Thursday, July 29, 2010

Time for Grief Camp...

























































Well, if you were a follower of my brand new blog at this time last year, you know that I am off to Camp El Tesoro de la Vida. This is a week long grief camp for kids who have lost a family member due to death (mostly parent of sibling...but sometimes the grandparents or others were the caregivers). The camp is just outside Fort Worth, Texas. We have 105 kids (from 6 to 18) so far and still getting applications! Luckily, we have the GREATEST 66 volunteers and Therapists who make this such a special week for these kids. We like to say that camp is 90% fun and 10% grief work, however the entire experience is therapeutic. These kids are surrounded by 104 other kids who understand what they are going through and feeling. You can only imagine how your childish safety is pulled out from under you when your Mom or Dad dies. Maybe the oldest son assumes the father figure in the family or the oldest daughter starts caring for her younger siblings. We want this week to be about them being a kid (they are kids first and grievers second). We want them to play, hike, ride horses, do archery, swim, paddle canoes, do arts and crafts and so many other wonderful activities. They can do this and laugh without fear of being disrespectful to the parent who died. They can just be kids and have fun. For one hour a day they participate in a group session with their cabin mates and a professional therapist. Younger kids do a lot of art therapy (attention spans not very long) and older kids do more talking and processing. I hate to paint the picture that all we do is sit around in canoes and cry....camp really is about having fun. I remember my very first year when I had seven 3rd grade boys. Immediately after they arrived, they starting asking each other who died in their families. When it came to me, I had to confess that I had not lost anyone. As direct as 3rd graders are, they immediately asked, "Then why are you here". I told them that I just wanted to help them have a great week and that one day when I did have someone in my family die, I hoped this experience would help me. They seemed okay with the answer and we had an amazing week. When the parents pick up the kids on Saturday, we have a ceremony where we plant a tree and the kids surround it with rocks they have painted in memory of the person who died. When it was time to get them to the ceremony, I found them in the corner of the cabin all huddled up. When I asked what they were doing, they showed me that they had my staff shirt and had written their phone numbers on it so I could call them when someone died and they could help me as much as this camp had helped them. Well....needless to say, I was hooked and 18 years later I am not only still going, I have been the Director for the last 15 years. I am attaching a link to a video about the camp if you are interested. It tells the story better than I can. Wish us luck in the 100 degree weather with no air-conditioning. It will be hot but WONDERFUL! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v632qGFWG58

Monday, July 26, 2010

1947 Geep Yearbook...




































































































































































































































I was at Half Price Books and found this GREAT 1947 Grand Prairie High School "Geep" Yearbook. Want to know who was the "Football Sweetheart" in 1947, you got it! Want to know "Who's Who" in 1947...here it is. I LOVE these old pictures, just such an innocent time. Even they way the girl is sitting in the Freshmen Class Officers picture reflects the times. From the clothes (notice the Johnny Cash look of the guy in the Junior Favorites picture) to the hairdo's (love the principals stylish look)...it is so much fun to look and smile. I also loved the advertisements in the back (the last 3 pictures). Notice that the Cannon Radio Shop will, "Keep Your Home Gadgets in the Pink". At Baker's Service Station, they do, "Greasing, with a Squeek Eliminator". And, J.B. Sims Dry Goods gives Brown Stamps! We always had Green Stamps, I don't remember Brown Stamps. Look at the phone numbers...you can call The City Dry Cleaners at 163. Some of the comments from classmates are great (I did not take pictures of these)...an anonymous classmate wrote, "Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Angel in Heaven thought you were Good Looking". Not so much a poet, but sweet. But my favorite is from Mutt...he wrote, "Dear Phyllis, I think you are very mean. Here's hoping you have a life time with Pea Salad". I could not think of anything worse! I don't know anyone in this book, but LOVE to look and smile.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

It ALL Starts With a Blue Table....





























































































I bought this wonderful blue shabby table from Laurie Anna's last time I was in Canton. I thought it would be a great table to keep and take to the Hico Homestead Show for use (not resale). Well, while it is raining outside one day and I am trapped inside on the couch, I decide that the blue table would look good in my "Work/Craft/Waiting to sell/Reason to Buy More Stuff/Collection/Catch Everything Room". It all starts with the blue table. The next thing I know, I have everything scattered all over the house and have cleaned out the room and started over....so basically, I have moved the stuff that I had in the garage waiting for resale into the house and moved the stuff that was in the house waiting for resale into the garage. Fun afternoon! I especially love the old wooden motel room number signs above my guest room doors. Now I can tell company that they are staying in Guest Room #449 or 450. Although not a very practical room...it is pretty! And I guess for some of us, that is all that counts. I hope it does not rain again soon...no telling what room will get redone!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

My Recent Finds...























Okay....I have been getting posts asking me to show some of my recent finds while traveling. Here you go! Can you notice a color theme???? I have decided to do an industrial black, red, white and aluminum theme at the Hico show in October....and this is the start of it. The first 2 pictures are from my junkin' around today locally. Went to the Cattle Barns in Fort Worth and got some great stuff. The guy who sold me the hub caps made me repeat that one was from a 1950 Lincoln and the others were from a 52....I just wanted them to hang on the wall! The next 2 pictures are from some local finds over the last couple of weeks. Some of it came from Dorothy's (The Shabby Y at Lone Star Antiques) garage sale (it was GREAT). The last 3 were from my trip to Colorado (the one where I flew and my friends hauled all my stuff back in their truck...he he! My garage is once again out of control...I was oh so close to getting my car in. All I did was make room for all this stuff....story of my life. Have a great weekend and stay cool.