Yesterday's Memories

Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:51:00 +0000

I think I've written Merry Christmas and said it more times this season than I have ever in my whole life. I always took that little phrase somewhat for granted, until it was obvious this year that most retailers were down playing the Christmas decorations and instructing employees to say Happy Holidays, or, in some cases, dictating that they not say anything at all!

"Then peal the bells more loud and clear, God is not dead, nor doth he sleep! The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with Peace on Earth, Good Will toward men.""

So, to you and your family I wish you all a Christ filled Christmas!!!

The Day that Will Live in Infamy

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:56:00 +0000

Today is December 7th. I wonder to how many people that means anything?? In case you're one of the ones who doesn't know what it represents, it's the day of the Pearl Harbor bombing during World War II. We've only had a few such dates that have rung out across the ages - Remember the Maine - Remember the Alamo - 9/11... Do YOU know what all of them mean? Do YOU commemorate them??

Personally, I'm old enough to commemorate December 7th, and obviously 9/11. I don't have any trouble knowing the history of the Alamo, because I grew up to the Davy Crockett movies and TV shows. I remember the situation with the Maine during the Spanish American war, because historians suggest that the whole thing was "blown" out of proportion to drum up a war, so two rival newspapers could increase their circulation!

It's so sad to think that such defining moments in history lose their importance to most people over time. I pray that the citizens of the United States will remember fallen heroes from past battles and value their history. If we don't learn from the past, we are destined to repeat it!!

I Salute YOU on Veteran's Day, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:44:00 +0000

Here's a great big THANK YOU to all those who have chosen to serve their country in the military. And I'd also like to thank all those family members, who are left behind to deal with everyday life while they are missing their loved ones, for your sacrifice. There's no possible way that I can imagine what you go through each day.

But my prayers and thoughts on this Veteran's Day go out most emphatically to those of you whose family members paid the ultimate measure of devotion to their country, their lives. We are free because of them, and no amount of thank you's can be enough.

Since they sacrificed so much, I pray that their blood will not have been spilled in vain. I pray that our President will give our troops the support they need ... or bring them home.

Amen

Where Have All the Manners Gone??

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:41:00 +0000

OK, I know I'm old, and I realize things change over time. But I'm so sorry to see that one of the old ways that has been ignored by with new generations is plain good manners.

I watched a young man push his way through an exit door at a store the other day and slap the closing door in the face of an older woman coming behind him. Obviously, it never occurred to him to hold the door for the split second it would have taken to glance and see if anyone was behind him, old or young.

It's certainly evident every time you walk down a busy street. People used to automatically flow around oncoming "traffic". Now they barrel ahead and expect you to get out of their way.

And speaking of traffic ... well, the lack of manners behind the wheel is so rampant that we have invented a new phrase - road rage.

I could go on and on, but I do want to relate something I saw yesterday that leaves a glimmer of hope for this lost art yet. I watched a young mother with her 8 or 10 year old son going into a service station. When she reached the door the mom did not do what most would have done. She did not reach for the door. Rather, there was a barely perceptible pause at the door, and then her son opened the door for her. I wanted to get out of the car and go running to her to thank her for teaching her son how to be a gentleman!!

I know my own sweet hubby still goes around to my side of the car to help me get in and out. He helps me put on or take off my jacket. He walks on the street side of us on the sidewalk. He opens doors for me. And I could go on and on. He makes me feel special!! And how much time does it take him?? None, really. But it speaks volumes about the man that he is.

So I applaud this mom for teaching her son to use good manners in this day and time.

FOUND - INFORMATION about POSSIBLE JEWEL TEA COMPANY Premium TEA POT

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:39:00 +0000

A collector named Dottie was nice enough to let us know that Joan's tea pot was probably made around 1900 and would be worth about $150, if it's in good condition.

Joan writes:

I have a brown ceramic tea pot with , I think, pewter trim. I thought my grandmother got it as a premium from the Jewel Tea Co.
The tea pot stands about 6 1/2 inches tall. It has a rather ornate pewter spout, with attached lid and handle. It is chocolate brown with speckles in it. On the bottom it is stamped "Manning Quality Bowman, Meriden,Conn.08273".

I had another one, which was slightly large, probably about 7 1/2 inches tall. I took it to an antique shop on consignment, and it went out of business, and I never saw it again.

Any info would be appreciated.

