Nostalgia can bring about a myriad of emotions and thoughts. Dictionary.com defines nostalgia as a wistful desire to return in thought (or in fact) to a former time in one's life; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time. The catalog Vermont Country Store always evokes a very odd array of reactions for me. It is the epitome of nostalgia.
I'm not sure how I discovered it, but occasionally I order something and have for many years. Having thrown it into my suitcase when I travel, I believe it's better than any magazine you will buy at the airport. Just the name Vermont Country Store conjures up adjectives like nostalgic, amusing, fascinating, perplexing, delightful, intriguing, and even refreshing. The catalog started in 1946 and they guarantee 'Forever, We stand by our products'.
Not being familiar with most of their products hasn't kept me from appreciating them. From the front cover to the last (about 80 pages), I get lost in nostalgia. Occasionally I wonder where do people live that would wear a dress like this? Some of the styles are from the 50's and 60's, like simple cotton dresses or moo moos. Please google that term yourself, but suffice to say, it is a loose fitting, floral cotton print dress.
The products range from clothing, household products, cold cremes our grandmothers might have used, chenille bedspreads, percolators, and so many more. However, I must give an honorable mention to a few others: Vermont maple syrup, they even sell new typewriters (again google it, to those of you that are too young), a soft-bonnet hair dryer (?) for $69, and Ovaltine! That was/is a chocolate with less sugar in it and my mother did not allow us to eat a lot of sugary foods. Our chocolate was always Ovaltine, hot or cold. They have many foods from pancake mix, to hard candies, to jams and all sorts of sweets. My favorite products are the all-natural tonics and skin care that you would think came out of the 1890's. Loving natural home remedies and homeopathic health remedies myself, this section is most fun to read through.
The very best part of this wonderful catalog for me is the art work. It's like walking into an antique store, it takes me away. Most of the old art work is before my time. But I love antiques, the simplicity and beauty. It's a respite from a very busy life, into an era where life was simpler. If you had a cough, you went to the corner drug store and bought Honey and Anise syrup. Does drug store sound foreign to some of you? You must be 30 something. I grew up with them.
My suggestion is that you request their catalog, and sit in your comfy pajamas, with a cup of relaxing tea or maybe hot Ovaltine, and let yourself go away. Look into a life 70 years ago. Simply relax and smile and breathe, and wonder, 'what was life like back then?' I strongly suggest you order something wonderful you can't resist, something you will love using. And share your experience with your friends. Because after all, that is what I am doing, sharing something wonderful with you. I hope you truly enjoy it! By the way, they will not send you a lot of junk. Perhaps a catalog 3-4 times a year.
Thank you, this post was particularly fun for me. Good night and God Bless!! Aleta
ps Looking for a quote for this post was quite a task, most of them being very negative. I do like these 2, and found the later hilarious.
"Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days." Doug Larson, columnist and editor.
"Nostalgia isn't what it used to be." Peter De Vries, American editor and novelist, known for his satire!
Friday, January 22, 2016
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
GOTTA FESS UP!
It's nothing earth shattering and it wasn't an untruth I told. A couple of months ago I realized it was time to move. Some of you may have guessed it from all my gushing about my first grand child, Rosalie. We now have 2 babies in the family, and I can't bear to be away from them. Rosalie is 1 1/2 years old, Caleb was just born January 9th, and I am visiting everyone in early February! They are first cousins and live within close proximity. It was not an easy decision to make because I am leaving a son and daughter-in-law behind. They live about 2 hours away from me and don't have any children right now. But there are many reasons, not only my grand babies, and I will not go into all of them in my post. Whether I live in California or Michigan, I will always visit my children.
Michigan offers many new experiences I look forward to. A vintage style house I get to choose and make my own, a big church with a singles group for 50 and over, hopefully many dancing opportunities, and very important is the lower cost of living. I will be in the antique capital of the United States, my opinion, of course. Loving antiques and shabby chic, I will have great fun junking with my friend Cheryl, Rachel's mom. We often do just that when I have visited in the past. And yes, they have weather with a capital 'W' and four distinct seasons. Many different photography opportunities, which is another hobby I love. People say I will acclimate to the weather, hopefully. Noticing the teen numbers this last week, I can only imagine myself looking like an abominable snowman, with 10 layers, and just my eyes peaking through. Haha, hopefully it won't be that bad. But perhaps taking 10 minutes to peel off the layers when I arrive some place, and then 10 minutes to put them all back on, upon departure. Yikes, I'm not kidding! But change is always welcome. I thrive on it, always loving to grow and change - to me makes life more exhilarating.
