Postcard Friendship Friday

One hundred years ago someone sent this goofy little postcard expressing their wish for a happy 1911.  At first, I missed the message of the piggies' tails but caught on in a little bit.  So on the eve of the arrival of the year 2011, I wish you not only a happy PFF but a healthy, happy, peaceful 2011.  And to our hostess , Beth, http://thebestheartsarecrunchy.blogspot.com/, a big thank you!  (Click to enlarge)

No Pictures of Some of the Past

This is the full picture that I have been using in the header for this blog for the holidays,  and it is of the living room of my grandparents, Dan and Maggie Pearce, sometime in the early 1900's - probably twenty or more years before I was born.  They still had the piano and victrola when I was a little kid and woud go down to stay with them from time to time - some of my very favorite memories. 

In this day and age and for many years gone by, there are many, many pictures taken at Christmas, other holidays and family gatherings.  (I will say that the Pearce family did take a lot of  pictures over the years and that is the reason for this blog!)  However, there is not a single picture anywhere of any Christmas when I was a child growing up from early childhood until the time I was married.  There are many memories but nothing to look at where our family is shown,  a tree can be seen, old gifts recalled - a complete lack of documentation.   I have quite a few pictures of Christmases with our kids although not nearly as many that are taken in this time of digital cameras  and unbelievable technology.  Taking wonderful pictures with a phone blows my mind.  I was born just before the big depression and my father was out of work for a long time.  My parents always struggled with the lack of funds so we were not showered with a lot of gifts as some of the young ones are in this day and age.  Regardless, I have lots of lovely memories of Christmas when I was growing up.  I just wish there were actual pictures to look at.   (Click to enlarge)

Postcard Friendship Friday

Here is a sweet little post card to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!  

The backs of the cards are really quite plain but what I like about this next one is

Santa looks kind of ornery and he's just going to toss that pretty little dollie down that old chimney! 

 I think the poor little thing looks frightened!  What a cute card.  Wonder what Fritz thought of it.

I am trying to set this up to post all by itself on Friday and I think I will be able to.   

Again, Merry Christmas and Happy PFF.  Thank you, Beth, at  http://thebestheartsarecrunchy.blogspot.com/ for being our hostess.  Hope Santa fills your stocking with lots of good old postcards!!! 

From Old Catalogs

 I believe these pictures are from a 1942 Spiegel Christmas catalog.  The first one reminds me of the Christmas I got one of the chenille robes similar to the one pictured.  It was so cozy and I loved it.  I might have been in the eighth grade.  We just didn't get lots and lots of gifts like most of the kids do today nor were there nearly as many "things" for us to wish to find under the tree.  It is overwhelming what is out there under the name of toys anymore. 



Here is a page from the same catalog - girls toys centered around dolls, buggies, play teasets, etc. All the simple things. I remember Santa bringing our daughter, Sherry, a "Nurse Nancy" outfit and bag with a stethoscope, thermometer, pills, etc. - oh, and glasses! We all took turns that day being "sick" so Nurse Nancy could administer healing to us. I think the only picture I have of that is in a little old home movie. She was so serious about her job. That was in the early 1950's.






Some more of the simple toys from back in the 40's when this catalog was published.  What a different life back then.  It would be nice if we could recapture some of the simplicity - have the good parts of then and now together.  Actually,  only older people knew how it was then - and "right now" will be the "back then" for the young ones today.  So there you go!  (Click to enlarge)



Three Sisters

Bill, my son,  recently got some pictures of Ann, his wife, when she was a little girl from Ruby, her mom.  Here is one that is just right for this time of year!  Ann is in the middle with her older sister, Jane, and younger sister, Martha, beside her.  Their doggie sleeps on the hearth.  Her name may have been Penny but I could be entirely wrong.  The fourth stocking?  The had a new little sister, Marilyn, who is much younger.  I don't know what year she was born, but she was sixteen when Bill and Ann, started dating.  The snowmen in the hoops are so representative of the times back then and Ruby loved to do sewing, crafting, and many of the things I did, also.  In fact, Ruby and Bob were married the same day and year that we were - September 4, 1949 - and we both lived in Chillicothes - Ray and I in Illinois and they lived in Missouri.  They also square danced.  I would say we have a lot in common.   (Click to enlarge)

