HI everyone,
I received an email from one of my readers and she asked me if I could share this with the “Sofa Sisters.” Do you remember Lauren? She is probably my youngest subscriber to my blog… I think she might be 16 or 17 now…it’s been a little while since she last sent me anything.
She let me know this morning that she hadn’t chimed in commenting because her computer had broken and she wasn’t very good at typing her responses on her phone.
She also told me her mom had been very sick for the last 2 years and the doctors let them know recently they had done as much as they could and she was put on Hospice. Lauren told me she was only in Hospice for 2 weeks and one day and then she passed away. Lauren is devastated and asked me if I could let all the “Sofa Sisters” know… I’m sure I could read between the lines and hear her hearts cry pleading for your prayers and kind thoughts toward her family. I think they were getting ready to move to Missouri at the end of 2024, so I’m not sure if that will happen now or not.
She is a sweetheart of a young lady and I just wanted to let you all know… If you would like to send her a card, I would be glad to send you her address… just ask me for it. Please keep her close to your heart these next few weeks as she navigates life without her mom.
Thank you everyone…
I received an email from Laura, telling me about her favorite childhood books and I thought I’d use them today… I did get all the pieces finished for Freida’s Civil War dress set, but I haven’t gotten my pictures all taken yet… maybe tomorrow… I did leave a hint at the bottom of today’s post… :o)
Anyway, Laura sent me pictures of these books. I personally have never seen or heard of any of them except the Joan Walsh name… that I can remember… See if you’ve seen them before… I’ll let Laura do the narrating. If you click on the pictures, they will enlarge…
Hi Jeanne,
I thought I would give a change of pace from my precious kitties (never fear I will share them again soon as furbabies are my niche ❤😸) and once in a great while doll photos and share some of my most special childhood books and see if any of the Sofa Sisters are familiar with them. I’m going to think that Anne in NZ might be if she is on to see them. They were published in England mostly, although some of my Pookie books were published in Scotland where Ivy Wallace then lived. If you’ve ever seen William Collins Harper Collin, London) publishing on a book that was Ivy’s husband.
My Pookie books of the little white rabbit with wings. I had some as a child and finished them as an adult. I had a number of lovely email conversations with Ivy’s elder daughter, Heather while I was completing my collection.
My Hilda Boswell are all from childhood. I absolutely love her illustrations, very whimsical and fairies in most of them. I wish I could share the entire insides as they are darling. Look for the fairies in the fire and in the trees in those two pictures.
Freddie is also a childhood book from England. He is a sweet fox who helps save baby bunnies and a lost little boy. His intentions are misunderstood and the worry of his robin friend Me-too. At the end everyone is his friend.
My grandfather read the German book to me very often as a young child. It is about a ladybug’s wedding.
Neither English nor German, but I loved Joan Walsh Anglund’s illustrations and she did my large poetry book I’ve had since childhood. Even after I enjoyed other books like the Little House series, The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, E.B White books, and the Anne of Green Gables series and other books I would always find myself reading all of these on occasion, even to this day.
Please enlarge the photos to see the details.I hope everyone enjoys them. Thank you for letting me share.
Blessings,
Laura
Thanks Laura,
I hope I got the pictures right…
I’ll see everyone tomorrow… hopefully with some new pictures of Freida with all her pieces… want a little sneak peek?
I know that’s not much… but just wait… there’s more!!!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
I am so sorry to hear about Lauren’s mom; I will keep her and her family in my prayers, for sure. It’s hard to lose your mother at any age; I was 59 when I lost mine, and it wasn’t easy, even then. Must be extra hard when you’re not fully grown yet.
Thank you, Laura, for sharing your wonderful books with us! I’m not familiar with a lot of them, but of course Joan Walsh Anglund is very familiar (I have some of the little books she did for Hallmark–it think it was–some years ago). Some of the HIlda Boswell illustrations look familiar tome–I’m sure I’ve come across them at some point. And your German book…looks So familiar, so I’m wondering if it may have also been published in English at some point, or possibly that illustrator had done some American books in a similar style.
