Egad! Sparklers!!!

Many of these early postcards have children doing dangerous things with fireworks and such.  I love their colorful attractive look--but GOODNESS!  That child has a gun!  Not to mention the sword lying on the ground next to his drum. 

Have a Happy SAFE Fourth of July!

Natonal Catfish Day - Postcard Friendship Friday #17

This wonderful old postcard celebrating April Fool's Day, is from my "cyber collection."  I could not find a postcard to commemorate National Cat Fish Day, so this one will have to do.

It is amazing what one can discover on the internet!  I was astonished (and amused) to learn on June 25, 1987, President Ronald Reagan issued an official proclamation making the date an annual holiday, National Catfish  Day.

Said Reagan with his famous grin, "More and more Americans are discovering a uniquely American food delicacy, farm-raised catfish."

I remember when my brothers would go fishing in the neighbor's pond.  They'd bring home buckets of catfish.  Mom would put them into the kitchen sink, where they splashed and played until Dad came home take care of business.  I always thought their bewhiskered faces and tough disposition were rather endearing--they were tasty, too.  Mom knew how to cook catfish--they must to be cooked just right, otherwise they taste gamey.

So, today in America, for fishing enthusiasts who like to catch their own and fry them up for supper, catfish tops the menu.  If catching one's own catfish isn't an option, fried catfish appears on specials boards in cafes, diners and other eateries.

Who would have thought?!  Happy Postcard Friendship Friday!

Don't forget to visit Gemma's Weekend Mailbox Meme  for some interesting mail-related fun!   

The Lovely Bette Davis

This is a photo of the fabulous Bette Davis, from my "cyber" collection.  I adore her dress.  The lighting in this picture is phenomenal.

She was an amazing actress--lovely when she was young, powerful as she grew older.  There was always an air of mystery about her. 

I wish I could have met her.

Embroidered Postcard Greetings!

This is another postcard from my "Cyber" collection.  The idea of actually putting a piece of embroidery on a postcard is rather wonderful--though I don't know how a postcard like this would make it through today's postal stamping equipment.

I have heard these were popular in the early 1900's, many of them came out of France.

Christine has a lovely blog filled with fabulous postcards.  You can find the original postcard at Christine's Blog.  Thank you for sharing your wonderful postcards with us, my dear!

Happy Father's Day!

Today is Father's Day.  I am so grateful for my Dad and for all the wonderful men who, over the years, took me under their Fatherly arm to teach and guide me.  I have been truly blessed.

To My Love - Pink Saturday

 

This is a beautiful card I added to my "cyber" collection some time ago.  It is a cut out card, which adds to its fragile loveliness.  Thank you, Paula!

For more fabulous pink stuff, visit Bev at Pink Saturday!

The First Father's Day - Postcard Friendship Friday #16

Father's Day is celebrated on third Sunday in June in many parts of the world.  In 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd thought up the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon.

When her Mother died, Sonora's Dad had raised her to adulthood.  She knew all the sacrifices he made for her and saw him as a courageous selfless and loving man.  Sonora wanted her Dad to know how special he was to her, so she went to work on a national day to honor all Fathers. The very first Father's Day celebration was held on her Father's birthday, the 19th of June, 1910.

In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. President Nixon, in 1972, established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. Roses are the Father's Day flowers: red to be worn for a living father and white if the father has died.

Happy Postcard Friendship Friday!!

I recently found a blog which seems to dovetail with Postcard Friendship Friday! Please visit Gemma's weekend Mailbox Meme for some interesting mailbox photos!  

For My Daddy on Father's Day

This is another card from our sweet Grammie's collection.  I think this may have been a Father's Day card one of my uncles would have given to my dear old Grandfather.  It looks like it could be Uncle Lawrence's handwriting.

Dear dear Dad--you truly are the BEST Daddy there ever could be!

My Shadow

I have a little shadow

That goes in and out with me.

And what can be the use of him,

Is more than I can see.

He is very, very like me,

From the heels up to the head;

And I see him jump before me,

When I jump into my bed.

This is another illustration from my beloved book of children's poetry.  I have always loved this poem--having a wonderful imagination, as a child--I often danced with my shadow, imagining she was my long lost twin.

