Easter is Nigh

Banner Haus News and Musings

It's almost here. The smell of boiling eggs wafts over the world! Fragrant, ain't they?

May there be a chocolate bunny in yer near future.

Free Vintage Graphics

I just had to put two up from last year. They fascinate me. The battle between tiny rabbits and an irate chick is just too good. "New" vintage postcards follow. REMEMBER: Click to load larger images. Right-click to save any image.

This next one is heart-tugging. I bet chicks sure would like to have a watermelon rind to peck!

Basket Full of Graphics

Banner Haus News and Musings

I am going to dye eggs soon. I want to hide them for my very old dogs to find. They are gettin' so very ancient. This may be their last Easter. They have lasted this long only due to our genius vets.

Some of the eggs I'm going to save back and PICKLE.

Free Vintage Easter Graphics

Here is a hodgepodge of copyright-free graphics from long ago. This Sunday is Easter Sunday!

These first two look similar in style, but were made in different countries, in different years. I wonder if it is the work of the same artist. I really like the one with the lil' gal in the kerchief. Strangely, both her card and the card with the dutch boy feature red twigs. Click them to get a bigger version. Right-click to save any version.

This next image is quite precious. Note the steeple sitting quietly in the corner. Click to go to a full-sized postcard.

The Importance of Eggses, and Some Vintage Easter Lass Images

Banner Haus News and Musings

I'm dreadfully behind in the things I like to do -- drawing, making bloggie posts, anwering emails, and the like. All my free time is being spent spring cleaning and writing article after article after article for Textbroker.com. I'll write about practically anything. Yesterday I wrote about green amethysts, mulching, bangles, lasers, and vocational training in boiler repair in the UK, along with several articles that now escape me. Words run into my poor brain, then out through the fingertips, and away...

Old Time Sayings About Eggs

Egg on yer face

Walking on eggshells

Goose egg (lump)

Goose egg (zero)

Last one in is a rotten egg

She's a good egg

Egg in yer beer

Don't put all yer eggs in one basket

Egghead

Nest egg

For the other "The Hobbit" fans -- remember poor ol' Gollum, and how he'd say "eggses"?

Free Vintage Images

Lil' gal with a big egg, and an old French postcard with a mademoiselle blowing a kiss. If clicked, a larger image will load fer each. Right-click any image to save it.

Old Western Squirrel and Some Easter Lambs

Banner Haus News and Musings

I'd like to fly into a rant, but dearies, I'm trying to be a good lil' donkey...and my rants are always the same, getting fired up over unpleasant bloggie backgrounds and suchlike...it's lucky there's no webcam on this computer, because I'm afraid most of the images would be of me crossing my eyes and grimacing at frens' bloggies...

Which brings me to a confession: I was having a lovely time making faces and "squirrel noises" at what I thought was just a screen at the bank drive-thru...turns out it was a new two-way display, and the poor worker in the bank was having to see my horrid antics...I am NEVER going thru that branch again, fer fear they'll recognize me.

Quote

In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.

~Mark Twain

FREE Vintage Easter Images

Some have been bleating for images featuring lambs. I do love them, and not with mint sauce, thank'ee. Have you seen them play? They jump so cutely.

This first image shows a long-ago artist's depiction of a happy lamb carrying a basket. Very nice! Look at that lamb tail hanging down. "Two shakes of a lamb's tail" -- might take some time with one that lengthy.

The second image shows some rather odd children and their flower-bedecked lambs.

Regular-click to make this load up a much larger image.

Sweet Burdened Angel Image

 Banner Haus News and Musings

The mourning doves have commencing picking up, considering, then throwing down little twigs. They woggle-step all over the front yard, choosing, choosing, ever choosing from among the twigs, but finding only one in fifty or so to meet their standards. They are building nests. Their nests are often rather poorly constructed, but I am sure nature knows much more than I do, and means them to be so.

I am going to put a bunch of fibers between two slats in the fence, and see if the doves or other birds will use them for their nests. I have many odds and ends of bits of wool, yarn, and so forth that they might like.

Vintage Postcard Image

It is interesting to see angels depicted. A person would have to be pretty brave to try to paint an angel. Click to enlarge, then right-click to save. Or save this smaller size with a right-click.

An Eggcellent Beauty

Banner Haus News and Musings

~ I'm still staying in my stall. TOO MUCH politics. Can't people concentrate on IMPORTANT STUFF, like whether to go with the GLITTER EGG DYE or try the TIE DYE pack this year??? ~



My grandmother saved both eggshells and coffee grounds, and placed them around her plants. She had the loveliest yard.

