Fairy Tales - Pink Saturday

A few years ago I was wandering through one of our town's marvelous antique shops.  I have a small collection of old fairytale books, so when I saw this one, I picked it up to leaf through its pages. 

To my great astonishment I knew every story.  I could trace every single illustration by heart.  As I held the book, I began to remember the beloved fairytale book I'd had as a child.  I had literally worn it's pages into nothingness. 

The wonderful thing about this book is I can see from the illustrations how my own style as an artist was forged.  I loved each and every one of those pictures and their beauty imprinted itself upon my mind, even before I could read the stories themselves.  It was as though I journeyed back in time for a moment and saw my world through a child's eyes once more.

Happy Pink Saturday!

Going A-Mothering - Postcard Friendship Friday #7

I've always wondered about the history of Mother's Day. I came across this rather sad, yet charming explanation.

Back in the Middle Ages in Europe, children as young as eight or nine would leave home to learn their trade as an apprentice or to become servants in the homes of wealthy people. These children usually were in neighboring towns, but transportation was hard to come by and expensive.

For most of the year the kids did not get to see their families. During Lent, before preparations for the Easter feasts required them to be busy and back at work, the young people would be allowed to return to their homes and families for a weekend. This became known as "going a-Mothering." In the United Kingdom this is known as Mothering Sunday!

Above is the back of this beautiful Mother's Day Post Card. Happy PFF!!



DADDY UPDATE: Dad's appointment with the neck brace folks was disappointing. The brace they had did not fit. There's another they want to try. If that doesn't work, the VA will make another appointment to fit a custom brace. After that, the only option is a risky surgery. Without surgery the muscles in his neck will continue to weaken which, because of broken bones in his neck, is extremely dangerous. Eventually except for the brace, his head would flop to one side. This is a very scary time for my family. We would appreciate your prayers for Dad and for our family.

Those Who Bring Sunshine...

This is another of Grandma Jenny's cards. This lovely card was from Grammie's best friend Ruth. They had a wonderful loving relationship which I'm sure transcends time itself! I love the little kittens. They so delightfully Roley poly! Another odd thing--I have an ink bottle which looks exactly like the one in the card.

Those who bring Sunshine to the lives of others

Cannot keep it from themselves.

It's a Pink Train - Happy Pink Saturday!

When my sweet Gramma Gladys moved to Washington, she left boxes of her old cards with me. This is one of the most intriguing and so perfect for Pink Saturday--I have to admit, I've never seen a pink train before--and this one is just delightful! Happy Pink Saturday!

If you'd like to see what Pink Saturday is all about, click on the icon in my sidebar to visit Beverly's page. You'll be glad you did!

Angels - Postcard Friendship Friday #6

This is another postcard of the lovely little girl who so intrigues my heart. Here she is with another child about the same age. I think those wings and draperies are charming.

I wonder about her life and who she might have been. If anyone out there knows, I'd love to hear her story.

Masked Bandit in the Tree

Here is another of Grammie Jenny's cards. I was thinking of my friend Abe Lincoln, who isn't feeling so good this morning. Abe enjoyed a unique, precious friendship with a raccoon Mama

who came to live in his yard with her kits.

This one's for you, Abe. I sure hope you will be feeling better soon.

Happy Easter!

I love this card--the beauty of the flowers and then there's that egg. If you look closely you can see there's a little chick's beak cracking the shell.

New life, new growth, new beginnings. There is always hope!

HAPPY EASTER!

Springtime Blossoms - Pink Saturday

Here is another of our darling Grammie Jenny's cards. She loved Springtime with it's bevy of flowers. When we were small, my siblings and I liked to walk the well-worn path, across the field to Grandma's house. We would play for hours in her spacious yard. She sometimes let us help plant flowers and she told us stories about them.

I love this card. There are clouds of pink blossoms adorning the trees along the streets in my town. Spring is here! And alas, so is the rain. They seem to walk hand in hand, those two! Have a perfectly marvelous Pink Saturday

Legend of the Dogwood Tree -Postcard Friendship Friday #5

I looked everywhere for a postcard with dogwood blossoms for today. But alas, I did not find any, This will have to do. Though this is not a dogwood tree, it is very close to what the pink dogwood looks like. Dogwood trees only have four petals. I also adore these charming children, feeding those very hungry lambs.

Here is another lovely story of Easter -- The Legend of the Dogwood Tree.
Long, long ago, the dogwood tree was tall and proud. Its trunk was as large around as an oak tree and its wood was hard and strong.

Near the city of Jerusalem grew an especially lovely dogwood tree. When the Savior was to be crucified, the Roman soldiers looked at the tree and decided it would be just the right kind of wood they needed. They cut down the tree and made a cross for Him.

The dogwood tree was sad and ashamed to be put to such a terrible use. Now the Lord knew the tree was very unhappy and he felt sorry for it. So He promised the dogwood it would never again grow large enough to be used as a cross. And then, to give the world a reminder of the tree's history, He gave it a very special blossom. This blossom would be a sign of His death.

That is why the dogwood's four petals form the shape of a cross. On the outer edge of each petal there is a dark red stain, as a reminder that He was offered on the cross for forgiveness of sins. And in the center of each bloom is a tiny crown of thorns.
 
On the back of this Easter Postcard, it says, "Wouldn't it be fun if I were there, or you were here?" Your cousin Dorothy

All Joy to You This Easter

This wonderful old postcard has some fascinating elements to it. I wonder what the story might be behind these beautiful costumes, the children and lovely young ladies! Care to take a wild guess?

Above is the back of this most intriguing postcard. I could not make out what was written here. Perhaps someone else out there is a little better at deciphering than I am.

Have a joyous Thursday!