Dancing the May Pole - Postcard Friendship Friday #61

When I attended High School, May Day was the big celebration. Every Spring we voted for our May Day Queen and her court.  The celebration was in the big gym, where there was music by the choir, band and orchestra and the queen was introduced with a special dance.  The dresses the court wore--with big hoop skirts--were amazing.  

But my favorite part was winding of the May Pole by the Freshmen girls.  When I was a freshman I was in the group who danced around the May Pole.  I still have the pretty purple dress I wore. 

Colorful crepe paper ribbons were attached to the top of the pole.  As music played, one group of us walked to the right, the others to the left.  It was a pretty dance, where we would dip under the ribbon of the first person, then go over the ribbon of the next and so on. 

The winding of the Maypole was a traditional activity each spring.   I believe May Day is still celebrated in this manner at my old Alma Mater.

Happy May Day and Happy Postcard Friendship Friday!

* Don't forget to visit Gemma at Greyscale Territory for Weekend Mailbox!

Mother Daughter Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

It may seem far fetched, but looking closely at this vintage photo, I think these two dear faces, a Mother and Daughter, form a beautiful heart!

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

Because You Are So Special - Sunday Scans

Here is another of Grammie Jenny's cards.  This is from her best Friend Ruth.  Their friendship was so rich and beautiful.  I'm so glad we have a record of their loving hearts toward one another.  I especially love this card with it's bright and cheery pansies. 

Al over at "Al's Photography Blog" is hosting a wonderful meme. It's called "Sunday Scans" and is a place for all things scanned.  So pick up your old photo albums, ephemera, postcards, artwork, ANYTHING which can be scanned and join in the fun!

Happy Easter - Postcard Friendship Friday #60

Can you believe I have been hosting Postcard Friendship Friday for 60 weeks now?!  It feels I began hosting PFF just yesterday.  I'm so grateful to all of you for your participation.

Since it is Easter Weekend, I decided to share one of my favorite stories from the Bible.  What joy Mary must have felt when she heard her dear Friend call her name.

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

 

 Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

 

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.  John 20:1-18 (NIV)

Happy Easter and have a wonderful Postcard Friendship Friday.

* Don't forget to visit Gemma at Greyscale Territory for Weekend Mailbox!

Quakin' Good - Guest Heart Thursday

Here's another funny Valentine card from my collection.  This one was printed in the United States in the late 1940/'s.  The coy look in this ducky's eyes, along with those fabulous britches and those, er, thorny feet--make him quite a catch!

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

Springtime Violets - Sunday Scans

This beautiful spray of violets was scanned from a book printed around 1900.  This little book celebrates Friendship and was given to me by my sweet Friend Marian--who resides in heaven.  Her friendship meant a great deal to me.  I imagine her eyes sparkling with happiness as she tends her beautiful heavenly garden.

Al over at "Al's Photography Blog" is hosting a new meme. It's called "Sunday Scans" and is a place for all things scanned.  Such a COOL idea! Sissy and I are of one mind on this--we really want to see this meme succeed.  So pick up your old photo albums, ephemera, postcards, artwork, ANYTHING that can be scanned and join in the fun!

Faery Dance

This lovely lineart drawing came from a well-used book of children's poetry.  I adore the grace of movement this artist caught -- the sense of floating in the air on wings of gossamer.

Happy Birthday, Honey - Pink Saturday

My darling husband's birthday is this Sunday--hence this card with the darling little boy.  I know this sweet fellow is wearing red checks, but all babies are pink--and therefore I felt 'twas a good choice for Pink Saturday!

For more fabulous pink stuff, join Bev at How Sweet the Sound!

Legend of the Easter Lily - Postcard Friendship Friday #59

The lily is a symbol of purity because of its whiteness and delicacy of form. This flower is said to symbolize the innocence and the radiance of the risen Lord’s sinless life.  It is called the Easter lily because the flowers bloom in early spring, around Easter time.

 

The first Bermuda, or white trumpet lily was actually brought to the United States from Bermuda in the 1880s by Mrs. Thomas P. Sargent of Philadelphia, Pa. 

There is an ancient legend about these white lilies.  It is said in the Garden of Gethsemane, there were many beautiful flowers, but the loveliest of all was the pure white lily. But the lily knew it was beautiful and proudly lifted its head to show its shining beauty to anyone who happened to pass by the garden. 

