“Happy Birthday… my LOVER”
August 1st… is a very “good day” for a BIRTHDAY!
Just have to post this favorite PHOTO of “Lee and ME” and the “Ben Burroughs’ Sketches” – “My LOVER”… as seen in the below PHOTO – – It is LOVE in WORDS and PHOTO – – and only the Almighty Creator of LOVE – – could have seen to it – – that this photo was taken when it was – – and then for me to find in the NEWSPAPER – – the exact words to frame with the ‘one and only photo of LOVE’ – – for me to have as a remembrance of my LOVE!”
When I read these words… there is one place in the BIBLE … that – – I an guessing that “Ben Burroughs” may have taken some time to read – – for the usage of the colorful descriptive words – – make you see everything in such a more heavenly scale – – almost takes you into the “Dream Land of LOVE” – – where all LOVERS meet – – some time…
In this PHOTO is our son… little Lee, Jr. – – and of course there is something he wants – – and to have to wait – – looks like that is something he does not want to do.
Also, take a look at the dress – – that I made before Lee was born – – and it still fits. – – This is another dress … that I made requiring six (6 ) yards of material – – looks like at the time – – I liked dresses with lots of skirt material flying around.
Of course – – every photo has another story – – and the extra story is…. Lee was smoking a cigarette… and all of a sudden – – some emergency occurred – – Lee hands the cigarette to me – – saying just hold this a minute – – runs off – – and as a non-smoker – – I am holding this cigarette – – and not as careful as I should be with this same dress on – – an ash drops on the skirt area – – and of course a nice fire hole – – but when everything was back to normal – – I had enough material to splice into the area of the skirt – – and to this day you would not be able to find the burn hole area.
It does pay to make your own clothes – – you always have enough material to make emergency mending a snap – – and you hang on to those things you made – – for longer periods of time – – “A ‘work of your own’ – – makes you feel good – – to see your own creations – – that still look so good!” DV
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“Check “IT” Out”
What will be next?
Nothing like having an extra small bedroom in your house – – one where you can multi-task – – everyone has several… ‘hats’ – – that they wear in LIFE – – you have your ‘WORK’ … love it or not … for the major portion of the week – – the income that gives you … the where-with-all – – those extra ‘bucks’ to do… all of those other things … “YOU wish you were doing” – – when – – you are at your regular… “NINE to FIVE” job.
One never knows… if you keep having ‘DREAMS’ of making it BIG – – at this other profession – – or getting your “fifteen minute break” in the “lime-light” – – because all of us have “talents” – – that just have not been discovered. So… before all the “DOORS” close – – and before we hear the clock strike “Twelve” – – we never want to write … “WE missed Opportunity” – – as we fade away… from LIFE!
In the PHOTO – – that is ME – – did not want to just stand somewhere in this dress that I had just completed – – so to look a little older – – put a “HAT” on for effect – – and that dress calls for six (6) yards of material – – so had to spread some of it out.
This room is in… SAINT LOUIS – – and has many stories within the walls of it. You have read in some of “Grandma’s Stories” at “fourgrandmas.com”… stories about my younger brother, TOMMY – – there is a “TRAP-DOOR” in the corner of the room – mostly under the skirt of my dress – – open it and let the ‘door’ lean up and against the wall – – next to the book case. Check out… what little “TOMMY” does???
Then – – little TOMMY is nosy – – he finds matches – – where I hid a small box – – read what he does – – what happens – – and when I get home from school – – just let your wild imagination run away… and be wild?
Most rooms in every house could tell tall tales – – some are true – – and then there are some stories in LIFE that are so far from the ‘truth’ – – you just have to consider the mind that thought them up?
“Check out these stories… ASK questions… Let me know what you think???”
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“Dress-Maker and Dummy – Dream Designer”
“Did you ever want to make your own clothes?” Well that is what I did after three years in school and thought… I had it… made in the shade! So as a nosy person – – that I am – – was searching through lots of my Mother’s closets to see what she had that I could borrow – – or just plain ole use.
