Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Spring is just around the corner!

I love spring!  It is my favorite time of the year because the spring flowers will soon be here. We recently enjoyed the spring flower show at Macy's in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the smell of the hyacinths filled the air as we entered the room.  Here are some pictures from the show.
 A colorful mound of gorgeous.
Peonies, lilies, ivy and begonias.
Rhododendrons and ferns. 
Low growing pink azaleas.
Beautiful Northern Lights Rhododendrons
 Beautiful Yellow Azaleas  
 Northern Pacific Cabin, Hanging Geraniums
Magnolia tree in Full Bloom
Spanish Moss and Topiaries
Rock, Pebbles, Cactus and More
A Fountain Surrounded By Hostas
Spring is just around the corner!
                                                     

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Easter Basket Scavenger Hunt

Send your child on an Easter egg hunt that will make them laugh and think.


The first set of clues are designed for a child 4 to 6 years of age, you will probably have to read the clues to them. Put clue 1 in a place where your child will see it right away, like where they eat breakfast.
 
Clue 1
You don’t go up, you don’t go down,
just stay on this floor, and look hard all around.
Near a chair where you sit, by a computer it's true,                                                      
If you look hard you’ll find your next clue.

Clue 2
You don’t go up, you don’t go down,
just stay on this floor and look hard all around.
The place you come in and a place where you leave, 
with a rug for your shoes and dish for your keys.

Clue 3
You don’t go up, you don’t go down,
just stay on this floor and look hard all around.
To find the next clue put on your thinking cap  
It's where you might sit, or lay down for a nap.
Clue 4 
Your bread goes away but it will return 
Don’t leave it too long or it will burned. 
I'm hungry! I'm hungry! Please feed me a slice. I'll spit it back out all brown and nice.

Clue 5
I take your wet clothes
and spin them dry,
Your Easter basket will be found, inside.

End Clue in Easter Basket
Your journey is over, your Easter basket is found. It's time to eat candy and stop running around.  Happy Easter!


This set of clues are designed for a child 7 to 9 years of age. Put this clue in a place where your child will see it right away, like where they eat breakfast

Clue1
Today it is Easter, and there's a challenge for you ,
you'll have to be persistent and follow the clue. 
For your reward to be discovered, it takes great skill,
to find your candy and eat your fill.
When you are dirty and need a good soak,
in a room with towels is where you should poke.

Clue 2
I have four legs, but I don't have feet.
I come in handy when it's time to eat.

Clue 3
I never get angry, but sometimes get hot
I'm perfect for  a cookie sheet,
cake pan or pot.

Clue 4
I have a round knob and also a lock.
Visitors and neighbors may give me a knock.

Clue 5
I'm one part chair and one part bed.
Up with your feet and down with your head.

Clue 6
I have both a door and a bookshelf you see.
Don't worry your prize is safely hidden inside me

Clue 7
I'm loaded and unloaded, but I'm not a truck.
Having a helper like me is a great piece of luck.

End Clue in Easter Basket
Your journey is over, your Easter basket is found.
It's time to eat candy and stop running around.
Happy Easter!

This set of clues are designed for an older child. Put this clue in a place where your child will see it right away, like where they eat breakfast.

Clue 1
Here's a super challenge for you today,
put on your thinking cap and be on your way. 
A tranquil place where water falls down like rain, after it falls on you it goes down the drain.

Clue 2
Here you’ll find keys, but they won’t start cars,
you’ll also find books with notes written on bars.

Clue 3
You are looking under something that is a circle or square,     
It’s made of wood and usually surrounded by chairs.

Clue 4
You often use this to finish your chores,
It sucks up the dirt right off of the floors.

Clue 5
If you think a bit you’ll find this clue in a flash,
It’s full of old papers, chewed gum, and unwanted trash.
Clue 6
A metal box with numbers is usually the norm                                  
For this thing that helps us get our food warm.

Clue 7
It provides warm heat and also some light,                                                  
in the old days you'd find wood burning bright.

Clue 8
I'm filled with feathers or other soft fluff.
To sleep without me can sometimes be tough.

Clue 9
I'm one part chair and one part bed.
Up with your feet and down with your head.

End Clue in Easter Basket
Your journey is over, your Easter basket is found.
It's time to eat candy and stop running around.
Happy Easter!

If you would like the list of hiding places for all the clues, leave me a message in the comment button below. Happy Easter Hunting!
 

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Easter and the Easter Bunny

Antique Chocolate Glass Basketweave Nest Base and vintage Lefton Bunnies
Why did the Easter bunny become such a big part of our Easter celebration and why does the Easter bunny bring eggs?  One theory attributes the Easter bunny to German folklore dating back to 1682 when the Easter Hare judged the children on their good or bad behavior.
Antique vintage Easter Post Card postcard with bunny Antique vintage Easter Post Card postcard with bunny Real Photo
Antique vintage Easter Post Card postcard with bunny Antique vintage Easter Post Card postcard with bunny

If the child was good the Easter Hare brought colored eggs and maybe candy the night before Easter.

Antique vintage Easter Post Card postcard with bunny Antique vintage Easter Post Card postcard with bunny
Antique vintage Real Photo Easter Post Card postcard with bunnies Antique vintage Easter Post Card postcard with bunnies
But why eggs?  Some Orthodox churches believed in giving up the eating of eggs during Lent and the only way to preserve the eggs from spoiling was to hard boil them. The German immigrants brought these ideas with them to the United States.  The Pennsylvania Dutch children made a nest in their hat or bonnet as a place for the rabbit to leave the eggs. 
Antique vintage Easter Post Card postcard with bunnies Antique vintage Easter Post Card postcard with bunnies

The story of the Easter bunny became popular around the world in the 1800's and remains popular to this day.

