In Another Day 2: Secrets from the Attic

Welcome to the second day of Raquel's and my challenge, In Another Day!

Click here to read the rules and regulations.

For this week, I'm going to be writing about a 13-year-old girl in 1937. If you didn't know this about the challenge, you can write from third-person if you want to- Or second. Or first! :)

 

 Click here to read the beginning of Judy's story!

 

Judy pushed open her parent's stairwell door to get a better look. As light streamed in, Judy saw something she had never seen before.

A doorway!

It seemed to glisten in the light. The copper doorknob seemed to scream "Adventure!". So Judy, making sure to push her parent's door completely open (just to be safe), turned the doorknob. The old wooden door creaked as it swung inwards. Judy stopped for a moment as her eyes adjusted. A tiny round window, covered with dust, let in a small amount of light. Judy could just make out the piles of boxes and Christmas decorations. She knew her parents stored things somewhere within the servant's stairwell, but she had never known about this! Suddenly something caught her eye. It was an old wooden chest. She stepped toward it carefully, the boards beneath her groaning at her weight on them. Judy gasped as she reached the gorgeous piece of woodwork. On the chest was a piece of metal, nailed to the front. Engraved on the front was the name "Rosalia Carter Wheeler". It was so beautiful. Judy repeated the name to herself a few times, then fumbled around in the darkness, trying to figure out how to open it.

Judy realized that the light in the room was getting dark. She didn't realize two familiar faces, that of her mother and father, watching her from the doorway, silently. She was too enwrapped in her exciting adventure. Suddenly something that sounded like metal hit Judy's toe.

It was an old metal key. On it was carved the initials RCW.

 

Come back tomorrow to read more of Judy's story!

In Another Day 1: Finding the Attic

I am SO SORRY!!! Yesterday I started writing this post, but we were listening to a radio drama and I couldn't concentrate..... I feel so bad but here is yesterday's post, and today's will be posted shortly after this one!

Welcome to the first day of Raquel's and my challenge, In Another Day!

Click here to read the rules and regulations.

For this week, I'm going to be writing about a 13-year-old girl in 1937. If you didn't know this about the challenge, you can write from third-person if you want to- Or second. Or first! :)

Judy Wheeler ran up the stairs toward her room. She could hear her little brother, Samuel, counting downstairs. Her little sister, Elizabeth, ran into her parents room and hid behind the desk. Judy giggled. Hide and seek was such a fun game! She ran into her closet and closed the door behind her, climbed onto the shoe rack, and sat down. She pulled a few dresses over her and curled up her toes. It was a great hiding spot- not to brag, or anything, but no one ever found her there!

Samuel stomped up the staircase, singing. He was six years old and loved this game more than anything else. He usually didn't want to be "it" but Elizabeth and Judy told him he had to or they wouldn't play. So he counted to thirty and started looking. When he reached Mr. and Mrs.Wheeler's room, Judy could hear Elizabeth giggle.

"I found you!!" Samuel cried out. Elizabeth sighed.

"Have you found Judy yet?" she asked. Judy, of course, was not found, as Samuel told her. Judy took a deep breath as Samuel and Elizabeth came in, poked the covers of the bed, peeked underneath it, and prodded behind the dresser. Samuel walked over to the closet and opened the door. He shoved the dresses to the right. Then the left. Judy shrunk into the corner.

"Not in here," Samuel shrugged and he and his sister jumped out of the room. Judy, tired of being cramped up in that position, fell out of the closet and stretched her legs. Since they lived in such a big house, Sam and Elizabeth wouldn't re-check the room for a few minutes. Judy walked over to the door and peeked out. No one was there. She tip-toed silently out and walked quietly down the stairs. She reached the kitchen with ease. Judy pulled herself onto a stool in the kitchen and reached for a banana.

"No you don't, little Judy!" her father exclaimed. Suddenly they both heard voices from the living room.

"Ah-ha! Daddy, thanks for telling us where Judy is!" Samuel yelled and came bursting into the kitchen. But Judy made a run for it and slipped out of sight just in time.

"Found- huh?" Elizabeth started. "Where did she go, Daddy?"

"She just dissapearred! She's got fast little legs, that Judy!" he smiled.

Meanwhile, Judy was racing up the old servant's stairwell. It led into her parent's bedroom and she never took the route. As she reached the top, she noticed something. A small sliver of light through the doorframe made something glisten. What was it?

Judy pushed open her parent's stairwell door to get a better look. As light streamed in, Judy saw something she had never seen before.

A doorway!

Come back later to hear more of Judy's story!

Questionita6

Do you have a camera?

If so, what kind?

How often do you use it?

What do you like to photograph best?

More on the challenge...