Would you believe that I had found one of those – – in a box kit… make a dress-maker’s dummy – – for your own body. You would slip into the “jersey” type roll of material – – have someone run around your body with the tape – – from the bust area down to mid thigh area – – using all the tape – – round after round – – just like a body of iron around you. Then this other person would using something sharp cut through this tight fitting shield with a sharp knife – – from under the arm pit – – on a straight line down… on both sides.
Now you tape these two pieces together – – and you will have your exact body measurements. Next… you will design some kind of internal frame and or way to have this “body-copy” of yourself on a stand so you can drape material around it – – and design your own clothes.
Well… that was too much work and time wasted for me. So I just put that box… back into the store bag that it came from – – and took back to the store. Looking at everything in the sewing department – – regarding “dummies” – – found a perfect adjustable “dummy'” on a stand of it’s own – – and each part and section of the body could be moved – – through inside changes of this “body form” – – so as – – if and when you gain weight and or lose – – or even if you decide to make clothes for someone else – – you could do so – – and all done so easy – – that if you can “DREAM IT” – – you can “DESIGN IT” for a perfect “FIT” for each and every individual person.
So with the credit applied from the old and obsolete ‘do-it yourself-dummy” — I was off and running with a perfect ‘me’ dummy – – one that has it’s own stand – – adjustable for height – – and the insides to be adjusted to whatever the tape measure of ‘me’ – – and that is changeable – – if and when needed – – or even when I make something special for someone else.
That is ‘ME’ in the above PHOTO – – with my exact size “Dummy” – – so many years ago – – that poor ‘DUMMY’ went with ME to FLORIDA and made every move – – and always stood up – – always ready for something special to be thrown at it – – just for effect – – and has a place in my sewing world – – just like everyone’s favorite friend!
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“Don’t Worry – I can do it”
“You did say that you wanted all of these window frames…painted – – so… here I am… “PAINT BRUSH” in hand – – and have this “old shaky ladder” balanced on some – – 12 x 14 planks – – stretched out and over the steps – – that take you into the basement – – so, from the top step – – and… to over and under the porch addition – – everything seems to be in place – – “half way steady” – – so… let’s see what kind of a “painting” job – – I can do?”
“If you can just stop taking pictures… I can stand up on the top step of this ladder… and will get started with some real professional painting.”
“After the painting of this new back porch addition… to this “eighty some plus years old house”… there was also the bedroom inside that we bought paint for – – and of course painting – – is not something that I ever wanted to do – – but… WHO … ever and else… was around to do it?”
My DAD came over to see what I was doing – – and since he was a “Jack of all trades” – – well – – I was told and shown how to do everything. This is how you open the can of paint – – with this “special” tool… so that you can close it – – and if you need to open it again… you will be able too!
Then… and before anything… ‘starts’… always comes the preparing of the room – – and even this outside job – – the drop cloths have to be spread all around – – to catch your “spills and drips” – – but… I was and still am … very careful – – “why make for yourself… a mess” – – that… “I will be called for … to even do the — cleaning up!”
“Oh… I almost forgot… who ever taught you “how” to handle and even hold the “PAINT” brush… how to dip it into the paint – – and then how to put the “PAINT” on the wall?” By the time I was told each and every step – – I just had to put into practice everything… that I had just been taught – – so we bought more paint – – and brushes… as I was learning “HOW TO DO IT” and I mean every little nook and corner – – upstairs and downstairs – – and even outside – – there was something… just waiting for little ole ‘me’ to practice on… and brighten up – – just as fresh as a ‘daisy’. Nothing like getting plenty of new colors of paint on everything – – just to make everything ‘beautiful to behold’ – – then – and only then… I could say… “I did it… all by myself!”
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“Special THOUGHTS… for TODAY”
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“Today… Just for YOU”
********* I believe God wants you to know…
That this is true no matter what you may have done.
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