Tuesday, November 24, 2009

A Christmas Card, a Sweet Little Boy... and the Tale of the Turkey Gobbler

How is everyone tonight? Elbow-deep in dough? Turkey defrosting in the fridge? Pies lining up on the counter? That's how it is at my house--yours too, I bet!

Just a few things for you tonight...my daughters have friends over again for a sleep-over...no school tomorrow, so of course there HAS to be a sleep-over, right?!

This week at Splitcoast, Marcy is hosting the Crafty Secrets challenge, and the challenge this week was to make a card that has something to do with music--inspired by a song, a musical image...you get the idea! Here's what I came up with:

I love this image from Crafty Secrets' "Christmas" Images & Journal Notes booklet--as you may already know, I'm a history lover, and this beautiful picture with old-fashioned costumes just makes me happy!

Used a healthy dose of gold German glass glitter today--was pretty much wearing it, too! My daughter was wiping tiny golden pieces of it off my cheek at the grocery store hours later...oh, well...at least I was sparkling! (Much better than feeling something creeping on my face yesterday just after I walked into Target--it was a giant ladybug--in November! Good luck for me, right?!)

A little closer shot of on of my snowflakes...decided to be different and used one of the red SU! felt snowflakes this time---it looks much better than this in real life--doesn't everything? The red adds a lot of great depth to the glitter--very pretty! Did 3 coats of glue/glitter for these--nice and thick and sparkly!

I have a beautiful vintage postcard to share with you tonight--I purchased this at an antiques shop a few years ago when I was starting my vintage postcard collection...I'll share them with you every once in a while...got some real beauties!

This postcard reminds me of a funny little story....now, if you've been visiting me much, you know I love family history, and I also love to tie in old family stories whenever they fit...so here's another one...short and sweet...

My dear Grandad--Dow Ostlund--has been gone now for...gosh, about 17 years...doesn't seem possible. He was the kind of Grandad that always had spare change for you in his pocket, always a big smile, a warm hug just for you, and the biggest twinkle in his eye...!

Grandad had Parkinson's Disease later in life, so his last years were very different. The twinkle wasn't there as much, and he couldn't speak very well. Before it got too bad, however, I sat down and asked him questions about his childhood--anything he could remember. I wrote fast, and took down just about every word he said--got about 3 pages of priceless stories.

The longer he talked to me, remembering his childhood, some of the old sparkle came back to those beautiful blue eyes of his, and he actually started looking like the impish little boy I'd seen in photographs...


...and here's one of the first stories he told me...

"One year, they (his grandfather) had a turkey gobbler who was mad at me, and I would stand at the door of the outside vestibule (of the house)...and yell, 'The turkey gobbler is a devil!'...and when I would go out and not see him, he would (run at me), get me down and peck at my eyes until someone came along and rescued me! I was 7 or 8 then..."

I can't prepare a turkey without thinking in my head, "The turkey gobbler is a devil!" ...makes me giggle while I fix the old bird!

Thanks for listening to me ramble tonight...sometimes the past comes for a visit and just wants to stay for a while...

Sweet dreams!

20 comments:

  1. Another beautiful card Julie! You are so talented. I just love your cards. I loved the story of your grandfather and the pictures of him. What treasures!! I have a photo of my granddad from around the same era. I'll have to post it sometime! I would love to have your mailing address if I could. E-mail me! Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving! xxoo

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  2. Wonderful Julie. Lovely card and great story. I love the photos of your grandfather.
    Happy Thanksgiving for Thursday! x x x

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  3. Another wonderful story Julie! This card is so beautiful. I can imagine the glitter everywhere.
    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Hanne

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  4. I love that story about your grnadad. Makes sense that those stories would bring back the twinkle. Happy thanksgiving to you and yours.

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  5. Family stories are always so precious.

    Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

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  6. What a lovely card Julie. I love all the sparkle. I wish I could have played the Crafty Secrets Challenges this month, but I'm way too busy being in retail and all. Thanks for sharing the family story too. Happy Thanksgiving.

