Fashion Friday

Here it is New Year's Eve of 2011 and what to do for Fashion Friday!  I was looking through files on my computer and saw this picture of Ray and me when we were very, very young and before we were married.  I cannot even remember the reason for being all dressed up but I do know it was not a New Year's Eve.  However, it could have been!   Ray is wearing a gray pin striped suit with a double breasted jacket.  I think it may be the same suit he wore in an earlier picture of us at a dance we went to in Galesburg, Illinois, at the branch of the University of Illinois where Desi Arnaz' orchestra played.  Carol wears an off the shoulder long gown that I believe was an iridescent dark red with a corsage of gardenias at her waist.  She carried a small purse.  This was taken probably in 1948 or 1949, many moons ago.  (Click to enlarge)

Sherry and Barclay's Gift to All

This would be my favorite gift this Christmas.  Sherry talked about working on her "project" for quite a few weeks and I had no idea what it could have been.  This was the result - a lovely picture album she put together on Snapfish.  One was made for each of us - the three girls, Bill and Ann, and me.  There are twenty pages of pictures taken over the years from their wedding in 1975 through the eventful 2010 that had Molly marrying Doug and Hannah going to the Peace Corps.

 

Adding to this very special gift was the poetry written by Barclay which is his specialty at each gathering and which is used as their Christmas card each year.  Their friends and relatives look forward to Barc's annual poem. The picture above is on the last page and is the one taken when we all went to Portland for Barclay's 60th birthday in 2009.   I must admit that this gift brought tears to my eyes.  It is beautiful.   Good job, Sherry Kay!   (Click to enlarge)

Back Home Again

I am back from a lovely Christmas with my family in Chicago hosted by my oldest granddaughter and her husband, Norah and Chad.  The trips down and back were just great - good roads and not a lot of traffic.  What a difference in weather from the east coast.  There was a lot of snow fall in Chicago over the time we were there, but going and coming was not affected.  In the picture above of the kid's beautiful tree, you can see the snow through the window of their condo.

The entire family, of course, was not present at least in person.  Here we are all sitting around talking to Hannah in Africa.  We talked to her three times over the holiday and she sounds just wonderful.  She was with some of her Peace Corps friends and had had vegetable lasagna for dinner.  There was also pheasant but she is vegetarian so didn't partake of that.  And she said it was very, very hot there.  She has so much to tell us and it is so sweet to listen to her.  Also there were Molly and Doug, the newlyweds from Portland.   And Bill and Ann from Kansas City completed the family circle. 

A few of the Christmas things - first above is a Christmas dog in her Santa suit.  Her name is Lacey.

Some Christmas cookies - Norah and Molly made and decorated them.  The grocery store was out of regular food coloring so they bought neon.  Don'e they look cool?  And they tasted just great.

The Christmas puzzle - worked on mainly by Sherry and Molly with an occasional piece found by me.

Some darling mittens that look like sock monkey hand puppets that Molly got.  I'm not sure who gave them to her - maybe Ann.

A card I made for each of the four couples using a picture taken in 1957 of Sherry and Bill on Santa's lap in the Block and Kuhl department store in Peoria.  I found the cute little snowmen half price in the scrapbook section at Michael's.  Thought they turned out kind of cute.  In another post, I will show you the "project" that Sherry worked on for Christmas for each of us.  It is wonderful.  Hope you all had a happy Christmas!  (Click to enlarge) 

Fashion Friday

On this Christmas Eve, 2010, our model for the day is Bill when he was a student at KU in Lawrence, KS.  He is looking very spiffy in a plaid hip length coat with a fuzzy collar and I am sure he wears jeans.  Completing his outfit is a western hat that was most likely a Christmas gift (I probably bought it for him) and he seems to be well pleased with his new outfit.   I am getting such a kick out of this picture!  And, also, if you look to his left, there is that little doll that I just posted a picture of the other day.  This photo would have been taken some time in the early to mid 70's.  I will try using the post options and have it appear on Christmas Eve, which is almost a week away from right now.  Hope it works!  (Click to enlarge)

Bringing Christmas Wishes

We will be in the morning to go to Chicago for Christmas at the home of my oldest granddaughter and her husband.  All will be there except our Peace Corps volunteer and we will hopefully get to talk to her Christmas Day.  Her mom heard from her yesterday after quite a spell and all is going well.  She is in the city where she will be spending Christmas with her PC friends.  I just wanted to put up a wish to all of you who read my blog and who I look in on, also, for a Merry, Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy 2011 coming up.  This blogging is a joy and getting to know people from all over is such fun.  Take good care of you and God bless.

