Pearl's Sentimental Journey

Delaware Beware ...

2010-02-06T00:50:00.002-05:00

As I write this post, the wind is whipping
around our house and big, fat snowflakes
are falling at a rate faster than I care to see ...

We're in the middle of a major blizzard ...

I live in Delaware ...
in the southernmost county ...
our forecast is for 15 inches of
snow by Saturday morning ...
snow to continue all day Saturday ...
an additional 12 inches of
snow by Saturday evening ...

Our Gov. has declared a
"state of emergency" ...
information from the weather service
has cautioned everyone to expect to
soon be without electrical power ...
also to expect the possiblity of being
"snowed in" for 1 - 2 weeks ...
the exact words were along the lines of
"expect to be buried in 2 to 3 feet of snow" ...

My family did everything in our power
to prepare for this massive blizzard ...
I think we have enough food ...
I have about two weeks worth of
my prescription medications ...
we have a kerosene heater ...
we have a gas log fireplace, but sadly
the propane company did not follow
through with our call on Thursday
morning requesting that they come
out and fill our propane tank ...

I'm not ashamed to admit that
I am very scared of this blizzard ...

We have quite a group in our home ...
1 Puppy
2 Ferrets
3 Cats
4 Humans

We also have alot of prayer
going on between all of us ...
and lots of snuggling and cuddling
under soft blankets and heavy quilts
lovingly stitched by hand many
years ago by my Grandmother ...

It is my prayer that God hold
those in the path of this
blizzard safely in His hands ...

May you all have a wonderful weekend ...

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

images from Google

Elegant Vintage Valentines

2010-01-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

Wouldn't these Vintage Valentine's
have been wonderful to recieve
during a courtship back in their time?

Such delicate details ...
Wings with a soft hint of pink ...
Of course ... the same, but different ...

The Violets are my favorite ...
Which one makes your heart sing?

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

Cupids 'n Cherubs

2010-01-29T07:00:00.001-05:00

Ahhh ... Cupids 'n Cherubs ...
The Same, But Different ...

They always make me happy
with their messages of Love ...

I adore their chubbiness ...
and their devotion to their jobs ...

Thankfully they adore us, too!

I hope everyone's having fun
with their preparations for
the Holiday of Love ...

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

The Same, But Different ♥ Vintage Valentines

2010-01-28T06:33:00.004-05:00

I've always enjoyed finding Vintage
cards that have images that are
"the same, but different"

My youngest son uses that phrase quite
often when attempting to describe things ...
it tickles me ...

I thought some of you might enjoy seeing
some Valentines that are the same, but different ...
using a graphics program, I deleted some
background on these to achieve yet another "look" ...

Aren't they sweet?
Enjoy!

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

Cherry Memories of Mom ♥

2010-01-27T17:30:00.005-05:00

This cluster of Vintage, soft plastic cherries
is very near 'n dear to my heart ...
Since I was a child, these cherries
were always tucked within the
branches of our Christmas tree ...

Along the way in my travels I've
picked up a few more cherry items ...
A white hat with cute red cherries
that reverses to a solid red ...

Several clusters of bright 'n cheerful
crocheted cherries from blogland's
very own Twyla ... for those of you
in the dark, she's the Mom half of the
famous duo from the awesome blog
Two Crazy Crafters ...

Do yourself a favor and visit them ...
You can order your own cherries from
their Etsy shop, or just leave Twyla a
comment and she'll take good care of you!

Have you noticed the M&M's in my photos?

Ohhh yeah ... those are the other cherries
I'm collecting! You must try them ...
they're called Wildly Cherry, and
they taste like cherry cordials ...

I made the Red Cherries hang tag from
a copy of a Vintage cookbook cover ...
found a bag of teeny wooden rolling pins
at the Thrift Shop, and painted the
handles with red nail polish
before adding one to my tag ...

The mini cake pedestal that's holding my
childhood cherries, small doily, faux pearls,
red 'n white tea towel, and vintage
ceramic planter were all Thrift Shop finds ...

I'm so thankful that my Mom was
a cheerful 'n free spirit ... you know,
the kind that would tuck a cluster of
plastic cherries within the branches of
her family Christmas tree, faithly year
after year ... I will be thinking of her
as I eat these cherry M&M's ...

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

A Very Thrifty Adventure

2010-01-26T09:39:00.006-05:00

I recently had the pleasure of an outing
with my sweet Husband to our favorite
Thrift Shop ... Not only was it nice to
get out of the house and walk a little bit,
but we lucked out by going on a day
that everything in the shop was 25 cents!

A wonderful old cake plate ...
a big tablecloth with embroidery
in pretty Autumn colors ...

A few old "swanky swig" glasses that
don't match a single thing we have ...
a lonely sugar bowl ... a teeny shaker
that will be cleaned 'n used for glitter ...

I'm always amazed, and sad, when
I find embroidered pieces ... I'll never
understand how anyone could part
with such unique pieces of art ...

The needlework on the tablecloth is excellent ...

There are a few faint stains ...
my Husband said that he feels certain
he'll be able to remove them ... I have
all the faith in the world in him!

A pair of matching pillowcases ...
Ohhh how I love embroidered pillowcases!

We have quite a few of these sweet things ...
and we actually use them ... since I do
spend alot of time in bed, it's just extra nice
to have such pretty pillows to rest upon ...

These are in great shape, no stains ...
and just one small area of missing
thread that I'll be able to easily repair ...

Another finished piece of needlework ...
how nice to have the pattern included!

We'll put this in a thrifted frame and be
sending it to a dear friend of ours ...

A cute, small shelf to be painted ...
a beautiful doily for my collection ...

Buttons that make me
think of my beloved lilacs ...

I had such a nice time out with my
best friend, doing one of the things
we enjoy ... thrift shopping! There
were many more goodies that we got ...
perhaps another time I'll be able
to take more photos and share ...

This last little treasure says it all ...

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

Nifty Thrifty

2010-01-25T07:00:00.001-05:00

Last year I found this Gigantic glass jar
with lid at the Thrift Shop for a dollar ...

It's perfect for holding cookies ...

Soft Molasses cookies ...
Just like Archway's ...

Peanut Butter cookies ...
Just like Nutter Butter's ...

I wish I could tell you where
you can find your own
Gigantic glass cookie jar ...

But, I can tell you where to
find these awesome cookies ...
The beloved Dollar Tree!!!

I'll put on a pot of coffee and wait
for you to get back from the store ...
Drive safely!

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

Belated New Year's Greeting

2010-01-24T00:47:00.003-05:00

I'm surprised that I remembered how to do a post ...
Seems like forever since I've visited in Blogland ...

So, how on Earth is everyone doing?! ... Well, I hope!

Even though I'm late, I'd like to still extend
my wishes to my friends for a
very Happy New Year!

Also, I want to say Thank You
to those of you who missed me and
sent messages, comments and emails ...
Your concerns, well wishes and
prayers have meant so much to me ...
Seems as though my health issues are not
improving and for those reasons I've been
very absent from blogland, not to mention
being absent from most of the real world around me ...

This new year will certainly be one of adjustment for me ...
Hopefully I'll be able to blog 'n visit at least once a week ...
In my return travels I've noticed alot of awesome Gnomes ...
Thought it would be a fun way to come back
by sharing a few New Year Gnomes!

Though my typing will be rather limited,
and my speed will be very slow, I do look
forward to making the 'rounds and visiting soon!
Please know that I've missed you all and
have kept you sweet 'n talented ladies
close to my heart and in my prayers ...

I'm so excited that Valentine's Day is coming soon!
The call of glitter 'n glue is wafting through the air ...
Must.Answer.Call.Soon.

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

A Vintage Patriotic Thanksgiving Part I

2009-11-11T13:51:00.004-05:00

There are so many things to be thankful for ...
One of them is my personal freedom ...

I feel blessed to be living in the USA ...

I'm grateful to all of the men and women
that serve and have served in the military ...

Their devotion and passion
runs very deep and true ...

They deserve our respect
and our admiration ...

They deserve our prayers ...

I'm also thankful for their families ...
They sacrifice alot in their lives, too ...

I'm grateful for the protection
that our military gives to us ...

I'm proud to be able to say that
I honor these amazing soldiers ...

What they do for us, daily, should
not go without recognition ...

This year, especially, I am
praying harder than ever before ...

And I'm holding them and their
loved ones close to my heart ...

Indeed, there's much to be thankful for ...

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

Vintage Ads and a Mystery Meat

2009-11-05T04:12:00.005-05:00

Ahhh ... SPAM ...
Without a doubt, one of
America's most well known
pop culture sensations!
The above ad is from 1938.
How many of us grew up
seeing that familiar blue can
sitting on the pantry shelf?

What I don't remember, though,
is my Mom ever serving us
"SPAMbled eggs" ...

Introduced on July 5, 1937, the name
"Spam" was chosen from multiple
entries in a naming contest. The
winner was given a $100 prize
for coming up with the name.
The above ad is from 1939.

Specially Processed American Meats
The source of countless jokes,
some other "meanings" of SPAM are
Something Posing As Meat
Specially Processed Artificial Meat
Stuff, Pork and HAM
Spare Parts Animal Meat
Special Product of Austin Minnesota

The copy writers for these ads must
have been a hoot to sit around with ...
I love how they described things ...
Each ad enlarges with a click
if you want to read them ...

