Vintage lunchbox, year unknown

Tiddly winks, I LOVED to play Tiddly Winks but my Mom got sick of picking all those little pieces up that we managed to fling under the couch or behind the stairs or down the furnace register. She finally hid them in her wardrobe in her unmentionables and announced she hid them and we'd have to ask for them and she'd have to bring them to us to be used with supervision. Since Mom hid seemingly everything known to man in that wardrobe we weren't too worried. During an afternoon "nap" I was supposed to be having I was in Mom's room and my sister in our room. My sister snuck in and we got out those Tiddly Winks and a canister of pick-up sticks and had quite a nice afternoon while Mom weeded in the garden. We heard the screen door shut quietly so we quickly picked up, put them back in the wardrobe and my sister hid in Dad's closet and I fiegned sleep when Mom came up to check on us.

The next morning my Mom busted us with the news that while Dad was in bed the night before he found something cold and odd and they turned on the light to find a big Tiddly Wink disc. She said "next time will be a trip to the woodshed (meaning spanking). I never got spanked for it and quietly played it many many times after that.....devil aren't I?

Oh how could we ever forget Boob Tubes! One year for Christmas, I'd say I was 7 years old, my sister was then 10 and she found a bag in our big brother's room (he was 17) which had wrapped Christmas gifts in it. Giggling and full of mischief my sister told me about it and we snuck into his room, caaarefully untaped an edge of this present labeled for me, what did we see? "Boob Tube" We instantly stuck it back up and ran out of the room horrified, we thought our brother bought me something to make me have boobs!!!! I dreaded Christmas day when I'd have to face him and I also feared that that's how girls got boobs was by some device...did it hurt? Oh today we ROAR with laughter over this one but we learned a very very valuable lesson... heheheee don't peak unless you're ready for a shock!

I was wondering if they had my first lunchbox I ever had on ebay, I searched, couldn't remember what it was called then I found it. It said "timeless priceless collectable, vintage, year unknown". Well that added to its mystique and probably it's value. Above you'll see my first lunchbox, a Junior Miss tin which came complete with a thermos dated 1969. Guess I'm priceless, vintage and invaluable :)

Don't you just love the good old days?

Deep thoughts for Friday

art (c) Jessie Wilcox Smith

I began today feeling very drained and exhausted, I have been struggling with allergies which turned into a sinus infection which turned then into the flu. I have a very demanding life, seeing to the demands of six children, seven if you count my dear husband and those from the outside world. Sometimes I feel so bombarded that I just want to flee...though not a drinking woman I contemplate a hotel room, a spa and lots of wine. I know that about 3 hours into that seemingly blissful exit from reality, I'd then get all sappy from the wine and pine away for my family and come back. So what's the fun in that?

A much less expensive way for me to have an escape is this, get hubby to watch kids, or atleast be warm body on the couch to make them THINK he's in charge, take two benadryl and some excedrin. You get way loopy for a lot less cash. Go into your bedroom, turn on music, lock the door, lay down with a bright light over you and pretend you're at the beach. heck even lay on a towel and toss a bit of sand around so that your rest is all gritty like the beach, crank up a heater..whatever it takes. A few hours later you've napped off the benadryl, had a little exit from "life" and feel like a new person.

Who says I can't be thrifty??

Just when you think it's safe to have a little nap...

It's Sunday, a day I hold dear, it's a day devoted to the Lord and service to Him. Part of serving him, as a woman, is to serve her loved ones. OK....so, I'm a bit ill today and after getting up three times in the night with a screaming lil Nathanael (see http://www.nathanaelsneighborhood.blogspot.com/ ) we decidedly did not make it to church. I hate not going but he has a fever well over 101 and he never fusses or cries. Since he's had roseola for over a week now he's due to feel better so we thought it better to tough it out at home. Well. OK this means more work for Mom! Daddy's sick with the same virus that gave dear Natty the roseola and it's causing him severe pain in his shoulder so yep..sick bay and Mom doesn't get to be sick!!

Now that's ok, I mean, I love my family dearly and I thank God every day that I have my family. I am not only blessed, I mean anyone can say that. I am also truly very lucky. I have such a caring loving husband and really good children and not everyone can say that. I can't say that if my Zoloft runs out, that or my Jolessa. But by and large I am so grateful for them that I am brought to tears of gratitude on a daily basis.

Except for today..I get the screaming Nathanael down for a nap, it's after 2pm and I'm finally getting to eat my lunch. I announce my intentions to have a nice nap when from the other room my dear sweet adoring husband hollers (thus disturbing said napping child) MamAAAAhhh I need my pain meds". I kindly and calmly remind him I gave them to him not 15 minutes ago along with the lemonade. He then remembered thinking the lemonade such a treat that he forgot he took those meds! Then I, myself, manage to drop a glass of water so I have to mop that up. Then the children wonder what's for snack (didn't I just get lunch??). So I opened up some brownies and they each get 3 little bite sized brownies. Though I'm jealous I continue on my quest for that elusive nap. Only to go into the bathroom and find that the toilet is desperately, yet once again, plugged. (Remember? I'd hold a medal for number of times I have to snake the toilet? Huh?? remember that?? yep...no lie!). Soooo I fix that then my daughter's baby doll is crying and I need to soothe it. awwww how sweet!

So I finally, nearly an hour later, make my way to my room only to see my computer beckoning me to come in and blog. Perhaps it's a nap I'm not needing so much as quiet time alone to my thoughts...which leads to thoughts of how grateful I am to have this family which is so chaotic and busy that I barely have time to eek out a nap on a Sunday afternoon.

Be grateful for all you have. No matter how much or how little. It's yours and it's a gift.