Hey, for all of you wonderful followers ( and my newest follower Mary!) I would like to point out to you that Raquel at http://www.god-sdaughter.com/ has put up her post on In Another Day and it has complete instructions and more on there... so be sure to check it out! She explains it alot better than I did...... hehe.

Here's just a cute little picture for you all.....

*SIGH* Isn't he simply adorable?!?!? The cutest little hedgehog ever!!! Ok, hedgehogs are cute anyway....

So there's random me again showing you random pictures in a random post.

:) Random ending!

Check out my new page, About Me!

What's up with me July 26th * Blogger of the Month * SURPRISE for you!!!

So to start off my update, I'll show you what I did Sunday Morning:

Ok.... I traced it. :) But it was still fun!

My hollyhocks are blooming!

I tend to them and weed them (sometimes) and water them (a little bit).... :)

The sprinkler was on and was spraying my Tree...and fred

The leaves shimmered with water droplets! It was gorgeous.

Then I happened upon our chest of dress-up on the back porch. They are used for movies made with my friends and plays put on the stage, but they used to be worn out for playing! Me and my sisters would spend hours in these. These are all gunnysax dresses- I love them! They are the best dresses. I didn't realize it until later, but they are hanging up, L to R: Longest to Shortest. :)

And now,

I am pleased to announce the Blogger of the Month!

1. She's sweet

2. She is poetic

3. She is a wonderful photographer

4. Her name is......

Congrats, Grace!

I'm thrilled to tell you that you are this month's AMAZING blogger!

Now, Ladies, I have surprise for you!!!

Raquel and I have been planning this for quite some time now...

So, get ready to participate in our new challenge

In Another Day

Now, here's what this challenge is all about!

The week of July 31st-August 6th is when all participants will start.

During the week, participants will write from a different perspective. That's the most important part of the challenge to understand. So during the week, you'll write like you're a different person! You could pretend like you are a princess stuck in a tower, or a famous singer on tour in Paris, you could be a girl from the 1940's writing in her diary- whatever you want! Your blog has just turned into a creative outlet!

Rules and Regulations:

1. Keep it clean! If your posts have bad words or the like in them, they won't be entered into the contest.

2. Participants have to post at least 3 times during the week challenge to be entered in the giveaway for prizes.

3. Participants will link up their post at Raquel's blog.

Now here are your goodies!

Beth's Polymer Pens is sponsoring one of our prizes! Here are some of her pens:

Aren't they cute! You will be receiving a pen- I don't have a picture of it because it's still in the process of being made. Be sure to give a big thank you to Beth if you drop by her store!

The next prize is from Sweet Little Things 4 U! You will get a scrabble pendant of your choice!

Here is my favorite pendant:

Here are some more of her necklaces.

Be sure to check out her store!

There will be another, more formal post about this closer to the beginning of the challenge.

Have a great day and please excuse the largest post I think I've EVER done!

The Josts are at it again....

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"I have the passport right here. In your face!"

These quotes are all too sweet:

A man isn't poor if he can still laugh.  ~Raymond Hitchcock

A laugh is a smile that bursts.  ~Mary H. Waldrip

When people are laughing, they're generally not killing each other.  ~Alan Alda

That last one makes me laugh because it's such an obvious statement. Like "why did the chicken cross the road?" uhhhhhhh....... to get to the other side? Why else would you cross the road? Who created that famed joke anyway?

Anyway, take time to think about all the lameness I just shoved in your face as I step back and keep laughing. :)

Mary

100 things I want to do....

...before I die.

