Ellicott City, Maryland...So Charming!

Greetings Sweeties, from Baltimore, Maryland!!!

Being a southern California girl born & bred,

going to the East Coast always has a touch of MAGIC to it.

{the oldest surviving railroad station in America}

I LOVE American History!

I wish when I was in high school I would have known that American History

would be such a passion of mine, maybe I would have paid a little more attention! ;)

Here, I'm surrounded by the history that founded this country that I'm so proud of...

it's every where you go & every where you look.

The little hamlet of Historic Ellicott City, MD did not disappoint,

I adored it's beyond CHARMING atmosphere!

It's a town of antique shops, boutiques & bistros,

{Babe Ruth was married at St. Paul's Church to Helen Woodford in 1914}

just the kind of place you can't help but think,

"I want to live here & open up a tiny shop too!"

Old stone churches,

cobblestones,

& corbels.

This quaint old town was built on the National Road in the 1700's.

George Washington rode his horse down this road

on his way from Mount Vernon to Annapolis.

This town was here prior to the American Revolution,

how COOL is THAT??

If only windows & wood could talk,

what a story they could tell us.

The Patapsco River winds itself through & around town,

under buildings & bridges,

leaving everything lush & green & GORGIOUS!

Ellicott City was intially a flour mill town, orginally settled by

three Quaker brothers from Pennsylvania in 1772,

4 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Again...Just Cool!

This row of stone houses was built as residences

for mill workers out of granite stones made in the local quarry.

They still stand strong & proud against centuries of wear.

These amazing gems are now filled with boutiques,

outdoor cafes & The French Market coffeeshop...yummmmmy,

all sitting on the banks of the Patapsco River.

Don't you just LOVE to explore new places??

My very favoritest quote by Mark Twain says it all...

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the

things you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Wish you were HERE!!!

XOXO

vintasusie

Thank God for the Beautiful Circle of Life!

Oh, my Sweetest of Hearts,

How do I thank my friends for all their love & support during this past week?

How can they ever know how much each & every one of their comments meant to me or how many times over the course of the week, I came back here to read them

& gain strength from their thoughts & prayers?

It meant EVERYTHING to me!

Yesterday, was my grandson Kai's 6th birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese.

If you've never been to a Chuck-E-Cheese before, it's like a nightclub for kids, really!

It's kind of dark inside like a nightclub & instead of getting high on booze,

they just run around & get high on cake & candy & fun rides...Kai LOVES it!

Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny & warm spring day that put a smile on my face from the moment I woke up. As Robert & I started our drive to the party, I couldn't help but be touched by God's greater plans. I said to him, "Isn't it amazing that my brother died on Monday & it's Kai's 6th birthday on Sunday. In the course of a single week, I have felt some of my greatest sorrows along with some of my greatest joys."

That is truly the Beauty of Life.

The 'Circle of Life' keeps spinning whether we'd like it to or not.

As one life comes to an end, another life is just beginning &

I believe that is part of God's greater plan.

For me, it is a concrete symbol of Hope.

The Hope that life goes on,

the Hope that joy goes on,

the Hope of a renewal of Life.

On Monday I was crying...

& on Sunday I was laughing.

God is so much smarter then me!

He can see the whole entire picture, while I can only see the tiniest glimpse.

But even through my little window of life, I can see the Circle Turning...

& in the seeing, I am smiling!

XOXO

vintagesusie

My Sweet Johnny has Gone Ahead...

My Sweet Johnny has gone ahead.

A piece of my heart is gone, my big brother Johnny passed away yesterday morning

& my heart is breaking.

Growing up he was always by my side, every childhood memory I have, has Johnny in it.

Standing next to me, his arm around me, walking with me to school,

watching over me, even when I wasn't looking.

I was rarely afraid as a child because I was never alone, I always had Johnny with me.

I was so very blessed to have found him.

He was so very strong & held on so long, waiting for me to find him.

He knew I would never have Peace without finding the missing Piece of my Heart.

I have a scene from 'Out of Africa' that has been playing over & over in my mind.

Karen: Do you remember how it was on safari? In the afternoons I would

send you ahead to look for a camp and you would wait for me.

Farah: So you can see the fire and come to this place.

Karen: Yes. Well, it will be like that. Only this time I will go ahead and wait for you.

Farah: It is far, this place where you are going?

Karen: Yes.