Spam was produced
in Austin, Minnesota ...
also known as Spam Town USA

I wonder why if you could afford to
have a maid, why did you keep
Spam in the pantry? They really do
believe it's that good ... my
apologies to all of you Spam-Lovers.

In 2007, the seven billionth
can of Spam was sold.

The above ad is from 1945.
Austin is also home to
the Spam Museum ...
Who would've guessed?!

Also from 1945 ... They showed
you how to make an
Upside Down Spam Pie ...

Along with the promise of your family
coming to the table in a hurry to eat it!

Another masterpiece from the
Spam kitchens in 1945 was
the Spam Western Salad ...

Believe it, or not, there is a national
recipe competition where
submissions are accepted at the
top forty state fairs in the nation.

Those funny elephant S 'n P shakers
announced a "Savory Symphony" in
1946 ... the Spam 'n Macaroni Loaf ...

In Hawaii, Spam is so popular it is
sometimes dubbed "The Hawaiian Steak"

Meet the SPAMMOBILE, a strange
oblong vehicle shaped and painted
like the rectangular can of SPAM ...
its sole purpose is to travel the
United States of America … giving
away free samples of SPAM!
I've never seen it ... Have you?

The SPAM Queen ...
I know ... but I had to show you ...

Spam is celebrated in a small local
festival in Austin, Minnesota,
known as Spam Jam ...

If you want to own this Spam
ornament for your tree this year,
just visit the official Spam website ...
not only can you shop there, but
also play games and find countless
other exciting Spam recipes ...

Perhaps a Spam pig
is more to your liking?

Or something for the little
Princess in your life?

I don't think Cocoa would like this ...
but maybe your poochie would ...

Ahhh ... Winter year 'round ...
Your very own Spam
Museum Snow Dome ...
My personal favorite of their shop!

If you ever find yourself in Austin, MN
visiting the Spam Museum, or attending
the Spam Jam, keep in mind that
there's a restaurant with a menu
devoted exclusively to Spam, called
"Johnny's SPAMarama Menu" ...

They say that serving Spam is
"top billing with any audience" ...
I hope that was the case with you
and this serving of Spam that I shared ...

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

Vintage Thanksgiving Menus

2009-11-02T11:55:00.005-05:00

Not all menus list only food ...
These beautiful Vintage
Thanksgiving postcards
help to remind us of some
things to truly be thankful
for this Season ...
Joys ... True Love ...
Happiness ...
Long Life ...
Notice the pretty pink
roses on the tiny cake
she's holding ... sweet!

Aren't these rotund
chefs adorable?
I love the pink ribbon
bows on the sides
of the card ...

Good Luck ...
Success ... Riches ...
Good Health ...

Could you imagine a set
of flatware like this spoon?
Sweet little sentiment
on this card, too ...

So elegant ...

Another lovely spoon ...
Be sure to listen for the
sweetest Thanksgiving tune ...
The dinner bell at noon!

What will be on your
Thanksgiving menu this year?
I think I'll serve up some
Good Health ...
Happiness ...
and True Love ...

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

Please take a moment to see my
Halloween day in the post below ...
Thank you for visiting ...

Pumpkins, Leaves, and a Ghost!

2009-11-01T03:43:00.006-05:00

On Halloween day, my husband
and I took the kids to our
favorite local pumpkin patch ...
That's my youngest son, above,
with our other son's girlfriends little boy ...

Here are some of the different
types of pumpkins that can
be found in the patches ...

That's my oldest son
with the little guy ...
It was his first visit
to a pumpkin patch,
and he was loving
the wheel barrow ride!

Here's my sweet husband
and our youngest son ...
The entrance to the corn
maze is behind them ...

My husband and yours truly ...

How do you like my fancy-
dancy walking stick?!

My oldest son, his girlfriend,
and her son ~ the little guy!

These are just some of
the pumpkins that the
little guy picked out ...

He had so much fun ...

We did, too!!

Back at our house,
the little guy and I
colored the
smaller pumpkins ...

EEK !!!

Time to run through the leaves ...

You better watch out !!

How cute can he be?!?!

This Cute !!!
I love the joy on
his sweet face ...

Time to head out for
Trick or Treating ...
My husband and I made
the little guy's ghost costume ...

BOOOOOOOOoooooooooooo !!!

Ahhh ... the joy of sharing
Halloween with a 5 year old, again ...
Our day was magical ...
How was yours?

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!

2009-10-31T03:23:00.003-04:00

THE WITCHES' SPELL

Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

Fillet of a fenny snake
In the cauldron boil and bake;

Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,

Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg and owlet's wing,

For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth, boil and bubble.

Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

~ William Shakespeare ~

I hope you all have enjoyed the
Vintage Halloween postcards this season ...

May your Halloween be filled
with Magic and Enchantment ...

Be safe and enjoy ...

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

Carve Your Own JOL Online & Creative Halloween Cakes

2009-10-26T15:06:00.004-04:00

I've always been fascinated with
fancy-dancy decorated cakes ...
Love to look at them ... but I usually
pass when it comes to eating them ...

The one above was found here.

Country Living had alot of Fall
and Halloween cake ideas ...

Country Living

More Country Living

I found this Creepy-Crawly
black 'n white cake on My Space ...

This beautiful hauted house design was
created by Sweet Honeybee Bakery

Creepy spider from Country Living

A non-purring cat from Country Living

Isn't this adorable?

Gotta love the hat on the cat ...
Created by Ladybug Cakes Catering

This is my personal favorite
of all the cakes I saw ...
Also created by Lady Bug Cakes

There's a wonderful website
that allows you to carve your
own Jack 'O Lantern online!
It's Free, Easy, FUN ...
No registration is needed,
either, which I like ...

You can carve free-hand or
use the straight cut feature ...

It plays eerie Halloween sounds,
but there's an option to cut that off ...

And to make it even better, you
have the option to have a candle
flicker inside your JOL if you want ...
Check it out ... you may have to share
computer carving time with your family ...
Enjoy!

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

Do You Know Where Your Witch Is?

2009-10-24T03:59:00.005-04:00

Wouldn't it have been nice to be
invited to a good old-fashioned
Halloween party years ago
with this sweet invitation?

Hard to believe that
Halloween is just
one week away!

Does anyone still bob for apples?

Of course, there has to be a witch
or two to make fright night complete ...
I'll cut the chit-chat and let you enjoy
some of these Vintage Halloween postcards ...

I hope everyone's got their
lanterns out 'n polished ...

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

A Little Birdie Told Me ...

2009-10-23T16:28:00.002-04:00

I had a few Give~Aways
yesterday during Natasha's
All About Me Blog Swap Party ...

The Winners Are ...

Jeanne, from
Dream, Create, Inspire ...
and ...

Amy, from
Bunny Rose Cottage ...

My thanks to everyone
that stopped by for a visit
and left a sweet comment ...
I hope you'll come back again, soon ...

May you find a wonderful
blessing in your day ...

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

It's All About Me!

2009-10-22T04:27:00.004-04:00

Welcome to my contribution to the
It's All About Me Swap
hosted by Natasha Burns

I've been admiring the many
different banners throughout blogland,
and with each passing Holiday,
I've wished that I had one of my own ...

Thanks to Natasha's Swap,
I was able to find the courage
to make one for myself ...

I decided to go small, so I made this
Mini Halloween Banner using playing cards ...

Scrapbook paper ...
assorted ribbons ...
M.S. stickers 'n glitter ...

I cut circles from the tan tissue
paper of a Vintage dress pattern
& glued them beneath the stickers ...
some Hallween bling finished things off ...

It was really easy-peasy
and I love the end result!

How does a little Give~Away sound?
Good?

How about two little Give~Aways?

Ahhh... even better!
This past Summer I was involved
in a Pay-It-Forward exchange ...
I'm going to wander off of the path and
do things a bit different than most of the
PIF's that are going around blogland ...
I thought that doing a Give~Away during
Natasha's Swap would be a fun way
to pass some kindness along ...

They're pretty much the same ...
Some New ... Some Vintage/Thrift ...
Both have pages from old books ...
1899 Reader ~ 1916 Shorthand
Jelly Belly Cotton Candy Lip Gloss
Wooden Clothespin
Vintage Playing Cards
assorted M.E. Stickers
Bath & Body Works Shower Gel

The Witch Give~Away has a
thrifted jumping-jack witch ...

she's wood and I think she needs
some glitter and embellishments ...

there's a thrifted glass coaster, too ...

The Cherry Give~Away has a

thrifted wood sign w/cute cherries ...

there's also a pair of thrifted
clip-on earrings with a cluster of
seed pearls and a large teardrop pearl ...

All you need to do to enter is
leave a comment on this post ...
please let me know which one
you'd like to win ... and, of course,
make sure that there's a way for
me to contact you when you win!!
I will draw the winning names
on Fri., Oct. 23
and want to mail the packages
out on Sat., Oct. 24
Also, I've recently added the
"Follow Me" feature on my blog,
and I'd love to have you join me
on my sentimental journey ...

Be sure to stop by Natasha's and
follow the links there to see the
other participating swappers!
Thanks so much for visiting ...

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

Cats, Ferrets & Roosters... Oh My!

2009-10-20T13:41:00.007-04:00

Well, hello there ...
so glad you were able
to stop by for a visit ...
My sister-in-law made these
cute cat cookies for Halloween ...

Won't you have one or two to go along
with your coffee or tea while you visit?

