Posting the Season

One last holiday post. I didn't want to let the season close without sharing this to keep in your memory bank for next year. Those of you who saw my "White Tree" a few posts back, know that I love using vintage postcards on the tree.

But I have too many, so I use them elsewhere, too! Here is my postcard wreath.

When I was going through the cards to find Christmas and Thanksgiving cards this season, I found a gem (not pictured.)

It was one addressed to my grandmother from my grandfather and posted on my birthdate seven years before my mother was born!

Unlike the card I wrote about here, found at an antique book fair and written by my grandmother to my former babysitter and showing our family cottage at the lake (sort of -- it's lost in the trees!), I have no recollection of buying this one or knowing I even had it.

In fact, Rick was the one who found it, struggling to read the street address on the back. When he passed it off to me to try, I realized it was the home where my mom was born!

It was a real gift!

The countdown to Christmas continues all over the world. From where I sit, it's about 357 days away!

And here is a little parting bling because I couldn't resist!
Ornaments in a silver tray (Gorham, a flea find for $1.60!)

Ornaments and crystals angling from the chandelier.

One of the tiny trees I made (thanking Karla for the wonderful idea!)

Silver bird, tinsel and glass balls in one of mom's cut glass bowls.

Another Margaret Furlong ornament with a sparkly tree.

(If you want to download any of the postcard images for your own projects, just click on them!)

If you missed them....Other Christmas posts from 2013!

• Tea with friends, meeting Santa, the Cat Tree, Dad's Tree and Lizzie 
• Power to the People: Christmas during an ice storm and power failure!
• "A Visit to the Giant Gingerman" -- a Story about the ornaments on my "Mom" tree
• Autobiography in Faux Fir -- a Look at the Big Christmas Tree
•  Angels we Have Heard on High -- The "Angel" Tree
• O Tannenbaum (Farms) -- Getting the tree with our friends from Japan
• On the Shelves -- Christmas is everywhere, even the shelves!
• Let the Spirit Begin -- A visit to the greens market and my favorite holiday store! 

 
Happy to join Beverly at Pink Saturday with this final Christmas post!  Check out others HERE.

Something Vintage – Or: Mastering the Science of Right Living

It started out as another morning run to the farmer’s market – this time for peaches.

The sunflowers were amazing and so, too, were the other veggies. It was attracting quite a crowd.

But the big crowd pleaser was the annual vintage car ride, going north on Old 27 from Coldwater in the south to Cheboygan on the northern coast, bordering Lake Michigan.

It was the route we all used to travel, long before expressways. It was the route I remembered my parents taking north when I was just a little kid.

As they parked in the reserved spots on Main Street, it looked like a step back in time.

I couldn’t help admiring some with my favorite blue…

…and a brilliant yellow.

Of course, there were lots of people looking…

…and the drivers made it quite convenient!

All of the cars were in terrific shape, and it was great fun to see them on parade.

In an effort to avoid the traffic, I decided to take the back roads through town and saw a sign for an estate sale. Everything was half-off or fill a bag for five dollars. When one of the first thing I spotted was these, I knew it was going to be very, very good!

It’s amazing how much stuff you can stuff into a plastic grocery bag, like all of these books, some music, some poetry – all for ripping up and gluing to something else! (Although I think I’ll hold onto the 1932 World Book annual, which with its pre-war era is quite fascinating.)

I loved this “diorama” picture – I have a couple and remember making up stories about them as a kid. This one was in great shape.

A few cat baubles – and someone’s Santa pic in a pretty paper frame.

Bottle brush trees – a couple were old; most not, but they’ll be fine for bleaching!

Vintage linens – two pairs of pillowcases and three tablecloths – two are here…

…and here is the other.

This one is large and has a wonderful berry border.

I manage to squeeze the cute little kitty dresser scarf in, too!

And these three pink glass pieces – two are depression glass, the other I just liked!

And here are those paper dolls again, with their already-cut wardrobe (thank you!)

I loved how each one was named. Sometimes twice!

And if you wonder how those peaches looked in that dish – well, I think they were great!

If that wasn’t a good enough day, there was art time. I painted some of my paper clay embellishments…

…and finished up a half-done piece I’m still not sure I’m satisfied with, but it’s better.

Lizzie Cosette lapped up trying to escape from the porch…

…and the nights had glorious sunsets.

I would say that with out a doubt, at least at this time, on this day, I am the…  well, I’ll let the book title speak for itself.

Now if only Labor Day is as lovely! I'm off now!

Enjoy!