Howdy sweet friends-o-mine!! Thanks for stopping by for this month’s Where Bloggers Live 06.2023: Collections & Collectibles. This month finds us sharing the things we collect. Those precious treasures we have picked up along life’s journey. This post is going to long on pictures and short on words because I am worn slick. Wasn’t really sure what I was going to share until Lucia and Cami began making ‘get well’ drawings and art for Campa (PC). Like that, I had my answer!! Sharing my ❤️(he)art❤️ collections.
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Where Bloggers Live
Ever wonder where the ideas for this series come from? Well, let me tell you!! Each month our fearless leader Bettye comes up with a prompt for the gang to respond to. This has been one of my favorite series in which to participate and I hope to continue to join these fun-loving ladies for more thoughtful posts.
If you missed last month’s post, you might check it out. We shared a peek into our medicine cabinets. When PC and I had our house built, we realized that medicine cabinets were MIA – missing in action. Or maybe MFB – missing from blueprints. Wherever would we store all of our DRUGS?? Find out here.
In April, we shared a day in my life, weekend edition. Before that, our favorite website. BTW, mine is PINTEREST…are we friends on Pinterest yet? I just love it!!
I tell you, Bettye’s prompts are always fun to respond to.
Where Bloggers Live 06.2023
Remember how I am doing spring cleaning?? Spring cleaning that needs to wind up in a hurry before it becomes summer cleaning?? That cleaning has included organizing a lot of stuff. Like old photos – something I apparently collect. This activity has been on my list of goals for several seasons now. I am using a free app called Photomyne to scan multiple old pictures at a time with my phone and upload them onto the app and then sharing them in Google Photos. Photomyne allows me edit, crop, date, label and describe each photograph.
At the risk of making my mom sound like a hoarder, and now me a hand-me-down hoarder, I have collections of old report cards (my mom’s, my own and my daughters). Lots of cards from family and friends. And all of those treasures are going to be scanned, too. Slowly but surely. In the meantime, I have a plastic bin that fits under the guest room bed where I can store them. And as I scan each picture or keepsake, I am putting them in an album – one for Brennyn, one for Lauren and one for me.
Old pictures, cards, drawings, etc. are just some of my collections. Here are some examples of others.
Collections & Collectibles
The one thing all of my collections have in common is love. You might say that’s the central theme of my life!!
Love Notes
Ever since my first grandbaby Cadence was little, I have saved notes and pictures she has made for me. When I visit her in Ft. Worth or she comes to see me in El Paso, we always leave notes for each other on the last day of our time together.
When Lucia came along, she and her parents lived in Houston, then Albuquerque before they moved home to EP. I began collecting little drawings she made for me, too. I carry a number of those mementos, some notes from my mom, and a couple of photos of my PC in the pocket of my purse organizer (similar) at all times.
The pieces in the photos below are notes Cady and Lucia made. The first one is a to-do list Cady started on her last visit here…I love that she still wants to play Barbies with Mimi. Lucia and I played ‘restaurant’ one night and served her parents dessert. The middle image is our menu. And the last picture is a price list from a game of ‘store’ we played.
I’m thinking I should also scan these very precious keepsakes and maybe transfer the originals from my purse to an album.
Lucia and Cami Creations
Seven-year-old Lucia is extremely artistic. There is nothing in the world she would rather do than draw. Or create something with her sculpting clay. She loves animals so the subject of most of her art is animals, in particular, kitties. The girl has made me little creatures from pom-poms, felt, pipe cleaners. Before PC went into the hospital for his surgery, Lucia made him a baseball pin to wear for good luck. And now both she and 3-year-old Cami are drawing and coloring pictures for us. Cami generally colors something from one of their coloring books. But Lucia draws her own pictures and colors them.
We had begun framing some of their art and setting it about in our den but ran out of flat surfaces on which to put the frames. Then PC saw an ad on Facebook for this changeable children’s art frame that holds up to 50 pieces of art per frame. Prayers answered!! I bought 2. And now we can easily display the girls’ most recent art without having to file (or throw) away the older pieces.
