Merry Christmas!

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself...

~Norman Wesley Brooks, "Let Every Day Be Christmas," 1976

 

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Back in the olden days...

1926 - A photo of my Grandparents, Uncle and Mom as a baby.

I thought I'd share this little bit from my granddaughter, Lily, aged 6.

Her Mom (my daughter) calls me last night for my birthday.  She was telling me of their weekend of how they had visited a historical museum.  They enjoyed it.  Lily my granddaughter was full of questions.

My daughter saw her staring up a some photos very intrigued.  Lily turns to my daughter and asks....

"Did all people back in the old days have gray skin like that?"

LOL....My daughter explained that back then they had no colored film that that was just black and white film the photos were taken with.  Poor thing...I can just imagine how she thought everyone looked back then....with all that gray skin and all.. LOL  I'm still laughing every time I think of it. :)

Hope it brought a smile to your face too.  Have a great day. :)

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Good Sunday Morning! :)

Bill and I had drooled over these rolls Paula Dean was making on the FoodNetwork. I told him I would make them one day.  I've made these several times now.  Each and every time they turn out so good!  These rolls are sooooo rich and yummy!  A great tip to cut the log of dough for each cinnamon roll is to take a piece of thread, slide it under the log to where you want to cut, bring it up and criss-cross it over the top and pull....perfectly sliced rolls. :)

I hope your having a wonderful Labor Day Weekend.  We are having thunderstorms right now.  Something Upstate New York certainly didn't need after Irene rolled through here.

Join me? :)  Although you best hurry Bill is making quick work of these. ;)

Please excuse the slightly blurry photo.  I should of checked my shots before diving into my cinnamon roll and hazelnut coffee. ;)

Plates and cups from 222 Fifth, pattern Gabrielle.  I picked these up at TJMaxx for a song. :)  Metal and red stone napkin ring given to me by Bill's Mom before she passed.  I love the crocheted placemat!  I picked up a dozen of them on Ebay for $28 which I thought was a fantastic price.  I'd never have the patience to make one of them let alone twelve. ;)

The recipe can be found here: Paula's Cinnamon Rolls

Enjoying Summer

I hope you all are having a wonderful summer.  It has finally cooled off here.  Today there is such beautiful blue skies and the temps are just perfect.  Have a wonderful day!

"Then followed that beautiful season...Summer.... Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood."

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

An Estate Sale? *Perk*

I was in the middle of cleaning out kitchen cupboards today feeling very much like a hoarder as I looked around my kitchen disaster I had created.  How could just a couple emptied cupboards fill my kitchen? 

Well about this time Bill walked in on his lunch hour from work.  He expressed surprise that I was even at home and not at the Estate sale that was going on one street over, not even a 1/2 a block away! 

I looked at my mess in the kitchen that I had created thinking I reallllly didn't need to go to that Estate sale.   But did that stop me? Nope. ;)  Off I ran to throw on a set of clean clothes, fixed my hair, threw on some makeup and I was ready to run off to the sale. lol  

Whew it was HOT!!  In the 90's with high humidity.  It felt like I breathing in pudding just stepping out the door.  Once at the sale inside the house it felt even hotter.  The upstairs of the home was so hot!  There was not a lot of organization to the upstairs rooms.  There was only two rooms that looked to be storage areas.  I sorted through a couple boxes and with sweat dripping down my face I decided I had found all I was going to for the day.  Visions of this past Sunday and me having heat exhaustion kept flashing before me...and I really didn't want a repeat there.

So here are a few of my finds from today and a couple from a couple garage sales AND my find on the way home today.  I love a freebie curbside treasure. ;)

This little chair was so cute I couldn't leave it behind.  And for only $3 how could I? :)  It is a very solid heavy little child's chair.

 This is Coalport bone china.  Such a cute small display of flowers.

 I love love love this Denton China flower arrangement.  I have found several similar online but none that match this one with the tulips.

Fire King Glass Custard Dessert Cups

This was a grab bag box.  I had saw the two dogs on top.   There ended up being a few miniatures in it.  The shears actually open and close.  How cute. :)  In the front is a little brass tea pot w/removable lid.  Very cute little miniatures. :)

All in all I only spent $16 at the sale today and think I did very well.  Considering some of the prices I've seen online for the Denton china. :)

I purchased this sewing cabinet at a garage sale a couple weeks ago.  It folds together for easy storage.   I need to get it filled now.  I love the jars that I can put my buttons in. :)

I also picked up this footed basket.  I love it.  It had pink something all over the top of it.  It looked like maybe lipstick or something.  Magic sponge to the rescue.  Cleaned up that top right away.  The lady I bought this off of was a bit sad to see it go.  It was used for her daughter's first toy box.  They were both sitting on the steps saying goodbye to a memory.  The daughter looked to be around 16-17.  I love when I have a story behind the things I buy.