If you can help Joan with more information about her teapot, please Contact Us or Comment below, using POST CODE #020209-1 in your comment.

Am I Racist?

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:05:00 +0000

It seems like everywhere I turn I read or hear that so and so is racist, because of something they said or did. It's been leveled against so many that it reminds me of the Senator Joseph McCarthy's hearings in the 50's, which I remember very well. We were in the middle of the Cold War, and calling someone a Communist was a much bigger deal then than it probably is today. Hundreds (maybe thousands - I couldn't find an actual number) of people were being labeled as Communists and being threatened into naming their friends as Communists. Lists existed of people in politics, in government, and in the entertainment industry.

This quote is from the Wikipedia article about McCarthy.

Ultimately, McCarthy's tactics and his inability to substantiate his claims led him to be censured by the United States Senate. The term "McCarthyism," coined in 1950 in reference to McCarthy's practices, was soon applied to similar anti-communist pursuits. Today the term is used more generally to describe demagogic, reckless, and unsubstantiated accusations, as well as public attacks on the character or patriotism of political opponents.

It seems to me that this word "racist" is being used in exactly the way that McCarthy used the word "communist". Of course some of those people many years ago probably really were Communists, just as some of the people who are being labeled as Racist today probably really are. But the Senate eventually condemned his witch hunt, and I'm hoping that the current ready accusation of Racism will also be condemned with enough force and power behind it to actually stop this constant labeling.

I guess it's from having lived through the McCarthy era, as well as the Civil Rights Movement, that gives me a different perspective on the use of this word than many younger people have today.

LEST WE FORGET - One Life - NORMA KHAN

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:09:00 +0000

This is mostly a repost of my attempt to remember one of those who died on September 11th. I have chosen to repost it each September 11th.

I intentionally did not name her 13 year old son in the original memorial, because I am particularly cautious about children and the internet. But he's 21 years old now, and I wanted to see if I could find out how he's doing. So far I have not found anything specific, but I did find this 2001 article:

As reported in The News last week, Norma Khan, manager of member services for the Plumb-ing-Heating-Cooling Contractors — National Association (PHCC), was on board American Airlines Flight 77, which was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon on September 11.

She left behind a 13-year-old son, Imran. At its annual conference, PHCC decided to establish a scholarship fund for Imran Khan.

We have no doubt of our industry’s continuing generosity.

# To contribute to the Imran Khan Fund, send checks to the PHCC Educational Foundation, 180 S. Washington St., Falls Church, VA 22046. Please make checks out to the PHCC Educational Foundation Scholar-ship Fund, with a notation that the donation is for the Imran Khan Fund.

So I'm hoping that means this young man has either graduated from college or is very close to it by now. His mom has made the whole 9-11 tragedy very close to home for me, and I wish him the very best life.

Norma Khan was on American Airlines, flight 77, on her way home to Reston, Virginia, on September 11, 2001, when that plane was hijacked and aimed at the Pentagon. She was 45 years old. She had worked as an organizer for fundraiser programs for non-profit organizations, and had been heavily involved in the Reston Multicultural Festival, held each September in Reston. She was a single parent with a 13 year old son, Imran.

Several people have left memorial comments on various 9/11 sites, praising Norma as a warm, loving woman who cared about people. She was a good mother to her son. There is no way that I can properly pay tribute to this lady that I did not know, but the many lives she touched during her lifetime are a living tribute to her that will last forever.

If you'd like to read more tributes written by bloggers to honor the 2,996 people who died tragically on 9/11, you'll find the whole list here. It's a shame, but not all the links are any good any more, including mine.

We Always Have Been Among the Silent

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:17:00 +0000

Hubby and I have voted in every national, state, and local election since we were old enough to vote, but recently politics has taken a more interesting turn for us. We have become very interested in our little rural town's local politics, and we've been going to all the Council meetings for quite some time. Our town is in the process of adopting a zoning plan that will give the town a way to control what type of construction can be built in the different areas of town. There have been plenty of opportunities of people to ask questions, plus everyone who already owns land in our town is grandfathered, unless they change the use of their land.

The reason all this has suddenly become of such interest is that our sleepy little town has been "invaded" by a large corporation named White Rock that has bought up a large tract of land with the intention of putting a rock quarry there. They have had several very fancy public meetings trying to convince the citizens here that the quarry will be good for us. Citizens who do not agree that the quarry would be a positive change have also organized and met frequently. And we're going to all the meetings.

