To my friends in Pennsylvania…..

I need your help. A year and a half ago my daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the cells producing insulin have been attacked and her body no longer makes the insulin it needs to convert food into energy. There is no cure. But through the blessings of modern science, she has the tools she needs to manage her diabetes and lead a fairly normal life.

Despite all the technological advances in this disease, there are times when she becomes hypoglycemic (low blood sugar). When this happens, she needs to test her blood glucose with a tiny drop of blood and then eat a carbohydrate such as candy or drink a juice box. While having low blood sugar a diabetic person can have mild symptoms such as the shakes, sweating or a headache. If the low blood sugar is not immediately treated the person could become confused and disoriented, lose consciousness, have convulsions and slip into a coma. We are lucky that my daughter has never had these severe issues.

Unfortunately, for reasons I can not find any logic in, my daughter has been denied her right to test and treat her low blood sugar in her classrooms at school (despite written doctor instructions). The school nurses prefer that she walks to the nurses office and then test and treat. This not only puts my daughter in a potentially dangerous situation, she is missing valuable class time.

I am currently working with the school to secure the rights for my daughter to manage her own diabetes and to keep her safe. It has been a long and emotionally draining process. This is where I need your help. Senate Bill 509, if passed into law, would give my daughter and other self managing diabetics their common sense right to test and treat hypoglycemia in their classroom. For others, especially younger children, it would provide trained personnel besides school nurses to help them with their individual diabetes management. This bill is so very important to all these children.

The bill is now in the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee. Please take a moment to call or email Senator James Rhodes who it the chair of the committee. We need to urge him to bring this bill to a vote and on its way to become law.

Senator Rhodes can be reached at (717) 787-2637 and his email address is jrhoades@pasen.gov.

From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU.

A Charming Weekend Find

I went to a fun Mile Long Yard sale last Friday. Had a great time and got a little exercise by walking too! The very last stop was a church rummage sale. I really didn’t expect to find much since it was late in the day. But sitting oddly with the used electronic equipment was this darling little German sugar bowl with pink roses. Of course my heart jumped with excitement as I carefully placed it in my box.

Later that day when I went to clean it I found a little note tucked away inside, “Mrs. Chapman gave me this dish May 1957.” I think is just so sweet that the owner left this note inside. It was important for her to remember who gave her such a lovely gift. And now it’s a nice little extra to a find I will treasure!

Friday’s Featured Item at The Cozy Cottage!!

With summer winding down, why not take an lazy afternoon and enjoy a picnic! You'll find this charming vintage picnic basket at the cozy cottage webstore. And it's Friday's Featured Item, so it's on sale! But hurry, summer is going fast and so is the sale. The Featured Item price ends Sunday night!



And don't forget to check out the*cozy*cottage at ebay. I will be adding lots of vintage goodies for Sunday, so please be sure to stop by!

Summer Travels....

On a recent day trip I found this fun vintage suitcase compact. I love all figural compacts, but the travel cases are just so charming. Here it is with a 1939 New York World’s Fair suitcase compact. This was one of my first figural finds when I started collecting. I can honestly say that over 10 years later the thrill of the find is still great!




Introduced in 2004, The World Traveler Compact by Estee Lauder is their much younger sister. It comes with travel stickers to add. I just can bring myself to put them on this gorgeous enamel. Ah…maybe someday!

Friday’s Featured Item at The Cozy Cottage!!

This Friday's Featured Item at the cozy cottage webstore is so very cottage chic! You'll just love these charming vintage canisters with a gardening Southern Belle! Sale ends Sunday night, so don't miss out!


And don't forget to visit the*cozy*cottage at ebay for more shabby chic items!