She 'n my brother came to
our house Saturday evening for
a visit and to eat supper with us ...
These adorable cookies tasted great ...
and she confessed that they were the
ready-to-slide-in-the-oven kind ...

While exploring blogland the other night,
I stumbled upon this precious Ferret ...
She's so beautiful with her colorful
court-jester collar around her neck ...
Thank you, Tammy, for allowing me
to use this wonderful photo on my blog!
Please visit Tammy's blog to enjoy
more of her photographic talents ...
and check out my Ferret section on
my sidebar for this colorful fuzzie ...
when you find her, just give her a click
and she'll take you to Tammy's Etsy shop
where you can purchase a print of
her Royal Ferret and other pretty things!

Speaking of "Royal" ...
do any of you know about Royal China?
They're the manufacturer of
these old Rooster dishes ...
The name of this pattern is "Early Morn"

The first set of dishes that my
Parents owned were Early Morn ...

We moved alot while I was growing
up, and as a result, my Mom had
more than her share of yard sales ...

she also had more than
her share of broken dishes ...

After my Parents passed away,
and we were dividing up their belongings,
I came across the precious few pieces
of their first set of dishes that
Mom had managed to save ...

I decided that I wanted to try
to find a complete set to
have for my own family ...

to cherish fond memories
and create new ones ...

So my quest began and these
photos are of the pieces I was
able to purchase off of eBay ...

as you can see, the lid to
the butter dish is missing ...

and I still have quite a way to
go before I have all of
these sweet, old Roosters ...

We've also slowly been collecting
Rooster items for our kitchen
in order to honor these dishes ...

This is the cute spoon rest
that I was not able to get ...

But I'm holding onto my Faith,
and I believe that one day I'll be
able to set my table the way my
dear Mom used to lovingly set hers ...
These dishes are hard to come by,

and it has made "the hunt"
all the more challenging ...

And, in keeping with what is a
slight "Royal" theme to this post ...
here's a somewhat Royal-looking
Vintage Halloween postcard ...

Pretty, isn't it?!

Hmmm ... nothing "Royal" about this ...
but it is the first matchbox
that I have altered ...

something I've been wanting
to try for some time, now ...

I made this for my sister ...

her birthday is this Thursday ...
it's been almost three years since
we last saw each other and I
miss her so much that I just ache ...

Her first name begins with a "T" ...

so I had to tuck in a Scrabble tile ...

her favorite flower is the Iris, so that's
why I put in the purple rose bud ...
it was the closest thing I had ...

she'll totally understand ...

The teeny tiny sea shells honor
the love 'n passion for the
beach that she 'n I share ...

The purple clothespin is for her
printer's tray ... something else
that we both share a love for ...
The diaper pin represents her
birthday, and well, it's
pink 'cause she's a girl !!

I think my sister is
as cute as a button,
so I tucked in some
pink 'n purple ones ...
A heart ♥ because
I Love her so much ...
Of course, she needs a
candle to make a wish on ...

and there are some pearls
inside her teeny box because
that's what she calls me ...
Pearl ♥
Though her gift will be late
in arriving ... it's my hope
that she'll feel it was worth
waiting for ... I think she will ...

Just a few more
Royal-looking postcards ...
It wasn't unusual for artists to use
the same art for borders when
designing these fabulous Vintage cards ...

Ahhh ... kinda nice to see
some "Romance" for
Halloween, don't you agree?!

YIKES !!!

If you know "Bernice", you may
want to warn her about
these sneaky little fuzzies!

Thanks so much for stopping by ...
I'd love to know that you were here,
so please take a moment and say hello!

Now ... let me see if there
are any cat cookies left ...

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

P.S. I have a "Crafting" question ... what do you you use to put ric-rac on the pieces you create? I used glue, and it was not fun ... at all ... Hopefully someone has a better idea, and is willing to share the "secret" ... Thanks!

May I Have $25,000 ... Please?

2009-10-15T18:10:00.005-04:00

Let me begin this post by
passing along some info
that most of you probably
already know about ...
The Lovely Natasha Burns
is hosting a very Unique
Swap on October 22nd ...
She describes it as
"a swap/challenge/party
all rolled into one. But
a "swap" with a difference."
And with a title of
It's All About Me!
who wouldn't be
interested in
checking it out?!
I know I'm going to
do my best to join in ...

I hope to do some serious
catching up over the next few weeks ...
being behind is no fun ... at all ...

The ATC's above and below
were done by me, and sent to some
very sweet 'n talented girls in blogland ...
We formed a small group and do
a monthly swap of ATC's and/or
Hang Tags with pre-selected themes ...

I've been having some camera problems ...
combined with hands that want to
shake at the worst possible times ...
my thanks to Lindsey for providing me
with these photos from our swap group ...

I made this Friendship tag for Twyla
to go along with the gifts I sent
to her for her recent Birthday ...
She loves mushrooms and I loved this
"ME" image with the two girlfriends
telling secrets under the big red cap ...
it just reminded me of Twyla so much!

I used another "ME" image to create
this teeny-tiny journal for Twyla also ...
Does anyone else enjoy making
these small journals as much as I do?!

The last group of
Vintage Halloween Postcards
that I shared with y'all
had a green theme ...
Here is a group with
cream colored backgrounds ...

~ chuckles at the word ... wallop ... ~

I've noticed that some
bloggers ask for things ...
some share wish-lists, like myself ...
others drop hints, BIG 'n small ...

Here's the reason for the title of this post ...

Cup ~ Cake ~ Cars !!!

Aren't they Awesome?!
They have a 24-volt electric motor
and can go as fast as 7 mph ...
Oh yeah ... they sell for a cool
$25,000.00
~ slight gasp ~

So in keeping with the
spirit of an upcoming
All-About-Me swap,
I thought it would be
OK to ask for $25,000 ...
I do believe I'd look
cute in a peppermint hat ...

Vroooooooom!

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

Kitty Prep for Halloween...

2009-10-13T02:47:00.002-04:00

~ chuckles ~

Until another time ... Pearl

Keepin' it Green for Halloween

2009-10-12T02:19:00.004-04:00

While searching through some
cards the other day, I noticed
a bit of a color theme going on ...
Thought you'd enjoy seeing
some Green for Halloween ...

I hope everyone's enjoying
the wonderful Fall weather,
and getting ready for Halloween!

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

My Search For Birthday Candles Took Me To Kitchen Heaven

2009-09-28T16:05:00.006-04:00

I'm so excited about the
awesome birthday candles
that I found online, and I'm
guessing you'll be as
equally tickled over them ...

Candelabras !!!

Have you seen them before?
Or have I really been
living under a rock
longer than I thought?

One thing led to another
and soon I was in
Kitchen Heaven ...
I think we've all seen the
giant cupcake mold, but
how about these cute
ice cream cone cakes?

I fell in love with this
bee~hive cake mold, too ...
wouldn't it be sweet to
make in the Springtime?
Or for Easter, or a
Winnie-the-Pooh party?

Of course, we would need some of
these pretty Vintage-inspired tins
to store any leftover cake in, right?
I thought so!

I have no desire to make star cookies,
but I am lovin' the sweet
cookie cutter storage tin ...
I've got a weakness for enamelware ...
and I also have my
Mom's old cookie cutters ...

How adorable is this
Retro style fondue set?

Ahhh ... more enamelware ...
and just in time for
clean-up duty after baking cakes ...

Blowing bubbles should never
be limited to just the lil kids ...
it's always been a favorite
pastime for our family ...
I may not be able to scrub pots 'n pans,
but I'm betting I could blow some
awsome bubbles with this
handy-dandy kitchen tool ...

T.O.O. C.U.T.E.
Hey, Kathy 'n Amy ...
do y'all have one of these?

OK ... I know this kitchen perching
stool isn't Chic ... at all ... but when
I found it I was thrilled ... it's designed
for folks with disabilities like
Fibromyalgia, MS, Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome, etc. "A family of pain and
fatigue disorders, these invisible illnesses
can make even the simplest tasks seem
daunting." I have several health issues,
one of them being Fibromyalgia, and
as a result the guys do most of
the housework and cooking ...
sitting on a kitchen chair is only comfy
for a short while, so it would be a joy
if Santa were to leave one of these
neat seats under the tree ... I'm thinking
with some pretty fabric it could
morph into a Chic seat ... ohhh yeah!

As long as I'm dreaming ...
I may as well want one of
these nifty berry slicers, too!
Strawberry fans just make
things look so beautiful ...

Awwwwww ...
poor, sweet, pathetic
little kitty cat ...
She really didn't stand
a chance, did she?!

If you liked any of my kitchen
dreams, you'd really enjoy
visiting the Kitchen Critic,
where I found everything ...
Somehow I'm thinking that I'll have
a better chance of getting the
candle Candelabras than I will
in getting the kitchen chair ...
but a girl has to dream, doesn't she?!

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

for information about Fibromyalgia,
please click on the link found on my sidebar

F stands for First day of Fall and Ferrets ...

2009-09-22T03:58:00.003-04:00

My favorite Season has arrived ...

Isn't she a beauty ...
all nestled in the leaves ...

Normally I dislike clowns ...
but this cutie caught my eye ...

Be ~ Still ~ My ~ Beating ~ Heart
It simply does not get much better than this ...

I ♥ Ferrets
I ♥ Tootsie Rolls

and now I want Tootsie costumes
for my own lil fuzzies!
Tooooo Cute!!