We tried to keep an open mind at first about whether the quarry would be a good thing, but the more we know about the problems that quarries cause, the more we are against it. We even have a sign in our yard in protest. This is entirely out of our normal response to anything pertaining to politics. Mostly we've just voted and gone about our business, part of the Silent Majority.

It's a shame it took something that is causing this much furor in our little town to get us to become active in civic affairs. Somehow there was never time or interest before these last few years of our retirement. We were too busy being caregivers to our parents for a long time to have the time or energy to become involved. But that doesn't excuse all the other years that we should have been more involved in the political arena.

I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks after all. Here we are in our 60's doing what we should have been doing all along. Better late than never, I guess.

Remembering the March of Dimes ...

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:18:00 +0000

When I was a child polio was a horrible, terrible, fearful disease and no one knew how to keep from catching it!! It was 1949 when I started Elementary School, and I distinctly remember the little cards (there's one on eBay right now, if you're interested) we all had that we saved our dimes in. Each half circle slot held a shiny dime, and when the card was full, we turned in our contribution to finding the cause and cure of this unspeakably menacing illness. I still remember how proud I was to participate in that grassroots campaign to eradicate polio.

Millions of children and adults filled up those little cards, and The March of Dimes succeeded!! In 1955 Jonas Salk and his team found a way to vaccinate people to prevent this tragic disease.

Today's charities collect huge sums through telethons and receive large checks from corporations and foundations. But polio was defeated one dime at a time.

We do make a difference. Each of us makes choices in how to use our time and money that can help or harm humanity. I don't need to pray to God to open our eyes to what each one of us can do to help someone else. That is and always has been His Will. Rather, I pray that we would not blind ourselves by the fast paced, self centered lives we lead - that we each will have eyes that see and ears that hear.

Only God knows just what we could do if we all worked for the good of others!

FAMILY GAME NIGHT - A Thing of the Past??

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 14:06:00 +0000

Do you watch much television? Up until the change to digital I would have answered that as a yes, but we lost some of our favorite stations and that cut into our TV watching considerably. Then several weeks ago an electrical storm took out our Amplifier and Rotator on the antenna, and we don't get any station now. We have the parts to fix it, and are waiting for a cooler day to work on it.

In the meantime, we have watched a few of our shows on hulu.com and have been reading and working on the computers more. I say we, because dear hubby has reached the point where he is comfortable with his computer, and he really enjoys all the music he has found to listen to. So, most evenings we watch something from hulu for a couple of hours, but the rest of the day we each do our own thing on our computers. We do sit in the same room, at least, and we do talk ... some.

Quite a contrast to those families that practice a Family Game Night, playing board and card games together. I remember us playing some games with our children, but not on a regular basis. I wish we had.

This reverie into days gone by was prompted by listing this old Game of States board game my dear hubby may have played with as a child. It must not have been one of his favorite games, though, as it is in too good a shape to have seen much use. You see, both of us were fairly good sized before our families got a TV, so our leisure time was not ruled by electronics the way it is now.

So, do you have a Family Night without television? What kinds of things do you do with your family? Does everyone enjoy it, or is it seen by some as cutting into TV, texting, or electronic game time?

Bless This House O Lord We Pray

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:53:00 +0000

We went to an Estate Sale last week and found something I've never run across before. In the linen closet, stacked together neatly, was a HUGE stack of calendar towels, with dates stretching back through several decades. I thought I had hit the Motherlode!!

But, this wise lady had used her interesting towels after the year passed, and many were too faded to purchase. She knew what only a few apparently know ... that these linen calendar towels are absolutely GREAT for drying dishes, particularly glassware. They don't leave any lint or smears behind. So she not only had a beautiful 2008 calendar on her kitchen wall, but had enjoyed her collection every day, as they were displayed on the towel rack, and as she put her dishes away.

We did find several to buy that were still in very good condition, though, that I will be adding to the ones we already have for sale in our Collectibles Catalog. I always look for these interesting calendar towels when we go on our Friday Date Day, because they are colorful, are easy for me to store, and they don't break in shipment!

And I must not be the only one who enjoys them, because I've lost count of how many we have sold over the years. Some are bought because of the year they show, others for the attractive pictures, and some, such as this one might be, for the sayings that are written on them. But whatever the reason for the purchase, not many of them stay in stock for very long.

