Friday, December 4, 2009

PINK SATURDAY AND HOLIDAY MEMORIES

Happy,Happy Pink Saturday! I am so glad you stopped by and be sure and go to Beverly of How Sweet The Sound... to visit this Saturday's blogs all about pink and memories....Thank you Beverly for hosting this looked forward to weekly event!

We had the most delightful time with our daughter and her precious four in Chazy, NY! She is an amazing cook and so Thanksgiving dinner was to die over! H1n1 complicated with pneumonia did not slow this girl down much....I helped with what I was "allowed" to prepare as she is truly a gourmet cook. Cooking is her creative outlet and she does it deliciously and with ease! Thank you, dear daughter, for a Thanksgiving to remember! (Click on the picture to see my youngest beauty.)

And, playing soccer with her team in Plattsburg, NY...they made her the goalie because she was not up to the running, yet.

And, her daughter, Allie who plays often with her and is on her schools team.

I have lots of pictures to share with you from our trip, but today, I will share the "dreaded bridges" over the St. Lawrence River/Seaway, first. If you read the post before we went to NY, you know I am deathly afraid of those old, rusty and narrow and extremely high bridges! But....I have to tell you that the view from the top is spectacular!!!!

The approach is UP HILL and over all the water and you can see the covered span in the distance....that part is over land. Strange! (Click on the pictures to see them better) On the other side of the bridge, and not in these pictures, you can see the locks that the ships slide into to get to the different level of the river....



Beverly has planned for the next three Pink Saturday's to have different little stories about our special holidays and memories.
Here is the first one from me.....
Growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, holidays were always highly anticipated events. My Mom was an artist and she was very creative and so whether it was the Fourth Of July or a birthday the house was decorated with touches for that event.
Since this week is a memory of any holiday, I am going to share with you May Day at our home.
On the first of May, when I was growing up, my Mom would get out colored paper, scissors, crayons, paper doilies and anything else that might inspire her. She would show me how to make pretty pastel baskets and tussie mussies from the construction paper and then we would decorate them with the cutest cut out flowers....she was amazing with scissors and with what seemed a few snips, would create a pretty dimensional posie and leaves. Needless to say I was fascinated with all she could make and my attempts were far from I had in my young mind, but it was such fun and perfection was not what the day was about!
After the table was covered in these cute baskets, some square, some cones and all with handles and little hand written notes wishing the recipiants a Happy May Day, we would go out to the gardens and pick sweet spring flowers. We had Lilly Of The Valley and Lilacs, which were my favorites as well as all the other spring flowers. I do not remember how we kept the flowers fresh in the baskets, but we filled them full and they were a delight! I loved them.....after they were full, we would go and hang them on neighbors doors and when we would return, there would be many baskets at our door.
As I got older, the tradition of making and filling pretty baskets to leave on friends doors faded away. I am so sorry my children did not have the fun of doing this, but by the 60's, where we lived no one ever celebrated May Day.

I realize now, more than ever, that seeing such happy wonderful traditions come to an end is really a sad thing. :-( This one, in particular, as it was so nice for many reasons and kept you connected to your neighbors and friends in a sweet way!
~*~

One more thing to share with you....I just have to show you this darling teapot I found in an antique store in Plattsburg. The bottom says Japan and you can tell by the crazing and the wear on the bottom edge, this is quite old. It is in pristine condition other than that...Isn't her face just beautiful? I purchased it to sell, but.....




I know this post got to be quite long, so thank you for hanging in there and do come back soon as I will have more pictures on from our happy trip to NY.
Warm, Fuzzy Hugs,
Jil
PS Here are two things I did get made this week and they are on my EBAY
A Panne Velvet Pin Cushion with ribbon embroidery and other pretty touches..

SOLD
And, a cute pillow with a glittered vintage image of an old world Santa...

SOLD

23 comments:

That shabby Pink Girl said...

Jil
Sure glad you got to go up and spend time with kym and Family, and that she is on the road to getting well.
Love the little Pink teapot!
Hugs
marian elizabeth

Lucy said...

Hi Jill! The teapot is precious! As a child, l didn't appreciate the old bridges. There was one south of Melbourne, across the Thames River that we drove over to see our Aunt and Uncle. My sister and I would hold our noses (and our breath) until Daddy had got us safely over.

Julie said...

Hi Jill,Love your post...Do hope you have time to stop over at my place for a visit...
Merry Christmas
xoxo
Julie

Nancy said...

Jil, yes, bridges. As you know, we are on the OTHER side of the St. Lawrence from MY mother! :-) Add winding mountainous roads into the mix, and snow and rain, and I am not as brave as you! In three years, I have not ventured. We may go to meet them in Albany when my son gets here. I will have to do a bridge or a ferry.

