60TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION --- CONTINUED

Saturday morning dawned bright and beautiful.  It was a good thing, as we had a ton of work to do to get ready for the celebration at our church in the afternoon.

Bob and Wyatt headed out at 7:15 to attend the monthly church men's breakfast with the Suburban full of decorations, etc.  Our kids, Mike and Jenni, and I followed at 9:00 with two cars full of stuff!

With the help of some of my 'Church Lady Friends', we set up the tables with decorations and displays.

Each of the 10 round tables were decorated with small quilts and garden flower arrangements.

I had been working on the quilts a couple of years just for this occasion.

Bob had made several wooden boxes to add to our collection of antique wooden boxes to hold the flower arrangements.

The Christian Service Committee did a wonderful job helping with the food and serving duties. 

 Thanks to more of my 'Church Lady Friends'.




A note about the cake --- 60 years ago our cake was made by Schuster's Bakery in Pueblo, Colorado which is still in business today.

This is the original!  The bakery was excited when we came in with a picture to order the cake for the 60th.  They don't make tiered cakes anymore, but agreed to do sheet cakes and one round cake with our original topper for us to cut for the reception.

It was decorated in the same manner as 60 years ago, as were the sheet cakes.

We set it on a cake stand that my father had made in his 1931 high school shop class.

We set up several memorabilia displays, including my wedding dress.

My wedding veil with a picture of me and my daughter who also wore the veil at her wedding 22 years ago.

A table with my going away suit, shoes and purse plus Bob's tie.  The pink aprons were worn by aunts who cut the cake at our original reception.  The apron was made out of the same fabric as the bridesmaid dresses.  The girls also wore embroidered ribbon headbands that matched the sashes on their dresses.

Treat bags contained 'monster cookies', a family tradition.
Another table had more wedding pictures and newspaper clippings, guest book, and book listing wedding gifts.

After a morning of preparation, we held a family lunch with Bob's two sisters and the rest of the immediate family.

(Thanks to Beel Photography for the great pictures!)  Enough for this post!  In my next post, I'll conclude with a few crowd pictures at the reception and a couple family photos.

I'm joining the following:
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60th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

After a couple of months planning our 60th wedding anniversary celebration, it is over!  But, the wonderful memories of our friends and family in celebration with us will remain.

On Friday morning, with our granddaughter Caitlin, we went to a produce farm of friends.  In June they had said that when we were ready for flowers, we were welcome to anything in their gardens.  We picked and picked our favorite fall flowers of zinnias, black-eyed Susans, lavender, etc.  Our thanks to Steve and Cathy for their generosity. 

Caitlin and I then proceeded to put together 18 table arrangements.  The best part was that I didn't realize how talented Caitlin was in arranging the blooms.  I just let her have at it!

We spent the afternoon together talking about my wedding ---

 and her dreams ---

In her Princess Bride costume I made her for
Halloween one year.

She painted my nails while we talked; then finished up other details for the party on Saturday.  It was a special day with my favorite and only granddaughter!  Bob and grandson, Wyatt, had their time together also.  After school, they drove to Pueblo to pick up the wedding cake for Saturday's celebration.

We completed the day with a family dinner at our favorite local Mexican food restaurant including our son, Mike; daughter Jenni and her husband Gary; grandson Wyatt; and Caitlin with her boyfriend Andy.  

Big day on Saturday ---- to be continued.


I'm joining the following:
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Confessions of a Plate Addict for The Scoop Tuesday
Our Home Away From Home for Tuesdays at our Home
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday

A LABOR OF LOVE

60 years ago today, Bob and I got married -- a milestone today that I didn't even imagine possible in our youth.  Below is a copy of the blog post I wrote 3 years ago on our 57th anniversary which happened to be on Labor Day that year.

 Here is what I was thinking that day so many years ago.

Thought #1:  I remember waking up being thankful it was a beautiful day.  The reception after the ceremony was to be at my parent's house; which was big, but still couldn't accommodate 300 people.  The overflow was going to be in the backyard.  I knew I needed to talk to Bob first thing on the phone to see if he was as nervous as I was (he was!).  The rest of the morning and early afternoon was a blur.  Maybe a little too much celebrating the evening before at the rehearsal party!

Thought #2:  Arriving at the church, I couldn't believe how beautiful it looked -- and the smell with all of those fresh flowers was, indeed, heavenly.

Thought #3:  My mother (on my right) looked so beautiful in that emerald green peau-de-soie silk dress.  Our wedding was the day after her 39th birthday -- I thought she was pretty and young enough to be the bride.

September 7, 1958

Thought #4:  And there was Bob -- I couldn't believe he wanted to marry ME.  He was one of the 'popular' boys in our class - you know -- Senior Class President, jock, etc.  I was just one of the 'smart' kids.  But, I knew nothing about marriage and how to make it work.  I did know, however, he deserved my best efforts.   His family and mine lived on the same street, two doors down from each other.  All of the little old ladies on the block didn't think it would last -- we were so young.

And so, I learned to make meat loaf, bake a potato, and fix a salad!  
And, he kept all of his promises to me.

 The rest is history with a lot of meat loaf along the way.

It's been a "Labor of Love"!

We've truly been blessed.

Now I'm off to finish preparations for our big hoopla/reception to be held tomorrow for our friends and family to join in celebration with us!!
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Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday

LIFE'S SIMPLE PLEASURES ---- NEW FLUFFY BLUE TOWELS

FOURTH OF JULY, 2018

 The display above is in our entry way and contains postcards, flags, and memorabilia that belonged to my great grandparents, grandparents and parents.

