My Spring Blossom Tableau...

I love when the spring flowers begin to bloom. Daffodils have added sunny yellow to the burgeoning green leaves and grass in my yard now. Tulips will bloom soon in a riot of color. And aren't grape hyacinths just the most adorable little things?

Today, upon returning from a morning walk with Mr. Lucky (my little fur boy), I decided there were enough daffodils in bloom to take some inside. I recently picked up a nice cherry-red Haeger vase/planter, at a local thrift shop, and thought it would look lovely filled with spring flowers.

What do you think of my spring tableau?

The Haeger vase/planter still has its original label on it!

At the same time I found the Haeger, I purchased this lovely lady picture, which is marked "Delegard Tool Co., Minneapolis 6, Minn.

Don't you just love the flowers below her shoulder?

As an added bonus, the lady picture flips up to reveal an unused 1950 calendar and a place to write important telephone numbers. There are even three good old-fashioned 5-digit phone numbers pencilled in....

...anyone need to call Ruth, Shirley, or Al?

Hope you're all enjoying the full blossom of spring!

"Every spring is the only spring, a perpetual astonishment." ~ Ellis Peters

Grandma's Shopping List, March 1936

When I look at vintage advertisements, I find it interesting that many of the products available today were also available to my grandmother. So, each month, I'll be sharing with you a few of the present-day products that our grandmothers and mothers might have added to their shopping lists...


1. Windex®
Sure, the ad says it's great for winter window cleaning, but, gee, what a help with the spring cleaning too! This product has been around since 1933, albeit with a different formula than in earlier years. And I had no idea that the same company also made Drano®.


2. Brillo®
Speaking of cleaning, Brillo® pads were patented in 1913, just as aluminum cookware was becoming popular. The coal-fired stoves in use at the time would blacken the aluminum pots and pans, but steel wool made cleaning cookware much easier. In the 1930s, soap was added to the pads. Just don't use it on your non-stick coated pans of today ;)


3. Arm & Hammer® Baking Soda

It's not just for baking! Even in 1936, alternate uses for baking soda were suggested. Arm & Hammer®, as a brand, has been around since the 186os, so perhaps my great-great-grandmother included it on her shopping list.


*Advertisements included in today's post are from the March 1936 issue of Ladies Home Journal.