Thrift Find and Pen Pals

Have you watched the Pier One commercial where items in the shop talk to shoppers? They ask shoppers to come to the store and 'find what speaks to you.'

That is exactly what happens to me at thrift stores, items talk to me, calling me over for a closer look seeking a home where they will be loved and cherished.

I am a digger, I like to see what is at the bottom of the bin, or hidden way back on the bottom shelf at the thrift shops.

I am drawn to less than perfect items, tattered, stained, and chipped treasures are a delight to me. Don't get me wrong, I get very excited when I find a well preserved, perfect conditioned treasure to bring home, but I often times see the beauty in less than perfect items.

I like to dig in the isle where they throw have the school supplies, I like the old three ring binders with the pebble finish. I have many different sizes and colors, and when I find them with a rounded corner paper still inside, I'm thrilled.

Anyway while I was digging around that area I came across this correspondence secretary.

The spine is tattered, but I was drawn to the blood red of the embossed faux leather with gold lettering.

The inside has three different sections, and to my surprise and delight it still contained some stationary!

Center section has a green blotter with 8x10 linen paper, on the right some business size and standard envelopes. 

On the left, the paper was folded with note sized envelopes. When watching old black and white movies and someone gets a letter often times the stationary used is folded as the piece above. 

Also on the left side of this trifold is a small area where stamps can be stored, and an area where the previous owner had slipped in a few items.

It appears that whom ever this belonged to had visited the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin, had cut out television listings, and brought along prayer card.

This prayer card was a parent's prayer for a family vocation, whom ever this secretary belonged to wanted their son/sons to become a priest. I wonder if those prayers were answered.

Remember pen pals, getting lovely cards for your birthday as a child, letters from aunts, or grandmas in the mail?  I sure do and I treasure each one that has been saved, I like reading the  messages and seeing how my aunts signed their names, and the sweet little x o x o that were scattered about a card.

Linda who writes the blog Wetcreek had a fabulous post titled 'Are We Making History Anymore?'  pop over and read her thoughts on correspondence.

Any other snail mail fans out in blog land that would like to exchanges notes via snail mail?

Sir-Thrift-A Lot:  Thriftasaurus

A Living Space: The Nifty Thrifty

Costal Charm:  Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Me and My Shadow: Magpie Monday

We Call It Junkin: We Call It Olde Link Up

ColoradoLady: Vintage Thing Thursday

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson: Share Your Cup Thursday

Foxes How To Relocate?

In a subdivisions, in my town lives a family of nine, a mama, daddy, and 7 babies, the mama is referred to as a vixen, the daddy is sometimes called a dog, and the seven babies are called kits. This family of nine is referred to as a troop or leash. 

Why such strange names for this family? Because is it a family of foxes and this family has taken up residence in my daughter's neighborhood more specifically under her front porch.

Over two years ago one fox decided to make its home under the cemented front porch, a short time later the fox found a special friend, now two foxes lived under the porch. About four weeks ago seven baby foxes were born.

People stop in front of my daughter's house to take photos and videos of the nine of them scampering around the front yard, even playing with a ball left in the front yard by my grandchildren.

What a cute sight? Aren't they sweet? 

Not when they live under your front porch!

Warning 3 Graphic Photos

This is what my two grandchildren see on a daily basis as they walk out the front door when leaving for school and daycare.

For over two years, at their own cost my daughter and her husband have hired a private trapper so that the original fox, then the second fox could be trapped and relocated. I guess you have heard the expression, 'sly as a fox,' or 'smart as a fox.' 

This is where they enter and exit, the main entry point is right next to the steps by the front door. Notice the fur and feather in the first photo? 

A few weeks ago the alderman in the area got involved and contacted the police, permission for the city community service officer to get involved was granted by the chief of police. The private trapper that was hired by my daughter and son-in-law removed his traps and two large traps were placed by the city in her front yard and porch.

Our local newspaper wrote an article about the foxes, getting people all over the city upset and angry at my daughter and son-in-law! 

