School Days, School Days..Dear Old Golden Rule Days...

Well, school started in our area Monday for the most part.  We used to start school after Labor Day and it always seemed like fall was in the air.  We chose fall plaids and prints for our school dresses. Everyone had to put their new school shoes on after a whole summer of going barefoot and the boys had new stiff blue jeans and fall shirts.  Getting new clothes, shoes, school supplies, and a new lunch kit complete with Thermos bottle and a new book "satchel" was so exciting.  We could hardly wait for the first day of school to wear the new clothes and carry our new items to school. We often sang snippets of the old song "School Days" as we walked to school. 

School days, school days
Dear old golden rule days
Readin' and 'ritin' and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hickory stick 

You can see the rest of the song Here.  I don't remember singing any but the first part and knew it was old, just not how old. 1907, Wow!

The ESN scavenger hunt this week is "Back to School"  I have always had a fascination with life in the 1800's.  I   tell my kids that in my previous life, I was a pioneer settling the American West. I don't really believe that, but my not too distant ancestors on my dad's side were pioneer settlers in Texas and my mother's family tree springs from Germany.  Those people settled in South Texas. Anyway, I am intrigued with the concept of the one room school house,  the McGuffey's Readers, the BlueBack speller and when I found this Stoddard's Practical Arithmetic at Comyc Gyrl Collectibles, I just had to include it. 

Antique Stoddard's Arithmetic

Now, I am a private tutor.  I love working with the students one-on-one.  I am always looking for something that is fun but basic. This Everyday Mathmatics workbook from Eccentric Thrifter just might have some pages that I could use.

Everyday Mathematics

And this book "100 words every high school freshman should know" from Bargain Express, looks like some thing to recommend for every high school freshman as a must have reference book

100 Words

Even though school rooms have changed over the years--From slates to blackboards to green chalkboards to dry erase (white)boards, from one room schools to huge school facilities, from simple books that may have been shared or passed down from student to student to overhead projectors to computers and kindles, from carrying lunch in a syrup bucket to lunch kits with Thermoses to hot lunch served at school each day, and many other changes--the basics are still the same:  Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic (or Math) and how to get along with your classmates and follow the rules. 

It seems the more things change, the more they stay the same. 

Be sure to shop the stores at ESN for whatever you are looking for--for back to school, up coming holidays, home decor, good books, jewelry, clothes, toys, what-have-you.  You'll be glad you did!

Block Party, Reunion, or Dinner on the Grounds

The ESN scavenger hunt this week has to do with Block Parties.  Well, we in small town America don't have much experience with Block Parties. We are more familiar with Family Reunions and  Pot Luck Dinners--or as some would say "Dinner on the Grounds" after Sunday Services. Along with Block Parties, these are occasions for people to get together and enjoy food and fellowship. The food is always outstanding since everyone brings their best carry along dish--and there is always plenty to eat. I looked for items that would be useful for an outdoor barbeque, a Block Party, reunion, or Pot Luck Dinner. 

Here are a few of the things I found among the ESN scavenger hunter stores:

You always need salt and pepper shakers on the tables and these plastic ones from ComycGyrl Collectibles fill the bill. They are available in green or blue. Maybe use both sets on two different tables? ComycGyrl has lots of collectible salt and pepper shakers.

Great deal at ComycGyrl Collectibles.

What could be cooler than this Avon basket to hold the silverware on your serving table?  CarolinaBlueLady has so many vintage Avon items. This is only one.

Available from Carolina BlueLady

Eccentric Thrifter solves the problem of what to wear to the Block Party or Reunion with these floral capris.
She has a big selection of casual clothing.

Listed by Eccentric Thrifter

As usual there is no shortage of whatever you might be looking for in the ESN stores.

Happy shopping!  And Happy Eating at your next big "get together" whether it be with neighbors at a Block Party, relatives at a reunion, or Church Family at a potluck dinner.

Also, don't forget to check out our store:  Hazel's HodgePodge.

Did your grandma have a candy dish?

