* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's time for another Nostalgic Sunday

 

Why is today a "Nostalgic Sunday?"  Hmm, where should I begin? 

• The Ronald and I met friends for breakfast this morning, which is something we hardly ever do. Having breakfast at a restaurant usually occurs when we're out of town on vacation. It's a real treat! And I'm feeling very nostalgic for.... vacations..... *sigh*

• Last Tuesday, I spoke to three each - 2nd Grade classes at a local elementary school. It was Career Day and I spoke about being a writer. In addition to my talk, I handed out decorative pencils, envelopes, lined paper, and a questionnaire/fact sheet I wrote. I was actually surprised to know they still use pencils that need to be sharpened! Also, I learned a generation-gap kind of lesson. The students responded excitedly about the pencils, but when I asked if they'd also like loose-leaf paper, they all stared at me in complete silence. I was so surprised and couldn't imagine why they wouldn't also want paper, when one of the teachers stood up and said, "Mrs. Povich means notebook paper." Ahh....more cheers!

• Tomorrow, I'm doing the same thing at another nearby school. I'll be speaking to one each - 2nd Grade class, and two each -5th Grade classes. I'm all ready to go and looking forward to it. I love speaking to students and adults of all ages.

              And why do these two speaking events make me feel nostalgic? There are quite a few reasons: it seems like yesterday when my two sons were in grade school and high school. And it doesn't seem that long ago since I was that young! Where did those years go?!

~~~

 

 

Tomorrow I'm a guest on Karen Lange's blog! There's an interview and a giveaway, so please stop by!!


I have lots of additional writerly news to share in the next few days, so please come back for that, too: Contests, Calls for Submissions, etc.

 

 

 Welcome to my newest follower Patti of Magnolia Cottage!  I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

 

 

“It shocks me how I wish for...what is lost and cannot come back.” -- Sue Monk Kidd, Traveling With Pomegranates: A Mother-Daughter Story

 

 

"There's a certain nostalgia and romance in a place you left." -- David Guterson

Rest in Peace Maya Angelou.

 

You made the world a better place.

 

~~~

 

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

 

 

"We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”

 

 

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” 

* MEMORIAL DAY - DECORATION DAY *

Every Memorial Day I take time to remember what this day is really about. Many years ago, it was known as Decoration Day. That's because it was the day families and friends laid wreaths and other patriotic decorations on the graves of loved ones....those who died in wars.

Some men come home from wars, but many others do not. I am alive today because of one man that did not come home....my mother's first husband. He was killed during WWII in the Battle of the Bulge, and that was heartbreaking for her and her two young daughters. A few years later she met and married my dad, and so when my brother Mike and I were born, we already had an instant family....one that consisted of two teenage sisters for us.
 
During our barbecues, picnics, and parties that celebrate the unofficial beginning of summer, let's remember that in spite of our country's problems, we are free, and we owe so much to all our veterans of wars....deceased or still living.



courtesy: Becky Sept 2011
 at our friends' lake house

 

 

"I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, 'Mother, what was war?' " ~ Eve Merriam



* SIMPLE JOYS - HAPPINESS - LAUGHTER *

Today really felt like Saturday to me and I have no idea why. Maybe because I haven't been keeping my "usual routine!" (and if you believe that, you don't know me very well!)

And now....Sharing some simple joys......

 

 

 

Some of you will remember my small collection of statues with books.

I got this adorable little girl at Dollar Tree!

 

Ahh, yes life is good. (most of the time!)

 I love to take pictures of all kinds of things,
especially when sunlight is part of it.

Isn't it more fun to have homemade iced tea in a pretty,
 hand painted, glass pitcher?
This was a birthday gift many years ago,
 from my friend Kathy Y who shares my birth date!



One of my favorite walking trails from 2009

 

 

 This is a small (approx. 8" square) canvas print from (I think) Hobby Lobby

(the colors are actually more vibrant than this shows)

Mmm, making homemade bread the Old-Fashioned way,

 not in a bread machine, but in the oven!
(I must confess, I haven't done this in YEARS,
but just the thought of it brings wonderful memories
and the aroma of freshly baked bread.)

My beautiful, ceramic, much treasured chicken cookie jar -

I'm so glad I have this photo because a couple of years ago

 it stood proudly on the top shelf of my baker's shelf....until one day

when I was dusting everything....and her head fell off!

Can you envision it?? A chicken who lost her head?

I still have all the pieces because The Ronald said he can put

it back together....but I'm not sure....SO, at least I have this photo!

 

 

 This picture always cracks me up!

That's my son, Mark, and me "driving" some kind of
game at Chuckie Cheese's. I could fill a small photo book with
all the wacky faces I've made that have been captured on film!

