Deja Vu...

DEC 29, 2011...December 30, 2012

For Auld Lang Syne....My Dear.

Hello...Get out your party horn and don your party hat as it is time to reflect and celebrate.

I will take this time to ponder...the year past and the year to come...

I think it wise to make more music...

To kick up my heels and do a little jig....

To smile and think of vegetables....when you are healthy you can cha-cha-cha much better...

Spend more time in the sunshine...while not forgetting the importance of sunscreen...

To be kind and friendly....to those you pass by on your journey...Hello There!

Spiff up your surroundings...you neighbors will be grateful...

Take some "Me" time...you know...curl up with a good book and a hot cup of tea...hmmm...

Make time to visit with your family and fun friends...

Be a good citizen...help others...and do good deeds...

Enjoy every minute of every day...

While you prepare your tasty party snacks, choose a snazzy outfit to wear to your fancy party or maybe you will be staying at home with a bowl of popcorn to watch a sentimental black and white film...let's do a little happy dance and hum your favorite tune...as 2012 is going to be a shiny new year of possibilities...

Let's take'o'cup of kindness yet...for Auld Lang Syne....

Have "Here is a hand my trusted friend" fun,   Jody, your friend with a sparky new calendar

I posted this last year...but many of you didn't see it. My sentiments are the same...and once again I wish you all a shiny happy new year to come....

Sunny...

Hello...I know that everyone's  blogs are chock full of holiday happenings...but I am running around trying to finish up all of my Christmas errands. I must say that I am very sympathetic for the elves in the North Pole, working overtime finishing up the last minute details...So now let me explain my post. Some of you may have seen my post from last month where I told you about my Mother Gloria's passing. Yes...I know this isn't very uplifting...but hopefully...you will bear with me.

This is my Mother as a happy little girl. Full of hopes and dreams of a wonderful life...And she did have a wonderful life.

So now to the point of my tale...When my Mother was a little girl her nickname was "Sunny" because of her cheery personality. Let's move forward to the seventies when she and my Father purchased one of those "Herculon" couches...You know the orange, yellow and black plaid modern marvel.  Think owls and macrame... "Better living through chemistry...very polyester and stain resistant."  A miracle of the times. When my Mom moved into her last apartment twelve years ago she brought the sentimental sofa with her. As her children of sophisticated taste...or so we thought... we
were mortified. Shortly after her move my brother Jay offered her a beautiful modern couch as a generous gift to her...yet she refused...much to our dismay. I asked my Mother why?...her reply was that she didn't want to bother anyone with the discomfort of dragging it out. She never wanted to be a bother to anyone...Upon her passing the guys in our family maneuvered the "Sofa" out to the dumpster...as I held open the door...One of the buttons fell to the floor. I quickly grabbed it up...then I proceeded to pull off the remaining buttons off...with hopes of sharing these buttons with my siblings in an ornament to remember her by. As we all had sat on that couch and suffered backaches...but that was okay, as she was such a treasure to visit with. So above is the tribute that I am sharing with Gloria's children...My way of keeping warm, happy family memories alive. I do hope that these ornaments
will be as treasured as the love that we will have in our hearts forever.  Forgive me my sentiments...but isn't that what Christmas is all about?

Have "Warm and Happy Memories" fun,   Joyeux Noel...Jody

Jingles in FunTown...

Hello...Boy-Oh-Boy...We are in the holiday spirit here in FunTown. Why don't you make yourself a mug of Hot Chocolate...don't forget the marshmallows...after all, it is Christmas Time...and come by for a visit,  you can join me and we will peek in our FunTown windows.

Bring a good friend...as all our welcome here. Don't forget your warm woolly mittens.

Let's go to "Whistling Dixie's Toy Shop" first...we will stare at the colorful window display and finalize our Christmas List. It is important to make wise choices....after all...we have been nice...not naughty... all year and this is our reward. before we go further I just want to mention how much fun the word "naughty" is...Cheeky is fun, also.

Yes...Santa is also finalizing his list...Poor Guy...this must be so stressful on him...after all...he is no youngster and he is a tad overweight. I hope that he has time to sit back and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate also.

A few days ago we had a "Tannenbaum-Trimming" party. A great time was had by all...I will have to make a note to myself to serve the egg nog after the tree is trimmed. Oh well...it is still festive.

