Toys That Keep Us Young

 A dear friend just sent this to me, and I had fun looking at all the different toys and activities that we had back then.  Some of these things are still popular for the kids today.  We are in a world of go go go, do the next thing, travel to the next place.  It's nice and comforting sometimes to reflect on the simpler times, and to remember our parents who made such an effort to make our childhoods happy and wholesome.

The Radio Flyer wagon.  I didn't have one of those, and my kids had the Fisher Price wagon, but Francesca got a Radio Flyer when she was a toddler.  Pretty fancy, huh?

The lunch pail and thermos.  I always wanted a neat looking lunch pail and thermos for school (a red plaid one to be exact).  My kids had them every school year with all the popular characters, and the ones used now are softer and easier to carry.

Jacks.  I was really good at Jacks.  It was always a fun recess pastime at school.  I reached a point where I could scoop up 10 jacks on one bounce.  We were easily amused.

Marbles.  I was also good at marbles.  My son had marbles in his collection of toys, so those magic marbles went around for years.

Teddy Bears.  We always loved that special teddy bear.  My mom had a collection of teddy bears, and when she passed, we were all given one of her bears.

The Yoyo.  I was so talented with the Yoyo.  I could do many tricks with this delightful toy - like the classic "walk the dog," and even "walk the dog around the park," where the Yoyo spins around your back.

Paper Dolls.  I didn't have any paper dolls growing up, but my girls had a few.  Their heavy cardstock cutout figures and interchangeable outfits always delighted me.  Friends, if I came across paper dolls today, I would get them for the grandgirls....or myself.  ; )

Twister.  It was the game of the decade.  I didn't have one, but I played Twister at friends' houses, and to get all tangled up on the floor with others was a great time.

Record player.  Me and my childhood friend would listen to the 45s on the record player every time I came over her house.  It was a fun time to hear the latest songs sung by the popular groups.  The Jackson 5 was our favorite.

Coloring Books and Crayola Crayons.  I have always loved coloring books since I can remember.  Those Crayola crayons combined with coloring books and construction paper gave me hours of pleasure, making things with felt pens, glitter, and glue.  My kids had a lot of coloring books, and my grandgirls love to use their imagination and color too.  I think it runs in the family.  Mia draws the most beautiful bright pictures, and I love the moments we spend coloring together.

Books.  Friends, children's books are the one thing I can't part with yet.  I read to my little ones every day, and would cherish this quiet time of storytelling and wonder for as long as they were interested in hearing it.  Now, 40 years later, my daughters read to their children with as much enthusiasm.

And Jess has a whole wonderful class with eager students to read to.

Jump Rope.  I think we all jumped rope at one time or another, right?

And last, but definitely not least.....Barbies!  I used to play Barbie's with a neighbor friend, and we would play for hours accessorizing and putting on dazzling outfits and just having fun.  My children had a few Barbie's growing up, and they still have them in their keepsake boxes.  Francesca loves Barbies, and every time I see her we play Barbie's together.  Now, little Charlotte is 3, and loves the world of Barbie's too.  I will forever be a Barbie girl.

Today, they have a new line of toys, and it's interesting to see all the fun things the kids play with daily.  My son had the Woody character growing up, and Jess still has Jessie, the Cowgirl from her childhood.  These characters from Toy Story are still making their way into the hearts of children today.

While me and my children didn't have a great amount of toys, we had a few beloved ones, but we always had the great outdoors, with sticks, rocks, cardboard boxes, and dirt forts.  Nature was our playground.

A time when the ladybug was fascinating, sneaking into the neighbor's yard was bold, and picking red plums off the tree was exciting.  It was my uncle's, so it wasn't too daring.  ; )

It pleases me that my grandgirls also love the outdoors, and they are captivated by nature too.

So, tell me some of your most special and favorite things you did growing up.  I'd love to hear.

New Vintage Shop In Town

 It was a busy week with appts., and sometimes with that comes a little chaos.  I got high speed internet service, and when the technician came to install it, one of the wires was hooked up backward, so they had to start from scratch.  He called in another guy to help, so both of them were able to get it up and running.  Then came the downloading apps and passwords, ugh, which I'm not good at.  Thankfully, my son was around, and he knew what to do.  The bill each month is supposed to be much lower, which is the whole reason for my doing it, so we'll see.  After they left, I cleaned up, and three hours later, I had had it, so I went to see my friend A at the home shop to see what's new.  I didn't get a chance to thank her for the bracelet that I admired last time.  She slipped it in my bag and surprised me.  I told her that when she does that, I want to cry, and she said, "good.  It's good when something moves us."  She's right.  I didn't buy anything except a coffee chocolate bar.