My husband placed a "Google Maps" application on my phone. I got the bright idea to look at Granny's house via the "street view." It was 31 years ago that I last saw it. How I loved her little shotgun house, with its smell of an old gas stove and cedar closets, and its sounds of creaks and the ancient cuckoo clock ticking away! She had the yard like a botanical wonderland, with many rare species, and always a flock of rescued kitties purring or watching from their nests of monkeygrass.

Let me warn you, m'dear donkey frens, do not attempt to do any such thing as look up your grandmother's house unless you have nerves of steel. The house I remember so fondly, that was neat as a pin and so loved, is gone. There is a very dilapidated auto parts store there now. Things change in 31 years. I was feeling very lightheaded, miserable at this sight.

Then I got the worse idea to look up my old home in New Orleans, the sight of which threw me into a full-fledged fit of some type, mainly characterized by weeping, throwing myself around on the floor, and biting my own hand, until I was threatened with a trip to the ER if I didn't calm down.

Free Vintage Easter Postcard Image
 

If lovely gals actually hatched out of eggs, men would likely start keeping large flocks of chickens.

One bloggie fren was asking for lambs. I have two lamb pictures in reserve, and I am not about to post them yet. They are for next week, closer to Easter. And then I will start up with I-don't-know-what, because summer is a very slow time of year fer bloggies.

Cascarones and Other Fun Eggie Games

Banner Haus News and Musings

~ I AM STILL IN MY STALL, HIDING! ~

Easter is frightfully near! I ought to put the "countdown counter" on the sidebar.

I bet those of you who are into stamping and scrapbooking could make some very interesting stamped eggs!

Something else fun to do is to take a raw egg and toss it back and forth with another donkey fren. Keep stepping back, and throw sweetly and gently. Eventually, someone will miss or drop the egg. Cracking confetti-filled eggshells on one another's heads is also amusing. I have two dozen eggs ready to go.

Doggie wished to play.

Free Vintage Easter Image

Here we have two versions of an old postcard, featuring a bunny guarding eggs, mayhap a prairie chicken's. Conversely, he may be considering "borrowing" the eggs and coloring them.

If you click on them, a larger image will load.

A,B,C,K...QRZT

Banner Haus News and Musings

Yesterday I went to Michael's crafts store to get a $1 journal. I have filled up one journal with Etsy sales already, thank'ee customers. At $1, the lil' journals can't be beat. 

I wanted one with a "K" on it, fer my last name. Ye'd think I could come out of the store with a K, correct? Wrong! Seems I wuz a bit confused between my K's and my R's. Been told it's an R. Back me up, a K is almost indistinguishable from an R, correct? Fine! My middle name is Rose, so there.

I have a cat who "knows her Z's" as we say. We have taught her that her name begins with a Z. She will look right at a Z if we write it down for her. RIGHT at it. Think I'll teach her what a "K" looks like and bring her along next time.

Free Vintage Postcard Image!

Click the picture to bring it up to full postcard size, then right-click to save. Or right-click this image to save it in the small version.

I had no idea chicks were used as beasts of burden so often. The poor ol' thangs. Well, mayhap they were giving some lil' donkeys a rest.

Sea Premonitions, and A Mighty Chick

Banner Haus News and Musings

I spent yesterday washing and putting away winter things, and freshening warm-weather clothes and linens.

Spring weather is so unsettled. Autumn is much more sedate, with slow changes that trundle along like a fat pumpkin. Spring is all exploding flowers and pillowcases that whip so strongly on the clothesline that the hems fray.

I have a premonition that sea creatures are going to be seen acting very oddly soon. I keep thinking of octopuses acting up, too. Of course, I often think of octopuses, so who knows what this means. At the Chinese buffet, on Friday and Saturday nights, they have a dish of tiny octopuses. One always goes onto my plate, and my husband knows I will sneak it home and bury it. I think they are very intelligent animals, with deep feelings.

Quote

A mere friend will agree with you, but a real friend will argue.
    ~Russian Proverb

Free Vintage Graphic

This will go to an actual postcard size if you regular-click it. Or save this smaller version. 

You can save these and alter them yerselves, you know, using Photobucket.com or other free graphics program that has an online interface. It's fun to play with them and make yr own e-cards and such. 

The Good Shepherd

Banner Haus News and Musings

The case of the disappearing catfish: We got another Peppered Catfish (no, it's not a restaurant dish, m'dears. It's a corydoras catfish with black markings) to keep our old fellow company, but overnight...no lil' catfish...he could not have jumped out...very odd...I hope he is just hiding.

Weatherwise, where hast spring gone?

Quote

One flower does not bring spring.

