Party Like It's 1969

Well, you guys really came to my rescue on that last post!  Thank you and keep the good ideas coming.  I swear I am never, ever asking for compliments, but you guys always have the loveliest things to say to me.  Thank you, my friends.  

Rosie asked if I had anymore old photos to share.  Boy DO I!

You are all very familiar to this photo from my blog header.  That's Lora and Ray Hodgell - my great grandparents.  Ray died before I was born and Lora died when I was six years old.  But, I have many, many happy memories of Lora.  She was my Great Grandmother, but she was the one that did Grandmotherly things for me like have me over to spend the night.  When I would spend the night she would make me toast and an egg, but cut a hole our of the toast and put the egg in it.  I think that has a name, but I thought that ONLY she knew how to do it and that she ONLY made it for me.  I found this photo at several years ago at my Grandmother;s house and I knew instantly that it had to become my header, my business card photo, my brand, if you will.  All the vintage decor - the dishes, the paintings, that lamp, her jewelry - it's all just perfect to represent the vintage things that I love.  And those hats.  Well, that's a whole 'nuther story.

I have that very necklace she is wearing and that pine cone pitcher on the table.  I found both of them at my Grandmother's house.  See the Gurley candles in the back?  I don't have those actual ones, but I have some just like it.

When my Great Grandmother (who I called Grandma) had a family dinner, she did it up big time. Especially if it was a birthday dinner or a holiday dinner.  She had a built in hutch filled to the top with every pastel color of Lu-Ray dishes.  I remember pale green, yellow, pink and blue dishes along with matching pastel tablecloths.  I have several of her tablecloths too.  I would kill, I tell you KILL to find a set of pastel pink Lu-Ray dishes.  She would use pink dishes on a pink tablecloth or mix it up and have different colored place settings.

But, the finishing touch to every party were those crepe paper hats.  Made to fit each member of the family at each party in a coordinating color to match the holiday or decor.  She had a big craft cupboard full of new packages of Dennison Crepe paper and curling ribbon.  She made the hats for everyone before each party.  That's how they always fit and the always matched!  

The parties stared way before I was even thought about.  That's my Mom on the right peeking out from behind her brother Bob.  These are all her siblings and cousins.  She the hats on the table?  

I wish these photos were in color so we could see the dishes and the hats.  Now that I look at this photo all blown up on my computer, I see that I do have these dishes too - pine cone dishes.  My Grandmother (her daughter) was not a sentimental person and she never talked about the past or told stories.  She held grudges against so many people in the past that she never wanted to be reminded of them by telling stories.  So, when she died and we cleaned out her house, we were stunned at all the things that she had that belonged to her mother. She had even put notes with the things so we would know when we found them.  Everything was packed up in boxes and never put out once she moved to Arkansas.  But she had kept it oddly enough.  I would have loved to know that she still had all these things.  I am the family dinner host.  I could have used those dishes.  It would have made everything even more special.  But, I have them now.  I suppose that is what matters.  The best thing we found was my Great Grandmother';s wedding ring.  There was a note on it that said, "Keep Mother's diamond in the family."  She had four children and four grandchildren, but she had never thought to share that ring with anyone.  Instead, it sat in a box for 40 some years.  But, now I wear it every day.  

My parents and me on my birthday at Grandma's house.  I think I was two here.  I was the first grandchild and the only granddaughter until two years ago when my cousin had a baby girl.  Everyone thought I was sort of special.  :D

This is my fourth birthday.  I'm not sure what my Dad and my Uncle are up to in this picture.  Something mischievous.   

My Dad seems to be getting a kick out of the GREAT BIG HUGE HUNK of cake I had just cut for myself.  Somethings never change.  I still like a big hunk of birthday cake!   

When you got a bit older, Grandma would put little toasting cups on the cake.  I searched and searched and finally found a set years ago.  Then I found another.  And another.  And a collection was born. :)

This is one of my favorite photos of me from back then.  That was probably one of the lat times I wore a dress or crossed my legs or did anything ladylike.  :)

Since I was the only grandchild, I think I was a little spoiled with presents.  But, isn't' that how it should be?  Look at all those gorgeous presents!  That little wooden box beside me is a real set of silverware.  Tiny forks, spoons and knives all in a satin lined box.  I loved it SO much.  Considering how many things I have from my childhood, I am amazed that I not only do not have it, but I have no memory of what happened to it.  This is always in the back of my mind with I am thrifting and surfing ebay.  I would love to find another set.  

So, there you have it.  The story of Grandma Lora and why I loved her so.  Like it says in my header, she was the original Martha Stewart.  Fun parties, silly homemade hats and lots of love.  

Thank you for the writing prompt, Rosie.  I had fun with this one.  More to come from your ideas everyone.  Thanks again!