Now driving home from the Estate sale I spot this..........

 

Tires squeal to a stop... I back up...jump out...and find out this is one heavy.....chest. :)  I grunted and groaned and finally got it to where I could slide it into the back of my truck.  It prob is about 3' x 3' and heavy!   I was so tickled when I got it home and started opening the drawers.  Each drawer is divided off and several drawers are different.

I'm thinking maybe new storage for all my napkin rings and things I've collected for my table.  Or maybe something entirely different.  I'm not sure yet. :)  But I am sure of one thing....it's got to get a whole lot cooler out in that garage before I start any project. ;)

I hope you all have a cooooool weekend!!   :)

Can you help identify these chairs?

Hello all!  I hope your all staying cool.  It is unbelievable hot here this week.  Sunday I overdid it and suffered from heat exhaustion.  No fun!  I hope you all are smarter than me about staying hydrated and cool in this hot weather.  No more cutting down tree limbs etc until it cools down a bit. ;)

Now for my post title, "Can you help identify these chairs?"  My daughter bought a couple wicker chairs at a garage sale.  The lady had told her she believed them from around the 1920's.  My daughter had them stored in a friends building and was beginning to clean them up to give them a fresh coat of paint.  Unfortunately there was a fire there one night and burnt the place to the ground. Poof went her chairs.  :(  She is to put a price on the value of them for the insurance company.  I have looked all over for something similar to these and am coming up empty handed.  Soooooo I thought who better to ask than all of you!

These are the two chairs.  The white one is a rocker and the other a chair.  Do they ring a bell with any of you?  Thanks for looking.!!  :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Thank you!

 

To all the soldiers who have fought and continue to fight for our freedom.  

We remember and thank you!

Have a safe Memorial Weekend to all my family and friends!

How time flies......

 Calla Lilies

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted anything.  I've been out here reading and drooling over everyone's blog.  But not really anything of importance to post on mine.  I been busy getting the yard fixed up this Spring.  I swear there is never enough hours in the day.

We've got our vegetable garden planted. Yeah! :)  So far the squirrels or birds have feasted on almost every piece of corn that has come up.  They pull out the small green stalk and eat off the corn on the bottom and leave the stalk laying in the dirt.  We are trying using a garden mat of sorts to tent over them hoping they'll leave our garden alone.  Usually after things get a fairly good start they will leave things alone.

The flowers are for the most part all planted.  I'm saying for the most part as it never fails I go to the store for something and come home with more flowers. ;)  I'm loving the Calla Lilies that I picked up at WalMart this year.  With all the rain we've been having (so far it's rained for 6 days straight!) every this is doing great!  Including the grass.  I swear we mow it and the next day it looks like we never touched it.

I will try to post on a more regular basis...but I'm not guaranteeing anything.  I love being outside when it's nice out so a lot of my time will be spent away from the computer.  At night when I'm in I'm usually worn out.

I hope your all having a wonderful Spring!

An award...for me?

Was I surprised to discover this award or what!  It's been a bit hectic around here so this is the first I've had a real chance to get this typed out.  I was told to take my pick...Versatile or Stylish.  I chose the Versatile Award.  Yep...this is me versatile...I am all over the place! :D

ver·sa·tile
[vur-suh-tl or, especially Brit., -tahyl]

–adjective

 

" capable of or adapted for turning easily from one to another of various tasks, fields of endeavor, etc.: a versatile writer."

 

styl·ish/ˈstaɪlɪʃ/ Show Spelled[stahy-lish]  

–adjective

 

"characterized by or conforming to style or the fashionable standard; fashionably elegant; smart or chic: She wore a very stylish gown to the inaugural ball."

By accepting this reward I agreed to the following 4 rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.

I am honored to receive a Stylish Blogger Award from The cape on the Corner ! Thank you so very much!!

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

   ...oh where to begin ;)

   1. I am divorced mother of 3 grown daughters.  I have been with Mr. Touch of Nostalgia....Mr. Bill for almost 9 years now. :)

   2. I have 5 grandchildren (2 grandsons and 3 granddaughters) Ranging in age from 15 to 4.  Which makes me feel ancient actually writing that out. ;)

   3. I was born blonde, then as I grew older it darkened...so we fixed that...I am still blonde with a BUNCH of natural gray hairs. ;)

   4. I have lived in Upstate New York for going on 9 years.  I was born in Ohio, temporarily lived in Chicago in my youth until my Dad passed away and we moved back to Ohio.

