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“The foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality; …the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained…” George Washington, First Inaugural, April 30 1789
Our Fourth of July was spent with family and friends. We checked out some cool, classic cars, listened to a good bluegrass band, and of course, watched fireworks.
This was Kinsley’s favorite car on the lot.
Sophie pretty much just ate, and clung to me like a monkey.
In anticipation of the firework show…
And the actual firework photos:
Sophie in just her diaper. She’s oddly lumpy, and incredibly squeezable.
Storms in the distance.
The whirlwind visits of family from afar.
A conglomeration of nieces, siblings, and daughters. Can you see what doesn’t belong in that photo?
Simple fixes to concerning vehicle issues. It’s so nice to learn that the problem is an $11 part!
Evening picnics on Great-Great Grandma’s quilt.
Making do, in the good old Ozarkian way.
Sisters and nieces. They’re kind of summery, and I sure do love ‘em!
Fishing. We’ve fished in about every body of water in the Ozarks over the past couple of weeks, and Kinsley caught her very first fish. But that’s another post for another time.
Summer sunsets.
Swimming. Canoing. Gardening. Plump, juicy blueberries, warmed in the sunshine. Even the to-do list has a certain charm in the middle of summer. There is so much richness to be enjoyed this time of year!
Kinsley: Papa, why do you always put clouds on your face before you shave?
1. pillowcase dress
A while back I made THESE pillowcase dresses. Like the t-shirt skirts, I thought the project went smoothly, and always planned to get back to the idea. But, like the skirts, I never did. I did save these links as cute ideas though…
Jen, at Red Instead, has this tutorial.
Leslie also has a tutorial up at her blog, A Room Somewhere. I enjoy reading Leslie’s blog regularly, by the way.
And then there’s Susan’s tutorial on Freshly Picked
2. boston terrier puppies
I don’t actually have Boston Terriers, but my parents do, and they love them to death. They have three of them actually - two females and a male. THe male is virtually impossible to photograph, but here are the two females…
3. dobson ron paul
This search term is interesting to me for many different reasons. The search usually takes people to the post about the open letter to Dr. Dobson. The interesting thing to me, is that any leader in the Christian community can carry so much weight that his endorsement of any political candidate is crucial to that candidacy. It’s also amazing that Christians are so willing to not think, and instead allow a “spiritual geru” to do their thinking for them. We seem to be like sheep who confuse a slightly larger, more prominent sheep for The Shepherd.
4. home crafts
This is one of my favorite topics, right up there with thrifting!
5. baseball posters
I have no idea why this search would lead to my blog. I don’t own any baseball posters, and don’t really have any interest in them. But hello, people searching for baseball posters! Can I interest you in a cup of coffee and photos of my daughters? They’re much cuter than big stinky baseball players anyway. And they sweat less. Not that a poster sweats, but you’d probably have the impression of sweat every time you looked at your poster.
6. embroidery patterns
I love anything with vintage embroidery - especially pillowcases. I wish I could embroidery, but I can’t ever make it look right. I envision all these sweet, simple little girls dresses in natural fibers and neutral colors with charming little embroidered accents.
Beetastic has an amazing collection of vintage embroidery finds. I love to browse through her photostream.
7. seashell crafts
I assume that this search leads to Gentlewood Cottage because of the wreath which I made for Christmas two years ago…
8. marme
The girls’ name for my mom. The name was chosen by my sister-in-law, Delana. I insisted that I got to choose what our kids would call my dad, so he’s Granddad.
9. retro homemaking
An endlessly fun topic. But really, there’s not much difference in Retro Homemaking, and Modern Homemaking, when it comes to the technique - it’s the mentality that’s different. Maybe that should be a whole ‘nother post for a whole ‘nother time.
10. vintage picnic
Ahh the romance…
We used to do this sort of thing more often pre-kid. Maybe someday it won’t seem so daunting and we’ll do it more often again.
You could serve any food at a “vintage” picnic. The romance is in the presentation. Chipped vintage plates with cheery colored flowers, sparkling citrus soda served in real glasses, and strong black coffee in chunky vintage coffee mugs are all essential. Someday I would love to find a genuine red-checkered table cloth to add to my picnic stash. If you’re lucky enough, you will dine on a grassy slope, overlooking a smooth jazz or a big band concert playing in the distance.
