Finally we are home after driving over 7,000 miles in the last 6 weeks. First we drove to CA and back and then to FL and back. Both trips were wonderful, full of family, exploring and shopping for vintage stuff. But we are happy to be in our own home again with our own bed and all our own stuff to amuse us.
The last trip to FL was fun. I got to spend quality time with Kurtis and Kelsey, my oldest grandkids. What great young people they are. Because they are my first grandkids, they have always been very, very special to me. Their mom and her significant other, Ted, couldn't have been better hosts. Love those two. Tobey played tour guide and cooked some great meals. Ted took John fishing multiple times. Everyone had a good time.
As always we stopped at every Antique Mall and brought home a trunk load of goodies. It isn't a good feeling though when i see the stuff of my childhood being sold as vintage and antique. The everyday dishes my mom used are everywhere. The all-wood Fisher Price toys my kids played with are often in booths. In one shop I spotted this dress below.
It was the same dress that I wore for my cousin's wedding when I was 12. I am the gawky girl on the right.
It makes me feel, shall we say, mature, too mature, to find my past for sale as vintage.
It is beginning to look like Fall here in OHio. The trees are beginning to change color and the nights are chilly. I love the Fall colors. Be prepared to see more photos as the season progresses.
We partied over at son Tim's yesterday for his birthday and for his son Joey's birthday. I have mentioned before what a wonderful family my daughter-in-law Karen has. The generations all intermingle and enjoy each other just as they should. We overflowed into the patio from the house and as it got chilly, Tim built a big fire in his fire pit. He wasn't prepared to do this so everything that could burn was utilized. I called it the recession fire. It reminded me of photos of the depression when everything that wasn't absolutely essential was burned for warmth.
So now that things are back to normal here at the Smallenburg abode, I will be back to blogging more often.
You look beautiful in that blue dress Ginny! Glad you had enjoyable travels.... and looking forward to seeing mare fall photos over the next few months!
Posted by: Rachel Greig | Sunday, 11 October 2009 at 03:59 PM
Gawky??? Are you kidding? You're totally glam in that dress!
Posted by: Michele | Sunday, 11 October 2009 at 04:22 PM
that's exactly how I feel - while visiting antique/vintage stores and seeing pyrex, dishes and the like that we got for wedding presents 30 years ago last month!
I am not that old... am I?
Posted by: nancy | Sunday, 11 October 2009 at 05:39 PM
Gawky - uh, I don't think so! You looked fabulous! Welcome back and glad you two enjoyed yourselves!
Posted by: Connie Lutz | Sunday, 11 October 2009 at 07:59 PM