Lovable Furry Old Grover ~ Remember When

Were your kids -- or you for that matter -- a fan of Sesame Street? We were! We watched it during the 80s -- my kids loved it! (and my little secret was that I loved it too!)

Our own Grover, who still makes me smile

from Wikipedia

Our favorites were Grover and Mr. Snuffleupagus (oh my did we love that furry elephant-looking guy -- but, of course, he was a Snuffleupagus, not a furry elephant! )

From our book, Sesame Street Bedtime Stories

We were fans during the days of Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie, Oscar, Big Bird and of course, Grover and Mr. Snuffleupagus. (Way before talking Elmo!) A great low-key show for kids, and interesting enough for mom and dad!

My son had a stuffed Grover and now he lives here in my office.... that would be Grover, not my son.... LOL! Grover is up on a high shelf and keeps his eyes on whatever is going on in here -- Etsy stuff mostly, and Noli sleepovers, and Oliver lounging in my computer chair.

My daughter had a Baby Big Bird and a Baby Cookie Monster -- I think they were marketed by Pampers diapers -- in any case they were wearing some kind of diaper. Cute though. She has kept them all these years (she just turned 31), just like I have kept sweet sweet Grover.

We only had two Sesame Street books over the years... Bedtime Stories and Grover's Resting Places. Both are about ready to fall apart!

Grover's Resting Places is especially cute.... he has shapes in his toy box that just fit some part of a kid's body....  Adam (now 34) loved putting his ear or his hands on Grover's spots (his resting places).

He really giggled when Grover found the belly button spot!

And, cleverly, there was a Grover resting place, and Adam could find his own resting place, and then it was time for sleep! Very smart, pro-parent ending! wink wink  ;)

I have listed the Bedtime Stories book in my Etsy shop -- it's well-loved but then what kid cares about condition! It also has wonderful graphics and would be great for many paper crafting projects!

Now, Grover's Resting Places.... I might have to hang onto that one for a while! And Grover himself will continue to look down from his perch and make me smile :)

♥ Sharing at....
~ Vintage Inspiration Party at Knick of Time
~ History and Home at We Call It Junkin'
~ Vintage Bliss Tuesdays at Woman in Real Life
~ What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
~ Thrifty Life Thursday at Revisionary Life
~ Blue Monday at Smilin' Sally ('cause Grover is such a wonderful shade of blue!)



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Little Miss Sunbeam

I hadn't thought about Little Miss Sunbeam in years. Until hubby brought this loaf of bread home the other day!

and there she was, Little Miss Sunbeam

just like I remembered her from my childhood.

This is from 1954 which was around the time I first remember eating Sunbeam bread. She really hasn't changed much over the years... she's definitely held her age better than I have!

I remember seeing this, too, probably in magazine ads

         

source

She even had her own comic book! Look... she even went to outer space!! Pilot Jim must be the spaceship delivery guy -- check out his uniform! LOL! I don't remember these, but I would have read them if I'd known about them! I remember Lulu and Richie Rich but not Little Miss Sunbeam when it comes to comic books.

Did you ever take white bread, cut off the crust, and roll it up like a ball? And eat it? Hubby couldn't believe I used to do that as a kid! Had to be white bread, wheat wouldn't work as well! It was like eating dough!

But, as a kid, who cares about that?!! It was just fun!

Do you remember Little Miss Sunbeam?

sharing Little Miss Sunbeam over at Smiling Sally's for Blue Monday and at Grandma's Briefs for GRAND Social


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My Mother's Candy Dish

I so love it when I find something at a garage sale or thrift shop that is exactly like something I grew up with.

So it was with this candy dish. It's twin was always on the coffee table... and yes, filled with candies. I don't remember what kind of candy now, but I sure remember the candy dish.

I also remember always having to line up the scallops top and bottom.... I've always been a little OCD!

I love the soft scallops all the way around

and those circles in the bottom

and the sweet finial on top.

It was made by Anchor Hocking in the 50s and is quite heavy

I'm so glad I found it -- the lady at the garage sale seemed reluctant to sell it, even though she had put it out in her garage sale! But after talking with her, and telling her about the one I remembered from my childhood, she must have decided that I would give it a good home! It had belonged to her mother, so I understand why she would want to keep it.... but she did put it out for sale! Who knows!

Anyway, I'm glad to have it.... I'm not sure if there will actually be candies in it (because then I will be too, too tempted to eat them...) and it probably won't be on my coffee table (which is generally filled with yarn and crochet projects), but I will find a good use for it. And the perfect place for it.

~ sharing my candy dish over at
Share Your Cup
Vintage Thingie Thursday 
History and Home at We Call It Junkin'


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Stampin' it up the S&H and Top Value way!

Did you ever collect S&H Green Stamps or Top Value Stamps at the grocery store?

I remember my mother collecting the S&H stamps and letting me stick them in the little book. I was always so neat with those stamps -- they had to be perfectly placed in the blocks on each page. I have no idea what she got with the stamps but I'm sure it was all anticipated with great excitement!

I just liked sticking those stamps!

