LollipopandPearls Theme Song

"Lollipop and Pearls" - Jared Kraft

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

I remember when...50's, 60's, 70's


It's that time again ~ Wednesday's Walk Down Memory Lane, thanks to our friend, Lynnette! Please join us by clicking on the link and share some of your memories with us!





I remember….

...the old Krystal Restaurants…with curb service. They served the burgers in a red plastic basket with wax paper covering them up for a dime each. Thick shakes and chocolate ice box pie for dessert.

...the Monkey Bar and Carousel, operated by Mr. Max at the downtown Harvey's Department Store.

If business was slow Mr. Harvey would let the monkeys run loose in the store.

...Chester's Department Store had a Mynah bird on the basement floor which would wolf whistle at the ladies walking by. Talking Mynah birds were a novelty in the late 50's and downtown Harvey’s, the Children's Museum and Jim Reed Chevrolet all had resident birds.

...roller skating at Hippodrome Roller Rink. Now Vanderbilt Holiday Inn is in that location.

...Varrallo's at the split of Highway 100 and 70 with the curb service. Best chili in town!

...Harvey's Department Store~ the toys and carousel were on the top floor. Parents were pulled by their kids to the top of the store and then "shopped" their way down. Near the carousel was a bench to sit and relax if you didn't mind sitting next to a (mannequin) cowboy. You could get Knox Berry Farm jellies and jams all the way from California from the shelves next to the cowboy.

...the Fifties and Sixties brought new freedom to teens and cruisin' was a weekend tradition. Shoney's and many other drive-ins became the meeting places of choice.

...the sorority girls circling Shoney's with the particular car honks they would blow. My sorority was PLS and our honk was: DahDahDahDahDahDahDahDahDahDahDahDah! Anther long standing Nashville tradition was to blow your horn as you passed through the dark and narrow railroad tunnel on Thompson Lane.

...the little popcorn stand at Centennial Park where you could buy a little box of popcorn to feed the ducks.

...the old Children's Museum that had live alligators and a stuffed bobcat in it. Trouper the Clown visited all the schools for the Children's Theatre (I was so proud when my Mom played Trouper the Clown! I loved bragging on her). If you signed up at school for the Children's Museum, you got a pin with the image of a raccoon on it.


...going outside to visit the Bookmobile when it visited my school.

...Shakey's Pizza Parlors and the sing-a-longs on weekends. One side was for families and the other side served beer. My sisters and I loved going up to the big plate glass windows and watching the pizzas being made.


..Nashville's first major indoor mall....100 Oaks Mall, opened in 1968;



they had no food court by there was a hot dog place up by Woolco called La Petite Café.

...High school fraternities and sororities sponsored formals and summer "combos" in people's driveways. We had local bands play while we danced and hung out on the driveway of the home where the party was.

...spaghetti suppers and school carnivals!

...when high school seniors got an official cut day. They could go to Percy Warner Park or they could go to school. Of course the teachers were all at the park to chaperone.

...receiving the polio vaccine on little sugar cubes in the school gym; and taking the hearing tests in grade school.

...when Nashville had two daily newspapers, the Tennessean in the morning and the Banner in the afternoon. Papers were delivered by boys walking or on bikes and papers were placed on the front porch of homes.

...in grade school somehow we all brought in cigar boxes which held our school supplies and shoe boxes which could be decorated at Valentines to hold treasured cards.

...“Milk break" in elementary school and when being chosen to wheel the milk cart to all the rooms was a big deal!

..when girls FINALLY got to wear pantsuits to school (NOT jeans) in 1970!

...when there were patrol boys at remote corners a few blocks away from the school. They had yellow flags on wooden poles and usually a patrol lady was there to supervise. Patrol girls only got to work at the school on the porch.

..leaving my bike in a bike rack at school and not even considering putting a lock on it!

...when girls collected love loops off the back seams of the boys new oxford shirts.

...when phone numbers in Nashville and Davidson County had named prefixes. Telephone numbers were published as ALpine, CHapel, AMherst, CYpress, VErnon, CAnal, TUcker or COngress. In fact, I remember my grandmother’s number as VE2-4883/

...when Moms were at home when the kids got home from school.

