First, Fifth, Forever - A Letter Writing Journey for 2011 - January 2011

 As promised on this POST, this is the first installment of First, Fifth, Forever. From February until the end of the year, this post and link will appear on the 5th of each month. It is my hope you will mention this on your blog, share this idea on facebook, grab the button and link in each month and join me in changing someone's life maybe forever with a heartfelt card or letter. It is very easy, there are no real rules, just send someone a personal hand written letter or card and if you wish to blog about it, link that post in on the said day. Don't have a blog? No worries, you can share in the comment section each month. It would be my greatest wish to have so many linked in by the end of the year with this project and feel we have made a real difference with bringing back the lost art of letter writing and the unspoken words from our hearts. Won't you help me get the word out?

This month, I actually had to really think about this only for a short while. You see, last year at this very time, I had the idea of sending a letter to someone and letting them know what they have meant to my life, if only for a short while and how they have never been forgotten. I had every intention of doing just that, but then I got second thoughts. What if they thought this was weird? What if they wondered what my motive actually was or was not? What if they thought this was about someone else and not really about them?

I quickly talked myself out of sending the letter. But that has haunted me for a solid year. So, I am sending the letter this month. I think in the world we live in we don't let the people who made a difference in our lives know their importance. Years and years have past since I last saw these people, but their memory of long ago stays etched in my heart always. They were important once, and I feel they have the right to know that. Luckily, the internet is my friend, and I was able to locate their address out of state. It will take a big leap of courage to send that letter, and frankly, I may not put my return address on the envelope, I just can not decide. I really don't want them to feel they have to respond to the letter, I just what them to know they were very important to me long ago. I hope that once they read my words, they will know what a role they played in my life and how important they have always been to me.

I am also sending a second letter this month that is way over due. Another someone who was most important to me and whom I have never forgotten from childhood. I have felt so sad thinking about how much time has passed and how quickly it has happened. There are wonderful memories I have never forgotten about this wonderful person and I hope it touches them in some way to get my letter and hear my words of how they made a difference to me and how much I have always treasured them from my childhood.

A funny thing happened when I was thinking of constructing these letters, suddenly memories I had long forgotten came flooding back and filled my heart with such a melancholy for they days of long ago. But along with missing the past, I was soon reminded of how I took something from each of these wonderful people with me on my journey in life and how time and time again, I have been reminded of each one in a different way. Also, each one of them are getting on up in age and I finally came to the realization that what a sad thing it would be to miss the opportunity to tell them what they meant to me and to my life. Some things should not be put off, but done when the spirit tells you to do them.

There are several letters I need to write just exactly like these, but the one I will send in February will take a bit more time to write. I already have one to send next month, and will be adding to that list as this month goes on.

I have a couple of thank you notes to write as well, so I will be sending out a few extra things this month. All hand written.

I have a link up if you'd like to join in this month. I am looking forward in seeing how we will be inspired with this journey and see where it leads each one of us this year. Blessings....

Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Salt and Pepper Shakers

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a "dog-gone" good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so  please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies being showed that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

Before the holidays, I was given the opportunity to acquire some things that belonged to my Auntie, (my dad's sister) and my grandmother. The last relative living is my Auntie's husband, and he has had to go to a nursing home, thus my cousin is selling the house and told me to come get some of the things I wanted.

It was a very hard day for me, harder than I can even put into words. But I came home with a truck and trailer full of things that belonged to my grandmother and aunt and even my uncle's mother. A truck and trailer full of memories. Most things are still as I brought them home, it will take me a while to decide what to do with them and how to keep them.

This is a set of salt and peppers my aunt had on her Hoosier cabinet. I am inclined to think these are reproduction pieces, but I think they are cute and reminded me of my auntie's taste so I brought them home, saving them from being tossed in a hole in the ground and covered up, as my cousin put it. Shiver!

Now, this is a vintage salt and pepper shaker. One LONE shaker, no match. I loved this piece, and some reason, in the back of my memory, somewhere, I seem to remember seeing this on a shelf in the kitchen of my uncle's mothers house. It does not bother me one bit that it is only one, I tend to rescue lone shakers and bring them home with me.

See, it fits rather nicely with my other single shakers.

Have a great Vintage Thingie Thursday! This is the first of the 2011 vintage goodies to share and I am looking forward to another great year. Now that the holidays are over, I will have more time to visit and leave comments. I will do better!! Have a great week everyone!!!