   ~Anonymous

Free Vintage Graphic for Easter

I like depictions of Christ as the Good Shepherd. The sheep look very tired, but they still follow Him. The original scan is included. I think it has a certain charm in its faded state, too. I didn't care for the pink robe and so changed it to a leaf green. I have no idea what a red-roofed European church is doing in the Holy Land over two thousand years ago. Some of these old postcards are quite fanciful.

 

Postcard Makeovers, and Tweeting At Work

Banner Haus News and Musings

I often get comments and questions about where I find the vintage images I post. Those lil' donkeys who have been part of the herd fer awhile know that not only do I collect vintage images, but I also hunt them down on the Internet, rope 'em, and then free them. "Giddyup! Git! Out ye go!"

I also get comments about tweeting and texting at work. I scan in and out to tweet, to assist the elderly by walking them to the item they want, and to use the restroom. I have been standing out of the way, messing with my phone, after helping all sorts of folks, and on my own time, and dead tired to boot, only to have someone walk up and say something snide about "stop playing with yer phone" and demanding help. I don't even look up. "Ma'am, I don't work here and I am off work besides." But I get extremely flushed, which sort of ruins the effect. My donkey ears get blood red. With a badge, apron, cap, and two nametags all saying the word HALLMARK on them, you would think these folks could figure out I don't work at Walmart or Walgreens. YOU'D THINK!

Free Vintage Image

Here is an example of a well-loved antique card, before and after I messed with it. The hen looks good but the gal is a bit worn, a victim of flaking.

Right-click to save. If'n you click it regular first, it will load up a larger image. Bear in mind that originally, these vintage cards were quite vivid. We are used to them faded.

Rush Rush - But Spring is Rushing In, Too!

Banner Haus News and Musings

The good news is that I was called in to work suddenly during "inventory." The bad news is that I've missed a whole lot of bloggie frens' posts and must rush off to work again today. And I'm so flustered I can't recall what I posted and what I haven't...this may be a repeat.

Vintage Free Graphics

Right-click to save. If you regular-click this, it should load up another, much much larger version.

I'd advise that bunny to hop away slooowly from the love-sick giant chickie...

The Dutch girls below are from an old advertisement. Klomp klomp klomp mit die Klompen?

Nearly St. Pat's

Banner Haus News and Musings

I am glad to see our tailless squirrel made it through the winter and has found the birdseed bell hung on the back fence. I love to see him eating steadily, winking in the sun and withstanding the angry flapping of doves' wings as they try to land on him.

Don't fergit to wear green tomorrow, or someone may give you a pinch!

Quote

It's spring fever.  That is what the name of it is.  And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so. 

            ~Mark Twain
 

Free Vintage Graphics

An incredibly limber bunny pulls a baby bunny and some delicate eggs. Click on the image to get a larger image to save, or just save it at this size. Right-clicking lets ye save any image. A menu will pop up and you can save the image onto your own computer or Photobucket account.

Pretty Bunnies But A Homely City

Banner Haus News and Musings

This is just the most troublesome post, and it was supposed to be one that could be uploaded quick as a wink, as I was in Lubbock yesterday and didn't have much time to prepare it to load automatically.

M'dears, that's something I often do, but many don't know you can do this. You can prepare many posts in advance, and choose exactly when they will post. Look on yer composing pane, to the lower LEFT, above the "PUBLISH POST" button. It should say, "Post Options." Click it and ye can choose things like when it will publish, and if ye will allow comments, etc. VERY handy.

Lubbock is actually much uglier than Midland. Now, I don't mean the flat, sun-baked desert. That looks okay to me. It's the housing. It's awful, terrible, falling down, wretched, unkempt, and generally just nutty. There were literally multi-million dollar professor's homes next to torn-up hovels with yards full of garbage. Tens of thousands of deteriorating clapboard houses!

Yes, the poor must live somewhere. I myself can be considered poorish. But I don't have a Hummer and Harley parked outside and a filthy garbage-strewn yard and cardboard stuck in my windows! Too late for Lubbock, but I think strict zoning may indeed have a place within cities.

Vintage Easter Postcard

Two bunnies appear to be cracking up. I believe these are rare hypnotizing bunnies. I think they should go up to Lubbock and hypnotize the people to clean up their homes.

Right-click to save.

Easter Parade

Banner Haus News and Musings

Howdy donkey frens!

After accidentally wearing my "house shoes" to work, I am now wearing them everywhere. I feel black plush goes with EVERYTHING. My poor lil' hooves have seen better days, m'dears.

 

Oldtime Tip

When blowing out a candle, put yer index finger up to yer lips as if yer going to "shush" someone...then blow...the airstream splits and it puts out the candle without making the flame stream and wax droplets fly out.

