit to a Funky Fairy Shoppe!

This is such a nice tribute! Thanks so much Alena! I'm honored!!!

Please check out Alena's Funky Fairy Shoppe today. She has some amazing posts to share!

Vintage Photo of Child and Dog

Here's another of the steroptic slides I found a few weeks ago at an antique mall. I always look for old photos and find them even more interesting if they have a dog or other animal featured along with the people in the picture. 

This one is quite a classic with a saucy little girl, hands on hips, trying to teach her dog to speak. Very cute, indeed!

Grand Dogs!

Here are two of my grand dogs, Oakley and Hunter. Can you tell which Golden Lab is the more serious and which one more the entertaining clown? Pretty obvious, huh?

Sun Beams Help Us Remember!

Time to Smell the Flowers Again

I've loved bleeding hearts and lilacs since I was a child. I had an aunt with whom I spent many a sweet hour as she showed me her garden of glorious flowers. I often think of those walks at this time of year. You see, my aunt had just lost her seven year-old daughter unexpectedly and we were all reeling from that terrible loss. My aunt explained to me that the bleeding hearts were God's way of showing us that He knows our hearts are breaking but He is there to help us heal. 

Grieving

Ginger
December 19, 1996 - May 18, 2009

The Ginger Years

Arriving at her new home: 1996!

Oh, what soft fur you have!

Smile for the camera!

Ball game over! Ginger won!

Lake Michigan vacation!

Fun on the shore with Dad!

All grown up!

Looking back, it's been a great life!

Ginger

December 19, 1996 - May 18, 2009

Butterflies Are Beautiful!

I received this beautiful award from Doreen! My friend Doreen creates the most amazing projects in the rooms in her miniature house! You really have to see it to believe it! Please click on over and say, "Hi"! You'll see what I mean!

I just want to say that I haven't been posting as much lately as I would like to but I hope to get back to regular posting soon. My husband is recovering (really well) from his surgery, but my little dog Ginger has been in the veterinary hospital all week and is home for a day to see how she will do. She is having trouble with her neck and back which is causing her back legs to not work as they did. But she's much better than she was a week ago. Today she is home, not letting me out of her sight, very alert and happy to be home. But we are to keep her quiet and carry her in and out as needed. If you can spare a prayer for this little 12-year old sweetie, it would be wonderful!

Again, thank you for thinking of me, Doreen. This award could not have come at a better time! Thank you so much!
Coralie

Hand-painted Bird and Surfside!

I've had this hand-painted salt box for some time now and thought I'd share it today. This beautiful bird was meticulously painted by some very talented artist a while ago and isn't it beautiful! 

This is another corner of our dining room where, as you can see, the walls are a sea foam color which is actually called surfside. 

Last summer, I decided to pull down the rose-patterned wallpaper we had enjoyed for nearly fifteen years and replace it with an updated cottage color. It's been really refreshing...nothing like a new coat of paint to spruce things up a bit!

Cowgirls Have More Fun!

The top two stereoptic slide photos are samples of my vintage photo finds from last Sunday. 

The last photo is—you guessed it—a vintage photo of none other than me, Coralie the Cowgirl! Yippee-i-ki-aye!

My Latest Finds: Vintage Photos! Stereoptic Slides!

On Mothers Day, for the first time since before Jim's hospital stays, we took a drive to one of our favorite "finding" places, an antique mall in Ohio. I've been collecting vintage photos for a while now and thought perhaps I'd find a few there. I asked one of the women working at the mall if she knew of any and she said, "No." 

Well, I'm not one to give up too easily. (I've found plenty of things in stores that I've been told were not there!) So I continued looking and discovered a display case with a box of old photos, post cards, and stereoptic slides.

The young man who opened the case for me said, "Oh, you're looking for old photos...well, I know of a few places here where there are some." Then he showed me a few other booths with some really great vintage photos. What a thrill it was to find these! 

I can't share them all today but I thought I would start with these amazing stereoptic slides and then post many of my other finds in future. So stay tuned!

Pretty Little Birds in a Corner of my World!

One little corner of my world is decorated with birds and flowers. Also, the little nest (so small it was probably from a hummingbird) was discovered by my husband on the ground under a tree last fall. All the rest of the items pictured are—you guessed it—thrifty finds from a variety of places. The beautiful bird picture was found in a lovely little shop in McHenry, Illinois; the rest from some of our stops and shops here in Michigan. 

Thanks, Laurie! You're Awe-Summm!!!

I received this great, super blinky, blingy award from Laurie! Thank you, Laurie for thinking of me!!! 

However, to accept it, Laurie tells me I must "thrust aside all modesty and humility and blog about 7 things that make me awe-summm!" 

So here goes:

1. I am learning to cook the cardiac diet way to keep my husband (& me) healthy after his open-heart surgery! And I do mean learning! I thought I had that cooking business all figured out years ago, but no. It's all about re-learning! Hard work since I'd rather be crafting!

2. I am blessed to have four wonderful children Paul, Tamara, Peter, and Carrie. They are amazing...just ask me!

3. I am also blessed to have grandchildren: Bryan, Allison, Jaclyn, Logan, and Paige. They're not only amazing; they are fabulous! (Can I take any credit for that?)

4. I have written and published two books of memoirs about my growing up days in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. 

5. I teach Women's Studies at a local university and love being able to help students understand more about the many cultural issues that affect them today. 

6. Though I teach part-time, I am basically retired which allows me to spend time with family and friends. There's nothing better than that for me!

7. I am a huge animal lover and have three beautiful sheltie dogs who 'rule the roost' so to speak. They are the greatest fun and also comfort during our days spent at home. 

Again, thank you for thinking of me, Laurie. I accept and pass this award on to all those who visit my blog because I think you are all particularly AWE-SUMMM!!!

