Sunday, November 9, 2014

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2008. Mattie was in the child life playroom at the Hospital with Linda, his child life specialist. Linda understood that Mattie needed to be busy and thrived on having responsibility. That day the Hospital received a large donation of toys. Linda had closed the playroom in order to sort the toys and store them appropriately. However she allowed Mattie into the room with her to assist. She knew on some level that he would like feeling unique and special as her helper and she was indeed correct!


Quote of the day: Whatever is at the center of our life will be the source of our security, guidance, wisdom, and power. ~ Stephen Covey

Peter and I brought several of our plants inside today. With the weather changing rapidly and the predicted forecast of 20 degree temperatures for the upcoming weekend, several of our green friends needed immediate attention. This afternoon, we went to an antique shop to begin Christmas shopping. We do this annually and always visit this particular store. In fact, Peter knows one of the women who works at the store, which is ironic. When Peter worked for Arthur Anderson, one of his clients was the World Bank. This woman is a World Bank employee, yet on the weekends she works in this shop. Each time we visit the shop, they have a chance to reconnect!

While rummaging around the store, I decided to take a few photos. Mainly because what is intriguing about antiques stores to me is they capture a by-gone era. It is a walk through time. As I was going down one aisle this cabinet filled with women's gloves and linens caught my attention. Women dressed so differently at one time. I can only imagine what it must have been like to have to wear hats and gloves! I think some how there must have been something quite refined and elegant about seeing a woman's outfit finished off with such detail!

This clothing rack was an eye opener because it was comprised of all children's clothes! When we think of such items today, they look SO different. Now everything goes right in the washing machine and most definitely needs no ironing. Very different from back then! The materials were different and of course the styles were night and day.  

The hats got me. All kinds of women's hats! There were purses too. Somehow when you look at these items you want to imagine where these items were worn, who wore them, and the stories behind them. 

At one point, Peter came to find me while I was in the store. He wanted to show me this poster of the Grand Princess. Which in 1998 was the largest cruise ship afloat. In fact, Peter and I voyaged on this ship with my parents in July of 1998, to celebrate Peter's graduation from Georgetown University with his MBA. The beauty of this poster is it compared the ship to a 747 plane. Which is a large plane, but in comparison to the ship, is SMALL!

One of the items I came home with today was this plate. This plate caught my attention. I happen to love china and collect it! I have all sorts of sets. These particular china plates came as a set and each plate had a different scene on it that was illustrated by Kate Greenaway. In all reality I wanted to buy each plate, but I only purchased this special one, because it was a limited edition. Kate Greenaway was an English children's writer and illustrator who died at the early age of 55 from breast cancer. 

On the back of the plate it says......Children's lives are a series of first experiences.

Somehow the illustration and the sentiments of the back just spoke to me!

While Peter was speaking to his friend at the store, I looked down in the cabinet and saw this butterfly pin. To me that was a sign! Naturally this pin came home with me and was added to my pin collection!