Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Life in the Olden Days




I just read this quote on a beautiful blog.http://blissfulb.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-happy-place-quote.html. I had to re-post it. It says so well what I and many of my friends and family discuss often. It's a little long but read it please, shut off the electronics and go outside......

According to today's regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s or even the early 80s, probably shouldn't have survived. Our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paint. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors, or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets. (Not to mention the risks we took hitchhiking).

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat. We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. Horrors! We ate cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we were never overweight because we were always outside playing. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of wood scraps and fruit crates and then rode down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem. We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

Now one was able to reach us by cell phone. Unthinkable! We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes, no video games at all, no ninety-nine channels on cable, videotape movies, surround sound, personal cell phones, personal computers, or Internet chat rooms. We had neighborhood friends! We played dodge ball, and sometimes, the ball would really hurt. We played other games such as Kick the Can and Capture the Flag. We fell out of trees, got cut, and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. They were accidents. No one was to blame but us.

We had fights and punched each other and got black and blue and learned to get over it. We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate worms, and although were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes, nor did worms live inside us forever. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the door, or rang the bell or just walked in. Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.

Some of us weren't as smart as others, so we failed a grade and were held back to repeat the same grade. Horrors! Tests were not adjusted for any reason. Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected, no one to hide behind. The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law. Imagine that! This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem solvers and inventors, ever.
-ANONYMOUS

Friday, March 12, 2010

An Irish Tea





I have done some rearranging after selling my cupboard. I have a cute little Irish tea and some Frenchie moments. Stop by for a visit, do some shopping and of course have one of Mark's amazing pastries and coffees. I'll be there from 9-12 but as usual if you need to satisfy your shopping appetite at another time just give me a call or pop me a note and I'll find a time that I can open just for you!

KATH

Monday, March 8, 2010

Good Weekend






I had such a nice weekend. My Daughter, her BF, my hubby and I went to Ikea and Woodfield mall and out to an AMAZING dinner at Rosebud http://www.rosebudrestaurants.com/. The best Italian food I have had in years. Sorry no pics, way to dark and romantic in there for that.

Then right before we went into the wildness that is IKEA on a Saturday afternoon I got a call from my friend Jen, who was watching my booth, that I sold a big piece of furniture and a great huge cherub lamp I had in my Saturday Flea space. YIPEE!!! I really didn't want to have to move all of those great pieces back home once the Flea is over at the end of March. All of my furniture is 15% off until the end of March so if you have had your eye on something now's the time!

It just feels like change is in the air doesn't it? Is it Spring coming, or the light changing, or even articles talking about the economy getting better? I don't know, or even really care, I just need a change, an oomph, a shot of adrenaline, a kick in the as# or something. It has been a looong February that's all I know.

I am still trying to decide on my calendar for the upcoming season and I know, I know, its time to figure it out. Soon I promise. What is that term the Victorians used, ennui? I think I caught it. Could it have been trapped in some of my Victorian goodies? I think some real live sunshine will kick it out and that seems to be appearing more and more every day, so I can only hope.

OK, so enough whining and rambling. Let's dream of flowers, creativity flowing from our fingertips, and lots of sales of antiques. I included some pics of flowers from my garden last year. I just need a weekend digging in the dirt and all will be well.

kath