By Lynn, on May 21st, 2012%
My Dear Friends,
Happy Monday!! Happy Monday to us all! To those who are watching this wedding story unfold. To those who think it’s just one more thing — and it is okay if that is the case! And to those of us who are realizing that planning even a teeny-tiny wedding is no small thing — those of us who are ready to go screaming out of sight pulling our hair out!
Without further ado, I will share with you a picture of me and my almost-Mister. ♥♥♥♥♥ And dear sweet Lily, if you are reading this, thanks for sharing your trick. I used it. And then on top of that, when working in a word document this morning, I accidentally hit CONTROL V and there was a heart!! Wow! So now we have two ways to do it. But I am not sure it works in all applications, i.e. in a comment box, etc. I am using it in my HTML editor to put this post up.
I digress.
But isn’t he wonderful! You don’t have to say. But isn’t he! Anyhoo, we were by the beautiful waters of the Chesapeake Bay area in Virginia, planning our little heads off. My sister and her husband were kind enough to put us up and show us around!
Now, I mentioned flower power pants. I am almost always in dresses. Yes ma’am. But I am thinking for beach activities, i.e. lots of beach walking, putt putt golf, rides, whatever, some clam diggers may come in handy. So this is more of the trousseau!
Walking Annie Fatso Beagle (a.k.a. AFB), talking on the phone. About rentals for the wedding. Is there anything else to talk about lately?
Aren’t they darling? And I mean 3 bucks’ worth of darlingness!!
I must soon get my work done — type, type, type, but one more ghoulishly sweet thing to share!
Ghoulishly sweet?
How can that paradoxical thing be?
What sort of sick juxtaposition is this?
Over the weekend, my sweetheart humored me greatly by walking with me through a very old cemetery in my home county of Moore. That area of the state is filled with folks of Scottish and Irish descent, myself included. There are lots of McNeills buried here, and I was thinking that some of my earliest McNeill ancestors (Daniel McNeill born in 1746) are buried here. We did not find the markers, but we plan to go back. As we were leaving, I propped up my phone and took a picture of us. What a lovely hour it was as the sun was going down but still giving enough light for a walk. How peaceful it somehow was to be back at home, surrounded by those people who settled the area I grew up in. It’s hard to explain. Once Mr. McLendon and I got home, we put the picture in his photo editing software and ended up with this. It does look quite ghoulish, I say! But really…
Off to typing I go! Enjoy this day! Really enjoy this day! Yesterday has flown! We have no promise of tomorrow. It’s all what we do right now!
By Lynn, on May 18th, 2012%
Oh, dear readers, help me, help me!! The day approaches that my hair will just have to go up “right” and I am spending the next week practicing!! Whew! Eek!
No, really, I am having so much fun with this! And I thought I’d share some pictures with you of some vintage wedding stuff I have and some of the hairstyles I am playing around with until the big day arrives. No, the flowers in my hair will not be lavender, and I doubt they will be this big!! But isn’t it fun to play “Victorian Wedding” sometimes?
I think what inspired me was this very old, handmade cotton slip I found recently for 3 dollars at a junk store.
I thought this old slip would be the funnest thing in the world to wear as we are doing my hair on the day of. It is loose enough to slip over my head without “tearing my hair up” once the updo is done! I guess I could get married in this, but I think I want the fairytale stuff of wearing a real wedding dress, even if I do plan to have a small, quiet ceremony with only the closest of family present. The whole party will be fewer than 20 people.
Isn’t the handstitching so pretty! And this pin has crossed my mind as the something blue.
Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue.
But I think it is just too costume-y. On the other hand, there is a local antique store that sells similar types of jewelry, truly old things, and would it not be fun to wear and have forever such an accoutrement?
Pretty things. Makes my heart happy.
Now, I realize that this is about the biggest hairdo possible, barring a beehive or something, which I do NOT plan to wear on my wedding day, but I think if a girl does not practice every day, then what will she do on the real day?
I do very much like the flowers and the band.