I have prepared a Fashion Friday and think I have it set to post automatically - it's kind of a cute one so I hope it shows up. 

Like Soup?

In an earlier post, I mentioned going to a mini retreat at Linda's (which was a really great time).  Everyone brought some food along for breakfasts and lunches - we went out to some fun places for dinners.  Linda made a couple of "batches" of really good soup.   I had a bowl of this cheesy soup and loved it.  She had already printed out some recipes so I took one.  Super easy prep - not a lot of the usual slicing, dicing, peeling, just open cans and a plastic bag.   You do have to chunk up the cheese and I did cook chicken breasts, but think  leftover turkey!  I made some last week and shared it with my daughter and her DH.  Yummy!  At lunch the other day with some of the girls, I mentioned I had made it.  Someone else had made it also and just left out the chicken and it was still good.

Linda's Cheesy Chicken Soup
4 cups cooked chicken breast (could use leftover turkey)
3 1/2 cups water (or you could use canned chicken broth)
1 can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 can cream of celery, undiluted
1 pkg (16 ounces) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
2 cans (14 1/2 oz.) potatoes, drained and cut in smallish pieces
1 pkg. (16 oz.) Velveeta, cubed

In a heavy pan or Dutch oven, combine the first five ingredients. Bring to boil. Reduce the heat: cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in the cheese just until melted (do not boil).
Yield: 7 servings
(I cooked my chicken breasts with some celery and onions and used the stock in place of the water called for)

The reason I took a picture is to send it to my son for a project he has developed that uses exchanges of recipes for donations to charitable organizations - sort of like an organizational cookbook on line.  Very smart idea and he is honing the final results. 

Enjoy the soup!

The Three of Them

Here's a cute picture of the three girls some years ago.  I can't pinpoint the exact year, but I think Norah may still have been in high school and Molly in junior high with Hannah maybe in kindergarten.  This was back in the days when all three had bangs.  My, how everything has changed since then.  We will all be at Norah's home this Christmas - except for our Peace Corps volunteer.  We are hoping and praying she has some good friends to spend Christmas Day with and we think we will be able to talk to her on the phone.
(Click to enlarge)

Beautiful Tag

Julie  and I are continuing to trade something each month and now it is in the form of a vintage tag.  I posted the one I did for her earlier this month.  The other night at the quilt guild dinner, we exchanged tags and this is the one she had for me.  It is gorgeous.  She is taking some online classes and is learning her leassons well.  There is a piece of an old wedding gown in this and also some vintage sheet music.  Julie loves thrifting and makes some nice finds every once in a while.  Click on her name at the start of this post and you can check out her pretty art and also some very nice pictures that she takes.  (Click to enlarge)

Fashion Friday

On a snowy day in Chicago, here are Norah and Chad, my granddaughter and her husband, and Ann, my daughter-in-law, out for a walk in the snow on Bill's (my son) birthday.  Norah wears a pretty maroon wool coat and cute little knit hat while Chad is sporting a good looking dark jacket and matching knit hat.  Ann is looking very chic in her double breasted black coat and really cool  red hat.  Bill is taking the picture, of course.   A good looking trio!  (Click to enlarge)

Old Christmas Cards

When we were living in Topeka, Kansas, in the 1960's, there were several years when we made our own Christmas cards.  Ray did some photography and would take "portraits" of us - some of which are pretty funny.  Anyway, this is one we sent in 1965.  I am sure that he did the drawing of the train and I know he did the lettering.

Here is another card that was done a year or two earlier.  This time someone cut out some snowflakes - and I can't remember how the lettering was done.  Maybe they were stencilled.   After the mockup of the card was done, he photographed it and printed them out.  Now it's a snap with the computer, printer and scanner.  I so love doing that sort of thing.  (Click to enlarge)

A Wonderful Vintage Chrismas Site

I stumbled upon a really cool Christmas website with wonderful old pictures.  I did a post on my Pieces of the Past but thought I would put one here, also.  This picture is from 1925, I think.  Enlarge it, please, to see all the wonderful people.   Santa is rather grungy, but looks real.  The caption spoke of some of children looking as if they had dirty faces, but noted that they had chapped cheeks which was a common problem then.  I remember having chapped legs when the lining of my "snowpants" tore and the wet wool would rub your inner leg.  That was an ouchey!  Try going to http://www.papatedsplace.com/Christmas1920s.html  and checking out all the fun different sections.  You will find Christmases in the 20's, 30's, WWII, and more.  Scroll to the bottom of the section you are in and you will find links to the home page, table of contents, etc.   If you have a minute, I think you would enjoy this.

