Vintage Thingie Thursday and Tea Talk Thursday with Ruth

Vintage Thingie Thursday

 I'm a little late but on Wednesday I had a most wonderful time on a little trip to my old home town to meet up with a long lost cousin that I had not seen for about 60 years.

We had a most wonderful day. Some of her friends came by also who were girls I grew up with.

We laughed and cried and all the things adult girls always do after years of different lives.

I took a drive around my town and went to the home of my grandparents were I grew up.

That reminded me of my grandparents.
It is  surprising how small that big old house used to look to me.
The little shed where he kept his push mower is still there. Next door was a vacant field where the cow grazed that he milked twice a day.
There is no vacant field any more. 
A huge subdivision is there now.

This is my grandfather's prayer book.

I remember seeing him reading it every day.

 It is a book of Catholic Novenas.

I found this on the internet to explain novenas for those not familiar with the word.

 Q: What is the Novena? How did it start? What is it supposed to achieve? What are its benefits to us? 

  A: The novena is a form of devotion popular in many countries. The history goes back to the seventeenth century when novenas became a devotion preparing major feast days or festivals or important decisions in one's life. During nine days people, individually or collectively, say specific prayers depending on the scope or meaning of the novena, often times in connection with special indulgences. Novena, from nine days, has biblical roots and reflects the nine days of preparation the apostles and Mary underwent before they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 1, 13f). There are numerous novenas -- from novenas to St. Theresa of the Child Jesus to that of St. John Vianney. Many are Marian (for example, Novena to the Queen of Apostles or to the Miraculous Medal), other have a Christological focus (for example, Novena to the Infant of Prague or to Jesus Master of Way, Truth and Life).
The purpose of novenas is one of preparation, purification and concentration. They help us to better celebrate an important feast day or to better make decisions with the help of God and in full possession of our spiritual strength. It is an opportunity to live a specially graced time, and is like a spiritual pilgrimage to a center of even greater grace.

Have a glorious Thursday

Go here for more VTT

I am hooking up with VTT and TTT also.

Tea Time with Ruth.

 Well we have a little cool snap so no tea and snack on the deck.

Using my favorite dainty china cup and saucer with a black Luzanne tea. Hot and strong for a cool morning.

Thinking about my fun visit with my cousin in my old home town yesterday.

Oh how things have changed but stay the same. There were at least 4 large, one time thriving clothing businesses, stores sitting empty on the Main St.

The old Courthouse is there but a huge brand new one sits across the street taking up an entire block.

Justice Centers they are called now.

I guess it takes a lot more room for justice issues these days.

The huge statue of Abraham Lincoln is still the center of the Justice Center.


“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.”

 Abraham Lincoln 

Go here for more visiting around with Ruth and friends.