Decorating with Collections

Today I was thinking about using things that I collect to decorate my house.  I love collecting things!  I have since I was young.  My first "collection" started when I was in elementary school when I began collecting turtles.  Why turtles you might ask? Hmm... I don't know.  Actually, I do know.  My friend, Karen, collected frogs, and I wanted to collect something so I chose turtles!  In hindsight, this makes no sense because I am terrified of any animal that belongs in the amphibian/reptile group!  So, while I think huge turtles that you see at the zoo are really neat, I would never actually TOUCH one!  Nonetheless, I collected turtles when I was young - then I moved on to collecting things that I actually liked!  Gee... collecting is so much more fun when you really love what you are collecting - Amazing!!  I went through a phase where I collected teddy bears, Gail Pittman Pottery (before it was mass produced), heavy vintage dishes (my sister called them an "early truckstop" pattern), and Longaberger baskets. 

Don't you love these "truckstop" dishes?

I currently collect McCarty Pottery.  You may see my post about McCarty here.  Another collection that is dear to my heart is my Radko Christmas (and Easter) ornaments.  I get so excited when I see them each year as our family decorates our Christmas tree.  Another of my favorite things to collect is alphabet books.  This may seem a little odd, but once a teacher, always a teacher!  I began buying Seth alphabet books when he was a toddler.  Between the two of us we have quite a collection,although I only display them in my office at work.  I also have a small collection of vintage copper pots, aprons, vintage pyrex dishes, and old silver pieces.  My favorite finds are vintage silver teaspoons.  I am so tickled when I find those with a special engraved monogram.  I notice I seem to have a "thing" for all things vintage.  Possible because as my dear friend Lynda says, "we are becoming vintage ourselves!"  So true! 

Here are some of my Longaberger baskets and a few McCarty bunnies too. 

I recently started a collection of white ironstone pieces.  I love milk pitchers and soup tureens.  I find myself looking in antique stores and on eBay for ones that are really pretty, but still affordable.  Thus far, I only have a teapot with a cream and sugar.  I really enjoy looking around for the perfect piece! I am looking forward to growing my collection.  My sister gave me two pieces of Etta B Pottery for my birthday last week.  I was thrilled!  Anita already collected Etta B, which is another Mississippi pottery.  It is very simple and pretty!  The Christmas pieces are so precious too!  I am thrilled that she started a new collection for me - Jon is probably not so sure!! :-)

An Etta B plate and tiny bowl.  

I can't decide where they will be displayed yet, 

but that is part of the fun of  collecting. 

What are your favorite items to collect?  I would love to hear about any special treasures you display in your home.  

More of Life's Simple Blessings

from National Geographic

When I first started my blog I talked about finding joy in life's simple blessings.  In fact, I wrote a post on this very topic.  You can see it here.  This past week, however, I let stress at work get to me.  I am not proud of that, but it is true!  I had a little talk with myself last Friday.  Basically, I said, "Lisa, get a grip!  Life is too precious to spend one minute of it stressed about things that truly do not matter!"  I sat down and thought of little things that bring so much joy to life. These are the things that truly matter - not trivial things that rob us of true happiness!  Here are a few more simple blessings that make me happy each day:

• Hearing Seth tell me a silly joke!  His latest one was so funny I had him call my sister, my daddy and one of my best friends to tell it to them immediately!
• Rainbows
• Peanut butter and banana sandwiches
• Birthday balloons from my two sweeties
• Playing "Just Dance" with Seth - He is truly a hoot!
• Spending time at the beach, preferably with my sister
• Enjoying a "date night" with Jon
• A phone call from a dear friend
• Watching old movies - especially "Gone With the Wind", Yours, Mine and Ours", "Love Story, and "Pillow Talk".  Don't you just love Rock Hudson and Doris Day?
• The smell of steak cooking on the grill
• Seeing stars twinkling in the night sky - what a wonderful testimony of God's handiwork!
• Pedicures
• Watching Seth accomplish a task - he just COMPLETELY mastered shoe tying!  Woo Hoo!
• Rambling around antique stores hunting for the perfect vintage find
• Puppy breath :-)
• Saturday mornings at Panera Bread with Seth - enjoying a Cinnamon Crunch bagel with my little man is just about the best thing ever!
• Curling up with a good book and a cup of coffee on a rainy afternoon 
• The sound of rain on tin roof
• When Seth says "I luz (love) you Mama to the moon and back FIVE TIMES!"

These are just a few of the simple blessings that make me smile.  What are some of your favorites? Which simple blessing is sure to make you forget about the stresses of everyday life?

Turning another year older wasn't so bad!  My sweeties think I am fabulous!!  

Thanks for visiting Buttercup Bliss,

Lisa 

Welcome Back to School!

This past Wednesday I officially began my 28th year in education.  I have mixed feelings about this milestone!  Part of me is thinking "woo hoo!!", I am closer to retirement!! The other part of me is thinking "Holy cow", I am getting old!!!"  Yes, definitely mixed emotions!  I mentioned that on FB the other day and I had lots of comments ranging from, "Gee, you're old as dirt!" (love my cousin!!!), "Are you are still working?" and my personal favorites: comments from precious children that I taught over the years who are all grown up and are now parents and/or teachers themselves.  Honestly, it just made my day to hear from my former students!  Because I was single for so many years, I truly felt like these children were sorta/kinda "mine".  I cried every year on the last day of school.  

Our Christmas program - This was probably my 5th year to teach.  Aren't they precious?

Field trip to the zoo in Jackson, MS during my second year of teaching.  Spring, 1987.  

I am so excited though, because I have always loved school!!  I never wanted to be anything other than a teacher - I know I played school for years and years!!!  I get so excited when I see stores begin to display all the "back to school items".  Crayons, markers, lunch boxes, and back packs just beckon me to come and purchase them.  Do you remember when back packs were known as "book satchels" and lunch boxes were metal?  I do!  My first lunch box featured Dr. Doolittle.  I got so excited when I got a new lunch box each year. My mom said for years after Anita and I were grown she felt like she had to stop and look at the lunch box displays when they appeared in July. LOL!  I have two of mine on display in my office now.  They are both Betsy Clark designs.  One even has the thermos!  I love it!  I remember when I was in second grade and my daddy took Anita and me back to school shopping.  My book satchel was bright orange vinyl and the lunch box he chose was red plaid.  I remember being so upset because it wasn't cute!  Now I would give anything to have a vintage red plaid lunch box!  

As a young teacher I spent days and days getting my room just perfect each year.  I have to say that my room was always a really cute, cheerful space!  Another beginning of school tradition for me was getting the perfect "first day of school" outfit.  Often my mother would make a spiffy new dress for me to wear to our "back to school" orientation session.  I have continued that tradition today by purchasing a new dress to wear on the first day our teachers return to school.  I know it is a little corny, but I do like the idea of a fresh start in a new dress!! 

Vintage Betsy Clark - so sweet! 

Do you get excited in August (or if you live in other parts of the country, the Tuesday after Labor Day) when school starts?  Does the thought of a brand new school year signal a new beginning for you? What is your favorite back to school tradition? Does shopping for new school shoes make you oh so happy? Does the smell of a Sharpie marker make you smile?

This was taken a week or so ago at the beginning of my 28th year.  

Boy am I glad the days of 80's hair are long gone!!! 

Sorry for such a short post - I have to run pack my book satchel and plan my lunch for tomorrow! 

Lisa