The hair is pulled up high in the front with two combs, but not parted in the middle. The rest of the hair is pulled back very loosely and twisted into a loose, large bun. Two or three large flowers (could use real ones on the day of) are pinned into place. Loose tendrils of hair are curled with a curling iron.
While we are chatting, what sort of vintage dress do you think I should wear? Girly-girl or classic?
Don’t you just ADORE vintage? And flowers? And lace and weddings? And hair pulled up with flowers? And every single little thing romantic and girly?
Now, finally, before I RUN off to work, what about some vintage wedding pictures?
I think this is one of the oldest I have. I do have one that is older, but due to the shininess of it, it will take me some time to get it on here — maybe I’ll share that one another day next week.
And this sweet picture is actually marked with 1957. So we know when it is from! So sweet.
Thanks for sharing with me in this fun to beat all fun! Enjoy this day!
By Lynn, on May 17th, 2012%
My Dear Friends, I shall take us all over the place today! But I think we will have fun! Are you up for adventure?
This past week while out running some errands, I stopped by Everything But Granny’s Panties. (Yeah, that’s a real store.) What did I find but this fabulous old blouse, handmade (I can tell because of the way the fabric is pieced together) and decorated with the most darling green ric rac and vintage green buttons!
Delicate? Oh, my, yes! And it has some tears that I am going to try and repair this week with either light interfacing or maybe some stitch witchery. I have already hand-mended a couple of spots, but this fabric is just SO delicate! I don’t want to do more harm than good.
Maybe I am wrong, but I would not be afraid to guess that this blouse is from as far back as the 1940s. Maybe even the 1930s? Anyone who has expertise in this, please feel free to comment and enlighten me. I would truly appreciate it! I really do not know anything about button colors and when they were popular, or even ric rac and when it was popular.
Just look at the color! The thought crossed my mind that this could even be feed sack material, but that is just a bit of whimsical day-dreamery that passed through my mind. I really do not know much about feed sack patterns. Still, one arm has a length of fabric pieced into it, as if the maker ran out of material and had to sew in a scrap piece to make the full sleeve.
I just love this little detail. See how the ric rac runs on the outside of the blouse front, but then goes in hiding?
When you lay the collar down, it appears again. Clever! I suppose this is just a standard old trick, but it fascinates me to think of girls sitting around working on these things at home. I bet this blouse was a beauty when it was newly made!
I think the wide-strap pumps and the net stockings just go with this black skirt and antique blouse!
Now, I have the cutest story to tell you about this photo shoot! Here I was, sitting on my vintage suitcase, looking like Ms. Crazy Neighbor (hey, Andee, remember Mrs. Neighbor?), when down at the other end of the hallway this very sweet elderly couple came out. In fact, they have emerged in the picture above, but you just cannot see them. Anyway, after my camera did its thing, I got up to go speak to them.
“Are you coming or going?” that nice man asked, apparently in regards to the suitcase.
“Oh, I am moving, it’s true, but I was just taking pictures for my blog.”
They both looked at me and smiled. I think they are very savvy, but I am not sure they read a lot of blogs.
“This blouse is from the 1930s, I think, and I was just taking some pictures for my blog,” I said again, trying to seem as dunce-y as I possibly could.
“Well, don’t tell anyone,” said the sweet elderly lady, “and no one will ever know. It is quite lovely.”
So there she was encouraging me to keep it under my hat, and here I am yelling it to the world. Ahhhh, well, I know where she is coming from, and perhaps we have lost some of the discretion of that generation!
Well, my updo for the day; a vintage inspired with two curls high up on top!
And thought you might want to see the claddagh ring up close.
Now, I did mention interiors, didn’t I? It all came about from my adopting another photo album family. Yes. I couldn’t help myself. An ENTIRE PHOTO ALBUM of loved one, for 5 dollars, abandoned at the junk store. I brought them home. I must say this family did some fun stuff together! Lots of family pictures and lots of little signs of the times. I won’t bore you further with my gibberish, but just show you what I mean. Well, maybe I will just throw in a comment or two.
Curtains typical of the times. And someone has drawn antennae on the boy’s head. (sibling?)
We see them later in color.
Love this! Looks like there is definitely decor holding over from the turn of the century.