This week's scavenger hunt topic is Candy.  Everybody loves candy. Do you know anyone who doesn't like some kind of candy?  I got to thinking about all the beautiful dishes that people used to have. Almost every home had a special candy dish. Especially, older people when I was a child during the 1950's. It might be a bowl with a lid or a flatter plate like dish; it might be rather plain or very ornate; but it was special.  Did your grandma have a special candy dish?  We would like to hear about it and your memories.
I found this really special story about one person's "candy dish" experience.  I hope your experience was better, but this person does have her candy dish and can use it to make more and happier memories for the younger generations.
Yahoo asked: " Did your grandma have a candy dish?" and got multiple answers.  Seems families had all kinds of candy dishes filled with all kinds of candy.
Click HERE for another sweet memory of candy dishes and candy from the Gaga Sisterhood.  All you present day Grandma's may want to have a look at this site.
We spent most weekends of my childhood at my paternal grandmother's house. She and my aunt, who lived with her,  had a tall pink glass dish with a lid that they kept filled with candy.  It was a bowl on a  pedestal and the lid had a tall knob on top.  I recall it often had gum drops in it. Sometimes at Halloween, it was filled with corn candy.  I remember it sitting on the fireplace mantel.  Bro and I were often treated to the candy.  Since we were rather late in life children, and the only grandchildren and niece and nephew on that side of the family, I think we were a bit spoiled.  I wonder if Bro has that candy dish stored away with all the family keepsakes?!?
I also remember a plastic tree that Auntie got when I was 10 or so. It stood on a plastic dish and each twig of the tree was a point where you could put a gum drop.  The plate was also filled with gumdrops. This was a colorful centerpiece on the dining table.
I don't recall Mama ever having a candy dish. I more remember her cookie jar that graced the kitchen counter. Hers was a clown whose head was the lid.  It was often filled with homemade cookies.
Oh, the memories!

Here are some beautiful candy dishes I located among the ESN scavenger hunter stores.

Unique Blue Swan Candy Dish at Carolina Blue Lady.

Beautiful orange candy dish at ComycGyrl Collectibles.

A more contemporary M & M dish from Bargain Express

Lastly, searching for candy themed items I found this reminiscent of  an old time candy store.

New Sealed Springbok Puzzle: Candy Galore at Eccentric Thrifter.

Whether you collect glass, novelty items, cookbooks, or whatever, you can find something to fit your needs or add to your collection among the stores on ESN.

Accessories???

The ESN scavenger hunt this week is Accessories.  My first thought on this was of clothing accessories; shoes, hats, jewelry.  Way back when, we got a new Sunday-go-to meeting outfit every Easter.  Mama usually made our dresses. In fact, I don't recall Mama ever buying a ready made dress; maybe an occasional pair of western cut pants, or a winter coat, but never a dress.  I had some store boughten dresses but seems that my aunt was responsible for those. Of course, Auntie sewed for me, too, but she did sometimes buy a dress. But Accessories were something else.  Each Sunday outfit had to have special shoes, bag, hat, and gloves to accessorize it.  Shopping for these items was a special treat.  We would go up and down Houston Street in San Antonio, from store to store, trying on shoes and looking for just the right ones to complete our outfit.

Looking for accessories on ESN, I found accessories for American Girl Dolls.  And patterns for kitchen accessories.  I got to thinking about the shows I love to watch on HGTV and how they use accessories-lamps, pillows, knick-knacks, etc.- to finish out the decor. That led me to realize that here in the music store, we say that we have musical intstruments and accessories.  Those accessories are things like guitar strings, reeds, drumsticks, stands, straps, what have you. I googled accessories and found accessories for all kinds of electronic devices. 
I looked up the definition of "accessories" and here is what I found:
ac·ces·so·ry noun /akˈses(ə)rē/ 


accessaries, plural; accessories, plural
1.A thing that can be added to something else in order to make it more useful, versatile, or attractive

- a range of bathroom accessories

2.A small article or item of clothing carried or worn to complement a garment or outfit

- among the hottest items are hair accessories such as rhinestone-studded barrettes

3.Someone who gives assistance to the perpetrator of a crime, without directly committing it, sometimes without being present

- she was charged as an accessory to murder

adjective /akˈses(ə)rē/ 

1.Contributing to or aiding an activity or process in a minor way; subsidiary or supplementary

- functionally the maxillae are a pair of accessory jaws



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Web definitions

clothing that is worn or carried, but not part of your main clothing
a supplementary component that improves capability

accessary: aiding and abetting in a crime; "he was charged with being accessory to the crime"


With these definitions in mind, I went back to look at the ESN photos again and found some items that will add beauty to your decor.

