Idyllhours

"Nothin' Says Lovin"...

2012-02-08T08:23:00.004-07:00

"Like somethin' from the oven"... I love to bake from scratch... that way, I know that what we eat is healthy and good for us... no yucky preservatives or chemicals... no icky additives or artificial anything that you can't even pronounce the names of... plus, homebaked just tastes sooo much better too!...

I always grab my favorite apron... a vintage Layton Sugar Company sugar sack turned into a beautiful apron by my friend Kelly at Farmstead Lifestyle I ordered last year... Kelly bought the old, old sacks at a flea market back east some years ago where she lives and decided they would make cute aprons... when I saw it on her blog, I had to have one, as the old Layton Sugar Company was just a mere ten minutes drive to the north of me... I did some research for Kelly about the company and it turns out the sugar beet seeds and heavy equipment arrived by riverboat in Leavenworth, Kansas... the same little town she had a cafe in at the time, then carried by 52 ox teams across the plains to Utah... I love what Kelly had to say about this, that my little sugar sack, now a beautiful apron, had come full circle!... below is a photo of the old sugar company circa 1936... so sad, no longer standing... (photo graciously sent to me by the Utah State Historical Society)...

Just like most everything else I love, I cherish my old family cookbooks...

The one I reach for most often is the very same one my mama did her entire life, the old blue "Joy of Cooking"... I have the newer versions as well... but my heart always leads me to the old tattered one... the one with little notes handwritten in it here and there... and pages stained with perchance a drop of vanilla or a bit of butter many many years ago... making it all the more priceless to me...

Today, I am baking my favorite muffins, plain and simple but oh!... so delicious!... especially with some Prairie honey on them, or my homemade black raspberry jam from last Summer... there are many variations you can make from the basic recipe, but today the rich goodness of a plain muffin sounds delightful... my favorite vintage muffin tin and I am ready to go!...

Here's the recipe exactly as it was written so many years ago:

Sift before measuring:
2 cups cake flour or 1 3/4 cups bread flour
Resift with:
3/4 teaspoon tartrate or phosphate baking powder
Beat in a separate bowl:
2 eggs
Combine and add:
2 tablespoons melted butter
3/4 cup milk

Stir the liquid quickly into the dry ingredients, taking only 15 to 20 seconds in which to do it. Make no attempt to stir or beat out the lumps. Ignore them. Unnecessary handling of the batter results in tough muffins. Pour the batter at once into greased tins or paper baking cups. Fill them to about 1/3 full. Bake the muffins from 15 to 20 minutes in a hot oven 425 degrees. Remove them at once from the tins. Makes about 24 two inch muffins.

Now, go bake some lovin' from the oven and have a most beautiful day!... xoxo...

Are You Confused About What Steps to Take With Your Followers???...

2012-02-07T13:20:00.007-07:00

There is sooo much confusion and mis~information out there about Blogger Followers going away... it is NOT... please visit my previous post and wish sweet Tessy a Happy Birthday today, and I have also attached some info right from Blogger regarding the changes...

I think it will clear things up... also, I have attached "Linky" on my sidebar for those who do not use Blogger, ie, Typepad, etc, to follow me on... it seems to be the easiest, simplest and most user~friendly... and you don't have to lose your Blogger Followers by adding Linky... you can follow through both... it also does not post your personal info all over the blogosphere...where you will if you change to Google+ ...the previous post pretty much answers all questions... xoxo...

Happy Birthday Tessy!... and Blogger Followers is NOT Going Away!...

2012-02-07T07:29:00.005-07:00

Looking for unconditional love?... give a homeless animal a wonderful forever home... yours...

A year ago Tessy found out what the good life is all about... and so did we... it was then her life truly began... Happy Birthday precious little girl!... we love you!... doggie kisses...

Also, due to sooo much confusion out there, I am also attaching some info I copied right from Bloggers own site... hopefully this will answer some of your questions about switching to Google+. I don't like the whole idea of Google+ as I do not want to be connected to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or any of the other places it will connect you. Also, Blogger Followers is NOT going away if you use Blogger. I have added "Linky" for those who wish to follow me and are not on Blogger, ie, TypePad, etc. Hope this helps!

How do I switch to a Google+ profile?

If you already have a public Google+ profile, you can click the gear icon at the top of your Dashboard and select "Connect to Google+," or visit this link to start the switching process.

Why would I want to switch to a Google+ profile?

Linking your blogs to your Google+ profile is a way to maintain one identity across the web, and you’ll have one less profile to manage and update. On your Google+ profile, you can link to your other online content in addition to blogs, which makes it easier for others to discover what you’ve produced on the web.

Keep in mind that this switch is completely optional - it’s perfectly okay to continue using your Blogger profile on your Blogger blogs. This option is only for those who feel comfortable associating their Google+ profile with their blogs.

What happens when I switch to a Google+ profile?

Information on your blog previously based on your Blogger profile, such as your display name and your photo, will reflect the information from your Google+ profile.

In places where your display name appears, your name on Google+ profile will begin to appear once you’ve made the switch. However, any comments you’ve made before the switch will continue to show your Blogger display name. All instances of your name on feeds, your Blogger profile gadget, new comments, and instances of your Blogger display name on past comments will link to your Google+ Profile.

How will I control my Google+ profile privacy settings?

You control your profile privacy settings and make all edits through Google+, and its settings will override any profile preferences made in Blogger before switching.

Although you can set various privacy settings for specific fields of information, your real name and photo (should you choose to upload one) will be publicly available on Google+. If you blog under a pseudonym and do not want your blog to be associated with your real name, you should not migrate from a Blogger profile to a Google+ profile.

Is associating my blog with my real name mandatory?

No, associating your blog with your real name is not mandatory. The option to link the two should only be done by those who want to associate their real-world identity with their blogs.

Can I use a different Google+ profile for different blogs?

Just as you only had one Blogger profile for all your blogs, you can only have one Google+ profile for them. This remains consistent with the purpose of Google+, which is to help you keep one identity across the web. However, if you have more than one Google Account, you can move a blog between accounts.

When I switch to a Google+ profile, what happens to my Blogger profile?

Your Blogger profile will become unavailable for visitors, and everyone will be redirected to your Google+ profile.

I have lots of information on my Blogger profile. Will those be added onto my Google+ profile automatically?

Information won’t be transferred automatically. You choose what you’d like to move over to your new Google+ profile.

Which blogs will this switch affect?

The profile switch will affect all blogs you can contribute to, including multiple-author blogs. To see all the blogs affected, check the list on your dashboard, making sure to include any blogs that may be hidden by clicking “Show all.”

If I switch to a Google+ profile and change my mind, can I switch back?

Yes, you can always revert to your Blogger profile. However, all the changes that you made to your Google+ profile won’t transfer over to your Blogger profile.

updated 12/12/2011

Blogger's on Google+. Circle our Page for the latest Blogger news and tips.

Blogger - Contacting Us - Help with ot

Planting a Flower~Fairy Garden...

2012-02-04T16:49:00.010-07:00

Wherever I have lived, I have always had a fairy garden... even as a little girl, my sister and I knew without a doubt that the flower~fairies dwelt amidst mama's gardens, frolicking beneath the roses and snapdragons... and dancing amongst the larkspurs and delphiniums... mama believed they did too... and planted special flowers just for them... I always love planning what I want to add to my own fairy garden each Spring...

"A dream is a wish your heart makes"... I shall dream of the flower~fairies as I post in my garden journal my wish~list of flowers I will plant this Spring... especially for them... I post often about the flower~fairies... if you wish to be spirited away to those posts, just enter "flower fairies" in the search box on the top of my blog... and they will take you there...

The word fairy is derived from the old French word "faie" which described the folklore and romance of these wee folk... it is also spelled "faerie" or "feerie", but I have always spelled it "fairy" as Cicely Mary Barker did, who I have found to be the ultimate authority on flower~fairies... The flower~fairies are elusive little creatures... and they love to tease!... oft times, you will find a special little treasure they have left for you... a token of their affection... today, I received just such a treasure... a beautiful flower~fairy, made especially for me by my dear friend Dawn... and surely spirited here to me by the flower~fairies themselves... Merci Dawn!... and you too precious little flower~fairies!...

My home is filled with the enchantment as well... I collect books about these adorable little sprites... many of which were written by Cicely Mary Barker, my favorite...

How fun to read the beautiful stories and poems she wrote so very long ago... to know what flowers are their favorites, and the meanings behind them...
Planting a fairy garden is really quite simple... there is just one thing you simply must do...

Remember, you do not need to see them to believe in them... you need to BELIEVE in them to see them... I believe... do you?... xoxo...

"Where are the fairies?
Where can we find them?
We've seen the fairy~rings
They leave behind them!

When they have danced all night,
Where do they go?
Lark, in the sky above,
Say, do you know?

Is it a secret
No one is telling?
Why, in your garden
Surely they're dwelling!

No need for journeying,
Seeking afar,
Where there are flowers,
There fairies are!" ~Cicely Mary Barker

Seasons...

2012-02-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

Soon my favorite barn down the lane and around the bend will go from looking like this...

To this...

As Spring approaches our beautiful countryside and Mother Nature paints the landscape in the freshness of the earths renewal... I can hardly wait!... xoxo...

My Calling in Life...

2012-02-02T18:40:00.004-07:00

In less than a week, it will have been one whole year since our precious Tessy came into our lives... lost and abandoned, running the streets... I truly believe she was Heaven sent... meant to find us... and her forever home... we celebrate that day as her birthday and she can't wait for her party next week!... today on our Nature walk, Jack and I found another little soul... lost... running the streets... almost getting hit... it took alot of coaxing, but he finally came to me... I held onto him tight and hugged him... talking to him quietly and reassuringly... I told him I would let no harm come to him... I have no fear of animals of any kind...and will do whatever it takes to rescue them... I do believe I have a way with them... a very wise man once told me animals and Nature love me... the feeling is mutual... I have rescued literally hundreds of God's precious little creatures throughout my life... dogs, cats, birds, squirrels... even a coyote one time... no brag, just fact... in just a few minutes, this little guy and I had bonded and he put his trust in me... I gently stroked his head until he let me look at the tags on his collar... thank goodness there was a phone number!... I excitedly called the number but no answer... you can guess where the story goes from there... me, Jack and "Bones" began walking back to my home... a feeling of deja vu came over me... was "Bones" meant to find us... like Tessy did?... I always want to find the owners... unless they are jerks like Tessy's were and don't pass my interrogation process... then I don't give them back... my cell phone rang... when I answered a breathless woman at the other end asked if I had just called her... yes I told her... and asked if she was missing her dog... she was frantic and had been looking for him for hours... he had escaped from her backyard where a portion of fence had fallen down... I told her we would wait right where we were, and she arrived quickly... Bones jumped up and down in excitement when he saw her... no need for interrogation this time... her love for him was obvious... and she was in tears... I will sleep well tonight knowing Bones will too... Tessy "almost" had a brother... is that a face you just want to kiss???... (Bones, not mine!... and Bones' head is not really that big (and neither is mine)... it's a funny angle Jack took the photo from as I was crouching down with this sweet pup)...

After Bones left with his mama. "Charlie" the kitty came running over to see us... we call Charlie a "time~share" cat, as he actually has a home, but spends alot of his time inside another house with the neighbors close to his own... Charlie was lost and abandoned once as well... down in the fields on a trail by some train tracks, hungry and skinny and scared... until the nice lady who he owns now found him on her walk on that trail and took him home... we chat with her often... she has two other "saves" as well... I love people who rescue animals...

And I love stories that end "and they all lived happily ever after"... don't you?... xoxo...

Early Morning in the Country...

2012-01-29T15:55:00.007-07:00

I love my little rural town, a small strip of land nestled between our beautiful mountains to the east and the Great Salt Lake to the west, and cannot imagine living anywhere else... bright lights and big cities are just not my thing... I always get up early... mornings are my favorite time of the day... I throw on my favorite jeans and a flannel shirt, as the weather is still quite cold today... I put Tessy's fleece on her and we head for the trail... she is as anxious as I am to see what is happening outside in the early morning dawn... as we head down the trail, Tessy points out five beautiful deer heading back towards the old farm down the lane... they glance back and eye us cautiously as I softly call out good morning to them... they sense I would never harm them... I love all of God's precious little creatures and I know they can tell that... they saunter slowly back into the field... it is still too dark to take their picture and a flash might startle them... so I put my camera back into my pocket... somewhere close by, we hear the hooting of an owl... a neighbor around the bend has built a beautiful owl box in his largest tree for them... perhaps they are just settling in from being out all night... I love the sounds of Nature...

Tessy and I head back home and once inside, I remember there is one piece of apple pie left in the fridge... hmmm... Jack is still asleep... around here, it is every man, woman and child (or dog) for themselves when it comes to the last piece of my homemade apple pie... I decide to go for it and make myself a cup of coffee... it tastes sooo yummy... I do make a delicious apple pie if I say so myself... I think even Aunt Bea in Mayberry would be proud of me!... Tessy decides to go back to sleep, so I am left alone in my early morning solitude... I write in my Nature journal about the deer... I keep many journals... one for Nature, a garden journal and a journal journal (besides my blog)... I update my wish list in my garden journal for plants I want to buy this year for my cottage garden... I am anxious for Spring... the sun is just starting to come up above the crest of our gorgeous mountains just to the east of us... it promises to be a beautiful day today despite the fact that it is still cold... I linger over my coffee a while longer (the pie is long gone now)... and daydream a bit... of Spring and all of the pleasures it brings to my little countryside I call home... soon, my windows shall be open all night... and I will listen to the chorus of crickets outside our bedroom window... and the nightly song of the bullfrogs in the pond down the lane... the not too distant whistle of a train as it makes its way through the farmland to the west along the shores of the Great Salt Lake... soon the fields of brown will turn to green as the earth renews itself... and I do too... now, it is time to start my chores for the day... better wash that pie plate and put it away first thing!...(can't let Jack find any evidence of my early morning raid, you know)... wishing you a beautiful, peaceful day wherever you call home... xoxo...

"When Lilacs Bloom"...

