A Little Romance -Postcard Friendship Friday #230

At first I was a baffled as to what this postcard was all about.  To call someone a Benedict, here in America, has never been a compliment.

It all goes back to the Revolutionary War.  During the war, Benedict Arnold, who was a member of the Sons of Liberty, rose to the rank of general in the Continental Army.  But Benedict became a spy for the British.  When his treachery was discovered, Arnold defected to the British side.  He was considered a traitor of the worst degree.

But then I discovered an interesting fact.  In times past, a Benedict was also described as a newly married man who has long been a bachelor. The term seems to have come from the name Benedick, a character in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.  The first use of a Benedict as a newly-married, long-time bachelor, was in 1821.

This postcard was especially intriguing, because it was addressed to a Miss Jensen, from one of her pupils.  One wonders what the story behind the postcard might be. 

NOTE:  This morning, I realized this is the 230th post, not the 130th post, so I have changed the number to reflect what it should be.  It is a privilege to host PFF each week.  Thank you for visiting, and especially to those of you who link up each Friday. You are all wonderful.  Have a lovely weekend, Friends.

* LINKING UP:  You can put your link in any time between now and next Thursday.  Postcard Friendship Friday is open for the entire week! 

* BADGE:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you!

*  THEMES: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the pieces you love and tell us why you like them.

*  REMINDER: Comments and links which contain advertising will be deleted. Also, any and all suspicious links which do not lead to a correct website will be reported and deleted.

A Gift of Love -Guest Heart Thursday

 
I love this postcard--I was looking for a heart in the rose, just so I could post it for PFF!  I found one, too--right where the fairy is sitting, there's a perfect petal heart.  I would LOVE to play inside a rose the way this little fellow is--wouldn't that be fun?!  

Have a lovely day!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

National Caviar Day -Postcard Friendship Friday #129

 

This wonderful postcard was printed by the Romanoff Caviar Company.  The painting is called Russian Peasant Woman and was painted by Russian artist, A. Boutchkouri.  On the back of this postcard, their product is described as "The Epicure's keenest delight."  Just perfect for today Postcard Friendship Friday.

And here's why!  Did you know that today is National Caviar Day?  It is said the word caviar comes from the Turkish word havyar, derived from the Iranian word khayah.  If you don't know what this delicacy is, you might be surprised!  Caviar is the processed, salted eggs of fish.

Today people use the word Caviar to describe any fish egg, but the sturgeon and its species are known to produce the finest varieties of caviar to be had.  A sturgeon can grow to a huge size—up to 300 pounds.  An egg bearing female carries eggs to the tune of 25 percent of her body weight.  

Ancient sources of caviar were from sturgeon flourishing in the Caspian, or black sea.  The eggs are usually black, though caviar also comes in red, gold and grey.   Sometimes they are called Caviar berries.

In the 19^th century, sturgeon were discovered in North American rivers.  The supply was so rich Canada and the United States became major suppliers of caviar to Europe. By 1900, the United States was the largest producer in the world, generating over 600 tons a year.  Of course, that kind of pillaging, resulted in a scarcity of fish.  In 1909, a ban was imposed on commercial sturgeon fishing. 

Recently Mumsie and I visited the Bonneville Fish Hatchery on the great Columbia River.  I didn’t realize the hatchery was built in 1909, right when bans were imposed on commercial sturgeon fishing.  We went down into an area where you can view the fish underwater through the glass.   

What a thrill to see humongous Herman the sturgeon floating gracefully by.  He was HUGE.  There were times I thought he might have actually been posing for the camera.  Look at that funny whiskered face.  If truth be known, I think he liked us.

Have a lovely weekend, and happy Postcard Friendship Friday!

* LINKING UP:  You can put your link in any time between now and next Thursday.  Postcard Friendship Friday is open for the entire week! 

* BADGE:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you!

*  THEMES: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the pieces you love and tell us why you like them.

*  REMINDER: Comments and links which contain advertising will be deleted. Also, any and all suspicious links which do not lead to a correct website will be reported and deleted.

The Waiting Heart -Guest Heart Thursday

Isn't this young woman beautiful?  Her complexion rivals the rose.  I do love the way the artist painted that rose.   And with the lovely maiden portrayed inside the enfolding heart, I thought this postcard perfect for Guest Heart Thursday!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

National Rainier Cherry Day -Postcard Friendship Friday #128

Today is National Rainier Cherry Day.  The cherries described as Rainiers seem to be exactly the type I ate as a child.  We would climb to the top of Grandma's cherry tree and eat to our heart's content.  Ah, those were the days.  A lovely summer afternoon, a good book and a bunch of fresh picked cherries.  Hmmmm… my mouth is watering...  When I am done here, I must find myself a bowl of cherries!  

The Rainier cherry was created at Washington State University, by fruit research scientist, Harold Warmon Fogle in 1952.  Fogle created the new cherry by cross-breeding Bing and Van cherries.

The resulting crop was a sweet, intensely shiny, blushing yellow cherry called the Rainier. This exquisite new fruit took its name from Mount Rainier, the highest peek in the Cascade Range.

