I adore this woodcut and watercolor Christmas card. via

I love this early Christmas greeting card showing Santa holding his sleigh bells. I got a lot done today inching toward the big day. via

Santa on Skiis

I love this vintage Christmas Postcard via flickr

Baa, Baa, Black Sheep

Have you any wool? via

by Mother Goose
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three bags full.
One for my master,
One for my dame,
And one for the little boy
That lives in our lane.

An Important Royal Christening

The christening of H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. The sitters in this vintage postcard are T.M. King George and Queen Mary, T.R.H. The Duke and Duchess of York and Infant Princess. Such a happy day. via

Cat Wearing a Ruff

I adore this vintage piece of ephemera featuring a cat wearing a ruff...a projecting starched frill worn around the neck, characteristic of Elizabethan and Jacobean costume.

via

Thomas Nast House in Morristown NJ

I had a dentist appointment today in Morristown and stopped to photograph the historic Thomas Nast House on a lovely fall day. I love always having a camera in my pocket. I have to admit that when my iPhone rings it always scares me. I finally have a phone I can hear and I love talking on speaker. It rang when I was in a thrift store around the corner and you will be pleased to know I try to keep the conversation short when I'm in a public place. I don't want to become one of "those" people. 

Thomas Nast is probably most famous for his Santa Claus illustration in the late 19th century. This page from an old Harpers Weekly was in my collection long ago.

Watch this interesting video filmed at Macculloch Hall Museum across the street from the Nast House.

Creamy Lemon Popsicles [Recipe]

Creamy Lemon Popsicles Recipe
(Adapted from Whipped)
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp. grated lemon peel
pinch of salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk

Whisk sugar, lemon juice, lemon peel, and salt in a large bowl until sugar dissolves. Whisk in buttermilk.
Divide mixture among popsicle molds. Cover and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours and up to 5 days.
I can't wait to make these. I don't have any lemons or buttermilk on hand right or I would already be whipping these up. This is the best recipe I have found so far calling for the least amount of sugar. Don't they sound good? 

My ice cold watermelon will have to do for my July 4th treat later. Have a great holiday. xo

" 'Tis the star-spangled banner,

Oh! long may it wave,

O'er the land of the free,

And the home of the brave. "

Vintage Easter Greetings

Wishing you an old-fashioned Eastertide

I was thrilled to find this fabulous vintage Easter Die Cut to share with you. Nothing modern can compare with old German scrap. This one is especially charming. I hope your table is as lovely as the one the Easter bunny has set up under an awning. Be careful not to break any eggs. ©Suzee Que

Art Nouveau Bookplate Ex Libris Louis Rhead

© Nancy Ellis ex libris Louis Rhead I adore this art nouveau bookplate.

Louis John Rhead (November 6, 1857 – July 29, 1926) was an English-born American artist, illustrator, author and angler who was born in Etruria, Staffordshire, England. He emigrated to the United States at the age of twenty-four. The Rhead family had operated and worked in the Staffordshire Potteries for at least three generations. Louis’s father George W. Rhead worked in the pottery industry and was highly respected gilder and ceramic artist. In the 1870s, George Rhead taught art and design in Staffordshire schools. He founded Fenton School of Art. Read more ... 

Travel Poster: Siena - Tuscany

A wonderful early travel poster circa 1910 promoting Italian tourism from the print collection of The Boston Public Library. Subject: Tuscany - Siena.

A Beautiful Antique Valentine

Nothing store bought could ever compare to something hand made. I would love to see the inside of this beautiful antique valentine. Did you make yours yet?

via Two Straight Lines

Antique Milk Glass Hen on a Nest

This is a miniature Hen on a Nest that sits on my windowsill over the sink. Did you know that genuine milk glass has an orange peel color when you hold it up to the light? The sun was shining through this piece when I took the photograph. 

I am a good war chicken

I eat little and produce a lot

Je suis une brave poule de guerre

Je mange peu et produis beaucoup

Artist: G. Douanne, 1917 or 1918

Paris: Union Française; Comité National de Prévoyance et d'Economies. I saved this poster from World War I to go with my own little chicken.

Great Food Themed Posters of the Great War

I copied a few posters from The U.S. Food Administration to illustrate some of the "Great Posters of the Great War" Click on the link if you are interested in the title, artist, date, etc. I think they are still very timely even though they are almost 100 years old, don't you?

Baby New Year circa 1937

Vintage magazine cover from The Saturday Evening Post via Mark P. Baby New Year is so much more uplifting that Father Time, right? We are all brand new today.

Wow !! I just looked at the date of this post and it's 1/1/11. What do the numerologists have to say about that? I think I'll schedule it to go live at 11:11 am. Might as well go all the way with the numeral 1.

I think this is a sign that 2011 is going to be ONEderful !!

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Children at Midnight on New Year's Eve

Will your children and grandchildren be allowed to stay up to ring in the New Year?



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Midnight Walk on New Year's Eve

My wish for you in 2011.

"May ye niver want aught nor a friend to share it wi ye."

This is an original work of art from an early 20th century Christmas Card I found in a desk. The grandchildren of the original owners did not want the contents of the drawers and the desk was full of wonderful ephemera.

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Riding A Pig to Bring in The New Year

To each his own. This wouldn't be my choice of ways to ring in The New Year. How will you be celebrating? Happy New Year!

A Horse for Christmas

I've always loved this vintage Christmas card. I'm happy this little girl got her horse from Santa.



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