2012-01-27T09:19:00.009-07:00

With my thoughts filled of nothing but the coming of Spring, I picture in my mind my special, secret little place I visit often... come May, the most beautiful lilacs bloom there as well as my cherished red roses that clambor up the little old abandoned building I love so... last August I was most honored to have my lilac photo, below, and a little story Jo~Anne Coletti asked me to write about my childhood memories gathering lilacs with my mama, featured in her second edition of The Feminine Home, Where the Heart Is... I would like to share that story with you today... I hope you enjoy it... and that sweet, precious memories of yesteryear fill your heart today as I know they will mine...

"When Lilacs Bloom" © ~ Julie Marie Vicknair

"My morning walk takes me down a new country road today. I have not been down this winding dirt road before... or have I? Beautiful lilacs are growing wild along the side of the little lane; it is a stunning sea of purple and lavender. The gentle Spring breeze carries their Heavenly aroma to me, teasing me, inviting me to come closer. I close my eyes and let the heady perfume envelope me in it's spell. I am overcome by a sense of wistfulness, of scenes long past. A young girl and her mother are gathering armloads of the delicate blooms. I gingerly walk closer and listen as the little girl tells her mother that God must have planted the lilacs just for her as they always bloom on her birthday in May. The mother picks the child up and holds her close. "It must be so", she whispers.
I let my thoughts drift back to when I was a little girl. My mama and I would gather lilacs to fill the vases in our home. I too, would tell my mama that God planted them just for me and mama would pick me up and kiss me on the cheek, telling me it must be so. I close my eyes once more and let my childhood memories come back to me. When I open my eyes the little girl and her mother are gone, but the beautiful lilacs are still here, blooming today... my birthday. Yes, I know that I have been here before"... xoxo...

Just What is it About a Little Nest?...

2012-01-24T18:45:00.025-07:00

As I am spending blissful hours getting our home ready for Spring, (while the countryside is under a blanket of white from the last two snowstorms)... I can't help but notice just how many little nests I have here and there... each one unique... like this beautiful knitted nest from my friend Vicki at 2bagsfull... made with love and bits and bobs of this and that... Nature's treasures... ever~so~delicately woven into the perfect "home" for two sweet little eggs waiting to hatch...

I actually bought two of these at the time... Vicki names all of her little nests, so of course I had to name mine... the top one is "Sylvie Nest" and the one below is "Prissy Nest"... (hello Mama Vicki! we love you... the sissy nests!)... you can read more about the little sissy nests in my post here...

Just what is it about a sweet little nest that captures our hearts so?... for me, it begins with my never~ending love of Nature and all of God's precious little creatures... all of the nests I am showing you today are faux and live indoors year round... many I have bought, many I have made myself... I cannot imagine a world without birds and birdsong... delicately woven nests out of twigs and bark... feathers and vines... I love happening upon a secret nest when we take our Nature walks... for I feel as if I have found a precious gift... no, not to take... one must never take a nest from a tree or any other place it was built... once one has been blown out of the tree and to the ground, it is quite acceptable to claim the little treasure for your own... so long as there are no little ones inside... if you come upon a nest that has been blown down or fallen, and there ARE babies inside, place it back into the tree... hopefully as close to where it was built as possible... it is an old~wives tale that a bird will not return to a nest that a human has touched... it simply is not true... and I can tell you that from personal experience... the mama will find her babies...

On my Nature walk in Spring, I gather all sorts of treasures from the trail... tiny little discarded eggshells that have already hatched... most often, I can identify what kind of bird laid the egg just by looking at it... if not, I refer to one of my many books on birds, nests and eggs... one cannot have too many reference books on Nature!...

One of my most prized possessions... a beautiful little "Nature box" my dear friend Celeste of Celestina Marie Design painted for me to keep my little treasures from the trail in... she even included a special little feather inside for me she had found in her garden...

A sweet little nest inside a broken terra cotta flowerpot...

Another favorite bird book... the sketches and artwork in this particular one are especially beautiful!...

"Tailoring a nest in four easy steps"...

A teeny little nest I created myself... I like to add some of my dried roses to mine... sort of a shabby chic style nest...

I also love to sketch Nature and carry a little sketchbook with me on my Nature walks... I can hardly wait for the Robins to sing their sweet Spring song one day soon... I love to wake up to their beautiful melody floating in through an open window in the early morning hours... did you know there will always be something white in a Robin's nest?... my great~grandmother told me that when I was just a little girl, and through the years I have always found it to be true... sometimes there will be a piece of white yarn... perhaps part of a white paper towel... a silky ribbon or even a white feather intricately woven into the nest... I know not why... but I do know it will always be so... perhaps one day if I listen closely I will find the answer in the Robin's song...

Another tiny nest I made from twigs and moss gathered from the trail...

Vicki at 2bagsfull also created this stunning shorebird nest... I was fortunate enough to purchase one of her limited nests last year... the proceeds from mine went to a shorebird recovery sanctuary... you can read Vicki's story about her rescue of one of these precious shorebirds on her blog... you can read more about my beautiful shorebird nest in my post here...

A friend of mine carved the beautiful shorebird for me many years ago... it rests on an old piece of piling out of the Great Salt Lake which borders my little town just to the west of me...

Another itty bitty nest I created today... I gather moss all Summer long and save it in plastic bags to use for special times like today...

A wonderful find from several years ago... "Audubon's Birds of America" c. 1950... a $5.00 find at a local used book store... to me it is priceless!...

I created this one from raffia and it looks pretty inside a little glass atrium...
Another one I made entirely out of moss, and added a skeleton leaf I found on the trail last Summer... this one lives in another little glass atrium...
Recently, my friends Jeni and El gave me this beautiful little vintage birdie plate from their shop, Madeleine L'Amour...

Along with this adorable little petite birdie... so teensy... all handmade out of the softest~ever felt... Merci ladies!... these "tweet" little birdies will be available to purchase soon here in their shop...

A window seat in my bedroom is the perfect spot to watch the comings and goings at the feeders and birdbaths in our backyard... a small pair of binoculars is a valuable thing to have to watch up close... I keep a birders journal and am constantly adding to it as a new little feathered friend comes to visit...

Our backyard is a certified wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation... you can visit their site here if you are interested in certifying your yard as well... you simply must provide the four basics... food, water, cover... and a place to raise their young... xoxo...

"One touch of Nature makes the whole world kin"
~ William Shakespeare

From a Country Garden...

2012-01-22T11:05:00.002-07:00

While anxiously awaiting Springs first blooms, I linger over my latest issue of Country Gardens magazine... I completely devour this magazine as they always show such beautiful country gardens and fun ideas for pretty things to make... it makes the long wait for Springs much anticipated arrival more bearable...

In my new issue that just arrived, they featured a section on petite flower holders out of vintage finds... I fell in love with this one (below) out of a vintage crystal doorknob... I especially loved the description with it... "a solitary twig of flowering cherry resembles petite pink petticoats floating by like garden fairies"... well, you know me and garden fairies... so I couldn't wait to find my vintage purple pressed glass doorknob I saved from an old home that was being demolished that I went to many years ago... just waiting to be made into something beautiful... surely this was it...

(Country Gardens Magazine photo above)

Since my flowering cherry is covered under a heavy blanket of new~fallen snow from last night, and not a sign of a blossom to be seen yet (but soon!)... for now I used some petite Fairy roses from my garden that I dried from last Summer...

Do you think the flower fairies will like it?... xoxo...

Sometimes a Change is as Good as a Rest...

2012-01-21T10:48:00.009-07:00

You've heard the old saying "a change is as good as a rest"?... I'll let you know if it holds true...

Less than a week ago, I did a farewell post... I had decided not to blog anymore... the very place I had created to come to for peace and tranquility (and hopefully for you to as well) had become a source of stress to me... it was making me nervous... I had begun feeling guilty if I did not visit those of you who post every day each and every time... so I visited, and commented... and spent hours longer on the computer than I should have... ending up with not enough hours in the day to do the many other things I love and wanted (or needed) to do... I linked up to fun parties, only to feel more guilt if I did not take the time to visit each and every participant... and comment as well... I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings by not visiting them all... I kept putting more and more pressure on myself to keep up... suddenly, it was not fun anymore... I was tired... and nervous... So... I did what I always do when I need to clear my mind... I put on my walking shoes and hit the trail...

Being out among Nature is my therapy... it has a way of letting me see things alot clearer... perhaps the sweet song of a winter's Robin has the answers for me... or by chance, it lies in the perfectly placed white feather upon the ground... the squirrels down the lane and around the bend chatter at me... are they trying to tell me something... perhaps... I listen closely to what they have to say... and my thoughts start making sense... about a year ago, one of my favorite bloggers posted a farewell too... that she had decided not to blog anymore... and how hard it was for her to do that... c'mon I thought, how hard can it be?... you just bid farewell and be on your way... let me tell you, it is not that easy... less than a week later, she was back, but with a new sense of direction and some changes made... I love to write and I love to take photos... blogging has brought me alot of joy in the past and many dear friends (thank you all for your heartfelt comments on my previous post, I am overwhelmed)... I knew I would miss posting but had no idea just how much, even just this past week... so, I will see if the old saying holds true and try making some big changes... no more guilt about not visiting everyone every day... that doesn't mean I don't care... I can catch up when I visit... and no more feeling guilty about the parties... I won't be linking to any more, but will visit those I choose... and not feel obligated to visit those I would rather not... no more guilt about thinking I need to follow everyone who follows me... perhaps their blog is not to my liking, yet I have been following some anyway, as a courtesy of sorts... I am a nice lady... I always try to please everyone... but it was starting to be at my own expense... I choose not to do facebook or twitter, or pinterest... and I am fine with that... no more feeling guilty if I don't post regularly... some of my favorite bloggers only post now and then... when I read those posts, I get a feeling like I would get as a little girl when a letter would arrive in the mail from my grandmother... so worth the wait... I have had my blog made into a book, four volumes actually as I had so many photos, and tend to talk alot... so, this will be a new chapter...I will try posting now and then... no pressure, no stress... no obligation... and hopefully Idyllhours will return to that special, serene place for me that it once was... I want to focus on my gardens and my love of Nature... the way I first started out... for I find those are my passions and bring me true peace of mind... I love it when you visit, but if you don't always have time to stop by... I understand... we'll catch up the next time!... wishing you a beautiful day... and I will see you sometime soon... xoxo...

With Mixed Emotions...

2012-01-17T16:08:00.013-07:00

After alot of contemplation, I have decided to quit blogging for now... I started my little blog in June of 2009, and have met so many wonderful people through it... and many of you have become very good friends to me... I will leave you with a favorite photo of my secret, special place I have posted about often... where roses bloom and daydreams come true...where life is sweet and whispers from the past call out to me... I will miss taking you there with me through my blog this year my friends... in May and June...when roses and lilacs bloom in Heavenly profusion ... but you will be there with me in my heart... for magic really happens there... and you know me, I believe... who knows... maybe I shall even write a book one day... like my friend Janet at Shabbyfufu told me I should do... and perhaps it will be about these beautiful roses and daydreams... and fairytales and magical things...

Things seem to be changing alot in the land of blogs lately... more and more people going to Facebook and Twitter... Pinterest, etc, none of which I do... . and I will tell you right out how heartbroken I was when the woman stole my photos and text of my sweet Tessy and put them on Pinterest without my permission... I have heard from several of you that the same thing has been happening to you as well... so sad... I am seeing so much competition out there that never used to be... who has the most comments, who has the most followers... that is not what blogging has been about for me... blogging has been a way for me to share the things I love with my photos and my words... and to enjoy finding out about all of the things you love as well... I have always said, if just one person reads my post and I make them smile, I am content... and if that one person leaves just one comment that makes me smile, I am happy... I will leave my blog up... just in case I change my mind one day... which I have been known to do... and I am having it made into a book to remember everything with... thank you all for visiting Idyllhours and sharing your heartfelt comments with me and sending me your thoughts in your emails... you're the best!... I do not like goodbyes... so instead I shall say that perhaps on a warm Spring eve, the flower fairies will spirit me away to visit you at your blog... for I shall have missed you so ... xoxo...

My New French Bust...

2012-01-14T16:00:00.010-07:00

Hmmmm... maybe I should re~phrase that... not "my" French bust... tee hee hee... (I am French on my daddy's side of the family)... but my new French bust from my friend Janet's shop, "Shabbyfufu"...

This stunning, very very old "Marie" is so beautiful... made out of metal, not chalkware like most you see... and quite heavy... the base is marble and she looks just lovely on my dresser along with some of my most treasured French heirlooms...

She has the most exquisite features...

I do believe she feels quite at home here... along with my antique French Bible dated 1904, vintage French books, vintage Chevalier French opera glasses from Paris... a pretty vintage French parfum box (which I purchased many years ago from Janet as well)...

I love this photo of her... gazing at a photo of my French grandfather Jules Arthur Vicknair, Sr., and his brother, my great~uncle Pierre Seraphin Vicknair... both the epitome of French gentlemen... (after I was divorced and before I met Jack, I took back my maiden name of Vicknair and have kept it ever since)... my middle name of Marie was given me after my French grandmothers and great~grandmothers way back, who were all named Marie... and my niece Elizabeth carries on the family tradition as well... as her full name is Elizabeth Marie...

If you are looking for exquisite vintage French tresors and other lovely vintage finds, you will fall in love with Shabbyfufu... Janet is truly one of a kind, and no one does vintage French better than she does... along with many other gorgeous items in her shop... please tell her Julie Marie sent you when you stop in to visit!... xoxo...

Flights of Fancy...

2012-01-13T14:35:00.004-07:00

I have posted often about my happy childhood... where my sister and I spent blissful days in the beautiful countryside surrounding our home... two free~spirits... running through the cool moist grass barefoot... weaving tiaras of gold out of marigold blooms from our mama's garden... and stringing delicate garlands out of sweet clover blossoms to wear around our necks... we were blessed with two beautiful parents... who not only delighted in watching us enjoy our simple pleasures, but encouraged us to let our imaginations fly freely and our daydreams become reality... these delightfully enchanted days shaped the lady I am today... still a free~spirit... my imagination ever at work... (or play I should call it)... and chasing my daydreams still a favorite past~time...

I return to my childhood often... it is where happy memories come alive and simpler, gentler times were the way of life...

I want Idyllhours to be a place like that... where you can come to visit... but leave your cares behind... only beautiful, happy things happen here... no gloomy thoughts allowed...