After the April 11th attack of two children at a park in New Hampshire, where a child was pushed down and bitten by a fox, and the Kenosha News article.  A local news station reporter showed up at my daughter's front door requesting an interview. Request denied she just came home with her new baby. That didn't stop the news from interviewing the neighbors and showing the front of her house. While they were filming, two foxes, who come out from their home day or night, and are NOT afraid of people emerged from under the porch. You can see that segment by clicking here.

My daughter and son-in-law want the foxes relocated so that their three children, six, three and newborn can play in their yard since the weather here in Wisconsin if finally getting warmer.

My daughter has hired a company to come in and secure her front stoop with wire mesh and new cement as soon as this family is relocated.

If anyone of you have a suggestion on how to capture these foxes for relocation, please share your knowledge.

Today the temperatures are predicted to reach 80 degrees. After school, I'm sure the boys will want to play outside, but the question is, will they be safe?

Celebrate I Did

My Wonderful Weekend

On Friday, this little boy celebrated at the arcade

before he ate his birthday cake. Six years old!

Saturday found this little boy playing a ball game at Helfaer Field

adjacent to Miller Park home of the Milwaukee Brewers.

The next day that ball playing little boy made his 

First Holy Communion.

On Sunday morning this little one arrived

Domnic Paul

I have been blessed.

I'll be absent for a few days while I help my daughter and hold my newest grandson.

Yipee

My newest grandson!

8 pounds 9 ounces

21.5 inches long

Doesn't have a name yet.

My family has been blessed!

Passing Along a Request From A Fellow Blogger

Dear Blogger Friends,

I have been asked by a friend to post a link to the site, Bring Mom Home For Mother's Day. 

Here is the beginning of this families story.

"On February 19th, 2014, my mom Constancia Cruz collapsed in Seoul International Airport while waiting for a flight home from the Philippines to California. She was immediately rushed to the local hospital and diagnosed with septic shock, a serious condition that severely impacted her vital organs."

The ending is not a happy one Mrs. Cruz took her last breath on April 28, 2014

Take a few moments to read the whole story at Bring Mom Home For Mother's Day.

Unfinished

It's strange how a person can remember an exact moment in time as if it was just yesterday.

It was a warm Monday morning, my husband had just gone to bed, he had just finished working third shift, and my three children were outside in the backyard playing. I should have been doing my house work, but instead I was sitting at the kitchen table working on the finishing touches of my needle point, all that was left to do was the outlining, it was almost finished.

The wall phone in the kitchen rang and I remember being annoyed that I had to stop sewing, I quickly tucked the needle into the fabric and answered the phone.

My beloved mother had just passed away, it was Monday, August 17, 1987.

I have been looking for items in my basement that my daughter might be able to use to decorate her new home, and came across the needlepoint I was working on that day. It is still unfinished.

You can see the rust mark that was made by the needle where it had been tucked in twenty seven years ago.

My mother who excelled in sewing and needlework always said you can always tell a good piece of needlework if the back is neat and tidy. I wonder what my mom would have thought of the back of my piece?

The stained and tattered instructions and the remaining pieces of floss are just waiting for someone to complete this piece, but that person won't be me. 

This needlepoint piece brings back all the feelings I had when I was thirty five years old and had just learned my mother died.

So I will roll it back up and store it in the basement, hoping that one day one of my daughters or granddaughter will finish this piece.

Polish Beaded Vest

I'd forgotten all about it, so when I saw a big box sitting on the shelf I grabbed it to see what was inside.

Isn't it lovely? Inside was an Ethnic polish corset vest that my cousin had made and worn many years ago. 

This velvet corset vest is beaded in colorful designs and beautiful flowers, with a scalloped hem trimmed in rick rack.

It will continue to be stored in the same box in the basement, but this time I made a little note what was inside.  My hope is that someday my granddaughter will wear this outfit and dance the polka at a lively Polish event.