Sweet Something

I received wonderful birthday wishes in October to celebrate my 50th.

A most lovely surprise was this box of unexpected treasures from Gretchen Portwood.

We met at Silver Bella years ago and there was an instant connection.

 

Thank you, Gretchen, for the sweet treasures and for your love.

My Dear Pearl

My husband bought an old desk yesterday.

 

Turns out the drawer was filled with postcards.

I have collected postcards of Oklahoma scenes for nearly ten years

and feel that these fell into the right hands as

many were mailed to Oklahoma.

I was so touched by the posts.

This one from Long Beach, CA to Meridian, Oklahoma in what looks like the late 1920s...

 

My Dear Pearl,

I wish you could inhale some of this lovely cool sea breeze. I am sure it would make you well. Georgia wrote that you are better.

I am so glad. Lots of love, Ada

 

It seems that the writers always meant to show good humor.

Ada wrote on the cover regarding the fine Craftsman house,

"I haven't acquired one just like this one yet."

 

Here is to Pearl, Ada and Georgia.

Rose Bowl Flea Finds

A trip to the Rose Bowl Flea was part of the November 2012 Spellbound event.

Why is it some people can look good looking into the sun? Whatever.

I bought this blue suitcase right away and then promptly filled it.

I could have sold that case many times over.

I bought a complete service for 6 on this mother of pearl flatware.

Can you just smell these erasers. I had to have them.

This school work book is from Garfield county Oklahoma. I had to bring it home from California. It is an exquisite study of biology and geography. I cant find a date on it but the pages are so old. half the page has waxy pages and the other half is like kraft paper. Lot so drawings. And this student shared my father's first name.

It's back home, Floyd.

September Snapshot: Hardware

September Snapshot: Signs 2

Get a Hobby She Said

Five months. Five long months. Betty Jean has been my primary focus for five straight months. She requires 24 hour supervision and assistance. I was on death watch for the first four months. I asked her doctors for Hospice and both said no. I was shocked. She is so chronically sick and weak and needs constant care. I realized she is chronic, ill but stable. She continues to decline but its pretty slow. This is the new normal. She has quite a bit of time left. She needs increasing care and assistance. Now what? Do I continue to provide 100% of my efforts to her, or is it time to turn my attention to my husband and daughter? We need a little more balance. I knew it this was coming. I knew mother was aging and there is only one way that story will end. But the details are a mystery. Of course they are. I guess I thought the decisions would be more obvious. She lived her life small, slow, steady. Her decline is small, slow and steady.

Five long long months ago, I told my husband to get a hobby. I knew my priorites would be mother and my child and since he is a big boy, he would have to go on the back burner. No it isn't fair but there is only so much attention to go around. And I need it from him. Harsh, maybe. True though. So I said "husband, get a hobby not a girlfriend."

He did.

He has a very full-time job. He leaves every morning at 6:30 and walks in at 6:20. Every day. Also he has had two weeks off since I have known him. Work is his life. During his off time, he works. He enjoys work. So his hobby involves work of course. He loves wood and was a carpenter before his current career. He started with reclaimed barn wood which he loves to work with. Beams and flooring. He uses it for his own projects and sells to others.

Barn doors. Architectural items.

Buckets of hardware.

Furniture.

Okay, husband. Enough already.

And yet there's more.

He has been such a foundation of strength for me while I have been a bit unpleasant at times. Also, I want everything from his hobby for myself.

That blue...

That blue. I grew up surrounded by it.

Here is a charming photo which shows off a blue crushed velvet chair in our living room. That groovy make-up was done by my older sister. I am wearing an equally tasteful orange terry-cloth zippered jumper. Focus on the blue chair please.

My little Hallmark Charmers cards. I thought she was so much prettier than Holly Hobby...

There is my mother in the 1970s with her Dorothy Hammil wedge, blue suit in a sensible wash and wear polyester sitting on the blue couch. Those are her lashes. Thank you genetics.

I have many more nostalgic blue photos but they involve Easter dresses and far too much hair.

Having been surrounded by blue nogahyde and velvet, I swore I would never have that much blue in my life. Uhm, yeah, well, you know how that worked out. I cannot get enough of that blue.

I have been buying it.

I have been knitting with it.

I have been painting with it.

I have been sewing with it.

I have been decorating with it.

I have been wearing it.

And, yes, I am sleeping with it.