Little Paisley Christmas Cats

Good morning. Eldest Gold Country Girl Sister Tina here. I am going to share photos of five vintage cotton paisley kittens I made last Christmas for granddaughters and various nieces.
I had a lot of fun picking out the materials and vintage buttons for the eyes.

The photo below is of all five, before I had decided they were missing something... hmmm, what is it they are missing?
They had their funny little spiky skinny tails, and their little underbellies of contrasting cotton fabrics. They had their plastic vintage buttons for eyes, some searching, some far-seeing, some looking ahead to their future with deserving little girls who were good all year. Their ears were perked and already they thought they could hear the strains of "Oh Holy Night" wafting above Kelsey.

They had been carefully cut out, meticulously hand-stitched and cautiously stuffed... but although they were anxious and ready, yet still trying to be patient, just like the little girls waiting for them, they still needed that certain something...

They had a bit of a pow-wow. The youngest asked the oldest (who he took after - some people thought they were twins): "What is taking her so long to figure this out? We think we are perfect just the way we are. Come on, it's almost Christmas Eve!"

" Oh, she finally got it! A mouth!" Cut out of vintage felt, and add a lively ribbon around the neck, tied in a bow just for a little pizazz, and that was it! Oh, that made them very happy. And having mouths, they could smile about it, and they did.

"We didn't even know what we were missing. Okay, come on, quit taking pictures, wrap us up!"

" Here she comes with the wrapping paper. I hope it's paisley just like us!"

" Can't you tell we've been good all year?"

Finally unwrapped and in the hands of the children on Christmas Eve, who show their amazement at the meticulous stitching and wisely chosen fabrics, the artistically placed eye buttons.

And then finally, the playing and rolling around, just like real kittens. It was worth the anticipation.

Even Great Grandma got into the action with a little bit of a cuddle and a great big smile.

I hope the anticipation and excitement of Christmas pays off for you with a great big smile, and that you find that certain little something that you have been missing all year. And don't forget to get into the action with a little bit of a cuddle.

Merry Christmas.

Music To Bake Cookies By

Well, now I'm done with everything but some baking, which I do because I want to, not because I have to. The only thing I really feel like we can't live without are the Christmas coffee cakes, but I always bake cookies and usually make fudge, too. It's raining outside, and I love to be in the kitchen listening to Christmas music. Sometimes I buy old albums at the thrift stores just because the covers are nostalgic and pretty - like this one:
..and this one...
But my favorite thing is to find one that we had and listened to when we were kids. I think I found every one of these at a thrift store. I've always loved this album:
And the Ray Conniff Singers Christmas albums are real faves, as well:
I LOVE their sound:
The New Christy Minstrels! A real blast from the past:
Cute cover on this one, with Jack Benny:

Gotta have me some Dino!
I love the sound of The Lettermen, too:
And do you recognize this family?
Yep, The Donna Reed Show cast. I was tickled when I found that one - I had never seen it before.
It's a Wonderful Life, ain't it?
P.S. Okay, I couldn't stand it! After reading Tina's comment, I just had to come back in and add the Kingston Trio: The Last Month Of The Year! Didn't get a photo, so I scanned it and couldn't fit the whole album cover - but she's right, I should have mentioned it. A TRUE family favorite - from as long as I can remember. We all LOVE it, and I should have not only included it, but featured it prominently, despite the fact that I have written about it before.
And while I am at it, don't you think for one minute that Bing and Andy Williams, and Perry Como and a host of others aren't included, also - always among my favorites!
Whew - I feel so much better now!

Mary Engelbreit Christmas Tins

I have lost track of how many years ago I started collecting Mary Engelbreit Christmas tins:


In all sorts of shapes and sizes:

I have also lost count of how many I have. What I am showing you today are only some of them:

I like other tins, too! Especially vintage Christmas ones. The red one with the Christmas tree has been in our family for years, and of course my Tasha Tudor one (at bottom in the photo below), while not vintage, is a special favorite , as well:

Shiny and Brite

Is there anybody out there who doesn't love Shiny Brites?
I didn't think so.
I love the different examples of box styles and graphics through the years:
A peek inside some of my boxes. Some of these may or may not be Shiny Brites, but these 2 boxes hold some of my most treasured specimens. Many of them were here in the house, and have been enjoyed by this family for over 50 years:
Love, love LOVE the miniatures!
Shiny Brite in pink and blue. Sometimes I find a great SB box that does NOT contain Shiny Brites. I usually manage to trade those out for authentic ones!
There is nothing like a tree with all glass ornaments on it, and the reflection of the lights in them. I have TONS of other ornaments, old and new, Hallmark, etc, that I have collected over my lifetime, but here lately I want only Shiny Brites on my tree.

Where I Work: Whistle Stop Yogurt

Sister Lori here:
After retiring from the Post Office last fall, (boy am I glad I am not there this season!!), I looked for a job. When you are older, it's really not that easy!!
Some good friends were opening up a yogurt shop and I got a job there.
Here is Mandy weighing my delicious Original Tart Yogurt with coconut and fresh strawberries, my favorite combination.

Whistle Stop Yogurt is located in Placerville, California:

We have 2 machines. In one we always have Chocolate and Vanilla every day and in the other we swap flavors every 2 days. Right now some seasonal flavors we offer are: Peppermint Stick, Eggnog and Pumpkin. Other flavors we have had are Root Beer Float, Pomegranate, Cookies and Cream, New York Cheesecake, no sugar added Strawberry and lots more. It is very good and most flavors are non-fat, so 2 points for a 1/2 cup serving on Weight Watchers.

These are some of the toppings we have, candies, cereals, nuts.

Here is the other counter with lots of toppings, sauces, fresh fruit, etc. We offer over 50 toppings. We also make our own waffle cones.

