Disclaimer:

Many stories herein are subject to the faulty, and sometimes creative, memory of the blog owner and should not be taken as factual, although the names and events are real! Kind of.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Vintage Thingie Thursday--Pins





I'm joining in on Vintage Thingie Thursday this week! If you want to play, visit the Colorado Lady and link up with others showing off their Vintage Thingies!  Come on and join in.  It's fun!



When I was in Fourth grade, I joined 4-H.  I must credit this wonderful organization for the encouragement I had to sew, cook and do and learn about other hobbies!  My parents, especially my mom, spent tons of time making sure I did my 4-H record book and participated in things like Dress Revue and the bread contest, helping with the talent show and, gathering up all our entries for the county fair!  Dad chose a lamb to show from our flock and helped me exercise it and feed it at home, then wash and groom it for show.  I'll bet there's plenty of country kids that will give credit to organizations like 4-H, FFA and FHA for helping them choose their current careers.


My mom was (and still is!) and awesome seamstress and cook and because of her and my grandma, I always won awards in these areas.  You can read about my adventures showing sheep here and about the wonderful demonstrations given with my friends here.  Really, I know I've sadly neglected my children in many ways, but as I reflect on my time in 4-H, I realize they were especially deprived to miss out on public speaking, finishing projects to specifications, competing in friendly contests and the camaraderie of individuals whom you didn't see in daily life, but ran into frequently in 4-H contests. And that's no joke!

The other pins and charms represent high school accomplishments--Honor Society, Beta Club, FHA, Girls State, and my Senior key (I just realized I cut the 'key' portion off, oh well, this was the best picture!).

I love these pins because they bring back many memories.  And they are definitely symbols of a bygone era.  My girls have entered items in our country fair and do you know what the ribbon is now?  A sticker!  How I wish I had kept all those ribbons from 4-H and the fair.  Who knew they would soon be a relic of the past!

Now, go on, visit the others who are linked up with Vintage Thingie Thursday!

18 comments:

Sarah said...

What a fun post. I have all my pins too. I just came across them recently packed away in a box of such things. Thanks for sharing yours. ~ Sarah

LV said...

I was never a part of that organization, but it is a very good for young people.

Tara Beaulieu said...

How wonderful you still have all your pins! I wish I could have my children join FFA. But here, for some odd reason, it is run in the school and by recommendation from the teachers only! I have no clue how to get them joined up, I love to garden and have my kids out there with me whenever I can, I think they'd benefit so much from learning these things!

Coloradolady said...

What great pins! I remember the guys having 4H jackets, they were blue corduroy and bright yellow letters on the back! My high school boyfriend had one,and of course I got to wear it!!!What great memories!! Love your pins, I wish you still had the ribbons too!! What great keepsakes! Have a great VTT!

Unknown said...

You have to be in High School to be in FFA and They are the guys with the Blue Jackets--4-H stuff was Green and white!

Postcardy said...

I didn't live in the country and wasn't in 4-H, but I still have some pins from other things.

Grannys Attic said...

Oh how I remember 4H my mama and daddy were our leaders and we had so much fun. We built a small builing in the woods with a shelter on it and we had all our meeting in the spring and summer there. Entered lots of County Fairs with our animials, sewing, doll making and baking cakes. I still have some of my pins and Ribbons from the County Fair. Thanks for bringing back great memories. Blessings, Vicky

Sweet Bee Cottage said...

My cousins were involved in 4H and I even think my brother was for a time. I can remember him (and my mom) making a first aid box out of a cardboard schoolbox. They covered it with white contact paper
(?) and a red cross made out of electrical tape. Funny the things that stick in your mind.

I am impressed that you have all these treasures from growing up. I'm not sure what I still have. I bet it's at my mom's house. I'll find them if they are there soon because she is downsizing in a about a year.

Thanks for sharing and taking me way back!

bj said...

ahhh...4-H. Good grief, I had forgotten all about it. I think I had a boyfriend's jacket for awhile. Dark blue...hmmmm...sweet memories.

Your pin collection is awesome.
xo bj

Anna said...

Great collection, thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Very cool! I have no pins. I have led a dull life. :)

Anonymous said...

This brought back great memories for me, I was a 4-H Community leader, my husband was the sheep leader. I didn't participate in 4-H growing up, I was in Girl Scouts but all my kids sure did. The benefits and things we got to do in 4-H were so worthwhile. Used to be for farm kids, but now 4-H has lot's for all kids, my kids all got medals for their record books and it was in computers.

Anonymous said...

Those are neat pins! I had some Girl Scout pins, but have no idea where they are now!

Diann @ The Thrifty Groove said...

What great treasures filled with meories! Wonderful keepsakes!

Terry @ La Bella Vie said...

Oh my first let me say this is an adorable blog! And I love the "common tators" section, it really makes me giggle!
Now as for the pins, wish I kept mu Brownie pins, these are so fun!

I'm now following you and would like to extend the invitation to you to come be a follower on my little blog if you would like.

Thanks for sharing,
Terry

WayneAP said...

Senior 82! Wow. You're old.

(Unlike me, of course. LOL)

Marilyn said...

4-H....It was fun ....when I was in it and when I was the Mom and leader. We had a lot of bonding didn't we.

Relyn Lawson said...

Oh, I loved this. So interesting. I liked the peak into your past.

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