Vintage Blue Willow Condiment Set

My granddaughter, Tiffany, called last Friday to say now that she's married she'd like a vintage ceramic Christmas tree like mine.  I had recently seen pictures of one at a local estate sale, so Saturday morning my hubby and I went to see if it was still there. Unfortunately, since it was the last day of the sale, someone else had already purchased it. I'll be keeping my eyes open, however, and hopefully my chances are good for finding one.

The estate sale wasn't a total loss.  My eyes are always drawn to blue and white dishes, and I spotted a 7 pc. vintage Blue Willow condiment/cruet set.  The living room shelves are filled, so it's got to be unique before I'll consider adding anything new. The condiment set fit that criteria, and everything was 50% off since it was the last day of the sale.  It was originally marked $50, so $25 was a bargain!

It was in great condition, so my hubby bought it, and it now resides among the other Blue Willow pieces.

There are four listed on E-bay right now ranging from $50 to $160,  so we're happy with our bargain.

Sunday Reflection...

[Church of the Nazarene]

Jesus told his disciples before he ascended into Heaven, "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows" [John 16:33], but He promised, "I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart!  And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives.  So don't be troubled or afraid." [John 14:27] TLB 

No Jesus, No Peace

Know Jesus, Know Peace.

In the Old Testament the Lord promised Joshua "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.  [Joshua 1:5]  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." [Joshua 1:9]  NIV

When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace...

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand,  

all other ground is sinking sand.
[Lyrics by Edward Mote based on Matthew 7:24-27]

May God bless your week!

Michigan Historical Museum

Happy Friday the 13th!  As promised in my Veteran's Day post on Wednesday [Rosie the Riveter], I'm sharing photos from our visit to the Michigan Historical Museum in today's post - our destination after we left the Capitol Building just a few blocks away.  I visited the historical museum with my girlfriend in 2011, so this visit was a lovely review for me.

There are three floors of fabulous historical displays for the students to see.  It may seem like I photographed everything, but I really didn't.  

~ Recognition was given to Michigan's Motown ~

I remember saving S & H green stamps [and Gold Bell], and redeeming the filled books for merchandise, do you?

When I was growing up, our kitchen had Frigidaire turquoise appliances instead of pink. When I got married coppertone and avocado were the rage.  When we moved into our current house harvest gold was popular, and after a while we replaced those with almond. Black was popular for a time, and now stainless steel is the trend setter.  Throughout the colors, classic white has always been available.  What's in your kitchen?

The photos below were in the same area as Rosie the Riveter, and show the interior of the houses built at Willow Village.  

~ Notice the teapot and teacup sitting on the kitchen table. ~

~ A Victory Garden display ~

Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without!

My daughter loves Craftsman bungalows and she'd happily more into the one pictured below!

I promised I'd show some tea memorabilia, and the handle-less teacup and saucer below was from Henry Harrison's 1840 presidential campaign.

~ A tea caddy from an 1835 Michigan pioneer family. ~

~ A 1829 earthenware teapot made in Ann Arbor, MI ~

On one of the floors was a one-room schoolhouse, and Izzy appointed herself as the teacher.

I recently purchased a set of primer thru sixth grade McGuffey readers [reprints], so it was interesting to see them in the one-room school house.

~ Izzy ~

There was a display for S. S. Kresge [the forerunner of K-Mart], and I definitely remember shopping at Kresge's dime store with creaking wooden floors, soda and lunch counters, costume jewelry counters, a sundry of other products, and my favorite - the candy counter with the individual bins and scales for weighing the candy. 

~ J.L. Hudson's Department store was also recognized. ~

~ And lastly, a recreated Victorian house. ~

~ A human hair mourning wreath in the parlor. ~

I don't know which I enjoyed touring the most - the State Capitol or the Museum.  It was a great day!  Thanks for going along with me vicariously.

1,000th Blog Post

When I began blogging in January 2012, I never thought I'd have enough content to write one thousand posts.  But it happened today!

Thanks to those who have become an 'official' follower, and to those who read my blog regularly as an 'unofficial' follower. ;-)  A special thanks to everyone who have shown support by leaving comments. They are always greatly appreciated!

*  *  *

Happy Birthday to my hubby and grandson, Landon, who are also celebrating birthdays today!  #7 for Landon.

~ He loved his Giants football outfit from Papa and Nana ~

Happy Veteran's Day!

My hubby and brother are Air Force veterans, and my father was a WWII Marine Veteran [passed away in 2011].  I'm grateful to all veterans who have served to preserve the freedoms I enjoy.   God bless our military!

Today's Veteran's Day post has a different spin, however, because I'm focusing on "Rosie the Riveter."  She wasn't recruited into the military, but she was recruited to make munitions and war supplies, and work in aircraft factories during World War II.  Her work was crucial to the war effort. Movies, newspapers, and posters stressed the patriotic need for women to enter the work force, as partners in winning the war.  

"Rosie the Riveter" was the 'star' of a government propaganda campaign in that endeavor. The strong, bandanna-clad Rosie became one of the most successful recruitment tools in American history, and the most iconic image of working women in the WWII era.

On October 24, 2015, 2,090 "Rosie the Riveters" from 16 states and Canada assembled at the old Willow Run Bomber Plant in Ypsilanti Township, MI [where many "Rosies" worked during WWII] for the purpose of breaking the Guinness World Record of the largest gathering of women dressed as Rosie the Riveter [the previous record was 1,084 set in California in 2014].  

They succeeded on their mission, and had the honor of 43 "Original Rosies" in attendance.

[Internet Photos]

The rules stated the Rosies had to assemble in one place for at least five minutes.  As they gathered they sang the National Anthem, Amazing Grace, and America the Beautiful.  When the time expired, cheers erupted.  There are awesome internet videos of the event.

Yesterday when we toured the Michigan Historical Museum in Lansing, MI [following the tour of the Capitol Building], there was a section devoted to WWII and Rosie the Riveter. Below is granddaughter, Isabella, and me with with our head inserted into a Rosie poster.

~ Factory lockers were part of the display ~

~ WOW - Woman Ordnance Worker ~

When I attended an apron presentation a couple of weeks ago, there was a Rosie the Reviter apron in the collection, which inspired me to pursue the theme "Rosie the Riveter" for one of my 2016 presentations.  In addition to aprons, there are pins, polka-dot bandannas, T-shirts, tea towels, mugs, and other Rosie memorabilia available, so let the collecting and research begin!  To my knowledge, there has never been a tea blended in honor of Rosie the Riveter, but I think it would be an awesome idea, don't you?

Do you know a Rosie the Riveter?