Don't Wanna Go.........

I am headed to 1515 today.

Do not really want to go.

Have been there too much and want to stay home with this pretty weather.

And yesterday at work was not pretty, as one of my coworkers said,

 "one of the top 5 worst days ever".

So I am going to support cousin Fred.

The wife of his and my Dad's first cousin is having a 

remembrance of her husband today.

It is at the library from 0930-2:30 pm

Are you kidding me, what are we going to do all that time?

He is not even from this town?

Then I thought.............

His poor wife is 90 years old.

She knows life is drawing to and end.

She loved her husband and is trying to hold on to the

memories of the love of her life.

Baby Edwin and his Mother 

1913

His mother died when he was 6.

He and his sister lived with his Grandparents for a while.

Moving around from Grandparents and then to another 

town when his father got remarried.

Picture of my Great Grandparents and 

their Grandchildren

My Dad is in the center behind Papa

and Edwin is behind him

• 

  
  

  He join the Navy and served in WWII

  
  

  He became a Professor of Zoology at 

  Southern Illinois University

  
  

  

  He had a full and meaning full life.

  
  

  I never met him

  But I know we sometimes have to hold

                                                 on to the past with such a tight grasp....

              so other do not forget who came before them.

  
  

  So, I will leave to go, exhausted and dreading a 

  2 hr drive.

  But maybe I am going for Mama and Papa,

  I am sure they were proud of their Grandson.

  
  

  and I am going to 

  give a 90 year widow a chance to 

  share her husband.

  
  

  Have a great Saturday.

Cottage Mantle

My only mantle is in my Garden Cottage

Please come in and see that the Cottage is ready for Fall

I always make sure I plant cosmo's, marigolds and nasturiums in fall colors to
use for fall bouquets.

vintage seed packets, gourds

vintage minature wheelbarrows hauling pumpkins

Fall harvesting in the garden

Vintage Fall serving tray

A return of the Fall Cloche

Ready for a cup of hot tea and a fire in the fireplace...


Joining
Censational Girl
for
Autumn Mantle

A Gift to Watch Over Me

Mommy what is it??

Boots moving fast to see, "what is in the box?"

Well, it is a present from a friend Pat, and it is something to watch over me.

My friend Pat @ 

On Crooked Creek

They were handmade by Pat and her husband Ed.

It was her 2nd anniversary of her beautiful blog.

What is more precious than a gift, made by hand.

Precious note from a friend

Boots thinks Mom is a pretty lucky lady to be the 

recipient of something made from the heart.

2 angels to watch over us, which we need right now.

Pat, wish I could send this to you

as a Thank You for your kindness and friendship

Please visit 

On Crooked Creek if you have not.

She and Mr are headed out on a Trout fishing trip.

Hope it is a relaxing and fun time for you!

The Circle is Complete

This blog was named on a whim...

Just one day I was thinking and it came to me.

"A Sentimental Life"

If you read my blog, I think you know how appropriate it is.

My cousin sent this picture to me today

ok? I is just some guy mowing, you say..

it the same spot 1972, I am sure Grandad would be checking out what he was doing.

But I began to cry with tears of joy when I saw it.

It was my cousin John.

He had never been to 1515 since I bought it.

I had so wanted to have the 8 cousins together there, as you know

it never happened because my cousin and his brother Tom passed away.

John and Tom's sisters were going to have a sisters weekend

at 1515.  John and his wife surprised sister Donna for her birthday

by appearing. What a wonderful present.

Here is Donna as a baby in front of 1515 (notice the porch sign numbers?)

Great Grandfather, Grandad, Mother Mary and baby girl Donna

They talked, laughed, ate, looked at family pictures.

It has been a very difficult year for them..they miss Tom

I feel such a sense of peace.

Such a sense of happiness knowing that they are at my Grandparents home

being together.

That is all I ever wanted, when I bought 1515 for us.

It may sound silly to some of you, if your not sentimental.

I can only think how happy my Grandparents are looking down

on the home they had for over 50 years and know their family is still

sharing love and memories there.

Young and full of hope for the future and their family.

I wish my brother and I were there with them today
like we were years ago with Tom and John.

Maybe not playing on the porch,

but sitting on the porch just taking it all in.

I think it is good that they are together...healing.

sentimental " expressive of or appealing to sentiment, especially

the tender emotions and  feelings"

I guess that sums it up.

My Interview

Did I tell you...I was being interviewed for the planning for the Charleston IL Riot

150th  Anniversary?

