Sunday

Blessed Be . . .

Friday Musings

Why is it that when I am taking photos, especially of my grandchildren, I capture the most peculiar facial expression OR someone walks in front of me just before I can capture that perfect shot.

Case in point. . .

No one asked the boys to make ugly faces or said anything to them that would produce such facial expressions. I swear they were both smiling before the shutter snapped. Geez

When you see someone with a camera pointed at someone they are probably going to take a picture, could you wait just one moment? Womp Womp

While reading the paper the other day I came across an article with this header;

Woman, 80, swallow diamond at Florida charity event

It seems that a Woman's club was hosting a charity event, for $20 dollars you bought a flute of champagne and a chance to win a $5,000, diamond that was one carat in size.

Three hundred ninety nine glasses had cubic zirconium stones in the bottom of the glasses while the four hundredth glass contained the real diamond.

Organizers hovered around two tables that they believed the winners to be sitting at waiting for someone to squeal with joy. While waiting with anticipation for the winner to speak up, they were told that Miriam Tucker swallowed what was in her glass.

After a colonoscopy and retrieval of the stone, they went to a jewelry story to have the diamond cleaned and verify that the stone was real. (I want to say, NO SHIT, but that would be inappropriate.) She plans to make a necklace for her granddaughter who is thirteen, lucky little girl.

You can read the entire Associated Press article here.

On Thursday, Miriam, her daughter, and granddaughter appeared on the David Letterman show.

Source

And that my dear blog friends is what is making me scratch my head and wonder why?

What Do Your Grandchildren Call You?

Today is my grandsons birthday, he turns five. It seems like, in a blink of an eye, he has grown up, I can hardly believe he will start kindergarten in the fall.

Happy Birthday, Harrison, my sweet, exquisitely charming, clever, lovable boy.❤ Five years ago I fell in love with my precious newborn baby grandson, and my love for him continues to grow every day.

Before my first grandson, Declan was born, I decided that I didn't want to be called grandma, but what name would I select.  I had many options to choose from,  I immediately dismissed babcia and busha, the Polish words for grandmother, Nana, Meemaw, and granny didn't appeal to me either.

While watching the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding I heard the Greek term for grandmother, which is YaYa, and I decided that was what my grandchildren would call me. 

I am blessed to have five of the most delightful, charming, brilliant, and wondrous grandchildren who all call me YaYa.

Some of my friends who are grandparents opted to be called; granna, gran, nana, and mimi. 

What do your grandchildren call you? Do you think it is confusing for children if we don't call ourselves grandmother/grandma?

No matter what name we choose to be called by our wee ones they give us their unconditional love and trust. I am blessed to have my five amazing grandchildren, and I am thrilled to be celebrating Harrison's birthday today.

Happy Birthday, Harrison

❤ I love you ❤

May Poles, May Baskets and May Crowing

May 1st, often called May Day is the celebration of spring, May Poles, May Baskets, and the May Crowning of Mary were activities that would take place on this day, but like many traditions/celebration they are being celebrated less and less.

Mrs. Coolidge receiving a 

May basket in 1927

Library of Congress vintage photo collection

Mrs. Roosevelet with her 

May basket in 1938

Library of Congress vintage photo collection

Dancing around the May pole

Library of Congress vintage photo collection

Library of Congress vintage photo collection

Crowning of the May Queen 

during a May Day festival in 1925

Library of Congress vintage photo collection

The crowning of Mary, is a celebration that continues in the Catholic church, but with less splendor of years gone by.

These next photos are of my cousin Lorraine who was selected to crowned Mary in the 40's. It was a huge honor to be selected to participate in the May procession, but the greatest honor was to be the one who placed the crown on the statue of Mary. The quality of these photos are poor because still photos were taken from an old family film. My cousin is the one with the long veil holding the pillow with the flower crown.

As you can see, the May procession of the crowning of Mary, was well attended by our Polish community and was a very special day. 

Unfortunately, there is not film or photos from the inside of the church during the crowning. 

Today in many Catholic churches this beautiful tradition continues with less fan fare, but with the same reverence.

Oh Mary, we crown you with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May.

Immaculate Mary, your praises we sing.
You reign now in heaven with Jesus our King.
Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Maria!

It Was Paradise For Me In Punta Canna

While visiting Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic or as I like to refer to it, Paradise, I took many, many, many pictures to document my experience.

We stayed in an all inclusive resort that was far from the city center, you could hire a driver and venture out on your own, but this was not advised by the resort. So we happily spent our time at the resort.

The main building housed the reception area, this was an opened air building, no windows or doors so the breeze could flow through the area keeping it very pleasant. Bronze sculptures peppered the main lobby. Comfortable seating arranged in a cozy setting were always filled with people sipping drinks from the bar, or from the coffee/tea station, and it was the only location that had WIFI. Laptops, tablets, and smart phones were everywhere.