Books, Baubles and Babies
My loft is bursting – literally – with collectibles. Mostly books, baubles and babies. On my shelves, I have a collection of favorite children’s fairy tales. Over the years, I have purged most of the books I used for library lessons. But I cannot bring myself to part with these.
The origami crane was given to me by my friend Lorena, who was also my library assistant for a number of years. I always did a unit on young Hiroshima victim Sadako Sasaki whose classmates folded 1,000 origami cranes in hopes of saving her life from the injuries she incurred from the bomb. My sister-in-law Greta gave me the little felt fairy. My BFF Sharon gave me the framed book quote, a student gave me the little bears. And my daughters brought me the Hawaiian doll home as a souvenir from their trip to our fiftieth state.
In the photo below, you can see the rest of my fairy tale books, and more priceless mementos.
I bought the ‘shhhh-y’ librarian action figure for myself but in reality, I was the un-shhhhiest librarian you ever saw. There is only one level to my voice…loud. The Japanese doll was something I made for an edition of my reading TV show. I still love her. So gentle and peaceful looking. The little Mexican doll was something I think the girls gave me. My sister sent me flowers on the last day of my long-term art teacher subbing assignment last fall and that is the card that was attached to the bouquet. Only the feet of my Bluebonnet Beanie Baby bear are visible in this photo. I served on the Texas Library Association Bluebonnet Award committee. My bear represents that chapter.
Below is the rest of the body of my Bluebonnet bear. A Lizzie High doll given me by a dear friend. She selected it because she said I spun stories for all my students. And in the background, you can see a Native American storytelling doll. I also have a couple of Matryoshka or nesting dolls.
And there’s more.
Everything Else
More to my collection of babies, baubles and books. Have a look at the slide show to see other things I have collected over the years. Keep your eyes open:
- for my grandmother’s blonde baby doll who kept her company during her last lonely years of life
- the magic storytelling box my sister gave me
- some of Lucia’s pom-pom creations
- black baby boots from the shoe store where my grandfather worked, Delarue’s in Bolivar, Missiouri
- my money voodoo doll that Lauren bought me in Nawlins
One Last Collection
You might remember that my relationship with God is fairly young considering I’m not young at all!! When I was a single mama with 2 teen daughters, going through a divorce and consequently, Chapter 13 bankruptcy – which I filed (and repaid) in order to keep my home, I realized I could no longer do this life on my own without God’s direction and help. I started collecting crosses and created a cross wall. Each morning before I faced the world, I would stand before them in prayer for my children, my friends and family, myself.
When I sold my little house, I was sad to take my cross wall down. But once we were settled into the house that is home for PC and me, I started a new cross wall. This is my collection of crosses.
Your Turn
Oh, girls, I am wiped out tonight. Had all of this post about ready to go but had to proofread and edit a few things when I got home from the hospital. And guess what? Now my blog doesn’t want to cooperate. But of course!!
Hope you will join me in stopping by to discover the treasures that make up my Where Bloggers Live girlfriends’ collections. Shall we all pop in on their blogs together?
Bettye at Fashion Schlub
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Em at Dust and Doghair
Iris at Iris’ Original Ramblings
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
Sally at Within a World of My Own
Leslie at Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After
I am glad to put this day to bed. Back to the hospital tomorrow. PC’s oxygen levels and heart rate are bouncing around so he hasn’t been released yet. But his surgery went well, PTL!! Anxious to get him on the road to recovery right here at home.
Have a beautiful weekend. Take a nap, read a book and show those around you lots of love.
Hugs and kisses,
Hi Leslie – I love your cross wall and the story behind it. A strong faith in God and there being a bigger picture for our lives makes the tough times easier to bear doesn’t it? Hope PC is doing well and that you’re feeling more on top of things. x
I’m SO GLAD PC had a successful surgery! I, too, hope he is released soon to continue recovering at home. There’s no place like home! And I hope YOU were able to get a good night’s rest last night! Like you, I collect artwork and notes from my granddaughters. Such wonderful, sweet memories! Hopefully will be collecting artwork and notes from my grandson in the future! Continue prayers for you and PC.
