It's A Fiesta!

 

Picture Source & History of Fiesta Colors

 

Fiesta dishes are connected in my memory to family meals as we sat at the round kitchen table - my mom, dad, brother and I. As I entered seventh grade the four of us moved into a new home that my parents had built, and it was then that the Fiesta dishes appeared. We not only had the forest green, chartreuse, gray, and rose colored dishes on our table, the same colors were all around us. From the paint on the walls, the inlaid linoleum flooring, the formica countertops and the printed drapes at the windows - everything coordinated with those dishes. Mom must have been in her glory as she painted the walls and sewed the drapes. It was the first time she would have had the opportunity to really make a space her own. I can see it all in my mind, but oh, how I wish I had pictures of every detail.*

 

 

I don't know what happened to the dishes. They were later replaced, and the colors and curtains were also changed out to reflect changing times. I'm sure the dishes were probably boxed up and saved for a while; but they must have eventually been given away or sold at a garage sale, because they have been gone for a long time. I hope they are still out there somewhere being treasured by someone else.

 

 

Over the years I've thought of collecting a few pieces in those four colors, but never followed through with that plan until recently. I finally made the decision that I would like to have a disc pitcher (my favorite Fiesta piece) in each color. And one by one my Vintage Boy has found them for me - he's such a sweetie! So now I can just look above the cupboards in my kitchen and remember the Fiesta dishes and my family gathered at our round kitchen table.

 

 

 Do you have special memories of the dishes used in your home when you were a child? Sometimes it takes those tangible items to bring back the feelings, emotions and the memories.

 

* Perhaps we need to take out the camera and record all the rooms in our homes every few years (at least). Those pictures will be treasured some day - and may also provide a few laughs.

 

By scrolling on down you will see what books are on my bookshelf today.

 

Until next time...

Blessings,

 

Gail

 

 

Four Drawers

Any piece of furniture that has many drawers grabs my attention immediately. Most of the antique pieces were originally used in businesses, but are now finding their place in homes - sometimes just for the look, but many times they are used to hold items for crafting. I love them all, but unfortunately we have no room for another piece of furniture.  I did, however find a spot for this four-drawer card file cabinet, and I.Love.It!

 

It's been sitting like this for a couple of months, and I knew it needed something else to give it a little pizazz. Maybe something could go in one of the drawers...

 

 

So I searched through each room, and this is what I came up with - a garland with little red berries, and one of my favorite giraffes (a gift from my friend, Claudia).

 

 

Doesn't he just look so proud sitting there? Perfect!

 

Be sure to scroll on down to see what books I am reading or will be reading soon!

 

 

Till next time...

Blessings

 

Gail

 

 

 

My Mom

I will wish my mom a Happy Mother's Day knowing that a few minutes later she will not remember that it is Mother's Day, nor will she remember that I had been there when she closes her eyes at the end of the day. The gift of a visit is the best choice - flowers may brighten her room for a few days, but she won't know where they came from and food is not an option as she is on a very limited diet. It's hard to find clothes that work for her, but a pretty nightgown or new slippers are always useful and she still likes pretty things.

 

My mom has slipped away from us slowly over the last several years, and it is a sad thing to watch. But I am so thankful that she knows me and always asks about my family. She may have a fleeting moment of sadness thinking she has not seen them for 'so long' even though they might have just been there earlier in the week. I am thankful we are able to have conversations about the distant past as that is still fairly clear in her memory. I am thankful for those who care for her on a daily basis - for their patience in reminding her of things, answering the same questions often, and lovingly dealing with her independent nature. I am thankful that she seems content.

Most of all I am thankful for the memories of all the times we have had together, and for all the ways she has shown her love for me. I don't remember her saying it much, but I've never doubted that she loved me and wanted the best for me. I think that's the best gift we as mothers can give our children.

Have a wonderful weekend my friends, and to those of you who are mothers, Happy Mother's Day!

Till next time...
Blessings,

Gail

Who Would I Be?

