Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween

I remember the days of trick or treating 

in my neighborhood of my small hometown.

My next door neighbor, Lola who was like our 

Grandmother always made popcorn balls for us.

Unfortunately I have no pictures of us going.

So let us go back to my Grandmother's days.

My Grandmother sent this to her baby sister Esther

Now here is what she and Max were up to 

in 1912

100 years ago...

they were carving their Halloween pumpkins!

Happy Halloween

from my family to yours!

Cooler Weather is Making Me Feel Like Nesting

I want to sew...

I use to be a good seamstress.

In High School I made a plaid blazer, lined with the

plaid lined up at the seams.

I could not do that now more than a man on the moon!

Oh yes...I still have that blazer!

I have been seeing every ones sewing projects,

a couple of posts on vintage buttons from my friends

Sue at Collectin Texas Gal and
Shannon at A Southern Belle With Northern Roots

here is my Grandmother's  button jar.

She and my mother neither one were much for sewing.

Now my Great Grandmother made dolls clothes for my Mom

 that I still have and her quilts.

My Mom said she hated to sew but after she retired

she made me pillows, made Heidi dog scarves for every

holiday. 

I had a craft table in my basement where I have

my sewing machine...graduation present circa 1977.
After my Mom died, the craft room was filled with

Rubbermaid tubs of my Mom's things, my toys etc.

Yes, I have my Easy Bake oven in the original box!

She has been gone soon 10 yrs.

I want to sew again!

So I have been purging the basement and found 

her sewing things, and material.

I have another sewing machine

My 1919 singer I purchased in 1989.

It is in perfect shape with all the original parts.

It sits in the spare bedroom which was my 

Mom's room when she came to visit.

It holds my Grandmother and Great Grandmother's 

sewing items.

the jar that holds Grandma's buttons

the manual

a box with all the attachments

And a treasured note from the 

Antique dealer I bought it off of.

how sweet is that note....

Love the Lincoln connection.

a little shelf above holds the things I found in 

Grandma's sewing box

sewing scissors that belonged to my Grandmother and Great Grandmother

ornate needle packs

WWI or WWII?

advertising thimbles

and ornate thimbles

these are displayed in a shelf made from an old
yard stick

the thimble is engraved with "Nina" my Great Grandmother

Grandma sewing box

a unfinished project
maybe I should finish this for my Grandma?

I paid that much for it in 1989?

I think Mr. needs to oil up my
1977 Singer for me
The cool weather makes me want to sew with a cup of
hot cinnamon tea and a candle burning in the background.

Wish me luck!

Simple Fall Decorations

This year I feel like having things simple.

I am not hauling up my boxes of 

Halloween and Fall decorations from the basement.

My SIL was shocked.

She said it always looked so wonderful

that she felt inadequate.

I reminder her I do not have children 

and a 1 yr old grandson that I help care for.

So the porch has a few pumpkins, a wreath

and my Pumpkin sign.

Inside...

One shelf with some vintage Halloween postcards.

The pumpkin head men are from my favorite

artist, Bethany Lowe.

A vintage pitcher with amber cosmos.

just enough to feel fall

transferware compote bowl

with some mini pumpkins and 

Chinese lanterns.

my old standby silver compote bowl

The kitchen is the same

The Hoosier cabinet has my Grandma's teapot and brown crock.

New this year, fall colored Pyrex fridge dishes.

And of course my vintage wheelbarrow hauling a pumpkin.

My tea canister, purchased in Paris at a little kitchen shop.

For the table

a fall napkin and the little pitcher I picked up

on vacation with some mums from the yard.

who knows...

I may do the same for 

Christmas?

A Glorious Day

Yesterday was just glorious!

My MIL wanted to take me out to lunch for my birthday.

My favorite thing this time of year, is to 

drive up the river road, along the Mississippi

river bluffs.

My SIL was nice to pick her and my other

SIL up to meet us then go for our drive

The first stop was in Alton for lunch

at 

My Just Deserts

Alton is a wonderful old river town

historical, and I love the architecture

the first casino river boat I was ever on, many years ago!

the sun was out and the temps in the 70's

Mr. looking a bit goofy

we got there early, waiting for everyone and having some ice tea

the collection of quilts for sale were incredible!

I have never seen such a variety.

The wall behind us was filled to.

Now for the beauty

we headed north

first stop was in Elsah IL

it is so picturesque

like a movie set.

my favorite

Then on to

Grafton IL. A little tourist place.

Great places to eat fish, shop or

sit at one of the wineries

Grafton has some great Bed and Breakfast

high on the bluffs

the traffic was backed to get into town

Then on to Pere Marquette  State Park

where my inlaws had their honeymoon.

then back to where we started

the sail boats were even out

How was your Sunday?

Back to work on Tuesday

vacation is drawing to a close.....