Happy Mothers Day!

Received this sweet surprise from my granddaughter and her mom yesterday afternoon! What a beautiful Mothers Day treat! Thank you, Jackie and Therese!

Happy Mothers Day to all of you great mothers out there! Enjoy the weekend! Celebrate! You deserve it!!!

Happy Mothers Day!

I think this sweet little Mama Duck and her baby say it all, "Happy Mothers Day to all the wonderful moms everywhere!" Enjoy your day! Enjoy your weekend!

Vintage Advertisement for Sewing!

The American Fabrics Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut provided this display advertising for stores selling laces, embroidery, edgings, braid and other sewing accessories. The ad was to promote their booklet on "How to Make Things Beautiful" and sold for 10 cents!

Serene Swans Stitched on Cottage Cloth!

Stitched long ago by a lover of embroidery, this swan picture was discovered in a lovely antique shop in Niles, Michigan several years ago. It is heavy in its hand-made frame and perfect for our vintage cottage home. 

It "resides" on a wall of a walkway between the living room and the hall leading to the bedrooms and so we are able to enjoy it every day as we move through life. This simple scene provides peace and serenity throughout the hours. Beautiful!

Seascape Through An Open Cottage Door!

Whenever I look at this cottage scene, I am transported to a peaceful place where all it takes to experience the amazing sand and sea, is a little imagination and a deep desire to walk along the beach, to hear the waves lapping against the shore, to find smooth glass and shells that only nature can provide. Come take a look and follow!  

Follow Me...

If thou wouldst dream...follow me...

Discover clouds

That scud across the bluest of blue skies,

Wandering west and east,

Lending life

Visions

Of feathery castles in the air.

 

If thou wouldst dream...follow me...

Uncover shells upon the sand

In which one may hear

Distant yearnings, echoes,

Of the stormy sea,

Pirates shipwrecked

To the north and to the south.

 

If thou wouldst dream...follow me...

Follow fields

That surge and sway

In swelling waves

Of amber, green, and gold,

Whose stirring whispers

Harbor secret footpaths of the past.

 

If thou wouldst dream...follow me...

Seek sounds of pleasure

From within the silence

Of a forest woodland,

Then find they speak in tongues

With gentle metaphors

Of love.

Beautiful Spring Day!

It's another beautiful spring day here in Michigan and I'm enjoying the antics of all the birds who dance and dart about in my backyard at this time of year. I'm especially fond of the wren family that has come back once again to make their home in the little birdhouse under the big fir tree. Their musical voices carry through the neighborhood as they call out, letting everyone know they are here once again to stay through the summer. Their songs bring joy to my heart!

Pretty Dishes All in a Row!

I've had this old oak china cabinet for over 30 years. I actually found it at a roadside garage sale. It was in perfect condition even then and still is today. I've thought about updating my furnishings to change to something new but I think I'd miss this particular piece. I do believe it's here to stay!

The Little Elf-man!

This vintage piece is from a children's book I found in an antique store a while ago. It was my father's favorite poem and he often recited it to my siblings and me when we were children.

My father was a "man's man" who worked hard as a boss in an iron mine, as a carpenter in after-work hours, and as a builder on weekends. He was the strongest man we'd ever seen or known and the fact that he would—eyes twinkling—recite a poem was so much out of character for him that I always remember it with a rush of sweetness and fond memories.

Harp-shaped Birdcage!

I just never know what I'm going to find when I go shopping at one of my favorite thrift stores, but I always know I'll find something interesting. 

Here's my latest find, a musical harp-shaped birdcage hand-painted with pretty little spring flowers and ready for display. It's too small for a real bird but it's perfect for cottage decorating.  

Wind-blown Bob and Sunflowers!

My thrifty finds here are two small framed vintage illustrations, probably from a children's book or magazine. I found them at a street fair a few years ago and just loved the soft pastel colors. Perfect for cottage decorating!

The little girl standing in the wind with her fly-away bob reminds me of my mother's story of her growing up years when she and her girlfriends went out and got these classy new haircuts. Wind-swept bobs were all the rage in her day. And I think of her as a young girl every time I look at this adorable picture.

The children playing with sunflowers are so sweet and make me think of summer at its best. And sunflowers always seem to say, "Be Happy!" So...be happy and have a wonderful weekend!

Look Who Came to Call!

Yesterday, I was rinsing dishes in the sink when I felt eyes upon me (you know how you have that uncanny feeling of being watched). Quickly looking up, I caught this large Mama Squirrel (not to be confused with the tiny red squirrel who still lives in the garage and entertains us daily with his antics) watching me from outdoors.

She hung around long enough for me to get my camera and take a picture but not much longer than that. I had to take the photo through the window glass so it's not as clear as I'd like but there she is! Cute, smart, and hungry!

Vintage Primer Circus Time Illustration!

It's time for another classic illustration from my favorite primer, The Elson Reader! I just love all of the many illustrations in this book and wish I'd had it when I was a child. Being an animal lover, this would have been just perfect as there are dozens of beautiful children and animal pictures.

However, this book was a 1930 revision of the 1920 & 1927 version which was copyrighted in 1912 & 1913. My first reading books in school were the Dick and Jane series. I loved Spot the dog and Puff the cat but their interactions in the stories were limited.

Which first readers did you have when growing up?

A Heap o' Livin' - 1916 by Edgar Guest!

A few months ago, while shopping a thrift store near Detroit, I was excited to find this historical framed poem by Edgar Guest.

Edgar Guest worked for the Detroit Free Press for over 40 years. He wrote more than 11,000 poems which were syndicated in some 300 newspapers and collected in more than 20 books, including this one A Heap o' Livin' in 1916.

Edgar Guest was made Poet Laureate of Michigan, the only poet to have been awarded the title.