Vintage Postcard Image Fer Free

Here we evidently have an Easter parade, with plenty of bonnets to view, and a chance of rain, judging by the parasols. Right-click to save this size; regular-click to make a larger image load and then save it.

An Irish miss drinking a cup o'tea rounds out today's graphics. It's from a vintage postcard and has been altered.

Hens and Chicks, Heavy on the Chicks

Banner Haus News and Musings

Chickens and chicks. I hope someday I can live my dream of getting all sorts of fancy chickens and plain ol' banty hens, too. Of course, being a vegetarian, it will soon turn into an old hens' home. That's fine with me, though, pardners.

Quote:

"Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral.” 

       - Frank Lloyd Wright

Vintage Image Free for the Clicking

Right-click on these to save them in the small size. Or regular-click to make them load up the big size, then save it.

The lil' boy looks right thrilled to be in this picture...ha...prolly grew up to be a maniac, just from wearing that hat.

March Marches On

Banner Haus News and Musings

Howdy donkey frens. Just thinking about how much easier it is to get up in the warm months than the cold ones. 

Quote:

"The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size."
           -   Gertrude S. Wister

Free Vintage Graphics

Right-click to save. That hen looks mighty mad. Seems as if the Easter Bunny's helpers are "helping themselves" to her eggs, the naughty things. Click it to make it larger, if'n you want the post-card size.

Some Normal Images Fer Once

Banner Haus News and Musings

When I work, I get so behind in bloggie visits. Wah! I've missed all sorts of interesting posts!

Now just yesterday, I think it was, my kind kommenters showered me with praise for helping customers at Walmart, even though I don't actually work there. 

Lil' donkeys, I don't always help. If someone is rude to me, I used to still be obliging. But now I've dug my hooves in and I won't budge if treated mean. The confused elderly, yes, I'll help them even though they can be testy and fuss. But scornful folks who act ugly? NO!

See? Not as nice as you thought! Had to fess up. Well, actually, I usually do help. I just ask 'em why they're treating me mean. But I intend to get a lot stricter! That's my plan.

And, I'm on the very edge of a rant/lecture, too. It's going to hit soon, honey frens. 

Quote:

"Common sense is not so common."

        French proverb

Vintage Postcard and Sidebar Altered Image Freebies

Right-click to save. Hope ye enjoy. I'm giving us a break from all those peculiar images -- fer awhile. I got a couple of weird ones up my sleeve.

Earring Winners and Another Strange Image

Banner Haus News and Musings

Who won? A couple of nice gals, that's who.

A new donkey fren and an old donkey fren! 

~~Carol~~

and
Squareby!

Thank'ee for playing! Email me with yr earring or ring choice from the Etsy shoppe along with yr addy! The email is in my profile...don't want to write it where those webcrawlers and spambots can find it...

By the by, some folks are wondering HOW they can get into the Textbroker.com site I was mentioning - the place that pays a little bit of money fer articles you write. It has a bug in it -- you have to scroll down and look at the right bottom quarter, and there will be the login place, once you have registered. Just clicking "Login" at the top right does nothing. 

Not musing about much. I was glad to see the "severe and profound" special ed high schoolers on an outing at Walmart yesterday. They are too often hidden away. But yesterday was also the day the ambulatory elders at one of the big retirement homes visit the store. That means dozens of requests for help. It does no good to attempt to explain my usual "I work for Hallmark, not for Walmart" routine, which always ends with me pointing at my Hallmark Crown badge as a visual cue. Luckily I know every square inch of that store and can help them out. The real employees won't do a thing for them.

Vintage Postcard Image and Sidebar Image

Right-click to save, honey frens. 

I think this image -- "Echoing Call of the Cowgirl -- is actually more appalling than the human-headed chickens of the other day. If you click it, I think it will get bigger. Take a shot of whiskey first.

This is from last year. It is from the brush of a Japanese artist of long ago. What a talent!

Bunnies In A Car Free Clip Art

Banner Haus News and Musings

DON'T FERGIT TO ENTER TODAY WITH ANY COMMENT [OR RE-ENTER] TO WIN ANY PAIR OF EARRINGS OR A RING FROM MY ETSY SHOP, WILL DRAW TONIGHT AND POST WINNER TOMORROW.

Old-time Tip:

If you need to store fruit jars or any type of glass container and don't want them to get musty inside, after washing and drying them completely crumple up a piece of black-and-white newsprint and place inside the jar.

Quote:

How many, many things

They call to mind,

These cherry blossoms!

    - Basho

Vintage Copyright-Free Postcard Image from Long Ago

Click it to enlarge, then right-click to save.