Joy and Laughter - Birthday Thoughts

This is one of a collection of wonderful cards given to me by my darling Sissy Clytie.  What a precious gift she is!  She is truly one of my best Friends.  Tch tch tch--she had me in tears this morning, the wench!  I  am so blessed and privileged to have Clytie as MY sweet Sissy!  She and my Sister Leigh are notes of joy intertwining throughout my life--sweet tones of friendship and love.  I think about all my dear brothers and sisters and how each of them in their own way are precious and dear to me.

Today is my birthday.  I am the eldest.   I never thought I would ever get this old.  I still feel quite young on the inside--still in my early 20's.

Fifty-two years ago this moment Mom was, as she says, "working hard."  I was born around 10 p.m. I am very grateful to Mumsie for all the things she instilled into me.  Much of who I am today stems from what she taught me as a small child.

THANK YOU, Mom!  Thank you for all your hard work.  You taught me to see beauty.  Thank you for faithfully loving Dad all these years.  I thank you for your prayer and support throughout my life.  I am truly blessed to have you as my Mom.  Today on my birthday, I think about how wonderful you are--you are God's song of joy and laughter to ME, sweet Mumsie!

Happy Pink Birthday! - Postcard Friendship Friday #15

 In America, we celebrate Flag Day, in honor of our beautiful Flag's birthday, on June 14th. Isn't this a lovely postcard?  You are wondering why I'm not posting a Flag?

I thought you would enjoy hearing about Flag Day from my perspective as a small girl.  I so amazed when I saw all the flags flying everywhere on Flag Day.  Somehow in my mind, I believed they flew because it was the day I was born.  I was heart broken when I discovered the true reason for the flags.  As I matured, I learned to love the holiday not only because it landed on my birthday, but because of my love for my Country--and our Flag.

I look back and smile at that little girl I was.  The reason I'm posting a birthday postcard today?  This is for all you Flag Day birthday kids across the world--HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Thank you for your indulgence, once again I will be posting Pink Saturday along with Postcard Friendship Friday together.  For more wonderful Pink Stuff please visit Bev at Pink Saturday!

Blue Rose Sincerity

I am posting this MOST sincere sympathy card in honor of our DEAD hot water heater.  

I thought the blue rose with the DRIP to be MOST appropriate.

If one cannot weep, one MUST laugh.  (grin)

Faery, Snail and Rose - Pink Saturday

 I found this whimsical illustration online and fell in love it.  This painting reminds me of the faeries who, in my imagination, populate my garden.  It seems to me, riding on the back of a snail might be rather slow--but perhaps faery dust causes him to fly instead--which would be fun for a snail, and a great deal quicker!  What do you think?

For other wonders in pink visit Pink Saturday at Bev's place.

Children of the Flag - Postcard Friendship Friday # 14

I've always thought it wonderful that countries of the world each have a flag to represent them!  In America, we celebrate our Flag on June 14.  On that date, in 1777, the Continental Congress passed a resolution specifying that the flag carry 13 stripes and 13 stars. The colors would represent hardiness and valor (red), purity and innocence (white), and vigilance, perseverance and justice (blue).  Over the years, as stars representing each state were added to the flag, the design changed to what it is today--white stars in a field of blue next to red and white stripes .

In 1885, a Fredonia, Wisconsin schoolteacher, B.J. Cigrand, arranged for the students in his school district to celebrate Flag Birthday on  June 14th!

Then, in 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher from New York City, planned similar festivities for his school’s students. In 1893, Philadelphia became the first city to celebrate Flag Day and the following year, New York was the first state to observe June 14th as Flag Day. In 1916, after decades of expanding community observances, President Woodrow Wilson finally established Flag Day on the calendar.

But it wasn’t until 1949, that National Flag Day was officially observed every June 14th. The United States Flag Code, as adopted by Congress, states “The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.”

Happy Postcard Friendship Friday!

The Mermaid and the Bubble

I have always loved mermaids.  When I saw this gorgeous illustration, I added it to my collection of "cyber" art.

I like the idea of wing-like fins on her shoulders--and the delicate ting of yellow and pink are beautiful.  The way this talented artist painted the mermaid's hair is phenomenal--I am fascinated by the way it is highlighted, almost as though it glows.

I also LOVE the bubble--I really like bubbles.  (grin)