Best Wishes to You All!

 

From Spanaway Washington!

Greetings of the Season from Woodbridge VA!

 

 

Even though we live in Florida we still love scenes of snow...like  on paper Christmas Cards...this beauty came from Woodbridge, Virginia and looks like our property did back there. We loved listening to the wind blow through the pines on our snowy walks. We loved following the animal footprints and guessing what they were and we loved the crunching sounds of taking steps through the silence of the woods in the snow. 

Christmas A Time of Beauty

A wonderful Christmas card from Apollo Beach FL from friends who battled a hard year physically with support of their familyand friends' love and prayers. And here they are sending out God's message and not sitting back having a pity party!

Merry Christmas from Baltimore!

This beautiful card came to us from Baltimore Maryland friends and has the words Merry Christmas in the upper right black area that has the material bow. See the red stones in the flowers and the glittery outlined petals? The gold is smooth and glossy. More fun memories come into our minds from this message from family friends! Yep that's the wonderful thing paper Christmas cards do. Bring back the ol times!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

 

Happy Holidays from Riverview, Florida

Season's Greetings from Romeoville, IL

Bennett Place State Historic Site Durham NC

 

 

http://postcardtraveler2010.blogspot.com/2012/12/civil-war-meeting-of-sherman-johnston.html

Believe...

30 Years of Teaching And Friday in Connecticut

30 years of teaching and loving every minute behind me.
And then...Friday... here came another event.
My heart is so sad AGAIN.
I am proud of those teachers and adminstrators. You all honored our profession unlike the sexual perverted teachers down here in Florida and elsewhere who are serving terms in jail.
But I'll tell you this. Every teacher who has taught from the 60's on to their retirement year has seen this coming. And it will come  again and again and again.

Here are a couple of my thoughts ..not to say they are right...just some thoughts for you to think about...and act on or throw out or put on your mental backburners.

1. Think about this: I read this online  and am republishing the link:
Rev. Dwight Longenecker: James Holmes, Alleged Aurora Shooter, Was Possessed By A Demon
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/28/rev-dwight-longenecker-james-holmes-possessed-by-demon_n_1712452.html

Could the demons driven out by Jesus in the Bible in his many experiences be what we call today "mental illness"? I don't know but I do wonder when I look at the faces of the shooters in the paper and on tv and the computer.

2. Think about this:
I wrote this after the Colorado movie killings earlier this year and I repeat it here:
Is it possible for demons to enter your house through your television? I have wondered that a long time. Could it be that shows like Criminal Minds and the CSIs "rev the evil up " to the point that evil/demons can move through space ...like the GOOD Star Trek guys could beam themselves out to other places. Watch and monitor what your kids are watching on your tvs and computers. I am not talking about putting ideas in their heads. I mean could it be demons can move thru the screen into your homes?

3. Think about this:
After 30 years of teaching and watching the kids change in those/these years I have been expecting something like this long before now. It's only begun. Til the next generations feel the effect of being out from under their parents/grandparents umbrellas of protection of belief and prayers.

4. And finally:
Gun control will never change things.  Concentrating on developing FAITH of your choice in your children at home and school and church is the only hope. Stop obsessing on giving them all the "stuff" they want and instead fill  their "holes in their souls" with faith experiences and thoughts instead. Then maybe they won't strike out on others they don't even know. Don't wait til events like this to develop faith in your kids. Build it as wisely as you develop their home, clothes and toys.

Christmas Cards Take You Back... Reason #5

 FROM PASADENA, MD

I had no idea when I started thinking about Christmas cards I would have these many reasons and memories...like this one...the religious one...the real reason for Christmas to join in keeping the paper Christmas cards alive! My husband and I were recently enjoying one of our church's Christmas events and we starting thinking back to the beautiful church services, the Church Christmas plays and musicals, the church friends' events at their homes and ours, our Sunday School party get togethers. And in it  is a long list of good times, good tastes, good sounds and good memories. Each church's memories : From St. James Irvington in Baltimore to  Goshen Baptist church in Spotsylvania to  Zoan Baptist Church in Fredericksburg to  Chancellor Baptist Church in Fredericksburg to Glen Burnie Baptist Church in Glen Burnie to 1st Baptist Church in Riverview and to Simmons Loop Baptist Church in Riverview  are special and  unique. When we get a card from the friends we hold in our hearts from these places it is like it takes us right back there in time and place and makes our days in this season happier!