Where fairytales and make~believe are a part of every day... and wishing upon a star is cause enough to stay up late on a Spring or Summer's eve...

Where sweet little bears have fairy~wings...

And teeny teacups bloom with sweet pink roses...

And baby fairy~bears with the littlest of wings...

Share a favorite story that Springtime brings...

So, close your eyes and dream a while...

I'll make a wish that we made you smile... xoxo...

Spring Dreams and Fairy Wings...

2012-01-12T18:44:00.002-07:00

"And as the Seasons come and go
here's something you might like to know...

There are fairies everywhere,

under bushes and in the air,
playing games just like you play,
singing through their busy day.
So listen, touch and look around,
in the air and on the ground...
And if you watch all Nature's things,
you might just see a fairy's wings" ~ Anon

xoxo...

Countdown to Spring...

2012-01-10T16:03:00.007-07:00

Okay... so it is still officially winter... but I don't have to like it!... my sweet friend Amy at My Shabby Bungalow doesn't like it either... Amy was one of my very first followers when I started blogging almost three years ago and we have been best of friends ever since... anyhow, we decided we would wait no longer... we are starting our countdown to Spring... today!... Amy did the cutest post today about dreaming of Spring... and that started our countdown... for today, I just made a pretty little nest to entice YOU to dream of Spring as well...

I have so many Springtime thoughts running through my mind... I can't wait to do a long post full of pictures of happy reminders of the days to come... many of my favorite Springtime treasures have come from Amy's Etsy shop... she always crafts the darlingest (is that a word???) things, lots of bunnies and nests and eggs and flowery pretties... I hope you enjoy our "pretty" posts as we get ready for our most favorite Season of renewal to begin... xoxo...

Nature's Wisdom....

2012-01-09T09:46:00.001-07:00

The warmth of the sun on a cold winter's day... softly filtering through my kitchen window... casting early morning shadows that dance on the walls... the colors of Nature fill my home... lush greens of Ivy's tender tendrils pull towards the light... the soft beige of petite French flowerpots waiting to be planted...

Delicately woven twigs and grasses make a perfectly feathered nest... tiny faux eggs remind me just how fragile life is... each moment is a gift to be treasured... to enjoy just being "me"... not trying to be like anyone else... I like being "me"... I am unique... and so are you... I shall go about my day doing the very best I can at everything I attempt to do... letting my thoughts drift away to a favorite quote...

"Use whatever talent you possess...
the woods would be very silent if no birds sang
except those that sing the best" ~ Henry Van Dyke

Make~believe....

2012-01-07T07:03:00.000-07:00

The weather here has been unseasonably warm and sunny in the day... no snow at all... perfect for long Nature walks and letting my case of Spring fever embrace me totally...

Then, this morning I awoke to at least four inches of snow... it is still coming down fast and hard... making the countryside look like a winter~wonderland... I admit it looks beautiful... but shall make~believe it is sunny and warm... and that I am going outside barefoot to water my flowerpots on my front porch... instead of pulling on my heavy winter boots and helping Jack shovel snow... this was my very favorite little pot of all that I planted last year... the pale lavenders and rich deep purples of some of my favorite blooms are so soothing to my soul... at least my thoughts will be warm and sunny today... wishing yours are too... xoxo...

Quiet Times...

2012-01-03T20:03:00.010-07:00

Savoring the quiet evenings of January... knowing that winter will pass and Spring will appear...

The flames in the fireplace are dancing in their soft glow... a cup of tea and a favorite book await... my cherished copy of Anne of Green Gables that belonged to my mother as a young girl...my sweet Tessy at my side... it is warm and cozy inside... the house is peaceful and quiet... life is good... xoxo...

As A Brand New Year Unfolds...

2012-01-01T08:03:00.016-07:00

"Within your heart, keep one still, secret spot
where dreams may go" ~ Louise Driscoll
xoxo...

Changes to My Blog...

2011-12-29T16:13:00.015-07:00

I really hate to do this, but starting now, I am making some major changes to my blog... someone I do not know (however I have their name and email now ) emailed me and told me that they have "pinned" my new year's post and photos I just did about Tessy's first year with us on Pinterest... (AFTER she had already taken all of my things and done it without asking me )... since I do not do Pinterest, (or Facebook, or Twitter or any of those others and never would), I am not sure what all she has done, but I assume that means my photos and text are up for grabs... so I have pulled my post... I have emailed her back asking that she remove them... I have no way of knowing if she does... which saddens me... my sidebar clearly asks that anyone wanting to use my photos ask me first... and that all of my own photos and text are copyrighted... most of you ladies feel the same way, and that is how it should be... we have no children... this dog is my "baby"... and her photos and story are mine... I can only imagine how you all would feel if your children or grandchildren were "pinned" without your permission... or your original creations for those of you who have shops... my blog will be a bit less about our personal lives and not so many of my personal family photos... it makes me sad, but I have my reasons for not wanting "my" photos up for grabs... I realize if I post them on a blog, there is really nothing I can do to keep people like her from "snatching" them... the woman who took them does not even blog... I will keep in touch with you my dear blogging friends, and post a bit now and then... Happy New Year to you all!... xoxo...

"My First Year in My Forever Home" by Tessy...

2011-12-27T18:48:00.009-07:00

Hi!... it's me, Tessy... 2011 started out as not a very good year for me... I was lost, actually abandoned and running the streets... then, something wonderful happened... Julie Marie and Jack found me, and took me to their, I mean our, home this past February...

This is me and my mom in the photo below the first night I spent with them... I didn't know yet this would be my forever home... and neither did Julie Marie and Jack... but they gave me some yummy food, some treats, a warm blankie and even bought me a toy raccoon... and Julie Marie just kissed me right on the nose all the time... they tried to find my owners for two days... when they finally tracked them down, my mama said she wanted to smack the #@&& out of them... she made me cover my ears so I would not hear what she said, but I don't think she liked them!... I didn't either... they were mean, cruel rotten people... but I am quickly forgetting all about them... that very next morning, my mama and daddy adopted me!... my mama always says how much she loves happily~ever~after stories and I do too... I now live in my forever home... safe and loved... where no one will ever hurt me... and I am given hugs and kisses and kind words... I love that even more than the doggie treats I get... it is my dream come true!...

I am an English Pointer and here I am showing my daddy how it is done when I saw a Quail in our backyard...

My mama thinks I am a fufu girl and bought me all pink things, collar, leash, ... made me a pink blankie... my daddy rides a Harley, so he bought me this cool Harley teeshirt!... when he says "show me some teeth" I do this!...

Then, my mama let me have my very own doggie bloggie giveaway!... I met some new furry friends who I love... it made me sooo happy!...

By March, I was completely settled in my forever home... I had to have some surgery in February, but got all better... here I am relaxing in our bedroom...

April... and I am posing in my Easter bonnet my mama made for me... she says I am a girly~girl shabby~chic kind of doggie...

May brought lots of rain showers, so mama bought me this cool slicker to keep me dry on our walks down the trail... I love the trail!... there are alot of critters to see and I can run and jump and play... my mama runs and jumps and plays with me... we act silly alot... I love my mama too...

In June I got to help with her flowers and gardens... here I am taking time to smell the roses... well, actually to smell the Heartsease...

July... I am wearing my stars and stripes doggie bandana for the Fourth of July... I am proud to be an American!...

August... it was sooo hot, so my mama bought me a little wading pool for our back porch... it's fun!... I can drink water right out of it too!...

September... my mama made all these cute doggie and kittie blankies and we walked down the trail to my doggie doctors office and donated them to help raise money for other little doggies and kitties who need a forever home... alot of people donated for a chance to win, and it raised alot of money... it made me feel so good!... I love my doggie doctor too... he is a kind man who takes care of all God's creatures and loves us so much!... he says I am beautiful... inside and out...

October was alot of fun!... here I am in my pumpkin Halloween costume... I got to greet the trick~or~treaters at the door and helped hand out treats... I think Autumn is my favorite time of year... it is just right walking down the trail with sunny skies and crisp fall days... I got to watch "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown"... I love Snoopy!...

November it started getting really cold, so my mama bought me my new faux leopard coat... when I walk down the trail, the Sheltie boys come over to see me... they have a crush on me, and their daddy gives us all biscuits when I visit them...

December... my mama told me all about the real meaning of Christmas... I never knew all of these things before... she said I was a gift from God... and the best gift she could have received... we talked about Santa Dog coming... and here I am with visions of sugarplums dancing in my head...

I watched every day at the front door for Santa Dog... I could hardly wait for Christmas!...

He came!... he really did!... and I got toys, and treats... and chewies... and Cheez~its!... those are my little critters my mama has bought for me this past year you can see laying on my bed... I don't sleep in my bed at night though... I sleep up on the BIG bed... the one with roses all over the quilt... and smushy pillows... and my mama and daddy right there...

So, that is my year of "firsts" in my forever home... my mama and I want to wish you all a new year filled with as many blessings and as much love as I have received... and that your story too starts out with "once upon a time" and ends with "they all lived happily~ever~after"... like mine... my mama always says a dream is a wish your heart makes... my dreams have all come true... I love you all... xoxo... Tessy

Daydreaming of Spring...

2011-12-26T06:10:00.002-07:00

It happens every year like this... Christmas comes and goes so quickly... I love Christmas... but I am not a winter person, and I don't like the cold... perhaps it is because I am a gardener... and I am missing my roses and violets... my bleeding hearts and columbine... thus my thoughts turn to Spring... it is in my heart... and on my mind... the days are already getting longer... oh, maybe it is just a few minutes a day... but never you mind... they are getting longer... I wait in giddy anticipation for my yearly seed catalogs to begin arriving in the mail... it is still December... yes... I know... but now it is my quiet time... time to plan and dream... plot and scheme... my gardens are deep in their winter slumber... but they too are already dreaming of Spring... I wistfully picture my beautiful climbing red roses that I planted from cuttings taken from my very special little secret place to my own gardens several years ago to bloom their first blooms... they took root and last year began growing so much... but no blooms yet... I daydream about my sweet wild violets... fast asleep in the icy~covered garden...yet I swear I can smell their heavenly parfum drifting through the chilly early morning air...

I head down my frost~covered little stone paths in my winter boots... bare feet with the warmth of the Springtime sun on the stones is so much nicer ... nevertheless... I check my gardens often... there is still so much more of winter to come... and I do not want to wish the time away... but the promise of Spring calls out to me... perhaps the flower~fairies have left the sweetest little surprise of some kind for me there... they love to tease you know... gifting me with subtle little hints of the Spring to come... I gaze at my Fairy Rose... the flower~fairies favorite place to frolic and dance... through a hazy mist, it appears to be blooming... I blink my eyes... I was certain I saw their oh~so~soft palest~of~pink petals... but no, she is still fast asleep... and the fairies have left no little gift for me... I could have sworn I saw the slightest movement out of the corner of my eye... a tiny little sprite, I just know I did... but there are no little footprints in the garden... and no fairy dust to be seen... but then I already told you, the flower~fairies love to tease... then ever~so~softly I hear the lilting sound of sweet laughter... yes... they ARE here... but where... the winds are stirring now and the air is bitter cold... yet, my heart is warm and my soul content as I head back inside... a nice warm cup of herb tea and my garden journal await... there are dreams to dream... and plans to be made... as the flower~fairies laughter lingers in my mind... xoxo...

"O, wind, if winter comes
can spring be far behind?" ~Percy Bysshe Shelley

"Twas the Night Before Christmas and All Through the House....

2011-12-24T05:58:00.002-07:00

Not a creature was stirring...

Not even a mouse"...

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!... xoxo...

Jill's and My Gift of Time Day...

2011-12-22T15:44:00.008-07:00

Yesterday was the day my sister Jill and I had reservations at our favorite tearoom in Salt Lake City for afternoon tea, following a day of browsing through antiques shops... I took some time off of blogging, to give myself the gift of time as well... time to bake, make candy, wrap presents... all of the last minute things we all do just before Christmas... this has honestly been one of the nicest years I have ever spent on these precious days before the big day... I slowed down... which is hard for me... I am always going at warp speed, so many things I love to do, I don't want to waste a single moment in a day... but this week... my pace slowed down some... and it felt so good!... all of my cards were mailed in time... out of town packages mailed on time... little gifts to neighbors all delivered... everything ready to prepare for our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners... so, I decided to do one more Christmasy post, as after Christmas my thoughts turn to Spring...(yes, I love Christmas, but I don't like winter or cold)... it was an absolutely perfect day yesterday, in all ways... here are Jill and I at my home getting ready to leave for our day together... we both wore the pretty watch pendants I made for us out of our mama's vintage watches... I know our mama is always close by, watching over us from above... I am certain she was there with us as well yesterday...

We had planned on browsing Antique Row in Salt Lake City... a couple of blocks in downtown Salt Lake that is all antiques shops... but the bitter temperatures made us change our mind, so we headed to our favorite inside antiques mall in Salt Lake City...

The crazy look in my eyes is probably me wondering what Jack would say if I brought this gorgeous candelabra style lamp home... I absolutely loved it, and the price was right... but I was not sure if I was ready for that "where is THAT going" look in Jack's eyes when I got home... perhaps I shall go back for it and sneak it in my crafts room... then one day, it will suddenly appear upstairs... tee hee hee...

You know moi and vintage Christmas!... I am literally a kid in a candy store about it!... and there was sooo much, I was in vintage Christmas heaven...

So many tresors brought back so many happy childhood memories for Jill and I... we each remembered so many of these items... many we still have, some we do not... I just wanted to tell the lady to bag it all up and charge it to me! (but I refrained)...

The angels all sang out to me... so lovely... so teeny and sweet, I wanted them all... Jill and I each picked out several small gifts for each other, as planned... and headed to our reservation at the tearoom at 2 o'clock... we could have spent hours... no, days, in the antiques mall... I am going back very soon!...

Tea could not have been more perfect in every way...

The gorgeous tearoom is in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, and I found a parking spot right across the street... the entire tearoom is decorated in exquisite antiques and vintage style...

Tea was served in these stunning little teacups... I bought a little gift set of teacup and saucer for Jill and I...

I chose Earl Grey tea...

Jill chose white wine...

Isn't it beautiful!...

Tea sandwiches and scones... plenty of yummy jam for the warm scones...

