Saturday, October 30, 2010

Gift of Pumpkin - Pink Saturday



I love this artist's work.  The children seem so alive--how their eyes sparkle!  This little girl with her perky pink ribbons seems quite delighted at the boy's offering.

Happy Pink Saturday--For more wonderful things in pink, visit Bev at How Sweet The Sound!

Friday, October 29, 2010

Black Cats - Postcard Friendship Friday



First of all, dear friends, I apologize for getting PFF up so late in the day--I have been quite ill this week, and fell behind. 

I adore this postcard!  The little girl's dress is just adorable.  I think I want one!  I have loved black cats since I was a little girl and am now a collector of them.  When my father was a boy, he had a black cat named Snow.  When I was small we also had a black cat named Snow--and today my children are loved by a black cat named Snow--though her name has reverted to Snowbunny. 

Most of what we hear about black cats is bad.  But in fact, folklore surrounding black cats varies from culture to culture. In Great Britain, black cats are a symbol of good luck. The Scottish believe a strange black cat's arrival to the home signifies prosperity. Furthermore, it is believed that a lady who owns a black cat will have many suitors.  I rather thought today's postcard fit that bit of folklore!

To see more mailboxes and all things postal, visit Gemma at Greyscale Territory for Weekend Mailbox.



Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Elf On a Tree

What a fun postcard this is!  So beautifully drawn, with such a whimsical idea.  I'm not sure the elf would appreciate being sent in our present day mailing system--but from the look on the little fella's face, he seems to be delighted to "hang" with the lady.

Have a wonderful week!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Unicorns and Rainbows - Pink Saturday


I have always loved the artwork of Lisa Frank and I treasure this card featuring her art.  It was given to me by my daughters when they were small.  Back when they were in grade school, everything--folders, backpacks, notebooks, pens and pencils--everything a kid would need for school, was covered with the bright colors of Lisa Frank's amazing imagination.

Now my precious children are grown and gone--today I cherish this sweet reminder of their love when they were little.

Happy Pink Saturday--For more wonderful things in pink, visit Bev at How Sweet The Sound!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

The Great Pumpkin - Postcard Friendship Friday #34


This wonderful postcard reminds me of our brother Dow.  He was only 14 months younger than me.  This young boy's mischievous twinkle is so like the one I remember.

When we were kids, we would prepare for weeks for a Halloween party we'd put on for the rest of our siblings.  We would sweep the dirt beneath the big fir tree, and hang ghosts made of toilet paper from its branches.  Dow was a wonderful story teller, holding us spellbound, often telling tales which scared us so badly we could hardly go to sleep!

It has been seven years since Dow lost his battle against cancer--sometimes it seems just yesterday I was warmed by that special twinkle crinkling around his eyes.  The thought of that grin of his, makes me smile.  Ah I do miss him so.

To see more mailboxes and all things postal, visit Gemma at Greyscale Territory for Weekend Mailbox.






Ironing the heart - Guest Heart Thursday


I love this postcard--I'm not sure why these two cherubs feel the need to iron the heart--but perhaps it is made of felt and needs to be straightened out?  And that iron is so BIG!  lol  I just love the detail in this wonderful old postcard!

This postcard was part of my cyber collection.  I found it at Christine's fabulous blog featuring her amazing postcard collection.  You can see more of her wonderful collection at The Daily Postcard.

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Celtic New Year - Postcard Friendship Friday #33

 

Most historians believe the holiday of Hallows Eve began with the Celtic festival of Samhain.  In old Irish the name means "summer's end."  Ancient Britons held a similar festival known as Calan Gaeaf.  The festival of Samhain celebrates the end of the "lighter half" of the year and beginning of the "darker half" and is sometimes called the Celtic New Year.

The Celts believed the border between our world and the Otherworld became thin on Samhain, allowing both good and bad spirits to pass through.  It is thought the tradition of wearing costumes and masks began at that time when people would disguise themselves, believing this would fool any harmful spirits.

