Shopping Bag Memory

Hilery and I went on our usual weekly shopping excursion, yesterday. As I was taking my purchases out of this bag this morning, an image came to mind of my Mom. When I was very young, 4 or 5, I can remember that Mom always took along her "shopping bag" when we went into town on Saturday night. (Stores did not have those endless plastic bags.) It was an aqua colored, "satiny" upholstery type fabric, beautifully lined, with wood handles. I can picture it clear as day !! I think she may have made it herself. We would make our trips into JC Penny's, Montgomery Wards, and the "dime store" among other places. She would purchase her sewing notions and whatever else was needed for our home, placing all of her items in that bag as we went from store to store. I especially liked those privately owned clothing stores where we would look at all the beautiful ready made clothes. Mom would look them all over, get an idea what we liked, then go home and make her own patterns to replicate that clothing for herself, my sister and me. I wonder what happened to that bag !! It would be a much prettier bag to carry than this one I purchased at Target !! It would be fun, also, to have one of those dresses she created !!

Happy Valentine's Day

Reading blogs I follow this morning, one had photos of hearts found around her home. I went on a heart "treasure hunt" and actually have photos of 22 and surely could find more !! These are a few that turned out somewhat well. The teddy bear and "I Love You" ceramic box were Valentine gifts from your Dad, the locket, a b'day gift from Hilery and Adem, the quilted heart and two other items were gifts from you. I love the old "Blue Waltz" perfume bottle for the memories of my younger days -- When I was 8 or so, someone gave my sister and I a bottle of this perfume. It could be purchased for about a quarter at "the dime store", as we called the old variety stores back then. I have no idea what became of our original bottle - this one I won on auction on Ebay a couple of years ago. Of course, I paid more than 25 cents for it !! Again, I have my usual problem with arranging multiple photos, and even so, they do not come out published like I had them arranged. Oh well, will have to get Hilery to help me one of these days and find out what I am doing wrong !!

"Hope Chest"

My Lane cedar chest was my high school graduation gift from my Mom and Dad. "Back in the day" of 1958, a cedar chest or "so-called" hope chest was a customary graduation gift for a girl. We were to go off to college, find the love of our life, and during those years, fill this chest with linens and the like for our future home. Well, I had found the love of my life and was getting married the same week of graduation. Your Dad was already in the U.S, Navy and we were off to living in furnished quarters for four years. Mom and Dad purchased this and our bedroom furniture for us(our wedding gift) in 1964 when your Dad got out of the Navy. I still love all of the pieces as much as I did that day when we were choosing them. I haven't been through the contents of the chest in a number of years -- I guess I would call it a "memory chest" now, because that is what is stored there, mostly.

Set of Four

When your Dad and I got married, most of the gift we received were things that eventually, over the years, wore out, such as the sheets and towels. Other things were replaced with changes in taste, or lost in moves. We weren't "registered" for fine china, silver and the like. This set of four trays have survived, for some strange reason. Rarely used for their intended job, they have been most usually just stored in the back of a cabinet. I sort of forget that they are over 50 years old, or that I even have them, until an occasion such as this morning, as I was cleaning this one. I keep it under the toaster so I don't end up with toast crumbs all over the kitchen counter when I make toast. It will never be as collectible as those Coca-Cola girl trays, but, it is surely considered an antique at this point in time !!

Way Back When

I came across this old photo when I was going through a drawer in my desk. Why it became mislaid with a few other things, I have no idea !! I don't remember why I even have it, but it is a wonderful old picture of my Mom and Dad and Mom's sister, Bertha with her husband Lyle. Mom's handwriting is on the back plus a stamp from a film processor in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. So, I think maybe this is what happened !! These two couples look young, happy and in love. By looking at Mom and Dad, I think the photo would have to have been taken in the early to mid 1930's. Bertha and Lyle were married after Mom and Dad and maybe came to Iowa from Ohio on their honeymoon, then the four of them took a trip together to Wisconsin to visit relatives there. I love the guys dressed up in their suits and ties. Those were the days when people dressed in their Sunday best anytime they went away from home !!

Another Bird Book

I was inspired to create a second "Bird Book". This one, I am going to list on EBay with 50% of the final auction bid to be donated to "A Place to Bark". Of course, you know about this artist, Bernie Berlin, and her mission of animal rescue, For anyone else who reads my blog, they can find information at http://www.aplacetobark.com/ . I do have high hopes that someone will appreciate my art, but, I especially hope that someone will have a generous heart and appreciate the cause.

Chinese New Year

When I picked Hilery up on Friday for our "weekly" bonding, I asked her if we shouldn't go to the Bellagio Conservatory to see the Christmas scenery. When we arrived, we found it to be roped off and everything being renewed for the Chinese New Year plantings and decorations. It was amazing the number of people at work plus watching all the plants being rolled in for them to use. I was sorry to have missed the Christmas "show", but, will be anxious to return for the completed show of plantings and decorations.