As a kid I loved looking at how different each artist created the shepherds, the angels, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus...the silence of the night...the lambs and the 3 Kings...

I hope you are also enjoying this month filled with these memories also!

Long Live Paper Christmas Cards Reason #4

 

 

From Spotsylvania, VA

 

When I was a kid growing up in Baltimore,  Christmas cards were so hot the mailmen delivered them  more than once each day and I can even remember deliveries on Sundays for Christmas. It was so exciting wondering who we would hear from next and wondering what the cards would look like.. of course you guessed it...this was the 40s-50s. Reason #4 is....I LOVED and still love the artistic beauty of the paper Christmas cards...their bold colors...like this card: Pointsietta red, glossy gold, speckly white...shiny smooth and flaky textures...whirly abstract shapes...or more traditional and just as beautiful religious pics with the nativity scene or  a snow church in a country or city setting...different sizes cards...different shapes cards ...different fonts of their words..all this traveling on the backs in the mailmen bags many many miles and then hung on ribbon, taped on walls or doors to be enjoyed during the entire holiday season!

Long Live Paper Christmas Cards Reason #3

 

From Melbourne, Florida

 

 

Once you get "really rolling" with retirement and downsizing you get so busy accomplishing stuff  you had to put on back burners when you were teaching... you actually have so much you enjoy/want/and do your responding to others gets delayed and alas eventually the year ends... and these past "wonderful working friends" you don't see during the  year get lost in changed emails, planned but not done phone calls or visits on both/either sides. So it is wonderful to hear from your past close working/teaching buddies and hear how much their kids and grandkids have done this year and to hear they are doing ok! So Reason #3 : thanks ol friends for remembering us and reaching out with your special cards!

I Love Christmas Cards! Another Why??

Another why?? As this card says, Pausing at the holidays to think about all the blessings of the year...

 

From: Riverview, Florida

A big blessing this year in my life has been  working with these friends and others  in presenting and distributing God's Word to all...all around the world ...through the Gideons International and Gideon Auxiliary camps here in Florida and ALL around the world. Hearing my husband giving the Gideon presentations in churches of many denominations all worshipping the same God and praying, distributing and financially supporting this cause has been very moving spiritually for me!
http://www.gideons.org/?HP=USA&LevelID=5&sc_lang=en

And the card is a reminder of our year's activities together.

CHRISTMAS CARDS....I LOVE THEM! WHY??

Christmas cards bring back times spent together....happy memories of many shared moments of laughter, love and family events.

Harrisburg, PA

West Point on the Eno... Been here?

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Point_on_the_Eno

Did You Leave Your Heart There?

http://postcardtraveler2010.blogspot.com/2012/11/san-francisco-cable-cars.html

Theadora Brack Scents & Paris

Reading this article by Theadora Brack took me back to the time of beautiful scents that drifted our way as we walked past people in downtown stores in Baltimore, sat near them in church pews or riding somewhere in our cars,  and also when we sprayed ours on as we readied ourselves for each new day....looking at our trays of various shapes, brands and colors and picking the one we thought would fit our upcoming day!

And it made me realize how much I miss this part of my Baltimore past! Today too often we fear offending others with our choices! Too bad I say! Let's take back ownership of our scents' domains and "let er spray!"

One of Theadora's reader comments mentioned the types of scents in today's stores being so different from those long ago. So true.

Hmmm. I don't even remember if they still make my ol fav: Samsura...think I'll Google it right now.

Don't miss this posting by Theadora Brack:
 http://peopleplacesandbling.com/2012/11/29/paris-scents-and-sensitivity-day-tripping/

Little Miss NoName & Her Friend

Again, little Miss NoName with no location or time. This time she has a friend. No clues in the background behind them. But oh so cute and oh how I wish this pic of 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches was labeled. Don't forget to label yours! So calm and relaxed and peaceful! 