Sherry, Bill and their Snowman

I love this picture.  Doesn't it kind of remind you of "The Christmas Story" where the kids are all bundled up in their snowpants and jackets?  I really think Sherry and Bill had some help in building this fellow since he is quite a bit taller than the two of them.  They are really looking pleased with their new friend.  I can remember playing out in the snow when I was a little kid and just loving it.  What fun to build snow forts!  I kind of remember a game that we used to play - maybe fox and goose?  You scuffed up a circle in the snow and made some paths someway - can't remember the rest.  Wonder if anyone else remembers something like that.  Anyway, here's my "snow babies" back in February of 1957!!  (Click to enlarge)

Postcard Friendship Friday

Happy little drummer boy!   A picture of pure joy from the simple gift of a drum. 

 The message on the back of the card dated 12-23-09--many, many years ago.   

I could not resist this darling card of the little girl in her jammies peeking in at the Christmas tree.  Thank you,   Beth  , for hosting PFF.    I want to extend my early best wishes to all for a  Christmas spent with ones you love doing things you so love doing.  And may Santa fill your stockings with all sorts of good things!  (Click to enlarge) 

Wrapped Up in a Game

Christmas time in Topeka, Kansas, and our kids are intent on a game - don't know if it's chess or something similar.  I don't recall ever having a chess game but my recollections are not always accurate.   In the dining room behind them is the toothpick tree in the middle of the table  and hanging on the wall is an oil painting of a barn that my brother did.  Nice to look at the old pictures again and be reminded of days gone by.    (Click to enlarge)

A Great Christmas Website

In looking around a little while ago, I ran across a really great website with lots of Christmas pictures and old decorations, etc. http://www.papatedsplace.com/Christmas1920s.html   This is a picture of a tree in the 1920's  has been colorized  - you can also see the black and white version on the site.  There are tons of pictures of the little houses that so many people had.  I can remember we had a set that went under our tree with a string of lights was placed so that a light was in each house and the colored windows glowed.  Wonder where those old houses went.

From the 1920's.   Lots and lots of things to see - see the tunnel openings the train used.

This picture is a "staged" one from 1906.  Isn't it super?  If you have a few minutes, I think you would enjoy some of these Christmas past pictures and stories.  (Click to enlarge)

Christmas Past in Topeka

Last year I posted one or two of the Christmas cards we made for a few years.   Ray was into photography and he would take our pictures for the cards.  For this one, I did some snowflake cutting.  I have two more I will post later on.

Here is a picture of our living room before we went to bed and after Santa had shown up.  Bill was wanting a big bicycle so bad and I think he had looked all over to see if we had bought one.  We kept it at our neighbor's house and put it under the tree the last thing.  He was so thrilled!  Wanted to point out some of my crafty things back in the 60's.  A white bamboo blind, some gold felt and sequins were used to make the Madonna and Child wallhanging.  I also sprayed clay flower pots gold, painted branches white and hung small ornaments on the twigs for a mantel decoration.  On the coffee table (I still have that table in the middle of my living room) is a tree that I think is made out of cotton balls on a cone with ornaments glued to it.  Don't know where those things ended up but they are no longer around.  I can make out that the stocking I made Sherry (and the one for Bill is probably on the other side) lies on the floor and looks like it has been filled.  Good days and good memories! 

The reason I am posting this is for the earrings - it was actually taken a few years earlier when we were still in Iowa.  I am wearing my wooden snowmen that I had for a long time - in fact one of them is still in my old printer's drawer.  Goodness, I was young!  Another picture Ray took - where have the years gone.  (Click to enlarge)

Postcard Friendship Friday

Happy PFF

Here is a cute little card.  I love the message on the back (I believe it reads "I hope you get lots of toys and things for Christmas.  I don't expect much of anything.  Truly---"   I can't make out the name.    That is a sad little message - was he (or she) naughty or was it the circumstances of the family situation. 

