Hi everyone,
Today was a busy day with Rebecca and Karn and Kristoffer joined us for some of the day. We went to the Goodwill and everyone found something! (My only purchase was a very neat Evergreen colored sparkly dress that I’m going to cut up for Christmas gloves…as soon as I’m able to use some scissors without my thumb hurting. It is better, but I’m still taking it very easy because when I move it the least little bit in the wrong way, it feels like day one again.) Rebecca…found things to resell. Karn found a few things for fun and so did Kristoffer! His favorite thing was a vintage View Master with lots of discs. ALL in EXTREMELY GOOD condition. Disney’s Lady and the Tramp, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, The Little Mermaid and lots of others… some still sealed in the package. He was thrilled!
We got groceries and had a nice lunch and then Karn began looking at our TV… trying to see how he could improve the way it runs… It’s been kind of hit or miss and sometimes goes off or changes channels on its own. Then he and Rebecca started fooling around with our phones… I realized WE ARE SO TECHNOLOGICALLY IMPARED!!!!!! They were very kind to our “stupid” questions and said they’d show us more tomorrow! How will we be able to comprehend it all??? :o)
I have a picture from Barbara today and it’s HUGE… Well, the tree is… This is what Barbara wrote…
Jeanne, I was just reading the comments on Joy’s flowers and heard Crepe Myrtle mentioned. Here is a picture of the Crepe Myrtle in my front yard.
Not this year because it is not blooming yet – it likes the heat of the summer. But it also needs lots of water so it blooms best when we’ve had a lot of rain. This picture was taken during a rainy season. Many people around here cut them back at the end of the blooming season because they say it makes the blooms bigger but it also makes it look like there are no limbs, just a trunk with blooms on top. We decided when we planted ours to leave it as a tree. The tree is probably about 33 years old now.
Barbara
Thanks for sharing Barbara… We have Crepe Myrtle trees and bushes around here. My mom had a really big bush, but I guess it was really a tree… I loved seeing it in bloom. We have one out by our driveway.
I was looking through my doll pictures the other day and saw some doll dresses I thought you might like to see… well, actually just PARTS of the doll dresses. I realized one of the reasons why I love to sew… it’s all in the details. I LOVE adding DETAILS… I don’t think I need to say more… I think you’ll see what I mean…
Well, that should keep you guessing who is the doll in each picture!
I’ll see you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a fun day you all had!! I still have my original ViewMaster–in the box, and with several reels, too. I got mine probably in about 1953 or 54, and, because of that vintage, it is really a lot heavier than the one my son had. My husband (who was born in 1933) has his original ViewMaster projector, and I think his is still in its box, too!
You are not the only one technologically challenged! I had to take my Kindle Fire in to the Geek Squad the other day, as I couldn’t get the updated Messenger to download. The guy there had it all worked out in about 15 min. or so. Then later that night my son mentioned something about an SD card for it, and then the next day a friend made a similar comment. I looked my Fire over and couldn’t see any kind of slot…and then I noticed a little oval spot on the side edge of my Fire. Low and behold, it covers a slot where an SD card can be inserted!! I was so surprised! LOL
Barbara, your crepe myrtle tree is really beautiful!! Such a pretty shade of pink!!
You know, Jeanne, it’s all the details you put into your outfits that make them so special. I would be hard-pressed to choose a favorite. It’s your embroidery on some of the little jackets that I especially like. And the last picture….lavender. So of course I love that dress!
Jeanne, it sounds like you all had a good family time together! It certainly helps that you all love to do the same things and like to do them together!
Oh, technology! I don’t even understand what Charlotte was talking about! My mind just automatically goes into the ”sleep mode” when anyone tries to help me out with my computer problems!
Talking about ViewMaster’s, we also have Michael’s, and it works perfectly. Of course it is an older model, much heavier than the modern ones, but it works and is probably better made to last longer than today’s “ throw away” toys are.
Barbara, your Crepe Myrtle tree is beautiful! It looks like you have one bigger one, and two smaller ones together. You certainly are lucky to have a place to let it spread out, which is how they look best.
Jeanne, your details and embellishments Aretha things that make your outfits stand out, and they stand out very well! I especially love that pleated strawberry outfit that I am sure was for one of your smaller dolls. It is just perfect! Then too, the delicate laces on Kirsten’s dress and bonnet are so sweet!
You must have the greatest reputation as a thrift store shopper to be able to get three grown men to accompany you to a Goodwill Store! I’d bet this is a first in shopping history! It’s amazing that everyone found a treasure. What a wonderful family you have!❤️
Before Karn gets started on the TV or iPhone, get a pencil or pen and write down what he’s doing and saying. And if he has the patience, ask what he clicked on to get there. These Techies are certainly valuable additions to the family.
Has your experience with your hand included having it seen by a Hand Specialist? There is such a medical specialty, and if the answer is “no,” it’s time to insist. You might have to go to St. Louis or another larger town, but it would be worth it to ease your mind that you’ve tried everything. Medicare will cover it.
I forgot to comment on the details, your own wonderful specialty! It certainly is your hallmark! What a great idea to showcase them today. 😊. And the beautiful tree!🌳
Barbara’s tree is gorgeous, and I am so glad to see one that has not had “Crepe Murder” when they cut the branches down to nubs!