Here is the front counter, behind which I stand to weigh the yogurt for the customers:

This is the back room where we wash dishes and have lots of storage space:

My family came to visit me one day and enjoyed some "Fro Yo"!!!!

This is a nice job for me right now. I really enjoy working here!!

Glimpses Of Christmas

First of all, I wanted to show you the goodies I won in Emily's giveaway over at Livin' Vintage. My package greeted me upon my arrival home after being away for a couple of days, and it was all wrapped so beautifully it felt like an early Christmas present! Happy Christmas to me! And a great big thank you to Emily for her delightful blog and her sweet and generous giveaway - I love it all!
This cute little pair were picked up at a thrift store last week. I couldn't resist adding them to my collection:

And here are a few snapshots of Christmas here in our house. A Lefton sleigh and candle holders, and the tree in the photograph was here in the house in the 1950's. We still have our tree in that same window every year. The framed card at right is one of my favorites. A hand-painted beautiful little scene, sent to my in-laws in the 30's:

Tinker Bell is from Hallmark - she was a gift from my husband a few years ago, and flanking her are some of my most treasured vintage ornaments that were packed away here in the house:
Some vintage Christmas boxes from my collection, a silvery plastic Santa, sleigh and reindeer, and the framed photo is my husband and his dad at our front door:

Assorted snowmen huddled together to keep cold. The little one made of resin with the black hat was a gift from Grandpa many years ago. A lady he worked with made them, and he bought one for each of us girls. I remember him saying how funny he thought it was when he asked her "Where did you get the hats?", and she smiled and responded "Trade secret!". He got a real kick out of that.:
And this pair of vintage linen towels are among my faves in the vintage linens category!

They are signed by the artist Marion V. Dorn. I love 'em.

A Glow-In-The-Dark Christmas

Gold Country Sister Tina here. I am going to share with you my all-consuming love of vintage Glow-in-the-Dark Christmas decorations. Mostly ornaments, although I have other items. This love began back in the 1950's when I was very young. On our tree we had glowing plastic icicles, stars and snowflakes. They were blue, blue/green, and ivory in color. Those little ornaments were very inexpensive and came in a box altogether with a large star meant to go on the top of the tree. I didn't get a picture of the box they came in although I have several of the boxes. There were several of each color and style in the box. We also had little ivory colored plastic cupids, about an inch tall. This is one of my Christmas trees with mostly glow-in-the-dark ornaments, and a few others. On top is an angel I embroidered many years ago. She doesn't glow.
This is a closeup of the bottom of the tree. I wish this was this year's tree, that would mean I was all done with my wrapping!

This photo shows one of the plastic icicles and a snowflake. Also shown is a garland with bells. I have several of these garlands which I have collected over the years. They are a good way to finish off the tree. The blue shiny brite ornament with stars also glows. I will show more of these later.

This photo shows part of a blue plastic star on the left. Also in the middle toward the bottom is a 3-D ornament which you make by putting together two circles that intersect and become a ball. The round white ornament at top right glows and is similar to the Shiny Brites but made by a different company. I only have a few of those.

This is a batch of Shiny Brite Glo-in-the-dark ornaments in their boxes. They have several colors including white, yellow, red and blue. The designs on them, which are flocked, include Shooting Stars, Silent Night, Stars, Holly and Bells, and Churches.

Another closeup of some Shiny Brite ornaments. The flash picked up the designs so you can get an idea of how they glow.

These ornaments show my favorite design, a shooting star, cosmic design. I love anything with the moon and stars on it, but that's another story.

The Glow-In-The-Dark ornaments come in many designs and colors, and are made of plastic and glass mostly. I have little miniature angels in blue and pink with glitter on their skirts and wings; little plastic cupids; pieces from a nativity scene with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, shepherds; lots of different styles of icicles, stars, bells (3-D and flat); fairly large ivory plastic ornaments with different designs such as holly and bells; angels; reindeer; candy canes; I could go on and on. I have been collecting these vintage ornaments for probably at least 25 years, and am always discovering new ones. The most common is the icicle ornament, and those come in all shapes and sizes, the colors are mostly white, ivory, blue, green and pink. Some have hooks on the top for hanging and some have a hole to put the hanger into.

Other items I have for the tree are the various garlands and a glow in the dark star tree-topper.

This is a Glow-In-The-Dark tree skirt. The white portions, including the snow and the deer's eyes glow. I just got it this year. I love it. It is made of felt and is in great condition for its age.

This photo of my tree was from a year that I just put on plastic ornaments.

On top of the 'plastic glow' tree I have an angel also made of plastic that glows. I like the look of the blue and white against the green.

Another closer look at my 'plastic' only tree. Center right there is a little cupid on its own in the midst of green. They are the smallest of all the ornaments.

This photo shows some of my other glow in the dark items, including a 3-D star (I have many of these) nativity scenes, trees, a box of cupids, and Glo Sno.

This is one of my Glow in the Dark trees. I decorated it with glowing bells.

This is my other tree, which was decorated with mostly snowflakes and some bells and stars.

This shows some of the nativity scene (with one of my cupids) and a close up of the box of Glo Sno. I would like to use it but it would have to be a one time thing so it has to stay in the box.

This tree shows a glow-in-the-dark star on top. It took me years to find it!

The best part of a Glow-in-the-Dark tree is at the end of a winter evening. Turn off all the lights and sit in the dark. Slowly everything starts glowing, some brighter than others. Wait patiently and let your eyes get used to the dark and you will be rewarded with the most wonderful magical glowing tree. Settle in and enjoy the tree and the 3-D stars hanging in each window, the nativity scenes, little trees, everything on display in the room. I wish I could share the experience with you. Merry Christmas!