I found some neat garden accessories, including this garden gnome at Barb's Bargains.

Here's a really unusual and neat accessory, a brass door knocker from Eccentric  Thrifter.

And of course, you can count on Carolina Blue Lady to have some beautiful accessories for your home such as this Magnolia Bell.

Going back in time, I found this crochet pattern book for bed and bath accessories from Bargain Express.

Whatever kind of accessories you might be looking for--except those giving assistance in crime--take a look at the ESN ProStores.  Chances are, you'll find something to add beauty or usefulness to your life.

Royal Purple

ESN scavenger hunt this week is for things purple.
Purple--the color of royalty!
Purple is one of my favorite colors.  Since I have a "fall" complexion, it is a color I love to wear.
There are so many shades of purple from the palest feminine lavender to the deep dark purples of the egg plant.
Here are some of the purple items I found on ESN this week:

What can you find in purple on ESN?

1. A super cute flower girl hat from Embroidery Fashions Boutique.

2. Wall decor from Walls that Talk.  And these are available in your choice of colors, not just purple.

Classy and fabulous quote and butterfly.

3. Ladies Long Sleeved Merino shirt in purple and lavender plaid from Eccentric Thrifter.
4. Also from Eccentric Thrifter is this adult purple knit toboggan cap. They also have toboggans and other hand knit hats in assorted colors.
5.  Beautiful white porcelain enesco plate is available at Carolina Blue Lady.
6. Also the silk wool thread from Barb's Bargains has some beautiful shades of purple included.

Whatever your favorite color, take a look at the photos at ESN. You are sure to find what you are looking for.  Happy Shopping!

Vintage-- Just what is vintage?

The scavenger hunt at ESN this week is for Vintage pieces.

This got me to thinking about "just what is vintage?"
I decided to do a little research.
This is what I found.
First, I did a dictionary search of the word: Vintage
I found that it mostly, or primarily, refers to wine. 
Here are some definitions of Vintage as an adjective.  I think in describing our items we usually use "Vintage" as an adjective.
6. (of wine) of an outstandingly good year
7. representative of the best and most typical: vintage Shakespeare
8. of lasting interest and importance; venerable; classic: vintage films
9. old-fashioned; dated

I also found some who claim that the term "vintage" is over-used.  It probably is.  I know, I was not really aware of the nuances of vintage. Maybe we tend to use it as "old fashioned and dated" rather than as "representative of the best" of an era.  There seems to be a consensus that vintage items must be well made.Some sources say that vintage items should be at least 40-50 years old.  Others say at least 20 years old.  I also get the idea that a vintage item should be listed with a date or at least a date range, like 1950's.

It is pretty standard to consider that an antique must be 100 years old.  This has always fascinated me, because things that were not considered antiques when I was a child can now be antiques.  In fact, I have quite a few pieces of antique reproduction furniture that I acquired new in the 1960's and 1970's.  I have joked that it is wasn't a real antique when I got it; but I've had it so long that it is now--or soon will be.  I wonder now how these reproduction pieces fit into the "vintage" "retro", "antique" scheme of things.
Here is one take on antique vs. vintage furniture. As you can see here, not everything old is vintage.
Apartment Therapy also offers some insights into the difference between antique and vintage.

With all this in mind, I searched ESN photos for "vintage" items.

Carolina Blue Lady has a number of vintage Avon pieces listed. These are from the 1980's which at this point qualifies as vintage, using the 20 year old criteria.
One example is this 1984 Avon Christmas Lyre Ornament

which you can purchase here

Carolina Blue Lady also has some lovely vintage glass pieces available.

I found that Bargain Express has several sets of vintage Salt and Pepper Shakers. Even though there is no date listed, they are "made in Japan" which puts them well back in time. One example is this bird/pheasant nodder set.

Look here to get details and/or purchase.

You can also find vintage collectible coins at Bargain Express.