In the “old days” we took a book and read for hours. Maybe in the future we will enjoy that again, this time with our children flying kites and chasing butterflies in the distance.
11. love husband
This search thrills me. It’s like Google saw that search and thought “Who was that lady who writes that blog? Don’t you think it’s pretty obvious that she loves her husband? Let’s add that as a search result.” Yup, it must have gone something like that.
12. pioneer spider cooking pan
What? You lost me on that one.
13. handsome husband
See number 11. Strike “loves her husband?”. Insert “has a handsome husband?”.
“They always had flowers of some kind on the dinner table . . . it gave the one little festive touch now that showed a woman had been at work trying to make things beautiful.”
~Grace Livingston Hill
Cheerfulness is a Beauty which every body admires. A cheerful spirit is a continual feast. It smiles its way through life. It wins crowns for its possessor. It makes and gives happiness. All sunshine and flowers is a cheerful heart. It shines in perpetual spring. Its birds are ever singing, and its joys ever new.
From a text entitled Aims and Aids for Girls and Young Women, written in 1856 by George Sumner Weaver
This statuette stood out to me when we visited the Art Museum for Dan’s birthday. It was entitled, simply, “Charity”. It struck me especially because the example of Charity in this case was a mother with two small children, and I immediately felt empathy with the statue. Then I thought again about the whole idea of allure and how it actually relates to the character of Charity, in that both require true self sacrifice.
In other words, in order to be a queen, I must simply embrace what God has given me to do, with the Spirit of Christ ruling my actions.
In WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE WORLD, G.K. Chesterton paints a vivid picture of the importance of the mother’s role:
“Our old analogy of the fire remains the most workable one.
The fire need not blaze like electricity nor boil like boiling water;
its point is that it blazes more than water and warms more than light.
The wife is like the fire, or to put things in their proper proportion,
the fire is like the wife. Like the fire, the woman is expected
to cook: not to excel in cooking, but to cook; to cook better
than her husband who is earning the coke by lecturing on botany
or breaking stones. Like the fire, the woman is expected to tell
tales to the children, not original and artistic tales, but tales–
better tales than would probably be told by a first-class cook.
Like the fire, the woman is expected to illuminate and ventilate,
not by the most startling revelations or the wildest winds of thought,
but better than a man can do it after breaking stones or lecturing.
But she cannot be expected to endure anything like this universal
duty if she is also to endure the direct cruelty of competitive or
bureaucratic toil. Woman must be a cook, but not a competitive cook;
a school mistress, but not a competitive schoolmistress;
a house-decorator but not a competitive house-decorator; a dressmaker,
but not a competitive dressmaker. She should have not one trade but
twenty hobbies; she, unlike the man, may develop all her second bests.
This is what has been really aimed at from the first in what
is called the seclusion, or even the oppression, of women.
Women were not kept at home in order to keep them narrow;
on the contrary, they were kept at home in order to keep them broad.
The world outside the home was one mass of narrowness,
a maze of cramped paths, a madhouse of monomaniacs.
It was only by partly limiting and protecting the woman that she
was enabled to play at five or six professions and so come almost
as near to God as the child when he plays at a hundred trades.
But the woman’s professions, unlike the child’s, were all truly
and almost terribly fruitful;……it is not difficult to see… why the female became the emblem
of the universal and the male of the special and superior.
Two gigantic facts of nature fixed it thus: first, that the woman
who frequently fulfilled her functions literally could not be
specially prominent in experiment and adventure; and second,
that the same natural operation surrounded her with very young children,
who require to be taught not so much anything as everything.
Babies need not to be taught a trade, but to be introduced to a world.
To put the matter shortly, woman is generally shut up in a house
with a human being at the time when he asks all the questions
that there are, and some that there aren’t. It would be odd
if she retained any of the narrowness of a specialist.
“
Charity, as defined by Webster:
1:
1. Love; universal benevolence; good will. 2: 4. Whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the needy or suffering for their relief; … any act of kindness.