 

 

 

(Guess which one of the 3 I am!)



Don't you wish you could do this

 with two of your girlfriends?!



I bought this little lady at Dollar Tree in 2010.

I wrote about her on my blog saying,

"Doesn't it look like she's scratching her butt??"

 

Ahh, I love candles but definitely not

 all of the fifty million scents that are available!



Coffee mugs that are unique, pretty, cute, and/or with sayings on them.

(Oh my gosh! Look at the spots on my table/desk! Or should I say, DON'T look!)

Last but not least, I can't possibly write about joy, happiness,

 and laughter without including a picture of our sweet, beloved Vern!

 

~~~

Welcome to my two newest followers Medeia Sharif and Sia Mckye. I hope you'll both stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

~~~

Okay....So, these are just a few of the simple things in life that give me joy and/or make me laugh. What about you? What brings you joy?

* HAPPINESS IS A DOG'S FIRST ICE CREAM CONE *

 

 

Vern's first ice cream cone.

(vanilla, of course!)

 

 

On the patio at Paul's Donuts & Ice Cream

 

(cone being held by The Ronald)

 

 

 

 

cavemancreations.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

chompsy.com



* A WINNER & A CELEBRATION *

The winner of the giveaway I posted last Wednesday is none other than......Bookie!

Congratulations! I will be mailing your prizes in the next few days.

 

~~~

 

 

source: 123greetings.com

Happy Victoria Day to my Canadian friends!





* ANNOUNCING A GIVE-AWAY *

Announcing a Give-Away on a dreary Wednesday afternoon in May.

~~~

 



Although I just announced I won't be blogging as often as I have about my book, one of my upcoming guest posts that I also mentioned is TODAY. I wrote a humorous piece for my Guest Blog post over at Maryann Miller's It's Not All Gravy. The title of it is "Pigtails? Curls? Perms?" Please stop by there and leave a comment if you have a moment. And maybe also where she reviewed my memoir: Book Review.

BECAUSE whoever leaves a comment at her book review, AND at my Guest Blog post (both links included above), and then leaves a comment HERE telling me, will be in the drawing for a GIVE-AWAY. That is THREE comments.....and the give-away is for SEVERAL ITEMS!

Those items will be posted a bit later today. I'm not trying to be mysterious....just have some things I have to do. Remember to come back!

LATER!

 

 

8:45 PM -- It is now several hours later, but now I can include the pictures of the gifts! All of these items will be mailed to the lucky winner. (In the US only, though. I'm sorry that the postage rates are outrageous for other countries.)

 

I also forgot to say when the deadline for comments will be. Comments can be left at Maryann's blog, in both blog posts, and then back here, until midnight (CDT) on Sunday, May18th.

 

 

All of these items have never been used!

 

A 5 x 6 note pad

A pale pink, shabby chic, birdie tea light holder

A Tropical Drinks S&P Set

 

 

 

Another view of the birdie

 

Four note cards (2 of each)  Teapot design

 

Four note cards (2 of each) Floral design

 

Come to Tea book - all kinds of cute craft and recipes

Very cute for little girls and moms, or just moms!

approx  sixe: 9 x 10

 

Mary Engelbreit's Fan Fare Cookbook: 120 Family Favorite Recipes

(spiral bound, hardcover, heavy duty pages - VERY nice)

This is the cutest book, as you can imagine! I remember when Mary had a Call Out for recipes to include in this book and I never got around to submitting anything. (another time I kicked myself in the butt, which takes quite a bit of double-jointedness!!)

Each recipe gives the person's name and town.

 

It also contains lots of Mary's drawings and sayings!

 

 

 

 

"A friend will tuck the tag back into your collar." -- Anonymous



* CRAZY? DID SOMEONE SAY "CRAZY?" *

Would you believe I've recently passed the SIX MONTH time period since my memoir was published on November 6, 2013? During those months I've been promoting it like crazy, which is obvious to anyone who has landed here more than once.

 

Crazy? Did someone say "crazy"?

Why, no....I haven't totally "lost it" yet!

I have two more blog stops where friends have graciously allowed me to be the Guest Host. So, in between and after those, I intend to keep my blog posts interesting, informative, humorous, etc...and on a variety of subjects. Oh, and I'll have giveaways from time to time of assorted goodies! Which means I won't be yackity-yacking about my book all the time. (Aren't you all glad? Do I see a standing ovation?)

I LOVE this picture!

 

This was taken in one of those photo booths around 1993 or '94.

That's me in the middle, with a straggly perm and wearing contacts!

I may reveal the names of the two boys at a later date......

“If I told you I’ve worked hard to get where I’m at, I’d be lying, because I have no idea where I am right now.” -- Jarod Kintz