A pretty centerpiece of a flowering tea... the little tea flower was placed in the glass, then hot water poured over it, and as we sipped tea and ate our sandwiches, the little flower slowly opened before our eyes... so pretty!...

Blackberries with whipped cream and chocolate petit fours for dessert... Yummers!...

We hated to leave, and promised each other we would come back soon... we had the cutest little waitress who made our time together so much fun!... we giggled and laughed and enjoyed being together so much... we have always been inseparable... we still are, and we felt like little girls again...

Jill bought me this adorable little vintage angel and these two precious vintage bottlebrush wreaths at the antiques mall... we each have a gift to wrap and give each other on Christmas Day...

Thank you Jill... I have not laughed so much in years and it really did seem like we were little girls once more... excited over everything... having fun just being together... there is no greater gift we could have given each other than the day spent together... I love you my little sister!...

As I was out with Tessy in the early morning hours today, I took this photo from our porch, looking in through the little panes in our window at our Nature tree in the living room... the little lights twinkled and sparkled so behind our sheer lace curtains.... I love how they they seem to say "come inside"... I love my home... it is warm and cosy... the smell of cinnamon bread and peppermint tea is in the air... this is where my memories come to life and my dreams begin... my safe haven... my darling Jack... our 34th Christmas together... our first Christmas with our precious Tessy... she is sooo excited!... she and I dressed up in our faux leopard jackets and took yummy treats to her doggie doctor and his technicians... a cash donation and lots of toys for kitties and doggies in his no~kill shelter... Tessy asked if we can put out a plate of ham and Cheez~its for Santa Dog on Christmas Eve... (Tessy's favorites!)... yes, Tessy and I talk all the time... All of God's precious little creatures need to know the joys of Christmas too... our birdfeeders are filled for our feathered friends, and apples and peanuts and cracked corn are put out for the deer and other critters who call our home theirs as well... time spent this week just exactly how I wanted to... with those I love... and now, our time will be spent reflecting on the reason for the season... the birth of our Saviour... thank you dear blogging friends for giving me the gift of your time as well each time you visit Idyllhours... I wish you all a most beautiful and blessed Christmas... xoxo...

From Our Home to Yours...

2011-12-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!...

Starting my week of "The Gift of Time" to myself and my family... see you all after Christmas!... I hope you all have a most beautiful and blessed one... xoxo...

"See the Little Children"...

2011-12-16T09:30:00.004-07:00

Many of you know my dear friend Rebecca of "A Gathering Place"... and many of you have read her posts about her darling little granddaughter Miss K... I have followed Miss K's stories through the past few years and one in particular really touched my heart... you may read Rebecca's post about her here. Rebecca wrote of how dear little Miss K had been taunted and teased in school and wondered why the other little girls did not like her... she wondered if she was not pretty enough... she did not understand... my heart ached as I read this post... I wanted to hold little Miss K close and tell her how pretty she is, inside and out, and that everything would be all right... I felt a special bond to this little girl I had never met... for I too was once a very shy, timid little girl... taunted and teased... I felt like I was not pretty enough either... and wondered why I was not included in the other girls fun and games... other than to be the target of their mean little spirits... oh how I did not want Miss K to have to endure the things that I did... so, I sent her a little package... and a special letter, telling her she was loved by me... after that, we became friends and "pen~pals" if you may...

Yesterday, a beautiful gift arrived for me... actually two gifts... this beautiful pillow handmade by her nana, Rebecca, and chosen by Miss K especially for me... the second gift... the overwhelming feeling of joy in my heart that this little girl has given me...

Two little girls... with hair of brown... and pink ribbons in their hair... and dresses of pink (our favorite color!)... Miss K in the photo below...

And me in the next photo, about the same age Miss K is now... trust me... my silk ribbon was pink and so was my dress my mama had sewn for me...
Two shy little girls... so very far apart in age... and in miles... but so very close in their hearts... thank you Miss K, for both of my gifts... love you more!... xoxo...

"See the little children laugh and sing

Fantasy is such a common thing

Love is why the flowers grow

Of all the red and blue

I wish they never had to know

Love can hurt them too

See the little children laugh and sing...

See the little children running by

Happiness is dancing in each eye

And love is just a mountain tall

Where angels learn to sing

How could they know that angels fall

Before they grow their wings?

See the little children running by...

See the little children on their way

Give them kisses, candy and today

Tomorrow will be soon enough

To know what we speak of

Tomorrow will be soon enough

To know the hurt of love

See the little children on their way" ~Nancy Sinatra

'Twas Ten Days Before Christmas...

2011-12-15T16:38:00.004-07:00

"Twas ten days before Christmas... we were scared and alone...
in the clearance bin at the crafts store...
oh how we wanted a home...
We'd heard tell the Squirrels had a cozy chalet...
in a Forest so lovely... a safe haven to play...

It would not cost much to buy us this day...
the other critters were all sold and gone now...
so we began to pray...

We must stick together...
through good times and bad...
To take one not the other
Would make us so sad...

There's talk of a lady..
named Julie Marie...
who loves all God's creatures...
If only it could be...
That she might come in...
to the store on this day...
and see our sweet faces...

We'd steal her heart away...

Then our hearts starting beating...
at such a fast pace...
as Julie Marie bought us...
and gave us a place...

A snow~covered Forest...
with our own Christmas tree...
fairytale dreams do come true...
thank you, Julie Marie"... xoxo... the Foxes

The Magic of Christmas...

2011-12-14T19:48:00.008-07:00

Is softly carried on the wings of angels... who sprinkle love and joy... peace and good will...

and the spirit of Christmas...

all around the world... xoxo...

While Visions of Sugarplums...

2011-12-12T07:26:00.004-07:00

...danced in her head...

Sweet dreams my little Sugarplum... Christmas is almost here... xoxo...

Christmas Candy...

2011-12-12T07:00:00.001-07:00

Like everything else that brings back happy childhood memories, so do many of the candies of Christmas... as you know, I never break traditions... so, without fail, I buy some of the candies we love each year that are still available that I remember as a child... seems like they are getting harder and harder to find... here are a few of my favorites, and a few new ones too...

I fill all sorts of vintage pieces with yummy treats for guests (like Moi!)... a vintage cut crystal candy dish ... beautifully vintage etched crystal champagne glasses... vintage crystal wine glasses... they all make beautiful candy dishes...

One of my most favorite are these darling old~fashioned Christmas tree peppermint nougats... (it's still fun to pull the trees and make them longer, tee hee hee!)...

Pretty old~fashioned Christmas rock candy...

Filly and Ellie brought us this pretty little Kilner jar from London, filled with delish rhubarb and custard sweets...

And my newest addiction... peppermint bark!...

This comes from Costco, and mmmm... it is yummers!...

Christmas is a time for bringing cherished memories to life once more... like helping mama make divinity and fudge when we were just little girls... and making candy wreaths to gift each neighbor... homemade brownies and sugar cookies... red velvet cakes and pumpkin pies... hard tack and caramels... I love to be in my kitchen this time of year, donning a vintage apron and whipping up a batch of fudge... or anxiously awaiting the nutbread to come out of the oven... I guess it isn't just the candy I love, but all of the goodies!... each and every bite is filled with cherished memories... do you have a favorite traditional goodie you make or buy each year?... I hope it is filled with happy memories too... xoxo...

An Enchanted Christmas Tale...

2011-12-10T06:53:00.011-07:00

Once upon a time...

The stockings were hung...

In the Forest with care...

And they dreamt...

That Saint Nicholas...

Shall visit them there...

I believe...

Do you?... xoxo...

"And With a Broken Wing"...

2011-12-09T11:22:00.018-07:00

...she still sings...
She keeps an eye on the sky
With a broken wing
She carries her dreams
Man you ought to see her fly" ~Martina McBride

That precious angel is so very close to my heart... it was mine as a little girl... I have had my ups and downs in life... like my little angel... and like most of you... and seeing my little angel and listening to that beautiful song by Martina McBride makes me realize even more so the many blessings I have received throughout my life... my sweetheart Jack and the rest of my family being my most precious... I still sing... and "you ought to see me fly"...

My gorgeous mercury glass peacock from the 30's... don't you just love her spun glass tail and her beautiful crown of gold...

My pride and joy... our vintage decorated tree... not for materialistic reasons... but for the many precious memories it holds, both mine and those who have passed on and whose Christmas tresors found at estate sales now live with me... there are literally hundreds of ornaments on and under our tree... nothing is newer than the very early 60's... most are from the 30's, 40's and 50's...

A beautiful bisque angel from the 40's watches over from above...

Sweet little Santa marked "Made in Japan " (1941~prior)...

Gorgeous indents from Poland...

A favorite mercury glass bell...

Darling little ornaments from Czechoslovakia...

A mica covered "Silent Night"...

One of my many treasured birdies with spun glass tails from Western Germany...

A "tweet" little pair from Czechoslovakia...

Santa and Mrs. Claus... "Made in Japan"...

A favorite old mercury glass elephant...

Mica frosted pinecones from "Occupied Japan"... (1945~1952) when Allied Forces still occupied Japan after the War...

Gorgeous swirls from Poland...

Sweet flocked reindeer... "Made in Japan"... 10 cents each some years ago at a local thrift shop... one is missing an ear, but like any other of God's precious little creatures that needs extra care that I love, I save them and love them even more...

Cardboard reflectors from WWII times...

During the War, the Office of Civilian Defense issued orders that Christmas lights were to be kept to a minimum and only on when families were home... this was in compliance with saving energy during the War... they were to be quickly extinguished in the event of an air raid... many homes placed these old reflectors behind their sparse set of lights, giving the appearance of many more on the tree as they reflected the beauty...

My old reflectors are retired now... and sit happily beneath our vintage tree... along with so many other wonderful tresors...

The spirit of Christmas is everywhere in our home... but nowhere do I feel it more than sitting in our den and gazing at this tree... I am flooded with memories of Christmases past... and hopes and dreams of Christmases to come...each and every vintage ornament speaks softly to me... I say it every year and will say it once more... I always picture in my mind beautiful images of long ago... and the wonderful families whose homes these heirlooms once adorned... they are now a part of my family... as are the precious memories of those looking down from above... I am hoping they enjoy seeing their Christmases come to life once more... thank you Jack... for carrying all of these precious ornaments up the stairs for me... year after year... never once complaining... for understanding how emotional I get over them... and for taking a "sentimental journey" with me each Christmas... xoxo... Linking this post this week to "What's It Wednesdays" at Ivy and Elephants and Vintage Inspiration Friday, Vintage Christmas at Common Ground...

"He who has not Christmas in his heart
will never find it under a tree" ~Roy L. Smith

Somewhere in Time...

2011-12-07T14:52:00.010-07:00

This year more than any other, I am enjoying what I have been posting about... "the gift of time" that my family is all giving each other for Christmas this year... the gift of time... precious time spent with each other... time to enjoy being together, to reminisce about Christmases past... childhood memories... simple pleasures... and of course the true meaning of Christmas...

Time passes by so very quickly... and the older I get, the more it seems to do so... I want to grasp onto each precious moment with my family and not let go... time has always been a precious tresor to me... part of the reason I chose the name I did for my blog...

My parents are both gone now, my guardian angels, along with my sister Jo... the greatest gift each of them gave me throughout their lives was the precious time spent with me... whether it was daddy sleigh~riding down our snow~covered hill at Christmas time with us, or mama letting us help bake Christmas cookies... or Jo's contagious laughter when we were together... these tender times are forever tucked away safely in my heart... no one can ever take them away from me... they only grow stronger as time goes by...

The hours turn into days and the days turn into years... how quickly things change over time... I am blessed with a family whose greatest pleasure in life was and is being together... no matter what life throws my way, I shall never, ever be too busy to spend time with my loved ones... as my thoughts drift away today, how I wish I could spend just one more day... even one more hour with those in my family who have passed away... I know they are always at my side... and often I can even hear their gentle voices... yes... they still are giving me the gift of time, through my dreams and my thoughts... and my many memories I cling to...

I am also giving myself the gift of time... time spent sitting idly... letting myself totally relax... not pressuring myself to hurry to do anything today... gazing out my window from my desk as I lazily write in my Nature journal... watching my Winter birds feeding at the suet I have hung for them... a little Junco ever so carefully gathers seeds that have fallen to the ground... our resident Blue Jay slowly decides which peanut to take... picking up one, then another... then another before deciding which one is best... our Cedar Waxwings... slowing passing berries from the trees in our backyard down the line of birds... from one to another... until one of them eats the berry... no hurries... there are plenty of berries for all... I have learned much throughout my life from observing Nature and all God's precious little creatures... perhaps God's gift of time to me as well...

"Nature does not hurry
yet everything is accomplished" ~ Lao Tzu

Yes... I shall slow down... and take my time... with everything and everyone... learning from Nature that everything will be accomplished... xoxo... I am linking this post to Ivy and Elephants What's It Wednesday...

Vintage Christmas ... Santas, Elves, Angels and Kneehuggers...

2011-12-05T10:28:00.017-07:00

Hello and welcome to Idyllhours... today, I want to share my vintage Santas, elves, angels and kneehuggers... may I offer you a drink first?... I have prepared an old~fashioned Christmas drink called a "Tom and Jerry" in my gorgeous little "Made in Japan" (1941 or prior) Tom and Jerry cups... A Tom and Jerry is made with eggnog, brandy and rum... I have changed the recipe just a tad... (I left out the eggnog! tee hee hee!)... the finest brandies are true Cognacs from the Cognac region of France... so of course that is what I used, from the old bottle of Cognac my daddy brought home with him from the War... it was a gift to him from the French government when he was stationed in France during WWII... (all right, so the bottle has been empty for almost fifty years... play along with me here, 'k?)... the darling little elves guarding the drinks were a gift from my sister Jill last year... they are Holt Howard, one of my all time favorite collectibles, and date back to the 50's...

Also a gift from Jill is this precious little porcelain angel bell from the early 50's as well...

