It's Garden Walk Season!

This year marks the 21st anniversary of the Buffalo Garden Walk. It is the largest in America with 400 gardens for viewing and over 60,000 visitors and growing strong!  In addition some of the gardens have been featured in such publications as Better Homes and Gardens and Fine Gardening!

This makes me very proud of Buffalo... we get a bad rap for our winters but our summers are wonderful filled with activity, One of my very favorite summery thing to do are the local garden walks in surrounding suburbs.

Recently I attended a garden walk in the charming village of Lewiston. I'm all about quaint towns and villages and Lewiston fits the bill! 

 Strolling the village I noted many historic homes dating to the early 1800's!

Not only do they have open gardens but feature a street full of garden vendors with plants, flowers as well as garden decorations for sale!

This garden really inspires me and I an especially in love with the garden decor!

To celebrate my love of gardening and flowers, I created this Wildflower bracelet, which you will find it in my Etsy shop!  

https://www.etsy.com/listing/6424431/glass-flower-leaf-and-swarovski-crystal?ref=shop_home_active_1

Happy Gardening! xo

Happy Birthday Dear Mom!

They say home is where the heart is and the heart of the home is definitely Mom!

Today I am blessed to celebrate a milestone birthday with my dear Mother, 85 years and going strong.  A few months ago, we went through a scare; there was a negative finding which led to a plethora of tests. Thankfully the end result were cysts. God is good! The thought of my sweet mom being ill devastated me and I know it is inevitably going to come ...  each day is a gift.

Mom taught me countless lessons during my upbringing and to this day, I learn from her. Above all she showed me how to love by example. Her devotion to family and taking care of us all. She taught me faith, the satisfaction of a job well done and about working hard. Mom loves to bake, her apple pie is the best... and her comfort foods; pigs in the blanket, chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles, and try as I may cannot duplicate her pork roast. Her home is spotless and decorated beautifully. 

Mom always understood the cozy side of life…her love of sewing produced gorgeous quilts to snuggle up with and adorn our beds as well. There were soft pajamas for a night of pleasant dreams. Not to mention the charming outfits she made my daughter during her childhood!

Mom is feisty, strong, and sharp as a tack. She is up on the current trends and does crossword puzzles all the time to keep her mind keen.

As a grandmother, I witnessed her loving care through fresh eyes dedicated to my daughter and son from the moment they were born to this day.

There are not words to describe my gratitude for my Mom's affection...  she is a blessing and my role model.

Happy Birthday Mom! xo

Have you met Victoriana?

Victorian Heart Locket with Brilliants

Lockets are the ultimate gift of love, adoration and romance, in my opinion!

Lockets have been around for centuries, a vessel to hold a precious keepsake or memento. The Victorian Era, however, more than any period, brought lockets into vogue and the lockets from the Victorian period are some of my most beloved.

My fascination for the Victorian Era commenced with my first prized locket of that epoch. So I did a little sleuthing on the era ... turns out Prince Albert and Queen Victoria shared an ardent love for one another. They had nine children in their 21 years of marriage (wow and wow on both counts)  and with each birth, Victoria was presented with a tiny locket filled with a snippet of the infant’s hair and inscribed with the birthdate. I love this idea, don't you? This thoughtful and lovely tradition would be a beautiful way to celebrate the birth of a baby today. 

Aesthetic Design Locket

Some of the most ornate and fabulous lockets span throughout Victorian times. In a variety of shapes, there are oval puffy lockets that contain glass inserts holding delightful antique photographs. There is also the secret compartment locket that held a photograph or token sequestered within a hidden door in the back. Mourning lockets, also known as funeral lockets became prevalent especially after the Prince passed away because the Queen went into an extensive period of mourning. The lockets were given when a loved one passed away as a token of remembrance. Some lockets contain braided hair, which was a Victoriana art form.

Since the Victorian Era spanned so many decades the designs were varied. Popular were lockets decorated in Etruscan revival style, taille d’epargne enameling, those set with agates, adorned with attractive monogramming, or buckle motif, set with pearls, turquoise, diamonds or paste. In addition, the appealing aesthetic movement was a popular theme with delightful Japanese nature motifs and birds; many were in sterling silver.

Taille d'Epargne Enameled Locket

There was much symbolism contained as well. For example pearls were symbolic of tears; the buckle for strength and protection; the garter symbol which exhibited loyalty and brotherhood; the fleur-de-lis, a stylized flower, is the symbol of light and hope, also meaning trinity; ivy for everlasting life; the wreath a symbol of victory.

Fleur de Lys Locket

I have been blessed to have a diverse selection of Victorian lockets over the years. Always a thrill to discover, each locket is unique and special. A perfect gift for a loved one, lockets are evermore timeless treasures. How can you resist any one of these beauties?  xo

Remembrance Locket with Pearls

For a selection of Victorian and other lockets please visit my Etsy shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/MiladyLinden/search?search_query=lockets&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

The charm of vintage charms

You + Me = Love Sterling Charm

Sterling Puffy Heart I Love U!

