This Room Is Mine

 I recently rediscovered one of my favorite childhood books, This Room is Mine, by Betty Ren Wright. It's the story of two sisters who share a room, just like I did with my sisters. 

You can tell this book was well-loved! It's all taped together and is actually missing some pages. You'll see that I had dreams of being a librarian when I was a young girl. Inside all of my books I made columns for people to sign their names and check them out. Two of my favorite "toys" were my date stamp and ink pad that I got for Christmas one year. Apparently this book was checked out once, by my sister, in March 1970. I also made sure that they knew where to return the book, even if they lived in the same house!

Like all sisters, Chris and Mary got mad at each other.

Their solution was to lay a jump rope on the floor to divide their bedroom in half.

They agreed that whatever was in their half of the room belonged to them. I had to laugh when they argued over who was breathing the other's air. It sounds like something my sisters and I would have argued over.

All is well until Mother comes by asking who wants milk and cookies. The door is on Mary's side, so Chris is stuck.

She goes on to imagine spending her life on her side of the room, until her sister comes back and asks her if she wants to play jump rope. All of a sudden Chris doesn't feel mad anymore, so she picks up the jump rope and goes out to play with her sister.

I love the illustrations in this book, but more than that I think this book spoke to me as a child because I was always looking for a space to call my own. With three younger sisters and one younger brother, there were not many solitary spots! To this day, I yearn for a space to call my own. But just like when I was a child, I'm surrounded by loved ones, which makes quiet moments hard to come by. That's okay though. I know that much too soon, the time will come when I can have quiet time on a regular basis. But that will mean all our chicks have left the nest for good. So for now, I'll gladly share my space--no jump rope necessary. 

I'm linking up with Corey Moortgat's Lil' Vintage Story Books.

We Have A Winner!

 Thanks to all of you who commented to enter my first giveaway! This morning, we held the "official" drawing, which was me pulling a name out of my daughter's red vintage hat.

And the winner of the Throw Out Fifty Things book was...

Donna from The Sunny Side of the Sun Porch! Congratulations Donna! Be sure to visit Donna's blog, where she shares her life from her beautiful sun room. As you'll see, it's a lot more organized than mine is.

Not So Little Vintage Storybook

 It's Friday, so it's time for Lil' Vintage Story Books on Corey Moortgat's blog. This week, my vintage book isn't little, but it sure is cute. It was published in 1945 by Whitman Publishing Co., and the illustrator was E.B. Segner. 

Each page features a different animal charmingly illustrated

Anytime I find a vintage book with a farm theme, I have to buy it (if the price is right). I'm drawn to these because I hope to live on a small farm someday. I really am a farm girl at heart, and hopefully that dream will come true in the near future.

Last year, my heart skipped a beat when I saw this fabric:

It matches the book! How fun is that? I haven't decided what to do with it yet, but think it would make a cute quilted wallhanging. A project to add to my long list!

If you haven't had a chance, be sure to stop by Corey's blog and link up with your favorite vintage story book.

Nursery Rhyme Baby Bottle

 As you may know, I collect anything related to The Little Red Hen. Recently I was on ebay scrolling through listings, looking for books I don't have, when I discovered the bottle below.

I did some research, and discovered that it's a Samuel Callet nursing bottle. Starting in 1947, Samuel Callet contracted with the Knox Glass Company in Parker, PA to make a line of nursery rhyme nursing bottles. There were many designs through the 1950s and 1960s, but obviously this one is my favorite! I have never seen one before, and am so happy to have it in my collection. Just for fun, I took a photo of it with my favorite Little Red Hen book and my polka-dot apron, which matches the one worn by the hen in my blog header.           



Today I'm linking up with Holly at Cutie Pie Cottage for Dotty Hop Day and Sue at It's a Very Cherry World for Rednesday.

Utter Clutter...and my very first giveaway!

Winter has finally hit here; snow is on the ground, and swirling around the corners of the house. With the exception of a trip to the library, I'm cozying in and watching it out the windows of my sunroom. I think I'll make a cup of tea and grab one of those books I picked out this morning. Sounds like a relaxing way to spend the afternoon right? Well here's a picture of what my sunroom (which is also my craft/sewing room) looks like right now. 

There is no way I can relax in this room. Here's another angle:

I didn't move a thing for this picture. And here's a close up of my desk:

Have you ever seen such a disorganized mess?

So for 2012, I've chosen a theme word:

CREATE

And to start with, I'm going to create space. Peaceful space. Space where I can relax, think, read, sew and well...create!

Here's the book I've been reading since the beginning of the year. I read it for the first time years ago and thought it was motivating and inspiring, and boy do I need some motivation and inspiration right now.

To celebrate the start of a new year, I'm giving away a new copy of this book to one of you! To win, all you have to do is make a comment on this post. Where do you need to clear clutter in your home or life? My guess is we all have certain areas that continue to give us trouble! I'm starting in my sun room and will keep a count of how many things I throw/give away (and I'm starting with this book!). It's amazing how freeing it can be!

If you know someone else that might be motivated by this book, let them know to stop by and make a comment. I'll randomly draw the winning name next Friday, January 20. Be sure to leave an e-mail address so I can contact you if you're the winner. 

I'll update you on my progress as I create peaceful space in this room. I want to give it a complete makeover--on a budget of course! But for now, I'm going to ignore the clutter, grab that cup of tea and watch the snow fall.

The Launch of Sing and Don't Be Silent!

I had every intention of posting something really inspiring yesterday, but instead ended up with a bad virus on my computer, so it's on its way to the Geek Squad as we speak. Not how I thought I'd be starting 2012, but it can only get better from here, right?

I hopped on my daughter's computer to let you know that she has launched her new blog, Sing and Don't Be Silent!

 Introducing Sarah!

I hope you'll stop by and pay her a visit.

And check back here for that inspiring post I had planned!

 

Happy New Year!

The passing of one year, and the beginning of a new one, is always a time of reflection for me. The new year brings a fresh start, new possibilities, and potential opportunities. My greatest hope for 2012 is that I find the courage to act on the many dreams I have harbored for so long. What George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) said many years ago is still true today.

"It is never too late to be who you might have been."

Happy New Year! Blessings to you and yours in 2012. May this be the year we discover who we might have been.