I remember when I was just a little girl and my mama would take my sisters and me into Salt Lake City at Christmas time... we would get all dressed up in our very best clothes, which meant pretty dresses mama had sewn for us, white gloves, our little purses... mama looking stunning in her high heels and always carrying a beautiful bag... ladies always dressed to the nines to go downtown in those days... my, how times have changed... we were full of excitement and anticipation as we drove to Salt Lake City from our little town of Bountiful as it was a special treat for us... it seemed sooo far away back then, when it is actually only about 15 miles south of us.. we would go to Auerbachs, ZCMI... The Paris Department Store... we felt like we were entering a magical fairyland, the Christmas decorations were all so elaborate and elegant back then... my mama used to model for those stores before she met my daddy and I loved hearing the enchanting stories she had to tell about those stores at Christmas time so many years before... these precious memories of "the gift of time" my mama spent with us is so dear to my heart... my sisters and I wondered how Santa could possibly be at all of them... there he was at Auerbachs... then The Paris... then ZCMI... mama told us some of them were Santa's "helpers"... were you told that too?... hey, it worked for me... anyway, I have a "helper" this year too...

so many of my decorations have been placed on "higher ground" since this little face seems to think her mama has brought out new toys for her to play with... (Tessy thinks kneehuggers are fun to snatch and run with)...

No single vintage decoration says "Christmas" to me more than the next one... for as far back as I can remember as a little girl, this sweet Santa hung on our front porch, welcoming all to our home... he is from the very early 50's and has been stapled in places to hold him together... a few dents and dings here and there... but, like me, Santa is still smiling...

And after all these many years, he still lights up!... I would have to say this is my most treasured piece of vintage Christmas of all... so many precious memories... loved ones now gone but forever close by in my heart... we keep Santa inside now as I would cry if he was stolen or damaged... he has a lifetime of stories to tell... and yes, I shall take the time to hear each and every one of them ... the magic of Christmas keeps his stories alive as the years go by...

This next Santa was a thrift store 50 cent find... he has a little ornament on a pull cord...

"Made in Japan" (1941~prior) and still plays Silent Night... the spirit of Christmas never leaves these treasured pieces of mine...

One of our mudrooms is a favorite gathering place for Santa and Mrs. Claus... and their helpers... all are from the 40's, 50's and early 60's...

I think this guy has had just a few too many "Tom and Jerry's" already...

Vintage Annalee Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus from the early 60's ...

Another Annalee Santa from early 60's...

Annalee Santas are soo adorable... this one is from 1963 ... Annalees were originally made only in Meredith, New Hampshire... they are still made today, and I have many of the newer ones, but have only shown my vintage ones in this post... (they are now made in China, so sad no longer made in the USA)...

Precious little elves (Made in Japan 1941~prior)...

Santa and Mrs. Claus in their earlier years (alot skinnier!)... did you know they had little ones?... aren't they adorable!...

Santa getting a much deserved backrub from Mrs. Claus while his precious reindeer looks on... Annalee Santa and Mrs. Claus from early 1960's... Santa's reindeer from 1965... red bottlebrush tree Made in Japan (1941~prior)...

Some of my little kneehuggers all got together...

They wanted to give you all a "group hug"!... tee hee hee, yes, I already know I am a silly girl but I have alot of fun!... I will be linking this post this week to What's It Wednesdays with Patti and Paula at Ivy and Elephants and Vintage Inspiration Fridays, Vintage Christmas with Debra at Common Ground.. are you in the Christmas spirit yet?... xoxo...

"He who has not Christmas in his heart
will never find it under a tree" ~ Roy L. Smith

Santa Baby... Forgot to Mention One Little Thing...

2011-12-03T19:58:00.003-07:00

Hi it's me, Tessy... I have been listening to Eartha Kitt all day...

I hope Santa Baby has been listening too... after all, this is my first Christmas in my forever home... I was a little lost stray until Julie Marie and Jack rescued me this past Spring... my mama says I was Heaven sent... so I must have been an angel all year, Santa Baby... so hurry down the chimney tonight... hurry down the chimney tonight... (is it Christmas yet?????)... xoxo... Tessy (Linking this post to Pet Parade here!)

The Gift of Time... Part Two...

2011-12-03T10:02:00.004-07:00

Yesterday the terrible winds from the previous two days had subsided enough that my two nieces and I went for an afternoon of shopping... (the winds are back today but only 55 mph not 100 mph+ like they were)... the downed trees and property damage from the hurricane force winds saddened us to see... but we were determined to keep our positive outlooks on life, saying a prayer for those affected... today was our "gift of time" day to each other... I posted previously here about my sister and I giving each other the gift of time this year for Christmas... we are spending an entire day together closer to Christmas, taking afternoon tea in Salt Lake City at our favorite tea room and browsing Antique Row...

These are my girls... my nieces... my loves... Filly on the left and Liz on the right... this is my very favorite photo of the two of them... they were dining in Le Jules Verne Restaurant in the Eiffel Tower... love the lights of Paris in the background... my sister and brother~in~law gave their beautiful daughters a once~in~a~lifetime trip to Europe when they both graduated from the University of Utah several years back... I am their other~mother, I love these girls soo much!... Filly lives in London now and is here for a visit for several weeks... Liz lives in the little town of Bountiful that I grew up in which borders my little town I live in now...

Yesterday as we were shopping, they surprised me with this most stunning gift... so carefully chosen for me for today, our gift of time day... I collect Ormolu tresors and this stunning hourglass is just so exquisite to add to my collection and enjoy... even more so as it came from my girls... spending precious time with them is my favorite thing to do...

Look at the intricate details on the top...

And equally stunning on the bottom...

Merci Filly and Liz!... Je t'aime... bisous... Juju

Vintage Christmas, Putz Houses, Guardian Angels and Thankful for a Brand New Day...

2011-12-02T08:58:00.009-07:00

This morning I am thankful for my guardian angels who watched over us yesterday during our massive hurricane force winds here in Centerville... (see my previous post which I have updated this morning)... I know I have many guardian angels watching over us, and yesterday was no exception...

I want to remind you all of the Vintage Christmas Fridays party at Debra's at Common Ground... my post for today's party is just prior to last nights post, you can find it here... I hope you enjoy seeing my collection of vintage Putz houses and bottle brush trees... I have received many emails and inquires about my collections, lots of questions and offers to purchase mine... sorry, mine are not for sale... but I do encourage you to do your homework if you are buying these little vintage treasures... there are sooo many reproductions out there these days... and they are just adorable... BUT, especially on Ebay, I am seeing them being listed as "vintage" from the 30's, 40's and 50's, which they are not... I have given some tips in that post about how to help you identify the truly vintage ones... I have said before I am certainly no expert, but after a lifetime of collecting and hours of research, I am comfortable in my knowledge of the difference in the vintage ones or reproductions... if you love the reproduction ones, buy them!... I have many of the newer ones too, (not featured in my vintage posts)... but be careful not to pay the exorbitant prices some unscrupulous sellers are asking by listing them as vintage... hopefully my little tips will help you and I am most happy to answer you in an email... not being pompous here... it's just that I do not want to see anyone thinking they are buying vintage when they are not... xoxo...

Praying for My Little Town Tonight...

2011-12-01T17:36:00.009-07:00

Tonight my little town of Centerville is under a state of emergency due to hurricane force winds in excess of 100 mph. Power off most of time, on briefly, all of my family is okay, but my little town looks like a war zone... trains blown over, power lines down, semis blown over, Interstate 15 closed, schools closed, numerous gas leaks from uprooted trees, one home burned completely to the ground... numerous accidents and injuries... praying for my little town and the little surrounding towns tonight... my sister lost one of her 30 year old pine trees that was almost 100 feet tall... thankfully, it did not fall on their home... the Bountiful Cemetery where my loved ones are buried has had almost all of the 100+ year old trees uprooted and many headstones pulled out as well... I am praying my family's gravesites are okay... I am unable to get out to go there as the winds are still too high and dangerous and the towns are all dark with numerous power outages... I would appreciate any prayers... xoxo... Friday am... the winds have calmed down and now the massive cleanup in Centerville begins... thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers... as far as I have heard, there were no fatalities and no life~threatening injuries, just so much property damage... the folks here in Centerville and the surrounding little towns are very strong~willed and will begin the cleanup with a positive attitude and thankful to God that no one was seriously injured or killed... my heart goes out to those who lost their home through fire caused by downed power lines or gas leaks... and to all who suffered major property damage... thank you all once more for your prayers... xoxo... Julie Marie

Vintage Christmas ... Putz Houses and Bottlebrush Trees...

2011-11-28T05:57:00.015-07:00

Hello... and welcome to Idyllhours... some of you may have seen my vintage Christmas treasures before and heard my stories about them... but I hope you will enjoy seeing them again... I have collected vintage Christmas since I was a little girl... many of my things are from my childhood... and many gathered throughout the years... I am so sentimental and have such precious memories of Christmases past... both mine and the images in my mind of those who have passed on and whose vintage Christmas treasures I have found at estate sales and now live with me... each and every one softly speaks to me... the precious stories they have to tell!... shhh... listen closely... to the beautiful memories of Christmas from days~gone~by... I always say that I love to think that those whose treasures I now call my own, are looking down at them from Heaven and smiling... reminiscing about Christmases of long ago... knowing I will take care of them and they will continue making new Christmas memories with me and my family...

Today I want to share my collection of vintage Putz houses and bottlebrush trees... Putz houses originated in Germany... the word "Putzen" meaning to decorate or adorn... lavish little villages were set up at Christmas time often with a little train layout as well... shortly thereafter, Japan began making the little villages and exporting them to the United States... my collection is almost entirely marked "Made in Japan" placing it between 1921~1941, prior to WWII... those made after the War were placed on larger cardboard bases, where mine are all on flat cardboard... that, along with the markings on the bottoms, is one of the ways to help you determine the age of your Putz houses... all of the little houses in the photo above belonged to me as a little girl... as well as the bottle brush trees, with the exception of the red one, which I purchased at a tag sale some years ago... one of my very favorite pieces is my little church below... like the others, it was mine as a child... I remember buying the little handcarved wooden angels as if it were yesterday... they were 25 cents each back then... I had to save up my allowance to buy them at a little gift shop in downtown Bountiful... one has a broken wing... making her even more precious to me now...

Jack always teases me about my "giant" deer in my little village... he has built a wonderful model railroad layout fashioned after the '40s ... my favorite era in time... so romantic back then... (I sometimes wish I would have been born earlier than I was so I could have experienced those years) ... and of course his is all to scale... mine is not!... I love my giant celluloid deer... my little old mirror is the lake, of course... I could not wait to set up my little mica covered village as a child... and I am ten years old once more as I set it up these days...

Last year was the first year we did not light up our little village... the little houses started smelling hot with the bulbs in them, and I did not want to burn the village down... my larger church has a teeny bulb inside and batteries in the bottom... so it lights up for Midnight Mass...

My little green bottlebrush tree is so priceless to me!... shabby and worn... and so well ~loved...

Do you know the difference between "Japan"and "Made in Japan"?... well, as I stated above, "Made in Japan" puts your collectibles between 1921 and 1941... "Japan" markings were used after 1941 and are used to present day... the only exception to these markings are those marked "Occupied Japan" which dates from 1945~1952 when Allied Forces occupied Japan after the War ended... my next little village was all from an estate sale I attended a number of years ago, with the exception of the two little blue houses and the one pink roofed one... those were a gift from my sister Jill last year...

The estate was that of a military man who had served in WWII and his wife who had each passed away... for the life of me, I cannot understand how family members can part with such precious things... (I purchased so many wonderful treasures from this estate, including not only vintage Christmas, but many pieces of WWII memorabilia)... the little celluloid Santa in his sleigh is from the same estate and is one of my most prized decorations... it is from the early 50's...

My three bottle brush trees below are much larger than most and extremely rare and hard to come by these days... these are about 10 inches tall, marked "Made in Japan" and still have the fabulous original mercury glass balls on them...

These next Putz houses are original vintage ones, that my friend Janet at Shabbyfufu then puts her magical touch on and creates these stunning little Christmas boxes... I have purchased one each year for the past three years... sadly, she had none available this year...

Pretty in pink...

"I'm dreaming of a White Christmas"... can't you just hear Bing crooning...

My sweet sister Jill gifted me with these beautiful vintage bottlebrush trees several years ago...

And also this gorgeous green one... all three were found by her in a quaint little antique store in San Juan Capistrano... these colors are very hard to come by these days... thanks Jill!...

I hope you enjoyed seeing my little vintage Putz houses and trees... I am partying with Patti and Paula at Ivy and Elephants on " What's It Wednesdays" and Debra at Common Ground on "Vintage Inspiration Fridays, Vintage Christmas"... hope you all will visit their blogs for links to all of the other party goers those days too!... xoxo...

Vintage Christmas... Pretty in Pink...

2011-11-27T12:11:00.015-07:00

Over the years, I have collected so much vintage Christmas and I love sharing it with you... I thought I would show you one of my many vintage decorated trees today... my pink tree (the tree itself is not vintage) all dressed up in my vintage oh~so~soft pale pink balls from the early 50's... these beauties were made by the Coby Company in the US. I purchased all of them at an estate sale many years ago, all in their original boxes... which I treasure almost as much as the ornaments themselves...

I wanted this to be a girly~girly tree for me and Tessy (she is SUCH a little girly Princess!)...

Underneath the tree are some exquisite gifts Santa may have brought a pretty lady those many years ago... a satin glovebox to keep her finest gloves in... a vintage rhinestone brooch and earrings (these belonged to my mama)... some lavish French parfum... a little silver trinket box... and a stunning beaded evening bag... my mama bought me the bag when I was just a little girl... she had bought one for herself to take to a Christmas party at the Officers Club at Ft. Douglas and I wanted to be just like her... another of my most cherished possessions... treasures from the past brought to life at Christmas time... holding precious memories always close to my heart... as I make beautiful new ones to tuck away with those from long ago... xoxo... I am linking this post to 2805 today for the Christmas Blogger Block Party, Christmas Trees...

"Pink Friday" Shopping at Madeleine L'Amour...

2011-11-26T07:03:00.000-07:00

I do not like crowds, so I never shop the sales at the big stores on Black Friday... but I did go to my friends El and Jen's beautiful boutique "Madeleine L'Amour" here in Centerville for their second annual "Pink Friday" sale and party... these ladies are both so adorable and their shop is just exquisite!... their sale and party started at 10 am (plenty of time to get ready, have my morning coffee first, walk Tessy down the trail)... I was still an "early bird" and was entered in their early bird drawing... they gave away five beautiful prizes and I won a pretty little flowered coinpurse!... everyone was also able to pick a lucky candy cane with a little note attached for up to 30 per cent off an item of choice...

