Christmas Miracles in Blue!

This vintage poem, Christmas Miracle, found in a 1964 Ideals book, beautifully describes the wonders of each valley, hill and morn blessed by a new fallen snow. A forest filled with wonder as Christmas approaches is a call to all of us by poet Georgia B. Adams to take joy in the smallest of winter miracles..."birdbaths wearing fur collars...trees trimmed in ermine."

Miracles are everywhere...take another look, Adams writes! It is a simple thing to find the miracles that abound in nature...in snow covered roads and "hillsides wearing winter capes."

Soon enough our world here in Michigan will be white with snow and I look forward to the enchantment of a glistening world of white outside my cottage window!

For more Monday Blues and to learn how to join, go to Smiling Sally's Blue Monday! Thank you Sally for sharing this great blogging activity for all to join!

Happy Blue Monday everyone!

Blessings to All!

Blessings to all as the Christmas season approaches. Let us prepare for His birth with grateful hearts and endless prayer for those less fortunate than we.

Pink Pastel Advertising for PINK SATURDAY!

Beautiful birds were often used in vintage advertising! Many were made into postcards for the collectors of the day! And today, we are still enamored of these beautiful old-time designs! Prices vary depending on when/where you travel to find thrifty buys. Many are still reasonably priced at $1 - $2 or less! Many are priced higher but you may still find some in assortments, groups, or lots for less.

Thanks to Bev at How Sweet the Sound for offering Pink Saturdays to all who wish to participate. She's doing a great job of coordinating and sharing. You can see other Pink Saturday participants HERE! Thanks for stopping by!

But, before you go, please take a minute to visit my new CHARMING VINTAGE RECIPES blog where you will find FREE 50'S FAMILY RECIPES! Please stop by! I'd love to have you join me as a FOLLOWER!

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Sending you all good wishes for a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

A Wordless Wednesday Vintage Thanksgiving!

For more WORDLESS WEDNESDAY POSTS, click HERE!

Turkey Reds and Ruby Tinted Skies!

I'm participating in RUBY TUESDAY today which is hosted by WORK OF THE POET! To see more RUBY participants click HERE! Have a great time everyone and enjoy the jewels of the day!

A Blue Monday Night to Remember!

My birthday was quickly approaching and I was about to become a teenager on November 23! I could hardly wait! I wanted to have a boy/girl party more than just about anything. I didn't believe my mother would agree to this but, in fact, she did!

After several weeks of bothering, badgering, and begging, I was allowed to invite seven girls and eight boys to my birthday party. It was the first boy/girl party of my class—of course. You see, I was always determined to be the first to do everything, driving Mom and Dad absolutely crazy.

In our small town, we had an amazing log cabin structure called the Recreation Center. Every manner of important social event was held there. Fashion shows, Brownie Scout initiations, and my 13th birthday party!

In front of the massive fieldstone fireplace, flanking the main wall of the log building, we pushed our folding chairs in a circle, giggled, and teased. We were after all, only twelve and thirteen years old!

The party was a huge success and even Mom agreed we were a well-behaved bunch—even though we insisted on playing a couple of kissing games “Wink," “Postman, Postman, Send Me a Letter," and “Spin the Bottle."She, of course, had a watchful eye on us the entire evening while at the same time, putting together platters of egg salad sandwiches, strawberry jello topped with whipped cream and bananas, and a beautiful white cake with creamy butterscotch frosting and thirteen candles. What a time we had!

It was a night to remember! And not long ago, one of the special girlfriends who had attended the event was going through her saved treasures from days past and found the invitation to my party among them. What a thrill it was to receive this memento of long ago in the mail! How special to know that someone else had saved it all those years!

But the most special memory of that amazing event was the love and care Mom provided for me, not only on that night but every day and night as I was growing up...and beyond. My dearest Mom passed on in 2000 but the wonderful ways in which she cared and shared remain with me always. Thank you, Mom! I love you!

For more Monday Blues and to learn how to join, go to Smiling Sally's Blue Monday! Thank you Sally for sharing this great blogging activity for all to join!

Happy Blue Monday everyone!

Give Thanks to the Lord!

As Thanksgiving approaches once again, let us give special thanks to God for all the blessings in our lives. It is a time for thanks and for loving, giving, and sharing. May all the blessings of the day be yours today and throughout the week! Coralie

Pink Pears for Pink Saturday!

What could be sweeter and more fun than this delightful 1958 recipe from Better Homes and Gardens? Published by Meredith Press, the Salad Book of the 1950's was a hit the moment it came off of the press.

