Monday, February 29, 2016

A Monday Memory....

This image recently popped up on a site I follow on Facebook called:  "Do You Remember"
And I thought, oh yes.  I remember.

As a student in a Catholic high school, it can be difficult to feel like an individual, while sporting the same uniform as the hundreds of girls who surround you. 
 So our pocketbooks became the vehicle through which we expressed ourselves.

Around 1970, decoupage became the rage in our area.  Specifically, decoupaging metal lunch boxes.
We poured over magazines and newspapers, clipping images and words that appealed to us and defined who we were.  We carefully applied them to the outer surfaces of the lunch boxes with adhesive, then sprayed them with a sealant.  The interior was usually lined with felt.


I was quite proud of the finished product, though I've no idea what eventually became of that purse.
To be honest, it was quite awkward to carry and 
made a bit of a racket every time I opened and closed it.

What I did save, and cherish, is a decoupage box a dear friend made for me when we graduated from college.  It captured so many memories of our shared lives on campus and what we hoped would be our future.


Maybe it's time to bring this creative form of art back.
Something to teach the wee ones someday, perhaps.

Friday, February 26, 2016

Friday Fotos....
















A few friends dropped by for lunch the other day...









Isn't nature incredible? Look at the way those vines are literally strangling that poor tree!



Stunning sky last night!

Daughter #2 and family gifted the Englishman with this flag for his birthday last month.
Looks a wee bit familiar, doesn't it? 
Just like my blog border!!

Wishing everyone a warm and safe weekend!

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

"To a brave man, good luck and bad luck 
are like his right hand and left hand.  
He uses both."
Saint Catherine of Siena

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Wednesday's Wisdom...

Ah, the wisdom of a four year old .....
When my youngest granddaughter recently picked up a ball of yarn from my crochet basket, 
she implored me to make her a scarf. 
Right then and there.
"Oh, and gloves, too" she quickly added.  
When I told her I didn't know how to crochet gloves, she confidently stated: 

"You can do it, Grandmom."

No, no I can't, I assured her.

But the more I think about it, 
the more I realize that maybe she's right - maybe I can do it.
 I just need to learn how to do it.

They say that "attitude is everything."
Perhaps, if like The Little Engine That Could, I repeat:
I think I can, I think I can...
I will feel as confident as C is in my abilities, and state "I can do it!"
(Detailed instructions for crocheting gloves will also be helpful!)


Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Tip for a Tuesday....

Wrapping Paper Wrapper

Tired of having those expensive rolls of wrapping paper unravel? 
 Hesitating to use tape to secure it because it inevitably tears?

Then take a tip from LIFE HACKS:

Cut an opening down a finished cardboard toilet paper roll, lengthwise
 and wrap it around the roll of wrapping paper.

Easy Peasy!

(source: LIFE HACKS by Dan Marshall)


Monday, February 22, 2016

A Monday Memory....

Birthday Corsages....

A local florist recently posted a photo of a birthday corsage,
similar to the one above, and it immediately stirred a memory.

In the all girls high school I attended, birthdays were celebrated by having your friends make corsages for you to wear, which you then pinned to your uniform blazer. 
(Yes, blazers. We were actually informed when we were Seniors, 
that we were "not mature enough" to wear sweaters. I kid you not.)

The age you were celebrating determined the type of corsage. If I remember correctly, "fifteen" called for bubble gum, "sixteen" found you adorned with dozens of dog biscuits glued down on strips of ribbon,  and another year brought forth life savers.

One year, Eileen McD, our Class President, nearly toppled over with the vast number of corsages pinned to her blazer.  It caused quite a stir as she tried to navigate the hallway to class and was a clear indication of her immense popularity amongst the students.

I don't recall my daughters making corsages during their tenures at the same school.
Perhaps the tradition belongs to "the good old days"
 or just maybe the florist, and others, are hoping to revive it.







Thursday, February 18, 2016

Thursday's Thought for the Day.....

"Spirituality is vital to loving, but it should not be confused with religion.  Spirituality, for me, is living your life with an open heart.  Being accepting, kind, being open to ideas and thoughts and becoming the best of you"

Karren Brady
Woman and Home magazine article
January 2016

Baroness Karren Brady of Knightsbridge CBE, is Vice-Chairman of West Ham United FC, and Senior Non-Executive Director on the boards of Syco Entertainment and retail multinational Arcadia Group. She is also the UK government’s Small Business Ambassador,
television broadcaster, newspaper columnist, author and novelist.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Tip for a Tuesday....

Looking for a lovely series to just watch and enjoy?


The Englishman and I only recently discovered this series, though it will debut its third season on Sunday, February 21st, on the Hallmark Channel.
(We've been watching reruns of season one and two on Netflix.)

When Calls the Heart, for me, is a bit like Little House on the Prairie meets Christy.
The fact that the storyline centers around a teacher was quite appealing.
There is drama, heartache, joy, spirituality and sweetness to be found in the continuing storyline.

I highly recommend it!


Thursday, February 11, 2016

Thursday's Thought for the Day....


Happy 37th Wedding Anniversary to my sweet Englishman!
Just gets better and better and better.....

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Wednesday's Wisdom....

Anyone else have trouble saying that simple word "No"?
Thought so.
Here's a list of suggestions:
found on Pinterest.
of course.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Tip for a Tuesday....

"Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. 
After that who cares? 
He's a mile away and you've got his shoes."
Billy Connolly

William "Billy" Connolly, CBE is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter and actor. 

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Wednesday's Wisdom....

What a gift, when we finally realize we do have a choice....

and that choice, 
includes how we think about things and how we react to them.

Monday, February 1, 2016

A Monday Memory....

What a wonderful treat, to travel down memory lane....
Sunday was the "kickoff" for Catholic School's Week, 
an annual celebration of Catholic education in the U.S.  Our "wee ones" happen to attend the very same Catholic grammar school I had attended growing up.
So I was quite pleased to spend some time with the girls, as they proudly showed off their school to me. I still think they find it hard to wrap their heads around the idea that their grandmother was once a student, let alone the fact that she walked the same halls.  
But they were very patient with me as I reminisced, noting both changes and what had remained the same, for well over a half century.

M's First Grade desk, in what was once my Second Grade classroom.

C's cubby, outside of her Pre-K classroom, which had been my Kindergarten Classroom.

And look who we bumped in to, while walking the halls!