Three Small Finishes

Here is Sven, the little wallhanging I did a week or so ago and it's all done.  He's a cute little fellow and he has two brothers, but they are not quite finished - almost.

The crooked little tree is now all done with a star and some little red ornaments.

And here is my tag for December that will be traded for one from Julie which you can check out by clicking on her name.  She has some other fun pictures on her post.  (Click to enlarge)

A Great New Book

At Joann's again with a new coupon - stop and look at the books, naturally!  They have them in two different areas now - one over by the fabric and strictly quilt books and another elsewhere that features everything, along with quilting.  You can find knitting, crochet, scrapbooking, art quilts, etc., in that section.  There are a lot of them and some really good books, but it was so hard to look through them.  One section was entirely topsy-turvy with books standing, leaning against each other and in danger of falling when you pulled one out.  You also needed to cock your head to one side to try to read up the spine of the books.  Not too long ago, someone did a great job in getting it all together and now it is fairly easy to see what they have.  With the 40% off coupon, you can save a lot of money.  Of course, I am in danger of going broke sometime from all the money I have saved.   So I spotted the above book and leafed through it.

All of the little quilts are 16 x 24 so a great size for a wallhanging and for trying out many different layouts.  I can hardly wait to try some of these.   I can see them in brights, pastels, batiks, reproduction fabrics, there is no end.  And how easy they will be to quilt!

I think this one is so cute.  The little square in the squares could be paper pieced very easily.  I am calling this another Christmas present from myself to me.  Merry Christmas, Carol!  (Click to enlarge)

Fashion Friday

Modeling for us today is our pretty daughter, Sherry Kay, standing in front of our artificial Christmas tree.  The year would have been probably 1967 or 68 and Sherry would have been either a junior or senior at Topeka High.  She is wearing a very pretty cream woolen dress trimmed in lace - said lace is still in boxes of vintage trim, etc., that I have in the basement.   I think this was a purchased dress instead of one that I made, but I could be wrong.  She looked very stylish in her new frock.  Her hair is swept back and looks very cute and also shows off her pretty earrings  (Click to enlarge)

Little Santa Wallhanging

I like this little wallhanging that I did maybe ten years ago or so.  It actually was before raw edge fusing was popular and I just didn't stitch around the pieces knowing it would not get very much handling.  The beards and mustache are done with batting and the fur on the cap is from ultrasuede scraps.  As you can see, it was long before I was doing much machine quilting so there is only some stitching in the ditch.  (Click to enlarge)

A Long Ago Christmas Tree

I was so happy when my brother sent this picture some time ago - it is the living room of our grandparents' home in Peoria, Illinois, a long time before my siblings and I were ever in the picture.  I do remember the house very well and actually the piano and victrola!  The victrola was in the basement when I was a little kid and I can remember putting the record on the turntable, winding it up, and setting the needle to the record.  Back to the living room here,  they are decorated for Christmas and the gifts seem to be on the table in the middle of the room.  There also appears to be some filmy substance over the tree for snow.  Note the dog sleeping right by the table.  The little oval picture to the left of the window is identical to one (not the same one) that I have hanging in my living room - purchased it at an antique store.  The floor lamp is absolutely wonderful.  The first picture on the wall on left is one of my mother and I think the large picture of the lady is my grandmother's mother,  Annie Carroll.  I was actually named after Grandma Pearce's maiden name (only just Carol).  Mom wanted to call me Margaret, but grandma hated being called Maggie so it turned out to be Carol.  I remember so many things about my grandmother and just loved going to their house - it was almost like a second home.   They lived in that house forever. 

