Celebrities Lost in 2019

As our family has suffered the loss of two family members, including my only sibling within the last three months. to close out the year above is a video by Legacy.com of celebrities we have lost in 2019.

May we celebrate the lives of those we have lost and remember their positive contributions to the Earth and may they rest in peace in God's hands.

17th Century Swedish Warship Vasa

Photo:  Source

This 17th Century Swedish wooden warship is on display at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.

It sunk on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was raised in 1961 almost fully intact and the most well-preserved one of its kind.

It is a warship that was 69 meters long, over 50 meters tall with 64 cannons. It was to be the most powerful warship in the Baltic sea, but the master shipbuilder, Henrik Hybertsson, was ill when construction began and was not able to oversee the construction and with pressure from the King to finish and launch it was despite there were warning signs it was not ready.  

Instead of being the strongest warship in the world, which it may have been in the few minutes, with a gush of water through the open gun ports, it sank 1,300 meters after setting sail, perhaps making it the shortest maiden voyage.

For more information and pictures visit Vasa Museum website and Wikipedia.

VINTAGE PHOTO: 1917 Photo of Sailor from WW1 forming the US Flag

Photo:  Source

This photo is from over 100 years ago of sailors during World War I form the American flag at Naval Base at Great Lakes in 1917.

Can you imagine the planning that went into this to orchestrate how it would look like a flag waving in the wind?  It is just amazing!

You Might Need To Be Over 40 To Get This Joke: "Shining" Twins - Dog Version

Photo: Source

This is from an iconic scene in the 1980 Stephen King based movie "The Shining".

The dog version looks more cute than menacing though in those little shoes and innocent looks on their faces.

Clip of "The Shining" from Youtube

Twas The Night Before Christmas...

Photo:  Source

Merry Christmas!

Cat Friendly Christmas Tree Alternatives

Photo:  Source Unknown

Cats are notorious for climbing Christmas trees.  Growing up we had many cats any my Mom tied the Christmas Tree to the wall using a jump rope and a hook screwed into a beam in the wall.to keep it from falling over when the cats went on their adventure in a near-naked tree.

If you are handy with woodworking or have a family member or friend that is, the above cat tree would be a great alternative, provided the ornaments are plastic and tied on securely. 

If not,  Catster has a post on an Easy DIY Cat Friendly Christmas Tree alternative using a shelf from IKEA.

Another alternative if you have the wall space would be to create the look of a Christmas Tree with garland or tinsel, but high enough up to deter kitty from trying to get at it.

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Embassy Animated Window Display - 2019

The Embassy Theater has continued the tradition that began in the 1920s when Wolf & Dessauer Department store with animatronic Christmas displays.

Below is a timeline in one of the current windows on display:



I think these are the ones that were originally on display at Wolf and Dessauer and on loan from the History Center.

Location:  Harrison Street Side of Embassy Theater, Fort Wayne, IN

Hallmark Christmas Movie Plot Generator

Source:  Wronghands - Cartoons by John Atkinson

The above is by clever cartoonist John Atkinson and does seem to sum up many of the Hallmark Christmas movies I have seen (yet enjoy watching anyway!).

U.S. Soldier's Family Christmas Float

Photo: I am an American Soldier

This float is a depiction of a soldier's family at Christmas.

If you can, there are many organization's that you can donate to help, such as USO Wishbook.   Also, Dollar Tree usually asks this time of year if you would like to donate a toy (they usually have a few in a basket by the registers). 

Please keep our military service personnel in your thoughts and prayers this holiday season. 

Grinch Themed Christmas Tree

Photo: Source

This creation spotted on Facebook captures the essence of Dr. Seuss's "How The Grinch Stole Christmas".

It is whimsical with its an off-kilter overload of decorations and the Grinch diving into to tree getting ready to pick it up and hoist it over his shoulder to take it up the chimney.

These Gingerbread Men Don't Quite Emboy the Christmas Spirit...

Photo: Source

Not quite Christmas, but is quite clever (or should I say, cleaver).

May God bless and watch over you on what superstition had deemed an unlucky day.   

Not Quite Elf On A Shelf

Photo: Source

Might not be Elf on a Shelf, but think it would be clever to incorporate into that for kids.

License Plate Theme Christmas Tree

This license plate themed tree was one that was on display at the Festival of Trees at the Embassy Theater in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Since 1984 has had this festival to support the ongoing restoration of the historic theater.

Sampling of Festival of Trees - 2019 - Embassy Theater

Here is a sampling of some of the decorated trees on display at the Festival of Trees at the Embassy  Theater in Fort Wayne, Indiana this year.

I plan on posting pictures of the individual trees over the coming few days.  I would be hard-pressed to pick a favorite as there were many amazing trees!

NOT A FRIENDLY SNOWMAN...