Sending love and healing thoughts for your husband.
Rob has a collection of crosses too from many of our travels. We had them on a wall (in the shape of a cross) at our other house, but now they are scattered on our photo shelves.
Love is always the right answer and it’s so heartwarming to see someone that embraces love the way you do, Leslie.
What a great app to save those photos. I’ll have to look into it,
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thank you, Jodie. This is such a precious message. Love is always the right answer. I have made so many mistakes in the name of love or what I thought was love. And have pictures from some of the darker chapters of my life. But as I scan each one, I realize that I did what I thought was right at the time. I tried to do my best. And I see glimmers of good in even the photos that make me sad.
Oh you have so many wonderful, well loved, personalized collectibles! I would not have thought of photos/ notes/ cards, etc. from family as friends as collections but I too have quite a collection of photos and keepsakes!
Another way we are alike…collections. I am trying hard to whip these photos into shape by scanning them and getting them into albums.
I should probably gather all of these ‘things’ and box them up but they are memories and bits of my heart. Not ready to do that yet.
First I wanted you to know I’m praying for your husband, and for you. Thanks for sharing with us when you have such more important things on your mind.
I love all your little collections. The crosses are my favorite. I have several that have been gifts.
Iris
Many of my crosses have been gifts. But I have also picked up crosses that remind me to pray for different people or to give thanks for friends, family, certain situations or opportunities.
Thank you so much for your prayers and good thoughts. We are so blessed that PC is on the other side of this health scare.
I’m glad you had your cross wall to help you get over a horrible situation. Good luck to your husband with his recovery.
Thank you so very much. My cross wall and all it represents help me on the hardest days. You are very sweet. PC is home and we are on the road to recovery.
I read your post yesterday and thought I had commented on it – but I don’t see me on here – so I’ll throw in a few words here.
Praying for healing for your husband, and peace and grace for you.
I LOVE your crosses. I recently did a large cross stitch of crosses. It was a blessing to do it – plus I have a few others too.
You do have a lot of collections – I like that. Take a breath and have a lovely day.
Iris
Oh, my!! Is your cross stitch of crosses a kit available in your store? That would be a wonderful project. I need to finish my elephant. I say that constantly. But have so many projects going.
Thank you for the prayers for PC. He is home, thank goodness, and we hope the healing has begun. We had a very quiet day today and slept like champs last night. Hope to do more of the same tonight and tomorrow.
Leslie, I loved going through your treasures with you. While I wouldn’t say I’m a hoarder, I do have a hard time parting with things. I have a few things left here and there. I had a huge collection of Boyd’s Bears which I donated because I just didn’t have any room for them. I couldn’t interest any of my kids or friends in them. I keep thinking my kids will wonder about my sanity when they have to clean out the house after we’re gone!
I will continue to pray for you and Paul as he recovers.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Thank you so much for your continued prayers and friendship. It is wonderful to have PC home, and headed back to health.
My youngest daughter recently commented on the state of my loft, where all the things reside that I shared in this post. She said it would be a nightmare for she and her sister to have to go through. I thought she meant because it is cluttered with so many bits and pieces of my life. But it just occurred to me in writing this comment, that maybe it would be because it is so full of my life that it would be hard to go through. I guess I should ask for clarification.
I am so sorry you had to part with your Boyds bears. That must have been difficult. My oldest daughter is not much into knick knacks and art and collectibles. So it will probably fall on my younger daughter to maybe keep a few of my things.
What wonderfully precious keepsakes! No wonder you cannot part with them. Wishing Paul a speedy, full recovery x
So happy to hear your PC is now home!!! Hospitals are terribly unrestful places to be when you are not feeling well! Sending continued prayers and positive thoughts your way. Also, that baseball pin Lucia made for her Campa…what a treasure!
Of course your collections are all about love: the people, the faces, the cherished moments put on paper. Very clever of you to be storing so many memories digitally for easy access. You are such a profoundly thoughtful person, none of that comes as a surprise. Also love that you always keep some of those little notes with you wherever you go.