So, I counted the candy canes until I got to the 13th one... 13 is my lucky number... mine was for 30 per cent off the item of choice... ladies, what could I do?... I HAD to buy this stunning handmade "GlamBag" I fell in love with... I simply had no choice... it was fate... meant to be...

It is the most beautiful bag, perfect for the holidays (or anyday) made from the softest silks and velvets, with lace and a velvet flower... lined completely in gorgeous leopard print velvet... smooshy soft... and so lightweight... easy on the shoulder... when I came home and showed it to Jack he reminded me I had said I would buy no more purses after I splurged on my Louis Vuitton this summer... I explained this was not a purse... this was a BAG... he rolled his eyes as he snapped my picture with it... I'm glad all you ladies know the difference between a purse and a bag... I just had to have it... really... I did... it's not a purse Jack (back me up here girls!)... xoxo...

An Angel's Heavenly Home at Christmas~ time...

2011-11-24T17:02:00.004-07:00

Have you ever wondered what a beautiful angel's home is like at Christmas time?... come softly with me, and I shall take you there...

Her home is soft and dreamy... shimmery and sparkly... right up to the star glistening high atop her gable... a welcoming "Merry Christmas" she sprinkled with the finest silvery glittery angel dust... which of course is very similar to fairy dust as it holds magical dreams and wishes inside...

Last year, this little atrium was "A Flower Fairy's Home at Christmas"... she graciously let her guardian angel reside in it this year...

Oooh, look!... her gate is open... let's step gingerly inside...

Tiny frosted windowpanes and little trees all sugary~snowy coated... and look!... a beautiful shimmering lake that reflects the silvery stars at night...

The beautiful angel is outside... I hope she does not mind that we tiptoed in...

Quite the contrary... she is gifting us all with the Christmas spirit... and sending us off with abundant blessings for this most beautiful time of year... xoxo...

Thanksgiving Wishes and My Giveaway Winner Announced...

2011-11-23T06:50:00.000-07:00

Hello... this morning Jack drew the winning name for my little Olde World Christmas giveaway...

The winner of the beautiful little Olde World Christmas ornament is Kit from A Montana Life. Congratulations Kit!... Please email me with your address and I will send your little gift right out!... Wishing you all a beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving... xoxo...

Vintage Christmas Decorations All Up!...

2011-11-21T06:59:00.002-07:00

Whew!... ten days later and lots and lots of careful unwrapping all of my vintage Christmas decorating is finished!... even extra vintage ornaments with no caps to hang them by find a home in a pretty basket with vintage doilies... I just love these oh~so~soft pale pink balls from long ago... I decorated an entire pink tree with nothing but these beautiful sweet tresors... I will show my pink tree, along with my other trees when I join Debra for Vintage Christmas Fridays the entire month of December... we always turn our trees and lights on Thanksgiving night... I am ready for the enchantment of the Christmas Season to begin...

So, with my decorating all done, I will begin preparing for our Thanksgiving feast... lots of goodies to bake and plans to make... if you have not entered my Olde World Christmas giveaway, be sure to leave me a comment on the previous post only to enter... I will post the winner on Wednesday November 23 (while my pies are baking!)... have you begun your Christmas decorating yet?... xoxo...

My Olde World Christmas Giveaway...

2011-11-18T16:09:00.003-07:00

For at least forty years now, I have been going to a quaint little shop nearby called "Edelweiss" at Christmas time... it is still owned by the same darling little German couple that first opened their door oh so many years ago... it is open year~round and I shop there other times of the year as well... but at Christmas time, it holds a certain magic about it that is like no other...

Every year, I go about this time and purchase a beautiful new heirloom quality handblown glass bird for my bird tree... "Inge~Glas" of Germany is located in Neustadt of northern Bavaria and continues the tradition of quality craftsmanship... over 400 years of a family journey... (my beautiful little bird tree in the photo below)...

Step inside with me and be enchanted...

Everywhere you look are the finest gifts from Europe ...

And Christmas time is like being in a fairytale...

As you can tell from my recent posts, I am in the Christmas spirit!... so, I would love to give one lucky blogger this exquisite olde~world Santa from Inge~Glas... he is wrapped in a beautiful little gift box with the history of the company on it... a beautiful heirloom to pass down through the generations...

My giveaways are simple... just leave me a comment on this post only telling me you would love to win this tresor... if you do not have a blog, please leave an email where I can contact you... you have until midnight our time ( mountain time) on Tuesday November 22nd to comment and enter ... I will have Jack draw the winner (from the comments on this post only) on Wednesday November 23rd so I can mail it out priority mail in plenty of time for your Christmas decorating... I am still busy with vintage Christmas decorations, and preparing for Thanksgiving... and my niece Filly is coming home for a visit from London on Monday and I can't wait to spend time with her!...good luck in my little giveaway!...xoxo...

Picture This...

2011-11-15T20:20:00.008-07:00

I've always loved taking photographs... maybe that's part of why I like to blog so much... taking photos and writing... ever since I was a little girl they have always been two of my favorite things to do... my first camera belonged to my grandfather Jules Arthur Vicknair, Sr. first... then my daddy Jules Arthur Vicknair, Jr., then to me... I used this precious camera for many, many years growing up... it is an old Ansco box camera... on the side it reads "Ansco Dollar Camera"... to take a picture, you would hold it about at your waist and look down into the view finder from above... you used the little lever on the side to take the picture and you wound the film with the silver winder...

My little camera, circa 1910, is retired now and lives happily on a little table in my bedroom with my treasured French Bible dated 1904... both of them now true antiques, over one hundred years old...

My Grandfather Vicknair is on the right in the photo above and his brother, my Great~uncle Pierre Seraphin Vicknair on the left... the epitome of French gentlemen... Je t'aime Grandpa and Uncle Pete... Bisous... I am linking this post to Debra's Vintage Inspiration Fridays at Common Ground...

Vintage Christmas Continues ... Closet Number Two...

2011-11-14T08:00:00.003-07:00

Every year it starts out the same... should I or shouldn't I get out ALL of my vintage Christmas decorations to use?... "all" means a lifetime of collecting vintage Christmas treasures, starting when I was just a little girl... Okay Monty, let's see what's behind door number 2... (many of you are probably too young to remember "Let's Make a Deal")... yikes!... I thought I had done alot already these past few days... and I haven't even started on these or the trees...

This was the first closet of goodies I got out and showed you a few posts back...

Jack's and my conversations each year don't change much either... they go sorta like this... ME: "Jack... whose dumb idea was it to get out ALL of the vintage Christmas again this year?... excusez~moi? it was my idea?... yes, yes, I suppose that would be me... but I get soo tired and it takes soo much time to do it all... oh... you remember me saying that before?... every year?... hmmm... why does it take me so much longer each year you ask?... well... maybe because I am getting older?... no, you don't think that's it?... you think it is because I get so excited over seeing each of my precious ornaments and decorations again?... and you think it is because I linger over each one... reminiscing... or letting my thoughts carry me back to simpler gentler times... perhaps imagining who once owned some of these heirlooms and what Christmas Day was like so very long ago?... then you tell me how you love to see my eyes light up as I gingerly unwrap each precious piece... showing you even the bits and pieces of tinsel in the bottom of the boxes... Oooh, Jack... look!... icicles just like the ones my sister Jill and I used to just "throw" on our tree when we were little girls after we got tired of hanging them one by one... did I ever tell you that Jack?... I did?... about a thousand times?... did I tell you my daddy used to laugh, and make us take off the clumps and hang them all one by one?... told ya that too, huh?... oooh, look Jack... a teeny little vintage star is in the bottom of this old box of ornaments... did I ever tell you about the time... oooh... I did?... every year for the past 34 years?... but tell you again anyway... okay, well one time when I was just a little girl..." then he smiles and helps me carry all the boxes upstairs... I love this guy so!... and he loves to see our home turned into a Winter Wonderland... Jack cherishes our collection as much as I do... as we hold tight to our memories and create new ones...

Once again this year, I will be joining Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Christmas Fridays the entire month of December... I can hardly wait!... besides posting my photos, I will share some info about collecting vintage Christmas... I am by no means an expert, but like everything else I collect, I ask alot of questions, do alot of research, and "hang out" with friends who also collect or friends who are reputable dealer in the antiques business... and I am comfortable with the knowledge I have gained over the years that what I buy is truly vintage... I hope you will join in Debra's parties as well!... They are so much fun!... (I hope she serves some yummie treats!)... xoxo...

Dahling... If You've Got It...

2011-11-13T08:01:00.005-07:00

Flaunt it!... Hi, it's me... Princess Tess... modeling my new fur coat (faux, of course!)...
We have had snow, snow and more snow... and naturally, I can't walk the trail in just any old rag... especially when I walk past the Sheltie boys house... I think they have a crush on me... today, I am helping my mama with more vintage Christmas decorating... you see, this is my first "real" Christmas in my forever home, so I am "helping" with everything... my friend Enzo (who I have just a teeny crush on too) helps around his house as well... he told me to look for faux birdies on trees... they are fun to play with!... thanks for the tip Enzo... I have spotted a few elves that look fun as well... (what does it mean when my mama says "those are vintage Tessy... no... play with your own critters and toys???)... guess I'll find out... mmmmwwwaaahhhhh!... (that's a big doggie kiss from me to you!)... xoxo... Tessy

Petite Tresors...

2011-11-12T09:45:00.009-07:00

Like everything else I collect, I fell in love with these precious petite tresors many years ago and my collection has grown through the years... salt dips and salt cellars were used from as far back as Medieval times through about the 1940's, mainly by wealthy families who lavishly used them on their dinner tables... salt was considered a luxury in those days... it also was not iodized back then and would not pour from a box... thus, salt cellars and salt dips were used to carefully spoon the salt onto your meal... most often a salt cellar, which is larger than a salt dip, was placed at the head of the table... then, individual salt dips (sometimes called open salts or simply "salts") were placed at each table setting... each with a tiny salt spoon... most of the little spoons are made from sterling silver with some silver plated ones... the head of the family usually filled the individual little dishes and passed them down the table... in the photo below, several of my purple pressed glass salt dips... purple pressed glass dates to pre~ 1920... sometimes called "sun purple" it is actually not from the sun initially at all... before 1921, manganese was used in the glass which caused it to discolor... these little salts were once clear... I love purple pressed glass and collect that as well in assorted beautiful other pieces... it is true the longer it sits in the sun, the deeper purple it will become over the years... also shown are some of my extra salt spoons... the purple pressed glass piece in the top photo is a vintage toothpick holder I keep my extra salt spoons in...

The teeny spoons are harder and harder to find these days... you won't like the reason any more than I do... drug users buy them to use with their drugs... one of my dear friends who has been in the antiques business for over 50 years and from whom I have learned so much will not sell a spoon without a salt dip to unsavory looking individuals... this has discouraged a number of the creeps from buying them for illegal purposes... below are some of my handpainted porcelain dips...

My sister Jill gave me this gorgeous Depression glass dip and spoon...

Another purple pressed glass one...

Just so petite and sparkly... pure enchantment to me...

The larger of the two in the photo below is a salt cellar... you can see the difference in size as it sits next to a salt dip... salt cellars usually have a lid on them as well to keep the salt dry... this beautiful salt cellar was also a gift from my precious sister, brought back to me from her recent trip to London where she found it in a wonderful old antiques shop in Painswick in the Cotswolds...

These were my mamas... they are handpainted from Germany, and so very cherished by me...

My celery dish and individual salt dips... handpainted "Nippon"... so delicate and lovely!...

Is this just the sweetest rose ever... about the early 1950's salt shakers were used in place of salt dips... I think the little dishes were so much more romantic...

I love them because they take me back to a gentler time... I think I shall linger there a while longer... xoxo...

Vintage Christmas Touches My Heart...

2011-11-11T19:00:00.004-07:00

So, I started getting out some of my vintage Christmas collection to start decorating with... wow, seems just like yesterday that I was getting all of this stuff out... and now, it is time once more... I have to start decorating this early... I have a lifetime of vintage Christmas I have collected, ever since I was a little girl... if I don't start early, I would never have it all done to enjoy before Christmas... and this is just a part of my collection... I have another whole closet I haven't even started on yet...

Many of my treasures were mine as a little girl... even back then I took very good care of my things and saved them over the years... I have added every year to my collection through estate sales, flea markets, thrift shops and gifts from my family... I treasure hunt for vintage Christmas year round, not just this time of year... I am always amazed at a yard sale to see that Christmas decorations are one of the main things people around here part with... I give them a forever home...

Remember this little guy from last year?... last year he begged me could they "please all come out again for Christmas"... all the elves, Santas, angels, Putz houses, bottlebrush trees, candles... vintage pink balls... and so much more...

He did it to me again... how could I say "no" to a face like that?... I can't... just one more cup of coffee and I will start on the other closet... besides, it is Tessy's first "real" Christmas in her forever home... and putting out my vintage Christmas is a tradition... and I never break traditions... and then there are the memories... gently caressing each decoration as my thoughts drift away to Christmases past... and the stories my treasures could tell... I shall listen closely... xoxo...

"He who has not Christmas in his heart
will never find it under a tree" ~ Roy L. Smith

"Deck the Harley With Boughs of Holly...

2011-11-11T09:02:00.005-07:00

"Jack is going to kill me when he comes home from coffee... fa la la la la... la la, la la!"... no, not really... infact, he actually used the photo I took of his "Hog" decorated for Christmas last year to email as a Christmas card to all his buddies... (little did he know he had glitter on his butt for about a month after Christmas every time he rode!)... fa la la la la... xoxo...

Un Cadeau de la France...

2011-11-08T19:30:00.016-07:00

"A gift from France"...

If you follow my blog (merci!) then you know how very sentimental I am... and the deep love I have for my family... and those in my family who have passed away... my family heirlooms are displayed throughout our home... beautiful reminders of the love my family all has for each other... and always will... I have posted this beautiful old Cognac bottle before... last Christmas when I had decorated it for the Season... today, it sits on my coffee table, decorated for Autumn and Thanksgiving... it has many stories to tell... listen... quietly... and perhaps you too will hear gentle whispers from the past... the elegant glasses are from a set I purchased several years ago at an estate sale of tresors belonging to two beautiful, glamorous sisters who lived in our little hometown of Bountiful and who my sister Jill and I were enchanted by when we were little girls... I posted about these precious ladies here... you may want to read their story... beautiful memories fill my thoughts...

