Einstein Quote about Fairy Tales

I have always loved this quote and today I discovered the perfect illustration!

æOnce upon a time the famous physicist Albert Einstein was confronted by an overly concerned woman who sought advice on how to raise her small son to become a successful scientist. In particular she wanted to know what kinds of books she should read to her son.
‘Fairy Tales,’ Einstein responded without hesitation.
‘Fine, but what else should I read to him after that?’ the mother asked.
‘More fairy tales,’ Einstein stated.
‘And after that?’
‘Even more fairy tales,’ replied the great scientist, and he waved his pipe like a wizard pronouncing a happy end to a long adventure. via

Our Vines Have Tender Grapes: Movie Review

An endearing and quietly rhapsodic slice of Americana about a single year among the Norwegian immigrants in a Wisconsin farm town, Our Vines Have Tender Grapes enthralled 1945 audiences and critics with its timeless joys. Told from the viewpoint of little Selma (Margaret O’Brien), the film explores grand childhood adventures: making friends, a pet calf, Christmas, a terrifying trip down a flood-swollen river, a barn fire and a ride on a circus elephant’s trunk. In a change-of-pace role, Edward G. Robinson is a revelation of wisdom and compassion as Selma’s father, leading a fine cast that illuminates the profound power of everyday triumphs and sorrows.

I have watched this movie twice on TCM and love it. It follows the life of a close Norwegian family in a Wisconsin settlement. The family values of the whole village are wonderful and Margaret O'Brien is a treasure. I love her telling of the Nativity in the church Christmas pageant.

Maybe you can find the DVD at your library. You can stream it on Amazon and iTunes. This is a must-see movie. I have never read the book but it must be wonderful too.

Please Don't Mail This

I have seen the photo on the right many times and have even blogged it in the past. The one on the left is new to me. I am glad to know the astonishing history behind both. via Google Images

Playroom Under The Stairs

Photo by Suburban Renewal Inc You are never too young to have a room of your own, are you?

UPDATE: The RBG movie is being repeated on Sunday 9/9/18 on CNN. Check your guide for times in your area. In my area (New York Metropolitan) it is being rebroadcast twice. At 8PM and 10PM. This information comes from Vickie H and it's on in her area at 9PM. Click here to view my original blog post about this movie. Many of you missed it but will have another chance to see it this Sunday night on CNN.

A Painting in My Collection

Lillian Cotton (1892–1962) was an American artist known for her portraits, especially of high-society figures and well-known actors, writers, and artists of her day.

She was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. Her father was Nathaniel Hugh Cotton, a West Indies shipping merchant born in Barbados, and her mother was Harriet Emma Clapp. Cotton developed an interest in art as a young child, drawing detailed portraits in sketchbooks as early as age ten, and attended the Boston Museum School. Between 1915 and 1917, Cotton studied at the Art Students League of New York under Robert Henri and George Bellows. In 1924, Cotton moved to Paris and studied at the André Lhote Academy. While in Paris, she met Arthur Elia Impey, a British army officer, and married him in 1926. The couple lived between Paris and New York.

Artist Information found here.

I have always wondered who this adorable child is, ever since I bought this painting with a left bid at an auction. It is signed lower left: L.Cotton 1913 when she was still at the Art Students League studying under the famous artists mentioned above.

I just discovered the magnifying glass on my iPhone and decided to use it on the horse embroidered on my baby painting's smocked outfit. You can see the texture of the canvas and the brush strokes of the oil paint.

I adore babies in smocked garments, a trend that is long out of style here where today's babies are dressed as miniature adults. Why rush it? They have their whole lives to wear khaki pants and button-down shirts! England's Royalty dress their children in age-appropriate styles from an age gone by. I love the way Prince William and Duchess Catherine are dressing Prince George, Princess Charlotte and I can't wait to see more of baby Prince Louis' attire. xo

Jessie Willcox Smith 1930s Covers

A very sweet Good Housekeeping Magazine cover dated June 1930 by Jessie Willcox Smith, one of my all-time favorite illustrators.

Here we have Picking Strawberries dated June 1931

Both covers found on Google images.

Clever Bedroom for Two Children

This bedroom fascinates me. There is so much to look at in a small space. Imagine getting two beds and two fabulous built in desks on one wall with bookcases and art galleries. Hat's off to the designer and the builder. I love it. Such a happy space for two lucky children. via

Labor Day 2017

I like this graphic because it puts the symbols of manual labor in Labor Day.

