Postcards from Paradise - Remembering

Last year in October, I participated in Postcards from Paradise "Remembering" the four Sundays before Dia de los Muertos. Postcards from Paradise is hosted by Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon. This Sunday Rebecca posted comments from a variety of those who participated, and included the one where I remembered my Grandma Rose. You can see Rebecca's beautiful post here. I plan to participate again this year, it's such a loving reminder of those who have left us.

This is my Grandma Rose, with me and my big sister Jane.

It's appropriate to think about remembering right now; we're headed out of town this weekend for my Uncle Warren's memorial service and interment. We'll be with lot's of family and doing lot's of reminiscing. It's all good. 

On another note, I'm pleased that both my Vintage and Art Etsy shops have been keeping me busy! A few packages are sent off each week, which makes me very happy!  It's also helping reduce the "stuff" we're downsizing from our collections and that I'm de-stashing from my vintage ephemera and books... and that's a VERY GOOD THING! Seriously! *nods head* You don't even want to see my office where it's all stored. O.o 

Happy Monday everyone! 

Love of Vintage

One of the things my husband and I like to do together is go to estate sales. Yep, you heard it right. Getting up and out early, for the best deals, of course! We have fun exploring and talking with folks, sometimes in amazing old houses where you can feel the love that has existed within. It doesn't matter that there may be nothing that catches our eye, we still enjoy our "visit".  I'm always on the look out for things I can use in my art, hubby for things to use in his shop. 

Recently I found some cool vintage items that I decided would be fun for my Vintage Etsy Shop. Here's a couple of them:  

Vintage Italian Wall Plaque Trio

These wall plaques were made in Italy and had been on their owners wall for decades, I was told. They were souvenirs from a trip to Italy some 50ish years ago.

Antique Tin Box

This tin was from the same estate sale. I found it on a shelf in the kitchen on the "tea shelf" with a few tea bags inside. The other teas were in old (really old) Tupperware containers. 

As an aside, this house had an upstairs converted attic that reminded me of my Grandma Rose's bedroom, where I occasionally got to spend the night. She always made me feel especially loved. (We lost Grandma when I was eight.) Things like this are an example of the delights one can discover at estate sales. 


So, now that you know one of my favorite ways to spend a few hours on a Friday morning with my husband, I want to know what you do for random enjoyment. Come on now... let us know! 

Remembering Grandma

Memories of Grandma

making little girls feel special

when we came to tea.

My Grandma Rose was an amazing woman, who made each of her grandchildren feel precious to her. It's a gift few have. This is one of the two photos I have of Grandma with me. My older sister Janie and I were having a tea party with Grandma. I cherish this photo.

Grandma survived the death of three sons in WWII, and her husband in a trucking accident, all within a few years. She was a strong woman who raised the remainder of her children as a single parent, including my mother, the baby of the family.

We lost Grandma when I was eight years old, but she has never left my mind. I've always considered her my guardian angel. If you look closely, you can almost see her wings.

 Celebrating Dia de Bloglandia with the folks at recuerdo mi corazon