Our day was filled with quiet --- I spent the day sewing; it was a peaceful way to celebrate my freedom.

There were very few fireworks allowed in our state, none in our small town, due to the wildfires raging in Colorado.

Just a day of prayer for the victims, and thankfulness for those whose property has been spared.

Yesterday, I worked on this little 6" quilt to hold pins for safe keeping that I have inherited from my family.  The family was always politically active in hopes to preserve our freedoms for their descendants.  Pins include a Carrie Nation hatchet pin that was my great-grandmothers, my uncle's WWII dog tag and ribbon, and other political pins worn my father and grandfather.

Hope your Fourth was equally as peaceful and joyful as mine.

I'm joining the following:
Have a Daily Cup for Share your Cup Thursday

SUMMER ACTIVITY

I've spent so much time on the computer the last couple of weeks that writing a blog post hasn't been in the plan.  The reason ----

1958

We're going to be celebrating our 60th wedding anniversary in September with a hoopla/celebration/reception.  I'm trying to get a start on some details, so that I won't be overwhelmed at the time.  Therefore, I have been sorting through 1000s of photos from the last 80 years to prepare a power-point presentation of our life.

1939

1939

My goal ---- I need to keep it under 10 minutes to then recirculate in a background location.  I don't want the presentation to be out there in your face, as it will probably only be of interest to close family. 
                     
                                  
There are cute pictures of babies, but also a few sad pictures.

2006

1968

1996

2002

And, there are photos that just tell the story of our wonderful, blessed life.

1975

1961

 

1986

Back to the computer grind; I'm almost through with this detail!

2018

Next up, I must finish four quilting projects (one donation quilt and three baby gifts), in order to clear my schedule for August and the first part of September.

However, I mustn't forget to look outside and enjoy our 
blooming roses ----

I'm joining Jann Olson at Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday.  Stop by and enjoy her fun, entertaining blog.

I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF -------

two of my favorite things:

quilts -----

"PARK LANE VISTA", 1992

and brown transferware ----

and together, they really 

 'trip my trigger'!!

TABLE RUNNER: "DA GAMA", 2016; ASSORTED TRANSFERWARE PLATTERS

QUILT: "CACTUS FLOWER", 2017; WASH BOWL: BENEDICK PATTERN, c.1880s

TABLE RUNNER: "CRAZY QUILT", 2016; ASSORTED PLATTERS, c. 1880s

QUILT: "FLYING GEESE", 2016; SOUP TUREEN AND PLATTER:
 ROSALINE PATTERN; ASSORTED SOUP BOWLS, 19TH CENTURY

QUILT: "SUNDAY DRIVE", 1995; PITCHER AND BOWL:
 SYLVAN PATTERN. c. 1885

QUILT: "CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES, 2000;
CHAMBER POT: UNMARKED, c.1880s

QUILT: 9-PATCH TABLE RUNNER; BOTTOM PLATE: GRINDLEY, 1880s; SALAD PLATE: MIGNON,
 19th CENTURY; CUP AND SAUCER: CLARICE CLIFF, 20th CENTURY

ASSORTED QUILTED TABLE RUNNERS; ASSORTED 19th CENTURY TRANSFERFARE

QUILT: "GOING WEST-LOG CABIN", 2017;
 PLATES: PERAK, 1880s; BONE DISH: SYLVAN, 1885

If you are interested in more posts on the transferware, click here, here, and here.
For more on my quilts, check out my quilting blog - http://qbits-salmagundi.blogspot.com/

I'm joining the following:
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Pieced Pastimes for Saturday Sparks
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Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
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My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday

REMEMBERING MOTHER ----

My mother and I had a wonderful, easy-going relationship for 55 years.  She had graduated from Junior College at age 17, married at 18, and had me, her only child, at 19.

We grew up together!

She always took great care of my physical needs, including the bane of her existence -- my unruly, curly, cowlick-laden hair.  I learned to sit still at an early age while she tried to work her magic on my hair.  For years and years into my adulthood, she would still lovingly touch my hair.

THE hair at age 3!

We were always a great shopping duo, probably because she was always so generous.  Guess I was just a little spoiled!

But, she also gave me the confidence to know I could accomplish anything I wanted. 

When I went to grade school, she realized her dream of having a job and using her education.  She enjoyed a career that spanned 40 years advancing in the federal government. This is a picture of Mother at her retirement party.

But, she never forgot about the responsibilities of motherhood.  She was always there for me, and she thoroughly enjoyed my kids. I know, had she lived, she would have delighted in my grandchildren, also.

 I don't have a single picture of her and me in later years --- I was always the one taking the pictures, and regrettably missed the opportunity to have one taken of us together.

I miss you, Mother, every day!

(After having both a biological child, and an adopted child, I was told, "Caring and sharing, not bearing, makes you a Mother.")

So, to all women out there, Happy Mother's Day!

CHERRY BLOSSOMS AND LILACS -- SPRING?

I'm assuming that Spring has arrived in our part of Colorado as our cherry tree and the lilacs are in bloom.  But you never know as it is dreary out and the temperature tonight is to drop into the 30s.

I cut some blossoms just in case Mother Nature decides to change her mind again.

This weekend our town is celebrating the 80th anniversary of "Blossom Festival".  However, it has been known to snow on blossom weekend in the past.  Looking back when our daughter was part of the Blossom Festival Court, it snowed on the Saturday parade; but was beautiful for the Sunday parade.

A favorite picture and memory of Jenni's High School years.

Congratulations to this year's court ---- and may the sun shine on your parade!!!