Photo: Source - Outlaw Ewok

There Had To Be A Better Way...

Photo:  Source

I am guessing whoever came up with this idea though they were saving space and only looked at the display from the front.

Galeries Lafayette unveils Bee Themed Christmas Windows, Paris 2019.

Photo:  Screenshot from video below

This year a Galeries Lafayette in Paris chose a more ecological subject for Christmas and incorporated bees with 11 different themed displays,   

Be sure to watch the video below to see more of the whimsical artistic displays with animatronics for Chrismas with a bee themed.

"Queen Bee"

Photo:  Screenshot from video below

"The Banquet"

Photo:  Screenshot from video below

Looks Like They Are Ready For Christmas In Duluth...

Photo:  Source - Heather Grand

True Christmas Spirit

Photo:  Source

While this time of year for many it is about scoring great deals in-store or online for presents, these young boys demonstrated the true spirit of Christmas is seeing a man in his wheelchair shoveling snow and asked if their father if they could stop and help him out.

Christmas is not just about presents and a day; it is about filling yourself with the Holy Spirit and helping your fellow man.

Christmas Tree For Households That Have Cats

Photo: Source

Not this year kitty....not this year!

A Holiday Reunion – Xfinity 2019

Although end the end this is a commercial for Xfinity, we finally get to see a reunion of E.T. and Elliot (portrayed by the same actor that played the part in the movie, Henry Thomas) that some of us have always been waiting for.

Here Elliott gets to introduce E.T. to his family 37 years after parting with him in this commercial.

UNIQUE GIFT IDEA: STAR WARS THEMED INSTAPOTS

Instapots and Star Wars are popular this season, so if you have love both, you are in luck.

You can create a Brisket in BB8, a Roast in R2D2, a Streudel in a Stormtrooper, Date pudding or  Chili in a Chewbacca with one of these Star Wars-themed Instapots for at Williams Sonoma at $80 to $100.

For some reason, the Chewbacca one is more expensive than the others; for that reason, I think it should come with a furry outer cover and it should have a timer that makes Wookie sounds when what is in the pot is done.

Happy Thanksgiving!

via GIPHY
Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

UNUSUAL POEM: THE TURKEY SHOT OUT OF THE OVEN

VINTAGE AD: 1964 SWIFT'S PREMIUM BUTTERBALL TURKEY AD

Photo:  Source

Usually, vintage ads make me nostalgic and give me warm fuzzies, but there is something about this one this creeps me out, even though I recall a Butterball turkey being a staple on my Grandma's table at Thanksgiving when I was a kid.

Is it that the kids look a little like the ones in the horror flick "Us"?   Or that it is reminiscent of Ray Liotta's character in "Hannibal?  Or that it makes it look like the kids share a giant turkey brain like a mad experiment?   It could because it seems a bit stalkerish saying I know how to cook and that I am expert shopper...how else could they know that?

HE STOLE MY LOOK!

Photo: Purrtacular

The cat is trying to play it cool, but he is pretty sure singer Ed Sheeren stole his look.

VINTAGE POSTCARD: 1910 THANKSGIVING THEMED POSTCARD

Photo:  ACPL Community Album via Becky Osbun on from Fort Wayne Facebook Group

Back in the day before the internet and cell phones, postcards were a way to keep in touch with people as they usually had a picture or drawing on the front, a small space to write a note, and cost less to send than a letter so they were more budget-friendly.   

This postcard is from over 109 years ago now, from an Aunt to her niece about seeing Santa and telling him to bring her niece a big doll.

This was from a closed Facegroup that I am on, but as it is from a public source, I thought I would share it here.

Marilyn Monroe...With A Turkey

Photo:  Source

It looks like the poor turkey was upstaged by Marilyn Monroe.

Neatorama indicates it is a holiday photoshoot from 1950, but what I found amusing was a comment  by a user named Wonky Donky:

"You need a speech bubble by that turkey's head saying something like, "Sweet Jesus, will you look at those drumsticks!"

For more odd vintage celebrity Thanksgiving-themed photoshoots visit this post at Vintage Everyday

TURKEY DANCE FREEZE

The older fella in the center is putting the youngsters to shame with how much he is getting into this dance.

While he is dancing to the Turkey Dance Freeze, I am guessing in his mind he is back in 1973 sporting his tight polyester pants, Qiana shirt with wide lapels unbuttoned to the waist and hearing Billy Preston's "Outer Space" in his head.

This video would be good way to keep young kids entertained and burn off energy while waiting for Thanksgiving dinner to be ready, but if you see Grandpa getting into it, don't be surprised as he may be reliving his own pre-disco Walk-A-Chika, Walk-A-Chicka memories.

LITTLE FREE LIBRARY: TREE LIBRARY

Photo:  Source

Little Free Library is now a worldwide initiative that began 10 years ago in Hudson, Wisconsin to increase literacy by installing a container where people had access to free reading materials in neighborhoods or where you could leave reading items to share with others.