Mmmmmmmm ...

I hope everyone has a
sweet fur~baby to
snuggle with, and love on ...

Happy 1st Day of Fall ...

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

A Whimsical Nudge To Chase Away The Blahhhs

2009-09-21T01:35:00.004-04:00

Monday seems to be a
blahhh day for alot of folks ...
so I thought that a little peek
at some whimsical
Vintage Halloween postcards
might be in order ...

Check out those gigantic spurs on the rider ...
and those dramatic-looking deceased mice!

Not the best-looking couple I've ever seen!

Just love the black cat with her
perfectly arched back ...
purrrrrrrrrrs ...

Oddly enough, I've always been attracted to
those pumpkin people with pickle arms 'n legs ...

My, what big eyes the lil girl has ...
and the JOL does, too!
Looks like the kitten's pondering
crawling in through a tooth ...

Another bug-eyed-beauty
with her Jack 'O Lantern ...
I like her tiny boots with
green pom~poms ... Cute!

What would Halloween be without
a chance to bob for apples?!

I hope your spirits have been lifted
and that it's a truly
wonderful week for everyone!

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

Where, Ohhh Where are the Decorating Fairies?

2009-09-11T17:02:00.006-04:00

Mr. Crow and I would like to welcome
you to take a peek at some of the
Fall and Halloween decor that I've put
out to celebrate my most favorite Season ...

This is one of many Fall and
Halloween Labels that I've designed ...
hopefully I'll be able to show you
the rest of my designs soon ...

My glass jars and bottles have been
collected over the years from Flea Markets,
Thrift Shops, and the beloved Yard Sales
that so many of us love digging through ...

My white pumpkin was a swap gift ...
I adore the tiny glittered bats that fly
over the pumpkin on curled wires ...

We all need a black cat for this
magical time year, right?
She is a Thrift Shop kitty, and so are
the tiny pumpkins and witch broom ...
I bought a bag of shrunken skulls
at the awesome Dollar Tree
and then added glitter ...

The next chance I get to go shopping, I'm
planning on buying some yellow, white, and
gold colored old-fashioned candy sticks ...
I want to tie them together with a ribbon
and attach a Full Moon Beams tag ...
wouldn't that make an adorable gift for
someone? Seriously ... who wouldn't love
their own bundle of moon beams?!?

This long and narrow wooden "bowl"
came from my favorite Thrift Shop ...
I love all of the imperfections it has ...
and I love that it only cost me 50 cents ...
I tried to do some research to find out what
this type of "bowl" would've been used for ...
the best I could come up with is that it might
be what was/is called a "dough riser" ... Heck,
I'm not even sure if calling it a "bowl" is correct
or not ... Does anyone else own one of these,
or know what it is called? My original plan was
to fill it with leaves and those tiny Jack-be-Little
pumpkins ... but then I pulled my Halloween
Magical Wand out of my box and needed a way
to display it ... I only wish that my photos would
show the awesome glitter on it and
my other goodies a bit better ...

The yellow mustard tin belonged to my Mom ...

More of my dirty, old bottles under one
of the many cloches I have, but remain
fairly clueless on how to be creative with ...

I suppose I should have told you that the
first group of photos were taken in our
foyer on my Husband's desk ... it's a family
treasure that's been passed down through
the years ... The rest of my photos were
taken in our TV room ... One of my family
treasures is my Mom's cedar chest ...
a long time ago, she painted it a kind of
reddish/orange color and then streaked
it with a dark stain ... I like to put
Seasonal decor on top of it ...

The stuffed cat and the tiny pumpkin
stools were the first Halloween gifts
I ever bought for my oldest son, who
is now 23 ... That's "bat" ribbon
in my thrifted egg cup ...

I know ... I really, really do need
the decorating fairies to visit me ...

My Husand got the small black hanging
bird cage for me at the Flea Market ...
it's supposed to be a candle holder ...
and, of course, I cannot get the cage
to open for the life of me ... and I keep
forgetting to ask one of the guys to open it ...
I've thought about painting it white,
but then I'm thinking that I might
miss having it around during the Fall ...

These thrifted goodies sit on top of a
wooden drawer unit that came from
the Cracker Barrel Restaurant ...
Mmmmm ... how we love eating there ...
and we just adore their gift shop ...

Such a pathetic looking kitty ...

I have a huge fondness, and weakness,
for small pitchers and creamers ...
and roosters, too ...

These were all thrifted ... and the rooster
just had to come home with me because
his partner was missing ... such go the
lives of Salt 'n Pepper shaker sets ...

Above the cedar chest is a mantel ... we
live in a big old house that was built in 1935 ...
long before we moved in, the fireplace in this
room had been closed off, but the mantel
remained ... The milk bottles are from my
Mom's collection and are all from North
Carolina ... that's my home-state and where
almost all of my family live ... my sister,
brother, and I ... along with a cousin, are the
only ones not still living in NC ... The black
cat wooden push puppet is from my own
collection ... perhaps one day I'll be able
to photograph them to show you ...

All tiny wagons need a gigantic leaf ...

Wouldn't it be nice to live just east of Eden?
My Husband and I collect signs, and
most of them are reproduction ...
that doesn't stop us, though ...

Camping and Fishing played a big part
in the gowing up years of our boys ...
nowadays we only go about once a year ...
for the last 4 years or so, I've not actually
stayed the night at the campground ... but
in the mornings I would arrive with
donuts and spend the day til the
last star in the sky was counted ...

Now I've got the biggest desire for a s'more ...

~ chuckles ~

This whimsical Tavern sign belonged
to my Mom 'n Dad ... it always brought
a laugh to those who visited ... I'm so
glad that it now hangs in my home ...

There was a small place in the town I
grew up in as a teen that ground their
own meal ... My parents framed this
bag for me as a gift years ago ...

I'll leave you with this sweet photo ...
it's a framed panel from one of the many
quilts that my Grandmother made, by hand,
during her amazing life ... the quilt that this
came from had sadly been damaged ...
My Parents framed a panel for each of us
kids ... and my Mom also made a decorative
bed pillow with a panel for each of us ... I
also am so blessed to own four of Grandma's
quilts ... it gives me comfort beyond
words to rest beneath one of them ...

Thank you for visiting and I do hope
you've enjoyed a peek into my home ...
I'll be by your place for a
visit just as soon as I can ...

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

Ooooooooops! I Forgot ~ PART 2 ~ The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Gala!

2009-08-23T00:31:00.005-04:00

This has become so typical for me, lately...
Forgetting things ... quite often ...

So, why should my
Wizard of Oz Gala
post be exempt?!

Even though this advertising poster
from 1928 has nothing to do with
the Wizard of Oz, I felt
compelled to share it ...
I'm certain you know why ...

This poster, and the one at
the top, are both circa 1903.

Those of you that have visited me
more than a few times know of
my passion and love for Ferrets ...
aren't these sweet fuzzies simply
adorable in their tiny Oz costumes?!

In closing, I'd like to stick
with the theme of Part 2 ...
Forgetting Things ...
or, sometimes called ...

"If I Only Had a Brain"

I could while away the hours,
conferrin' with the flowers
consultin' with the rain.
And my head I'd be scratchin'
while my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.

I'd unravel every riddle
for any individ'le,
in trouble or in pain.
With the thoughts you'll be thinkin'
you could be another Lincoln
if you only had a brain.

Oh, I could tell you why
the ocean's near the shore.
I could think of things
I never thunk before.
And then I'd sit,
and think some more.
I would not be just a nothin'
my head all full of stuffin'
my heart all full of pain.
I would dance and be merry,
life would be a ding-a-derry,
if I only had a brain.

~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~

Perhaps one day I'll hear these words ...
"I hereby confer upon you
the honorary degree of Th.D.
That's Dr. of Thinkology."

To which I'd reply, of course ...
"Oh, joy! Rapture!
I've got a brain!"

Until another time ... Pearl

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Gala!

2009-08-22T05:04:00.009-04:00

This Fun Blog Party
is being hosted by
my dear friends at ...

Like so many of you, I'm in love with
The Wizard of Oz, too ... ~sighs~

I thought it would be fun to share
some of my favorite photos, movie lines,
and fun-facts-to-know ...
Won't you join me, please?

I was always facinated by the Wicked Witch
and her sky-writing skills ... were you?

Originally the image above was going to read:
"Surrender Dorothy or die WWW"
It was later edited to the two words
"Surrender Dorothy"

How it was done:
In Aljean Harmetz's book,
The Making of the Wizard of Oz,
Jack McMaster was the man who created
and performed this final scene.
Below he describes the procedure:
"I had a glass tank six foot square" ...
"The bottom of the tank was glass. The sides
were wood. The tank was only three inches
deep; and the bottom was covered with an
inch and a half of water mixed with calla oil.
That was supposed to be the sky. The
camera was beneath the tank, shooting up.
The water and oil mixture was opaque,
so it hid me. The miniature Witch who did
the skywriting was three eighths of an inch
high, and the broom she was riding was a
hypodermic needle. I filled the hypodermic
needle with a combination of canned milk
and nigrosine dye. I wrote
SURRENDER DOROTHY OR DIE
upside down and backward in the fluid in
the tank, using the needle in place of a pen.
I practiced for two months before I did it.
My hand wasn't in the tank, but the Witch
and the broom needle were. The skywriting
seemed to come out of the tail of the
Witch's broom. To give the writing the
appearance of smoke that was drifting, I
had a fifty-gallon drum of water feeding into
the tank. I had tinted the water the same
milky color as the liquid in the glass tank.
The water current was a stream--
like an air stream--blowing the letters apart."