Here is a view of the piano in the living room.  I love the lacy covering over the top and all the family pictures displayed there.  There seemed to be plenty of up to date sheet music ready to be played.  I am not sure who played it - maybe my Aunt Nelle.  Also a nice plant on a stand to the right of the piano.  This picture was not taken at the same time as the first one, but thought it would be a nice addition to the post.   So here is another Christmas Piece of the Past for you.  (Click to enlarge)

From 1980

In 1980 when we lived in Overland Park in the KC area, there was a very nice little quilt shop in Ranchmart Shopping Center that was just a few blocks from our house.  One day when I was in there (and I went frequently) there was a Santa like this fellow and

his wife like this little old gal sitting on a chair in the shop.  I thought they were adorable.  Lo and behold, there was a

pattern for these darling little dolls which I immediately purchased.  I made three sets of them - and it took quite a while but it was worth it.  I did one for Sherry and one for Ann, my DIL.   Those two sets I did in a different plaid than mine but they were just as cute.  Sunday when I was at Sher's for dinner, her's were sitting on the bookshelf.  The face, legs and arms were doubleknit - remember that?  I misread the pattern and did the arms separately like the legs instead of in one long piece and tying it in the middle for hands.   However, it turned out just fine.  Can't believe I still have the pattern, but there it was in the drawer.  One of my favorite projects for Christmas.  (Click to enlarge)

Deck the Halls

 I have been putting up some Christmas things today and it's always fun to find the old decorations that have been used year after year after year.  This little girl goes way back to one of our first Christmases.  My Aunt Leah worked in Peoria at the Bergner's department store and she brought this little girl that had evidently been used in the store decorations.  Each year she comes out for Christmas to sit someplace and watch over things.

 These were also brought by Leah.  I think she purchased these.  In the top photo you can see that a boot was 79 cents and it had a Bergner's sticker on it.  It also looks like it was marked down to 25 cents.  These boots have been around forever, also.

Crafty Carol - I made these stockings sometime in the 50's when we lived in Iowa.  They are showing signs of stains now.  They were just for decorations and never held any treats - not that I can remember. 

A wreath I made after I got started quilting.  Fun to see what the fabric was like back then - all small prints but we thought it was wonderful.   Kind of a fun old decoration.  Will post a few more another time.  Best get back to cleaning up my mess - getting slower all the time!  (Click to enlarge)

Happy Birthday, Bill!!

Here is our three year old Billy Ray sharing some birthday cake with his Uncle Bud back in 1956. Bill turns 57 this year and Bud, my "kid" brother, will turn 78 on the 6th. Note the trumpet sitting right next to Bill - that was the favorite birthday present that year. We lived in a house right across the street from the side of the high school and the band would practice in the street in front of our house. This little fellow was super excited and would march up and down the living room "boom, boom, boom"!  He had great rythym and loved music.



Playing a tune for Grandma!




Big sister, Sherry, and Daddy, who is a real trumpet player, showing Billy the mute.  Looks like it even has a case.



Mommy lighting the three candles while Sherry looks on - the trumpet is beside the cake.  Great present!

So, Bill, I wish you a very happy birthday with many more on the horizon and send you much love along with these wishes. Again, I never would have taken you to the Used Boy Lot!!  Have a fun birthday weekend in Chicago - I will call you and I promise not to sing!

Also, to my brother on his 78th birthday on Monday, I send love and wishes for all good things! Will call you on your birthday, too!! (Click to enlarge)

Fashion Friday

I recently featured Barclay, my other son,on Fashion Friday - and now I have some pictures and can feature my other daughter, Ann.  Here is a happy, grinning cutie on her 8th birthday!  It is a month late for her birthday, but in time for the day before Bill's.  Ann is wearing a very pretty striped dress and holding what was probably her favorite birthday present - a Barbie doll.  She was and still is a big Barbie fan.  Her cake looks yummy!  And I am sure Ruby, her mom, the other mother for my son, Bill, made that for her.  I will be able to add more pictures of Ann  to Funoldhag and also to Pieces of the Past.  Keep watching!  (Click to enlarge)

Christmas Treasure

Debating this year how much to decorate - seems I do less each year but whatever I bring up from the basement has to be returned!  The last three years or so I have just put a swag of lights on my fireplace and decorated the mantel and that is cheery without too much putting things away in order to get my Christmas things out.  To add to the reasons not to go overboard is the fact that we will be going to Chicago to Norah and Chad's and be with all the family but our Hannah in Mozambique.  I have a skinny little tree entirely decorated and covered in plastic in the basement but I think it will stay there again this year.  If I yearn for a lighted tree, I will go down and plug it in!  Just kidding, of course.  However, one thing is certain, this beautiful crossstitch that my husband did lots of years ago will hang in the living room.  His stitches are incredibly small and just beautiful.  This is a piece to be treasured forever.  (Click to enlarge)

Christmas Clutter

Two more of Sven's brothers started - the eyes are just lying there and at least one still has the staple in it from being on the card. 