Here is the article

http://jg-tc.com/news/charleston-riot-remembrance-in-the-works/article_894db702-02d4-11e2-b76c-0019bb2963f4.html

Come Sit a Spell...

I am at 1515, all alone, no cousins here this am.

So why don't you pour yourself a cup of coffee

or tea and.................

 I have the porch ready for fall.

Where would like to sit?

would you like to swing in the cool breeze of this beautiful morning?

have a seat in the vintage metal lawn chairs

Mr. sanded the side table on Labor Day and some

old yellow paint came popping through...so I said

"no paint"

Or I can give you my seat.

My wicker chair.

Mr. sanded my side table and there we found...

Some green paint peeking through!

The view is the same since my Grandparents moved here in 1926.

That old oak tree has been in all the outdoor pictures.

It has shaded ole Mrs. Alexanders home for 100's of years.

I thought I would throw this in too, my Daddy going to his wedding.
See the old oak and house across the street?
Looks so much the same after 65 years!

Last weekend while out with my girlfriend Pyrex 

hunting I found a pumpkin

it greets you at the front steps

Well, time to go in and get another cup of coffee.

I have a Charleston Riot meeting at 1515 today.

The Executive Director of the 

Illinois State Historical Society is coming!

and

tomorrow I am being interviewed by the local

newspaper. Maybe 1515 will get a mention?

Hope you have a blessed Sunday.

Oh My.....Did We Find Pyrex!!

My girlfriend and I went on our annual trip to the Arcola, IL 

Cornbroom Festival, leaving one of our sick friend behind

that could not go.

So Friday morning we headed out at 8am.

We decided to take the 

National Road (route 40) from St Louis to my

hometown Greenup.

First stop in Pocahonta's IL

This restaurant was the place everyone from home stopped

to eat at when going to St.Louis.

I remember stopping here in 1970 on our way home from a trip

Don't worry, I could not eat it all!!
We wanted to stop to eat at
Gabby Goat in Effingham but we were tooooo
full?
So we stopped their on Sunday for lunch

So it was off to stop at every antique shop on the 100 miles.

This booth in Altamont IL was Pyrex heaven!

We had already picked up some in Greenville IL

So shall we take a look?

Now only 3 pieces are mine!

My friend at home, wanted to sell some of her pieces

and she found the one piece at auction for me.

Patty ended up buying all the pieces.

She bought the turquoise meat loaf pan from my friend

and bought the green small for her daughter.

This is the Embroidery Casserole my friend found at auction, and my other

friend bought off of her.

1958 Fall Promotional piece.

Then she told us " I have some yellowish/brown

Amish one"

The 4 quart Cinderella yellow Butterprint!

In St. Elmo IL, I found this and told Patty to get it because it

was turquoise..then I realized it is 

1958 Promotional Balloon Chip and Dip set,

minus the holder.

Then I found at 

Daisy 4 quart Cinderella for another friend

marked down from $10 to $8 and now 20% off!

Remember the one picture of the "Pyrex booth"?

well, Patty bought the gooseberry and butterprint 

casseroles. I have never seen any gooseberry pieces.

Things seem to be regional?

This is my friends favorite pattern

Just happened my cousin had the Cinderella set minus the 4quart, so 

she bought those too.

Now do you want to see my 3 pieces?

First stop I found this....

Friendship oval casserole, and last stop of the day, I found this 

holder for $1.50.

Had round casseroles but no oval

Divided snowflake in mint condition

and yes, last stop I found a holder for it $1.50.

This was at Amish Land in Tuscola IL

Could not believe the last stop had alot of Pyrex but not

the patterns we liked but to think the holders were sold

separate was a great find!

I have saved the best for last!

At the Broom Corn Festival in Arcola

I found this at the Emporium

Golden Poinsettia

1961 Promotional

In mint condition!

Will be great for Christmas!

We had so much fun hunting, by the time Saturday night came,

we were exhausted! So it was Paglia Pizza and salads delivered, 

and had the twins over to visit.

I had 2 glasses of wine and fell asleep.....

Hunting is HARD work.
Every piece we bought was in mint condition.

 I think we did great!

AND
I did not even realize it, but today is my
Blog 2nd Anniversary!

You can read the first one here..
A Basket Full of Memories
THANK YOU TO ALL MY FOLLOWERS!
THE BEST PART IS ALL THE FRIENDS 
I HAVE GAINED THAT ARE NOW
PART OF MY LIFE

 A special THANKS to my friend and 
first follower
Robin
from 
Decorating Tennis Girl