My FAMILY HEIRLOOMS

This swan planter may seem like an unlikely heirloom ..but it's the only thing we have that was my husband's mother's .. she died about 39 years ago and it's amazing that this planter has not disintegrated ... we had two but unfortunately some kids took one from our porch and smashed it in the street years ago... I know this is not an heirloom that will be passed down for generations ..but it's very special to both me and of course to my husband Joe.
I inherited this 'grinder' from my Mother years ago when she stopped cooking .. I have memories of her grinding garlic and chile peppers in it when she made salsa for our family when I was growing up .. It sets on our counter and we still use it today ... My mother was born in Mexico and only cooked Mexican food for our family so she used this 'molcajete' a lot.
This bracelet is probably the most important and treasured 'heirloom' I have .. My Father gave it to my Mother when she was 18 years old ... she never took it off until about 10 years ago when she gave it to me for Christmas ... When I opened the little gift box and saw what it was, I could only stare at it and then at her ... I asked her why she was giving it to me and she said
"because I want to see you wear it with a happy heart"
I've never taken it off since ... My Mom is 90 years old.
It is truly my most treasured heirloom.

My Mom also gave me these other bracelets one at a time ... she has always worn multiple bracelets and she has given both me and my sister bracelets off of her wrist .. I have been wearing the other three for over 45 years .. at least... I never take them off and neither does my sister Susu.
I just ran across Marie's blog at
Emma Calls Me Mama
... I love that name ... how sweet. .. I love her blog and spent some time reading about her wonderful family heirlooms .. what great stories ... I was also excited to join in on the fun and post pictures and share a story or two about my heirlooms .. So I walked around my house with my 'camera phone' to find just the right things to share ...Well, to my surprise we don't have any heirlooms .. as sad as that sounds, it's true .. Both my husband and I come from families who really didn't have much to pass down .. and if there was anything we were not lucky enough to get them ..Funny thing is that I never realized this until today ...so as sad as that is I guess it's OK since we never thought about it .. My house is filled with so many antiques and collectibles that I hope will some day become heirlooms for our children and grand children ...and it also made me think that maybe this is one of the reasons that I do enjoy collecting so that I can leave things to pass down to my family.

So after walking around the house I did find the swan and my Mom's grinder... then as I sat typing I looked at my wrist and saw my most treasured possession .. My Mother's bracelet.

THANK YOU AUNT ROSE

Our beautiful Aunt Rose came to my Mom's birthday party and gave these to me as a gift along with two guest towels that she embroidered herself when she was 18 years old.
The apples are made in the "Martha Stewart Green" that I love.

They are so beautiful and they are filled

with a yummy smelling potpourri.

I can't wait to get the pattern.
AUNT ROSE IS 88 YEARS OLD.

RANDOM TABLESCAPE

I don't think there is any rhyme nor reason to this tablescape ... but I liked the colors and I have always liked stars.

My old friends the "Moon People"

A little jack-in-the-box with a monkey head

I found at a yard sale

Just things I like to look at.
Star cup and saucers given to me

by my daughter Jennifer.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ENRIQUETA SEGOVIA READE

My Mom's Birthday Fiesta We had family and friends celebrating with us ...some of who we had not seen for many years
Four generations
Me, my Mom, my daughter Juliet

and my grand daughter Natalie
MY MOM TURNED "90"

The dancers were amazing

and their costumes were beautiful
and what's a fiesta without a pinata

We had so much going on that we actually forgot to break it...lol
The picture in the middle is my Mom when she was 18 years old.

I know 4th of July is over.

But I'm about to change my table so I decided to share it with you anyway ...even though it's almost August. :^(

OMG! .. I just can't remember that my 'last posts will come up first ... so sorry but my bathroom pixtures are 'backwards'..lol

This is the old light fixture in the bathroom ..it has some missing parts but I still love it .. I don't know anything about it except that it was in our hallway when we moved in and I had it moved to the bathroom.

Let's talk 'window'
This window is right next to the toilet.. I mean you can sit with elbow on the windowsill and look out the window ...so I had to come up with something.I found these curtain rodes in an antique store .
they"swing"
open during the day and we can close them at night ..or when we want some privacy ...lol

I made the 'curtain' out of an old pillow case.

More Bathroom Pix

We used to have an old tank top toilet ..it was a pain ... when we replaced it I just couldn't get rid of the tank ..so there it is.

We only had this old tub for many, many years ... "no shower" .. It was a happy day in the neighborhood when we finally added a second bathroom and a "shower"!
I'm sorry to say the old tub is hardly ever used anymore... I guess we just let life get to busy .. no time for soaking. :^(
Hanging in the corner is my Mom's old chenille robe.

My friend Judy taught me to wrap my toilet paper in tissue ... It only takes a second ... then I can leave it out for guests to find and I don't mind looking at it .. you can also reuse the tissue over and over.. you can also use pretty pattern papers.

Today I'm taking you to my "old" bathroom

As you can see I even fill my bathroom with "stuff"

I just can't help myself. :^)

Both my Father and my brother Jim wore Old Spice ... They are both gone now but I still love the sent and the bottles ... Soooo ..It's just another thing to collect. :^)

The vanity is really ugly so I made a skirt out of a tablecloth to cover it ... I will replace it someday ...I hope.

There is no counter space in this old bathroom so I used this ironing board ..One of the treasures my brother Jim gave me.

Stuff, stuff and more stuff ..."I LOVE IT"

Looking in the door... The light switch is outside the door in the hallway .. It's very handy ..I don't know why they stopped doing that.
(this was supposed to be the start of my bathroom tour)

LOL

NEW GREAT GRAND BOY

GREAT GRAND BABY OF THE WEEK

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE

* JUDE WRIGLEY MIRANDA*

yes his Dad is a huge baseball fan.

Jude was born July 12,2009

He weighed 6 lbs. 11 oz.

His proud parents are Daniel and Heather

and his big 3 year old brother is Jaxon

Jude's grandparents are our daughter

Tina and her husband Mark

"LIFE IS GOOD"

Moon and Stars

I've had this picture of a distant relative, 'Tio Mike' forever ... I always thought it was interesting and pretty cool... Then recently I found this other picture of a girl on a moon very much like my picture in a box of old photographs ...I have no idea who this girl is.
Has anyone ever seen one like these before ...I sure would like to have a collection of them.

I hope you all have a Happy and Safe 4th of July.

I"ve been soo busy making tissue paper flowers and other decorations for my Mom's big fiesta . ... I've missed you all but I have not had much time to visit my favorite blogs for a couple of weeks .. I hope to be back after my Mom's big 90th birthday Fiesta next Saturday.

Hugz ...Betty