My mother had this cookbook and just about every woman she knew also had her own private copy of the new and refreshing entertaining recipes. Every ladies' club from California to Maine enjoyed the merits of this resourceful informational guide to gathering friends together for lunch! And the recipes still ring true today for good eating, entertaining, and wholesome fun!

And...for more FREE 50'S FAMILY RECIPES, check out my CHARMING VINTAGE RECIPES blog and enjoy your PINK SATURDAY!

Always On The Outside Looking In?

Always on the outside looking in? Ever feel that way? Actually these two pups are thoroughly pampered pooches by anyone's estimation! They are the pets of my niece Jill and her daughter Maggie, who do a lot of volunteer work for the Gurnee, Illinois Animal Rescue House of Hope.

The photo below is one of Maggie and her rescued dog Myron. Myron was found wandering along a road with no identification. His eyes were infected when found but he is doing fine...happy, healthy, and deeply loved. He has been with Maggie and her mom for a couple of years now and joins the other dogs, playing happily along with any game that is presented.

None of them are on the outside looking in! Can you tell!

Do You See What I See?

Recently, my niece and her family attended an Iowa football game where her son is a recent graduate. After the game on their way to the car, they met an interesting woman and her two shelties. While they were astonished to see these adorable shelties wearing sunglasses, the woman told them they have been wearing the glasses out in the sun to protect their eyes since they were puppies!

Having two wild shelties of my own, it's hard to believe that they would keep these glasses on for more than a second...but the proof is in the picture! What do you think? Aren't they just way too cute!!! (Never met a sheltie I couldn't fall in love with in an instant, you know!) As my mother always used to say, "Wonders will never cease!"

Dancing A Thanksgiving Jig!

For more WORDLESS WEDNESDAY POSTS, click HERE!

Swan Lake On Ruby Red Tuesday!

There's no place like an antique mall...there's no place like an antique mall...no, wait! That can't be right! Or is it?

Just when you think you've found all of the best vintage postcards available, another group of wondrously colored illustrations appear on an aisle at an antique mall or flea market and you...or I should say I...cannot resist their call.

I have found many beautiful vintage postcards depicting swans and this is one of my favorites. There's just something about the grace and beauty of the swan that captures that wonderful aura of the far off fairyland we read about as children so long ago. Memories are sweet!

I'm participating in RUBY TUESDAY today which is hosted by WORK OF THE POET! To see more RUBY participants click HERE! Have a great time everyone and enjoy the jewels of the day!

Island of Blue for Blue Monday!

This is an evening view of Grant Street in Kitchikan, Alaska where my friend (since our teen years) Katie lives and work for the port authority. Born and raised in Chicago, she is far from her original "home" but has lived in this town for many happy years.

Ketchikan is named after the Ketchikan Creek which flows through the town. The name Ketchikan come from the Tlingit (a native Alaskan tribe) word for creek. It has also been written that the word means "Thundering Wings of an Eagle." Whatever the meaning, the picture makes clear that this is an amazingly beautiful area of the world and one not often seen by many.

For more Monday Blues and to learn how to join, go to Smiling Sally's Blue Monday! Thank you Sally for sharing this great blogging activity for all to join!

Happy Blue Monday everyone!

Thank You Lord!

Grateful am I for all of these comforts and for my cherished friendships with all of you! Have a blessed Sunday! Coralie

Exciting Cottage News For My Pink Saturday Post!

Today I want to share with you some exciting news I've just received! ALL THINGS COTTAGE, a website dedicated to cottage lovers everywhere, has just named my blog, A VINTAGE COTTAGE HOME, one of a few to be spotlighted as a favorite this month!

ALL THINGS COTTAGE which features the joys of cottage living is an inspiration to all of us cottage loving bloggers! There are many interesting things to see here including the feature of Cottage of the Year winner, Ree Drumond, of The Pioneer Woman blog! And you'll find more cottage friendly ideas from some of the other beautiful cottage blogs selected for spotlighting including Back Porch Musings, A Cottage in the Woods, Little Red House, The Cottage Nest, Enchanting Cottage, and more! I'm sure you'll want to make ALL THINGS COTTAGE a one-stop all-cottage visit!

Thanks to Bev at How Sweet the Sound for offering Pink Saturdays to all who wish to participate. She's doing a great job of coordinating and I'm honored to be able to take part in her precious weekly event! You can see other Pink Saturday participants HERE!

Happy Pink Saturday everyone! Thanks for stopping by!

Enjoy!

Coralie

A Lady of Florence!

A Lady of Florence by artist Antonio Guarino (1882-1931)

Another wonderful work of art from the 1930's art scrapbook I discovered not long ago in an antique mall in Ohio! The young lady who put this compilation of art together certainly had an eye for the beautiful and unusual. I'm so glad I found her and I think she would be happy to see her project shared with many! Enjoy!