Fan of Silver Jewelry?

http://downsizersandy.blogspot.com/2012/11/silver-jewelry-fan.html

Little Baby No Name

Remember, label your pics in a way that will stand the time, weather and be understood by someone who didn't know the person in the pic. Also...so cute!

Little Ms No Name

Soooo cute! Just says 1 year on back. Please please label your paper and digital pics.

What NO TWINKIES? OR DING DONGS OR HO!HOS??

This year...
 I have handled the crooked politicians not working together to get our democracy working.
I handled the 2 million political advertisements telling us why to not vote for the other guy but not telling us why to vote for their guy!
I have handled our state not getting their votes counted til 4 days after the election.
I have handled my sadness for little people loosing their respect for their bicycling racer heroes.
I have handled my sadness of feeling sad for military leaders falling for their hottie biographers who knew exactly what they were doing.
But today's news ...I can't handle!!! Hostess going out of business...shutting down our supplies of Twinkies...Ho Hos...and Ding Dongs! Not selling to someone in China! Just shutting down! Call out the National Guard! Be prepared to handle all us caffeine/chocolate lovers going into withdrawal!!!. What's next to fall...Pepsi???? Moon Pies????

Senior Citizen Dumpster Diving

While reading my post of yesterday : Theadora Brack's Paris Tips: Porte de Vanves Flea Market where she mentioned Paris's "notorious rag and bone men" it really made my heart laugh remembering back to the 1970's in Spotsy Va where my friend and I would take her son with us and check out Montgomery Ward's dumpsters weekly  after their garden section would do their weekly dumping of things that were too old to sell but could be nurtured by us back to health. I remember one time we even held her little son by his feet so he could save the beautiful bush in the bottom we could not reach. Ha! Ha! Those goodies lasted the length of the time we owned our house and might still be there!
But this week my husband brought home the news from the MacDonalds senior coffee group that matches our Monkey Wards dumpster diving ...one of these savy senior citizens  dumpster dives into the dumpster of a store after the Sunday newspapers get dumped every week. Then they bring them to the Senior Citizens coffee meetings and deal out the coupons to those who can use them. As our stocks crash every little bit helps...right downsizers?????

Theadora Brack's Paris and Flea Markets

If you are a flea market junkie like me don't miss this:
http://peopleplacesandbling.com/2012/11/16/paris-tips-porte-de-vanves-flea-market/

even if you aren't in Paris. It will make  you buy a ticket to Paris and go for it! Theadora Brack's  photos (see above) and pics are awesome! And her readers' comments are quite enjoyable as are her responses!

Biltmore NC Clipper ship Spencer Ind Thor's Hammer Alcatraz

http://postcardtraveler2010.blogspot.com/2012/11/biltmore-nc-clipper-ship-spencer-ind.html

Historical Old St. Augustine Florida... been there?

 

 

http://postcardtraveler2010.blogspot.com/2012/11/historical-old-st-augustine-florida.html

San Antonio Texas... Been there?

 

 

http://paperpictures2.blogspot.com/2012/11/greetings-from-san-antonio-texas.html

Familiar with the artist Herb Kawainui Kane?

http://paperpictures2.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-arrival-of-keoua-kane-american.html

Will Our Minivan Make It Through?

http://postcardtraveler2010.blogspot.com/2012/11/chandelier-drive-thru-tree-in-park.html

Ken Caminiti

http://byebyebaseballcards.blogspot.com/2012/11/ken-caminiti-baseball-card-die-cut.html

Is He A Casanova?

 http://byebyebaseballcards.blogspot.com/2012/10/raul-casanova.html

Joe Carter is the answer to what question??

http://byebyebaseballcards.blogspot.com/2012/10/who-became-1st-player-to-end-world.html



Joe Carter

 

http://byebyebaseballcards.blogspot.com/2012/10/joe-carter.html

Watch for those DEER CROSSINGS!

 http://www.youtube.com/v/CI8UPHMzZm8

Please pass this on to your DEER friends!

ASTRONAUT DON PETERSON

Remember his space flight? He is the one on the National Geographic Magazine floating around outside the capsule in space on his space flight.
Check his stats out here:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/peterson-dh.html
Pretty impressive!
He's still the same nice  guy who took the time to give us a personal tour around the Johnson Space Center when we got to visit the family there without much warning.
He's been the same nice guy through all the years before and after his flight.