The night before He was crucified, the Savior came into the quiet Garden of Gethsemane to pray. As He prayed and wept, bearing the weight of the ages, all the flowers of the garden bowed their heads in pity and sorrow except one.  The proud lily did not understand, and would not bow its lovely white head. 

When dawn broke, to its despair the lily discovered Christ was to be crucified. The flower felt so miserable about how it had acted in the garden the night before, it bowed its head in shame. 

The legend has it that since then -- to honor the Lord Jesus and to show its everlasting sorrow -- the fragrant white lily has grown with a down-turned blossom.

Happy Easter and have a wonderful Postcard Friendship Friday.

* Don't forget to visit Gemma at Greyscale Territory for Weekend Mailbox!

Happy Pups

I received this card from a friend sometime in the 1970's.  You can tell the time period by the coloring of the photo.  I love the way these cute puppie's eyes sparkle.  The way they lean into one another, they seem the best of friends.  I bet these two got into a LOT of mischief!

When I was a child I wanted a collie just like Lassie.  Collies are such beautiful dogs.  I'm glad I kept this card in my box of keepsakes.

Many Good Wishes - Sunday Scan

This is one of Grandma Gladys' lovely cards.  When she moved away to Washington State, she left her boxes of cards with me.  How I have treasured them.  I saved them all--some I have used, others have become a part of my card collection.  This Get Well Card is one of those.

Today is the second Sunday for Al's wonderful new meme.   I think it is a lovely idea--since so many of us use the scanner every day.  Check out "Al's Photography Blog" and his fascinating meme Sunday Scans!

Grammies Flowers - Pink Saturday

Here is another lovely card from Grammie's collection.  I love this card--there's something about it which fills my eyes.  Grammie loved flowers--her yard was beautiful with every kind of flower, archways, paths and glistening ponds sporting a wealth of goldfish.  Those days are gone.  I like to think all those lovely blooms followed Grammie into heaven.  I can only imagine the garden she has there!  This card brings back so many happy memories.

For more fabulous pink stuff, join Bev at How Sweet the Sound!

Easter Peeps - Postcard Friendship Friday #58

Nearly a century ago, Russian native Sam Born traveled to France.  There he learned the fine art of making chocolate candies.  Sam immigrated to the United States in 1910.  Seven years later, he opened a small candy shop in New York City, where he not only sold sweets, but made them, too.  

As Born's operations outgrew his store, he moved his company, Just Born, to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania--a fitting place for the birthplace of what some call an Easter candy superstar. 

In the mid 1950s, Just Born acquired another company which had invented three-dimensional marshmallow molds, which made possible the Easter chicks and bunnies we love to hate--called Easter Peeps.

 

* Don't forget to visit Gemma at Greyscale Territory for Weekend Mailbox!

With Love to Mother - Sunday Scans

This is one of Grammie's wonderful cards.  I love the flowers and the little bluebirds.  They seem so fat and happy!  The flowers are blooming, the birds are flitting--and miracle of miracles--the sun is shining!  Inside each little bluebird folds back to reveal a sweet message.  This seemed the perfect card for Sunday Scans.

Today is the very first for Al's wonderful new meme.   I think it is a lovely idea--since so many of us use the scanner every day.  Check out "Al's Photography Blog" and his new meme Sunday Scans!

Happy April Fools Day - Postcard Friendship Friday #57

I adore April Fools Day.  That fact our dear Grandfather was born on that specific day was ever a delight to my siblings and I!  

There have been some amazing hoaxes done in the name of April Fools Day.  One of my favorites happened in 1957, when the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) announced on a popular news show that Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper crop of spaghetti, thanks to the annihilation of the spaghetti weevil. Women wearing traditional costumes were shown joyfully plucking the spaghetti from trees and laying the strands out to dry. 

Astonishingly, many viewers called the station to find out how they could grow their own spaghetti tree. BBC phone operators eventually came up with a standard answer: "Place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best."

Imagine that!   Happy Pff!

* Dave still has that wonderful contest going this week--the winner will receive a piece of his art.  For more details check out his blog, Old Paper Art.   

* Don't forget to visit Gemma at Greyscale Territory for Weekend Mailbox!