...when I got my windshield cleaned, oil checked, and gas pumped, without asking, all for free, every time. I didn't pay for air. And, I got trading stamps to boot.

...when the worst thing you could do at school was smoke in the bathrooms, flunk a test or chew gum.

...when stuff from the store came without safety caps and hermetic seals 'cause no one had yet tried to poison a perfect stranger.


And with all our progress ... I just wish, just once, I could slip back in time and savor the slower pace ... and share it with the children of today...

I remember…

...when being sent to the Principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited a misbehaving student at home. Basically, we were in fear for our lives, but it wasn't because of drive by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc.... Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! But we all survived because their love was greater than the threat.

...before the Internet or the MAC Before semi automatics and crack Before SEGA or Super Nintendo...Way back .... I'm talkin' bout hide and go seek at dusk…Red light, Green light…Kick the can… Playing kickball & dodge ball until your porch light came on…Mother May I?... Red Rover…Hula Hoops…(which I could never do; still can’t, and my 3 ½ year-old granddaughter can go for minutes with a hula-hoop! That’s just wrong!)…Roller skating to music…Running through the sprinkler… Catchin' lightning bugs in a jar…Christmas morning.... Your first day of school…Bedtime Prayers and Goodnight Kisses (“Night-night, sleep tight, and don’t let the beddy-bugs bite! I love you!”)…Climbing trees…Getting an Ice Cream off the Ice Cream Truck (again, my granddaughter gets to do this even now!)…A million mosquito bites and sticky fingers…Jumpin' on the bed (yes, we could have “more…monkeys jumpin’ on the bed!)…Pillow fights…Runnin' till you were out of breath…Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt…Being tired from playing…Your first crush…Kool-aid was the drink of summer (and every now and then we would have a Kool-Aid/Lemonade stand in our yard OR on the street corner—IMAGINE THAT—and people would stop by and pay us for a little cup of drink. We would sing, “Kool-aid, Kool-aid, tastes great…wish we had some, can’t wait!”…Toting your friends on your handle bars…Wearing your new shoes on the first day of school (Bee-Bops or Penny Loafers)…Class field trips…

It feels goods to go back and say, “Yeah, I remember that! There's nothing like the good old days. They were good then, and they're good now when I think about them”.


I want to go back to the time when............


...decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo".

...mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "do it over!"

..."Race issue" meant arguing about who ran the fastest.

...money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in Monopoly.
...catching the fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening.

...it wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends.

...being old referred to anyone over 20.

...the worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was cooties.

...scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better.

...it was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big people" rides at the amusement park.

...getting a foot of snow was a dream come true.

...abilities were discovered because of a "double-dog-dare"

...spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for giggles.

...the worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team.

...water balloons were the ultimate weapon.

...older siblings were the worst tormentors, but also the fiercest protectors.

If you can remember most or all of these, then you have LIVED!!!!


One last thing I remember: My parents have always watched Channel 4 News (NBC). A few weeks back, I wrote a tribute to Dan Miller, a Channel 4 Anchorman twice over the years, who recently passed away while at the Masters Golf Tournament. He was currently our Channel 4 Anchorman. He is deeply missed. The following photo shows many of our reporters/weathermen/anchors over the years, and I remember every single one. Dan is the one in the top left photo. So, again, I will remember...and never forget...







I'm so grateful I grew up in a time where, even though we didn't think so at the time, life was slower, easier, safer, and loads of fun!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Quiet Memories...

Memorial day I remembered...offered praise for those who willingly serve our country...for those gone before...and I was quiet...time alone for a while with my camera, trying to learn better how to use it...and time with family...photos tell it all!























I am blessed to have all 5 senses with which to experience life!

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Most Priceless Treasure!