Check out this article I just found online that he wrote in 2004 and look at his thoughts through our eyes here in  2012:

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=952

Who Fell Asleep in a Tanning Booth and missed several day games with the Orioles?

http://byebyebaseballcards.blogspot.com/2012/10/who-was-known-for-falling-asleep-in.html

Duke Towers

So pretty in their setting!

And Another One!

Look at that sky!

Another Durham Delight

Chess Anyone?

So Cool!

Blogging/Websiting

I have REALLY enjoying entering and digging into the world of blogs and websites of people with passions connecting with others of similar passions in recent years. So much fun!

For all my quilting friends I have discovered this one through Pinterest and recommend it to other quilters!
http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/
I now am  able to reconnect with my quilting passion and loving it!

Is Your Credit Card Safe? Check this out...

Wi-Fi Symbol on your Credit Card

YOU WONT BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING. WATCH VIDEO AND CHECK YOUR CARDS.

I read this about a couple weeks ago, and then checked my cards for the little "Wi-Fi Signal Icon" on each one. I found none w/that signal on them, but I was determined to watch for it when my cards came in on renewals. Well, yesterday I got my CHASE SLATE card AND THERE IT WAS ! My first time to see it. I'll not activate that card after seeing this. I guess I'll go to the bank and see if I can replace it w/a non Wi-Fi (Radio Frequency Card)....?

http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/lLAFhTjsQHw%26sns=em

Baltimore Crabs

 

 

When you leave Baltimore you never forget the taste of the crabs you caught and ate there  and you continue to miss them. In fact you meet up with other Baltimore friends at Wendys the hot spot in Sun City Center Florida on Saturday nights and remember together the Orioles, Colts and crabs from Charm City. Since we couldn't get to Baltimore  with the time we had for our Sept vacation, our family found this neat spot in the hills of northern Virginia called Lowrys Crab Shack Hamilton Va for us. And I have to confess this crabcake was as good as the ones we used to have at Arundel Seafood in Pasadena Md years ago. Florida crabs are REALLY good too but with a different type of taste.

 

What KIND of plastic is your piece of jewelry?

 

 http://downsizersandy.blogspot.com/2012/09/what-kind-of-plastic-is-your-jewelry.html

Have You Been Here?

http://paperpictures2.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-beautiful-washington-cathedral.html

An Artsy delight in the Secret Garden!

http://paperpictures2.blogspot.com/2012/09/check-out-art-work.html

Is this YOUR Secret Garden?

 

http://paperpictures2.blogspot.com/2012/09/have-you-found-your-secret-garden.html

A Durham Secret Garden

A Durham Secret Garden

 

So creative and interesting!

Here's Looking At You!

Tasted as good as they looked!

Tasted AsGood As Its Memory From the Last Time!

Being away from Baltimore and Virginia for years now, the memories of the crabs and shrimp still come back and "call us" from up there!

We got to actually taste these up there last week in Hamilton Virginia at Lowry's Crab Shack. As good as they look said the eaters!
http://www.lowrysfarmmarket.com/

First Black Woman in U.S. To Become An Episcopalian Priest?

And this happened when most of us reach an age to retire! She links Baltimore to Durham. Born in Baltimore but raised in Durham NC! Check her interesting and inspiring life here:
http://www.ncwriters.org/services/lhof/inductees/pmurray.htm
This mural is on a wall in Durham NC. Discovered her this past weekend while there. She is now added to my Baltimore Hall of Fame! Over on the right of this page.

Robin Roberts

ROBIN: Love and prayers are coming  your way for your next chapter of your life journey.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/10/robin-roberts-hospital-bone-marrow-transplant_n_1870582.html

Paris Planning Tips Holiday Windows & the Big Wnter Sales

Don't miss Theadora Brack's
http://peopleplacesandbling.com/2012/08/31/paris-planning-tips-holiday-windows-and-the-big-winter-sales/

Randy Travis

I wish even JUST ONE of us, his fans, could reach and help him get his life back  as FAST AS REPORTERS are to report his problems...

Wish They Made These Today

http://postcardtraveler2010.blogspot.com/2012/08/get-well-soon-postcard.html