Why did it take 3 months to blog about my move? Until recently it felt over-whelming with all the decisions I had to make. Also I was writing less frequently and didn't like that. An hour ago I sat down to pay a bill online, I clicked Blogger and sat there thinking. A few minutes later it came to me - I am going to tell the world about my move. Now I have much more to share.
Thank you, good night and God Bless! Aleta
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." Mahatma Ghandi
Michigan offers many new experiences I look forward to. A vintage style house I get to choose and make my own, a big church with a singles group for 50 and over, hopefully many dancing opportunities, and very important is the lower cost of living. I will be in the antique capital of the United States, my opinion, of course. Loving antiques and shabby chic, I will have great fun junking with my friend Cheryl, Rachel's mom. We often do just that when I have visited in the past. And yes, they have weather with a capital 'W' and four distinct seasons. Many different photography opportunities, which is another hobby I love. People say I will acclimate to the weather, hopefully. Noticing the teen numbers this last week, I can only imagine myself looking like an abominable snowman, with 10 layers, and just my eyes peaking through. Haha, hopefully it won't be that bad. But perhaps taking 10 minutes to peel off the layers when I arrive some place, and then 10 minutes to put them all back on, upon departure. Yikes, I'm not kidding! But change is always welcome. I thrive on it, always loving to grow and change - to me makes life more exhilarating.
Why did it take 3 months to blog about my move? Until recently it felt over-whelming with all the decisions I had to make. Also I was writing less frequently and didn't like that. An hour ago I sat down to pay a bill online, I clicked Blogger and sat there thinking. A few minutes later it came to me - I am going to tell the world about my move. Now I have much more to share.
Thank you, good night and God Bless! Aleta
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." Mahatma Ghandi
Saturday, January 16, 2016
WAIT, I TAKE THAT BACK!
Most of us don't want to exercise. Wait, I take that back - I do! Okay, yes, I'm weird and proud of it, which makes me even more weird. We have to like who we are, and that is something I always strive for. Exercise wakes up my body and allows me to know I am alive and everything is working. We all know with age, our parts wear out. I am not going to bore you or make you feel guilty about not exercising. I am suggesting we start small - stretching.
Stretching is a must. Remember waking up in the morning, opening up your chest and carefully stretching both arms out? When you think about it, it is really a beautiful movement, almost like a ballet stance. Whether you like to dance, don't like to dance, or think you should never dance because you are not coordinated, dancing is a great way to get exercise. Being a dancer myself, I don't need a reason to dance. When music moves me, my body responds.
If you are always on the go or a sedentary personality, stretching is something we can all do every day taking only minutes. The older we get the stiffer and less flexible our joints become. That's where stretching will keep them healthier. Find stretches that help the low back, knees, arms, legs and even feet. Always start slowly and never bounce when you stretch. Stretching the feet might sound foreign to some. Standing on the edge of stairs, and lifting up (counting to a minimum of 30) does a couple things: it's good to strengthen calves and makes the muscles in the feet stronger. Your calves will burn toward the end, and you will need to walk it off. Seniors often fall because of weak musculature in the feet.
One thing I found to help with stretches is a book on Yoga, it's a favorite. Unfortunately, for years I stayed away from yoga, thinking I had to get into Buddhism and chant om! Don't make the same mistake I did. Books and libraries excite me and take me away. But you can also go to the web. By the way, this book has great photos of poses, simple explanations, and is very easy to read. "Discover Yoga" Top That Publishing, 2005. You can get all the same exercises if you research it on the web. Find some stretches that appeal to you and make a choice to be more physically fit!