Farah: Then you must make this fire very big, so I can find you.

My Sweet Johnny has gone ahead to watch out for me & guide me home,

just like when we were children.

I miss him so much already.

Oh, how I wish I could see you fly!

XOXO

vintaesusie

Easter Memories & Johnny Jump Ups

Tomorrow is Easter, a time for rejoicing & remembering & being with the one's we love.
Easter always brings me some of my happiest memories.

{Susie & Johnny, Easter 1962}

As a child, Easter was a time for new dresses, white patent leather Maryjane's, a matching purse, crisp white gloves, a hat that I usually didn't like to wear, hidden baskets & Johnny Jump Ups.

My older brother Johnny & I {Johnny & Susie, it doesn't get any more 50's then that} would dress-up in our fancy new clothes, have our picture taken on the front porch, jump into the back seat of our family car & head off to Belmont Height's United Methodist Church in Long Beach, where we'd spend the morning at Sunday School.

{at Mission San Juan Capistrano 1963}

My most nostalgic Easter memories are of how excited I was to go to Sunday School on that particular morning. When we got there, we'd all be given crayons & little paper cups to decorate with bunnies or eggs or flowers. We would then be given some soil that we would carefully add to our cups trying very hard not to get any on our new clothes. Then each child was given their own tiny, Johnny Jump Up to plant ever so tenderly into their cup.

 {I couldn't wait for my Mommy to get her McCall's Magazine so I would get this}
And as the teacher would talk to us of spring & the renewal of life, of our sins & the Gift that our Father had given us in his son, I would look at the bright purple & yellow faces of my pretty flowers & smile. When my parents came to pick us up, I would proudly show them my very own flowers that I had planted myself. I would take my flowers home & keep them next to my bed. I watered them & nurtured them & loved them. Is it silly that I remember that so clearly? I have adored Johnny Jump Ups for as long as I can remember & now you know why!
What are some of your favorite childhood Easter Memories???
I would love for you to tell me...
Sweetest of Hearts,
May your Easter Joy & Chocolate Eggs be Abundant.
Happy Easter!

XOXO
vintagesusie

Round Top Festival Institute...Glorious!

Have you ever wanted to take the road less traveled

or been tempted to step away from the crowd & start your own journey?

What wonders might await you, just around the next bend?

Who would have ever thought little ole Round Top, home to 77 people & the junk capital of the world,

was also home to one of the best kept secrets in Texas.

The Round Top Festival Institute...

it truly is, Glorious!

At the end of one of our busy days of junkin our tour guide, Charlene of 'My Heart's Ease', had mentioned wanting to take us to see this amazing music institute. I think getting back to the fields was primary in every body's mind, but as we started to drive by,

 Charlene made an executive decision.

"We don't have to stay very long, but I do think this is worth seein!" she said with her adorable southern accent, as we turned down the drive.

We were so blessed to have the lovely Charlene leading us.

Thank You Sweetest of  Friends, for taking us on the 'Road Less Traveled'.

While 1,000's of junker's shopped the fields of Round Top,

we were nestled away from the rest of the world at one of the most beautiful,

tranquil places I have ever seen...

a place of complete serenity.

The Round Top Festival Institute

& it's remarkable grounds,

it's corridors & paths

drawing you forward into a world of peace

& divinity.

I wandered alone on these grounds wanting to take in every magical sight & sound...

the Madonna & Child, hidden alcoves

& the soft, constant sound of water.

I have been to Rome, toured the Vatican & walked the historic Missions's of California & Texas...

but this simple chapel in the hill country of Texas, touched my soul.

Can you sense it?

Can you feel it?

Can you see it?

The Edythe Bates Old chapel was built in La Grange, Texas in 1883 as the Episcopal Methodist Church & was moved to this location in 1994...

& to our glory, the doors were open.

The only light we had once inside, was what streamed through the antique stained glass windows

& illuminated the dark within, again MAGIC!

Now don't get me wrong...

I LOVE my Junk Gypsy's & Magnolia Pearl,

I LOVE the fields filled with junk & treasures,

I LOVE Royer's pie & Blue Bell ice cream & Bar-B-Que,

but the highlight for me on this trip, was the Sweet Sanctuary at the

Round Top Festival Institute.

Thank you God & Miss Charlene, for the 'Roads Less Travelled',

for every time I have taken one, it has been, AMAZING!  ;)

XOXO

vintagesusie