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  7. Another great card Julia and super reading your post as always.

    B x

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  8. Happy Thanksgiving wishes....

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  9. It's a good day when you end up wearing glitter! :D I can't tell you how many times I look in the mirror and sparkle!

    I *LOVE* those pics of your granddad!! Funny store about the "devil". Everytime I have to wrestle one in the oven I think it's evil. lol!

    Happy Thanksgiving! Other than making dinner rolls (which is done) I'm out of the cooking. Mom's retired and loves to cook so she has time!

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  10. You can ramble any old time. In fact, I'm beginning to realize that a day isn't complete until I've visited your blog. I'm so grateful to have found you. I love your family stories, your recipes and your artwork...which is nothing short of stunning.

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  11. Oh, where to begin? Your Christmas Card makes me want to don a court jester costume and join their musical, dancing line. So very pretty. Your Grandfather was the cutest little "imp!" That is what my paternal grandmother used to call me, and I know the look in photos when I see it. It is that "devil-may-care" attitude that some children possess. I happen to take it as a compliment. I love how you incorporate your family history into your blog. It is true, that the past comes to visit for a while...especially to those of us that allow it's blessed interuption.
    Maureen

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  12. Hi Julie! Thank you so much for stopping by and becoming a follower! Your blog is beautiful :) You are very talented, I love your card! The story about the turkey was so funny!! I would have been so scared, lol! Your house sounds like mine, full of kids and cooking, lol! I hope you have a beautiful Thanksgiving!!
    Hugs,
    Amy

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  13. Wonderfully festive card, Julie! Love the gold glitter and the snowflakes!

    I definitely will be thinking of your grandfather's gobbler story, while I'm wrestling my bird in and out of the oven tomorrow!

    Happy Thanksgiving, my friend!

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  14. Julie, I love the family stories. I am very interested in geneology and try to collect as many stories from my family as I can. These stories are treasures that we can cherish in our hearts. Your grandfather looked so cute in those pictures of him. You are very lucky to have those. Thank you for the postcard image. I collect postcards and Thanksgiving ones are my favorites. I hope that you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving with lots of special moments. Twyla

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  15. Dear Julie, It seems the nicest of people live in California and know Twyla and Lindsey! Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog. I think you are what I call one of the "Pink Girls." Glitter and whimsy at every turn. Your blog is just beautiful, your paper crafts inspiring. Stories? I am definitely the girl for you! So nice to meet you. Have a joyous Thanksgiving. Elizabeth

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  16. Here in France we don't have Thanksgiving so I'll be cooking up spaghetti tonight. Pasta can be a bit devilish too though! A ladybug is wonderfully lucky! That's amazing! I just loooove wjhat you've created. It makes me crave eggnog and Christmas carols. What wonderfu glittery vintage goodness!

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  17. Julie
    What gorgeous pieces you have shared with us today! I love your Christmas card...the snowflakes and lovely vintage image make me think of Christmas long long ago. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving. :)

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  18. Happy Thanksgiving Julie, love your gobbler story. Hugs

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  19. Hello my dear friend!!! Your card is absolutely gorgeous as is the vintage postcard! But my favorite, of course, is the story from your grandfather! Unfortunately I lost both of my grandfather's when I was only 3 years old so don't remember much about them and wasn't wise enough to gather that treasured info from my father who passed at age 68 ... what a treasure you have in those 3 pages!!
    I hope you & your family have a WONDERFUL, BLESSED Thanksgiving. My kids are due to come around noon so I guess I'd better get that 'ole bird ready for the oven ... sure hope he doesn't have the "devil" in him ... don't really feel like a fight this morning, LOL!!
    Happy Day my friend ... may blessing surround your day and wonderful family memories be made!! ENJOY!

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  20. Such a marvelously pretty card, the glistening snowflakes are so gorgeous and make me think of the way snow looks when its illuminated by soft January sunlight on a sparklingly crisp afternoon.


    Tons of hugs, sweet dear!
    ♥ Jessica

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