We sang cheerful songs whilst trimming...we all have such lovely voices.

Then the dancing began...needless to say...we are all snappy dancers...after all...we have all attended dance classes at the " Doodly-Doo Sisters School of Dance."

Frosty is a dandy dancer...he is very light on his boots....and he has a great sense of rhythm. He is one cool customer. We all want to dance with him. He is very thoughtful and makes sure that we all get our turn to trot around the dance floor with him. Yes...we are all grateful to Trudy and Judy Doodly-Doo for our fanciful dance moves.

Uh-Oh! Poor Chilly Billy...it seems that while returning from his vacation he had a layover in the SunBelt and they had a long delay...Don't despair...we have been keeping him company while he stays outdoors to get back in shape. That is what friends do!

Well...I have been prattling away here for quite awhile...I will continue with our visit next time. Isn't Santa handsome? Yes, he is a Jolly Good Fellow! I am trying to get some extra brownie points...just in case he reads this post. Timing is everything...

Have silly "Fa-La-La-La-Lah" fun,   Jody, your friend who is merry and bright

Let's Do the Hokey-Pokey...

Hello...That's what it's all about.

Have silly "turn yourself about" fun today...Jody

Let's Play With Brownies...

Hello...Well, all of the "Funnies" here in FunTown are so busy bustling about...Christmas shopping, decorating, hiding presents and baking tasty holiday treats...etc. So I decided to share with you my love of "Palmer Cox's Brownies."

Yesterday...I had a pleasant surprise, when the postman delivered a parcel from my dear friend, Paul Gordon...Yes, he is "that Paul Gordon", the famous folk artist. He mailed me this charming old Brownie matchbox. Imagine my delight, as I am quite the Brownie Enthusiast...and a grateful friend.

So, last evening Paul and I had long telephone conversation and for the most part we were talking about the history of "The Brownies"...so let's go to "Smarty-Arty's Library" in FunTown and I will share some of the details with all of you...and many snapshots also. Follow me...

I first became aware of these charming little fellows when my Mother brought them to my attention when I was young.

The writer/illustrator Palmer Cox was born in Quebec in 1840. While growing up his family shared the very old Celtic folk tales of Brownies...little pixie-like creatures who did good deeds and only came out at night for their adventures.

Mr. Cox emigrated to the U.S. as a young man...he took art classes and ended up in New York City getting published in newspapers and magazines. In 1885 he began his Brownie adventures...he applied the legends from his childhood and interpreted them in a contemporary setting.

His illustrations soon became famous with the children...Mr. Cox became the grandfather of the comic characters. Up until then there were no pictures to entertain the young readers.

New York was a melting pot at the end of the 19th century...so his fellows are a reflection of the times that he lived. There is an American Indian, a Dutchman, a Chinese man, a Russian, a Scottish Highlander and on and on...also there is a bellhop, a sailor, a constable,  a jockey a "Dude" and an Uncle Sam. Plus a cast of thousands. When I say "fellows"...there are no girl Brownies...also a reflection of the times.

His Brownies, like the legendary ones come out only at night to do good deeds...but they were modern. They rode bicycles, went swimming, sledding, boating, fishing...etc. All while wearing fashionable hats.

Yes, that's right...The famous Brownie camera is named after Palmer Cox's Brownies. they had become so popular over the years that when Kodak designed a camera that was simple to operate. So easy that even a child could use it. So they capitalized on the fame of the Brownies to market it to children.

Yet another interesting tid-bit...Many businesses at that time wanted to capitalize on their popularity. Palmer Cox was the first artist to protect his property so he licensed his images...only with his permission and he received royalties. These figures above are wired together and the first of his licensed products.

This fellow resides here in FunTown...and he whispered in my ear that he was thrilled to be highlighted in this post. I hope that it doesn't go to his head.

There are nodders...they cost a pretty penny...

Porcelain...look at the colors...so intense.

Children's Hankies...

Pre-printed fabric so that you could sew together and make a doll at your own home...

He wrote many other books also...

I have made them myself...They are great little dancers.

I do believe we should call it a day as I don't want to bore all of you. Mr. Cox passed away in 1924. What a legacy he left for generations to enjoy...I for one...am very grateful for all of his happy little friends that he shared with us.

Have silly "I think Brownies are fun" fun,   Jody, an ardent admirer

               
                                                                          "Toodle-Loo"