Throwback Thursday (032/365)

TIME: 1974 or 1975?
PLACE: Backyard of childhood home
SUBJECT: L-R, Toto, Me, Michael, John

I think I’m 7 or 8 in this picture.

Nice rear end shot of Toto – our wire-haired fox terrier.

My brothers, acting so cool.  Pretending to throw a snowball (at my mom? Probably, Dad was more than likely at work)

I remember that shirt John is wearing.  I think it was a hand-me-down from oldest brother Michael.  Pretty edgy.

There I am…in patterned pants, patterned-trimmed coat and patchwork hat.  It looks like I’m holding hands with the snowman.

I would love to have that hat again – it’s pretty cool.

Christmas Craft (345/366)

TIME:  9:54 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Tonight’s Brownie craft

I took the easy way out this evening for our Brownie meeting.  Instead of working on a badge requirement that would have entailed work on my part, I just had the girls paint wooden trees and snowmen, then decorate them with Perler beads and sequins.  ‘Tis the season!
~*~*~*~
Yes, I am way behind on my daily postings.  I have the photos, but need to do the blogging part.  Or maybe I won’t.  I might just do my catching-up off the blog while putting together my annual book of photos.   Not sure, yet, but I know this right now…I’m going to bed.

Bourgeois Buffoon or Early Morning Snowman (361/365)

Calvin: “This is my snow sculpture, “Bourgeois Buffoon.” Can you believe my mom rejected my grant application to continue making these?”

Calvin and Hobbes syndicated daily comic strip (1985-1995), by Bill Watterson.

TIME:  8:09 AM
PLACE:  Front yard
SUBJECT:  StellaDella & a very leafy snowman

At 6:30 am, I was awakened by a loud, breathy whisper in my ear of “Mom!!! It snowed!!!!!  Can I go outside and make a snowman?”  Sure, SD, knock yourself out, just use what little snow there is in the front yard as opposed to the fenced in area where the dog does her business, m’kay?  And with that permission given, she went out and created her masterpiece.

Snow-Werewolf (004/365)

“I bet when neanderthal kids would make a snowman, someone would always end up saying, 'Don't forget the thick, heavy brows.' Then they would get all embarrassed because they remembered they had the big husky brows too, and they'd get mad and eat the snowman.”

Jack Handy (American Writer and cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1991-2003. Famous for his Deep Thoughts comedy sketches.)

TIME:  9:07 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  January Family Project

StellaDella brought home a family project to complete for school.  It is to decorate a snowman using whatever we want however we want and officially, it is due on Friday.  This morning, SD told me that we had to DO IT TODAY because some classmates already brought theirs in and IT IS REQUIRED BY FRIDAY MOM!!!!  Obviously, she didn’t want to wait until the last minute and needed me to get with the program.  We worked on it this evening.  Her idea was to make a snow-werewolf (of course it was…although I was a little surprised she didn’t want to make a snow-zombie) and she wanted to use the leftover fur from her werewolf hat I made in back in 2009.  Lucky for me, I was able to find the fur without too much digging and we were able to put it together.  The snow-werewolf is a girl.  She is wearing a jaunty, striped scarf and is going to heave a snowball at you…because that is what snow-werewolves do.

Crocheted Snowman (337/365)

 
Traffic Cop: What's the matter? Didn't you see that traffic light?
Frosty: What's a traffic light?
Traffic Cop: Up there on that lamppost.
Frosty: What's a lamppost?
Traffic Cop: Are you trying to get a ticket, wise guy?
Frosty: I'd love one. To the North Pole, please.

Frosty The Snowman (Paul Frees, Jackie Vernon, written by Romeo Muller, Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr. - directors, 1969)

TIME:  10:00 PM
PLACE:  The Dining Room
SUBJECT:  Crocheted Snowman

I crocheted this snowman 2 (or was it 3?) years ago from a RoxyCraft pattern.  My snowman does not look as nice as the original.  Being that I was a self-taught crocheter, I’m lucky that he didn’t turn looking like a mutant.  I like crocheting, but haven’t picked up a hook all year.  I find it to be like cross-stitching, logical, orderly and soothing.  Plus I find it fascinating…you start with a long piece of yarn, basically, tie knots with it on a metal hook and you end up with (in this case) a snowman!  It’s magic. 

On a related note, one of my New Year’s resolutions for 2009 was to learn to knit.  I’m thinking that I am going to fail in fulfilling that resolution.  Something to aspire to next year, I guess.

Celluloid Snowman (327/365)

Buying something on sale is a very special feeling.  In fact, the less I pay for something, the more it is worth to me.  I have a dress that I paid so little for that I am afraid to wear it.  I could spill something on it, and then how would I replace it for that amount of money?

Rita Rudner (American, Comedienne, Writer and Actress. b. 1953)

TIME:  7:39 PM
PLACE:  My desk
SUBJECT:  Celluloid Snowman ornament

This past weekend, being the third full weekend of the month, was the flea market at our town’s fairgrounds.  I went on Saturday – alone no less! – and pursued the treasures that were there.  I love hitting the 50 cent/3 for $1.00 boxes of Christmas ornaments to search for that “special” ornament for my family’s “Ugly Ornament Exchange.”  My mom started it after finding what she thought was the most god-awful ornament at a yard sale and suggested that my sister and I find one and we do an exchange at Christmas.  And so a tradition began.  We are on the hunt all year for that one of a kind ornament.  My sister and I actually like these orphaned little guys.  The sadder the better.  We have even purchased special tabletop trees to display their loveliness.  I promise to take pictures of my “special” tree after I get it up this year. 

This vintage celluloid snowman I found is not considered “ugly”.  I like to collect ornaments made in Japan from the 1950’s to the 1970’s.  I used to be able to pick them up at yard sales, estate sales and thrift stores for under a quarter, sometimes even for a dime.  Now, that their popularity has grown, it is getting harder and harder to find the bargains like I have in years past.  Oh well, it makes the thrill of the hunt all that more exciting.  I did find this guy in a 50 cent box on Saturday.  He has a hole on his left side where the celluloid has melted, but it can’t be seen when he is sitting.  Vintage celluloid? Check!  Sad ornament because he is deformed? Check!  Did he need a home because no one else would possibly want him? Check and Sold!    

Snowman (029/365)

 
"Snowmen fall from heaven unassembled"

Unknown

TIME: 3:44 PM
PLACE: The front yard
SUBJECT: Snowman

The two older kids went back to school today.  They are off again tomorrow due to teacher's conferences.  StellaDella wanted to build a snowman so bad today.  I persuaded her to wait until her brother and sister came home from school.  Monkeyboy went out with her and built a snowman.  I provided the carrot, button eyes and bottle caps for the buttons.   Did you realize that snowmen are St. Louis Cardinal fans?  Spring training starts when the pitchers and catchers report in Jupiter, Florida on February 14th then work out the next day.   The first Grapefruit League game is February 28th, when the Cards host the Marlins.  Opening day at Busch Stadium is April 1st, vs. the Mets.  I'm ready to sit in the sun and enjoy some beer, a brat, peanuts and watch some baseball.