McDonald's - King of the Advertising Premiums!!

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:59:00 +0000

I don't know that my title is accurate, but it certainly seems so. Premiums have always been a traditional part of advertising on the part of many companies, and we enjoy looking for advertising collectibles when we go on our Date Day, and have several from different companies for sale in our Dirty Butter Collectibles Catalog. But I am always amazed when I do the research on what I think is going to be some obscure item, only to find many similar items for sale on the internet. These free things from the past just LAST!

Such was my surprise when I did the research for the Garfield and Odie glass coffee mugs shown here, which were give-aways from McDonald's in the late 70's. Their quality is extremely high, and it just amazes me that a company that sells such cheap food could give away such a high quality item. But they did, and perhaps still do, so it works for them. Says something about their profit margin, doesn't it??

I know families go to McDonald's because of the playgrounds, but I also know that my dear hubby ate lunch at McDonald's over an extended period of time just to collect all the 101 Dalmatian puppies for our grandson! Obviously, we are not the only ones who eat the burgers to get the toys. LOL!!

So if you like Garfield comics and want some different coffee cups, you might like to take a look at our pair of these 70's premium collectible mugs in our Catalog.

I Love Vintage Tin Containers

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:14:00 +0000

Yes, I love old tins.

It's one of my "worst" weaknesses when we go to Estate Sales, because I just don't seem to be able to resist them. It takes some careful picking through those up for sale to be sure that we come home with the ones that are not dented or showing signs of rust, but the time spent being picky is certainly worth it.

I'm particularly fond of the old advertising food tins, which can be cleaned up and used in a display, but can also hold the original food, too. The old Nabisco tin shown here can be used to hold the same number of crackers as the 4 stack box of crackers.

I even keep all my odds and ends of spools of thread and sewing notions in an old tin.

Do you like old storage containers, or do you have a display of vintage tins? Do you give homemade baked goods gifts in old Christmas tins? What other uses can you think of for using these fantastic old containers? I look forward to hearing your ideas, as it may give me an "excuse" to go buy some more! LOL!

Our Dirty Butter Collectibles Shoppe is Now Filling with Interesting Collectibles

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:01:00 +0000

I've been busy adding items to almost every category of collectible we have in our DIRTY BUTTER ESTATES Collectibles SHOPPE. This mask is one of my favorites, because of the rich color of the tanned leather, and the fascinating way it is made. When you look at the back you can see that it is molded from one piece of leather.

You'll find vintage linen calendars, souvenir mugs, church commemorative plates, vintage games, tin bowls, Homer Laughlin china, and many other unique items. So please take a few minutes and browse through our catalog. You're sure to find something for yourself or a gift for that special person.

We have lots more to add from all the treasures we have found on our Friday Date Day, when we enjoy going to Estate Sales, yard sales, and thrift stores. So if there's something in particular you are looking for, please contact us. We'll be glad to post your request for help finding it, or for information about some unusual item passed down through your family, or maybe you've lucked up on something at a yard sale and are curious about it. Whatever the reason, we'll be glad to post your request.

Our NEW Dirty Butter Collectibles Shoppe is OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:23:00 +0000

Well, I've finally done it. Our large selection of vintage collectibles have been orphans now for quite awhile, as we closed our eBay store some time ago, and I had not found the time to put them online in our own catalog. I've been too busy working on our Plush Animal Shoppe Catalog. But I'm glad I took the time to work on the vintage items, since I really enjoy showing off all the old things we've collected over the years.

I've made a small dent in our inventory the last few days as I worked to fill our own Dirty Butter Estates Collectibles Shoppe Catalog. I've started with the Porcelain, Pottery, and Glass items, so now a small number of our items are online.

We give s/h discounts for multiple purchases, and we do welcome International buyers. Please contact us to get a price for International s/h, or the combined s/h charge for multiple purchases.

If we make an error in estimating the s/h charge for an item we do make partial refunds of s/h fees via PayPal or credit toward a future purchase. Light unbreakable items will ship in bubble envelopes, while breakable items will ship via Parcel Post or Priority Mail in boxes. We do ship internationally to countries that PayPal allows. We accept Money Orders and credit or debit card payments through PayPal. You do not have to join PayPal to pay for an item using them.

