The story of my dog, Buttons

This is the story of Buttons ~ the scottish terrier our family had when I was 2. The memories I have of Buttons are probably based on images I have seen in my mom's photo albums, as I was a bit young to remember much from my second year. According to family legend, Buttons was quite a feisty little dog ~ he used to jump into my father's newspaper as he was reading the daily news and he also bit into the toaster cord and got a bad shock. Apparently, I was not Buttons' best friend ~ although I am told I enjoyed playing with him ~ I also used him to bring attention to myself. In my defense, I was competing with my newborn brother, so I guess I was desperate.

{cigarette card from my personal collection}

As the story goes, my mom was elsewhere in the house ~ perhaps cooking dinner or tending to the meddlesome newborn ~ my dad was watching me and Buttons in the living room while he relaxed and read the newspaper. I might add that my dad has amazing powers of concentration ~ he can block out just about anything if he so chooses! Apparently, I decided that Buttons would be a good footstool ~ Buttons was not agreeable to that idea so he let me know it. My mom heard all the commotion and came to find my dad still reading the paper ~ oblivious to the whole incident ~ and me sitting on the floor crying and bleeding from a bite to my head. Poor Buttons, I don't know where he was, but it really wasn't his fault!

After that incident, my parents decided they ought to find a safer home for Buttons ~ it must have been hard for them to give away their dog, but I think they wanted to do what was best for the dog. It was only a matter of time before my younger brother would be running around creating even more havoc than I. Buttons did end up in a home with two other scotties, so I hope he was happier there! I guess I should be glad my parents gave away the dog rather than me!

{first aid cigarette cards from here}

Just an extra note: I have absolutely no scar whatsoever and I hold no malice towards the scottie ~ I have two scotties! My parents also have a scottie now!

Speaking of Buttons . . .

I bought this children's book several years ago on ebay since I love scotties and my very first scottie's name was Buttons. This book has a copyright of 1936 and is illustrated by Marguerite Kirmse, an illustrator well known for her expertise with dogs. The story and the illustrations really capture what a scottie is all about ~ a BIG dog in a little (but powerful!) body!

Fun with Coraline!

As I mentioned earlier, D and I decided to go to Coraline for a Valentine's Day treat ~ one of my main reasons to go was to see just what part the scottish terriers had in this movie. I had seen a trailer several months ago and glimpsed a split second of what looked like an entire theatre of scottish terriers ~ I was not seeing things! While the scotchmen played a rather minor part in Coraline, they did add a spot of humor ~ I'm sure someone in the creative group must have a scottie ~ their mannerisms and personality were captured quite well. Check out these handsome well behaved scotsmen below:

While we really enjoyed the movie, I discovered that the Coraline website is lots of fun too! Aside from being a pleasure to look at, one can build your own flower, write your name with jumping mice and button your eyes so that you can stay in the other world if you so choose! Button your eyes here.

{ Our family portraits }

Happy Valentine's Day!

{ images from here }

Valentine's Day Fare

Looking forward to a busy and fun Valentine's Day ~ here's what is on my schedule . . . .

{ a quick antique fix for the day }

{ a new do ~ image from here }

{ dinner & a movie }

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you too!

Signs of the Times

Spotted these gems at the John Knox Antique Show a few weekends ago ~ it IS good that I have no extra room on my walls ~ I would go broke! I find it interesting that a beautiful illustration or a clever name can draw one to a product ~ even if it is a product for conditions you wouldn't really want anyone to know you have!

{certainly this lovely woman has no warts, corns or callouses!}

{ Pep-Elixo solves ANY problem! }

{for my friends @ Hallmark ~ Happy Friday!}

Remembering Gretel

{ Gretel in 1971 in front of my log playhouse }

Seeing that today is February 11th, it reminded me that this date was the birthday of Gretel ~ my family's pet schnauzer ~ long passed on, but fondly remembered. We always had at least one dog ~ Gretel being the first dog I claimed as mine ~ even though she was the family pet. Gretel was a great companion ~ she put up with getting dressed up in my mom's old formal gowns, posed for many photos and artworks and even took me rollerskating down the street. She was also an excellent mouser and food moocher ~ every summer she would manage to strip the strawberry plants of only the ripe strawberries. My dad taught me how to groom her too, so now I can give any dog a schnauzer/scottie haircut!