With that, Happy Mother’s day! May you take joy in the sphere with which God has blessed you.
I have been a long time reader of Alison’s blog, Brocante Home Chronicles. She is a big proponent of what she calls the Puttery Treat, an idea which I find very enticing.
Then, today I was glancing over Sense and Sensibility (a message forum geared toward historical sewing), an off-topic thread entitled: Taking Care of Yourself as a Mum… got me started thinking.
The train of thought went something like this:
I have a moment every now and then to relax, and when that time comes, I’m usually so overwhelmed that I don’t know what to do, and so waste that moment staring blankly at the computer screen (sad, but true). So, if I wrote down some of the great ideas which the lovely ladies at the S&S forum had given, as well as some of my favorite puttery treats, along with a few of my very own ideas, I could put them all in a pretty jar on my window sill and draw a slip of paper out when I had the time. But next I thought that I could also keep the list right here on Gentlewood Cottage, where I could refer back to it, and add or subtract to the master list as I see fit. Then, the thought struck me, that if I had a copy of the list online anyway, I could copy and paste it into Random.org’s list randomizer, and come up with a single treat that way as well.
So, that’s the long explanation for the list which you will find below.
:: Find a pretty water glass to help motivate me to drink plenty. Add mint leaf or a slice of lemon, lime, or orange in it for prettiness and taste.
:: Go for a walk. Attempt to indulge all five senses on the walk. Watch the clouds, keep an eye out for little critters, new wildflowers, and birds, stop and breathe in the smells, touch the various barks and leaves, listen to the music of the birds and insects, pluck some of the wild raspberries along the pathway.
:: Do a workout video
:: Listen to some classical music with the girls while stretching.
:: Fold a pretty tea towel in half and sew together. Make half inch hems either end and thread elastic through, before adding a ribbon loop and feeling virtuous because now you have a pretty place to store those plastic bags which seem to multiply in our home.
:: Demote a blanket to garden duty and leave it folded in a basket near the back door for chilly Spring evenings outside. Allocate a garden pinny and hang it from a ribbon tied laundry peg on your doorknob.
:: Chill fruit tea in the fridge as you do your housework, then sit down with a pretty little cup and the morning paper as reward for scrubbing the bath so wonderfully well you can see your reflection in it.
:: Make a drama out of lunchtime…select a beautiful tray and the bestest china you own, add a napkin and a tiny bud vase, and sit quietly, meditatively, as you eat…
:: Use white vinegar and a cotton bud to clean the crevices of your phone. (The blasted things get soooo grubby don’t they?) Then give the whole thing a gentle swipe with a cloth scented with lavender or orange blossom.
:: Clean out the girls dresser drawers and add a cotton ball soaked in lavender
:: Hunt out an old fashioned enamel coffee pot and use it to water your houseplants while you wait for the kettle to boil in the morning…
:: Dust your light bulbs with a cloth infused with aromatherapy oil for a gentle scent when you switch them on…
:: Choose a pretty teacup and use it to scoop washing powder into the machine.
We headed out early Saturday morning for a whirlwind weekend trip which included acting as delegates to the 9th Congressional District in Missouri, a baby dedication for my sister’s youngest daughter, a multi-family spring birthday bash, and a Non-Binkster Party.
Kinsley is having an Anti-Binkster week. It began with the ceremony of driving out to Granddad’s office to leave the binkster in a pretty gift bag, tacked to his bulletin board. Granddad has been a great proponent of Binkster Weaning, and Kinsley knows that. She often makes commentary about this or that thing which Granddad will do “if I don’t have my binkster in my mouth” and she always point out to him when she doesn’t have her binkster in her mouth.
We agreed that we would have a Non-Binkster Party at the end of the week, Grandma has promised a few presents, and Papa and I have promised that Kinsley will be allowed to chose a (small) gift for herself, upon the completion of seven days without a binkster.
Papa and I have tried to bring small rewards into our daily activities, pointing out that each one is another milestone she has reached because now she’s a big girl and no longer needs her binkster.