ComycGyrl has several Easter Cards that are described as Antique.  There are also a number of pieces of vintage glasssware including some neat collectible character glasses and advertising collectibles in her store.
Here is one of the antique cards:

See it in more detail here.

If you are interested in the good quality old "vintage" things or in collectibles of any sort, or even antique items take a look at ESN.  You are likely to find what you are looking for plus many ecrater shopkeepers are even happy to look for that special item for you. Of course, I would like for you to check out my store, Hazel's HodgePodge soon.

"There is Sunshine in My Soul Today"

Oh, the beautiful sunshine! We've had 4 glorious days of sunshine all in a row.  This has been such a dreary cold winter that the sun seems such a blessing.  Even when the temps are still cool, it feels so much better when the sun shines. And each day is warmer than the one before. We have actually had no heat running today and the doors open for a while .
 At church Sunday, Hubby even lead the hymn, "There is Sunshine in My Soul Today!"  How appropriate!?!
"There is sunshine in my soul today,
More glorious and bright
Than glows in any earthly sky,
For Jesus is my light,
o there's sunshine blessed sunshine
While the peaceful, happy moments roll;
When Jesus shows His smiling face,
There is sunshine in my soul."

I also like "Heavenly Sunlight". 
"Walking in sunlight, all of my journey,...
Heavenly sunlight, heavenly sunlight,
Floodingmy soul with glory divine."

It it any wonder that the song writers compare our Joy in Jesus as Saviour to Sunshine or our journey as a Christian to "walking in Sunlight"?
Whether it is physical Sunlight or spiritual Sonlight, what joy to have it!!!

Hubby knows I like yellow roses best and got me a bouquet of them for Valentine's Day.
They are brightening my office and adding a little spot of sunshine to my indoor space.
I want to share this collage of them with you.

Our Scavenger Hunt at Ecater Store Network this week is also Sunshine. Bright  yellow things always seem like a spot of sunlight even on a dreary day, so I decided to look for sunshine yellow objects.
Here's a few items I found.

Beautiful Sunshine Yellow Dishes
available at CarolinaBlueLady

Vintage Shawnee Ashtray in Yellow Brown
available at ComycGyrl Collectibles

Beautiful Hawaiian Print Shirt is one of several
at
Eccentric Thrifter

Unusual Yellow Vinyl Record  available at 
Bargain Express

You can shop for more yellow items to put more sunshine into your world at ESN. 



Flowers, Flowers, Flowers....Where have all the Flowers Gone?

Here it is the dead of winter and we wonder where have all the flowers gone?  Soon it will be spring and our town will be a showcase of azaleas and other flowers as evidenced in Our Town in Spring. Actually I might say All the Flowers are gone to Silsbee.  There is always something blooming here. The beautiful spring flowers are followed by the crepe myrtles in the summer.  There are huge crepe myrtle trees of various colors in yards around town as well as the small ones in the median of Highway 327 aka as Tiger Lane. This year the fall roses were absolutely gorgeous and of course we had the October Daisies.  Now we are enjoying a pot of pansies under Mimi's carport.  And the camillas are blooming by our front porch and in Mimi's backyard.  A nice harbinger of spring is a clump of paper whites (narcisscus) blooming in our back yard.
You also might say All the Flowers are Gone to ESN.  Our scavenger hunt this week takes us on a search for flowers..flowers to help us look forward to warm spring days.  There are as usual so many to choose from.  Here are a few.
I love Daisies and here is a beautiful fabric from Lil Bit of This N That.

Isn't this cheery? 
It would be neat in a kitchen or for something for a child.

In fact, Lil Bit of This N That has more floral fabrics. It is hard to decide which one is prettiest. You might choose several if you are a "sewer".

If you are not inclined to sew or make something yourself, have a look at I M Designs for lovely floral handbags.  This beautiful flowered bag for spring is one example.

Beautiful roses, daisies, buttons and lots of pockets!

Colors of Silk has a lot of gorgeous silk scarves and pillow covers with big bold flowers. Like this one with red and blue poppies.

Big Bold Summer Flowers on rich silk.

 Hang in there. Look at the Flowers on ESN and Dream.  Spring will be here sooner than we think.