Well, it looks like someone has a new petticoat and pantalettes!! Can’t wait to see the finished outfit!!
Charlotte, in my effort not to have to type too much on my laptop I neglected to tell you how much I loved your dolls Easter attire. And how nice they were fabrics you used in the past. I’m sure that brought back memories.
Thank you, Charlotte! Yes, I have one more Joan Walsh Auglund book. The tiny red cloth cover one of Proverbs. I’m glad you enjoyed them.
Laura, your books take me down Memory Lane, but not for me, since you are about my daughter’s age! My daughter and son had many of those books, the covers look so familiar, and yes, Joan Walsh Auglund was a fovorite here too! I kept all the “favorites” of theirs, and gave them to them when they had children, so they could be passed along. I didn’t see any Richard Scary books in your stash, but those were a big favorite with my two. Also Dr. Seuss books, which I read to them so much, that I memorized most of them! Books played a big part in their childhood, along with going to the library. Thank you for showing your childhood books! Love the pictures and illustrations!
Oh, pretty, Jeanne, those pantalettes and that slip!
I’m so sorry tohear of Lauren’s mother’s passing. Yes, do send me her address! I do remember her since she menitoned moving to Missouri. I too, wonder if that is still going to happen.
Thank you, Linda! How neat you had many of these. I’ve not come across anyone else here in the US who has even heard of Pookie or Hilda Boswell.
These are just a few of my childhood books, although I don’t have all of them. I do have Richard Scarry, three in fact. I just didn’t add them to this mix. I figured there were enough pictures already.
bonjour, j’habite en France et je connais pookie . je cherche ce lapin depuis 50 ans !! les livres de pookie sont ils a vendre ? si oui , je souhaiterai les acheter … en espérant que vous pourrez lire ces lignes . amicalement . Sabine
Hello, I live in France and I know pookie. I have been looking for this rabbit for 50 years!! are the pookie books for sale? if so , I would like to buy them … hoping that you can read these lines . friendly. Sabine
Hi Sabine,
Laura’s books are her childhood books, so I’m sure they aren’t for sale… but I’m glad you enjoyed looking at them…
Blessings, Jeanne
Sabine, type into Google, Pookie the Rabbit books and a ton will come up. Lots in used book stores. Good luck. 🙂
Hi Sabine,
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed seeing them. As Jeanne said, these are my childhood books and are not for sale. They are very special to me!
As Joy said, they are able to be found in used bookstores and on eBay. Cost depends on edition and condition. I hope you find your own copies.
Dear Lauren, be assured the Sofa Sisters have you wrapped in our arms and send our condolences and prayers. How very, very hard for you.
Laura, never heard of these books but so fun to see. They really are most delightful and magical. My favorite series when I was a young girl were the Twin Series by Lucy Fitch Perkins. When my mother was weeding books at the library long ago, she gave those to me. She was the librarian. I still have them but in tough shape. The stories revolved around twins in different countries. Just loved them.
Liking the lace trimmed unders there, Jeanne.
Thank you, Sally! I’m glad you enjoyed them. Yes, I think we all have special books. How nice you have a series you love. As long as they are readable, they can be enjoyed.
So sorry to hear about Lauren’s mother. I’m sure it’s been so hard on her, especially at her tender age.
Laura, what a treat it is to see your childhood books. What a fabulous group they are and for any child. I’m not familiar with some of them but what wonderful treasures you have. The illustrations are so endearing. Especially when one loves animals.
As a little little girl, I really thought animals lived like that, like humans. You can imagine how disappointed I was when I came to know reality. So glad to get to see your beloved collection.
Jeanne, love the lace on the undergarments.
