Mom and Daddy's Wedding Presents and Gold Card Award

Mom was so proud of the Spode and crystal that she and Daddy received as wedding presents. She kept the Spode in the China closet. I can remember her washing it carefully in between uses. As she did, she would talk about her and Daddy's courtship, wedding, and honeymoon. Mom always used the Spode for holidays and special occasions. I inherited Mom's Spode and crystal and continue her tradition of using it. Somehow carrying on Mom's traditions makes me feel very close to Mom and Daddy.

Beautiful Donna from Donna's Den at http://deembee.blogspot.com/ presented me with the BFF Gold Card. Donna, thank you so much. I am proud to display the Gold Card on my sidebar.

This award comes with some rules which are as follows:

l. You may choose five people/blogs to give the award to.
2. Four have to be dedicated followers of your blog.
3. One has to be a new follower of your blog or live in another part of the world.

Here are the recipients of the Gold Card. Please visit them and experience their talent and ingenuity.

Mama Bear of http://bearsinexile.blogspot.com/, Cookie Sunshine at http://cookiesunshine.blogspot.com/, Bo of http://blinksnwinksfrombrown-eyes.blogspot.com/, Nancy of http://knittingpathsoflife.blogspot.com/, and Kim of http://shabbypinkandpretty.blogspot.com/

Friday Fill-ins

1. My blueprint for success includes Live, Laugh, Love.

2. Jelly filled mints was the last candy I ate.

3. The best facial moisturizer I've ever used is Estee Lauder Day Wear Plus

4. Walking can be good therapy.

5. I'd like to tell you about my children and grandchildren.

6. Perseverance is my strongest characteristic.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to getting my nails done, tomorrow my plans include going to our grandson's birthday party and Sunday, I want to go to church and try my new pressure cooker!

Bloomin' Tuesday

Happy Bloomin' Tuesday

I have one lone rose still blooming. It makes me sad that summer is over.



I planted vica and marigolds in pots around the pool. The vica rooted itself. My goal now is to have it as a ground cover surrounding the pool

For the two past years (and this year) I bought a pot of ivy which I hung on the front porch. At the end of the season, I planted the ivy next to the deck. It is really thriving.
This is the last geranium of summer. It's still beautiful.
Thank you, Jean of http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/ for hosting Bloomin' Tuesday. To see more beautiful blooms, please visit Jean.

Blue Monday

Happy Blue Monday!

This is one of my favorite Boyd's dolls. She is a gift from my oldest grand daughter. She is a bee keeper. Her features are exquisite and I love her beautiful curls. She even has a blue honey pot.
Our daughter Stephanie made this lovely primitive pillow for me for Mother's Day. Stephanie is very creative.
This rustic bunny and her baby were handmade by a wonderful friend and neighbor.

I hope that everyone enjoyed my Blue Monday posts. I'd like to thank Sallie at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ for hosting Blue Monday. Please visit Sallie and find your way to some wonderful Blue Monday posts.

Pink Saturday

Thank you Beverly for hosting Pink Saturday. It is such a fun activity and a wonderful opportunity to meet new blogger friends and to visit current blogger friends! Please join Beverly at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/ to celebrate Pink Saturday.

This is a very special grape wine wreath that was handmade by my friend, Sue. She added an old picture frame that had belonged to her mother. There is an antique button on the brown ribbon. Best of all is the vintage silent butler with the beautiful hand painted pink flowers. This wreath really works well with my new eclectic style of decorating.
I will be at the estate auction of my husband's parents' on Saturday. There is a very special crock that I hope to purchase. I will catch up with all of the Pink Saturday posts on Sunday.

Tagged

I've been tagged by Terrie at http://terriedj.blogspot.com/ to answer seven questions about myself. Terry's interests are varied and she is so much fun. She has a great blogging personality test. Terrie has some beautiful fall decorations and her two Doxies are adorable.

Seven Things I Plan To Do Before I Die

1. Find my daughter's murderer.
2. Go on a cruise with my daughters.
3. Go on the Alaskan cruise and land trip with my husband.
4. Spend an entire summer in Cape Cod.
5. Go on a vacation with my sister.
6. Spend time with my best friend in Florida.
7. Think that the world is a better place because I have lived.

Seven Things I Can Do
1. Love my family unconditionally
2. Cook
3. Sew
4. Play the piano
5. Shop
6. Garden
7. Travel

Seven Things I Cannot Do
1. Cheat, lie, steal
2. Understand written directions
3. Ride in elevators unless I have no choice
4. Have a closed MRI
5. Read a road map (I am thankful for a GPS)
6. Use a right handed tool
7. Use nasty words

Seven Things that Attract Me to My Mister
1. His love for our family
2. His compassion
3. His generosity to those less fortunate
4. He can read my mind
5. He enjoys my company
6. His appearance
7. His appreciation of nature

Things I Say Most Often
1. Have you heard from the State Police investigator?
2. I miss Sherry so very much.
3. I love you.
4. Do you have any plans today?
5. Are we going out to eat today?
6. Let's go to Wal-Mart.
7. I am going shopping with ________________.

Seven Celebrity Admirations
1. Bill O'Reilly
2. Sarah Palin
3. Martha Stewart
4. Sean Hannity
5. Richard Gere
6. Meryl Streep
7. Julia Roberts

Favorite Foods
1. All seafood
2. Turkey dinner
3. Spaghetti
4. Roast beef dinner
5. Ben 'n Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream
6. Grilled chicken salad
7. Liver and onions

If you haven't yet been tagged to answer seven questions about yourself, please accept my invitation to answer the questions. It's so much fun to get to know each other better!

Mom and Daddy - A Love Story

My dad attempted to get into the service twice and was rejected because he had scars on his lungs. I think that was probably the heartbreak of his life. His three brothers served in different branches of the service and his sister was an Army Nurse. All four were in action during World War II. My mother was the fifth of 12 children. She worked as a civilian secretary for the United States Navy. Mom and Daddy met about 1940. At that time, Daddy worked as a cook in the Neu Bridge Restaurant. He then bought the Neu Bridge Service Station next to the restaurant and had an accounting business. Mom and Daddy met when Mom stopped with some friends at the restaurant while Daddy was working. It must have been love at first sight. Their courtship began. They would live for the weekends when Mom would take the train the 23 miles to see Daddy or Daddy would drive 23 miles to see Mom.During those days, young people that were dating wore more formal attire than they do today. Mom said that Daddy asked her what she was wearing so that his suit would not clash with her clothing. Mom described those years to me as romantic times. She and Daddy loved to dance to the orchestras of the era. Alas, there were problems and Mom and Daddy broke up for three months. They reunited and were married in a beautiful winter wedding on January 17, 1944. They visited New York City for their honeymoon.

I was born and my sister followed four years later. Mom had some medical problems and was unable to have more children. My sister and I had fairy tale childhoods. Every Sunday we drove to see my mother's parents and we saw our father's family almost every day. We were close to our cousins and shared in family activities. Unlike many fathers of that era, Daddy attended all of our special events. There was never a day that Daddy didn't tell Mom, my sister, and me that he loved us. We were also taught that sisters do not fight with each other - and we never did. Today my sister is my best friend. My sister and I were secure in our parents' love for us and for each other.

I think that Mom and Daddy looked so stylish during their dating days.

January 17, 1944

Daddy passed away suddenly on June 27, 1973. Mom never was interested in spending time with a man - although she did have pursuers. Mom said that there were no men as good as Daddy. She never got over losing Daddy. Mom lived alone until her passing on March 9, 2003.