I think this woman holding the cat is beautiful ...
and I've always loved her rosey-red cheeks!
Her name is Lois January.

She actually apears a couple times in the
movie. She's also one of the ladies helping
freshening up Dorothy. Lois is on the far
right, and that's her below,
many years after OZ was filmed.

Of course,
I love Dorothy's Ruby Slippers ...

Many Birthday candles were blown out
with wishes of owning those Ruby Slippers!

So far, the closest I've come has been to
see them at Smithsonian's National
Museum of American History.

At least four pairs of ruby slippers walked
off the set of The Wizard of Oz. Decked
out in sequins and crystals, the "slippers"
were really pumps, and they almost
weren't ruby at all. L. Frank Baum's book
specified silver. By the time the movie
was produced, 70 years ago in 1939,
the studio had picked red to
show off its new Technicolor ability.

The Ruby Slippers Blue Print states that
on the Bow of each Slipper there are
46 Red Rhinestones, 42 Red Bugle Beads,
and 3 Red Jewels. I colorized this Blue
Print copy, and I encourage you to click
on the image to enlarge it so that you
can truly appreciate all of the work
that went into creating them!

Did you know that Toto's
real-life name was Terry?

She made $125 a week, and
barked 44 times in the movie!

"Ohhhhh! You cursed brat!
Look what you've done!
I'm melting! Melting!
Oh, what a world! What a world!
Who would have thought
a good little girl like you could
destroy my beautiful wickedness?"

I must confess that a few of those
Birthday wishes of mine were
spent on hopes of also owning the
complete outfit that Glinda
the Good Witch wore ...
it's just so enchanting!

There's no place like home.
There's no place like home.
There's no place like home...

~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

I'd like to say a very special
Thank You to our hosts ...

and to the wonderful creator of
The Wizard of Oz ...
Lyman Frank Baum

Thank you for stopping by to visit
and share in some of my favorite
things from this awesome movie!

Hmmm...
You just never know where
those flying monkeys will pop up!

Until another time ... Pearl

Please visit Twyla and Lindsey for
a list of those participating in
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Gala.

Much of my information was collected from
Wendy's Complete Directory of Oz,
and many Google searches.

Please see Part 2 of this post here

Vintage Cigar Box Labels

2009-08-17T02:08:00.005-04:00

I'm amazed that I still knew how to upload images,
after being away from blogland for so long ...

I've really missed visiting everyone
and seeing all of the wonderful creations
that all of you talented ladies do ...

The stories from your lives have
been greatly missed as well ...

Unfortunately, for me, problems
with several of my health issues
have pretty much kept me
down most of this Summer ...

Then last Tuesday we said good-bye
to our precious little ferret, Spice ...
She'd been very sick with
adrenal gland disease and
we made many trips
back 'n forth to the Vet ...

We all did everything in
our power to help her,
and she fought a good fight ...
Many tears were shed as Spice
crossed over the Rainbow Bridge ...

Many of you know how
heartbreaking it is when one of
our fur-babies passes away ...
As with all of our pets,
Spice brought such joy to our hearts ...
She's missed by us, terribly ...

~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~

I'd like to say Thank-You to
everyone that visited and left
messages and prayers for me ...
and for the sweet emails, too ...
I'm still moving slow and that's not likely to change ...
Please know that I'm truly
looking forward to visiting ...
it's just going to take a bit longer to do than I'd like ...

It's my hope and prayer that
everyone's doing well and
enjoying the Summer ...

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

PFF ~ Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-03T13:02:00.006-04:00

Three Cheers for the
Red, White & Blue!

~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~

~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~

I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th...
Time to find our sparklers 'n matches...

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

Please visit PFF's lovely host, Marie Reed,
to get a complete list of participants.

Celebrate the 4th with Vintage Labels

2009-07-02T14:29:00.006-04:00

With the 4th of July
right around the corner...
it's time to share some
Vintage Labels with a
touch of Patriotic art...

These labels are from fruit crates...
cigar boxes... and tobacco leaf crates...
Most are circa 1900 ~ 1920's...

I hope everyone's doing well
and keeping busy with getting
ready to celebrate on the 4th...

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

and they called it Cuppie Love

2009-06-23T14:06:00.006-04:00

Mmmmmmmmmmm...
Yummy Cuppies!!!

The theme this month for the small
swap group I'm in was CupCakes...
Get a cup of tea or coffee and sit
back to enjoy some sweet treats!

Twyla 'n Lindsey are part of the group...
We limit our swap creations
to either hang tags or ATC's...
This is what arrived from the Crazy Crafters...

Lindsey made this unique,
sparklie cut-out cupcake...

These sweet mini cupcakes on
pink were crafted by Twyla...

Kathy sent this super chic hang tag...

I love the sweet roses on each treat...

There can never be too
much glitter in my world...

Deb sent this very cute ATC...
and tucked inside was
the fun cupcake magnet...

So many sweet details...

Deb also sent along a few extra
goodies to make sure she'd
spoiled me rotten to the core...

Here's what I sent to the girls...

They each got their
own glittered hang tag...

Complete with a button cherry...

and a whole lot of Love...

Sparklie ATC's were
also sent to each one...

I could stay calm all day
long for some cupcakes...

Many Thanks to the
lovely ladies in the
Thrifty Swappers group...
I just adore everything that came my way...

Ahhh... gotta adore Cuppie Love...

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

A Vintage 4th of July

2009-06-16T02:11:00.004-04:00

Hopefully some of these images of
Vintage Post Cards helped to get
you in the mood for the upcoming Holiday...

What are your plans?!

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

Birthday Goodies

2009-06-08T04:39:00.003-04:00

Indeed Birthdays are filled with
Hope and Dreams ...
Last month was my special day
and the gals from my swap group
kept the mailman busy ...

Twyla and Lindsey sent me some
wonderful crafting supplies ...
and a giant letter "P" to embellish!

Thank you so much!
It will be a creative challenge to
do "something" to that big letter!

Kathy also sent me some
terrific crafting supplies ...
and a beautiful Vintage
hankie for my collection ...

You really do need to enlarge the
photo, above, to see the detail on
those teeny tiny adorable
wooden dolls ... just so cute!

Kathy also sent an amazing hot
iron transfer pattern book ...
I love those Vintage designs
for embroidery ...
Thank you Kathy ... I love it all ...

Deb sent me a package filled
with all kinds of goodies ...
I got my first-ever, one-and-only
faux pastry ... beautiful cards ...
a lilac candle and stickers ...

Some of the awesome cards ...

Deb made the sweet little purse,
and tucked inside of it was that
teeny tiny bottle of French Lilac
perfume ... I collect tiny perfume bottles
and have never seen one like this before ...

These two cards have such
sweet verses on them ...
please take a moment to enlarge
them so you can enjoy them, too ...

A darling Vintage hankie with violets ...
and a heart shaped brooch with pearls,
of course! Isn't the Vintage Evening
in Paris powder box beautiful?!

Here is another "first" for me ...
an altered cigar box ... I just
ooooooohed 'n ahhhhhhhhed
when I opened it ... I think it's
just so stunningly beautiful ...
at the beginning of this post is
a close up of the lid ...
Thank you, Deb, for spoiling me rotten ...
I love everything so much ...

I'm truly blessed with some wonderful
and dear friends from blogland ...

The inside of the box sums things up nicely ...

DREAMS FULFILLED ...

God bless ...

Until another time ... Pearl

Everything Baby ♥

2009-06-04T23:49:00.010-04:00

Precious ♥ Darling ♥ Magical
I Love Babies and
everything about them ...
I suspect you do, too ...

Today I want to share some
Vintage Baby Card Art ...
Enchanting Baby Shower Cakes ...
and Planters from my small collection ...

Of course, I Love Pink!
This cake would also be pretty in
Blue, Yellow, Lavender or Peach

I really like the bright colors
on this baby crib planter ...

~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

Isn't this Yellow Duckie Bubble Bath cake
one of the Cutest you've ever seen?!
I confess to also having a small collection
of these Adorable Duckies ... Hmmmmm...
Did I just hear you admitting to a similar collection?
~ chuckles ~ ... I thought so!

Shouldn't all baby planter collections
have at least one lamb pulling a cart?!

~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

This Whimsical cake actually makes me
want to dive into doing some baby laundry ...
kinda ... sorta ... maybe ...
Love those colorful buttons circling each layer!

There's just something Enchanting
and Magical about Carousels ...
It's the only ride I'll go on at
an Amusement Park or Fair ...

Have you noticed the dirt at
the base of this planter yet?!
Obviously I haven't cleaned this one ...
just pulled it out of my storage box
where it's been "living" with other
treasures found at the Flea
Market and Thrift Shops ...
Just trying to "keep it real"

~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

Can you believe that this is a cake?!?!
It goes way beyond
Whimsical 'n Adorable ...
Extra points scored with me
for having a Yellow Duckie!

The basketweave detailing
on this planter is terrific ...

~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

~ reaching up to tickle baby's toes ~

I wish I'd get a cake like this someday ...
any reason would be fine with me ...
I'm in love with the unique
cake plate stand, too ...
~ swoons ~

This totally Precious baby bootie
planter is at least 51 years old ...
I know this for a fact because it was
given to my dear Mom when I was born ...

