Mary's blog

Charles Dickens was born February 7, 1812. Two hundred years later, people all over the world are still reading Charles Dickens' novels, watching movies based on his books, and attending Dickens festivals. His name often comes up at Christmas, when some decorators refer to their Christmas decorating style as "a Dickens Christmas." When people wear Victorian clothing to a Dickens festival, they sometimes refer to it as dressing in the style of Dickens. read more...

Say, how would you like to know what kind of activities would be fun on a date in the 1950's? Love is in the air, Valentine's Day is less than two weeks away, and it's time to start thinking about what you'll do on Valentine's Day. These sweet teenagers have some swell ideas for your 1950's Valentine's Day date. Now, hurry and make a decision. They're gonna break out the ice cream!

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Here's a sound we don't hear often throughout America these days - the steam whistle. But, students at The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas have been hearing it every day, every hour, for 100 years. This March marks 100 years since the campus power plant steam whistle began blowing every hour to let students and professors know it was time for class to end.  read more...

Farrah Fawcett was born February 2, 1947. She would have been 65 today. Happy Birthday to a woman who always stayed youthful! She died much too young, at the age of 62, but she will forever remain in American history. Her famous one-piece red swimsuit has been donated to the Smithsonian.  read more...

Henry's Tacos, an original mid-century taco stand in North Hollywood, needs your help. Henry's Tacos has been in business for more than 50 years, so it's clearly a place that people LOVE. The Henry's Tacos Googie sign grabs people's attention at the corner of Moorpark St. and Tujunga Ave. Their tacos have been enjoyed since before Taco Bell opened. This place is a classic, and it needs our help! read more...

I have a very special place in my heart for Winnie the Pooh, thanks to the warm and wonderful writing of A.A. Milne. I have never outgrown my love of Winnie the Pooh, and I know I'm not alone on this. Adults all over the world who fell asleep listening to bedtime stories about Pooh and friends as children still adore the characters of the Hundred Acre Wood as adults. We also still love the poetry of A.A. Milne that we grew up with.  read more...

Today the beautiful and talented Betty White celebrates her 90th birthday.  Not only does she still shine, but she shines brighter than ever! 
 

I first became aware of the talent of Betty White while watching "Golden Girls". Even though I was still just a kid when the show began, I loved and appreciated the humor of these women who were much older than me. Betty White's character was my favorite - Rose Nylund. I always looked forward to her long, drawn out hilarious stories.  read more...

Today we celebrate Martin Luther King Day. 

I wish I had the perfect words to write about how wonderful this man was, but I can't find words that are great enough. He was so humble that he probably wouldn't want people to put their time into describing his greatness. He would probably rather people spread the word about his ideas of peace and non-violence, and the importance of equality.  read more...

Tomorrow, is the 85th birthday of someone who is very special to me - my Grandma, whose name is also Mary. I just discovered that tomorrow is also the birthday of the author of one of my very favorite childhood books and films. His name is Albert Lamorisse, and he was born five years before my Grandma, in 1922.  read more...

Iowa has been all over the news lately because of the Iowa Republican Caucus, although we don't actually get to see much of Iowa. Now is your chance to plan to see more than poll numbers and politics in Iowa. If you already find yourself daydreaming about tip toeing through the tulips this spring, have I got the place for you! Pella, Iowa! read more...