1. Publish a novel through a publisher, not online (stores.lulu.com/maryminship)

2. Get married.

3. Have at least 5 kids preferably 10...

4. Swim with dolphins

5. Go out of the country

6. Visit Amish country

7. Get a typewriter 

8. Watch "You Can't Take it With You" again

9. Act in hundreds of plays

10. Cook a 10-course meal

11. Open a small store

12. Be a bridesmaid for my sister

13. Be a bridesmaid for my other sister

14. Start on a walk and don't stop until you get to where you want to go

15. Read the whole Bible

16. Swim in blue waters

17. Own a horse when I get married

18. Live on a farm

19. Own chickens and cows

20. Go to England

21. Own a large collection of hats

22. Be loved

23. Make a movie

24. Read the entire Nancy Drew Hardback series

25. Have a fantastic flower garden

26. Become a professional tap dancer

27. Sing in concert

28. Make a CD

29. Spend as much time with my sisters as possible

30. Plan my wedding

31. Pick out my bouquet

32. Pick out my wedding dress

33. Decorate the country church with gingham

34. Walk down the aisle in a beautiful ballgown

35. Have a "sing" and invite all our friends over

36. Have a quilting bee

37. Invite someone over on the spur of a moment

38. Own a dog that looks like a bear

39. Go to Africa and ride an elephant

40. Gallop on a horse

41. Spin my own yarn

42. Save enough money to buy the things I want

43. Go to Jerusalem

44. Go to Bethlehem

45. Decorate something really unique

46. Paint something I dreamed exactly as I saw it

47. Wear a deliciously crazy outfit and not be wierd

48. Buy a 50's housedress

49. Wear an expensive dress (think $100,000)

50. (halfway!) Make a song on the piano

51. Take a walk in the morning

52. Act in a musical

53. Watch someone from Disney stay Christian and be an example

54. Have perfect teeth

55. Go on tons of family reunions

56. Get dumped into a pool from the bucket of a tractor

57. Act in something where I have to scream, cry, or meet someone famous

58. Grow my hair out to my knees

59. Spend the first Christmas after I'm married walking in the snow, dancing to Christmas music, and visiting family

60. Visit a unique shop in Paris that sells the cutest Christmas ornaments

61. Sew a dress

62. Sail on a ship

63. Meet Jane Powell

64. Go to a frozen yogurt shop

65. Visit the ocean

66. Visit the ocean again

67. Live life like a musical

68. Visit the Eiffel Tower

69. Visit Africa

70. Visit Alaska

71. Go to Victoria Island

72. Own these tap shoes

73. Get dipped while dancing (with no one but my future husband)

74. Watch a sunset while in another country

75. Be given a surprise party- not for my birthday, just for no reason!

76. Play matchmaker

77. Hold a tiny kitten

78. Own a chinchilla or an exotic fish

79. Wear this for my wedding:

80. Own a fancy camera

81. Live in the country

81. Find something historic (e.t. a cabin in the woods with stuff from the 1800s)

82. Be like her:

Homemaker By Choice

83. Buy a mustard yellow dress and look good in it

84. Write a trilogy

85. Ride in a pink limo

86. Meet royalty

87. Go to the Bahamas

88. Be a missionary

89. Cry because I'm happy

90. Camp in the middle of nowhere and swim in a stream in the middle of nowhere

91. Take an extra bow

92. Be given a standing ovation

93. Go to a vintage theatre and watch old movies

94. Vacation on a houseboat

95. Touch a wild deer

96. Pick a bouquet of wild lupines

97. See a miracle

98. Own the entire Nancy Drew Hardback Series (minus the bad ones)

99. Make someone's life better

100. Finish this list!

Twosday Favs 20

Yay! We're to the twentieth Twosday Favs, how exciting.

Favorito Uno.....

My prize from Ashley's 21st Birthday Giveaway!

I loved it, it's 100% amazing! And it wasn't just some boring package-

included when it came was a handwritten note congratulating me for winning, two candies in a vintage little envelope, and a greeting card. The Five Dollar French Market on etsy is so cool. :)

Favorito Dos.....

This Flip SlideHD Video Camera is so awesome. Not exactly the cheapest camcorder around but you're paying for 4 hours recording time and good quality. I know some friends who have Flip's and they're really durable... even with a broken lens (literally, there are cracks all over the lens) it still works beautifully! You can't even see that the lens are broken on any recorded video!

I'm sorry but I have to share this too....

I love scrabble pendants and this one makes me feel two points cooler lol :).

Buy it here on etsy!

If you aren't homeschooled beware...

So notice: public-schoolers are not too watch this or they might be offended but I, for one, have been homeschoolED all my life :). And when I watch this I laugh...not just a little- I laugh ALOT. You'll crack up (unless your a public-schooler)!

LOL!!!!!!!!!!

Ok one reason why this is so hilarious is that there are golfers and hunters in our family... you'll understand why that makes it funnier, :).

OpheliaBH's youtube channel- She is a homeschoolED girl, she's married and has a little girl!! She also has a great sense of humor and is really awesome. We check her channel nearly daily for a new video, that and http://www.jostieflicks.com/. If you haven't watched either of these, you need to! They are so hilarious!!!!

This, the Suitors Tale, is the absolute BEST ever!!! :)

Have a great day!

(late) Twosday Favs 19

Sorry I didn't get this done on Tuesday!

Fav 1:

Our hilarious cat- this is what we call "frog-legs"....

Fav 2:

The Turntable Song! ;)

Have a great weekend, and sorry for the super-late Twosday Favs....friday favs, haha!

:)

I'm back early

because I was bored lol. I checked 31 posts today to catch up on all my blog pals and never did part two of the Fourth of July post. Here are some pictures from that HOT day:

This cake was really boring on the outside but it was red, white and blue swirly on the inside- I didn't get any pictures of the inside though.

Tap shoes

The cutest thing ever seen in a parade- it was "Prince William" and "Kate" even the ladies with the crazy hats...