   5. I love most anything old.  I love the feeling of holding something that has as story to tell.

   6. I love gardening.  Flower and vegetable.  I do not wear gloves when out digging in the dirt planting.  I love the feel of the warm dirt in my hands.

   7. I am still unsure of myself in this blogging world.  I suppose it will come in time.  So if you don't see me around it doesn't mean I'm not here, I am usually out here viewing my little heart out.  It just means that I'm not sure I have anything worthy of writing at the moment.  But I am here... ;)

3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.  For those I have given this award to please choose which award (Versatile or Stylish) that you think you are. :)

Wow there are so many and I am fairly new out here so most are new to me.   Please pay them a visit!

• A Fine Feathered Nest
• acorn hollow
• Ash Tree Cottage
• Blondie's Journal
• Bounty Huntress
• Cottage Cozy
• Discarded and Forlorn
• for the love of a house
• Forever Decorating!
• Gypsy Heart
• How to Live in 320 Square Feet
• I Need Mom!
• Izzy's Acres
• Pumpkin Pie Painter
• Thrifty Finds on Fairview Ave
• Tracy's Trinkets and Treasures

4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!

   

I'm off to let these bloggers know how wonderful I think their blogs are and to expect a visit from you! :)

Have a fantastic Sunday! :)

A Gotta Have.....

This little mischievous pooch was one of my gotta haves. ;)  It's a small picture (5 1/2" by 4 1/2").  It cost me an entire $2.14 on EBay.  I had ordered other things from this person and the shipping on all was greatly reduced so I'm sure I only paid a few cents on this for shipping.  Right now he sits propped on my desk making me smile every time I look at him.   He reminds me of our dog Fritz.  Not in looks but in actions.  The first day after we gave Fritz his forever home he goes and decides my new bathroom rugs would make a good snack.  Wrongo Fritz. ;)  He has been the perfect dog since then.  It was only a matter of telling him no.  He knows what's his and what's ours.  We couldn't ask for a better pooch.

My new picture....no sig on it and the back is covered with paper.  The photo looks to  have a dark area on the right hand side in the white....but that is due to the photographer ;) not the photo. :)

And our Fritz...do you see the resemblance? :)

Here are a couple more old pictures we picked up at an estate sale this summer for a $1 a piece.  They both have metal frames.  And once again...I know nothing about the history of them.  But I do know they have a good 'feel' about them. :)  Both pictures are small...neither being larger than 7".

This one is has glass on it.  I look in the picture...and can see myself in that cottage with the pup with NO snow on the ground! ;) 

This one has no glass.  I'm not sure if it's intentional or it was broke.  The picture has a 'soft' feel...like old paper.  I could see myself here too....sipping on a lemonade watching the sailboats.  Oh Spring...hurry up and get here! :)

I hope all of you have a warm weekend.  We have another winter storm watch up.......I am soooooo excited!  NOT!!! ;)

Enjoying the Snow.....

As long as I'm inside the house with a hot cup of coffee and a nice warm slice of cinnamon bread I'm a happy camper.

It's having to go out and shovel the mess that makes me remember that I'd really rather live in a warm climate. ;)

Anyone for a picnic?  Pick your drift and get comfy. ;)

 The swing looks to be available. ;)

There is one in this family that absolutely loves this weather......

Fritz....our pup ;)

Stay warm!!

I made Fritz Dog Boots!

This is from a few years back but still worthy of sharing with my friends here. :)   We adopted Fritz from Adirondack Save-A-Stray four years ago.  He is a rescue dog that came to NY from Puerto Rico.  He is the best pal we could of asked for.  He knows what's 'his' in the house and what not to touch of ours.  If it's not given to him it's not his and he won't touch it. 

Fritz loves the snow but his poor paws get so cold when walking in the snow we get here in Upstate New York.  It's either the cold or the salt they put on the roads that make his paws hurt.  He will hold a paw up and refuse to walk.  So I had the bright idea of making him boots. ;)

This story starts out in January of 2009.  The day started out with me finishing Fritz's snow boots.  I had bought the materials a while back and had started working on them.  I thought they turned out good compared to all the different boots I had searched out online.  That and I have never made a dog boot before..lol 

Back Side of Boots:

Front of Boots:

Needless to say Fritz was not amused with them.  I thought they looked adorable on him...but Fritz had other thoughts.  If looks could kill...lol

 

I had to force him to walk with them on.  He actually did okay with them.  They have as you can see in the pictures white grip pads which kept him from slipping around.

