Summertime = Snow Cones and Popsicles

The beginning of summer always brings to mind two things....

Snow Cones and Popsicles!

And the thought of those two yummy delights make me go backward in time for some special memories...

Snow Cones....
When Noli was about four, I took her to a local snow cone stand for her first taste.... and she decided that we should go to all the snow cone stands so she could sample all the different flavors. I, of course (being a lover of snow cones) agreed. I think we hit three or four places over that summer (I didn't want her to go crazy or I'd be in mucho trouble with the mama LOL!)

Noli ~ My favorite is the blue one!

Me ~ Why is that?

Noli ~ 'Cause it turns my lips and tongue blue!

Popsicles...

Now we go waaay back in time to when I was about four or five or so (waaaay back....)

When summer arrived the ice cream man started his rounds, but he didn't have a truck.... he had a bicycle contraption that was part bicycle and part freezer. He'd peddle down the street and ring his bell and all the kids would run out to get frozen goodies from him.

I always got red popsicles or sometimes fudgsicles. 

The popsicles were the double kind and, because I loved him soooo much :) I'd break it in two and only eat half of that popsicle.... and leave the other half for my big brother. 

I never did know if he actually ate his half, but somebody must have because I would check and it was always gone!

Sometimes I got a fudgsicle but big brother didn't get any of that.... hehe.

These two will eventually wind up in my shop, of course ....

The memories of  these two frozen goodies prompted me to make these crochet versions, and that fit right into the Blogging Business Artisans June challenge -- to create something that celebrates the start of summer. This challenge was brought to us by Natasha of Stalking the Wild Snark. 

Now, don't you think it's time to stock up on snow cones and popsicles?!!

♥♥

The Un-Easter Bunny Comes to Visit

OK, I know that title is quite a stretch for the letter U....

But what can I say? That's all I've got!

Actually, I wanted to share a bit of Easter fun with you, and didn't want to wait much longer since Easter is over! 

Noli knows the truth about the Easter Bunny, but still enjoys the goodies that he brings! Since they (and Nova the dog) were going to the lake on Sunday -- and we didn't particularly want to go with -- Noli and Stephanie came over on Saturday to get in a bit of family (and E. Bunny) time.

I hid the Easter basket that I had put together for Noli so she wouldn't pounce on it the moment she walked in the door, and then brought it out when she wasn't looking.

I, of course, maintained that the true Easter Bunny had delivered it.

She would have no part of it.

Then I told her the story of when the Easter Bunny left me a note in my basket. When I was a kid, I put out my Easter basket like you do your stocking for Santa. And he comes in the night and fills it up. Well, carrying on the Bunny/Santa tradition, I also left a carrot for Mr. E.B. -- and one year, he left me a note!

It said, "Thanks for the carrot, Sarah" -- and the carrot was drawn! It was written in beautiful calligraphy. I was so excited that the Easter Bunny had left me a note!

And Noli fell for it hook, line and sinker. 

By the way, just so you know, that is a true story. He did leave me a note! In later years, I insisted that my brother had written it, but he always denied it. I guess I'll just never know for sure.... 

As for Noli's basket.... see the bunny money? I found this cute way of folding a dollar bill into a bunny, so she got bunny money plus shiny new quarters in the eggs. Google "folding dollar bills" and you'll find lots of cool ways to fold them! I glue-sticked the eyes and nose -- the nose is just a hole punch into the pink portion of an advertisement!

And of course, there were peanut M&Ms, along with a fancy new notebook and gel pens, some super cool blue nail polish, and a a big egg full of bunnies (like that monkey game where you hook them all together)

Ha! They match her shirt!

And then Stephanie had some surprises for her for Easter morning, one of which was a cute new dress to wear Easter Sunday. Two visits from Mr. E. Bunny!

Noli, goof that she is, has a new pink bunny grass hat....

We went to Jason's Deli to eat lunch and she started writing in her notebook about what she was eating. (She and I shared a Reuben.... I was surprised that a 9 year old would like corned beef and sauerkraut but she does!) Stephanie and Papa had the salad bar, but Noli and I were craving meat!! 

Then we went to a park so Noli could run off some of that bunny energy.... all in all a good day!


♥♥

sharing on

~ AlphabeThursday for the letter U

~ Share Your Cup Thursday

Speaking of Share Your Cup Thursday.... I just saw that my crochet tea and cookies set was featured this week!! Be sure to drop by Jann's party to see what others are sharing!

Five Year Birthday ~ Remember When

I must confess, except for one, I simply don't remember my birthday parties from when I was a kid. Oh, I'm sure I had them, especially while in elementary school, but nope, don't remember them! Not too sure about Jr. High and High School either -- perhaps nobody really had birthday parties, just hung out and went somewhere. Who knows!

Anyway, the June challenge for the Blogging Business Artisans team on Etsy is about birthdays and is being brought to us by Ayla of Eyelah. Since my fifth birthday party is the only one I remember, that's the one I'm writing about!

And, since "Fifth" just happens to start with the letter F, I am handily linking to AlphabeThursday where we are studying the letter..... you got it!..... F!!!!

In my mind's eye, I can clearly see several pictures from that fifth birthday celebration -- unfortunately, I don't have the actual photos so I can't show you.... boo  :-(

Here's what I looked like at age five....

I look like I have a little round hat on my head, but that's really the severe part -- maybe there's a little ponytail hanging down! and check out the bangs.... what were they thinking?!!

Anyway, now think of that little girl with her cheeks all puffed out and one eyebrow raised. (My "I am so mad" look) 

And why am I so mad at my birthday party, you ask....

Because Johnny (who was supposed to be my boyfriend) BLEW OUT THE CANDLES ON MY CAKE! 

Unbelievable.

I can also clearly see the picture of Elaine -- my older next-door neighbor and paper doll nemesis (she insisted on cutting them out because she said I was too little and wouldn't do a good job... HA to her!). Elaine was leaning against my swing set, wearing a dress with lots of petticoats, and looking very bored. She was, after all, much older.... by a couple of years LOL!... and certainly couldn't be seen playing little kid games.

But I bet she ate the cake with the blown-out-not-by-me candles. Harrumph.

And then there was the picture of all the prettily wrapped birthday presents and one of me with a blindfold around my head playing Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Bet Elaine wished she had played that rousing game!! I wonder if I might have *accidentally* pinned the tail on Johnny. Heh heh.


~ linking my fifth birthday memories on AlphabeThursday where we are studying the letter F


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