Unknown Soldiers

For more WORDLESS WEDNESDAY POSTS, click HERE!

Lovely Primroses for Ruby Tuesday!

I'm participating in RUBY TUESDAY today which is hosted at WORK OF THE POET! To see more RUBY participants click HERE! Have a great time everyone and enjoy the jewels of the day!

Bluejays on a Blue Monday Visiting Mr. Beaver!

Here's another page from the 1930's Art Scrapbook I recently purchased at an antique mall in Ohio! Perfect picture to celebrate Blue Monday over at Smiling Sally's Blue Monday! Thank you


Sally for sharing this great blogging activity for all to join!

To learn more about Blue Monday and how to join, click HERE!

Thanks for stopping by! But, before you go, please take a minute to visit my new CHARMING VINTAGE RECIPES blog where you will find FREE 50'S FAMILY RECIPES! I'd love to have you join me as a FOLLOWER!

Wishing A Blessed Sunday To All!

Wishing you a Blessed Sunday!

Gardens Prove Love Is Life!

This week I have more beautiful graphics for your vintage hearts! Here is another of the beautiful art pages from the 1930's scrapbook I recently found at an antique mall. Another adventure in art from times past!

Thanks to Bev at How Sweet the Sound for offering Pink Saturdays to all who wish to participate. She's doing a great job of coordinating and sharing. You can see other Pink Saturday participants HERE! Thanks for stopping by!

But, before you go, please take a minute to visit my new CHARMING VINTAGE RECIPES blog where you will find FREE 50'S FAMILY RECIPES! Please stop by! I'd love to have you join me as a FOLLOWER!

Popovers! Free 50's Recipes! Followers Wanted!

Today, on my CHARMING VINTAGE RECIPES blog, I am featuring a 1950's recipe for Popovers!

Every day I feature a new FREE 1950's Recipe that is sure to bring back memories of another day and maybe even make you want to cook up something you haven't thought of in years!

I hope you'll take a look and also sign on as a FOLLOWER!

Have a great day! Coralie

Old Mother Hubbard!

This brings up a lot of questions for me. Why was the cupboard bare? Did she have more food in the back room? Did someone else take the food? How did this happen? Hmmm...what do you think?

A Very Brave Boy on Wordless Wednesday!

For more WORDLESS WEDNESDAY POSTS, click HERE! Enjoy!

Piano Lessons on Tuesdays!

When I saw this book cover with piano scales by Czerny, the memories all came rushing back. And, I have to tell you, they weren't all good! Tuesdays in my growing up days were a source of severe stress. I would go to school, watch the clock, and hope for some kind of miracle to prevent me from having to go to my piano lesson. Of course that miracle never happened but it didn't stop me from wishing!

Now here's the irony of the whole matter! I loved playing the piano! I played all the time, any classical piece I could get my hands on. I played the organ in church and for the choir that my mom directed.

It was practicing my scales that I didn't like, nor did I do! More often than not, I would end up sight reading my lessons in front of my piano teacher. And you can guess this made me pretty anxious for Tuesdays' lessons to roll around!

Of course, by Wednesday, all stress was forgotten and I went right back to playing all the beautiful tunes I loved so well. Czerny? Well, Czerny stayed right where (in my pre-teen opinion) he belonged...in the piano bench. That is, until the following Tuesday when the drama would begin all over again.

You might think I would have learned my lesson...but, no, not me and not with Czerny! Still I remember him—clearly and dearly—with sweet nostalgia in my heart!

Children Playing on a (Blue) Beach!

Children Playing on a Beach

Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection

National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Mary Cassatt, a proper Victorian woman, was born in 1844 in Pittsburgh. Here she spent a privileged childhood, even traveling often to Europe with her family.

In 1860, she was accepted as a student at the prestigious Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, where she began the pursuit of her dream to become a painter. In later years she achieved this status and joined the ranks of the Great Masters, becoming one of the few women in her era to achieve this honor.

I have recently found (yes, at a thrift store!) a beautiful volume of her works from which I will be sharing selections from time to time. For today, let us enjoy these lovely children against Cassatt's stunning blue seascape!

For more Monday Blues and to learn how to join, go to Smiling Sally's Blue Monday! Thank you Sally for sharing this great blogging activity for all to join!

Happy Blue Monday everyone!

Thanks for stopping by! But, before you go, please take a minute to visit my new CHARMING VINTAGE RECIPES blog where you will find FREE 50'S FAMILY RECIPES! I'd love to have you join me as a FOLLOWER!