Trying to figure out some stockings - and I think I have  finally decided how to decorate them.  I love the fabric I bought at Joann's that has the "snow storm" on it.  Most likely I will do some snowmen and  ladies.  The bed in the room where I sew is a catchall for things that I am using.  How nice it would be to have some more space for spreading things out, but I have managed this far so will just forge ahead. 

A couple of table runners ready for quilting.  Hope to get them done tomorrow so I can take them to our sewing day and work on binding them.  (Click to enlarge)

Fashion Friday

This morning Fashion Friday features my son, daughter and me back in the mid to late 1960's when we lived in Topeka, Kansas.  Bill has finally grown taller than Sherry and is probably as tall as I am without my rather  high hair and probably heels.  Bill is clad in good looking trousers and jacket.  A wide belt with big buckle can be seen through his open jacket, and a white shirt and tie complete his look.   Carol wears a printed suit with a chiffon scarf tucked in at the neckline and big, white earrings.  (I look at these old pictures and wish I were in that shape again!)  Sherry looks sweet in her long sleeved dress with a high neckline and wide cuffs that have four or five buttons on each.  A pretty headband keeps her hair back.  We were most certainly on our way to church on a Sunday morning.  Where have the years gone?  (Click to enlarge)

Hoping you all had a very nice Thanksgiving.  Wanted to add to the post the fact that we talked to all three girls yesterday, Norah and Chad were on the way to KC, Molly and Doug in Portland and Hannah in Mozambique!  Last year we were all together in KC on the holiday so this year was very quiet but very nice nevertheless.  I was just so thrilled to hear how bubbly and enthusiastic Hannah is - she is so excited to get to her site.   Not a hint of discontent and so much anticipation of actually getting set up and settled in.  Music to the ears! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

The wild turkeys are back running around our neighborhood!  There is a woods at the end of our street and lots more woods down the street across from Dow headquarters so many critters live in the area.  I counted eight turkeys strolling back to the woods the other day.  One of their favorite places is beneath bird feeders that the residents of our condo complex have in their yards.  It is hilarious when they attempt to fly - they can't go very high at all, barely able to make it over the carports.  Although this is not a great picture, I thought it was one that fits in with the holiday tomorrow.  I wish you a happy day with lots of good fun with your family and friends and lots of good food to eat.  Enjoy!  (Click to enlarge)

Working on Some Small Christmas Projects

We have a new quilt shop in town - Park Bench - and it carries really nice lines of fabric.  It's spanking new and the shelves are pretty well filled up now.  It's a treat for the eyes gazing at the beautiful bolts all lined up along the walls and on tables in the center.  Not a huge shop, but one you will want to keep coming back to for your fabric fix.  They had a little holiday open house this past weekend.  I don't usually buy kits - but one of the girls at the retreat had a cute one she got there.  I found this guy, Sven,  there and

this crooked tree.  They are only six inches wide and about 19 inches long so they are fun and didn't take much time to fuse and applique.  Each of them has some buttons to be added and there is a little embroidery to do on Sven's stocking cap.  Will finish putting them together and do a little quilting and who knows what I will do with them.  I am sure there are members in my family that would not mind having them. 

I found the pdf for this on the web and I am putting it together.  It needs some stars and a kitty in the windows and some snowflakes falling around the house.  Will also put a narrow sashing and a border around it and then quilt it.  I have the two table runners ready to quilt, also, and I know there are two couples that would like to have stockings.  I have figured out a pattern for the stockings and will start on those soon. 

And I had a lovely surprise today.  The phone rang - and I heard this young lady say, "Grandma, this is Hannah!"   How wonderful to hear her voice  -  she sounded just like she was calling from Washington Street!  The box I had mailed weeks ago and one her sister, Molly, had sent her, had finally arrived.   Sherry had e-mailed me a little earlier that they had arrived.  She could not talk long but it was amazing to be speaking with her from clear across the world.  She sounds happy and bubbly just like always.  We will talk on Thanksgiving, too.  What a bright, bright spot in the day!  (Click to enlarge)