This weekend I read an remarkable book entitled Ana’s Story – A Journey of Hope by Jenna Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush. Jenna met Ana through her work with UNICEF. It is the intricate, complex story of Ana’s life, from being born with the HIV virus through the present. I recommend this book, which only took me about 3 hours to read. Each of us, at some point in our life, will know someone affected by HIV/AIDS. I have lost 2 cousins and a friend to AIDS-related deaths.

In this book, Ana cherished a photocopied picture of her mother, whom she did not remember. She kept it on the wall beside her bed wherever she was living. It was her priceless treasure~ a reminder of the one who gave her life, who loved her deeply, and who she wanted to remember forever.

I have many treasured gifts. I only take this treasured necklace off to clean it. My sweet Daddy gave me the diamond solitaire necklace with matching earrings many years ago. Years later I purchased a Sterling Silver necklace and matching bracelet, engraved with the Hebrew names of Jesus: “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”. The necklace was the same length as the chain for my diamond and could not be worn together. I asked a jeweler to set the diamond in the center of the names of Jesus necklace. I frequent receive many compliments on and questions about the necklace. I delight in sharing about my Daddy, who has been gone now for 8+ years. It also gives me a platform from which to talk about Jesus and what He means to me.

What about you? What is your priceless treasure?

Blessings,


I am thankful for all the beautiful colors of green that God, the Master Artist, created for us to enjoy in nature! They are too numerous to count: warm greens, cool greens; dark greens and light greens; blue greens and yellow greens. As an artist myself, I know how difficult it is to reproduce these natural colors!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

AMAZING!

Please meet Arwen! She is a beautiful, happy 6-year old little girl, who happens to have some difficulties with several types of seizures and other difficulties. Her life is filled with difficult situations, multiple doctors many tests, medications, etc. Yet, she still keeps keepin' on, and seems to love life!


Meet her Mom, Danielle and her brother, Sebastian. In October 2007 Danielle was diagnosed with Stage IV Liver cancer with metastasis and given 6-12 months to live. May 2009 she is still alive, praise the Lord!

Rick, the incredible husband/father, is the glue that holds them all together, though his work schedule requires him to be away from the family much of the time, which makes it all the more difficult!

I'm not even sure how I found their site through "Caring Bridge" to begin with (probably through someone's blog), but I'm so glad I did. It is a privelege to pray for them all, and today, I invite--no, I encourage you strongly--to go to their site (you will have to sign up for an account, which is free, and takes about 2 minutes to do, read their story, look at their photos, and read the journal updates. Then I encourage you to sign the guestbook, and add them to your prayer list. This family is nothing short of a miracle, and inspire me to get out of myself and invest in to other's lives...for "it is in giving, that we receive..." (St. Francis of Assissi).

I'm asking you to stand in the gap with me for this precious family! Together let's bombard the throne room of God with the sacrifice and offering of our prayers...of praise, for what He has already dong for them, for what He IS doing in their lives right now, and for continued physical healing, emotional stability and spiritual growth.

Thank-you, Danielle, Arwen, Sebastian and Rick for teaching me how to turn the painful and difficult circumstances of life into an opportunity to show others love of family and love of God. You bless my life!

With love and blessings,



I am very grateful for the health of my family, which I so often take for granted. I am also grateful for this family, who reminds me that life itself is never to be taken for granted; and for how they teach me that I can turn any difficult situation and turn it into a way to encourage and bless others.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Don't We All?

I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come
from the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work. Coming
my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a
bum. From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes,
and no money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other
times that you just don't want to be bothered. This was one of those
"don't want to be bothered times."

"I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought.

He didn't.

He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn't look
like he could have enough money to even ride the bus.

After a few minutes he spoke.

"That's a very pretty car," he said.

He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly
blond beard keep more than his face warm.

I said, "thanks," and continued wiping off my car.

He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never
came.
As the silence between us widened something inside said, "ask him if he
needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes" but I held true to
the inner voice.

"Do you need any help?" I asked.

He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never
forget. We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it
from those of higher learning and accomplishments. I expected nothing
but an outstretched grimy hand. He spoke the three words that shook me.

"Don't we all?" he said.

I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum in
the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gauge shotgun.

Don't we all?