So, how about the attractive plate I've shown here? This plate is one of 5 in a set of commemorative plates depicting various buildings on the campus of Harding University in Arkansas. The black transfer ware designs are very detailed, and my photography doesn't do them justice.

I hope you enjoy looking through our treasures and reading all about them, and maybe you'll even find something that you just can't live without!!!

Sacred Harp Shaped Notes Convention

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:33:00 +0000

For our second year we spent an enjoyable day at the local convention of Sacred Harps singers. There were several hundred singers, plus several more hundred people who were there just to listen. They provide loaner hymn books, so we tried to follow along as best we could while they called number after number and sang on and on. They started singing about 9AM or so, took one morning and one afternoon break, and stopped for lunch, but the rest of the time until about 3PM they were singing their hearts out.

This is a music tradition that has been preserved in the Deep South for the last 200 plus years. It has found new life as people all over the United States, and even in other parts of the world, have taken up the singing of these ancient Christian hymns. It's based on 4 shaped notes: fa is a triangle; sol is an oval; la is a rectangle; and mi is a diamond. The whole octave goes like this - fa sol la fa sol la mi fa, unlike music notation most people are used to that goes do, re, mi,etc.

It's a little hard to explain just how powerfully some of these hymns hit me. I could feel tears welling up, as I was taken to a level of praise of God that I rarely feel from music. Now I'm not saying I like all the hymns, but my hubby and I both enjoyed ourselves immensely! It made for a wonderful Date Day.

We bought a cd set that is supposed to teach the rudiments of Sacred Harp music, so maybe by the time next year's convention comes around we'll be able to sing along more than our weak attempts this year. Yes, both of us made efforts to sing with quite a few of the hymns - pitiful, but still better than we did last year.

One thing's for sure, those of us who were not participating in the convention didn't have to worry about our voices "ruining" the sound of the singers. If there's a one word description for this style of music ... it's LOUD! We get there early so we can sit on the back pew of the church, and it still reverberates in the ears. I don't know how their voices can sustain such a long day of singing at that volume, but they do.

Our first introduction to this ancient singing was from the movie Cold Mountain. There were several Sacred Harp hymns in the sound track, if you have it. One is sung by a group in Alabama, where we live. I prefer the slower, more majestic tunes, but a lot of them are very lively.

If you'd like to learn more about this ole time singing style, the Wikipedia entry on Sacred Harp music is excellent.

Interesting Vintage Collectible HO Train Set up for Auction Soon

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sat, 16 May 2009 22:36:00 +0000

I received this email from John, who has a unique item going up for auction at Stout Auctions in PA. It sounds so unusual and interesting that I thought I would share it with you.

A toy train set with cross appeal will be going on the auction block in June. It is a limited edition item, never offered for sale to the public. It is new in box, and still has the original shipping shrink wrap around the box. The certificate of authenticity states the above, and further explains that it was offered as a premium to salesmen for selling parts and accessories.

It is the Zenith Video Express, and all the cars have the Zenith Radio and Television logo, and I know one box car has " Chromacolor " on the side.

He continues:

I do have a personal stake in this and I will explain! My mother died on the first of February of this year, and was preceeded by my father 2 years prior. The train set was given to him, as he was a Field Engineer for Zenith. I did not want to sell it here in the boondocks of PA, so I sent it to Stout Auctions, since they specialize in train hobbyist auctions.

Unfortunately, I purchased a digital camera after sending it to Stout Auctions, so I have no picture. They do sell catalogs of upcoming auctions, but I know that you can personally contact them, and they would probably send you a picture. I will try to describe it the best my 53 year old memory can muster.

The set was manufactured exclusively for the Zenith Radio and Television Corporation by Bachmann. It is HO scale and contains the locomotive and four other cars laid sideways, in the original box through the clear plastic windows. The outer, cosmetic parts of the cars are some form of heavy duty plastic. The outer shrink wrap has never been touched, save for a small tear, and a slight indentation on one of the plastic windows just beneath. No damage to the car underneath! All of the colors on both the display box and train are as vivid as the day produced. It has never been in a high heat, or direct sunlight situation.

In closing, link/contact info is: www.stoutauctions.com, e mail Katy ( Really nice girl ) katy@stoutauctions.com, ph # 724.528.1500.

Sounds interesting, doesn't it??!!

