Christmas Memories

I just had a Christmas memory flash.  In past years, my family and I would often end up traveling home from performances we'd done during the holidays.

Driving over the snowy mountains at Christmas time, Alan would pull over and the kids and I would tie treats we'd made for the animals onto the fir trees.  The treats consisted of pine cones rolled in peanut butter and seeds.

Such laughter and fun. There were snowball fights and, as I recall, hot chocolate from a thermos when we were done. What a lovely memory that is. I miss those long ago adventures.

Merry Christmas, dear Friend!

Round John Virgin -Postcard Friendship Friday #386

This wonderful vintage postcard brings back so many memories of the old nativity set I loved as a child, which still graces the home of my sweet Mumsie.  

In our growing up years, each Christmas Mom would write a play.  Christmas Eve, I and my five siblings would perform for neighbors, friends and family.  As a part of the drama we would sing Silent Night.  It was our favorite Christmas song. 

Then one late evening, our youngest brother, who was around four years old, asked Mom, "Who is Round John Virgin?"  Which, of course, sent us into transports of laughter.

Since that long ago Christmas day, a little round tin man, who goes by the name of Round John Virgin, sits next to Joseph, Mary and the Christ Child.  I still giggle a bit over that wonderful old memory.  

Thank you for dropping by and taking a moment to walk with me down memory lane.  Merry Christmas, dear ones.  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 postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

*  REMINDER:  If you post anything other than a postcard to share, your link will be removed.   Postcard Friendship Friday is specifically dedicated to postcards, both modern and vintage.  

Spilled Apples -Postcard Friendship Friday #384

I grew up in the country next to my grandparents who had an orchard of apple trees, cherry trees, pear trees, golden plum and purple prune trees.  Many of those vintage trees are still thriving to this day--and their fruit is unparalleled.  As a girl, my favorite in Fall was the winter apple tree.

Winter apples were ripe by early October and when polished were a beautiful dark red like those pictured in this postcard.

This lovely illustration of spilled apples takes me back to the carefree days of childhood.  I remember climbing to the uppermost crown of the tree, where the branches formed a perfect place to sit.  I would read my favorite book and crunch away on those wonderful winter apples.   I can still taste their sweet flavor. 

My Grandmother once described how those hardy apples were stored for winter when she was a girl. The apples were kept in a cool room in barrels where they were nestled between layers of sawdust. She said this was an effective way to keep the fruit from spoiling--she and her family ate crunchy winter apples clear through February and sometimes even later than that.

Thank you for dropping by and taking a moment to walk with me down memory lane.  Merry Christmas, dear ones.  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 postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

*  REMINDER:  If you post anything other than a postcard to share, your link will be removed.   Postcard Friendship Friday is specifically dedicated to postcards, both modern and vintage.  

A Great Light -Postcard Friendship Friday #338

"...The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a Light has dawned."  Matthew 4:16

Those words give me great hope--especially with the unrest in the world around us.  Hope is a good thing--maybe even the best of things.  

Merry Christmas sweet Friends.  May God bless you with light and hope this Christmas Holiday 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 postcards you love and tell us why you like them! 

*  A REMINDER:  Links which do not have to do with Postcard Friendship  Friday will be removed.  Links which advertise various products will share that same fate.  Any and all suspicious links will be reported to Blogspot then deleted.

Kind Hearts Unite -Postcard Friendship Friday #335

I apologize for getting this up so late in the season.  It has been a tremendously difficult time for me and my family.  I didn't realize the second year of grief would be so difficult during the holidays this time around.  It is a long journey I am on--a journey to joy. 

...Weeping may last for the night,

But joy comes in the morning...

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth
And clothed me with gladness, 

That my heart may sing your praise and not be silent. 

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! 

~Psalm 30 

God bless you and I pray your Christmas is a blessed one.

When I remember Christmas with my brothers and sisters--my heart is made glad.  Those long ago days--how I wish I could go back there sometimes.

Merry Christmas 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 postcards you love and tell us why you like them! 

*  A REMINDER:  Links which do not have to do with Postcard Friendship  Friday will be removed.  Links which advertise various products will share that same fate.  Any and all suspicious links will be reported to Blogspot then deleted.

Angel Hugs

This is a wonderful old postcard featuring a beautiful girl and small cherub. These old photographs are so precious.  So much work was put into them. 

I often wonder about the lives of the people one sees in these pictures.  Life is so different now-a-days.  These folks knew how to celebrate Christmas beautifully!

