Wordless Wednesday - Vintage Valentine Girl with Tabby Cat

Found at Birdhouse Books.

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Plain Dead by Emma Miller

Synopsis

When a newspaperman is murdered in the Amish community of Stone Mill, Pennsylvania, Rachel Mast digs up the dirt to find out who wanted to bury the lead… 

Although she left her Old Order Amish ways in her youth, Rachel discovered corporate life in the English world to be complicated and unfulfilling. Having returned to Stone Mill, she’s happy to be running her own B&B. But she’s also learning—in more ways than one—that the past is not always so easily left behind.

After local newspaperman Bill Billingsly is found gagged and tied to his front porch, left to freeze overnight in a snowstorm, Detective Evan Parks—Rachel’s beau—uncovers a file of scandalous information Billingsly intended to publish, including a record of Rachel pleading no contest to charges of corporate misconduct. Though Evan is certain of her innocence, it’s up to Rachel to find the real killer. A closer examination of the victim’s unpublished report leads Rachel to believe the Amish community is far from sinless. But if she’s not careful her obituary might be the next to appear in print…

About The Author

Emma Miller is the author of Redeeming Grace and Anna’s Gift.  She lives with her family in Kent County, Delaware.

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25310469-plain-dead

Purchase Links
Amazon
IndieBound – http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780758291769
B&N – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/plain-dead-emma-miller/1121697400?ean=9780758291769

Giveaway

(2) Print Copy of Plain Dead by Emma Miller.  Ends 1/30/16.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Did You Know Tuesday - Tinkertoy

Do you remember Tinkertoy building sets?   I loved art related toys, but was not a huge fan of building toys as a child.  That said, when I played with building toys, I liked Tinkertoy the best.  This is a simple building set with little wheels and sticks in varying sizes.  I liked the wooden pieces and the bright colors.

This toy was invented in 1914 in Evanston, Illinois by Charles H. Pajeau, Robert Pettit, and Gordon Tinker.  Charles Pajeau saw children playing with wooden spools and sticks, and got the idea for this classic toy.  

The toy was originally marketed in Chicago with elaborate Tinkertoy displays, including a ferris wheel made of Tinkertoys.  Another Christmas display featured actors dressed as elves playing with this toy.

The sets originally sold for 60¢ with the name Thousand Wonder Builder.  Tinkertoys were packaged in a tube to reduce mailing costs.

2.5 million sets had been sold by 1918 -- in just four years.  This was a tremendously popular toy in the 1960's, when 2.5 million Tinkertoy sets sold yearly. 

The early sets were uncolored wood.  Red spools were added in 1932.  In 1953, red sticks were added, and in 1955 green, yellow, and blue sticks were also introduced.

This toy was added to the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998.  It is considered a classic toy, still made in both wooden and plastic versions.

This ad is from 1964, during the heydey of Tinkertoy popularity.   Did you play with Tinkertoys?  What was your favorite building toy as a child?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Music Monday - Church Bells May Ring by The Willows (1956)

"Church Bells May Ring" is an old fashioned doo wop song.  Doo wop was a 1950's style of R&B music featuring vocal harmonies.  This was before my time, but I've discovered doo wop thanks to SiriusXM radio, and I truly love it.  I love a song with strong vocals, and especially with harmonies.

"Church Bells May Ring" was by The Willows.  This group hailed from Harlem, New York.  They started out as The Dovers, and then became The Five Willows.  Eventually they settled on The Willows as a group name.  The vocal group consisted of:  Tony Middleton (lead), Ralph Martin (tenor), Richie Davis (tenor), Joe Martin (baritone), and John Steel (bass).  This song charted at #114 on the Billboard record charts in 1956.

This song is new to me, but I love the energy and the great vocals.  And here's a bit of trivia -- Neil Sedaka plays the bells (chimes) on this record!

Do you like doo wop music and old fashioned 1950's vocals?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Weekend Window Shopping at Birdhouse Books

Hi friends!

I hope you're having a good weekend with no snow!  If you are spending time online, I hope you'll browse by my store.  I have Valentines and more Valentines and yet more Valentines there!

Birdhouse Books on eBay

Here are just a few of my new arrivals!

This vintage Valentine features a girl lying down with paper and pencil to do some figuring.  "No matter how I figure it, I must have you for my Valentine."

 A cute little mouse on this vintage Valentine says:  "For my Valentine - sugar and spice.  Gee, but you're nice!"

This vintage Valentine features an owl teacher at a blackboard.

 This vintage Valentine has a girl looking over her glasses.  "I speck we should get together now."

A cute pink bunny rabbit writes on the blackboard on this vintage Valentine.

This vintage Valentine has a sweet Dalmatian puppy with a big heart.

This die-cut vintage Valentine has bluebirds with "Valentine love to Mommy."

A little girl in a kilt plays the bagpipes with help from her Terrier dog on this vintage Valentine.
 

 This extra cute vintage Valentine features a tiger cub shopping at the grocery store!

A cute bunny rabbit paints at an easel on this vintage Valentine.

A boy and girl share an old fashioned soda on this vintage Valentine.  "Need a Valentine?  Soda I!"

A happy cat plays bongo drums on this groovy Valentine!

 A cute little sheepdog puppy has an old fashioned telephone on this vintage Valentine.

Goofy rides in an old fashioned car with Minnie Mouse on this 1960's vintage Valentine.

I hope you found some goodies here.  Have a wonderful weekend!