1910 (?) Vintage Paris Beaded Dress

About 10+ years ago I went to an Estate Sale with friend Gail and as we walked in both of us saw this vision on loveliness folded in a zip lock bag. Both of us knew instantly what a find it was and that each of us wanted it. Unfortunately she spotted it a nano second before me so it was hers.

 Big sigh here.......however fair is fair

Lo and behold several weeks ago she called me and said that she had started to thin out her collection and needed to get rid of things and knew that she needed to give me "the dress". 

Overwhelmed, shocked, grateful 

yet terrified to take it out of the plastic bag.

After scrubbing the table I gently slid the dress out and painstakingly unfolded this beauty.
It was as I expected it to be....extremely fragile and falling apart in places but exquisite none the less.

How I wish you could see this "live"  up close and personal

Visions of Downton Abbey are floating thru my head!

Gail never took it out of the bag in all those years

Ooh la la

 Beads everywhere!

 Look at the stitching that was done!

Happy Friday and Dandelions

Happy Friday to all

When I was out speed walking so I could get back in my allotted work break time today and saw these sunny flowers. I was reminded that recently Wesley and I were taking a walk and there was a yard that had at least a million dandelions ( gross exaggeration but you never know!) 
"I bet Grampa is sad that he doesn't have all these beautiful flowers in your front yard.

.....Ummmm.....

My response:

"Trust me it would be a whole new level of sadness if we had these flowers in our yard."

I was staring at one very confused little boy!

(Picture scrunched up eyebrows and momentary silence)

Relaxing

"I didn’t get anything accomplished today"

I’m not sure when life segwayed from relaxing to I didn’t get anything accomplished this weekend.

Yes, even when I take a day off to do something I have wanted to do that in no way involves work, I have to say that in the back of my mind I think that I should be home cleaning or weeding  or something that needs to be done.

When my kids were young I was a firm believer that it was priority to spend time with them and worry about all the chores some other time. I had a wonderful time and so did they plus we built memories that they still talk about. We survived without cell phones and cable and so many other things that they have a hard time believing we didn’t have "way back then."

I, for one, am so glad that I adopted that lifestyle 

and I am going to work on letting myself do nothing every so often now too. 

Like reading 

or a marathon re-watch of Downton Abbey 

or baking…..

Or taking a long bath and reading....

and eating what I baked!

I always feel this relaxed after doing any of the above

or perhaps I'm just experiencing a sugar coma....

either way I'm happy!

Ancestry Search

I have been bitten by the Ancestry bug lately. Most of my free time is spent searching and searching & then more searching. Neither of my parents were interested in recording all the family members so I didn't have a lot to go on. Though honestly, I had some key information that was helpful. I was so excited that I actually was able to get information as far back as my moms great, great, great grandparents on her grandfathers side. Remarkable. I was shocked that I was able to get names that far back & I know I have only scratched the surface.

So far I know I'm German and English!

I simply can't wait to find out more. 

Fast forward to my great grandfather and finding out he came from a family of 9 kids so needless to say I have a lot to explore & record with just that! 

Holy smokes... I will need a big chart just to fit all that in!