I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed
help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare,
but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three
little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter how
much you have accomplished, you need help too. No matter how little you
have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or
a place to sleep, you can give help. Even if it's just a compliment, you
can give that.

You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all.
They are waiting on you to give them what they don't have. A different
perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from
daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see.

Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe
he was more than that. Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and
wise, to minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves.

Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, then
said, "go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help."

Don't we all?

-- Author Unknown


Have you ever felt you had experienced an angelic visitation?

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

“Going Green” with art contest extended!

I’m so thankful that my sweet friend, Lynnette Kraft, is willing to guide me and give me some helpful pointers to promote t her suggestion, I have changed the guidelines for the contest and extended the date. Here’s the deal: In order to enter you need to tell others about the contest on a blog post with a link to my blog, and be entered once. If you become a follower of my blog you will be entered in the contest twice. If you email me contact information (gallery name and phone number with area code, and name of contact person) of art galleries in your area that may consider carrying Charla’s art, I will give you 2 additional entries. To recap:

***Do a blog post about the contest with a link to my blog = 1 entry.
***Become a follower of my blog= 1 additional entry.
***E-mail me contact info of art galleries in your area who might consider carrying Charla’s art & receive an additional 2 entries


The deadline is Wed., May 27, when I will choose the winner of a beautiful magazine art piece (like this "Zebra"!)


I am privileged to introduce you to my dear friend and artist extraordinaire, Charla Steele. Charla’s art unique and incorporates recycling of magazines. When Charla was pregnant with her daughter, she was unsuccessful in finding the perfect art for the nursery. The inspiration for her art was birthed from that dilemma. In Charla’s words: “Using the abundant number of magazines collected about the house, I (Charla, italics mine) began to cut, glue and layer my collage pieces together.” The nursery theme centered around a barnyard, so her initial pieces included a barn, cow, pig, duck, goat, windmill & sunflower.





Her unique derivation of collage art has expanded to include such subjects like frogs, flowers, ballerinas, wine images, butterflies, jellyfish, and variety of other subjects.




She also does portraits on special order! Charla, the “Artist of Pieces”, has had her art featured in several shows and displayed in a variety of galleries.



Charla’s bio says: “Born in Ohio, Charla moved to Tennessee in 1989 to study Interior Design at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She has been practicing interior design for more than 15 years. Although design has been her profession, creative expression has been her passion.” Her art stile includes line charcoal drawings, pointillism, construction paper collage, stained glass, and now magazine collages. Each of her collages is designed carefully, always with attention to depth, texture and color.

Magazines are cut into “mosaic-like shapes, layered heavily onto a substrate then wrapped onto the edges. Once the image is complete, a thick resin coating is applied to enhance the vibrancy of the image and ‘bring it to life.’ Charla’s specialty is her ability to capture common subject matter, and then give it personality.


I am honored to have many of her pieces in my possession to showcase to people in our community. I have pieces in sizes 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, all in museum mats and in clear acrylic sleeves, open editions. I also have several pieces in 8x8, edge wrapped on a board, then heavily coated in resin.




Additionally, I have 4 framed pieces, and a couple of her newest style: a 1.75” deep hardboard box, with the giclee print, heavily coated in resin. All are hand-signed by Charla. Prices range anywhere from $5 each to $130 each, depending on the size, format, and finish. Shipping and handling is an additional cost.




If you are interested in purchasing any of her work, please contact me (lisaasyler@comcast.net) with details, including the name of the print, the size desired, and whether you want it matted in a sleeve, ready to frame…or on the heavy board with resin coating. I will contact you back as soon as possible with the requested information. If you know of anyone who owns (or works at) an art gallery, and you feel they may be interested in seeing Charla’s work, please let me know.




Also, some of her pieces can be seen here. We are offering discounts on multiple purchases, so please be thinking about birthdays, and anniversaries…even Christmas gifts! It is highly unlikely that anyone will have anything like Charla’s art! We will be adding pieces often.



Charla’s next show will be “The American Artisan Festival” June 17-19 at Centennial Park in Nashville, TN.