HAHA!!!!!!!! It was adorable. :)

Have a great day all!

Slowly getting popular!

My Pageviews by Countries: All-time History

United States:  3,269 Canada:  377 Philippines:  248 United Kingdom : 124 Australia : 103 Germany:  93 Indonesia:  46 Italy:  26 India:  16 Norway:  15 Isn't that awesome! I would just like to shout out to Jessica who is my 16th follower!!! So I am slowly gaining popularity and it's totally awesome to be able to post for all these people! I remember when Ponytails from My Passions for Fashions became my very first follower. Just to let you know- that 2nd part of the Happy Fourth of July post is coming! I know, I know, I am a procrastinator and probably lots of other lazy things too- hehe! See you later, Mary

Happy Fourth of July!!! Part 1

Ok, ok, before we go on with this I just have to say I broke my promise from yesterday. I got on and did all my normal stuff this morning so obviously I won't be NOT getting on today. (Great job Mary, you just used double negatives! What wonderful grammar :| lol)
It's just about 6:18 in the morning.... so that is why I have no pictures to post- yet! I just had to tell you I broke my promise so I could post pictures later today. Hehe.
But I can tell you this-
Today I'm not only going to be celebrating the freedom of our country and be forever grateful to all the men who gave their lives for us, and those fighting for us as well- I'm going to be celebrating the fact that Christ died once for us and gave us eternal freedom. It's not something we have to fight for! The LORD gave us that gift and we don't have to work for it, or fight for it.
Of course, there are occasional battles- spiritual battles. When you run into these, Satan wears you out and comes slowly on you. It gets so terrible, by the time you realize it is a spiritual battle you are usually too worn out to do anything.
But God steps in. Nothing is impossible with God!!!
So celebrate your freedom today, but remember to give all the glory to God!!! He's the one who led us through all these battles so far.

Happy Fourth,
Mary

What's up with Me July 3rd : The Return of a long-lost Party

So I'm calling it a party because I don't know what else to call it. It's like the Questionitas- they aren't on a certain day, but I do them multiple times. :):) They're like a weekly thing that isn't scheduled. Speaking of that, I need to make a button for Twosday Favs but I don't have a Mr. Linky Tool so no one could link up.... hehe.
Let's dig into the history of the What's up with Me segment.
It used to be called What's up with Mary Minship but I decided all of you knew my name so there wasn't really a good reason for it to contain my name in it's name. Uhhhhh that was kind of confusing.
What's up with Mary Minship November 3rd 2010
What's up with Mary Minship November 19th 2010
What's up with Mary Minship November 30th

And I just looked and I posted 32 times in January....32!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GAAHHHH!!!! That is scary. But I did do the Feminine Fashion Week that month, along with I think my first follower- so I kind of exploded into constant posting I guess.

Since the Fourth of July is tomorrow and all sorts of family-ish things are happening, I don't really want to spend any time on blogger at all tomorrow. But I have to set that goal so it will happen because I get on almost every single day to check blogs and comments and stats and stuff. So I think I'll will take a week off like I did in January. But it's not as dramatic. The reason why it was so dramatic when I first did it was because I had been getting on... let's just say I had been getting on multiple times a day. Lol :).
So I guess I'll see you all next Sunday and have the most fantastic July Fourth you possibly can!!!!!!

Picture found through google images

I usually don't like black and white movies....

But this by far changes that idea!!!

Deanna Durbin in It Started with Eve is the cutest b&w EVER!!!

I won't spoil it, but the guy's father is dying and he wants to meet his son's fiance. But the son's fiance isn't there, so the son grabs a hatcheck girl and pays her fifty dollars to pose as his fiance so he can grant his dying father's last wishes. But then his father gets better!

One thing I liked about this movie was that even though the father and son were very rich, you'd expect the son to be disrespectful, but he's far from that. He's very respectful to his father and that's nice to see since we don't see it in many other movies.

The entire movie is available in parts on youtube, and if you use http://www.netflix.com/ it's available there too. It's probably everywhere else too, I didn't check anyplace but those two. ;)

She's so beautiful!

SO I've changed my opinion on black&white movies- this one is jam-packed with humor, it's very clean, and the story line is unique and creative! If you haven't seen it yet, you've got to watch it!

Mary

July 2011

I simply can't believe that it is already July, 2011. We're already half-way into the year... a little bit more than that actually! I still feel like, "oh, it's still kinda the beginning of the year, it's not halfway through yet..."

And since it hasn't reached the 90's here yet, (I think the record high so far this year was 82 degrees or something lol) I still feel like summer still is just beginning... but I've been on summer break for two months. (I finished early.)

So, what are you planning to do this summer? I've been thinking something like camping and more camping. :):):)

See you around, have a great summer!

Mary