Freebie Pic: Flapper Girl by a Painted Ocean

So my free image day seems to have migrated from Monday to Thursday. Maybe I can get it back to "Moon-day" but for now here is a cute flapper bathing beauty!

The Day We Celebrate... Happy July 4th, er 2nd?

Did you know that the Continental Congress actually declared independence on JULY SECOND 1776?
John Adams predicted that the 2nd of July would be celebrated by Americans forever after!

July 4th, 1776, is the date that the Declaration of Independence was officially approved by the Congress, and the dates just got combined over time. The Fourth of July became a popular American holiday after the War of 1812, when patriotism swept the young nation. (I've been reading early American History lately!)

In times past, communities would read the Declaration of Independence in the town square, in addition to celebrating with fireworks and parades.

Here are a couple of our favorite Fourth of July postcards. Click on them to see details of our Victorian Holidays Volume Three collection on CD, with pictures for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Birthdays as well as patriotic occasions (even some French patriotic cards for Bastille Day!)

Oh-la-la, what a swimsuit!

Yes, we have been neglecting the blog terribly as of late. I'm so sorry about that. In between summer classes and trips to the beach, it has been hard to find time and focus! Summer does that to me. I'll try to get back in the swing with some new posts and features, but for now I thought I would at least come by and offer a fun free summertime image of this saucy bathing beauty!

Moon Lore: Flower Moon in May

We've been enjoying the flowers in full bloom all around us lately - roses, peonies, iris, azaleas, even the little clover flowers.

It's no surprise that the full moon in May was called the Full Flower Moon! It will be on May 27.

Learn about the Victorian Language of Flowers and Fans in our feature article: http://www.summertownsun.com/FEATURE_victorian_language_of_flowers.htm

Happy Mother's Day to all

“A mother can divide her love among ten children and each child still have all her love.”

“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my mother.” – Abraham Lincoln

“My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.” – Mark Twain

“A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.” – Tenneva Jordan

“You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be --
I had a mother who read to me.”
- Strickland Gillilan

“What, sir, would the people of the earth be without woman? They would be scarce, sir, almighty scarce.” – Mark Twain

This image available on Lunagirl Vintage Girls & Boys and Lunagirl Victorian Holidays Volume Two.

Quote for the day on Friendship

A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, both chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away. -- Arabian proverb