Due to their superior taste, Rainiers are considered a premium cherry.  They are harvested mid-season, and are the highest value cherry produced in the Pacific Northwest. Large in size, The fruit has a distinctive yellow skin, a red blush and clear yellow flesh. They ripen three to six days after Bing cherries do, and they have excellent firmness, with an outstanding sweet, mild flavor.

A food writer for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer once called the Rainier the "sweetest, prettiest and most pampered of cherries." Since it's release in 1960, the Rainier has become one of the most popular cherries grown in the Pacific Northwest.

In Spring, the tree is beautiful with it's tremendous load of blossoms. Its prolific flowering results in sizable early yields. Rainier cherry trees are large with spreading branches.  This protects the delicate cherry from wind and rain, which is crucial in the rainy Pacific Northwest.

Have a lovely weekend, Happy Rainier Cherry Day, and have a great Postcard Friendship Friday!

* LINKING UP:  You can put your link in any time between now and next Thursday.  Postcard Friendship Friday is open for the entire week! 

* BADGE:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you!

*  THEMES: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the pieces you love and tell us why you like them.

*  REMINDER: Comments and links which contain advertising will be deleted. Also, any and all suspicious links which do not lead to a correct website will be reported and deleted.

Don't Step on a Bee Day -Guest Heart Thursday

Over the past year or so, the Willamette Valley, here in Oregon has some experienced tragic losses of bumble bees and honey bees due to pesticides.  It breaks my heart to see this.  I've always loved bees--especially the bumble bees. 

Bees are important to everyone in the world.  Without bees, pollen would not be spread.  In the United States alone, honeybees pollinate more than 100 food crops, including apples, zucchini, avocados and plums. The bee population is in such crisis, experts are convinced we are one one step away from disaster.  

In light of these facts, to celebrate a special day in honor of bees seems just right to me, and perfect for Guest Heart Thursday.

Have a lovely day, and make sure bees are safe and welcome in your yard.

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

Happy Birthday, Little Buddy!

I am so grateful for friendship.  Today is my friend Theresa's birthday.  She's been my little buddy for over 25 years.  Our children grew up together and played together.  Over the years we've done projects together, spent holidays together, laughed together--cried together.  What a dear gift she has been.

Happy Birthday, Little Buddy!

A Stitch and a Prayer

I am pleased to introduce you to my Mom's newest book, A Stitch and a Prayer.  Over this past year, I had the astonishing privilege of helping Mumsie edit her manuscript.  Though likely I am biased, I loved the story.  Daddy, Mumsie's biggest fan, would have been incredibly proud of her. 

To hold her book in my hands for the first time, was wonderful.  I asked her to sign it, of course.  To read what she wrote to me brought tears to my eyes. I am so grateful to have been a small part of it all.

Mom has been writing since the late 1970's.  She's written both fiction and non-fiction and I adore her writing style.  The way she writes just fills my eyes, heart and my soul.  She is an amazing woman and I am fortunate to be her daughter. 

She wrote her first novel, Colleen (Bethany House Publishers, 1979), because at that time, books written for teen girls were few and far between.  Mumsie has been called one of the pioneers of contemporary Christian novels for teens. 

You can find A Stitch and a Prayer for sale at Abingdon Press!  She also has a wonderful blog at Everybody Loves a Story.  I am so proud of my darling Mumsie--I hope you all drop by for a visit.

Have a lovely day!

My Country 'Tis of Thee -Postcard Friendship Friday #127

The melody of the patriotic song My Country Tis of Thee--also known as America, is actually the same as God Save the Queen,the national anthem of the United Kingdom, arranged by composer Thomas Arne. 

Before 1931, when The Star Spangled Banner was adopted as the official American anthem, My Country Tis of Thee was considered one of the "de facto" national anthems of the United States. I have an ancient songbook with this song inside.  There are verses I'd never heard sung before.  From my research I discovered there are many versions of this song.  It would be fun to find them all.

Have a great weekend, dear friends!  Happy Fourth of July!  I'm sure we "noisy" Americans will be setting off firecrackers all weekend long!

NOTE:  Postcard Friendship Friday was designed so folks who love postcards can share their favorites.  If your link does not contain a postcard, is not related to post offices, mail, etc., I will delete the link.  This has happened a couple of times now.  It always makes me feel sad to delete a link--especially if your blog is charming.  However, the fact remains--postcard Friendship Friday celebrates postcards!  Please respect this fact.  Thank you!

* LINKING UP:  You can put your link in any time between now and next Thursday.  Postcard Friendship Friday is open for the entire week! 

* BADGE:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you!

*  THEMES: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the pieces you love and tell us why you like them.

*  REMINDER: Comments and links which contain advertising will be deleted. Also, any and all suspicious links which do not lead to a correct website will be reported and deleted.

American Hearts -Guest Heart Thursday

This does not have hearts in the picture--but it does have the word hearts!  I enjoyed the stunning borders of this postcard, and those children are adorable.  It appears the boy is a budding dress designer, eh?  He seems to be making the flag into a gown for the girl.

Happy Guest Heart Thursday, and Happy Fourth of July!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.