Lots of floral prints. Pictures high on the wall. Old T.V.
Would LOVE to see this wallpaper in color!
More wallpaper.
And finally, someone is having a birthday! Notice the Pure Seal carton. And the Nescafe can at the back of the table. I know Nescafe was popular in the 1950s. Here from my 1954 Good Housekeeping is an ad.
Makes me want to go out and buy Nescafe even now! Something about those old ads!!
I hope your Thursday is lovely! Enjoy this day!
By Lynn, on May 16th, 2012%
Dear Readers, Happy Winds-day!
You cannot imagine how I have counted the Winds-days as we approach my wedding day! (Well, maybe you can!) Anyway, first I want to say thank you for all of your very kind comments about my upcoming wedding! I am so excited. This whole last year has been a series of discoveries and closure, laughter and tears. I cannot even believe it sometimes.
But today is a work day (is it ever not?) and I must hurry to the work desk. Before I do that, though, I had promised to share a little of the trousseau with you. Now, I won’t model every last thing, but this little red polka-dot shorts playsuit is just too cute not to model for you! For several reasons, one of the main ones being that it covers my legs! Yikes, when you have had four children and get to be deeply rooted in middle age, it’s good to have cute outfits that are not all-revealing! For beach shopping and outings, I think this vintage playsuit by Compagnie Internationale EXPRESS is perfect!
At only 4 dollars, this was a steal for my vacation~honeymoon wardrobe. It is rayon, so dry clean only, but I think it’s worth it. And it is very loose and airy, so I do not think it’ll be too hot. I was not all-excited about shoulder pads, but they are small enough that they don’t make me look like a quarterback. I considered taking them out, but I feared it would cause the garment to hang off my shoulders.
In this picture you can really tell that it’s a shorts playsuit and not just a dress.
It zips up and ties in the back.
The shoes! I love, love, love them! Finding good thrift store shoes is not always a given. Many times they are worn beyond any use, or they have something that make them fit badly and thus have been donated to the thrift store. These, though, are perfect. Looking nearly completely new, without stains or flaws — even in the fit, they were sitting pretty-as-you-please in a local little thrift store run by an outreach charity. Shoes by Eric Michael.
They are great with the playsuit. And I am sure they will go with lots of other things as well!
We just never know when the bluebird of happiness will pay us a visit! Here she is in the form of this primitive toy I made awhile back.
She rocks around on a drawer knob.
Annie is unaffected by the fashion shoots at this point. She used to get up and model with me, but those days, I’m afraid, are long gone! But that’s okay. Who needs a beagle when one has the bluebird of happiness? I hope the bluebird of happiness visits us all!
Enjoy this day, and thanks again for sharing in our JOY!
By Lynn, on May 15th, 2012%
My Dear Friends,
I think many of you knew, or had a sense, that this was in the works: a wedding. My my! Love is hard to hide! But love is powerful and conquers many things and helps to heal wounds. It brings about laughter, it is tender, it is longsuffering, it is friendship.
First of all, I said from the start and will have to reiterate that I will never use this blog to say anything bad about the carpenter. He is the father of all my four sweet children. As far as why I ended up here at Rose Cottage some 14 months ago, you will have to take my word that some things — hard as they are — have to be, and sometimes for the most painful and unexpected reasons, and due to things that one individual alone cannot change or control. Secondly, my thoughts on marriage and vows — oh, how sacred they are! — have never changed. Never wavered. Not even a tiny bit. When I left the old farm house, I mourned with tears for many a day, reading over and over the last pages of that book that had been my life for nearly a quarter of a century. Closing a book like that for good is not easy.
But closed it is. I know that as the mother of four children, I will sometimes have to pull out certain chapters of that old well-read book, to share in joy (and hopefully not too much sorrow) with their dad about the babies we had together. There will be events in the lives of my children. It will never be as simple as it might have been.
On the other hand, about six months after moving to little Rose Cottage, I reconnected in a most amusing way (he offered to buy the bamboo print) with my college sweetheart. So, yes, new man, but not a stranger . Not really. His mother went to school with my mother and aunt. We grew up in the same neck of the woods. We have many similar experiences. Did I mention he was my college sweetheart and back in the day, the love of my life?
