This and That: A Blog

 Spring is here!  That is if you aren't one of those " Spring began on March 1st " meteorologists!  I'm not, I go by the astronomical first day of spring, the vernal equinox.  Equinox comes from Latin for equal and night , and is when the sun is directly above the equator, resulting in approximately the same amount of day and night. This happens twice a year, the other is the autumnal equinox, first day of fall. This past week has been warm here, but it is cooling off again in a few days.  My cough/respiratory illness is only a little bit better, and moved into a sinus infection for which I just started antibiotics yesterday.   The fruit trees have lost their blossoms, and the crocus and daffodils are done.  Here are some flowers heavy on the purple! The prostrate rosemary isn't new to blooming, but now the bees are up and about.  Grape hyacinths are pretty, but I don't really like them due to the messy foliage.  I thought I'd pulled th...

  Thursday Postcard Hunt asked us to find some Pets this week for the Animal theme.  I had a hard time narrowing it down; pets are my favorite postcard topic!   These were all bought from my favorite postcard seller on eBay.  No, I won't tell you who, as he doesn't list many, and lets me know when animals are coming up!  Cats in a Hammock - postmark 1907, undivided back. First Drive - postmark 1906  Happy Days, Lucky Days, All the Best, Always! c. 1910s Little Miss White - copyright 1903, C.E. Bullard Two Poodles - postmark 1907 Then, I received this Postcrossing one from Germany.  It will always be my favorite Postcrossing as the sender drew my pet, Mickey, as seen in my old profile picture!  He had a bottomless nursery pot on his head. Next week finishes up March with Animal Young.

  Unfortunately, I didn't get to the church rummage sale last Friday.  My illness (some sort of respiratory thing) lasted longer than expected. However, I discovered I completely forgot to post these two items I'd gotten at St. Vincent de Paul the day I'd bought the postcards I mentioned last week.  How did I forget about two dog figures?  🤣  Hamilton Foundry Quality Castings (Hamilton, OH) cast iron paper weight Scotty from the 1930s.  These were promotional items given to clients, suppliers, and attendees at trade shows.  He's a heavy little fella for his size!  $5 A 1950s Japanese made pottery dog with an interesting glaze that lets the clay show through.  $2.50 I did find my son a 1950s pencil sharpener at Goodwill.  I'm not sure he wants me to keep finding them!  They're considerably smaller than typewriters and cameras, but still take up a bit of room.  It's still slim pickings, but now that the weather is warmer yard sa...

According to the Census Bureau one in ten Americans claim Irish heritage.  I had my DNA done to help out a family member who is into genealogy, and it showed I have quite a bit of Irish ancestry.   In Ireland the traditions differ from here in America.  In Ireland St. Patrick's Day is a religious holiday with parades, music, and Irish foods.  In America it's mostly green beer and corned beef with cabbage.  Wearing green began there with wearing a shamrock or clover to church.  Green wasn't even the color associated with St. Patrick, that was blue, St. Patrick's Blue! Remember the school yard pinch if you didn't wear green on St. Patrick's Day?  That did start on American schoolyards! It began with " If you don't wear green the leprechauns will pinch you, " because you wouldn't be invisible to them. Naturally that quickly became pinching for the leprechauns, because what child doesn't love an excuse to pinch a schoolmate!  That's proba...

  Sunday Stamps : Letter G  G iant Land Snail New Zealand 1997 They can be up to 12" long and 2 pounds!  Naturally, at that size they can destroy a garden in a short time. G oldfish, a Japanese breed, the Tosakin  Singapore 2021 G azelle The French Somali Coast (now Djibouti) 1958 H is up next.

 Animals on the Farm is this week's theme for Thursday Postcard Hunt .  "Interior of Stable" by  Moreland c. 1908-1914 Ohio Farmlife Tillamook , Oregon Dairy Cows Pets are the Animals for next week.