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Happy Valentines's Day



A peek-a-boo Valentine from 1906

1906 Peek-a-boo Valentine

Loving Wishes and True Affection

1906 Peek-a-boo Valentine

To me you seem
almost divine,
Won't you be
My Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day
Reuzeit Emporium


Thursday, January 28, 2016

The Hidden Meanings in Valentines

A Valentine has a visual language that sends a subtle message to the recipient.
 
antique valentine postcard post card with heart and dovesantique valentine postcard post card with heart, bird and flowersantique gold embossed valentine postcard post card with heart and flowers
Hearts are a symbol for love, affection, and romance or romantic adoration.
 
antique embossed valentine postcard post card with heart, bird, cherub and flowers antique gold embossed valentine postcard post card with heart, bird, and flowers
Doves are a symbol for romance.  In Greek mythology, Aphrodite, the goddess of love is often shown with a dove on her hand or doves circling her head. Doves mean everlasting love because the dove mates for life.
 
antique embossed valentine postcard post card with heart, doves and basket of flowers antique embossed valentine postcard post card with heart and roses
Red Roses are a  symbol for beauty  and love.  A favorite Valentine gift is a dozen roses.
 
antique embossed valentine postcard post card with heart, dove and pansy antique embossed valentine postcard post card with heart and pansy
Violets are a symbol for affection.
 

antique valentine postcard post card with beautiful lady heart and lilac
Lilac are a symbol to say, you are my one and only love.
 

antique embossed valentine postcard post card with lilly of the valley antique embossed valentine postcard post card with lilly of the valley and couple
Lilies of the Valley symbolizes sweetness and purity and they bring happiness.  They are considered a good luck charm.
 
antique embossed valentine postcard post card with cherub and heart antique embossed valentine postcard post card with cherub and heart
 Cupid and Cupid's arrows make you fall deeply in love.
 
antique glossy gel valentine postcard post card, pretty lady antique embossed valentine postcard post card, pretty lady, John Winsch
 A pretty lady symbolizes beauty and femininity.


Can you find the hidden message in this Valentine?
antique valentine postcard post card, heart, flowers, dove, message
This Valentine says:  We have  a romance.  I have love and affection for you.  You are my one and only love.
 

Sunday, January 10, 2016

You Should Go To......The Greentown Glass Museum

Greentown Glass Museum Front Door
Entrance to the Greentown Glass Museum
  If you love beautiful early American pattern glass and glass history, the Greentown Glass Museum has a wonderful display of glass made by the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company and the knowledgeable docents at the museum will give you an interesting history lesson.
  Greentown is a small town with a population of about 2300 people located about 9 miles east of Kokomo (another must see). A Native American Indian village existed on the site that is the town of Greentown today. In 1848, the people living in the area needed a trading post and they decided that Greentown was a good central location.  No one actually knows where the name Greentown came from, but several theories have been tossed about; the Native American chief was called Green,  the township was named Green Township, or maybe just because it’s a beautiful green area.

 

A Brief History of The Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company

The residents of Greentown were interested in developing manufacturing in the area and there was a good supply of natural gas, workers, and investment money. Construction began in March, 1894 on The Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company and the main factory was quickly completed. Glassmaking began in June, 1894. 

Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company 1894
Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company
The company was successful and expanded rapidly first making only crystal clear glass but by 1898 adding lovely colors of teal blue, opaque white, vaseline, cobalt blue, emerald green, and amber.  
 
Number 11 Ice Tea Tumber and Mold Greentown GlassMuseum
      Number 11 Iced Tea Tumbler and Mold       
EAPG Amber Dewey Cruet Greentown Glass
Amber Dewey Cruet

Greentown Glass Museum Display Case Museum
Display case at the Greentown Glass Museum showing cruet sets in different colors.

A talented glass chemist, Jacob Rosenthal, joined the company in 1900 and his new chocolate glass became a big hit in the glass market


Antique EAPG Chocolate Cactus pitcher
Chocolate Cactus Pitcher


Antique EAPG Chocolate Leaf Bracket Sauce Dish
Chocolate leaf Bracket Sauce Dish

He also developed an opaque green glass called Nile Green but he is probably most famous for his Golden Agate glass.  Today his unique and innovated glass is highly sought after by glass collectors and demand a fairly high price.

Antique EAPG Golden Agate or Holly Amber Toothpick Holder
Golden Agate or Holly Amber Toothpick Holder
Greentown Glass Museum Display Case
Display case showing Nile Green & Holly Amber
The Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company burnt to the ground on a Saturday morning, June 13, 1903.  Although there were some attempts to rebuild the factory during the next couple of years, the idea was abandoned due to lawsuits, problems with the natural gas supply and lack of financial support. This company made beautiful glass for only nine years but today it is remember for its outstanding contribution to glass innovation and design.
 
Greentown Glass Museum Display Case
Greentown Glass Museum Display Case













 



 

 

 

 

Display cabinets showing patterns, colors and novelty pieces of Greentown glass.

 
The Greentown Glass Museum has preserved the glass and the history of the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company.  Today, the National Greentown Glass Association, www.greentownglass.org  is dedicated to preserving, collecting, educating, and disseminating information about the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company.  Every year in June, Greentown glass collectors meet to attend educational lectures, an auction, an antique show, and share their enthusiasm for Greentown glass with fellow collectors.    It's a great place to visit........you should go.
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