She said it came with a small
green plant in it, and a pink
ribbon laced across the front ...

I'm so thankful that Mom saved this
Darling planter over all these years ...

Of course, it's my favorite
one in my little collection ...

Precious ♥ Darling ♥ Magical
Indeed ... I Love Babies and
everything about them ...

God bless...

Until another time ... Pearl

Precious Puppies 'n Poochies

2009-06-03T02:41:00.006-04:00

I'd like to take a moment to Thank my friends for all of the messages and emails that have come my way the past month... my health has been in a decline and I'm very grateful for the prayers and uplifting thoughts... Hopefully I'll be able to play "catch-up" this month... obviously I'm terribly behind with posting and visiting...

So... with that being said... won't you please get a cup of coffee and enjoy looking at the talents of some amazing ladies from a small swap group that I'm in...

We rotate each month with selecting a "theme"... then we create either a Hang Tag or an ATC... Here are the small pieces of art from our "Dog/Puppy" month... In the photo above, from left to right, the artists are: Twyla, from Two Crazy Crafters... Deb, from Garage Sale Gal... Kathy, from Kat Collects... Deb, again...and Lindsey, from Two Crazy Crafters...

I thought it would be a fun way to show y'all some of the poochie figurines I've collected... my sweet friend, Deb, gave me the adorable puppy with the blue collar on the right... she looks very happy to be sitting next to the ATC that Lindsey made... to the left is a tiny ceramic bulldog that I found at the Flea Market... I just adore the expression on his face...

Isn't this long, stretch of a dog funny?! He was hanging out at the Flea Market, too...

The details on the tags by Deb and Kathy, above, are just wonderful...

Funny black poodles! The ceramic poodle sitting on the tiny chair was in a storage box that I got from the Thrift Shop... I tied a little black ribbon around her neck, but I'm not sure that much can be done to make her beautiful...

A pretty red flower and trim to match the collar on the dog tag from Twyla... check out the bone paperclip on the tag Deb made...

Kathy was right when she put the word "Sweet" on the tag she sent to me... love those blue pom-poms and the cute expression on the sparkly dog... I think my funny bulldog looks good next to Kathy's tag...

I forgot to take photos of what I made for the ladies before mailing them... so I snagged this from Deb's blog... thanks Deb! I did giant hang tags while singing "B-I-N-G-O"

In keeping with the "Dog/Puppy" theme... below are some recent photos of my precious baby girl, Cocoa Puff... it's hard to believe how much she's grown in the short time she has been with us... Cocoa is 8 months old now, and brings great joy to my heart...

We keep old Beach blankets 'n pillows around for her since she's deep into her "chewing-on-everything-in-sight" stage...

She will soon be making her first, and much needed, trip to a Poochie Parlor for a Summer hair cut...

Look at that precious face... she's standing guard next to her baby blanket, which has now become one of her chew toys... I sure do Love my Cocoa girl ♥

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit... next there will be more creations to share from my swap group... and an upcoming post to share about my recent Birthday... as well as a post with photos from the "Date Night" that my darling husband took me on to celebrate our 20th Wedding Anniversary... and I want to show y'all some of the "baby planters" that I've recently begun to collect...

Of course, I'm very much looking forward to being able to get around blogland to visit with everyone and find out what I've been missing while I've been away... Thank you all, again, for your kind expressions of concern and prayers... your friendship is indeed a true blessing in my life... hope this new month of June will be filled with Love and enchantment for everyone...

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

A Vintage Memorial Day

2009-05-25T14:31:00.005-04:00

I hope everyone's having a very
Safe and Peaceful Holiday...

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

Pianos, Animals, Eggs and a Classic Toy... Oh My!!

2009-05-12T05:43:00.005-04:00

The Classic Toy for this week is

Jacob's Ladder...

This wonderful toy is called Jacob's
Ladder because its seemingly endless
tumbling of blocks is said to resemble
a dream of angels continuously ascending
and descending a ladder to Heaven, as
dreamed by the Biblical patriarch Jacob
(Genesis 28:12). Because of the Biblical
connection, and because it was a "nice
quiet toy", Puritan children were allowed
to play with it on Sundays.

Some Legends say that one was found
in King Tut's tomb, which means these
fascinating toys were played with in
Egypt before 2112 B.C.,
when the young King died.

To play with Jacob's Ladder, simply
hold the top block by its edges and
let the rest of the identical blocks swing
downward until the "ladder" is fully open.
Then, holding the top block by its edges,
turn it 180° in a left rotation, until the top
and second blocks are parallel and
touching. When the held block hits the
hanging block, a series of blocks will
begin cascading down. Then repeat the
motion 180° to the right. Each time you
move the block 180°, a cascade of
apparently moving blocks will flip
to the bottom.

There's a neat trick you can play with
your Jacob's ladder, which will baffle
children (and, most likely, their elders)
Fold up a dollar bill into a small
rectangle and tuck it under one of
the tapes. Then operate the toy.
The dollar will successively
disappear, appear, disappear,
and so on, for no apparent reason!

~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~

During my recent internet travels,
I came upon some very cute
photos of animals on pianos...
For some reason, I felt compelled
to share them today... Enjoy!

~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~

~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~

Below you will find this

weeks Embroidery Patterns...

~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~

~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~

How many of you have a Jacob's Ladder?
I do, and just like the Slinky...
it's fun and relaxing to play with!

I hope everyone finds a nice "Tid-Bit"
to enjoy this Tuesday!

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

♥ Happy Mother's Day ♥ ... A Gift from Me to You

2009-05-10T03:21:00.003-04:00

I can't let this day come 'n go
without having extra special
thoughts of my sweet Mom...
She was the closest thing to an Angel
walking the face of the Earth in my eyes...

I'm forever thankful to God for
allowing me to be one of her daughter's...
Of course, she was the most
Wonderful Mom in the world...
We truly did Love each other dearly...

My heart broke the night she
passed away and went to live
with the Lord in her forever home...
Peace dwells within me, though, in
knowing that she's in Heaven, and
one day we will be together again...

Above are a few photos
of my Precious Mom...
Though she's not here in the flesh,
I still want to wish her a very
♥ HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY ♥

I hope everyone enjoys the beauty of today...
Below is my gift to you...
Please click the images to enlarge and save them...
The artwork is simply amazing... Enjoy!

Below, the frame without text...

Below, the frame without text, mirrored...

A mother is the truest friend we have,
when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us;
when adversity takes the place of prosperity;
when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine,
dessert us when troubles thicken around us,
still will she cling to us, and endeavor
by her kind precepts and counsels to
dissipate the clouds of darkness,
and cause peace to return to our hearts.

~ Washington Irving ~

Happy Mother's Day

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

PFF ~ Halloween in the Spring

2009-05-08T03:17:00.004-04:00

While digging around for some Spring
art the other night, I noticed that there
were alot of girls on Halloween postcards
that were dressed for Spring, instead of
the last cool evening in October... Of
course, I realize that part of the Magic
of art and postcards is just that...
Magic... Anything Goes...
so with that being said, I still thought
it would be amusing to show some
images of Halloween in the Spring...

~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~

~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~

I hope everyone has a beautiful Spring weekend...
Time to go plant some Pumpkin seeds...

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

Please visit PFF's lovely host, Marie Reed,
to get a complete list of participants.

A Step Back In Time

2009-05-07T03:25:00.005-04:00

How about some Lovely
Victorian Trading Cards?

Please take a moment to
click 'n enlarge them to
appreciate their full beauty...
and to read the interesting copy
on the back of each card... Enjoy!

~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~

Ahhh... If I could step back in time,
I'd want to get a bottle of Austen's
Forest Flower Cologne... not only to
"possess that rare and indescribable
quality so much admired by persons
of refined and cultivated taste"... but
to also "be given a beautiful Japanese
Handkerchief" when I make my
purchase... I do believe I'd splurge and
spend 75 cents on the large bottle...
So, who wants to go shopping?!

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

Pleasure From The Past

2009-05-05T02:08:00.005-04:00

The Joys of Blogging are found in many ways...
Recently I was honored with two Awards...

Robin, at Robin's Blue Nest, shared
the One Lovely Blog Award with me...
This pretty award is given to newly
discovered blogs 'n blogging friends...
I met Robin through PFF,
Postcard Friendship Friday...
and I'd like to thank her for thinking of
me in this way... so, Thank you, Robin!

Tiffany, at Southern Sass, passed
the Lovely Friendship Award to me...
The Lovely Friendship Award means
the following: "These blogs are exceedingly
charming. These kind bloggers aim to find
and be friends. They are not interested in
self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when
the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even
more friendships are propagated. Please
give more attention to these writers."
Thank you, Tiffany, for sharing
this sweet Award with me!

For those of y'all that haven't already
visited these two Lovely Ladies, do
yourselves a favor and add them to
your list of blogs to "check out"...
you won't regret it! I'm simply terrible
at attempting to pick out folks to pass
Awards on to... I believe there're so
many Wonderful blogs and friends out
there that my head just spins trying to
decide who to share with... If you're
on my side-bar or are visiting, please
consider yourself "Awarded" and
very much appreciated by me ♥

I have lots of Tid-Bits to share today...
Vintage Crate Labels...

Something that's been on my mind lately...
Classic and Retro Toys and Games...