Samhain was also a time to take stock and harvest food supplies for the coming winter. When all was ready for the great cold, there was a great feast and all families built bonfires into which they would cast the bones of the cattle they'd butchered.

It is always so interesting to see how our traditions got started.  I found this one to be particularly fascinating--perhaps it is the Irish in my soul.

To see more mailboxes and all things postal, visit Gemma at Greyscale Territory for Weekend Mailbox.


Thursday, October 14, 2010

Hallowe'en Greetings - Guest Heart Thursday


I know I'm stretching a bit--but there ARE several hearts in this wonderful postcard.  One can be found in a clump of grapes, the other in the blue ribbon adorning that delightful child's hair.

For more wonderful heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.


Saturday, October 9, 2010

Roses - Pink Saturday


This wonderful old card came from Gramma Jenny's collection.  I am not sure of its age--but it looks to me to be from the 1960's.  I love the artist's rendition of this pink wind blown rose--utterly lovely and perfect for Pink Saturday!  For more wonderful things in pink, visit Bev at Pink Saturday!

Friday, October 8, 2010

The Myth of Stingy Jack - Postcard Friendship Friday #32

This postcard is from my Cyber Collection--I don't remember where I found it, but I thought it perfect for this month's holiday.  If this wonderful postcard came from your site, please let me know and I will put in a link to your blog. 

In my research about how pumpkin carving got started, I found a fun story--The Myth of Stingy Jack.

The term "jack-o-lantern" came from the fae Irish in the form of a mythical story about a character named Stingy Jack. Jack was a drunkard who, having invited the Devil for a drink, requested the Devil transform himself into money to pay for the drinks. When the Devil did so, Jack took the money and put it in his pocket next to a silver cross. The Devil, unable to transform himself into his original form because of the cross, was trapped.

So Jack made a deal with the Devil--he would not bother Jack and would leave him alone for a year if he was allowed to change back. The Devil, agreeable to this, came back to Jack in a year. However, a year later when confronted by the Devil, Jack tricked the Devil into climbing a tree to pick a piece of fruit. Once the Devil was in the tree, Jack carved a cross in the trunk of the tree, preventing the Devil from descending, until he agreed once again not to bother Jack for another ten years.

When poor Stingy Jack died a short time later, neither God nor the Devil would accept him into their kingdom. But the Devil sent Jack away into the night with only a hot coal to light his way, which Jack put into a hollowed out turnip. Thus began the tradition of jack-o-lanterns.

In the 1800s, Irish immigrants discovered America's native orange pumpkin, which lent itself even better to the tradition of carving out lanterns.

To see more mailboxes and all things postal, visit Gemma at Greyscale Territory for Weekend Mailbox.




Thursday, October 7, 2010

Texting?! - Guest Heart Thursday

Okay--this Valentines Day Card from my collection made me laugh--Here is PROOF texting has been going on a longer than any of us ever realized.  This card is likely from the 1940's!

I love the stitching down face and legs--the sweet simplicity of these dolls delights my heart.

For more wonderful heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Sat upon Cat


Our new kitty cat Bootz loves to sit on office chairs--I can't tell you how many times each of us, my husband and I, have gone to sit down--and wahlah--there is Bootz!  EEeeek!

This postcard is from my "cyber" collection--from one of my fabulous friends--who love postcards as much as I do!  I don't remember where it was I found this, so if this wonderful postcard came from your site, please let me know and I will put in a link to your blog. 

Have perfectly marvelous day!

Friday, October 1, 2010

Scarecrow in Pink - Postcard Friendship Friday #31

I love this time of year, with its cooler temperatures, nostalgic feel and harvest celebrations.  But who knew this is the time when scarecrows dance?  I like the whimsical feel of this wonderful old postcard! 

To see more mailboxes and all things postal, visit Gemma at Greyscale Territory for Weekend Mailbox.

Once more I am combining Postcard Friendship Friday with Pink Saturday.  For more wonderful things in pink, visit Bev at Pink Saturday!

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone!