Step Into My Time Machine and Enjoy the Beauty of the Past

A while back, my dear sister sent me a box of old photos of our family. Tucked deep inside the box was a treasure trove of tintype photos. Most of the photos are of friends of my Grandfather on my fathers side of the family.

My Grandfather was the paymaster for the Metropolitan Opera Company. He hung out with Enrico Caruso and apparently spent many weekends at Coney Island, splashing in the surf and hanging out with friends.

He wrote a book in 1937 called "Backstage At The Opera".

I have decides to make jewelry pieces of the people I don't recognise. I will put them up for sale in my Etsy Shop ( sweetlaraine.etsy.com )

The few pictures of my Grandfather and my beautiful Grandmother, I will save and make jewelry pieces for my granddaughters.

Seeing my Grandmothers sweet young face is a treasure. Both my Grandmothers died before I was born, so I never got to know them.

Cherish the time you have to spend with your grandchildren.

Have a wonderful day!

Laraine

Sunshine, Sea Shells and Old Glass Bottles

Just thought I would take a break from planting two yellow rose bushes, in my back yard, and post some cooling picks of sea shells and some of my vintage glass.

The recent rain has caused the plants to burst forth in all their glory. It inspires me to start putting some of my potted plants in the ground.

I have a glorious copper bougainvillea. I have still to find the right spot for it. The bougainvillea usually has reddish purple bracts, but this plant has a copperish gold bracts. The color is really quite striking.


Have a wonderful productive day.

Laraine

The Enchantment of a Vintage Girl

Dust Jacket Attic ( dustjacketattic.blogspot.com ) is such a wonderful place to go to be inspired. This particular photo shoot was done by Roman Leo. The photography is just simply beautiful. The colors and the textures are artfully chosen. I especially like the picture of the girl sitting on the rocks with the wolf below.

Have a wonderfully inspired day !
Laraine

Hot, Wet and Steamy

We have been suffering through a drought this spring, so when I heard we were getting rain I was overjoyed at the prospect of free water for the garden and the yard. Sure enough my daughter called from San Antonio with the news that they awoke in the middle of the night to thunder and lighting. The storm slowly moved toward the coast and when it hit down here, I was able to open all doors and windows. The air was cool and filled with moisture.

As the storm moved out across the gulf.....the sun came back out and now everything is hot, wet and steamy.

To the person who invented the air conditioner......all I can say is "Thank You."

Have a great day !
Laraine

The Lucky Number 8 Card

I never cease to be amazed as to how blessed I really am. I have a really good life. I just went to my new Doctor and was told I will live to be 100. I don't have much stress in my life and I have been sleeping better. I always seem to have enough money to meet my needs. I have two stores on Etsy.com and I sell the most unusual things on eBay and Amazon.

There is a woman called "The Numbers Lady" , I have forgotten her name but I am sure if you google "the numbers lady" she will come up. She is a regular guest on the radio program "Coast to Coast AM" and she says the number 8 is a lucky money number. So.....I created several number 8 cards to carry with me in my wallet and to sell on my "sweetlaraine.etsy.com" store.

The number 8 card is an affirmation card. Each time you open your wallet, you are supposed to say......"I have enough money to meet my needs. I pay my bills on time. I am truly blessed." I believe in the power of positive thinking. It is working for me.

Have a wonderful day!
Laraine

Cat gets caught barking by a human and resumes meowing

This just totally cracks me up ! My kelly cat is very large and has the tiniest little meow and an almost silent purr. I have two lawn chairs in the backyard under a pink crepe myrtle tree. Kelly now sleeps in one of the chairs. I really hate putting him out at night but I already sleep with two dogs on the bed and a very large cat would just be too much.

Have a wonderful Fathers Day!

Laraine

Hurricane Ally Waterpark to be Built - KiiiTV3.com South Texas, Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend

Hurricane Ally Waterpark to be Built - KiiiTV3.com South Texas, Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend

There will be a large area for small children with a replica of the Lexington with water cannons on top so the children can shoot at the smaller boats that surround the larger aircraft carrier. There will also be three to five story slides for the crazy kids who have no fear.

It is my hope that the finished product will be family friendly.....not too expensive.... and not allowed to get run down. Corpus Christi has been trying to come into the 20th century, but has always been held back by old timers who want to keep Corpus Christi a small fishing village. Also, some small minded people can not stand the fact that someone else might make some money. Couple that with a segment of the population that thinks nothing of changing a baby diaper and tossing it along side the road or on the ground where ever they might be.

We had such a good time at the Aquatic Center last week. The center was clean, had many life guards on duty and the people were friendly and respectful of their surroundings.

I hope this project goes forward and works out well for the city.

Have a great day!!

Laraine

Fun at the Aquatic Center

My beautiful daughter and grandchildren came down for a little visit with Grandmom. Early Friday we did some goodwill shopping and found some wonderful treasures. In the afternoon, I took them to the Aquatic center in the next town. Besides having slides and diving boards for the big kids.....they have a large shallow pool with many water spouting attractions for the little kids. We had a real blast and I must say Grandmom was ready for bed by 6:00 oclock. I did't wake up untill after 10:00 oclock this morning.

I must reluctanly admit, I no longer have the stamina to run after little ones.

Have a great day.....I'm going back to bed.

Laraine

The Dance of the Gypsies

'Dance of The Gypsies' by ghostgap

I have a Halloween shop and My favorite costume as a child was when I was a gypsy so I wanted to make a gypsy treasury. I included some doll clothes, paintings, costumes, and gypsy jewelery. I hope you like my treausury as much as I do.

Gypsy Art, Gypsy Moon F... artfulgypsy $19.00	Gypsy Fortune Teller, V... BlackberryDesi... $78.00	Topsy Turvy Doll, Victo... bybarbarabell $65.00
Gypsy Tarot Card Artist... kellybeesplace $6.00	gypsy hoop earrings sil... 2TrickPony $54.00	NEW renaissance COSTUME... thehappycamper $160.00
SALE Sage Gypsy Star Ea... ExpressionsByC... $14.40	ARIEL ON EARTH - Boho G... fantasyclothes $39.00	Tea leaf reading room o... cappysue $35.00
Aries Gypsy collage pai... market05 $100.00	young gypsy dancer pain... azadiart $16.50	Special Order for A : G... 2Kmama $
Major Arcana 22 Origina... sweetlaraine $225.00	Gypsy Fingers - silver ... TheQueensDowry $16.00	Pink Rose SEER Crystal ... beautyinadivin... $111.00
Barbie Dress - Gypsy Da... SlightlySpiced $11.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

My beautiful Gypsy Handmade Tarot Cards have been featured in the beautiful treasury.

Have a wonderful day !

Laraine

A Blessed Memorial Day

I do hope your Memorial Day was quietly blessed by remembering the many heroes who died for the freedom we now enjoy. I spent the day watching war movies on TV and even managed to do a little yard work in the cool of the day.

Poor Kelly came home with a bulge on his cheek near his eye. It does not seem to cause him any pain.....so I will just keep an eye on it for now.

Update: Kelly came in this morning with blood on his cheek. The bulge was most likely a cyst that burst. I cleaned it up with Listerine ( my favorite germ killer ) and Kelly is now sleeping soundly on my workbench.

Have a great day !

Laraine