The more I've thought about them,
the longer my list grew of toys 'n
games recalled from my childhood...
So I decided that each Tuesday I'll
share a few of my favorites and try to
dig up some history to go along with them...
I hope you'll find it as fascinating as I do...

Pick-Up Sticks...

Hold these richly colored, classic sticks
in your hand. Drop them on the floor.
The game commences. Your object,
pick up the sticks one at a time without
disturbing others. If another stick moves,
another player takes a turn. Successfully
recover the colored sticks having the
highest point value and the crown goes to you!

Pick-Up Sticks are believed to have
originated in ancient China in the form
of finely carved ivory. Transferred to
wood and carved bone. Discovered
and used by British traders. Native
Americans adapted the game to a
version using painted reeds. Early
North Americans used colored straw.

Ahhhhh... the beloved Slinky...

This is way up on my list of favorites...
In addition to the "original" metal slinky,
we have a few plastic ones too,
scattered throughout the house...
There's an unexplained "calmness" that
seems to come over me while shifting
this toy from one hand to the other...

The history behind the Slinky is amazing...

The year 1943, smack dab in the middle
of World War II, Richard James was
developing a spring system to keep
fluctuating shipboard instruments sturdy
while at sea. Amused when dropping a
spring to the ground that it began to walk...
Richard brought the spring home to his
wife, Betty. Betty had a vision for the toy,
found a name in the dictionary, "slinky"
meaning stealthy, sleek, and sinuous.
History was made as Slinky debuted at
Gimbel's Department Store in Philadelphia
in 1945. Initially, there was skepticism
about whether Slinky would sell, but all
400 Slinkys for sale were purchased in
90 minutes. Since then, over three hundred
million Slinkys have been sold worldwide.
Remarkably, the Slinky is still made in
Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania with the
original equipment Richard James created.

Though it was developed to be a toy,
other applications for the Slinky have
been discovered. The Slinky has been
used as an antenna by soldiers in
Vietnam, and worldwide as a therapy
tool and for coordination development.
The Slinky has appeared on the Silver
Screen many times. In Disney's
Toy Story, the Slinky Dog
played an important role.

In 1999, Slinky became one of the
very first toys to be officially honored
with a picture on an official United
States Postage Stamp. The Slinky
was named the Official State Toy of
Pennsylvania on November 4, 2001.

~ Slinky Song ~
What walks down stairs, alone or in pairs
and makes a slinkity sound?
A spring, a spring, a marvelous thing!
Everyone knows it's Slinky.

It's Slinky, it's Slinky,
It's fun, it's a wonderful toy.
It's Slinky, it's Slinky, it's fun,
It's a wonderful toy.
It's fun for a girl or a boy.

~ Original Lyrics ~
Who walks the stairs without a care
It shoots so high in the sky.
Bounce up and down just like a clown
Everyone knows its Slinky.

The best present yet to give or get
The kids will all want to try.
The hit of the day when you are ready to play
Everyone knows it's Slinky.

It's Slinky, It's Slinky
for fun the best of the toys.
It's Slinky, It's Slinky
the favorite of girls and boys.

~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~

Below you will find this
weeks Embroidery Pattern...

Not in the mood for needlework?
Why don't you go find your
Slinky 'n Pick-Up Sticks and
get lost in a "Tid-Bit" of
pleasure from the past...

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

With A Grateful Heart

2009-05-03T03:05:00.004-04:00

I'd like to say
THANK YOU
to everyone that wished
me a Happy Birthday...

It was a beautiful day...
spent with the guys...

All of you sweet blogging friends
certainly warmed my heart...
I truly appreciated all of your
kind comments and emails...

Blogland is filled with so
many wonderful people...
and I feel very blessed to
be a part of this community...

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

PFF ~ Lily of the Valley

2009-05-01T03:28:00.003-04:00

Happy May Day!

The flower for May is the
Lily of the Valley...
Muguet des Bois...

The meaning of this
beautiful & fragrant
bell-shaped flower is the
Return of Happiness...
Purity and Humility...

Its botanical name is Convallaria Majalis...
from Convallis, meaning Valley...
and Majalis, meaning May.

This Breathtaking Vintage
Botanical Print is dated 1798...

The Lily of the Valley was
first cultivated in 1420...

According to the book
The Language of Flowers...

"It is not surprising that the Lily of the
Valley symbolizes the Return to Happiness,
for it is the sweetest flower imaginable.
With it’s dainty white bells and unmistakable
green scent it is said to lure the Nightingale
from his nest and lead him to his mate. It is
the symbol of May Day and was known as
May Lily and Our Lady’s tears because it
grew from the tears shed by the Virgin Mary
at the Cross. The flowers were grown by
monks for decorating the alter and were
called Ladder to Heaven because the
miniature flower bells grow
like steps up from the stem."

This Beautiful Vintage Ad is from the
May 1948 issue of Good Housekeeping...

Muguet des Bois by Coty was the first
Perfume I ever owned... to this day it
remains one of my all-time favorites...
perhaps I'll get a bottle of it today...
since it's my Birthday... a girl can wish!

"This is the day which the Lord hath made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it..."
Psalms 118:24

This verse from Psalms
expresses each days
Promise of a
Return of Happiness
and a reason to Rejoice...

I hope that this first day of May
will be filled with countless
reasons for you to Rejoice...
and may Happiness always
find its way back to you...

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

Please visit PFF's lovely host, Marie Reed,
to get a complete list of participants.

Did You Know...

2009-04-30T18:53:00.005-04:00

The color Purple has many meanings...
It stands for Majesty, Opulence and Grandeur...

Purple has been used to symbolize Magic and Mystery...

Purple is associated with both Nobility and Royalty...

Purple robes were worn by Royalty
and people of Authority or High Rank...

The Purple Heart is a U.S. Military decoration
given to Soldiers wounded in battle...

Purple is the color most favored by Artists...

It is the color of people seeking Spiritual Fulfillment...

It is said if you surround yourself with
Purple you will have Peace of Mind...

Purple is a good color to use in Meditation...

The most known and used meaning of a Purple
Rose is that of first Instant Attraction to another
person, Infatuation or Enthrallment at First Sight...

Thursday's color is Purple...

Lilacs and Violets are my most favorite Purple things...

I hope you had a very Purple Thursday...

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

It's Not Too Late For...

2009-04-29T03:01:00.003-04:00

Such a Lovely way to demonstrate the Joy of gift giving...

This sweet tradition takes place on May 1st, May Day,
and dates back to pre-Christian Europe
as a tribute to Flora, the Roman Goddess of Flowers...

The first day of May has slowly
evolved into a Celebration of Giving...
once referred to as "Bringing in the May"

May Baskets come in all shapes 'n sizes...
from simple paper cones to the elaborate tussie mussie...
strawberry baskets to re-purposed Easter baskets...
you're only limited by your own imagination!

May Baskets are traditionally filled with fresh Spring
flowers, herbs, and small blossoming branches...
Candies and small trinkets are tucked inside as well...

Then on the morning of May Day, the baskets
are quietly 'n secretly placed on the doorknob
or porch of a neighbor or loved one...
Ring the bell...
Knock on the door...
Run fast 'n hide!

This precious act can be your
own family Spring tradition...
It's a wonderful way to teach children the
true meaning of giving without receiving...

I hope this Friday morning you'll wake to the
sounds of rustling on your porch,
your doorbell ringing, and
giggles drifting through the air as your own
Secret Goddess of Flowers runs to hide...

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

Wishing You Sweet Dreams ~and~ Novelties of the Season

2009-04-28T02:33:00.004-04:00

This Victorian Trading Card

holds a promise of

Novelties of the Season...

Below you will find this
weeks Embroidery Pattern...

Sweet Angels
for
Sweet Dreams...

Pretty Parasols for
April Showers...

Beautiful Baskets for
May Flowers...

May all of your Dreams be Sweet
and filled with the
Novelties of the Season...

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

PFF ~ Birthdays & Flowers

2009-04-24T03:25:00.003-04:00

May Flowers aren't the only things
brought on by April Showers...

Those Magical Rainfalls also bring May Day...
which happens to be my Birthday...

Be it your Birthday or not...

Rain or Shine...
May all of your Dreams come True...

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

Please visit PFF's lovely host, Marie Reed,
to get a complete list of participants.

Cakes and Wedded Bliss

2009-04-21T15:28:00.005-04:00

Many things in life fascinate me...
Wedding Cakes and
Vintage Wedding Photos...

I find the mini-cakes, like above 'n
below to be especially adorable...

Below you will find this
weeks Embroidery Pattern...

I couldn't do a post about Cakes
without showing you my all-time
favorite coin purses...
these remain on my Wish~List...

No matter how you slice it...
Cakes 'n Wedded Bliss
are Wonderful Tid-Bits!

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

PFF ~ Messengers of Spring

2009-04-17T03:15:00.005-04:00

Though my heart belongs to Lilacs 'n Violets,
the Daisies on this postcard are endearing to me...

Indeed... Flowers truly are the
Messengers of Spring...

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

Please visit PFF's lovely host, Marie Reed,
to get a complete list of participants.

It's Time For...

2009-04-14T04:31:00.005-04:00

I Love Violets...
They're another positive sign
that Spring has offically arrived.

My backyard is full of clusters
of these teeny purple blossoms...
Aren't they Beautiful?!

Cute Chubby Cherubs
wrapping a bow around
a bunch of blossoms...