In keeping with my wanting to post about Veteran's Day as well, I shall tell you the story of my precious bottle... my daddy retired as a Colonel in the United States Army... proudly serving our Country... and a WWII Veteran... stationed in France, Belgium, and England during the War... I was raised with the utmost respect and highest regard for all of our Armed Forces... and am so very proud of my daddy... this beautiful bottle full of French Cognac was given to my daddy while he was in France... being of French heritage on my daddy's side of the family makes it even more cherished by me...

The label reads "Reserve for French and Allied Troops"... a gift from the French government during the War... daddy saved his and brought it home with him when he returned after the War ended... he saved it for his and my mama's twenty~fifth wedding anniversary to drink...

A toast to my daddy... and all of our wonderful Veterans and all of our Armed Forces... to those no longer with us... those who are now retired... and those who currently serve... I am linking this post to Debra's "All Things French" Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground... be sure to visit her blog and enter her "All Things French" Giveaway too!... Bisous...

The Best of Times...

2011-11-06T18:11:00.007-07:00

Several days ago, I did a post called "The Gift of Time" where I posted about my sister Jill and I changing around our Christmas gift giving a bit this year... since neither one of us "needs" one thing, and we both end up going a bit crazy and spending way more than we should on each other, we decided this year to give each other "the gift of time"... spending an entire day together... browsing around Antique Row in Salt Lake City and taking afternoon tea at our favorite tea room... I am so excited at the thought of this I decided I wanted to make us each something special for that day to wear... so many of you ladies are so talented at making pretty things, with shops and all... I don't have a shop but I do love to make pretty things for me and my family...

We both love jewelry and especially sparkly pieces...

So, I got into my stash of vintage jewelry and found two old, beautiful vintage watches that belonged to our mama... one had no band on it and one had a broken band on it... but I knew they would be perfect for what I had in mind... Jill usually wears silver jewelry while I usually wear gold... so it was easy to decide who gets what...

I bought some vintage looking blingy thingies in the jewelry making section at Michaels, attached them with sterling silver and 14k gold filled jump rings to the bottom of the watches...

Then, I put Jill's silver one on a long sterling silver chain I bought at TJ Maxx today, and mine on a long gold chain I already had... and Voila!...

I can't wait to give Jill hers tomorrow... I hope she doesn't look at this post tonight!... I am so pleased with how they turned out... and they will always remind us of our upcoming day together, later in December closer to Christmas... "the gift of time"... what could be better!... xoxo... Monday... I just gave my sister her pendant... we both cried... I think that means she likes it!... I am linking this post today to "What's It Wednesdays" at Ivy and Elephants... xoxo...

Every Tresor Tells a Story...

2011-11-05T18:47:00.002-06:00

Do your cherished collections tell a story?... mine do... every precious little heirloom has a past... and a story to tell... not just the ones that were in my family... even those fabulous estate sale finds speak to me... and I quietly listen wistfully to what they have to say...

Beautiful estate sale pearls... why did no one in the family want them?... I can never understand this... so delicate and lovely... perhaps they belonged to a sweet little grandmother... who wore them everyday... as grandmothers make every day truly special... yes, they are priceless to me now... I can almost picture the beautiful silver haired lady who wore them... petite... but strong willed... kind and loving... so sad they did not stay in her family... but they are a part of my family now...

My daddy's old silver cigarette lighter... daddy quit smoking when he came home from WWII to his wife and daughter... my mama and my sister Jo... so happy he quit way back then, even though no one knew the dangers of smoking then, he did not want to smoke around his family... and lived to be 91 years young... I miss you daddy... next to daddy's lighter, some of my mama's beautiful vintage rhinestone jewelry... a gorgeous brooch and earrings... perhaps she wore them to a dance at the Officers Club at Ft. Douglas... my daddy retired as a Colonel in the Army and they attended many dances and parties there... my mama always dressed to the nines... I loved watching her get ready for an evening out... ladies were so elegant and feminine back then.... I wanted to be just like her... I couldn't wait for them to get home and she would tell us all about the dance or dinner... and describe what the other ladies were wearing... I miss you too mama...

A vintage French parfum box purchased from a dear friend's shop... along with a petite crown... (I am a self~appointed Princess you know)...

An exquisite altered vintage bottle... filled with lavender and adorned with a sand dollar on the front... made even more special for me by the old faded paper tag on the bottle... it reads "May 1949"... the month and year I was born...

My sealing wax stamp from when I was a little girl... when I wrote letters to my grandmother, I always sealed them with sealing wax and this pretty stamp embossed in the wax... such a simpler, gentler time back then... I pictured my grandmother carefully opening my letter so as not to disturb the pretty design from the stamp... do you still write letters?... I think a handwritten letter is so much more romantic that an email... and it would be sealed with wax and stamped, of course...

Another estate sale tresor... this gorgeous rhinestone covered lipstick holder... one of my obsessions collecting these... underneath it, a petite ladies mirror to tuck inside her evening bag...

There is still lipstick inside... a beautiful coraly shade... I picture a raven haired beauty wearing this shade... all eyes upon her as she enters the ballroom... her long flowing ballgown glistening with sequins and such... did you know the beautiful movie star Marilyn Monroe never used just one shade of lipstick? ... she would apply two, sometimes three shades at a time to blend together and create her own unique shade...

These are just a very few of the treasures I hold dear to me... some belonging to my family... some now a part of my family... I love to know the history behind my treasures... and as I said, if I don't know their past... I conjure up a beautiful image in my thoughts to match the piece... I would love to know the stories your collections have to share... do they whisper softly to you too?... I hope you listen to what they have to tell... xoxo...

The Gift of Time...

2011-11-04T18:50:00.006-06:00

My sister Jill and I are inseparable... we always have been since we were little girls... my sister... my confidante... my best friend... Yesterday, Jill and I were talking about Christmas... every year, without fail we both go overboard buying gifts for each other... for a number of reasons... the main one because we love each other and another one is because it is so much fun to buy for each other... we each collect so many different things... our homes and decorating styles are just about totally opposite from each other... mine is vintage and antiques, like my great~grandfathers pocket watch that my grandmother had put on a little stand... or my vintage French opera glasses and antique French Bible... while Jill's is Native American and Southwestern... but we both still love to go antiquing together... each hunting for that elusive hidden treasure.... for me, perhaps another vintage mini French parfum bottle... for Jill, maybe an old Ojibwa basket or beaded pouch... and we both adore vintage rhinestone jewelry (who doesn't?)...

Jill had a fabulous idea yesterday... neither one of us actually "needs" anything... we are both blessed with a very comfortable lifestyle, everyone in our families working hard our entire lives to make it so... I am retired now, while Jill is proprietress of her own business, an exquisite Native American shop online called "Indian Summer"... she works so hard keeping up with her shop and customers and I am so proud of her and her beautiful site... but I miss the carefree days we used to spend together, when time did not seem so tight... just lazing away a day... visiting "Antique Row" in Salt Lake City... perhaps lunch at a fancy cafe...

So... loving Jill's idea totally, we both agreed instead of the endless number of gifts we always buy for each other or gift certificates for each other... and spending way more money than either one of us should... this year we would give each other "the gift of time"... Jill thought it would be fun to take afternoon tea at a beautiful tea room we love in Salt Lake City... just the two of us... savoring our time together... spending the entire afternoon together... I suggested we visit "Antique Row" and some of our favorite shops again... we decided we would each pick out one very special antique or vintage tresor for ourselves, something that carried alot of meaning within it or brought back a cherished memory... and each buy the other one their treasured find... something that will remind us of our special day together... and just how precious the gift of time truly is... my family is the most important thing in my life... I cannot think of a finer gift I would rather receive... xoxo...

Grandmother's Roses...

2011-11-01T07:42:00.012-06:00

November... to me it is a quiet kind of month... Halloween has come and gone and Christmas is still a bit aways... time to relax just a little and reflect now... today I shall do just that... I shall put all of the Halloween decorations away until next year and begin dusting, sorting, re~arranging and daydreaming... it actually relaxes me to do household chores... maybe because I do not look at them as chores, rather a way of making our home look pretty while my thoughts drift away as I carefully dust cherished family heirlooms... like my beautiful porcelain rose bowl that belonged to my mama... and her mama, my grandmother, before her... it is one of my most prized possessions...

I keep it in a curio in my bedroom... when it came out today, so did a flood of happy memories... mama's rose bowl always sat in it's place of honor in our home when I was a little girl... it was one of mama's favorite tresors too... perhaps because it had belonged to her mama and has the most beautifully soft pink roses handpainted on it... no rose garden was ever quite as lovely and enticing as my mama's that she tended to at the home I grew up in... fresh cut roses were everywhere in our home... every day... filling the air with their luscious fragrance and delicate beauty... just like my mama... sometimes I swear I can smell her Shalimar parfum... just a whisper of it... and hear her gentle voice... softly singing as she went about her daily chores too... never thinking of them as chores either...making our house into a beautiful home... I believe she is close by... always watching over me... and per chance gazing at grandmother's precious rose bowl as I gingerly dust it... I will linger a bit longer before I place it back in my curio... letting the images in my mind make me smile... an acquaintance of Jack's once asked me "why do you want to live in the past" when he saw all of my vintage and antique treasures in our home... only a fool would ask a question such as that... Jack has the same love and appreciation for the past as I do... I have a saying under my profile which I wrote myself that describes me... "I cherish the people, places and objects from the past, for they are all a part of who I am today"... my little saying holds true... I am me... yet still a part of all my family who have gone before me... do you cherish the past and hold tight to your memories and traditions like I do... I hope so... wishing you a beautiful beginning to a most heartwarming month... xoxo... I am linking today to Debra's Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground...

Wishing You...

2011-10-31T07:49:00.011-06:00

An enchanting... bewitching...

totally dazzling Halloween!... xoxo...

The Story of Marie LaVeau...

2011-10-28T15:15:00.033-06:00

"Down in Louisiana...

where the black trees grow...

lives a voodoo lady named Marie LaVeau...

She's got a black cat's tooth...

and a Mojo bone...

And anyone who wouldn't... leave her alone... she'd go Eeeeeeeeeee!... another man done gone!... she lives in the swamp in a hollow log, with a one eyed snake and a three legged dog... she's got a bent bony body and stringy hair... and if she ever seen y'all messin' 'round there... she'd go eeeeeeee! another man done gone!...

Then one night when the moon was black...

Into the the swamp come handsome Jack... a no good man like you all know, and he was lookin' around for Marie LaVeau... he said "Marie LaVeau, you lovely witch... gimme a little charm that'll make me rich... gimme a million dollars and I'll tell you what I'll do... this very night I'm gonna marry you... and it'll be mmmmm mmmmm... another man done gone...
So Marie done some magic and she shook a little sand... made a million dollars and she put it in his hand... then she giggled and she wiggled and she said "hey hey, I'm getting ready for my wedding day!" But old handsome Jack, he said "goodbye Marie"... you're too damn ugly for a rich man like me"... then Marie started mumblin', her fangs started gnashin', her body started tremblin' and her eyes started flashin'... and she went eeeeeeeeeee! another man done gone!...

So if you ever get down where the black trees grow, and meet a voodoo lady named Marie LaVeau... if she ever asks you to make her your wife, Man you better stay with her for the rest of your life... or it'll be eeeeeeeeee!... another man done gone!" ~Bobby Bare, "Marie LaVeau"

Okay, so now you know the story of Marie LaVeau, who by the way really existed... much of the mystery that surrounds her is true and some is folklore passed down through the years... since my middle name is Marie, after all my French grandmothers all the way back... and my sweetie is Jack, I thought this would be a fun post to do... Happy Halloween everyone!... I have had sooo much fun doing my Halloween posts and visiting everyone elses... Tuesday, I will turn back into my sweet, shy, quiet little self... maybe... hee hee hee... xoxo ... (Okay Tessy... you can have your doggie bone back now... mama's through being silly... for awhile! Oooh, and I hope "handsome Jack" doesn't freak out that I put this photo of him on my blog today... he is hesitant about me posting his pic!) Click here to listen to the cute song of this by Bobby Bare... I had it playing on my blog over Halloween but removed it...(all photos are my own, even "Swamp Ln" which really is a little country lane we walk daily)... xoxo...

Hello Dearies... It's Time for Vintage Inspiration Friday at Debra's "Haunt"......Hee hee hee...

2011-10-27T18:29:00.005-06:00

Do come in and set a spell... I'm just finishing up a little "something special" for all the little darlings for All Hallows Eve... let's see... was that eye of newt or eye of potato it called for???... Rats!... I am getting so forgetful... and you caught me without my makeup on or my hair fixed... but nevertheless... do come in... I am joining Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday, and Vintage Halloween today... so, let's see what's vintage, (besides me)...

I have sooo much vintage Halloween, I could do a post a day for days and never run out... it's not so much because I have bought and collected alot, but rather I kept everything from when I was just a little witch... I want to show you some of my vintage Halloween cut~outs... up until about 13 years ago when we sold our little farmhouse and moved to another home, I hung all of these and more in my little paned windows... they have seen many a full moon and tons of trick~or~treaters... most all of these darling cut~outs are from the 1950's through early 1960's... some a little later...

This year, I am putting them all in a cute basket to display rather than hang them in my windows... sort of like how I display Christmas cards when there are too many to set about...

These old images are just too cute!...

Love the bottom of this one... "money or eats"!...

These poor old skeletons are from when I was just a little girl... they have been scotch taped together so many times... I think I can hear their poor old bones creak... (or maybe that was mine???)...

These were called "Scratch Cats"... looks like there must have been a cat fight since last year... one is missing part of his tail!...

Most of these treasures were made by the Beistle Company... right here in the good old USA...

The Beistle Company was founded in 1900 and continues to make Holiday and party favors to this day...

These are my two favorite ones from my childhood... some of my old ones are more faded than others, depending on how much sun came in the windows they were hung in...

Here's a little tip for anyone who wants to collect vintage Halloween... I have learned much through my own experiences over the past many years and also through friends who are reputable dealers... plus, I research everything I collect and own many reference books... the Beistle Company still makes the cute little cut~outs today, however, they are reproductions as you can see in my photo below... the one on the left is a new one, while the one on the right is my treasure from my childhood... sadly, unscrupulous dealers try (and succeed) in selling the reproductions on Ebay as "vintage" and commanding exorbitant prices...

