Smiling is an Action...

"Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love,

a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."

                                                                 Mother Teresa

I Remember and Cherish...

Twenty two years ago on this day I lost my father. 

Today I celebrate his life as I look back on some photos. 

My father is the graduate on the right.

Very dapper.

My father worked as a draftsman.

He was a very artistic and creative man. He loved to paint 

signs so for a while he painted movie marquees for theaters.

 This is an example of some of his work.

My father standing under one of 

the marquees he painted for the theater.

My parents celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

While I miss him, I have good, sweet memories of my father. So today, I celebrate his life and all of the lessons that he taught my brother, sister, and myself. 

I'm Jumping on the Linky Followers Bandwagon

Danielle at Blessed Serendipity, At the Picket Fence, and the blog Guidebook, have written posts about Linky Followers, a new to way follow and manage all the blogs you love to follow.

Linky Followers

Danielle writes that "Google will be discontinuing Google Friend Connect, on March 1st, for all platforms except Blogger." Will the Blogger platform be cut next, no one knows?

I am jumping on the Linky Follower bandwagon, I would appreciate it if you would sign up and follow me using Linky Follower, I in turn, will start following you using your Linky Followers link.

To read the post about how to become a Linky Follower you can choose Blessed Serendipity, or the blog Guidebook, or connect directly to Linky Followers.

This seems to be a big story in blog land, with some blogs offering give aways, for a chance to enter you must become a Linky Follower. As for me - I will check all of my blog friends side bars to see if they will be using Linky Followers, and I of course will sign in and become a Linky Follower. Thanks everyone for becoming a Linky Follower on my blog page.

The Versatile Blogger Award

The talented Ann from Marmalade and Catmint, has awarded me, The Versatile Blogger Award, and for this, I am truly grateful. 

I enjoy reading Ann's upbeat blog about gardening, knitting, sewing, cooking, vintage items, and of course seeing photos of her cat Marmalade. Please take a moment and visit Marmalade and Catmint, perhaps become a follower, and leave her a comment.

The Versatile Blogger Award rules are: You should pass the award on to 15 recently discovered blogs, (I am sorry, but I am only going to do 4), and let the bloggers know that they have been nominated. Share seven things about yourself. Thank the award giver and link back to their blog. Place the icon of The Versatile Blogger Award somewhere on your blog page.

Seven Things About Myself:

• I retired in June after working for 23 years in an elementary school.

• I am planning a trip in May to Hawaii, and a trip to Poland this summer.

• I love to eat at Red Lobster, the cheddar biscuits make my mouth water.

• When I visit my niece I always want to eat at the Waffle House, they take me under protest.

• I have three children and five grandchildren.

• I want to start an Etsy store, but am a little intimidated scared that people won't like my items.

• I am a professional bra fitter, certified by Maidenform.

Here, are the blogs that I have chosen to pass the award onto. Take a few moments to check out these blogs and perhaps leave a comment and maybe become a follower.

Helen and Her Daughters

Some of These Things

Jeannie Marie & Company

The Midwest Farmer's Daughter

Thrift Share

My thrift taste, often times, is objects that no one else actually cares for. Case in point this pin that I found in a non-profit thrift store. My friend thought it was awful, but I found it intriguing.

 I like the irregular shape of this pin, and the black background.

 Individual pieces of wood were placed on top of 

the pin to form the man and the evergreen tree.

Made in USSR is stamped on the back,

so we know it was made 1991 or before.

The pin will be placed on my winter coat lapel, I like it.

Looking forward to see what everyone else found this week.

I am linking up:

 with Her Library Adventures, Flea Market Finds

Apron Thrift Girl, Thrift Share Monday

Cap Creations, Thrifty Goodness

Me and My Shadow, Magpie Monday

and Hey, What's for Dinner Mom? -  The Penny Worth Project

Valentine's Day Card Token Gift Idea

 I love going to the mailbox to see what surprises await me, I love mail, sending or receiving it.

Every holiday, my Godmother Patsy, would send me a card with twenty five cents taped inside, and at Christmas, Hallmark had Christmas cards in the shape of a tree where ten dimes could be inserted like ornaments, and I would have a whole dollar. Because of my Godmother and her thoughtful cards, I love to send cards to my family, especially my grandchildren, and friends for all of the holidays.

This morning I sat down and wrote out my Valentine cards to my grandchildren, family, and some friends. All of the grandkids had a few dollars tucked inside the card, but  I wanted to put something inside the Valentine cards for my friends. 

I decided to run to the United States Post Office, 

and purchased some "Love" stamps. 

These will be my token gift to my friends.

From the sheet of stamps, I removed two, used double

sided tape on the back of the stamps, and wrote a short

note using the stamps in my sentence.

If you don't have Love stamps, you can use what you have on hand.

This is an inexpensive way for me to send a 

token gift to my friends, everyone can use stamps.

Little Red Monster

Today February 3rd, Elmo celebrates his birthday, 

he is 3.5, Elmo is always 3.5 years old.

Elmo started appearing on Sesame Street in 1979,

 and remained popular all these years.

Kevin Cash is the voice behind Elmo.