I Love You Key Ring Sterling Charm

Sterling Padlock Heart Charm

My love affair with vintage sterling charms was serendipitous! On a day trip to Chautauqua Lake, there was an antique store ... the kind you can while away hours with case after case of treasures.  

And, there it was! A 1940's charm bracelet chock full of mechanical charms. I was enchanted; amongst the sweet charms were a candy box opening to reveal faux chocolate candy, hat box with hat, a black forest cuckoo clock, birthday cake with candles that popped up.  

The charms piqued my curiosity, I read and learned about these fascinating charms which were all the rage during World War II Era.  Perhaps a memento enclosed within a letter from a sweetheart taking months to arrive, so unlike the instantaneous communication of today. Just imagine how patient a gal would have to be while waiting for that priceless note! And, just envision the whimsical delight of receiving a puffy heart or a mechanical charm such as one of the charms pictured! 

For generations charm bracelets have been worn by women to signify important or memorable occasions. These tiny keepsakes become historical family heirlooms which are passed down. They share personal stories of beliefs, hobbies, interest, love as well as travel memorabilia. 

Its hard for me to resist vintage charms! Isn't it easy to see how I adore these charms of yesteryear?  xo

Please click to view vintage charms in my Etsy shop:  https://www.etsy.com/your/listings?shipping_profile_id=&search_query=vintage+love+charms

Cherry Crumble Pie

My Mom makes the best pie crusts!

Sour Cherries Picked in July

Brrr, it's so cold and snowy, definitely hibernation time. A great day to bring some summer sunshine to a bleak winter day with a sour cherry crumble topped pie.  I love, love, love sour cherries! These beauties were just begging to be baked into a mouth-watering pie. Yummy!

The caveat is, I'm awful at making pie crusts! However, my Mom makes awesome pies. She's had plenty of practice .. married 65 years, she is always making a pie.  I would estimate she has made about 1,500 pies, give or take, in her life! Wow, you go Mom!

One day, I hope to master a pie crust like my Mother. Until then, call me very fortunate my Mom is willing to share with her lucky daughter and family. It is her way of showing love. Thanks for being my role model Mom!

The Valentine Locket

Victorian Heart Locket with Paste Gold Filled

Sterling Heart Locket on Beaded Chain

I clearly recall the day I fell in love with lockets.  In an antique shop, the owner pulled from the showcase a Victorian oval locket with etched flowers and tourmaline.  I held my breath, the locket was stunning and it had to be mine!  

Ever since that day, I have acquired and sold hundreds of lockets and they continue to be my favorite keepsake to offer!  Full of romance and vintage appeal, I adore lockets.

The locket is the quintessential treasure for a gal of any age.  The heart shape especially speaks of love; tuck a photo of your beloved inside and wear it next to your heart.

Valentine's day is near, what better way to convey love than a heart locket? xo

Pictured are two of my favorite lockets which are available in My Etsy Shop.

Collecting Vintage Valentine Cards

German Google Eyed Valentine Sweethearts Baking Cookies... Love! 

German Google Eyed Sweethearts With Bucket of Hearts.... Adorable!

Vintage Valentine I Received in Second Grade by Gibson Company

I've Lost My Head Over You My Valentine!

Unusual Victorian Cupid Valentine!

Amongst what I collect and LOVE are vintage Valentine greeting cards.  The cards of yesteryear are so enchanting ... they speak to my vintage soul! 

During the season of love my home is adorned with a charming assortment. My beau calls Valentine's day my "Super-bowl"... yep, it absolutely is!

Pictured above are some of my cherished favorites.... I especially adore German Valentines with google eyes. 

Also, the cards with silly sentiments such as "Peas be my pod'ner" or "I've lost my head over you"!  

My collection includes grade school valentine's I treasure, especially one from my best friend when we met in 4th grade! 

The latest addition was a Christmas gift, the spectacular Victorian Cupid.  Oh hopelessly romantic me... Cupid's arrow has struck! 

Click here to check out my vintage Valentine findings

Keepsake Rolling Pin and Heart Cookie Cutter

Cut-Out Heart Cookies

She loved to bake cookies and no holiday was complete without her famous cut-outs.  Fat, puffy, and lightly browned... mmmm, delicious!  Betty or "B", as she was affectionately called, was my mother-in-law as well as role model for 35 years. She was a sweetie pie and Betty's way of showing love was to bake. Ironically, her last act before she went in the hospital and subsequently passed, was to bake a batch of cookies. 

Betty leaves behind a loving legacy and I am now the blessed recipient of her rolling pin and cookie cutters and hope I can perfect her skill! Using these priceless implements makes me feel close to Betty.... and she is always in my heart.  (frosting these confections is going to be a project for another day)