The book itself was different too -- just a big S&H on the front as I recall -- no cute family deciding what they are going to redeem those stamps for! I wonder if those kids licked all the stamps for their mom like I did....

I had some of the S&H and also Top Value stamp books tucked away in my buffet. I was scrounging around for something or other in the top drawer which has turned out to be my catch-all drawer -- it catches all the stuff I don't want to fool with right away, but don't want to lose either! Anyway, among all the odds and ends and bits and pieces.... I found the stamp books!

Now these stamps are my own from when I was all grown up and did my own grocery shopping. The last time I remember getting something with stamps was in 1973 or so -- it was a blue wing back chair! I really liked that chair -- I have two wing back chairs now that are burgundy. Comfy to sit in. (But I didn't get them at the stamp store!!)

The books had cute drawings on the inside of people shopping at the stamp store (aka Redemption Center)!

Oh! Is that my wing back chair?

Actually, it was a more feminine looking chair with a kind of scalloped back and curvy legs (which is what I have now with my two burgundy wing backs)!

I found these coupons tucked away in one of the books -- they are worth 400 stamps total, or 1/5 of a book plus 100 extra stamps -- woot! woot!

When I was licking those stamps for my mother, they only had the single stamps, 50 stamps on each page. That's a lot of licking!!

The Top Value stamp books had a cool drawing on the cover -- all the happy people doing their shopping and collecting those stamps! Look at that blue sky -- it's a beautiful day for shopping!

Or filling up the family car at the gas tank! Look -- there's the guy to do that for you (WHAT?? You didn't do it yourself?? LOL!). I bet he cleaned your windshield too! Gone are those days!

Open it to show both front and back covers and we've got those happy shoppers rushing to the redemption center to shop and get free stuff! What fun! What thrifty shoppers!

I'll be listing them in my Etsy shop -- I figure somebody might want them to go in a nostalgic kitchen collection or for vintage paper ephemera to craft with, but for now I'm enjoying looking at them and remembering.... 

Sharing at
A Favorite Thing at Mockingbird Hill Cottage
Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove
Blue Monday at Smiling Sally's
GRAND Social at Grandma's Briefs


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The Other Side of the Window ~ A Favorite Thing

Last week my favorite thing was the window-less window over my kitchen sink that's full of some sweet things that make me happy while washing dishes. So today I'm sharing the other side of that mirrored window -- the not-so-pretty backside.

If the window were a real window, it would look out into the laundry room and then out the window beyond into the backyard. That would be OK, except for the laundry room in between that's not so lovely...

The mirror and shelves facing into the kitchen are backed by plain old plywood and then the glass of the original window. That brick is the original outside of the house.

Lovely, huh?

That glass canister that holds my laundry detergent

was my mother's -- she used it for flour.

It makes me smile too!

And those candles are my emergency when-the-lights-go-out candles.

They don't make me smile because if I'm using them

it means no electricity and a bad storm outside.

Not liking that!

But then I have a pretty sky and rainbow

and big yellow flowers

covering (most) of that plywood!

It's a poster that Stephanie painted when she was a little kid

She was just learning to spell that long name

and she wrote it backwards on the poster!

It makes me smile.

It makes doing laundry bearable enjoyable.

It makes me remember that sweet little girl

who will soon be 30!

Oliver! I was just going to write about the funny red and black house

and you're in the way!

>^.^<

Hewwo 

I am Oliver, the King Kitty

and I am taking over this blog!

Mommy brought the outside inside

but where are the birdies?

Hmmm, maybe it's a good place to hide... 

Now you can't see me, can you?

OK, I'm bored!

Giving the blog back to mommy.

>^.^<

Well! Thank you very much, Oliver, for your input....

So, about that house....

quite tall and skinny with many windows in an interesting arrangement,

and a garden that grows mammoth flowers!

But the best is her name

written right to left

and every letter backwards!

(and the child is left-handed -- can you imagine all that backwardness?!!)

Yep, definitely a favorite thing!

sharing at

Claudia's for A Favorite Thing
Smiling Sally's for Blue Monday 

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Mama's Canning Strainer ~ A Favorite Thing

I remember my mother using this canning strainer when she made turnips or rutabagas -- she would take the pestle and squash the cooked vegetables against the sides and out they would come through the little holes (this fascinated me as a child)!  I'm sure she used it for canning since she canned and preserved a lot, but I only remember those rutabagas and turnips!

 Speaking of rutabagas and turnips, I couldn't stand the turnips (but duly ate them as a good little girl should) -- besides tasting yucky, they were WHITE for crying out loud. Who wants white food except for ice cream or milk? OK, sour cream and angel food cake -- but that's it!!!  Rutabagas, on the other hand, were a nice orange color and tasted good with some pepper and butter mixed in.

Anyway, I used the strainer now and then but have not used it in years -- poor thing was relegated to the back of the kitchen cabinet, never to see the light of day.

So, when my daughter was here weekend before last, she tackled the closet in my office. (An awesome undertaking!) And a strainer just like my mother's was back in the corner of the closet.

Can I have this, Mom?

Well, I say, I did buy it at an estate sale to sell in my vintage shop.....