I just recently watched the movie "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" and found it to be a delightful story. The movie promo reads - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel follows a group of British retirees who decide to "outsource" their retirement to less expensive and seemingly exotic India. Enticed by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel and bolstered with visions of a life of leisure, they arrive to find the palace a shell of its former self. Though the new environment is less luxurious than imagined, they are forever transformed by their shared experiences, discovering that life and love can begin again when you let go of the past.

Watching the story unfold raised some questions in my mind. If I were transplanted, for whatever reason, all alone into another country and culture...

• how well would I adapt to my different surroundings?
• would I be able to learn to communicate in another language?
• how would I deal with meeting all new people? 
• since none of the other people would know anything about me, would I be able to step out and be that person I've always wanted to be? or would I still be the same "me?" 
• would I maintain the morals and values that I hold here in this place - in our society?

None of these questions have answers, of course; but it does provide the opportunity to do a bit of dreaming and soul searching. If you haven't seen this movie, I would suggest you track it down and give it a go - let me know what you think.

Till next time...
Blessings,

Gail

May Day Past & Present

As I sit here this May Day morning watching the snow pile up all around us, I'm going to think back to May Days of the past that didn't involve snow. (We ate our evening meal at that table just a few days ago.)

As a college student I received a dozen roses on May Day from my Vintage Boy. It must have worked because we were married later that year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then there were May Baskets...

My funny memory of delivering a May Basket to a boy in my class - about 4th grade - and having him chase me into the back seat of my dad's car to give me a kiss. 

And later the torture of getting May Baskets put together for my kids to deliver... yes, I said "torture." I know a lot of you enjoyed doing those types of things, but to me it was just one more thing that had to be done in already busy days. I hope I didn't scar my kids for life with my bad attitude!

 



 

Till next time...

Blessings,
Gail

Who Changed the Rules?

I just recently learned that it is no longer necessary to have two spaces between sentences - not only is it not necessary, but it is considered wrong! How did this happen? When did this happen? Did I not get the memo? Miss Ballhagen was adament that there be two spaces between sentences in my Typing I and Typing II classes in high school. Does she know they changed the rules?

 

This disturbing news caused me to think about typewriters and my memories of them. This model would be very similar to the one that I learned to type on at good old BHS. But of course the keys were blank so we couldn't cheat and look down. We just kept practicing and practicing until our fingers knew where each key was!

 

 

 And then I got my own portable typewriter - and it got lots of use! This one looks green, but mine was kind of a caramel color and had a handy-dandy charcoal gray case so it could travel with me.

I love to type, and in Miss Ballhagen's class I learned to type fast and accurately. I thank her for giving me an introduction to a skill that has been useful all my life.

Vintage items always attract my attention, and there are a lot of beautiful old typewriters out there that show up on Pinterest used as decor along with flowers, or old pictures, or whatever you can pair with a typewriter. Isn't this one a beauty?

There are also very creative uses for old typewriter keys - mostly in jewelry. I've seen lots of variations of bracelets and necklaces. I might have to get one of these...

 

I borrowed all of these pictures off Pinterest - hope the 'picture police' don't come looking for me!

 

Till next time...

Blessings,

 

Gail

 

We Did It Again

Yep, it's another trip across South Dakota - the second one this year, and it's only the beginning of April! Once again I was the designated driver while daughter Kerri worked on her computer and phone as we travelled to Rapid City where she had a speaking engagement. It was worth the long drive for the opportunity to spend time together, and we enjoyed some good food and a wee bit of shopping.

We had a late breakfast at Tally's in downtown Rapid City - Beignet Egg & Bacon Sliders, and a Fried Egg BLT. Both were very good. I would highly recommend Tally's when you travel to visit South Dakota's beautiful Black Hills and Mount Rushmore!

 

We had time to visit two shops, one for her...

 

a fun little shop called Karma Boutique!

 



And a shop for me...

 

Quilt Connection, Etc. Luckily, they were just around the corner from one another!

 

Good company, good food, and some shopping - all a girl could ask for!

 

Till next time...

Blessings,

 

Gail