Thank you, Paula! Yes, they are certainly made for animal lovers. I thought animals lived that way as well. As a child I would take scraps of cloth out to the yard for blankets and other “useful” things and leave them for the birds, bunnies, squirrels etc.
I even let them “borrow’ my miniature doll sized Hollie Hobbie tea set for an entire summer. 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed them.
That is really neat what you did as a child to “ help out” the creatures in your yard. I always thought they lived in the trunk of trees – only I could never find the door. I imagined it to be under the grass near the tree roots.
How sweet to put little pieces of fabric out in the yard so some little baby bunny or critter having their own blankie to sleep with!
Thanks Jeanne and Laura for sharing the great poetry books. Such lovely illustrations as well. Love those. 🙂
Getting ready to head out and get the raised beds going with their new Pay Dirt soil we’ll be incorporating today. They will have to sit for a bit and be watered before planting in the near future. It’s been so hot that we can’t work in the heat later in the day. 🙂
Thank you, Joy! I’m happy you enjoyed seeing them. Have fun playing in the dirt. we’re trying to get the garden beds fit for planting as well.
So sorry to hear about Lauren’s mother. I would like to have her address to send her a card. I lost my mother back in 2010 when I was 60 and I still often think of calling her to share something. I loved the books and thank Laura for having you share them. What a treasure trove. I’ve heard of Pookie but I’ve never seen one of the books in person. The others I’ve never heard of but I’m going to see if any are available. I still have a young grandchild I’m sure would enjoy them. He can’t read but I know his older brother and sister who love to read would be glad to read them to him until he’s old enough to read them himself.
I got my computer back yesterday and it definitely works a whole lot better. I had them back everything up and then put it back on the computer now I just need to find it all. Sean installed it for me this morning so I wouldn’t have to crawl under the desk to insert the power plug, not to mention his eyesight is better than mine to hook up all the peripherals.
It rained in the morning yesterday and never got out of the 60s. Today it is beautiful and cool outside. Very spring like. It will be warming up toward the end of the week but for now I’m really enjoying this.
Oops!! Forgot to mention the new pantalettes and petticoat. Very pretty. Can’t wait to see more than a peek.
Thank you, Barbara! As the names are quite close, I know you just didn’t see it. The books are actually mine and I’m so glad you enjoyed them.
You can definitely find Pookie as well as Hilda Boswell books at online used bookstores. eBay, and Etsy. Price will depend on edition and condition of the book. All the poems and stories are wonderful and the illustrations are just enchanting.
Sorry, Laura. Now that I go back and look I see. I have to be careful when I see some of the names that are the same that I get the right name with the right person. Thanks for the thought on finding the books. You are one lucky lady to still have these books. I’ve had to go to ebay to find some of my favorite books from when I was growing up. I have no idea what became of the ones from my childhood.
No worries, Barbara. Yes, I’m very grateful for the ones I do have. I and my mom lost a number of books as well as other things when my grandfather’s second wife auctioned off house contents that were ours the week after he died. No warning and no way to get them back as she then left town. Fortunately, these were ones I always kept at home in my room and the special German Christmas, Easter, and other things we had gotten years before. Thanks to online we can hopefully at least find a copy of something we once had.
Sorry Laura. I try not to mix up names and now that I look back I definitely see that. You are one lucky lady to still have these wonderful remembrances of your childhood. I’ve had to fiind books I had that I loved on eBay. I have no idea what happened to the ones I had as a child.
I will certainly be keeping Lauren in my prayers. So very sorry for her loss. I would like her address, please.
Oh, Freida’s petticoat and pantalettes are beautiful. The lace is just lovely.
Lauren,
Peace to you. I’m sure it’s very difficult for you to lose your mother at such a young age. I was in my early 40s when I lost mine, and THAT was difficult. I will keep you in my prayers.
The books are delightful! My grandchildren LOVE Bluey and ?? (I can’t remember the name of Bluey’s orange-colored sister)
The bloomers and slip are wonderful Jeanne.