Here they are on the backs... the new one on the left is two~sided, as all the reproduction ones are now, while my original one only has the design on the front, and years worth of tape on the back side from hanging them in my windows...

My old owl on the left and my newer one on the right...

The backs...

There is still some vintage Halloween out there, just waiting to be rescued, but it is becoming harder and harder to come by, and prices have skyrocketed... I buy it when I find it and can afford it... here's a couple more little secrets... if the guy tells you the cute little kids witches costume you're admiring is from the 50's, and the box has a UPC barcode or zipcode on, tell him "hasta la vista, baby" and shop elsewhere!... UPC codes didn't begin until 1974 and zipcodes began in 1963 non~mandatory and became mandatory in 1967... impossible the little witches costume was from the 50's!... this applies to ALL vintage collectibles... don't be fooled...

So for now, here is one of my vintages images I scanned in for YOU to click on and save... my gift just for you... to use as you please... Thanks Debra for hosting another fun party... and Happy Halloween everyone!... xoxo...

Happy Birthday Filly!...

2011-10-24T15:38:00.007-06:00

Thursday the 27th is our beautiful niece Phyllis Ann's birthday... I have called her Filly since the day she was born... she lives in London now, and with the time change and all, it is almost tomorrow there... I know how busy you are Filly with a week full of birthday plans, so I am doing this post for you early and leaving it up through your birthday so you will see it for sure!...

Filly is just as beautiful inside and out, kind and caring... loving and always giving, of herself and her time... I am so proud of you sweetie!... Filly and I share so many of the same loves, and I am kind of her "other mother" as my own mama used to say I was to my sister Jill (Filly's mama) when we were little... she is at Broomfield Park behind her flat in London in the photo above... I love that she is wearing a special pendant locket I gave her when she last visited here... inside, she still carries the little note I tucked in it telling her how much I love her... I hope you have a wonderful week hon, and that all your birthday wishes come true!... I miss you and I love you so much... I remember the day you were born... xoxo... We love you, Juju, Jack and Tessy

Delicious Autumn...

2011-10-23T13:57:00.000-06:00

"Delicious Autumn!...
My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird
I would fly about the earth
seeking the successive Autumns" ~George Eliot

Today is such an absolutely glorious Autumn day here... the air is crisp and the sky a brilliant blue... the sun is shining so brightly I want this delirious feeling to last forever... I love living in my bucolic little town... no bright lights and big cities for this country girl... come walk with me... this day is too enchanting not to share it with you... the little pumpkins are in my backyard under one of my crabapple trees... all photos are either at my home or on our Nature walk...

"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still,
and watch the leaves turn" ~Elizabeth Lawrence

The photo above is my Royal Crabapple tree in my backyard... soon, the Cedar Waxwings will arrive and feast on the berries... passing them down the line one by one to each bird until one of them finally eats it...

Our daily walk takes us past so many quaint and wonderfully rural places... I love seeing clothes hanging out on a line in the Autumn sun... that is their old silo in the background... and a pile of wood... chopped and ready to place upon the fire to ward off the upcoming Winter's chill...

A favorite friend on our walk sells cornstalks and pumpkins each year...

The trees that line Porter Lane are stunning today!... we laugh as we hear the squirrels chattering to each other... there is a walnut tree on this property and they jump to and fro like little acrobats... they too are relishing this magical Fall day...

I love to kick through the leaves and hear them crunch as I walk... do you?...

Beautiful moss... Nature's treasure...

This beautiful arch of trees is in the canyon five minutes away from my home... it reminds me of a secret entrance into a mystical Autumn woods...

I cannot think of any other way I would want to spend this day...

I hope you enjoyed our walk... and I hope you too will take time to notice all of the beauty that surrounds you each day... some as close as your own back yard... xoxo...

"Every leaf spells bliss to me,
fluttering from the Autumn tree" ~ Emily Bronte

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch...

2011-10-21T09:37:00.005-06:00

Ok, I will try to do another post and hope the witches don't snatch it again!... I see from many of you that you are also having problems with blogger... I have had four posts "disappear" in the last several weeks... eerie!... Anyway... not one to give in, I am doing another post and hope it stays here... I took a walk down the lane yesterday to the pumpkin patch that is now at the little stand where I buy flowers and fruits and vegetables all Summer long... it is decorated so cute, I wanted to share it with you all... then at the end of this post, I have posted just a couple of pics from the posts I lost...

A most sincere pumpkin patch, as Linus would say... love the old wooden fence behind them!...

Cute crows and witches everywhere...

Looks like the witch is in...

LOVE this old wheelbarrow full of Jack~be~Little pumpkins... I bought many of them...

Cornstalks are a must for Fall decorating!...

Cute little ghosts lead the way...

Delicious winter squash everywhere too... I also bought many of those... Blue Hubbard and Banana Squash, Acorn and Butternut... Spaghetti Squash, which I make into the most delicious stuffed squash ever!...

Sooo many to choose from!...

I got my cornstalks here several weeks ago when I decorated my front porch... such a fun little place to walk to... I bought a yummy apple to eat on my way home too... I bought a bushel there the other day... (I drove back for my heavy things though!)...

So, here I am as the Prairie Witch for Halloween... I had done an entire post showing many of my vintage "Prairie" items I was using for Halloween... rats, who took my posts???... traded my old black outfit for a newer, "hip" look... my vintage cowgirl boots, a vintage bejeweled Prairie belt buckle, vintage pendant, vintage doilies from my stash on my broom...

No pointy black hat this year, instead I fufu'd up my old straw cowgirl hat with vintage lace and some silk ribbons and a vintage millinery flower... I am now a "Shabby Shriek" witch, tee hee hee!...

The other post I lost (naughty witches to steal my posts!)... was about my daddy's old broom rake I brought home from my sister's house the other day and decorated for Autumn... I had seen one in my Fall issue of Country Gardens magazine and wanted to do one... then I saw several on some of my favorite blogs... so I have been searching and searching for a vintage rake with no luck... then, there was the one that belonged to my daddy, who passed away several years ago... the old rake is so old and worn... I left the old wooden handle on it, just the way it always had been...

I used some faux berries mixed in with some of my beautiful real snowberries since I could not find exactly what I wanted in our yard, and Jack questioned me the other night as to why I was walking around in the dark in my neighbors gardens, all dressed in black, with a pair of pruners and a sack in my hand... dang, you know how those retired cops are... just can't pull anything over on them!...

Some raffia around the handle and Voila!... another treasure from my past full of happy Autumn memories... this old rake gathered many a pile of Autumn leaves in years gone by... now, she can retire on my porch...

Thank you so much for stopping by... I do hope this post is still here when I check later!... maybe the naughty witches don't like me being a nice witch this year???... xoxo...

Blogger Problems...

2011-10-20T16:39:00.003-06:00

Not sure what is going on with Blogger, but the last two posts I did have disappeared... it took me a long time to do them the first time and I am just too tired to do them all over again...

Hope you are all having a beautiful Autumn day... xoxo...

Autumn Memories... Another Treasure From My Past...

2011-10-19T09:02:00.012-06:00

For weeks now, I have been scouring the local thrift stores and yard sales for a vintage broom rake... no luck in finding one... I wanted to make one into a cute Autumn decoration like I had seen in the Fall issue of my Country Gardens magazine... then, I saw several on some of my favorite blogs and started looking even harder for one... some of these old garden tools are extra hard to find around the little rural town I live in, because most of them are still being used, passed down from generation to generation on their little farms or gardens...

So... yesterday, I was at my sisters house feeding the cats while they are on vacation, and low and behold... there in her garage with all my daddy's old wooden handled gardening tools was his old broom rake!... I excitedly called my sister in New Mexico and asked if she minded if I claimed it... she said of course I should have it... my daddy passed away several years ago and my sister now owns his house which is right next door to hers, and all of his old tools were in his garage.... just like I mentioned, my brother~in~law still uses them all...we don't part with treasures like these... so I brought it home with me, so anxious to make it into my dream creation...

Just what is it that we love so about these old time~worn treasures... for me, I know a good part of it is the memories they hold... I left the old wooden handle on it... just the way it was the last time daddy used it... this sweet old rake is well over fifty years old, and spent many an Autumn raking up the leaves in our backyard at the house I grew up in which I recently posted about here...

So, I couldn't wait to get started on it... but first, I must find some pretty berries... I ended up using some faux berries mixed in with some real ones since I didn't have as many in my yard that I wanted to use, and the fact that Jack asked me why I was wandering around my neighbors gardens in the dark last night, all dressed in black with a pair of pruners and a sack in my hand... those dang retired cops!... can't pull anything over on them... tee hee hee...

I filled in between the faux red berries with some of my beautiful snowberries...

Some raffia tied around the handle... and Voila!...

A beautiful decoration for my front porch... made even more beautiful because it too holds blissful Autumn memories from days gone by... can you tell I am a sentimental lady?... xoxo...

I am linking this post to Tracie's "Outdoor Fall Decor Thursdays" at Fishtail Cottage... and Vintage Inspiration Friday with Debra at Common Ground...

Prairie Witch...

2011-10-17T16:56:00.008-06:00

So... sometimes I pretend I am ten years old again and play dress up... hey, who wants to grow up, not me!... I love dressing up on Halloween to hand out the treats to the trick~or~treaters... heck, even if no kids show up, I still have fun!... as you know, I couldn't decide if I wanted to be a nice witch or a naughty witch... wear pink or black???... so... I decided to update my "witchy" look, and this year I am a Prairie Witch... I have always loved the country and the prairie, and my lifestyle reflects that... so, why not dress up in some of the beautiful Prairie~Gypsy~Vintage treasures I have purchased from many of you over the past few years...

Instead of a pointy hat, I added some vintage lace, silk ribbon and a vintage millinery flower to my old straw cowgirl hat... love it!...

And I am trading my old pointy black witchy boots for my vintage turquoise cowgirl boots... I paid just $10.00 for these several years ago at a local thrift shop...

My Prairie Witch~Gypsy bag is from my friends Jen and El's shop here in Centerville, a darling little boutique called Madeleine L'Amour...

My stunning Prairie belt buckle all handmade from vintage jewels was purchased from my friend Jill, (Queen of the Gypsies!) at her exquisite shop Gypsy Brocante... one of her bags is next on my list too!...

Another dear blogger friend, Debra from Common Ground created my stunning vintage rhinestones and key pendant... the perfect compliment to my Prairie blouse from Ross (blouse $13.99)...

So of course, I had to ditch the ratty old broom I have been flying around on for years and create a "new" vintage one with vintage doilies from my stash...

So... there you have it... I am a "hip" witch now!... part Traditional Witch, part Prairie Witch... part Gypsy Witch... I guess you could say I am "Shabby Shriek"... tee hee hee!... hope you have as much fun getting ready for Halloween as I do!... xoxo... I am linking this post to Debra's Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground...

Hocus Pocus...

2011-10-17T09:17:00.000-06:00

So... I was cackling with a few of my "ghoul friends" yesterday, (that's me on the far left)... and I thought... just look at them... (and me)... same old outfits, year after year... black pointy hat, black cape, black boots... scraggly hair... and those ratty old brooms!... eek!... what a sight!...

Several posts back, (here)... I could not decide if I wanted to be a good witch all in pink and fufu and such, sweetness and nice... or a bad witch, all in black, same old... same old... well, after seeing how "dated" my "ghoul friends" looked, I decided I was due for a change... I have decided to be a somewhere~in~between kinda witch this year... I will show you all in a day or two!... hee, hee, hee... xoxo... Julie Marie

A Treasure From My Past...

2011-10-15T16:27:00.007-06:00

If you follow my blog (thank you!)... then you know how much I love Autumn... my favorite time of year... as much as I love it, I admit some days I do get a little melancholy as well...

Thursday I was driving up towards the mountains to my hairdressers home, and decided while I was up there, to drive past the house I grew up in... I climbed higher and higher up the hill, where only orchards and a few scattered homes was all that was there when I was a little girl... excited to see my childhood home again today... I have posted often about what a happy, blessed childhood I had and the memories I hold so dear to my heart... Autumn was a special time for all of my family back then... and it still is today to me... after my sisters and I were grown and married, my mama and daddy sold the house and moved to a smaller home... as I approached our home, I was so happy to see that the family who owns it now is taking very good care of it... a beautiful nice lady lives there with her husband and children... I met her several years ago... that day, I was parked outside in the street just reminiscing when she came out... so, I told her who I was and she invited me to come inside for a look... many changes through the years, but it still felt like "home"... I was overcome with a sense of deja vu as I walked room to room... I could almost hear my sister and I laughing as we played... and my mama calling us all to supper... this old house is filled with the warmth and love from my family and those days gone by...

Our home was built in the midst of a cherry orchard... the old cherry trees are gone now, as is my mama's cherished rose garden... a few tears filled my eyes the other day as I thought for a fleeting moment the roses were still there... and could almost smell the cherry pies my mama used to bake... just then, the lady who lives there came home from her walk and stopped to chat with me... I told her how happy it made me to see she kept it so nice, and that she too was an avid gardener... it looked absolutely beautiful!... I also loved that she had decorated outside for Halloween and I really love that she proudly flies the American flag on her porch... She invited me in once more, but since I was on my way to get my hair colored, I had to decline, but told her I would love to come back and bring my sister another day...

Later in the day, the old house got me thinking... about so many things, and about some of the treasures that were still at my daddy's house after he passed away several years ago, (his house is still in our family) or some that we had not decided who wanted what, were still at my sister's house next door... I remembered an old tool caddy... not sure if daddy carried some of his tools in it, or if my mama carried her garden tools in it... but it was a part of our family for as far back as I can remember... it was still in Jill's garage, so I brought it home...

So very old and worn... but I knew just what I wanted to do with it...

I filled it with faux fruit and pumpkins... autumn leaves, berries and real pinecones...

Sparkly Autumn birdies and raffia tied on the handle...

I couldn't be happier with how it turned out!...

Not sure where I will put it yet... and not sure what it carried all those years ago... but today, it is filled with Autumn's bounty and lots of cherished memories and everlasting love... xoxo...