Merry Christmas, dear Friends!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Goose

Father is bringing home fresh bread, the Christmas goose and has Christmas packages tucked beneath his arm.  As you can see his young'uns are about to ambush him!  lol  The look on his face causes me to believe their Dad knows exactly what is about to happen and is readying himself to drop his burdens and taken 'em on.

I'm sure once the snowball fight is through, their Papa will put the boys to work carrying the goods home to Mother. 

Have a lovely week and Merry Christmas!

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year -Postcard Friendship Friday #197

 

The kitten with the pink ribbon on the left reminds me of our special friend Toez the Polydactyl Cat when she was a kitten.  I've always welcomed cats as friends.  There's something special about their independence, capricious playfulness, mischievous personality which pulls at one's heart strings.

When Toez (otherwise known as little tiny keekat) deigns to come and sit upon my lap, all on her own--it just melts my heart.

I'm hoping for SNOW tonight.  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.

A Merry Christmas -Postcard Friendship Friday #196

Merry Christmas to you!  Isn't this the cutest little child.  Those jammies look warm and comfy--and see how she is treasuring all of those Christmas goodies?

I adore this artist.  You'll be seeing alot of her in the days ahead.  By the way, I will wish you happy holidays--but more than that, MERRY CHRISTMAS!


* 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.

Christmas Magic -Postcard Friendship Friday #145

When I was a little girl, Dad and all of us kids would go out into the woods to find a tree.  I have such wonderful memories of tromping through the woods, looking for the perfect Christmas tree.  Invariably it would be too tall and there would be a hollow spot on one side.

We would decorate the tree with strings of multi-colored Indian corn and wonderful homemade decorations.  Traditionally, Dad would hang some toys he saved from when he was a boy.  There were also colorful old fashioned ornaments and great ropes of ruby red glass beads.  But my favorite part was the tinsel.  We would carefully lay individual strands of the shiny silver stuff over every branch.  It was beautiful.  When the door would open the entire tree would shiver with long silver sparkles.  

I remember the excitement of waiting for darkness to fall so we could turn on the Christmas tree lights.  I would lie on my back underneath the tree, looking upward through the branches.  Suddenly I was as small as a faery, tiny enough to sit on the branches just like the children are doing in this postcard.  Ah, nostalgia.  A child's imagination is a wonderful thing.  I can, to this day, remember the vivid imaginings of the adventures I had as a faery in the Christmas tree.

Merry Christmas everyone.  May God bless you with great joy.

Hubby Update:  I am scheduling PFF early, as I will be hopefully be bringing my darling husband back home from the hospital this morning.  He will have had cancer surgery on Wednesday morning.  I surely would appreciate your prayers.

*  DON'T FORGET:  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!

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

*  REMINDER: Comments and links which contain advertising and do not refer to any of the following; Postcard Friendship Friday, mailboxes, the Post office, postcards or the love of postcards, will be deleted.  Lately, I've had to delete quite a few comments which are just ads. 

Happy Christmas Time -Postcard Friendship Friday #144

It is hard to believe Christmas is nearly here.  I have always loved Christmas.  I adore this little girl with her white muff, coat and shoes.  Her Mother must have been a brave soul.  If I had ever sent out my little ones in white--even in the snow they would have returned decorated with all sorts of dirt and mud.

Have you ever gone mud puddle stomping?!  It is a joyful thing to do.  Everyone dresses in their worst clothes, then it's off to stomp in every single puddle one can find.  Once everyone is good and wet, frozen to the bone, it's off to hot showers, dry clothes and a very LARGE cup of steaming hot cocoa with marshmallows on top.

Merry Christmas everyone!

A Joyous Trumpeting - Postcard Friendship Friday #92

I am away from my desk this morning -- I have been in Tacoma for three days and will be back late this evening.  I love this time of year.  All the beautiful decorations and lighting, plays, family times and good cheer.

The postcard here, especially that little angel blowing his trumpet, seems to echo the joy of the season.  I love that sweet fellow!

Merry Christmas!

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

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

*  REMINDER: Comments and links which contain advertising and do not refer to any of the following; Postcard Friendship Friday, mailboxes, the Post office, postcards or the love of postcards, will be deleted.

Christmas Greetings!

Years ago my darling Sissy Clytie sent this Christmas card to me when she lived across the country. Ever the sentimental sister, I saved this wonderfully whimsical card--and now I have the joy of sharing it with you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!