Just can't quite figure this card out.  Do you think the little cherubs are full of Christmas "cheer"?  How I love looking through the old postcards!   Thanks to Beth at http://thebestheartsarecrunchy.blogspot.com/  for hosting! 

From FOH Fashion Friday

(Continuing with posts for Fashion Friday on Funoldhag.)  

This morning I am posting what is probably my favorite picture of Nan, my mom, posing beside a bench on a spot by the Illinois River somewhere in the Peoria area. Such a stylish outfit she wears - a lovely striped skirt (is it red and white, gray and white?) topped by a dark jacket that features white turned back cuffs and a lacy jabot (is that a good word?) that is adorned with a pin or button. Topping off this lovely ensemble is a very pretty, big hat. She also wears chic white stockings and very cute shoes with curvy little heels. Very classy lady! (Click to enlarge)

A Piece of Christmas Past

A family picture at Christmas in 1977 with the center of attention being 4 month old Norah Lee.  Her other set of grandparents, Lewin and Jeanann,  are to the left of Sherry and Norah.  I am on the right with her daddy Barclay behind me.  Grandpa Ray is in the front next to Uncle Bill.  Doesn't Christmas become more magical when there are little ones to help celebrate?  I also want to call attention to one of the many  decorations I have made over the years.  Right above Barclay's arm is a golden tree.   Somewhere I read that you could buy one of those old bamboo rakes with the handle that looked like a cane fishing pole, take the rake end off and screw it on part of the handle upside down then spray paint it gold.  Final step was to glue little gold ornament balls randomly on it and you have a golden Christmas tree.  That one was kind of cute!  However, another project I did was stick the round toothpicks all over plastic foam balls, then pile them in a cone shape and spray paint it white - a toothpick tree!!  However, I should have stuck glue on the ends of the toothpicks and did not do that.  It was shortlived! I don't even think there is a picture of it.  I think I have pictures with glimpses of some other crafty things done over the years and will post them later. 
(Click to enlarge)

Postcard Friendship Friday

We have some snow on the ground now - not very much, but snow nevertheless.   It is also the first part of December with signs of the season everyplace.  Many of the homes have their outside lights up and their trees in the windows.  The stores are filled with Christmas merchandise and the sales are in full swing.  Free shipping rules the internet.  Holiday music fills the airwaves and the commercials run full speed on television. Ho, Ho, Ho!!! 

So here is a cute postcard with a fresh faced little boy (or girl) and a pipe smoking snowman  dated 1919.  John is sending Herman a Christmas greeting from Illinois to Iowa.  I am a native of Illinois and I do not know where Grayslake is - will google it!  (I did and found that it's about 40 miles north of Chicato).  I am using the card from Card Cow with permission - they have awesome cards there as I am sure you all know.  Thank you,  Beth at   http://thebestheartsarecrunchy.blogspot.com/
for being our hostess and a Happy PFF to all.  (Click to enlarge)

From FOH Fashion Friday

When I looked at this picture, I realized that this one was taken the same day in Glen Oak Park as a previous one I posted of my mom, Nan, and her friend in the plaid skirt in the conservatory admiring the flowers. In this picture, Nan has her hat on and it is such a pretty one. Joining them are Nelle, Nan's sister, who is seated on the bench on the right. She is also a very stylish woman with a confident air about her. Her outfit appears to be a suit and her hat is stunning, along with her light shoes. The fourth lady on the far left is unknown but is wearing a plain but pretty skirt and blouse. I hope they all had a lovely day in the park.

Standing in front of Ben Franklin Print Shop in Peoria is Nan and a friend both dressed in a timely fashion. It is hard to see the friend's outfit except it is obvious that she is wearing a lovely hat and is clad in a stylish manner. Nan's hat is very pretty and her fur stole is showing an appearance again worn over a plaid dress that is probably made of cotton fabric. Note her shorter skirt, high button shoes and her lovely purse that appears to be beaded with a metal chain. (Click to enlarge)