Waking with Thoughts of Vintage Sunday School Cards

Here's the thing about selling vintage cards and books for a living:  you never know when you'll have a random thought about something unusual you have found.  You might be eating tacos or going to the hardware store when you suddenly think about flocked Christmas cards or a recipe for a Floating Island.

Today I woke up thinking about vintage Sunday School cards. I grew up going to Sunday School regularly, and loved it - especially craft projects like decorating pictures of sheep with cotton balls and singing songs. I recall getting postcards in the mail a few times when I was sick and couldn't go on Sunday. 

A few years ago I found a selection of Sunday  School postcards.  Most were for teens, to be sent by their Sunday School teacher if they missed a Sunday School class.  If you'd like to take a peek at these cards, you'll find them here:  Vintage Sunday School Cards at Birdhouse Books.

The card above is especially striking.  It pictures a woman who isn't there.  The postcard reads:  "Where were you last Sunday?  We've Missed You.  Come Next Sunday".   

The card above must be from the 1960's with the Space Age theme.  " Get Back In Orbit - We Missed You Sunday."

This card (above) reminds me of "The Telephone Hour" from Bye Bye Birdie.  A teen boy and girl talk on the phone.  The boy is lounging in his letterman's sweater.  "A Person to Person Invitation."

This card is a little different.  It features a line of boys with the message:  "We fall in but we don't fall out.  We want you as a member of our jolly good class."   This card was sent for a Rally Day in Atlanta in 1938.  I didn't grow up with Rally Days, so looked them up.  A Rally Day celebrated the start of a new church year, usually in September or October.  Children graduated from one Sunday School class to another at this time.  Interesting!   Another of those neat tidbits you learn working with vintage paper.

Book Giveaway: A Little Coffee Cookbook

Hi all!

Just because it is Tuesday and I'm clearing some space on my shelves here ... I'm hosting a giveaway to win A Little Coffee Cookbook by Janet Laurence.

This gently used cookbook is very cute, with 60 pages of delicious recipes using coffee.   I am removing some of the newer cookbooks from my store, Birdhouse Books, in order to make more shop space here.  You will find many vintage cookbooks in my shop (along with children's books and vintage cards galore!).

Entry is easy, with the Rafflecopter form below.   The giveaway will close on Tuesday, July 15 at 11:59 PM.  I will use Rafflecopter to randomly draw a winner.

Thanks for visiting my site, and I hope you'll enter for this cute cookbook.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Music Monday - "Nothing But a Heartache" by The Flirtations (1968)

"Nothing But a Heartache" is one of my all time favorite songs.  It combines many things I love:  retro soul, girl group music, and a melody that is catchy and dynamic.

The Flirtations recorded this song in 1968, and it was a hit for the group, making the Hot 100 list.  The Flirtations started recording in 1962 as the Gypsies.   Two of the singers were sisters from South Carolina.  They were marketed as being like the Supremes, and there are some real similarities in sound and performance style.

"Nothing But a Heartache" became a Northern Soul hit.  Northern Soul music was soul music that achieved popularity in dance clubs in Northern England, Scotland, and Wales in the mid-1960's.  Northern Soul songs were typically by less well known artists.  They were uptempo with a good beat for dancing.

I have loved this song for years.  I have it on my Blackberry, my iPad ... and now I am happy to share it with you, too.

Book Review: Breathe by Elena Dillon (Young Adult Novel)

"Most days I can almost forget someone murdered my sister. I try to go through every day like a normal sixteen-year-old. I can eat breakfast, go to school, do homework, but then something will remind me that my family will never be the same." (Breathe, Elena Dillon)

With these memorable lines we meet high school junior Jasmine Rourke.  Jasmine's sister, Daisy, was murdered in Los Angeles, and the killer was never caught.  Because of lingering media attention and concern for her family's safety, Jasmine's mother moves the family to Lafayette, Louisiana.  Jasmine, her younger twin siblings, and her mother try to settle in and find normalcy. 

Jasmine starts back to school, meets a cute boy, makes new friends ... and then the eerie reminders of her sister, Daisy, start:  a bouquet of daisies in her school locker, an odd text from a number she cannot trace.  Is she being pranked or stalked?   Are Jasmine and her family in danger again?

Breathe is a romantic suspense novel for young adult readers.  It is suspenseful, but not too intense for the teen audience.  It is fast paced, with likable characters (especially the protagonist, Jasmine), and would be a great summer reader for a teen who enjoys combining mystery and love story.

I liked the southern setting, and appreciated the way that Jasmine's personal faith was quietly woven into the storyline (she goes to church and prays).  Her family is also well drawn - with a strong but cautious mom, mischievous younger brother, and sensitive younger sister.

Easton, Jasmine's romantic interest, is a southern knight in shining armor.  He is strong and kind, with a maturity and gentleness that is sure to appeal to young readers.

Elena Dillon's writing flows well and her characterizations ring true.  The dialogue moves quickly.  This is a short book, and I think it is one that young adult readers will enjoy.

Thanks to MMW Authors for a review copy in exchange for an honest review. 

A Trip to the DeKalb Farmers Market

Today is the second day of a long holiday weekend, and this morning I got together with my best friend for breakfast at our favorite deli and shopping.  We ended the morning at the DeKalb Farmers Market in Decatur (Atlanta).  This is a huge 140,000 square foot farmers market.  It is a world market, with produce and packaged foods from all over the world.  The employees also have diverse backgrounds, and they wear a list of all the languages they speak on their name tags.   

Saturday, especially on a holiday weekend, is not an ideal time to shop here because it is VERY crowded.  I wish I had taken a photo of the parking lot.  It was full!

I love going to the farmers market, and wanted to share the experience with you here.

The DeKalb Farmers Market is at 3000 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur.  This is just a few blocks from the Decatur MARTA station, between Decatur and Scottdale.  It is part of the metro Atlanta area.

The landscaping is really nice.

This is the market as you first drive into the parking lot.

A view of the market from the center of the store, looking down.  This picture gives you an idea of how big the farmers market is.

The flags overhead represent the world market.

I love the imported Italian pasta!

Look at this variety of lentils:

Here is a glimpse of the HUGE produce section.  If you can think of any favorite fruit or vegetable, you can find it here.

The market stocks their own packaged spices.  They have a great variety, and the prices are terrific.

Tofu!  They have a number of varieties, including baked tofu.  I'm a longtime vegetarian, and this is a great place for vegetarian and vegan shoppers.

Georgia Peaches.  I just had to take a picture. 

Yes, we have some bananas!

 
The farmers market has a wonderful selection of cut flowers (again, very cheap!).

I love the range of colors here.

The market has a great selection of fresh baked bread.  I love their croissants!

They have a big cafeteria with a couple of lines of food, including hot dishes and a salad bar.

Soy cheese and Lightlife vegetarian products including Tofu Pups and lunch slices.  I am a big Lightlife fan!

If you like homemade pizza, fresh pasta sauce - and of course homemade pasta as well - you'll find a nice selection here.

And just by the huge room (!) of cashiers, you'll find a great selection of coffee:

 
I had fun on my visit to the farmers market today, and hope you enjoyed this little photo tour as well.