In the early 1900s, Lewis Hine left his job as a schoolteacher to work as a photographer for the National Child Labor Committee, investigating and documenting child labor in the United States. As a sociologist, Hine was an early believer in the power of photography to document work conditions and help bring about change. He traveled the country, going to fields, factories, and mines -- sometimes working undercover -- to take pictures of kids as young as four years old being put to work. Be prepared to see some very powerful archival photos.

The Photos That Helped End Child Labor in the United States

My Sunday started out cold and rainy but it is bright, sunny, and very pleasant as I write this post at 5:00 in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of this long Labor Day weekend. xo

Welcome to the Lewis Hine Project ™, an amazing journey through 100 years of American history. From 1908 until 1924, Lewis Hine took over 5,000 photographs of American child laborers. His compelling pictures helped to persuade legislators and the general public to support laws prohibiting child labor. All the photos, with Mr. Hine’s captions, are posted on the Library of Congress website. Since 2005, I have been identifying the children, tracking down and interviewing living descendants, and writing stories about how the lives of these children turned out. 

You can see all those stories on this website.

That Face

Those mittens. That blue quilted outfit.

Have you ever? via

Christmas Eve Blessings

See more vintage Christmas images here. 

The rain has stopped and we are having record warmth. It's supposed to be 74° today and it's already 70° and it's not even 9:00am. Oh well. I'll take it in lieu of snow. Have a wonderful day. You can do it. Here's hoping your stars align and everything will go smoothly and you will be ready for Santa tonight. xo

Small French Boy Trying to Understand the Paris Attack

I saw this on the evening news a day or two ago and was moved by this little boy and his dad.

Click here if you can't see the video above.

Vintage Halloween Photo from NJ

Isn't this a wonderful photo? There was a story yesterday in the Star Ledger about Vintage Photos of Halloween in New Jersey and this one was my favorite. It was taken at a Halloween parade in Dover NJ and is undated. I hope the person who was pushing this Pumpkin Pram was in costume too. The pumpkin boy's expression is hard to read but I don't think he's too happy about being trapped inside this fabulous hand-made costume. I think it's adorable and perfect for keeping him nice and warm.

A Skateboard Video w/ 14 month old Boy

A man gives his 14-month-old son a skateboard and zero instruction.

SIX DAYS from Colin Kennedy on Vimeo.
Cutest thing ever! Everyone will love this.

Child's Cottage Playhouse

$42,000???

That is a whole lot of money for a child's playhouse. I could do something very meaningful to my own cottage for that amount of money, couldn't you? It's called the Coral Gables Cottage Playhouse. The flip side is: who wouldn't want one if money were no object? Can you even imagine being a child and having one? A home of your own at a very young age, how nice! 

Mind Your Manners for Children

I love this.

Every parent should save this and print a copy for each child. via

Elephant Slide: Girona Spain 1975

Have a fun Sunday.

What a great beach jungle gym for these lucky kids.

Boy, I'll bet that metal slide is hot!

via

Prince George, Style Icon

Look out world, here I come!

His outfit by Rachel Riley sold out in sizes 12 and 18 months in fewer than 24 hours. Luckily the wearers will be too young to notice their peers wearing the same smocked outfit. I think Prince George looks adorable and I always love seeing him in action. His baby sister's christening was beautiful and it was so nice seeing the whole family together in their Sunday best. via

Cutest Ad with Animal Sounds by Children

I love this advertisement for bottled water that is suitable for making baby food.

All of the animal sounds are voiced by small children, even babies. Click here if you cannot see the video above.

Books and Children

Illustration by Honor C. Appleton via

When I look at this I can hear my mother calling me to supper. I would always reply...I'll be there as soon as I finish this page but it usually turned out to be the chapter. Reading was a huge part of my childhood. Enjoy your evening. xo

Did you sew as a child on a toy sewing machine?

I did and I had a similar toy sewing machine. I can vividly remember sewing doll clothes on the screened porch in the summer before I graduated to my mother's Singer in the sewing room. That was also at a very young age. We always had a sewing room too which was wonderful. I am selling this one on ebay. I photographed it in my guest room. This built-in cupboard with shelves above and drawers below has a pull-out slide that was perfect for attaching the clamp on this vintage child's sewing machine.

Webster, Tabitha and I worked outside all afternoon yesterday and into the early evening getting the yard ready for fall. I weed whacked and they watched. Really! They love to watch me work and they give me lots of moral support just by being close by. Our street was repaved this week and it looks so nice. Now both entrances to my circular driveway are nice and spiffy too.