Childhood Memories Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Grateful Prayer

A St. Patrick’s Day Birthday

By Lorraine

St Patrick’s Day has always been special in our family since it was also my moms birthday. The photo above is a St. Patrick’s Day Birthday given in honor of Mommy way back in the 1960’s. Held at my aunts house with friends, my dad (in white shirt) and me (in green dress).

A Child Again

By Lorraine

it starts with the sound of the sirens in the distance…

and builds as the shrill intensifies and the fire truck rounds the corner with lights flashing…

a little girl of long ago, excitedly emerges and waves as Santa drives by the house…

I am transported back many years with the same excitement filling my heart… every year!

John asked, ‘Doesn’t it look a little silly you being out here waving to Santa without any children around?’ Ah, but there is a child here!

For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself.

I assume I get this charge because my parents made a big deal of Santa when we were children. My Mom and Dad did not come to know the Good News and embrace Jesus as their Savior until they were in their later years. Though Santa was never the focus of our Christmas celebration of Christ’s birth, and our grandchildren have always understood the fantasy of Santa, I think their Mom-Mom will always run out to wave as the fire truck passes by.

A photo snapped Friday evening, just before John & I left to attend his company Christmas Party.
We had a wonderful time.

Sweet Nostalgia

By Lorraine

My Christmas trees have some new ornaments this year.

Or, rather old, vintage ornaments that once hung from the branches of the trees we knew as children.

Another Wedding and a Night of Dancing!

By Lorraine

Yes, another wonderful celebration of the marriage of a sweet, young couple. Did I mention John and I have been invited to “7” weddings this year. Three of which I have been asked to photograph. (Not this one but I just can’t pass up an opportunity to shoot some photos!) Yesterday was the wedding of John’s cousin’s daughter.

The service

Nesting Wrens

By Lorraine

Nesting Wrens are the new occupants among the Petunias and Inpatients.Continue Reading

Magnolia House & Childhood Memories

By Lorraine

This is the house I grew up in.

This is the house my dad built.

This is the house that holds all my childhood memories.

Cousins

By Lorraine

Happy Birthday, Karen!

I Love You! As always, we had a great day with you!

Growing up together

ps… Happy Birthday to John (Karen’s husband) too! A sweet guy and dear friend!

Still a Thrill Seeing Santa Drive by on Fire Engine

By Lorraine

I can’t explain it

But it still happens

It sends me right back to childhood.

From the instant I hear the siren in the distance

The anticipation and excitement wells up inside

And grows stronger as the shrill approaches

Here comes Santa Clause!

I am five years old again.

horn blasting… lights flashing…

Yes, it’s me again, Santa.

The oldest child in the neighborhood.

Running out to greet you

e*v*e*r*y

year!

Lewes Delaware

By Lorraine

Lewes Delaware

This past Saturday, John and I woke bright and early and drove almost two and a half hours to spend a wonderful day visiting my dear cousins who have a home in Lewes Delaware.

We took a walk by the water

Watched the boats

Enjoyed a cool summer breeze

Talked and laughed while enjoying a Pig Roast at their Community Center

and had a great time catching up with her daughters

Though they really wanted us to say over, we needed to be home for Sunday morning. So, after a full day and evening it was time for us to ‘Fly Away Home’.

Just for fun I looked in my photo files for any pics of Karen and I as children. Here are a few I found without having to pull out my photo albums and scanner.

Me with my Chatty Kathy doll, my Aunt (Karen’sMom) and Baby Karen

Joining Susan @A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday!

Vintage Spaghetti Poodle Knickknack

By Lorraine

Now here is a little treasure that doesn’t exactly fit in with current decorating trends. This glamorous little pooch has been in my life for as long as I can remember so I’m kind of fond of her. Well, fond isn’t exactly right either. Maybe just sentimental remembering all of the times, as a kid, I had to dust her. I don’t remember what happened to her cute little pups. They probably ended up in with my Barbies.

Somehow I became the guardian of this ancient nicknack. Do young woman today even know what nicknacks are? Are they spelled nick-nacks or knickknacks…

Noun

knickknack – a small inexpensive mass-produced article
2. nicknack – miscellaneous curios. bric-a-brac, knickknackery, whatnot, knicknack, curio, curiosity, oddment, peculiarity, rarity, oddity

– something unusual — perhaps worthy of collecting (or perhaps, not)

This little lady’s painted eyebrows and coiffed hair only adds to her flamboyant appearance.

She always seems to have a haughty air about her.

And a look that says, “You wouldn’t dare send me to Good Will!”

No. Since I have this sentimental heart, I’ll just dust her off once again and tuck her back into the cabinet from which she came.

Easter Bread with Dyed Eggs

By Lorraine

Many, many years, the girls would roll out of bed, wrap up in a blanket and head over to church with their dad for Sunrise Service.