Going to the Doctor Ain't What It Used to Be

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:37:00 +0000

I've been dealing with strep throat, laryngitis, and a hacking cough for several weeks now. The penicillin shot and oral antibiotics cleared up the strep, but nothing the doctor has prescribed has stopped this heavy mucus cough I've had. So, I called yesterday to see if they could prescribe a different cough syrup. Instead, they sent me off to get a chest X-ray, to rule out pneumonia, I guess. I don't have a fever any more, so pneumonia doesn't make sense to me, but maybe the X-ray does.

That's quite a different order to doing things than the way it used to be done. Used to be, if you went to the doctor with chest congestion, the very first thing the doctor would do would be to get an X-ray, not the last thing. That difference is definitely due to the cost of testing and the pressure to keep costs low for the doctor. Insurance companies push for less testing, too. So, the whole process of diagnosis has changed considerably over the years.

Our little rural town clinic had their own x-ray equipment, where this fancy clinic I go to now doesn't even do their own. They had to send me to lab in the same building to get blood drawn when they tested me for diabetes and down the road to a diagnostic center to have the x-ray done.

Other than looking in ears and mouth, feeling around a little on my neck, and taking a look at the localized inflammation I developed from the penicillin shot - this doctor didn't even touch me.

People nowadays don't have a more personal medical experience to compare to, so they don't know any better. But those of us with gray hair remember when....

Searching - INFORMATION Jewel Tea CREAM WOODEN CANISTER with BLACK HANDLES

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:26:00 +0000

I have had things on eBay in the past. My name is glassy-chic.

I am not looking for the piece, I have the piece. I am 71 years old, and it was my grandmother's. I have tried to search it, and I don't see anything like it. I don't even know what it is called, but I know that my grandmother had flour in it..

Thank you,

Shirley
If you can help Shirley with information about her antique wooden flower canister please Contact Us, including Post Code #031009-1 in your reply.

Need Help Finding JULY, 1982 Issue of COMPUTE! MAGAZINE

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:19:00 +0000

Terry is searching for the July, 1982 issue of Compute! Magazine (Issue 26, Vol. 4, No. 7). He would like to purchase one or more copies (depending on the price) as it has an article written by his future father-in-law! If you have this magazine or know where he might locate it, please Contact Us.

I think it would help a lot if he could post his request on a computer collectibles forum, so if someone could suggest a place for him to post his request that would be great!

We Sold Daddy's Car Today

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:11:00 +0000

The fellow who bought Daddy's car was so excited to get it that I just know it went to the right person. I'm sure Daddy is pleased. If I think really hard I can almost see him smiling in my mind. He had such a dry sense of humor. There was definitely a reason why Mama called him Sunny Jim!! And I can honestly say I was glad to see him drive off, enjoying the car just as Daddy had all those years.

I'm keeping the web pages I made of the car for myself, so in a way I will always have the car, where it matters - in my heart.

Yes, Daddy always dated every major event in his life by remembering the car he had at the time, and now Daddy's last car has been passed along to start a new life with a new owner who will love and enjoy it, too.

Searching - Information about CHRISTINE VEASEY - Editor of PINS & NEEDLES - CROCHET EXPERT

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:50:00 +0000

I know nothing at all about crocheting, but hopefully someone will see this who can help Val.

I am trying to find information regarding Christine Veasey. I am a member of the Knitting & Crochet Guild and have tried to find information through their channels without success.

Christine Veasey was Editor for Pins & Needles for many years. It has now ceased trading. She also wrote for the Sunday Chronicle and the Sunday Graphic. Her "Model Home" at the Ideal Home Exhibition, was designed and executed for Women's Journal. She was an expert in the field of crochet and knitting, and I would like to find out about her life history.

Any help would be appreciated,

Val

Please Contact Us if you have information for Val.

Looking Back on 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:44:00 +0000

I was shocked when I saw how long it had been since I posted to this blog. I've never gone that long in all the time I've had it, so my apologies to any who have been checking to see if I'm still kickin'!!

I'm not exactly sure what happened this year, but somehow it just went by in a blur. I've tried to look back and remember how all this time passed, and yes, there are some extremely significant events, but for the most part it is just that - a blur. And a fast blur at that.

This was the year that I finally received a diagnosis for my movement disorder that led to taking medicines that truly helped me. That was momentous, and I feel truly blessed and can't sing God's praises enough for leading me to the right doctors at the right time to get the right diagnosis.