Mia got a new Bike!

Grandma bought her a new helmet, which she needed.

Oh, it brought back memories of when I got a bike around the same age, only mine was a sparkly blue one.  It was a Sting-Ray bike, and I was thrilled to get it.

There's a new vintage shop in town!  I went to check it out, and it's a cute little shop.  Although it small, it has several vendors, which means they will get new items all the time.  Glancing at one of the tables, I saw an old candle holder that I've always wanted.

The owner said it wasn't new; it was an older piece.  She didn't know the exact year, but it was the real deal.

After shopping, I picked up a  breakfast burrito at the Mexican restaurant.  It was such a delight when I walked in and Mireya said, "Hi Sheri."  It's always so special when the business owners greet you by your name.

The neighborhood has been LOUD lately.  They are cutting branches and trimming trees, and a couple of my trees were on the list.  They were too close to the power lines, and I appreciate that they were trimmed, so I am less likely to lose power this winter.  Such is life in the mountains. 🌲🌲🌲  One of my neighbors had their tree chopped down, and I hate to see it when old trees have to go.

A simple meal of garlic chicken and carrots...and then later I made chicken salad sandwiches.

Have you tried these? - Evergood pineapple sausage.  I've been putting them in my cart lately, and I had them with eggs and cinnamon raisin toast.

It was a week of vintage and home shops.  I also went to a yard sale over the weekend.  Nice people.  The lady's mother-in-law passed away, and they were trying to sell her things and their own.  People have so much stuff.  Me and my siblings already took care of our parents' belongings, and it got me thinking about the generations that come and go in our lifetime.  I didn't buy anything, because as I mentioned before, I have to absolutely love an item to bring it home, and that still holds true for me.  Whenever I get anything new, I like to give a few things away.

"So, antiques."

"Yea...vintage clothes, dishes, toys.  Everything old is new again."

"Well, not much into the past myself.  I have enough trouble living in the present."

~scene from A Very Vintage Christmas

Summer's coming to an end, and I'll be decorating for Fall soon.  It's supposed to be in the 80s most days the rest of the month.  These mountains sure are lovely this time of year, getting ready to transition into a new season.

Enchanted Rose Garden

 Before summer's end, I wanted to show you the rose garden me and Jess visited recently.  It really was enchanting, with many unusual and lovely features.  The groundskeepers who take care of this garden do an exceptional job keeping it clean, groomed, and maintained.  We first picked up some coffee and donuts before heading over there, and once we got to the rose garden, we sat and talked for a while.

When my kids were little, I used to take them to the small donut shop by the railroad tracks.  This was always my favorite donut, so I chose it for myself.

There was a shaded picnic area with benches and umbrellas, so charming.

I had just bought the cat stuffie at Barnes & Noble for Francesca, so she brought midnight to the rose garden to get acquainted. 

This area was right before the rose garden.  The hedges were so green and groomed with a creative design.

There was a delightful fountain that looked so refreshing on the warm summer day.

I thought this lady statue was beautiful.

Time to explore the gardens.

I was immediately drawn to the reds, and there was an abundance of them in this one area.

Then, there were the whites, which are always so special and pretty.

Charlotte walked along, and the yellows caught her eye.

There was a variety of colors - the Corals were very unique.

And the most beautiful blush.

Then, there were the pinks.

There was even a bush with tiny California poppies that Francesca admired.

The arches were something else!  I can imagine the fairies having a good time swirling and fluttering about. 😉

There were cute little lighthouses and fixtures all throughout the garden.

And shaded benches to rest or eat or ponder or just be.

Francesca's favorite flower is the red rose, and she wanted to see how it smelled.

Because Charlotte does everything her sister does, she tried it too, but all the petals fell to the ground.

Jess and the kids walked to the end of the garden to see what was up, while I stayed behind for a moment to take pictures.

I thought these purple flowers were tiny and sweet.  Not sure what they were.

The Italian trees stood tall and grand, and I believe these are called Italian Cypress or Tuscan Cypress.

There was even a gazebo to enjoy.  I thought it would be perfect for special occasions.

I definitely want to go back to this enchanted garden sometime.  It is really a peaceful place, and Jess enjoys taking the kids here from time to time.

  When it was time to snap the picture, little Charlotte made a face at her mama.