We went outside.

And that's where all went wrong.  I took him to the backyard and put him on his run.  He just stood there. He was probably so embarrassed that one of his dog friends might SEE him with those 'things' on his paws..lol   So I decided just to walk him about the yard on his leash until he was comfortable with them.  He was doing good and then I decided it was time to go back in the house.

Well Fritz had other plans and jerked his head and slipped out of his collar and took off running......down the street.  Flipping off his boots as he ran.  Well I was right behind him running.  After about a mile I couldn't run any more. (It was below zero that day)  He thought it was this big game.  He'd run about a block and wait until I could catch up a bit and then take off like a bat out of hell.  I thought I was never going to catch him.  We ran/walked for miles.  I had people coming out of their houses with treats (which being a picky dog Fritz ran away from them refusing their treats).  I had this guy walking his Golden Lab trying to help.  He tried for the longest time to help me get Fritz.  Fritz would run up and see the dog until we bent to grab him...then he' run off.  Ahhh the fun he was having! ;)

Bill had been at home the entire time I was doing all this.  He had no clue what was going on.  He finally noticed I was gone and my camera was sitting on the truck as I had tossed it up there when Fritz took off.  He took off in the car looking for us.  As soon as he saw us he drove up opened up the door beside Fritz and jumped out and grabbed him.  I couldn't believe it...he didn't run from him.  He thought I was just playing a game! grrrrr ;)  My lungs felt like fire...breathing in all that cold air.

When we got back home I only had one boot left in my pocket! :(  We drove around looking for them.  We found 3 total.  1 was still missing.  I think these teens that were walking by may have picked one up.  We looked and looked and it was no where in site. :(

Speed ahead to this winter (2011) Yes it took me until this year to decide to try them again..lol   I had used one of my jar openers for the first four so I had to scrounge around for another jar opener.   I had used the opener for the grippies on the bottom of each boot.  With another opener found I made him a new boot.  He's done well with his boots this year.  No running away from me.  Although that nightmare fills my mind every time I have him out for a walk with his boots on. ;) 

 ~~~~~~~~~~

I found the idea to make these boots at the link below.  I used her general idea and changed it up a bit.  (higher boot, double elastic and added a warm lining)  You'll find the pattern here:

http://domestikgoddess.com/sew-your-own-winter-dog-boots/comment-page-2/#comment-6102

 ~~~~~~~~~~

I am joining Debbiedoos' Pet Partay!

Spring.....

Hurry up and get here!  It's cold here today!  It's 6 out now and they are calling for it to get -15 tonight with wind chills around -25.  I'm tired of this winter.  Snow...cold...snow...cold...the weatherman sounds like a broken record. ;)

Have a 'warm' weekend my blog friends. :)

Tea anyone?

I thought I'd share my newest EBay purchase.  I'm just loving it.  I'm not sure where I'm going with it to, but I knew it would be mine when I saw it while checking out EBay a couple weeks ago. :)  I've been trying to locate where it comes from. I'm sure it must be Italian made as it's signed Italia.  But then I could be wrong.  I've been known to be now and then. Just don't let Bill know I said that. lol  It looks to have a rooster drawing beside the Italia on the bottom.  I've never come across anything like it.   It has it's love spots but that's what makes it charming. :) If anyone could shed some light on who it might be by I'd appreciate it. :)

The bottom side...

Looking down on the top...

The backside.  Don't you just love the handle.  It's what made me fall in love with this teapot.

The front view...

And finally the side view...

Have a wonderful upcoming Friday and weekend!  We're in for more snow tomorrow. *sigh*

I'm linking to:

A LA CARTE - JUNKIN FINDS FRIDAY #12

I'm feeling blue....

Well at least my china cabinet is. ;)  I finally pulled out all of my Christmas pretties out of my cabinet.  It was the last to go.  I really do not have enough Valentine's Day decorations to fill the cabinet. I also wasn't looking forward to having to change it out again so soon.  So blue it was.  This should carry me through for a while.

Here are a couple snaps of my china cabinet filled and feeling blue. ;)  These are all pieces collected from my Mom, Bill's Mom, estate sales and the like.  Sorry for the glare.  The sun is hiding today but it sure was bright coming in the windows.

 I hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday! :)

~ ~ Kim


I'm linking up with:

Feather Your Nest Friday at French Country Cottage