One year my parents decided to breed Gretel, so my brother and I got to stay home from school the day she had her puppies ~ he and I sat in the bathtub and watched as our neighbor who was a nurse helped my mom and Gretel deliver 5 puppies! Another was born on the way to the vet to get checked out ~ we named all of them even though we knew we weren't allowed to keep the puppies ~ the one that was born in the car we named Dodge ~ after the family car ~ a lovely faux wood panelled 1965 station wagon. I don't remember what we named all of the rest of the puppies, but I do remember we were sad when we had to give them away.

{Gretel and her pups}

{Georgie with me and my brother}

At an early age, not only did I exhibit amazing talent (ha ha), but I also showed a keen love and interest for my pet ~ as shown below in these portraits of Gretel. My mom gave me a big box of artwork I did as a kid while I was home visiting this Christmas ~ there are some pretty funny things in there!

On the reverse of this one, my mom had written " What are you thankful for?" It must have been a school assignment as 1st grade is also written on the back.

{ my favorite ~ no age, just my name and phone number on the back }

Fun & Games

A few weekends ago I went to the winter antique show at John Knox Village ~ of course I took photos, but have gotten behind in posting! The show is not huge, but always boasts a wonderful array of unusual and high quality goods ~ even though there are many high dollar items that I can't afford (and have no room for anyway!), I love to look and I can always find some affordable items to satisfy my craving. Below is a grouping of game/pasttime related items from days gone by . . .

{ DIY art set complete with watercolors and stencils }

{ nice set of building blocks }

{ wheel of fortune? ~ love the graphics }

{ guess your weight for a penny ~ a nice addition for the foyer }

{ funky monkey man and woman }

{ learning is fun! }

Later this week ~ more photos from this show ~ there were too many for one post!

Fabulous Find #7 ~ Vintage Water Cooler

So, how many of you watch Mad Men? When I saw this vintage water cooler ~ I was tempted ~ I envisioned it filled with a lovely creme de menthe concoction ~ a great way to host a party! Then I thought about the morning after.......I guess not ~ if you watch Mad Men, you know what I am referring to.

This great vintage water cooler was being sold at the Raised In Cotton booth at the John Knox Antique show a couple of weekends ago ~ it really would be a great addition for many a party!

Forget Me Not Friendship/Autograph Book

{Collaged page with what looks like a fantasy grained painted background }

Last night while I was searching for groundhog and woodchuck imagery, I came upon this lovely handmade friendship album from the early 19th century. The owner of the book was Anne Wagner ~ she and her circle of friends must have been well schooled in the arts of illustration, design and penmanship. The diminutive book is chock full of a combination of naively painted illustrations, collage work, wonderful graphic layouts and beautiful calligraphy ~ there are entries dated from 1795 to 1834.

Below is a good selection of pages from the book ~ all of the images are from the New York Public Library Digital Gallery ~ make sure to visit ~ you won't be sorry! What a treasure ~ wouldn't it just make your day to find something like this?!

{beribboned lock of hair}

{charming and romantic watercolors}

{patriotic? illustration}

{doodles from 1804}

{doesn't everyone have at least one friend who is a Viscountess?}

{interesting variety of graphic treatments ~ borders and layout}

{paper cuts and embossed foils collaged on painted background}

How Much Wood Can a Woodchuck Chuck?

Happy Groundhog/Woodchuck Day! I thought I would peruse my old book collection and do a posting of a variety of lovely illustrations of the groundhog ~ or woodchuck. Alas, I could find none worth posting in any of the books I have ~ either the animal wasn't even mentioned or no illustration had been commissioned of the creature. I even checked children's books I had, but no luck there either. I feel sorry for the ignored groundhog ~ sure, maybe he isn't the most popular of the rodent family, but why not a Groundhog George or a Woodchuck Willie ~ he could have been just as well liked as Mickey Mouse, if only given the chance!

Groundhogs are also good genetic models for studying the human hepatitus B virus ~ I found that out here. The lovely illustrations I was able to find are from the New York Public Library Digital Collection.
At least the lowly groundhog has been given a day of honor ~ Hail to the Groundhog!

Six more weeks of winter for us ~ right about now I'm wishing I was a groundhog so I could hibernate until spring!