This was also the year that my dear hubby passed his 5 year mark cancer free and was dismissed by his Oncologist. Our blessings just can't be counted!!!!

2008 saw all the years of working slowly and methodically toward a viable online business come to fruition, which is very satisfying and still a whole lot of fun for us. We've been grateful for the opportunity to help so many people find their lost lovies and ones from their childhood. They bless us daily with the excitement in their thank you emails when we help them find what they have been desperately searching for.

We added 2 "outside" cats to our family this year, too. We bring them in every other night just so our inside cat can learn to be a cat, and so we can keep them used to staying close to home. They have all three given us untold times to laugh and enjoy them, each with their own distinct personalities.

It's been the year when one of our daughters and her hubby had financial difficulties of a major proportion, which has caused considerable stress all the way around. We are thankful that we are in good enough financial shape ourselves to be able to tide them over until this bad time passes.

2008 did not find me exercising as much as I should have been, but I have been doing better the last couple of months, and hopefully will continue to work at it. Particularly since the end of 2008 found me at my heaviest weight ever in my life, exercising is that much more necessary. Not a good thing, for sure, but maybe that scale will push me to do more than I think I can.

It's also been the year I started driving again, now that I am not on medication that made me fall asleep without any warning. I don't drive much, as I am out of practice, but it sure came in handy when hubby had cataract surgery this year. It's just one more way that I feel better about myself this year.

I'm racking my brain trying to think of anything else that went on this year, and nothing comes to mind. What I've listed represents the important events, but it's a shame all the day to day happenings have faded away so quickly.

Yesterday's memories are worth more than I am able to give them, and that's a shame. I pray that the medicines I am on now will not leave me in such a brain fog at the beginning of 2010!

Finding the GOOD STUFF at Estate Sales is Getting Harder

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:49:00 +0000

We've been going to yard sales and Estate Sales almost every Friday for several years now as part of our Date Day. And we always have a good time, just because we are together. Oh, we're together at home, too. But we are doing our own thing - me on the computer and hubby reading a newspaper or using his computer. Not exactly activities that lead to paying much attention to each other. That's what makes Fridays so special for us, as we carry on more conversation in that one day than we probably do all the rest of the days of the week combined. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but it sure feels that way sometimes.

But of late the sales have been much less unique. It seems like all the paper items that fascinate us so much - all the real junk - has been thrown out before we get there. Hubby has said more than once that the big bags of garbage at the curb are where most of the items we would be interested in probably are.

There's been much less to rummage around through for most of this year. We still have a good time, but we're not finding as many treasures as we used to. That has led us to spending more and more time looking for the plush animals and soft dolls for our Dirty Butter Plush Animal Shoppe. At least we can still enjoy the hunt for those hard to find baby toys that people sell, not realizing how valuable they will be to a family who are desperate to replace some lost lovie.

We have kept a few of the treasured memories from our vintage finds. We have one 1800's autograph book of the lady's friends that is very interesting reading. They didn't just sign a name, but wrote short poems and notes to each other. And there's a lock of hair sewn into it. I used to take it to school and show it to my students and read a few of the entries to them.

I recently ran across a website where they sell an amazing number of old diaries, along with some handwritten letters from some famous people, and also some extremely old letters from everyday folks. If you are as fascinated by these windows into a time gone by you might enjoy looking at Tuscon Tiques Collectibles. I certainly enjoyed seeing all the interesting letters and diaries.

I can't imagine how they could have accumulated so many different hand written ephemera, but they have renewed my interest in this type of collecting and made me hope that we will again run across that perfect Estate Sale, where all the "good stuff" was not thrown away before they started the sale.

PRESIDENT ELECT Obama!

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:44:00 +0000

He's going to be our President very soon, so it's time to refer to him that way. The reference to our Presidents as "MR." started with Nixon I think, as people lost trust in the man, and carried their feelings over to the OFFICE. Clinton certainly didn't help things in the area of deserving respect, but he was still our President.

The Office of President deserves our utmost respect, even if we do not like or agree with the man/woman or his/her policies or even private life. (Isn't it quite an improvement to have to refer to both genders?)

So it pains me to hear commentators and read in print that Obama is doing this or that, or even Mr. Obama. He is now our President-Elect. He earned that title with the majority of the Electoral Votes, and I just wish people would show the respect for the office and call him that.