On day one, we set up a “big bed” in Kinsley and Sophie’s room. Kinsley has been thrilled, and has drug every single relative who has stepped through our door. She announces that this is a Non-Binkster Big Girls Bed.
So, all that to explain these photos of the girls’ bedroom.
We’ve painted some old furniture, brought in a few new things, and rearranged everything. In a very Non-Binkster sort of way.
Kinsley recently found Dan’s childhood “tater head” set, and has had loads of fun with it. It makes a great distraction while I try to get through part of my morning routine.
She is frustrated by it’s lack of eyebrows. Eyebrows are such a prominant part of our family, you know. The lack of eyes in general, doesn’t seem to bother her.
“Today you have the hands of a baby, tomorrow the hands of a beautiful lady…”
Get ivy and hull, woman, deck up thine house,
And take this same brawn for to seethe and to souse;
Provide us with good cheer, for thou knowest the old guise,
Old customs that good be, let no man despise.
At Christmas be merry and thank God of all,
And feast the poor neighbours, the great and the small.
Yea, all the year long have an eye to the poor,
And God shall send luck to keep open thy door.
Good fruit and good plenty do well in thy loft.
Then lay for an orchard and cherish it oft.
The profit is mickle, the pleasure is much;
At pleasure with profit few wise men will grutch.
For plants and for stocks lay aforehand to cast,
But set or remove them, while twelve-tide do last.
~Thomas Tusser (c. 1524-1580)
We are finally getting around to decorating. We really wanted to put of getting a tree until the week of Christmas, but we started getting worried when the selection was getting obviously picked over at our local grocery. So, last night we set out to purchase the tree. Kinsley was sooo excited. We had already set up a small table top tree in her room, and decorated it with vintage pink glass Christmas ornaments, so she was beginning to get an idea of what a Christmas tree was. Anyway, when we got to the store, Dan and Kinsley checked out the trees. Kinsley was running up and down the small row of trees, feeling each one and squealing with delight.
Unfortunately, all the trees available were so dry that they were already browning around the edges. So we decided to drive over to the next small town about ten miles away, and check their Walmart. They had already sold out of trees - before December 13th! So we drove to the grocery store in this town and were able to snag the very last lone tree.
It’s actually a very nice tree.
It reminds me of the trees of my childhood.
This morning, I walked into the living room just in time to see the tree slowly starting to fall. I don’t know if the girls and the dog had anything to do with this, or if it just happened - but right now the tree is being held up by three adorandak chairs. Try as I might, I simply was not able to hold the tree up, fight off the three female vandals and tighten all the screws on the Christmas tree stand. So, Dan will have to tend to that when he gets home. Our Christmas Tree stories are never very ordinary, for some reason.
Oh, and here’s one more random photo of the decor at our house. The “mantle” is one of my most favorite things to decorate!
Western Christian liturgical calendars are based on the cycle of the Roman or Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, including Lutheran, Anglican, and Protestant calendars since this cycle pre-dates the Reformation.
Generally, the liturgical seasons in western Christianity are Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time.
Thinking of the advent season and on creating memories, as well as incorporating new and old traditions from both of our families, I have come up with this list of ideas and projects:
Advent::
From the Latin adventus, “arrival” or “coming”, the first season of the liturgical year begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve.
Advent Candles to light and enjoy on Sunday evenings with cookies and tea.
I think it would be fun to decorate just a bit every night, in the spirit of preparation (what is advent for anyway?) and maybe to get a tree somewhere in the middle of the season.
Christmastide::
Christmastide begins the evening of Christmas Eve (December 24) and ends on (or, in some Anglican traditions, the day before) the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6.
The Twelve Days of Christmas and the associated evenings of those twelve days (Twelve-tide), are the festive days beginning the evening of Christmas Day (December 25) through the morning of Epiphany on (January 6). The associated evenings of the twelve days begin on the evening before the specified day. Thus, the first night of Christmas is December 25–26, and Twelfth Night is January 5–6. This period is also known as Christmastide.
The twelve days have special significance to us as this is a tradition we have observed in some way since our first Christmas. Sophie’s birthday is on Epiphany, (which means, appropriately enough, appearance” or “manifestation”). So, you can imagine the possible celebrations to arise here.