We began to get to know each other again. At the end of March 2012, he gifted me with the most beautiful ring, a claddagh ring, and asked me to be his wife. I said yes. And so here I go, with my vintage suitcase, youngest children and Annie Fatso Beagle of the Universe in tow, to my home. The place I have been visiting and getting to know, with the children too, of course, as they try and understand and accept their new lives. We will all be patient with other and the new changes taking place.
I am not sure if my legs need sun or if my arms need sunscreen, but something! Will try to remedy that, and soon! 
linen dress, thrifted, Jillian Jones. shoes, thrifted, Amanda Smith. vintage pin, thrifted.
Have you any idea how much fun it is to put together a thrift store trousseau? Well, not entirely thrift store, as everything cannot come from there! But retro clam diggers for walks on the beach? And white cotton blouses? And sun dresses? And hats? And bags? And…and…and…!
To come, I will show you what I have found! You will love it all, I think! And soon you will see wedding pictures. Thanks for bearing with me as I teased you to pieces! I didn’t mean to!
The baby, little Isabella, is my inherited (with great joy, I might add) granddaughter. Her mother, my new step daughter. And my new last name will be McLendon. How lovely, that the sound of Lynn already resides in the name McLendon.
And, by the way, I don’t mean to look so serious in the pictures above! I am most happy. The happiest woman in the world.
Enjoy This Day!
By Lynn, on May 2nd, 2012%
Happy Winds-day, dear readers! Here we are again, parked smack-dab in the middle of Wednesday! Can it be? Time is dancing by!
A colorful display of fabric brooches lines the windowsill. Every single day I think I will get them in the shop, but the days fly by, consumed by work and errands and LIFE!
Meanwhile, I am enjoying testing these pins out for how they wear, how they stand up to wear!
A denim and blue/green fabric brooch makes a white dress seem whiter still, and yet not so stark, all at the same time.
Though I found this dress weeks and weeks ago for less than 5 dollars, I don’t think you’ve seen it yet. I LOVE the cut of it. I think it is “vintage” 1980s, judging by the cut. The tag is gone, so I really have no idea. It is heavy, durable cotton that holds its shape without too much wrinkling. Maybe you’ll remember the shoes from a shopping trip a couple of months back. This is the first time I have worn them out. It just felt too soon before today.
Wishing Annie would turn her front end to the camera, instead of the other way ’round. Beagles. Can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em!
Dress is deeply cut in the back, so I would likely not wear “as is” unless I was at the beach or something, but it is great with this very lightweight sheer shirt underneath, which also serves to give some protection to my arms from the hot sun.
Hair is in a high bun with chopsticks, leaving a bit down to curl up and hang over each shoulder. Was in the mood for a 1950s flip.
I really must start doing some sort of neck toning exercises. Does talking help? Maybe my teenagers would like it if I talk more? Ideas?
White dress, thrifted, no tag
White shoes, Wanted, new
Sheer lacy under-T, thrifted, only hearts
Blue denim and floral brooch, handmade by yours truly
ENJOY THIS DAY!
By Lynn, on April 26th, 2012%
Of course!
Recently I found a vest-style shirt made from the cutest fabric! It reminded me of something from the 1950s. The color! The print — girl walking dog. It seemed very timely to wear it as I was preparing to put John on a plane to head for New York to visit his sweet girlfriend, Taylor.
As I mentioned yesterday, it was a bit chilly, so I put a shirt on underneath and paired it with a lighter blue skirt and gray knee socks.
Perhaps the pin is not the best matching thing, though bright often goes with bright, but I am not yet finished with a huge batch of blue and green pins I am currently working on. Anyway, the whole point here is to share this sweet blue print fabric! Don’t you love it?
Yesterday afternoon was the preparation day: making sure John had a decent jacket for New York — cooler even than here. Saying the customary goodbyes to brothers and sister and dad. A haircut. ‘Twas a good day.
John boarding his first flight. Evah. He was excited. I had a bit of nerves, but I have confidence. I am excited for him!
