Ringing in the New Year with Old Postcards

I finally got around to scanning some of the postcards I found in the attic. The postmark on this one is blurry but most of the cards were from 1907 to 1924. Fido is looking rather uncomfortable isn't he?

This one is a little easier to date. I almost didn't even look at the postmark but finally noticed it is January 1, 1910. Pretty cool ~ a genuine antique.

We have our noisemakers and confetti poppers ready and will spend tonight at home with the kids, watching TV and eating all their favorite party foods. Whether you ring in the New Year with a night on the town or curled up at home I hope you have a fun, safe New Year's Eve and a bright 2010!

Easy Pretzels?

The big item on my daughter's wish list this year was an Easy Bake oven. That darling Santa brought her one and even added some baking mixes to the package.

You may have heard me mention I'm not much of a baker. I get way to distracted to keep track of all those precise measurements and if I added all the ingredients. But I figured I could handle this. After all, it says EASY everywhere you look. I would just be supervising, it's made for a child to do, how hard can it be?

So far so good, although the little bowl of glaze looks more like pudding. We followed the directions exactly though so maybe it will thin out and melt over the pretzel in the oven.

Looks so appetizing, huh? We did OK with the first two although they weren't pretty. The glaze didn't melt. They have to cook one at a time in this tiny little EASY Bake oven. The timer rang for the third one and we used the long yellow pusher to push it through to the cooling chamber. Only I forgot the second one was still in the cooling chamber. I don't have photos of the next part because I was in a little panic. The pans got jammed up in the little swinging door. I managed to get the second one out and push the third one back to free the door. Then I tried again. The pan easily slid out the door but the third pretzel was gone!

Where are you little pretzel?

Do you know how hot a 100 watt light bulb gets? Hot enough to EASILY cook little mini pretzels!

Oh, there you are, now how am I going to get you out?

It's a good thing EASY Bake ovens are little, they're EASY to turn up side down and shake. It's also a good thing my daughter had long since become bored with this little project that was supposed to keep her from being bored. She had wandered off to find something more fun to do and couldn't hear all the unkind things I was saying about Santa.

So here they are all finished. Sad, I know. That third one would have been great because I finally thinned out the glaze, but when it fell out of the oven it hit the counter broke in half and bounced to the floor. Now the only question is would like salt on yours or some cheese sauce to dip in?

Frosted Roses

Frozen Perfection

Winter in the San Joaquin Valley

Hubby's off work for a week and the kids have two weeks so I'll be checking in periodically as we try to mix in some projects with some winter fun. Maybe I'll even find some time one evening to curl up with a book or a good chick flick while everyone else is bowling in the living room. Wii had a great Christmas and hope you all did too!

Vintage Art from Penniwig's

Thank you Old Dame

for the wonderful free graphics!

Vintage Christmas Monday ~ At Mom's House

I spent most of this weekend with family at my parents' home so I thought I'd share some of mom's vintage and antique things for the last Vintage Christmas Monday. A great big Christmas hug for Joan at Anything Goes Here for hosting this memory filled meme. Please click on the VCM door on my right sidebar to visit Joan and see what everyone else has to offer for this final episode.

This is mom's vintage piano bought by my grandmother long ago. She has her cranberry glass pieces mixed in on top.

This little guy has been around as long as I can remember.

See the crack under his arm. My bad! I was bringing in groceries last year and bumped into a newly placed bakers rack. I couldn't get my hands out of the plastic bag handles fast enough so I tried to brake his fall with my leg and foot. We glued him back together but...

couldn't find all the pieces. You would think we could find a piece that big but it's still missing. I felt terrible but mom said not to worry it was just a "thing". Maybe so, but I still feel bad.

This antique fireplace surround came from an old home in San Francisco. It came from a bedroom and is smaller than would have been in a main room. She has a huge cut glass collection and displays some vases and pitchers here year round.

I was experimenting with camera settings and the first time the flash went off Santa started singing and dancing. My kids thought it was pretty funny to see me jump in surprise.

Here's some detail of the top. It's curved up and toward the front with a carved leather panel.

There is no actual fireplace here so mom uses screens or a decorated table to fill the space. This nativity is always displayed with an old family bible that has beautiful pages illustrating the birth of Christ. I love the angel placed on a glass block above the scene.

I hope you enjoyed this visit to my parent's home. I'll try to be back with one more post before Christmas, if not, please have a very merry Christmas!

Blonds Really Do Have More Fun

The first Christmas as a blond,

Sherwin Williams Blond that is!

I love how the reds, greens and whites pop on the warm background.

What do you think?

Doors of Welcome ~ Carol of the Birds

Whence comes this rush of wings afar,

Following straight the Noel star?

Birds from the woods in wondrous flight,

Bethlehem seek this Holy Night.

"Tell us, ye birds, why come ye here,

Into this stable, poor and drear?"

"Hast'ning we seek the new-born King,

And all our sweetest music bring."

Hark how the green-finch bears his part,

Philomel, too, with tender heart,

Chants from her leafy dark retreat,

Re, mi, fa, sol, in accents sweet.

Angels and shepherds, birds of the sky,

Come where the Son of God doth lie;

Christ on earth with man doth dwell,

Join in the shout, Noel, Noel.

I hope you enjoyed this old French carol. It reminded me of my woodland Santa flag that I love so much. I made the wreath to accompany the flag. Please go by and visit Karen at Some Days are Diamonds. She has the cutest pups waiting to give you the tour of Doors of Welcome!

Vintage Christmas Monday ~ It Takes a Village to Raise a Snowman

Vintage Christmas Monday is hosted by Joan at Anything Goes Here. There are a lot of fabulous things being shared so make sure you check it out.

As you can see I finally got the Italian Miniature Village set up in my hutch. I found a set of tiny lights that are battery powered but couldn't get a good photo with the houses lit up. I used a tiered spice rack and a couple of drawer dividers (upside down) for some levels under the felt snow. I also added some new trees and little snowmen.

We went to dinner with my MIL last night and she asked if I found the sleigh and the rest of the reindeer yet....the look on my face must have answered her question 'cause she laughed and said, "I guess have some more boxes to dig through."

Only one more Vintage Christmas Monday left. This time of year goes by so fast. Hope you're taking the time to enjoy it!