Some possible ways to observe these days::
Christmas
Boxing Day - sorting through toys with the girls and taking some extra to a needy family.
King Cake
Sophie’s first birthday
12 Candles
And of course, re-reading the 12 Days Poem to the girls.
The girls and I had a fun day shopping at the local thrift shops on Friday.
Almost as soon as we were in the car, Kinsley said that she was hungry. As a treat, we stopped into the local greasy spoon to snack on cheese balls and ice water. Nothing has changed in that small town restaurant since I had eaten breakfasts there with my grandpa when I wasn’t much older than Kinsley. It has a “round table” and the same old men sit at that table, who were sitting there when I would go there 20 some years ago. There are a few faces missing now, and maybe a few new faces, but mostly it’s the same old guys, eating the same food served by the same waitress, just all looking a little older than they used to.
Kinsley was looking at the wall behind me and said “Look at that! I wonder how they got that goat on the ceiling?” I turned and saw what she was talking about - a mounted deer head.
Finishing up our snack, we headed out to the thrift shop next door, where we found the sweetest little retro toy iron. It even had a working plug (a thought which sends shivers of terror down my spine, actually). We purchased it for twenty five cents. Dan was able to remove the cord, and Kinsley absolutely loves it!
The video below is of her and her new iron. She thinks she’s “sewing”. The voice she’s doing, is how she says the gator in Epossumondas talks. She’s still a baby - she just talks a lot!
I was holding Kinsley on my lap two evenings ago, when she looked up at me and asked “Are you my mother?” I said “Yes, I am.” “Oh’, she said ‘that makes me happy!”
It makes me happy too.
Another thing which I recently discovered makes me happy are the paintings of Frederick Morgan (see above painting entitled ‘Motherly Love’).
“…she was in the sphere of Jove, amid light and music and festal pomp, brimmed with life and radiant health, jocund and clothed in shining garments… She saw from the windows of the train to the outlined beams of sunlight pouring over the stubble or burnished woods, she felt that they were like the notes of a trumpet. Her eyes rested on the rabbits and cows as they flitted by and she embraced them in heart with merry, holiday love. She delighted in the occasional speech of the one wizened old man who shared her compartment and saw, as never before, the beauty of his shrewd and sunny old mind, sweet as a nut and English as a chalk down. She reflected with surprise how long it was since music had played any part in her life, and was resolved to listen to many chorales by Bach on the gramophone that evening. Or else-perhaps-she would read a great many Shakespeare sonnets. She rejoiced also in her hunger and thirst and decided that she would make herself buttered toast for tea - a great deal of buttered toast. And she rejoiced in the consciousness of her own beauty; for she had the sensation - it may have been false in fact, but it had nothing to do with vanity - that it was growing and expanding like a magic flower with every minute that passed. In such a mood it was only natural, after the old man had got out at Cure Hardy, to stand up and look at herself in the mirror which confronted her on the wall of the compartment. Certainly, she was looking well: she was looking unusually well. And, once more, there was little vanity in this. For beauty was made for others. Her beauty belonged to the Director. It belonged to him so completely that he could even decide not to keep it for himself but to order that it be given to another, by an act of obedience lower, and therefore higher, more unconditional and therefore more delighting, than if he had demanded it for himself.”
Some pictures we took during a photo shoot of a trumpet destined for eBay.
OK, I know that this is terribly belated - but they were so endearing in their tiny vintage dresses I had to share.
Does the vanity ever end?
Isn’t this pattern fun? I love the idea of making one for each month of the year, with the darling embroidery patterns for each month, but alas, I am no good at embroidery, and I suspect that even if I were, it’s something I’d just never get around to. Somehow my wee ladies keep me too busy! So, on to eBay it has gone…
It’s a half apron, with a cumberbund style waistband. The pattern is on unmarked tissue. Included were detailed instructions, and twelve iron on embroidery patterns, one for each month of the year.
I even found the envelope interesting. It is marked with a stamped two-cent stamp, and says “PARADE” “Patterns by Pauline” in the return address. In the address slot, is a newspaper clipping which the addressee apparently clipped, filled out, and mailed to the company, in order to request this pattern. The vintage way of life just seems utterly charming and interesting to me!
“Taking one’s chances is like taking a bath, because sometimes you end up feeling comfortable and warm, and sometimes there is something terrible lurking around that you cannot see until it is too late and you can do nothing else but scream and cling to a plastic duck.”
~Lemony Snicket
I am joining Julie of Handmaid this week in her Colour Week. Won’t you come and play?
I am joining Julie of Handmaid this week in her Colour Week. Won’t you come and play?
My newest, most favorite color in the world! Especially when combines with red. Red and turquoise, an unbeatable combination!
OK, so I’m probably the last person in the world to have an Etsy shop. But now I have my very own! Remember that Vintage Picnic Basket? It is the first (and so far only) item in my new shop, but that will be changing soon…
Before (View a.)
After (View a.)
Before (View b.)
After (View b.)
You’re not going to believe this amazing thrift shop score… the Twin Fit Dress Form for only one dollar! I couldn’t believe my eyes. This is the kind of find I have dreamed of - but never thought possible!
And these buttons. All for only fifty cents.
Kinsley and Sophie have new outfits! I’m thinking that these will be their Easter ensembles.
The tops are made from thrifted curtains using the pillowcase dress tutorial from Jen at RedInstead.
The bottoms are made from oh-so-soft batiste and trimmed with the remains of a thrifted but stained dresser scarf using this wonderful pattern for baby pants from “Bee’s Nest”.
Sophie had a rough day yesterday, and so is not pictures in her new outfit. Maybe on Easter…
Click here to view the auction…
Give the gift of an island of calm serenity in the ocean of chaotic daily life.
This kit has been lovingly assembled with careful attention to details.
Items included:
Basket has a very cottage chic feel to it. The embellishments look to be from the 40s or 50s.
Plate is a warm ivory with silver edging and has a floral design featuring the colors turquoise, mint green, rose pink, and golden yellow. The back of the plate (pictured) says “Crown Potteries Co. Made in the USA 4 47″. Family tradition says that the plate survived the San Fransisco Earthquake, but I have no idea if this is accurate.
Vintage Tablecloth is the perfect size for a solitary picnic. It is white with turquoise stripes on two ends. The cloth is in great shape, except for a small spot (the size of a quarter) which has worn through, and a tiny ink spot. It measures 31 1/2″ x 34″.
Antique Napkin is a warm ivory color with a tone on tone rose and lattice work design with heirloom entredeux on the edges. The napkin is made of a very sturdy and quality material.
Knife and Fork are authentic antique weighted silver flatware. They have been polished.
Thermos brand vintage thermos. We thought this was a truly unique item. It is a single serving size (one cup). The color is cream, with a turquoise inset on the cap.
Vintage Stoneware Mug has a very retro feel. It also echoes the color scheme of cream and turquoise, though the turquoise band at the bottom of the mug is of a lighter shade.
A distant family member has taken the time and effort to unearth some ancient family letters and retype them for the enjoyment of all. I am finding them to be such an interesting read, that I can’t resist passing one on.
The following letter is from Ida Jane (Beasley) Williams to Dorothy “Dolley” (Foster) Williams who was the wife of her son Hayne. Charles - who is in the army - was another son. Ida Jane (Beasley) Williams is my Great Great Great Great Grandmother (is there a better way to say that?).
On to the letter…
Ark Homestead County
July 24th 1861
Dear Daughter,
I embrace the present opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present hoping these lines may come safely to hand and find you well. Dolley I have bin waiting for a letter from you till I have got out of patience. I haven’t herd a word from Carolina since your last letter that was dated the Fourth of May. I wrote to you shortly after that and I hav not received an answer yet. I am getting very anxious to hear from you all. Hayne has quit writing to any person in this neighborhood. I haven’t received a letter from him since he was at home in April.