Can’t think of a more meaningful collection than a symbol of the Savior, particularly in the reverent way you use it…or perhaps the way it works through you. The fact that you found Him (or He called you) later in life is actually lovely, I think…a relationship of sincerity rather than habit or practice… Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it. 😘
You just leave the most thoughtful, heartwarming messages. Thank you so much.
I think God was knocking at my heart for years but I was scared to answer. I had to get to close to rock bottom and pretty desperate to finally answer God’s request to come in, come into my heart and my life. Maybe as children we are less apprehensive and more willing to just accept. But I think often times children accept whatever their parents lead them to believe. Paul was baptized when he was 4. He only knew what his parents had told him. And now as an adult has some questions.
You touch my heart with your words. Thank you so much.
Your crosses are lovely. I don’t think I realized you came to your faith later in life. Have you ever written about that time?
Awww, thank you. I think I wrote about coming into faith but need to check to see if I did or if I just dreamed I did. I grew up in a totally unreligious family. When my 3-year-old nephew died of cancer, my sister (his mom) and my brother and I all became much more spiritual, attending church, reading the Bible. I am sure my parents wondered who we were!!
Hope the healing goes well. I like collections and have many of my own. Maybe one day I will share.
Yes, share your collections. Would love to see!!
I want to start with a correction, “Each month our fearless leader Bettye comes up with a prompt for the gang to respond to.” Ah, I get a LOT of help from my (blogger) friends! Y’all have kept me supplied with wonderful inspiration over the year and I can certainly not take full credit for the monthly blogging prompts 🙂
I’m glad you were able to join us this time, I know you’ve had a lot of challenges.
Aren’t scanners like The Greatest Invention Ever?? They make it possible to keep SO many memories and keepsakes without a stack of 6 boxes next to you at the computer. Not that I know anyone who has that.
Those albums for your daughters sound so lovely, what a thoughtful gift that is, Leslie.
Oh, books…books practically collect themselves at my house. Sigh. And I have such a strong emotional connection with them, it’s hard to ever let go of any. I’m faced right now with trying to scale back on my book collection by 99% and MAN is that hard.
I want to start with a correction, “Each month our fearless leader Bettye comes up with a prompt for the gang to respond to.” Ah, I get a LOT of help from my (blogger) friends! Y’all have kept me supplied with wonderful inspiration over the year and I can certainly not take full credit for the monthly blogging prompts 🙂
I’m glad you were able to join us this time, I know you’ve had a lot of challenges.
Aren’t scanners like The Greatest Invention Ever?? They make it possible to keep SO many memories and keepsakes without a stack of 6 boxes next to you at the computer. Not that I know anyone who has that.
Those albums for your daughters sound so lovely, what a thoughtful gift that is, Leslie.
Oh, books…books practically collect themselves at my house. Sigh. And I have such a strong emotional connection with them, it’s hard to ever let go of any. I’m faced right now with trying to scale back on my book collection by 99% and MAN is that hard.
I love all your little entertaining characters gracing your bookshelves along with their book friends.
I’m not a religious person myself, but I really like your cross collection and can appreciate how important they are to you.
Sorry it took me so long to get over here, but Better Late than Never!
Hope you have some smoother sailing ahead xoxo
I love all your little entertaining characters gracing your bookshelves along with their book friends.
I’m not a religious person myself, but I really like your cross collection and can appreciate how important they are to you.
Sorry it took me so long to get over here, but Better Late than Never!
Hope you have some smoother sailing ahead xoxo
Thank you, thank you, for the kind words. I have so enjoyed my time with the Where Bloggers Live gals. They are my favorite posts to write and I hate when I miss joining you guys. I am cheering you on from El Paso as you embark on this life-changing adventure.
The program I am using to scan photos is actually an app on my phone. I can’t say enough good about it. Allows me to scan multiple photos at once, crops them perfectly with me doing a thing, enhances the photo quality and puts them in a folder on the app. When I get all finished I can merge the folders with Google Photos. And share links to them. Thank you, I hope my daughters will enjoy the scanned photos in the virtual albums and the real albums, too.