My backyard is not full of these
Awesome Sea Shells...

But my Dreams are full of them...
and seeing the Violets only lets me
know that Summer is coming...
and that means Sea Shells...

and Sand Castles...

I Love the Beach...
I'm very blessed to live near the Atlantic Ocean...

I'm also very blessed to have
many Sweet Blogging Friends...
Recently I was honored by my friend,
Kathy, from Kat Collects...
She passed along to me the Kreativ Blogger Award...

Thank you, Kathy! It's been a true
pleasure getting to know you better,
and I'm happy to call you my Friend.
For those of you who haven't had a chance to visit Kathy,
I encourage you to take some time to do so.
Not only is her blog breathtaking
and heartwarming, Kathy is too.

I visit many blogs, and am guilty of lurking, too...
but I do have my "favorites", as do most of you,
and mine are listed on my sidebar. I'd like to pass
this sweet award along to my favorite blogging friends...
y'all truly do have "Kreativ Blogs" and my life is
all the better for being able to know and visit y'all...

Another thing that I Love, is Embroidery...
Not only do I enjoy doing needlework,
but I also collect Vintage Linens...

Gotta Love these Adorable Fur-Babies!

I thought y'all might like it if I shared
some of the patterns from my collection...
Please let me know if you think this is something
you'd like to see each week in my Tuesday Tid-Bits.

What are you Dreaming about,
now that Spring has arrived?

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

Please remember that
April is Autism Awareness Month
You may learn more about this here...
and there are links on my sidebar, as well.
Thank You!

Vintage Easter Wishes

2009-04-12T14:14:00.004-04:00

Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter...
and being thankful to God for His mercy
and beautiful gift of eternal life...

I hope your day has been filled with
Blessings and lots of Chocolate!
Thank you for visiting, and
I'd love to know who was here...
Please leave me a comment before
you hop on down the Bunny Trail...

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

PFF ~ Chicks, Roses, and Lily-of-the-Valley

2009-04-10T13:05:00.004-04:00

It's a toss-up for me when trying to
decide which Holiday I love more...
Easter or Christmas

The massive amount of artwork is
almost overwhelming, at times...
I suppose for Easter, my favorite images would be
those of Chicks, Lily-of-the-Valley, and Violets...

In this post, I'm sharing two Easter
Postcards from my digital collection...
I've "altered" them in my graphics program
in order to "see" the original image better...
Then I've "colorized" the Chicks to soften the image...

~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~

Please visit PFF's lovely host, Marie Reed,
to get a complete list of participants.

May you all have the most

Wonderful Easter!

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

Autism Speaks and So Do I

2009-04-07T22:47:00.003-04:00

I've spent alot of time devoting my blog space
to the Joys of Spring and the Enchantments of Easter

Bunnies... Chicks... Children... Flowers...
All Lovely in their own right... Enjoyed by all

Now the time is past due to devote some attention to
April ~ National Autism Awareness Month

I can only hope 'n pray that just one person will read
this and come away with something new learned...
with Hope for a loved one with Autism...
with renewed Faith in the Lord...
an added bonus would be if more than one person finds
and reads this, and comes away with those things as well...

There's not a short-cut to discuss Autism that I'm aware of...
Valuable Links are always available on my sidebar...
I cannot encourage you enough to visit them...

For those who may be new to my blog,
and wondering what my stake is in all of this...
allow me to explain...

My youngest son has Autism... he was diagnosed at the age of two, and he is now 18... I suppose you could say that I've been around the block a few times with this... Though I "knew" very early on in his life that "something was not right", hearing the final, confirmed diagnosis was nothing short of being physically assaulted... I felt as though I'd been punched in the gut, slapped across my face, and kicked to the ground... I was sick... physically and emotionally... It's truly a horrid blow for a Parent to have to take...

Your entire life, as you once knew it, is gone in a flash... suddenly you're thrown onto a new path in life, and without much information in hand, you're sent off on this new and frightening journey... I lost track a long time ago of how many different Doctors we saw, of how many trips to the Hospitals we made, of how many prayers were said, of how much money slipped through our hands like sand... Truth be known, I'm glad I lost track...

I found a wonderful school for Autistic children and my son attended for six years, beginning at the ripe age of not quite two and a half years... His progress was nothing short of an amazing miracle in our eyes... he eventually transitioned to the public schools where we live, attended regular classes with special acommodations, graduated with honors, and is attending College now...

Trust me, I'm fully aware that what has taken place with my son is not what "normally" happens with an Autistic child... we feel beyond blessed by God for all of our son's progress and achievements... we are over-the-moon with pride for all of the extremely hard work that our son has done...

Sadly, this is not the case with most children that have Autism...
the statistics and facts are simply staggering...
The odds of being diagnosed with Autism are 1 in 150...

But, what is Autism? Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a "spectrum disorder" that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for Autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.

The prevalence of Autism has risen greatly since the 1990's... the spotlight shown on Autism as a result of the prevalence increase opens opportunities for the nation to consider how to serve these families facing a lifetime of supports for their children.

Currently, Autism Society of America estimates that the lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism ranges from $3.5 million to $5 million, and that the United States is facing almost $90 billion annually in costs for autism (this figure includes research, insurance costs and non-covered expenses, Medicaid waivers for autism, educational spending, housing, transportation, employment, in addition to related therapeutic services and caregiver costs). ~points up to my comment about money slipping through our hands like sand~

When we first began our relationship with the special school, we joined the Parent Support Group and attended weekly meetings... one of the first things we were told by the Staff was to buckle our seatbelts tightly, that it was going to be a bumpy ride... we were also told that this journey was either going to "make us or break us" as a married couple... we couldn't wrap our minds around that concept, having only been married for three years at the time... at the end of our six years with that support group, we were the only married couple left from our original group... next month we will celebrate our 20th Anniversary... Thank You, God...

April 2, 2009 was World Autism Awareness Day... I know I'm late with sharing this, and for that I'm very sorry... However, there remains a wealth of information to be learned at their website, and truly the day was a kick-off for the entire month of April for awareness...

Please read this open letter from President Obama, released April 2, 2009, celebrating World Autism Awareness Day... just click on it to enlarge...

As I pointed out, families with a loved one that has Autism are faced with unbelievable medical bills... Since there's always been a cloak of mystery around this disorder, there's also been a large amount of reluctance to recognize all of the needs that go along with it... Currently there is Legislation waiting to be passed to change this reluctance... Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009 - Federal Autism Insurance Reform (S. 819) ... If passed, one of the 12 Sections of this Act will require all insurance companies across the country to provide coverage for evidence-based, medically-necessary Autism treatments and therapies. In most states, insurers are currently allowed to specifically exclude coverage for these critical services, which can cost upward of $50,000 a year – well beyond the means of most families.

There is not a cure for Autism...
It is, however, "treatable"...

Children do not "outgrow" Autism...
but studies show that early diagnosis and intervention
lead to significantly improved outcomes.

Please learn and know the signs of Autism...
Early Identification Can Change Lives!

Here are some of the signs to look for in the children in your lives...

Insistence on sameness; resistance to change

Lack of or delay in spoken language
Difficulty in expressing needs, using gestures or pointing instead of words
Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language
Laughing (and/or crying) for no apparent reason; showing distress for reasons not apparent to others
Preference to being alone; aloof manner
Tantrums
Difficulty in mixing with others
Not wanting to cuddle or be cuddled
Little or no eye contact
Unresponsive to normal teaching methods
Sustained odd play
Spinning objects
Obsessive attachment to objects
Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain
No real fears of danger
Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity
Uneven gross/fine motor skills
Non-responsive to verbal cues; acts as if deaf, although hearing tests in normal range

Autistic children do grow up and become Autistic adults... they need to transition into the adult world and we need to do all we can to make their transition successuful... the majority of Autistic persons remain impaired in their ability to communicate and socialize.
I encourage everyone to be an Advocate for the person you love with Autism.

It's not always easy to share about how Autism has affected my life, my son's life, my family's life... I've barely scratched the surface, here, with information... Autism is an extremely complex disorder... The journey has been long and hard... through the tears and terribly difficult moments, we've also laughed and loved, and above all, we've found many beautiful blessings along the way... It's my belief that my son carries a Message of Hope to all that know him... It's my prayer that by reading this, you've felt that Ray of Hope shine down upon your heart 'n soul...

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

Information found at
Autism Speaks, Autism Society of America, Autism Research Institute

So Glad You Stopped By For...

2009-04-07T06:17:00.003-04:00

Won't you join me in a cup of coffee?
These Tid-Bits are some whimsical
images of Easter and Spring...

Such a sly Frog~Bunny grin!

One childhood Easter, spent at my
Grandparent's farm, each of us kids
got a live colored chick in our baskets...
We had to leave them behind
when our visit was over, though...
Fast forward to the next time
we were at the farm...
having chicken salad for lunch...
and asking where our colored
Easter biddies were...
~sighs~
'nuf said about that...

What-In-The-World?!?!

Vintage 1940 Advertising for "shortenin"
Aunt Jenny sure does seem happy about this!

I hope everyone's enjoying the
April Showers!

Please stop back next Tuesday
to see more of my Tid-Bits...

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl

Letters to God

2009-04-06T01:46:00.008-04:00

Who doesn't enjoy reading
childrens letters to God?!

~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~

~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~

Priceless!

God bless...

Until another time... Pearl