Dolley it is with grief that I must inform you that Charles left Nashville on the 18 of June in Capt. Neals Company of Voliunteers. They went to little rock and was sent from there to Fort Smith. He wrote to me from Fort Smith but did not know where to tell me to write to him. I have not got a letter from him since. I expect that he’s in Missouri some place. I understand there will be some hard fighting there. I live a mile and a half of the road that leads from Washington to Missouri. The volunteers are going this road almost every day going to Missouri. There was two Companys of Calvery just a few days ago and a large number of foot men has been passing ever since. We were expectin two Companys to pass today. Dolley I herd there has been several battles fought in Virginia and a good many kild. If Hayne is kild I want you to let me know. I think his time is out that he first volunteered for but I don’t expect that he will come home.
I have nothin more to interest you. We have very good crops in this country though it is rather dry at this time but corn is made.
Dolley I want you to write to me as soon as you get this. Tell me all the news. You don’t know the trouble I see about my children. If they were to die at home I would know where they were laid but if they are kild I don’t know whats become of them but I hope some one will bury them. I will come to a close. Give my best respects to all inquiring friends if there be any and reserve a portion for yourself. Tell all of the children howdy and kiss them for me. I would be glad to see you all. Nothing more here at present only remain your most kind mother.
~Jane Williams
When you write to Hayne remember my love to him. I would write to him but I don’t know where to direct a letter. Be certain to write.
I’ve never been all that much of a shoe fan - but look at these! Aren’t they simply the most delicious shoe you’ve ever seen? Totally vintage! But at that price, I don’t expect to be ordering them just now.
Check out all Re-Mix Vintage Shoes to see all their wonderful shoes…
1. From beth:
What’s the most unusual hobby you have? How did you get started with it?
I guess it would be my vintage button collection. I think I have been influenced my grandma who is a product of the depression and never threw anything away. When I was a kid I would sort through her tins of buttons which were organized by color family. I don’t think she ever threw any buttons away, and would “hunt up” garments from thrift shops and yard sales just for their buttons. At first I thought the collection was neat, and I loved the way the metal buttons smelled. Then as I reached my early teens (the height of wisdom and maturity, I began to secretly sneer at Grandma’s junk. Now that I have begun sewing, and loving everything vintage, I have a new appreciation for her buttons. And many other notions which she has horded for decades.
2. From briar:
How many different kinds of music do you listen to? Name a few favorites, if you please.
Classical, Swing, Jazz, Bluegrass, Classic Country, Hymns, New-Agey type stuff… Just about every genre except modern country, modern Christian, hip-hop, rap or any of that type stuff (can it truly be called music?).
3. From iris:
Do you take advantage of the outdoor areas where you live? What’s your favorite thing to do outside? What’s your favorite local bird?
We live next the the walking trail in our small town. It borders two side of our yard, and just down the trail it crosses the pretty spring fed creek (see picture above). On summery evenings, we usually walk this trail all the way down to the local park which has a running track, play ground equipment, a river, and a basketball court. We make pretty good use of all the amenities.
About the bird - I’m wish I were more proficient at recognizing the birds in our area. The other day we watched a giant woodpecker on a stump in the yard. The thing was the size of a cat! Sadly, I have no idea what kind it was…
4. From kristy:
Children: Do you have any?
Oh, yeah! Two wonderful, gooey, ridiculous, charming and insane little girls. Kinsley Abigail and Sophie Lucia Marie, ages 18 months and two months, respectively. They are the light of our lives!
5. From amy:
What is your favorite part of spring?
The fact that it’s not winter any more. And there are no mosquitoes yet.
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If only I could create my dream spring/summer wardrobe, it would look something like this.
Cardigan - in white, of course!
Pants that actually fit! One in stone, and one in denim.
The perfect denim skirt
3/4 sleeve collared tees in baby pink, brilliant green, and dream blue.
Button down shirts in a brilliant green, firebrick, black, and white.
Diaper Bag and handbag.
Comfy House and Pool Sandals
Swimsuit in crimson.
Seven Vintage Style Daydresses in charming floral prints or bright jewel tones.
Cotton Print Dresses in several colors for weddings, showers, and other summery affairs.
On eBay this week - this lovely vintage writing desk…
Are we allowed two?
This made me laugh this morning!
More shameless advertising. But isn’t it neat? Click here to see our eBay auction…