Not me. I waited for the 11 o’clock service that we all attended as a family.

Each year I serve this pretty bread that has become a tradition
on our table for Easter breakfast.

Jill makes it each year for her family now although they prefer it
without the eggs. (see photo at bottom of post)
Abbey says it isn’t Easter Bread without the eggs and
I think it is much more festive with them.

besides… I love playing with these beautiful dyes!

♥
Here is my recipe

Dough Ingredients:
1 large egg plus enough water to equal 1 cup 2 Tablespoons
1/4 cup butter at room temp.
1 1/2 tsp. salt
3 cups Bread flour (add a little more if dough seems too wet)
3 tbsp. nonfat Dry milk
5 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. bread machine yeast

If Desired: 5 raw eggs, dyed and brought to room temperature (I have found if the eggs are cold, they will not cook completely during the baking time for the bread)

Dough Instructions:

Place dough ingredients in bread pan in order listed above
Set on Basic Dough
When cycle is completed, remove dough from bread pan onto a lightly floured board.
Cover with inverted bowl and allow to rest 15 minutes.

Dough from the bread machine

Cover with an inverted bowl and allow dough to rest 15 minutes

Divide dough into two equal pieces and twist each piece over the other to form braid

Form braid into a ring

Nestle eggs into the dough

Divide dough in half.
Roll each piece into a log about 24-inches long.
Pinch top edges together and begin braiding each piece over the other.
Form into a circle and pinch ends together.
Transfer to a baking sheet sprayed with PAM.
Gently snuggle each egg into the dough. It helps to make an indentation with your fingers so the egg sits deep enough.
Cover; let rise in a warm, draft-free place 1 hour or until double in size.

Baking Directions:
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes until golden brown. (I usually tent mine with foil during the last 15 minutes to prevent over browning.

In addition, you may want to drizzle on a glaze made of 1/2 cup confectioners sugar, 1/2 tsp. melted butter, splash of almond extract and a few grains of salt stirred with a bit of water or orange juice to desired consistency.

School Classroom Executone

By Lorraine

I bet you never heard of a School Classroom Executone. Well, that’s what kept me connected to my classroom in 7th grade.

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ Ice On The Pond

By Lorraine

Usually the pond at this park is full of Canadian geese, ducks, children, walkers and dogs. On this cold, March morning last week, I was alone except for a man and his dog.

Over the years, Daddy/PopPop has spent many hours here with our daughter, Abbey and grandson, Jared as they baited their little fishing rods with worms they dug up in the back yard. The sunnies would bite almost as soon as the hook hit the water.

John spent most of his time putting worms on the hook and taking fish off the hook!

While building this post I was reminded of the above photo taken on the bank
of this pond when Jared was younger.
Sweet moments!
♥
How to Catch Sunnies
(from eHow)

Sunnies (Sunfish) are small fish (3 to 7 inches in length) that are usually very abundant in freshwater ponds and lakes. Fishing for sunnies is great fun for children and can be a great family activity.

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Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

rod and reel with fishing line
a small hook
a float (bobber)
bait

Step 1
Attach a small hook to the end of the fishing line.
Step 2
Attach a float (bobber) 1′ to 4′ from the hook.
Step 3
Put bait on the hook. Sunnies are not picky eaters. Some typical bait used to catch sunnies is dough, bread, worms, and small bait fish. Personally, I prefer dough because it is easy to find and easy to use.
Step 4
Cast (if need be) the line into the water.
Step 5
Let it sit. When a fish takes the bait and gets hooked, the float will go under water. Then reel it in.
Step 6

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Sunfish
A good method for removing the fish from the hook is to grab the hook with a pliers (a needle nose pliers works best) and twist and shake it so that the fish falls off. Sometimes it is necessary to hold the fish and work the hook out.

Visit Hey Harriet’s Shadow Shot Sunday for lots of fun shadow photos!

Baby Ring

By Lorraine

As years pass, items from our childhood become more endearing and treasured. At the time of my birth, my aunt was living with my family. This tiny baby ring was a gift from her.

Rancocas Woods

By Lorraine

Nestled among the scrub pine trees is a quaint shopping village of log cabins and other buildings that house unique shoppes. On a brisk morning last week, I dropped Raider off at the groomers and made the short drive to Rancocas Woods. It was early and none of the shops were opened but I was able to snap some pictures of this rustic waterwheel.

William Spencer Lighting (site is currently under construction) is a beautiful shop filled with furniture and amazing lighting fixtures.
This waterwheel sits on the side of the building.

The Corner Pretzel Shoppe serves warm, fresh-baked, soft pretzels and other nibblers. I don’t think there were many (any?) times we didn’t visit without enjoying the soft, doughy treats with mustard on top!