Thank you, good night and God Bless! Aleta
"Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing." Redd Foxx - African-American comedian and actor
Stretching is a must. Remember waking up in the morning, opening up your chest and carefully stretching both arms out? When you think about it, it is really a beautiful movement, almost like a ballet stance. Whether you like to dance, don't like to dance, or think you should never dance because you are not coordinated, dancing is a great way to get exercise. Being a dancer myself, I don't need a reason to dance. When music moves me, my body responds.
If you are always on the go or a sedentary personality, stretching is something we can all do every day taking only minutes. The older we get the stiffer and less flexible our joints become. That's where stretching will keep them healthier. Find stretches that help the low back, knees, arms, legs and even feet. Always start slowly and never bounce when you stretch. Stretching the feet might sound foreign to some. Standing on the edge of stairs, and lifting up (counting to a minimum of 30) does a couple things: it's good to strengthen calves and makes the muscles in the feet stronger. Your calves will burn toward the end, and you will need to walk it off. Seniors often fall because of weak musculature in the feet.
One thing I found to help with stretches is a book on Yoga, it's a favorite. Unfortunately, for years I stayed away from yoga, thinking I had to get into Buddhism and chant om! Don't make the same mistake I did. Books and libraries excite me and take me away. But you can also go to the web. By the way, this book has great photos of poses, simple explanations, and is very easy to read. "Discover Yoga" Top That Publishing, 2005. You can get all the same exercises if you research it on the web. Find some stretches that appeal to you and make a choice to be more physically fit!
Thank you, good night and God Bless! Aleta
"Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing." Redd Foxx - African-American comedian and actor
Friday, January 15, 2016
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT!
"Please welcome my newest grand baby, Caleb Joseph. He was born Saturday, January 9th weighing 7lbs 7ounces, 20" long. Both mommy and baby are healthy!😍🙏🏻 They took Caleb home yesterday and (I believe) are spending every moment talking with and staring at their little bundle of joy, their little miracle😍 Even shedding tears of joy, I am sure!
Saturday was exhausting for Caleb's nonna! Lots of sleep deprivation. From the moment I woke up at 7am, reading texts and updates on labor, etc, I was impatiently waiting for the next update. Then jumping at every text announcement and scrambling to open it - it was like an I Love Lucy segment!😂 Thank you for all your prayers! I get to see both families for 2 weeks in early February. Now I have 2 precious grand babies😍 Thank you God! My heart is so full and I am so blessed"😘
The above is a post from my Facebook account, and since it was aptly said, I couldn't resist a little copy and paste. Being brand new parents, Tina and Ian are holding Caleb, and staring at him, and marveling at their little miracle. After trying for 4 years they were very disheartened. Tina also had a miscarriage in the spring of 2015.
Yesterday texting back and forth with my son, I had an opportunity to impart some wisdom about living day to day, and enjoying every moment. Every new parent hears "They grow up very fast, enjoy every minute". Some people have said to me they are tired of hearing that. But the truth of the matter is, life IS very short, and the older we get, the faster it seems to fly by. Here is the essence of what I said: Thirty five is not over the hill, and it's good that you feel 25. Take good care of your health (exercise and healthy eating), think positively, control anger, and say you're sorry quickly. Even when it isn't your fault. Enjoy your family every moment. You should not let the world determine what you do, or how you live. Adults contend with peer pressure just like school children. And we all have regrets, but the more we go with how our heart feels, the less regrets we will have. People will always have a different opinion, we have to deal with opposition all of our lives. Don't wait until you are 50 or 60 years old (or older) to learn these valuable lessons.
Some of my earlier posts talk a lot about how I have changed. My self talk drove me nuts, and one day I saw a book titled "How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty". Imagine that, remembering clearly the one book, of hundreds I have read over the years, that made such a huge difference to my personal growth. In my early 30's at the time, I knew it was important for me to change. Thank you for allowing me into your very busy lives, one of my greatest wishes is to make a difference in this world.