From a post on demilked indicated this one was made out of a stump of an old 110-year-old tree and created by Sharalee Armitage Howard in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  As she is a librarian in the community as well as as being an artist and a former bookbinder it seems like a marriage of all of those talents for a magical community asset for sharing of reading materials.

As amazing as the treehouse is, a few of the comments the post highlighted are just as unique:

Do you have a Little Free Library in your area or have you ever used one?   Please feel free to post in the Comments section below.

Photo:  Source

Here is a close up of the "Book" detail at the top of the case from the artist/librarian's website.

Photo:  Source

Video

Talking Turkey

Photo: Atomic Shark on Flickr

Although this appears to be an artistic concept picture, if you cook a turkey and stick dentures in it, you probably won't ever be asked to be host another Thanksgiving dinner.

VINTAGE AD: 1969 Hot Dr.Pepper

Photo:  obsequies/Flickr - Found in Good Housekeeping magazine, February 1969.

The above is an ad that first appeared around the Holidays in 1968, but the above is from Good Housekeeping magazine's February 1969 issue.

My Mom made this around the Holidays when I was a kid and it might be interesting to try at your own holiday get together to introduce a 50-year-old trend to a new generation.

I was initially not thrilled as we were only allowed to have a soda pop once a week and I was not thrilled to have it wasted on some trend she had read in a magazine, but after I got over the initial shock of wanting an ice-cold soda and being a hot one, it did grow on me.   

Heating it up does seem to bring out the spiciness more and could be a bit overpowering, but the addition of the lemon helps to balance it out the sweet and spicy taste of Dr. Pepper.

Cake Fail: Elsa From Frozen

Photo:  Source

I am guessing the baker was a Twisted Sister fan in the 80's as the cupcake creation is looking more like it is channeling Dee Snider than Elsa.

THANKSGIVING DAY MAIN DISH: ALIEN VERSION

This goes in hand with the post from yesterday with what some people would be willing to do to get out of hosting Thanksgiving,  If I saw this Alien Face Hugger looking thing, I think I would be offering to host next year to pick the menu.

The above is from Facebook, but in searching further appears to originally be from an article on Bored Panda is the creation of chef/photographer/food stylist Hellen Die.

Instacart's Turkey Day Expose: American's hate Canned Cranberry Sauce, But Taking a Shining to Cheez Whiz

Instacart has an interesting "Turkey Day Expose" post (link at bottom of this post) from a survey they sponsored which was conducted by Harris Poll of 2,000 people.

While it is no surprise that 46% of Americans hate canned cranberry sauce, it is a bit surprising Instacart customers bought 50% more canned cranberry sauce than fresh cranberries around Thanksgiving and 31% serve it in the can shape it came in rather than mash it up to try to disguise it.  Growing up, my Grandmother always put it out in its congealed can state.  I don't recall anyone ever actually eating it though.

There are other interesting statistics about things people would be willing to give up for a month instead of host, or the more than half that do host do so they can make the dishes they like.

I have to say the more unusual thing is the three-year trend of up to an over 150% increase in sales of Cheez Whiz in the 3 weeks leading up to Thanksgiving.   They even put out a chart to demonstrate this trend.

Source: Instacart


I have to admit that Cheez Whiz is fun and tasty and I have used it around the Holidays served with crackers, but not on Thanksgiving

What are your thoughts on Canned Cranberry Sauce, Cheez Whiz, or what would you give up for a month to have to host and cook?  Please feel free to leave a comment below.   


Instacart post here 

Lazy Snowman

Photo: Source

When still enjoy the creative process of making the snowman just as much as you did when you were a kid, but the snow, not so much.

Lucille Ball With Her Natural Hair Color

Photo:  Source

If you are under 30 you may not have heard or Lucille Ball unless you watch Nick at Night or TV Land, but your parents and grandparents likely will as she was a comedic legend and probably the first female comedy superstars.  She is known for her signature red hair and looks much different without it.

When I was a kid, I heard tales of "I Love Lucy" show from the 1950s., where Lucy's antics would get her into one pickle or another and her Cuban born bandleader many times trying to bail her out of jams.  We watched rerun when I was a kid and I didn't really get the comedy, but then again I was more interested in cartoons.

She did have a show in the 70's called  Here's Lucy where she played a widow who worked for her brother-in-law and was raising her two teenagers (played by her real-life son and daughter) and I recall my Mom loved watching it and I enjoyed it more than the few black and white episodes I had seen of "I Love Lucy".

Above is photo of Comic legend Lucille Ball from 1931 with her natural dark hair color when she was 21 years old. 

Below is a short video of the iconic scene where she was employed briefly in a chocolate factory.