But when I juice veggies in the blender, there are still lumps and this would reeealy help.

Puh-leese, Mom?

(like a little kid -- she knows that gets to me every time)

and then....

LIGHT BULB MOMENT!

I go to the kitchen, rummage around in the cabinets, 

and find my mother's strainer

I have my mother's strainer, I tell her.

I remember when she used it, I say.

You can have it if you want. The legs and handle are rusty and the strainer is a little dented....

The estate sale one is in better condition.... but you choose which one you want....

and she said, 

my grandmother's, of course.

The grandmother she never knew.

Makes my heart swell.

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♥♥♥   Linking my mother's strainer over at Claudia's for A Favorite Thing

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Letters to Santa and the BIG QUESTION ~ A Favorite Thing

I was going through a box of old school stuff of my kids..... 

and came across their letters to Santa back in 1989! 

Adam was in 3rd grade, and Stephanie was in Kindergarten. I'm not sure if they did these in school or if I had a sneaky plan in mind, but if you promise not to tell them..... shhh.... I was Santa!!  I apparently tried to write with flourishes and make my letters nothing like I really wrote them. I can tell it was me, but I think they were fooled!

 I was able to darken them somewhat to be readable
but you might click on the pics to make them larger and easier to read

We always left milk and cookies for Santa (do you think he ever got tired of milk and cookies and just wanted a beer and peanuts instead?!!) Of course, Santa had to eat it all and leave crumbs and traces of milk behind!

I love it that they each drew a picture of Santa -- 

Adam's is so skinny (he always drew skinny people for some reason) 

and notice the RED mustache and NO BEARD!

and Stephanie's is just a big head....

and hmmm, no beard either!

I really cherish these Santa letters because the next year was the year of the

BIG QUESTION!

Adam told me he wanted to ask me something ..... and led me into the garage.....

He leaned against the car, me against the washing machine.  I knew this would be a BIG QUESTION.
Big intake of breath. Serious looks.

So, Mom, tell me the truth   (uh-oh)
Is Santa real??

OK, quick thinking here -- but I knew the only thing to do was to come clean. This kid was SERIOUS.
So I launched into the "Santa isn't a real person, but is the spirit of giving" talk. That he's fun for everyone to be excited about.  etc, etc.

Adam seemed to take all this in pretty well -- and agreed that he wouldn't let on to Stephanie.

And then he said.....

So I guess it's the same for the TOOTH FAIRY and the EASTER BUNNY too.....

All gone, in one fell swoop......

♥♥♥  Linking my Letters to Santa over at Mockingbird Hill for A Favorite Thing

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Special Santas ~ Favorite Things

I have lots of Santas to be displayed at Christmastime, but two are very special ones.  They both belonged to a very dear aunt and I am so glad that I have them today.

 I remember this roly-poly one on display in her home every Christmas. She painted it and I remember asking why the fur on his hat was black. She said it was so that you could see it since it was right next to his beard. I guess that satisfied me, but when Noli asked the same thing she insisted that it should be white and "of course you can tell his beard from his hat!" Can you believe it -- some 50ish years later, she asks the same question!

As you can see, he has a very round tummy! He's heavy so I guess he must eat a lot of Christmas cookies! He's made of a solid plaster -- I imagine my aunt painted him back in the 40s or 50s. She would spiff him up and repaint where necessary every few years but I have left him as he was when she gave him to me. I don't want to paint over her art!

I was thrilled when she gave him to me after I had married! She knew how precious he was to me and now he brings back lovely memories of my aunt.

This Santa, on the other hand, has been on a diet so he's not so chubby. The same aunt painted him in the 60s or early 70s and gave him to me sometime in the 80s.  At first I wasn't so wild about him but, over the years, have grown to love him. Sometimes I put Christmas cards in his bag, but lately I've let him hold some poinsettias.

He has sparkly glitter on his fur, and I love his blue eyes and cute bald head! Oh yeah, questions from Noli on the bald head too!!

Now I need to get these two guys put up in their rightful Christmas places. I kind of stopped on the decorating after Noli put the ornaments on the tree!

She decided that those yellow ornaments (another favorite thing by the way) should all be clumped together and there was nothing I could say that would change her mind! We ended up with a big area with nothing, not an ornament in sight, and those yellow ones all clumped together -- that girl can really decorate a tree! LOL! (Not to mention that red bead garland -- her idea of draping and mine are two different things!)

I don't care -- I'm just thrilled that this has become our little tradition each year. Doesn't matter that the tree isn't perfect! Because Noli is.

The yellow ornaments were made as a Christmas gift by my sister-in-law for her mother -- her house at that time was decorated in yellow and green. So Jan made six yellow and six green ornaments. After my mother-in-law's death, Jan asked me if I would like to have a set -- of course I did! -- and chose the yellow ones.

Aren't they beautiful? She wrapped styrofoam balls with ribbon and created the design with gold rick rack, gold sequins and pearl pins. I love them!

..... but I'd prefer them to be spaced out a bit on the tree.....  

♥♥♥  Linking my Santas to A Favorite Thing over at Mockingbird Hill

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