Antique German Westminster Hotel Koln Mailed France to Vermont 1905 Postmarked Postcard

The address side says "Westminster Hotel, Koln" (which is Cologne, Germany). The back is filled with writing. "Dear Lilla, I simply cannot get time to write letters ..." and then goes on to write more than I'd usually write in a letter on the back of this postcard!

He or she is coming back from vacation in Germany "... we were on top of the Eiger Heischen in a pouring rain ...". My kind of fun!

One of those quick tours "...we were in Brussels only one day".

There are four postmarks. The first is in France and the final one is Vermont on August 21, 1905. I hope Lilla could read this better than I could.

You'll just have to buy it and read it all and let me know what the rest of it says!

Little Known Facts - Borrowed from "In Seventh Heaven"

I grabbed this from Lindsay (click title above to see her blog).
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Middle name - Queen Anne.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Yesterday.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Turkey.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? I have a step-son. Want grand-children!
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Definitely!
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Not as much as I used to.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Of course. What a question. Lol.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No freaking way! I don't have the courage to do so.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Oatmeal.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Yes.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? No.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Strawberry.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Smile or lack of it.
15. RED OR PINK? Pink.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF? Fat.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My Mother.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Huh?
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? I'm wearing plaid shorts and Ecco sandals.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Oatmeal.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Leo taking pictures in the kitchen.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Sunset orange.
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Lilac, vanilla, rain, Leo.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Debbie Ferris.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yes. She's a nice blogging buddy.
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Tennis and Gymnastics.
27. HAIR COLOR? Mousy Brown
28. EYE COLOR? Hazel - green and yellow and brown.
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No - regular glasses.
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Salads in summer, pasta in winter, soup anytime.
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings.
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Some 1930's thing starring William Powell.
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Blue.
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer.
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Lots of each!
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Darrel's Rhubarb Pie.
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Those who have time.
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? The busy ones.
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Pearl S. Buck's "The Living Reed".
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? "EDS"
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? Oylmpics, what else?
42. FAVORITE SOUND? Windchimes on my front porch.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.
44. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Tokyo - 3 times.
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? My artwork is all special.
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Hickory, North Carolina.
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Anyone can grab this. Have fun!

Times Square Motor Hotel

Back in the 70's, I lived in New York City for 3 years. I had a little 3rd-floor walkup above a country-western bar on 48th and 8th Avenue. This was just a few blocks from Times Square. I had a friend who lived at the Times Square Hotel.

So this postcard brought back memories. The only New Year's Eve I lived in that apartment was memorable - I was too afraid to go down there, so just stayed in my apartment and listened to all the noise. It was like being there anyway!

Beautiful Hawaiian Art - Scharart on Etsy

I'll let Schar Freeman speak in her own words:

"Since a child I wished to be an artist. My painting began with mud and berry juice when living in the Redwood forests of Northern California.

"My mother encouraged my passion with lessons at 12 yrs old I studied with a wonderful artist who taught me to see and feel, moving from empty space into a vision I held inside.

"I studied with individuals and in the 90's became a "Ghost Painter" for an internationally popular artist. It is here that I developed my style and skills especially in oils and production. I have not had a dry spell since. I have produced and sold over a thousand paintings of my own in two decades. My work has traveled the world and there are many collections in the USA as well as Europe.

"I have had much of my work published 1999-2009 with WeMoon Calendars and cards receiving international appreciation.

"My heritage is American Native, my people the Wintun of northern California and I draw upon the wisdom of my elders and the ancient ones that guide me.

"I relocated to this Garden Island, Kauai a decade ago after raising two incrediable sons and three husbands. A life-long dream of mine to live here and after visiting for 30 years, I made the move.

"I have vision in only one eye and each and every day I am blessed that I can see and create a landscape, develope a dream or image of a dancer which moves me. I create from my heart and paint the impressions of the beauty which continues to surround me.

"Being a cancer survivor (22yrs), a portion of every sale is contributed to American Cancer Society~Relay For Life."

Please click the title above to see Schar's work. I bought a piece as a birthday present for my husband, and we both enjoy it every day! You'll be inspired by this lovely woman's work and feel her spirit in every piece.

Pipal Leaf Paintings

A new addition to the Etsy listings is a group of five pipal leaf paintings made in India.

Most likely painted in oil. Process: Green layers are removed from the pipal leaves by a special process. The Skeletal leaves are then compressed for strength and long durability. They're then painted and sealed.

Click the title above to see this beautiful Pipal Leaf oil painting of two women - one putting a flower in the other one's hair.

The total finished size is about 7" X about 9". The leaf is about 5 1/4" X about 7". The leaf is mounted on blue felt. The felt is mounted on paper - looks to be archival.

Comments made in the year 1955--Only 53 years ago!

'I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $20.00.'

'Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long before you can't get one for $2,000.00.

'If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous.

'Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a nickle just to mail a letter?'

'If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store.'

'When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon . Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage.'

'Kids today are impossible. Those duck tail hair cuts make it impossible to stay groomed. Next thing you know, boys will be wearing their hair as long as the girls.'

'I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying DAMN in GONE WITH THE WIND, it seems every new movie has either HELL or DAMN in it.'

'I read the other day where some scientist thinks it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas.'

'Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $75,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be making more than the President.'

'I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric They are even making electric typewriters now.'

'It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet.'

'It won't be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work.'

'Marriage doesn't mean a thing any more, those Hollywood stars seem to be getting divorced at the drop of a hat.'

'I'm afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business.'

'Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to congress.'

'The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.'

'There is no sense going to Lincoln or Omaha anymore for a weekend, it costs nearly $15.00 a night to stay in a hotel.'

'No one can afford to be sick anymore; at $35.00 a day in the hospital it's too rich for my blood.'

'If they think I'll pay 50 cents for a haircut, forget it.'

First full month on Etsy

Our first full month on Etsy was a resounding success to my way of thinking. We earned more than either of us expected. One thing that really help is the lower final value fee. We keep so much more of what we take in.

Patti's been expanding her knowledge of the advertising and marketing that needs to be done. Both of us have started blogging more, joining things like Entrecard to get our blogs noticed, and generally trying to step it up a notch.

We are both happy with the community on Etsy and the warm responses (generally) in the forums and chat.

So, on to an even better August! Thanks to all who hearted us and all buyers ... and to those great sellers who helped us with questions.