Happy Pink Saturday!

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Hi Jil,
I do hope you're feeling better and I'm glad you enjoyed your trip.
That little pink teapot is absolutely scrumptious! How could you walk away without it? I know I couldn't! My mother was very artistic as well. Thanks for sharing your memories with us and enjoy your Pink Saturday weekend.

Blessings,
Sandi

♥Mimi♥ said...

On this first Saturday of December ♥Jappy Pink Saturday♥. I was away for a while and sure missed running around the blogs arnd seeing all of the goodies everyone was sharing.

Thanks for the memory...but, ohmygosh, H1N1 - how horrible!

It was a blessing for you to make my morning so much fun. Hoping that you and those you care about spend a wonderful weekend making memories that will last a lifetime☺

Char said...

Oh Jil, your story was so beautiful. It reminds me of what we do today just before Christmas with our neighbors. Kirstin and I spend a day baking cookies of all kinds. We then wrap them up in handmade baskets (usually baskets that I have woven) or special holiday plates and take them to many of our neighbors. We try to include a new neighbor every year. Sometimes we receive treats in return, sometimes not, but that is ok, my grandmother taught me it is better to give. Your story with your mom is so precious, I am going to take it and use it with my grandchildren. It will live on forever, Happy Pink Saturday, Char

Pam said...

Lovely Pink Teapot. Glad you were able to visit with family. Sounds like you had a great time.
Happy Pink Saturday.

Coralie Cederna Johnson said...

Sounds like a wonderful Thanksgiving! So great to spend time with family! Love your May Day memories too! My mom was always cutting and pasting with me and I'm still loving that activity today! Thanks for sharing your Pink Saturday memories! Hugs, Coralie

Cinnamonstitch said...

Jil, love your story about May day, Wouldnt it be wonderful if we all still did that? Maybe you should start it up again!! Have a happy Pink saturday, So glad to hear from you
HUGS

Rebecca said...

What a wonderful memory!!! Thank you for sharing it with us! Your teapot is fabulous!!! Happy Pink Saturday!

Back Porch Blessings,
Rebecca

lisa said...

Jil ~

Your daughter and granddaughter are absolutely beautiful. Oh, how I wish I could cook with ease. :) I loved each and every one of your memories. That teapot is sweet as a peach, I would have a difficult time parting with her too.

Lisa
http://www.palepinkandroses.typepad.com

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you had a safe trip and a wonderful time with your daughter. Bless her for cooking while recouperating from being so sick. Glad you made it safely over those bridges - they would scare me, too.
I love your teapot with the lady in pink crinoline. And the pillow and the pretty cushion. Happy Pink Saturday, Jil~

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Jil, you have such a lovely family! Enjoyed seeing the pics, and I enjoyed hearing about your May Day celebration and how creative your mom was.

Loved seeing your pink pretties, too.

Happy Pink Saturday...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Betzie said...

Great teapot and your creations are really sweet too! HPS!

Mary Bergfeld said...

Jil, what lovely memories you have been given by your mother. Your daughter and granddaughter are just lovely. I hope you are having a wonderful day and looking forward to the holiday.

Jennifer said...

Hi Jil,So happy u had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family.Those bridges do look scary,I don't like them either nor tunnels.Your teapot is so pretty.Happy Pink sat,Jen

Fandango Moon said...

Nice post Jill, thanks for sharing!
Darling teapot, too. :-)
Happy Pink Saturday!

Beverly said...

Jil, I am so happy you had such a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family. Your daughter is a beauty.

Your mother sounds like she made life wonderful. I have always loved the concept of May baskets.

Your creations are beautiful. And, that teapot is fantastic.

Happy Pink Saturday.

Mollye said...

Hi Jill, Thanks for sharing your May Day story. I remember celebrating that holiday well. At our school we girls would dress up and dance around the flag pole all holding crepe paper streamers. Your girls are beauties too. You mentioned in some post something about Plattsburg NY, and it reminded me of my Dad and his family who were from Roxbury in the Catskills up in Deleware Co. We went there every other Christmas. Merry Christmas, Mollye

Nancy said...

Jil: If you would like to be part of Pay It Forward, send me an email with your address. In turn you will do a post, and choose three responders to send gifts to.

I so hope you do because you would be SO easy for me!!! :-)

Suzie Button said...

Hi Jill, I love your teapot, I don't think I could sell it either, that's a problem with me, anything too pretty I just can't let go of! Happy late Pink SAturday! Suzie

prashant said...

she is on the road to getting well.
Love the little Pink teapot!

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