Jeanne your photos today are so inspirational! I loved looking at them.
My back shot is working somewhat, so I am back to sewing.
“Crepe Murder”. I love it! My sentiments exactly. We have a town full of Crepe Myrtles of all colors but most insist on cutting them back.
What a fun adventure in Illinois. Glad to hear that everyone found something of interest at Goodwill. And I’m another that still has their View Master. Anyone still have the paper sleeves that came with each disk? That fabric found by Jeanne sounds interesting too.
After seeing Jeanne’s great embellishment pics, half way though, I decided that they should be another of her coffee table books. Each picture shows some special addition that made the outfit. I picked out several things that I “should” have done on an outfit. I especially liked the four different checked ribbons used in the strawberry outfit. And the last adorable flower bracelet, so popular now.
Barbara’s tree is magnificent. Hers is like what we see in many yards here. Love the trunk. I had no idea that Crepe Murderers were around either. Beware! Fortunately, I’ve never seen their work around here. Thanks Sissy, for the term. 🙂
I so wish that we had R&K in our area. Do they take phone calls in PA? Took us awhile, but we finally are getting how to turn on our new tv’s and locate the myriad of available channels/shows with the magic wand as the remote is called. Love that high speed internet too. Yesterday, when I turned on my phone, I couldn’t figure out why it was about dead. Then, I found a note that it had been updated. Horrors! When I tried to quickly go to FaceBook, it was asking for a password. Horrors again. Password is in a location at home and not where we were at the time. When I had time, I found the password, went back on the phone and put in the password. I was sure I would have to reset it and then of course, have to do the same again on my computer. But, it worked just fine and I’m back on as usual. I’m sure there will be other things that want a password, but haven’t found them yet. Oh, just thought, probably Etsy as well. Anyway, technology is here and we’re crawling behind trying to figure it out around here.
Yes Joy, I still have the paper sleeves to my Viewmaster reels! At least to most of them–I might have 1, maybe 2 without.
A family trip to Goodwill. How wonderful! And you all found something to your liking. I had a View-Master back in the 1950s. They were a lot of fun. Some of my friends who traveled on vacation got some great reels as souvenirs. We have a lovely Goodwill here in town but I’ve only been there once and it was David who wanted to check it out. We haven’t been back, but it will probably be me alone the next time. He didn’t mind hanging out at JoAnn’s with me until he realized there was a Home Depot next door and he could drop me off and go there. I guess he could hang out at Tractor Supply if he was with me and I wanted to stop at Goodwill. A few years ago I would go to jobs with him so he had a car available for lunch, etc., since he was hauling his bulldozer with the big truck. In the beginning I would sit in the car and crochet. Then one day I realized there was a Hobby Lobby just down the road. After that when I went to jobs I would check out the area for a Hobby Lobby, JoAnn’s or Michael’s. It became a fun day for me.
I love all the beautiful examples of embellishments. Embellishments do tend to make the outfit and the creativity part of doing them is fun. When I plan an outfit I pick the pattern and fabric and cut out the pieces for the outfit. Then I get my box of trims for the color I want and go through them, trying them against the bodice, skirt, sleeve, etc., pieces. Usually I’m good with my choices but sometimes when I actually begin the project I decide to head in a totally different direction and it’s back to the trim box again, sometimes for a different color or maybe just to relive the experience of the hunt.
Thanks for all the lovely comments about my beautiful Crepe Myrtle tree. When we moved to Sealy there was a house on the way into town where they had let their Crepe Myrtle become a tree. I thought it was the most beautiful thing and I had never seen one that wasn’t cut back before. That’s when I decided I wanted one and that it would be allowed to grow into a tree. There are three of them at the corner but we never anticipated one of them taking off like it did. But the other bigger one is holding its own and its blooms add to the magnificence of the other. The poor little one totally got overshadowed but what’s worse it got a fungus a few years ago and was dying. Sean and I nursed it back to health but it has remained small. But I often wondered if maybe it is a Dwarf Crepe Myrtle because it’s healthy and does bloom. Plus it is a deeper pink than the others and I ordered them all at the same time so maybe it’s not like the others. I also have a Crepe Myrtle tree along the alley to David’s shop. That one has the most beautiful salmon-colored blooms, but it was overshadowed by a couple Cedar trees for years until David cut them down so it has not grown very tall even though it was here when we bought the property and is older than the others.
Had an annoying experience this morning. I was just about to step into the shower when suddenly I had no water. Assuming that it was something like a leak that would take hours to fix, I got dressed. I called David to see if he knew anything and he told me they were changing out the water meters all over town and it would only take about fifteen minutes. I should have called him sooner.
Dear Barbara, thanks for sharing the photo of your lovely tree!
Dear Jeanne, I love the photos of the little touches that you add to your outfits to make them special. They truly are!
I echo Joy. I think that Rebecca and Karn could have a side hustle by helping us old-timers figure out how to use this modern technology. I sometimes feel like Granny talking about the “cement pond” on the Beverly Hillbillies (laugh).