An open air theater had two performances each night, musical reviews, plays, and game shows entertained the resort guest. There was a small casino where a member of our group won on a penny machine. They put in a twenty dollar bill and played ten lines betting two cents each time. After three pulls on the handle, total spent 60¢, a bonus game came up and the machine paid out $65.00. Who was the winner... that would be me. I quickly cashed out and pocketed my winnings and the remainder of my $20.00.

This is the building where we stayed, my sister and her husband had a first floor room, and my niece and I were on the second floor. Every morning we were greeted with delightful views from our balcony.

Breakfast was my favorite meal of the day, twice we ate at the buffet located in the main lobby. This buffet had food for every pallet. There was the typical breakfast foods eggs, sausages, bacon, cheeses, cold sliced meats, fish, tortillas, and even onion rings were served.

The two chefs pictured above made me crepes, and huevos fritos, or fried eggs. I enjoyed the juice bar where I would drink several glasses of water mellon juice and something similar to an Orange Julius, orange juice, milk, and sugar blended with crushed ice.

It was yummy.

The cafe con crema, coffee with hot cream helped perk me up each morning, and then there was the chocolate con churros that I ate every morning. Who could resist fried dough that you dip into a very thick hot chocolate? Not me!

The native drink in the Dominican Republic is called Mama Juana. 

The Dominicans believe that Mama Juana can cure la gripe, the flu, and is an aphrodisiac.

Mama Juana is a drink from the Dominican Republic that is concocted by allowing rum, red wine, and honey to soak in a bottle with tree bark and herbs. I did not partake in this Dominican drink, it smelled yucky.

Next, shopping at a market on the beach.

Thrift Share

Every thing's coming up roses with my recent thrift treasures. 

A delightful rose with leaves adorn the top of these vintage metal hot plates, while crocheted scallops wrap around, the hot plate to keep this doily in place.

A vanity set with tole painted roses on the powder box which has a wooden knob, and two glass bottles with their original caps for  perfume or maybe lotion.

My friend Lydia gave me this Karoff Original moss rose traveling tea/coffee set. This set was sold in the 50's, and originally was in travel case with a heating element. An original sticker on the bottom of these pieces says hand painted, Pico, Japan.  Square mugs how fun!

How could I pass up this Regal Heritage bone china mug that was made in England priced at 49¢.

I will feel positively regal in the morning sipping my coffee from this gold rim mug with these charming roses on the front of the mug.

When my coffee is all gone the inside of the mug has a dainty rose bud on the inside.

Linking up with:

 Sir Thrift A Lot
A Living Space

Can I Vent About Thrift Store Prices

What is happening at the thrift stores? The prices are outrageous! Am I just being crabby or frugal?  Help me decided if the thrift stores in my area have high price tags.

I saw this hand mirror sitting on the shelf, 

I have no idea what material this is made with.

It was priced at $9.99!

And can I just have a moment of your time to tell 

you how much I dislike the use of this wide tape!!!

The only explanation I can think of is that 

something else went along with the mirror.

I noticed this tchotchke/chotchke sitting on the shelf 

and was stunned at how this item was priced.

I picked up the largest Fleur-de-lis and found a tag for $1.99,

I then discovered that the two smaller ones were also 

$1.99 a piece. I would think that since they are 

smaller they would be less expensive.

My biggest surprise was finding out the tray that the

three Fleur-de-lis sit in was marked $14.99.

Total cost $20.96.

What happens if someone buys one of the Fleur-de-lis for $1.99?

That ruins the entire look of this tchotchke/chotchke.

Why not just mark, reasonably, all the pieces for one price?

They could use that wide tape that they are so fond of 

keeping all the pieces together.

This red Pyrex bowl was reasonably priced, 

however, it was pretty scratched up. I had to pass.

I wish all Pyrex was marked 99¢.

I left the GW feeling something like this.

Next stop was SVDP, I walked up and down 

the isles, I gasped when I saw what was sitting on the shelf, 

I ran over to grab my favorite colored Pyrex, PINK!!!

To find that it had a chunk missing on 

the outer rim. I held this pretty pink Pyrex bowl 

for a few moments and returned it to the shelf. 

The price was right, but I just couldn't live with the knick.

This baby scale has been sitting on the shelves at SVDP

for almost two months, in the same spot, and no buyers.

Could it be the price?

Rummage sales will soon be popping up in my area, especially church rummage sale, my favorite kind of sales, and I can avoid the thrift stores.

So my blog friends, am, I a crabby thrift shopper, or do you think these prices are outrageous? How are the prices at your thrift shops?

How I miss the thrift prices of five years ago, I could get a vintage apron for 49¢, and believe me I did, but that will have to be another post. 

Thank you for letting me vent, I promise I will be cheerful tomorrow.