Watching his plane taxi down the runway.
And he’s off. Yes. I waited until he was out of sight before I left the airport. Then I sent him a text showing him his plane in the air. Fun memories. Of course, as his mother, it won’t be a fun deal to me until he makes it safely where he’s going! And time ticks on. At this point he is already at his layover destination and likely in the air even again as I type. Kids. Gotta love having them, raising them, and watching them grow up!
Off to work on some pins today and visit my new garden spot. More on that later! I promise.
Enjoy This Day!
By Lynn, on April 23rd, 2012%
My dear readers, Happy Monday!
Cutting straight to the chase, do you love hats as much as I do? Oh my. But I had a grandmother who always wore a hat. I mean, I don’t remember ever seeing her without a hat. Really. So I think I come by it honest. Granted, I don’t wear them all the time. Actually, I go without a hat most of the time, but I do love them, and I do wear them! You can imagine my overjoyed-ness when I found this vintage red felt hat a couple of weeks ago for 3 dollars. With its cute bow on the side, I couldn’t help but think of Ludwig Bemelman’s little Madeline from “a house in Paris covered in vines”!
And what better place to visit in a vintage hat and dress than a store with tons of vintage, antiques, and retro? Now and Then in Hillsborough, North Carolina, is just a beautifully fun place! So many things to choose from — quality things, real antiques, real vintage, and it is so put together!
An old shoe full of hat pins! Be still my heart!
I think the pictures will speak for themselves. I wanted one of everything! But then again, there was only one of everything!
There were some gorgeous vintage dresses and hats in the store!
It’s encouraging to see so many well-preserved vintage hats and dresses, and even Victorian items, especially furniture and prints and lamps, etc. I like to see old things preserved, used and taken care of!
There was more than one cool cat in the store…
Now, for the items that stole my heart away!! I keep thinking about these lovely things! Maybe someday I’ll have them!
A vintage luggage set, in very good shape, with signs of wear but the loving kind, not the too-ragged-to-use kind! These are very definitely still usable and so pretty on the inside. So functional! I wish you could see them in more detail. Maybe someday!  You can tell by the colors of them which were used the most and in what order of most use!
With that, I will sign off with my usual reminder to Enjoy This Day! Today’s a work day for me, and I am so very thankful for my job!
Dress: vintage Leslie Fay, thrifted
Shoes: X-Appeal, thrifted
Hat: George W. Bollman, Doeskin felt 100% wool, thrifted
By Lynn, on April 17th, 2012%
Happy Tuesday! I have been going through old photos again and remembering my sweet dad, gone from us now for seven years. I kept coming across pictures of his amazing cars and was just inspired to gather up a few of them to share. I wish I had more because these do not begin to do justice to the cars he did have, how he took care of them, and how skilled he was at driving! He actually used to drag race, and I grew up taking for granted a shelf full of trophies he had won doing so!
Now, I may be wrong, but I think this was a 1957 Chevy. The picture is marked March 1958. It actually looks to me like my dad is holding a trophy as he sits in the seat of his car. As far as his racing, I am not sure what the car looked like — I was only a twinkle in someone’s eye at this time in history, but one of his racers was named Run-Around Sue! What I am really hoping is that my sweet mother will chime in — I want her to get brave and leave a comment with some info!
Mother?
While the car behind me was not ours, it does represent a time in history, and I felt compelled to include this photo because of that. Also because I think you have a right to know that our neighbors Jean and Danny had a daughter named Michelle who was about my age. Michelle and I thought it would be a good idea to brush our teeth using water from the commode. Glad I lived to hear and tell about that! Also, Jean’s mother apparently was quite the funny bird and used to say that when you first met your husband-to-be you’d be so crazy about him that you could eat him up, but then after you married him you’d wish you had.
The photo above was taken in Smyrna, Tennessee, in military housing. My dad was stationed there in the Air Force.
Awwww. Not even sure what kind of car this was. Not the typical racer type I can picture my dad in, but here I am standing in front of it in my cute pink dress and black shoes. Those were the days. Cannot remember what all sorts of trouble I got into here. I just know that my dad was probably just home from Vietnam and I had a little record player that he let me play his Beatles album on. I used to twist and shout.