Thank you, good night and God Bless! Aleta
"My kids give me the balance to live right." Celine Dion - Singer, composer and actress
Saturday was exhausting for Caleb's nonna! Lots of sleep deprivation. From the moment I woke up at 7am, reading texts and updates on labor, etc, I was impatiently waiting for the next update. Then jumping at every text announcement and scrambling to open it - it was like an I Love Lucy segment!😂 Thank you for all your prayers! I get to see both families for 2 weeks in early February. Now I have 2 precious grand babies😍 Thank you God! My heart is so full and I am so blessed"😘
The above is a post from my Facebook account, and since it was aptly said, I couldn't resist a little copy and paste. Being brand new parents, Tina and Ian are holding Caleb, and staring at him, and marveling at their little miracle. After trying for 4 years they were very disheartened. Tina also had a miscarriage in the spring of 2015.
Yesterday texting back and forth with my son, I had an opportunity to impart some wisdom about living day to day, and enjoying every moment. Every new parent hears "They grow up very fast, enjoy every minute". Some people have said to me they are tired of hearing that. But the truth of the matter is, life IS very short, and the older we get, the faster it seems to fly by. Here is the essence of what I said: Thirty five is not over the hill, and it's good that you feel 25. Take good care of your health (exercise and healthy eating), think positively, control anger, and say you're sorry quickly. Even when it isn't your fault. Enjoy your family every moment. You should not let the world determine what you do, or how you live. Adults contend with peer pressure just like school children. And we all have regrets, but the more we go with how our heart feels, the less regrets we will have. People will always have a different opinion, we have to deal with opposition all of our lives. Don't wait until you are 50 or 60 years old (or older) to learn these valuable lessons.
Some of my earlier posts talk a lot about how I have changed. My self talk drove me nuts, and one day I saw a book titled "How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty". Imagine that, remembering clearly the one book, of hundreds I have read over the years, that made such a huge difference to my personal growth. In my early 30's at the time, I knew it was important for me to change. Thank you for allowing me into your very busy lives, one of my greatest wishes is to make a difference in this world.
Thank you, good night and God Bless! Aleta
"My kids give me the balance to live right." Celine Dion - Singer, composer and actress
Thursday, January 7, 2016
A CHANGE OF HEART!
Generally we go to the movies to be entertained. But some of us also like to learn. Recently I saw the new movie Joy, with Jennifer Lawrence (young actress from The Hunger Games). Don't worry, I will not divulge anything about how the movie ends. It's based on a true story about a single mom.
Jennifer Lawrence is an excellent actress and portrays Joy beautifully. After seeing it and talking with a few friends about my initial reaction, I've had a change of heart. First of all, I absolutely loved it and would like to include it in my library. After some consideration though, I realize it's not going to appeal to everyone. The critics did not give it a good rating and now I understand why. My idea of entertainment is different than the general public's. Sometimes I like to see a movie that shows how strong the human spirit can be, life lessons, and kindness. Silly comedy and drama definitely is good too.
My appeal is Joy, the story, how it developed, and the character Lawrence played. Her strength and tenacity and how she accepted her responsibilities. She met with a lot of adversity, would stop and think things through, and she had a great attitude. She has a big imagination and she did not let the world dictate how she lived. The end is kind of a surprise. I loved it and hope you do, too. High expectations can spoil experiences sometimes. Don't let me raise or lower yours.
Thank you, good night and God Bless you! Aleta
"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. But attitude determines how well you do it!" Lou Holtz - Former American football player, exceptional coach, and author.
Jennifer Lawrence is an excellent actress and portrays Joy beautifully. After seeing it and talking with a few friends about my initial reaction, I've had a change of heart. First of all, I absolutely loved it and would like to include it in my library. After some consideration though, I realize it's not going to appeal to everyone. The critics did not give it a good rating and now I understand why. My idea of entertainment is different than the general public's. Sometimes I like to see a movie that shows how strong the human spirit can be, life lessons, and kindness. Silly comedy and drama definitely is good too.
My appeal is Joy, the story, how it developed, and the character Lawrence played. Her strength and tenacity and how she accepted her responsibilities. She met with a lot of adversity, would stop and think things through, and she had a great attitude. She has a big imagination and she did not let the world dictate how she lived. The end is kind of a surprise. I loved it and hope you do, too. High expectations can spoil experiences sometimes. Don't let me raise or lower yours.
Thank you, good night and God Bless you! Aleta
"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. But attitude determines how well you do it!" Lou Holtz - Former American football player, exceptional coach, and author.
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