Once again, I am at a loss as to exactly which car this is. And my dad had a habit of putting pens to his mouth; pens and big cigars. No telling what he is holding to his mouth here. Anyway, I LOVE that red interior! What I would give to drive that around now!! Whoa.
Tall. Slim. Sharp dresser. Fast driver. Smooth talker. Yep. That’s him, George, above on the right. Again, I wish so much that I knew all about this car. Funny when we are little we don’t really feel a need to know these things, but then later we’d love to have the chance to ask a million questions.
Do you remember old things from your parents? Are there things — like seeing an old car on the highway — that bring back memories of those you loved?
Hmmmmmmmm.
Well, in thrifty fashion news, before I say goodbye, I found the cutest spring dress a few weeks ago and I don’t think I have shared it yet, though I have worn it several times already.
Dress, Signature by Robbie Bee, thrifted
Silver shoes, Amanda Smith, thrifted
ENJOY THIS DAY!!
By Lynn, on April 16th, 2012%
Ahhh, we have rolled blissfully through another weekend and now here we sit parked right on top of Monday! How can it be! I needed extra coffee to get me rolling this morning! How ’bout you?
Let’s get right down to business! Shall we? No, I have not found my lavender crinoline yet for the pretty short-ish dress that I posted about a couple of month back, but I did spot a gorgeous skirt recently at G.W. Boutique that I knew was too short from the first glance. But oh my, the cut and the fabric and the pretty sash made right onto the skirt! I carried it around the store, wondering what I could do with it.
The thoughts of cutting it up just for fabric (it’s a stretchy material) or trying to make a bag or apron from it just did not appeal to me. I walked around holding it, wondering if I could add a tier of fabric at the bottom to make it longer.
But what color? White, or a color that was already in the skirt?
I decided to take the plunge, take a chance, and so I walked over to the white skirts in G.W. Boutique and began to look.
I looked until I found a skirt that had a fabric I liked and a ruffle I liked. In order not to have to do too much altering, I choose a skirt that was about the same circumference at its ruffle level as the bottom of the floral skirt. I actually found one! So basically all that was required was to cut the bottom of the white skirt off evenly. I then pinned it in place around the bottom of the floral skirt and took it to the sewing machine. When I do the next one (and oh I do plan to do this again!) I will take pictures or do a video tutorial for you!
I do believe this is now one of my favorite skirts!!
In garden and creature news, I visited with a couple of creatures in a new garden spot I have been checking out and sizing up!
A spider in the sky, it would seem.
And a green anole that tried its best to get away from me and my camera.
But I was relentless.
For at least long enough to get a few shots.
Remember to Enjoy This Day!
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About Lynn 
Approaching-50 mother of four. Thrifter. Content with lots of clothes bought for very little money. Loves retro. (That could be styles from the 40s and 50s. And sometimes stuff even older than that. And sometimes stuff from all time, all mixed up together!) Bluffs about decluttering but secretly loves STUFF. Goes through stages. Has standing and staring spells before rearranging the entire home. Just because. Tune in each day to see what new outfit comes home from G.W. Boutique next. (That's Goodwill, by the way.) Oh, and she owns a spoiled beagle named Annie. And this blog.
Grab A Button <div align="center"><a href="http://www.amothersjournal.com" title="A Mother's Journal ~ A Bit of Birdsong"><img src="http://www.innatelygray.com/images/abitofbirdsong_120_200.jpg" alt="A Mother's Journal ~ A Bit of Birdsong" style="border:none;" /></a></div> The Players
Lil Ol' Me
Son Daniel, 23
Son, Big Joe, 21
Son, John, 17
Daughter, Michaela, 13
Annie Fatso Beagle
My Symphony
To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.
William Henry Channing
1810-1884
What You Do Sow a thought, reap an action.
Sow an action, reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap a character.
Sow a character, reap a destiny.
Contact Me 
I would  for you to leave a comment, but you can also e-mail me at lynn AT thehealthyhomeschool.com
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