Thursday, March 31, 2011
Fresh snow
Monday, March 28, 2011
Never stop learning
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Saturday,….really?
Thursday, March 24, 2011
My friend, Lynda
This picture of my friend, Lynda Rook was taken by our Literary Club speaker. I took it from her blog and moved it here because I just love the picture. Lynda is one of my coffee friends. She is a super lady who is an angel on earth. She is so very kind to everyone and never says no. What a wonderful person.
Have you ever?
Have you ever noticed how things can be going along just fine and then…boom! A little cold virus sneaked up on me this week putting me down on the couch all day yesterday with a runny nose and chest congestion. Today with meds I’m feeling a little better but I’ve just lost two whole days.
Today I felt good enough to continue the course I’m taking online to learn how to make my photographs better using Photoshop Elements. Kim Klassen is a great teacher, showing videos of step by step lessons and then providing practice time. Here are a few of my creations from the course.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Eleanor
This shot is the only picture I have of my grandfather, Walter Todd. It was taken in 1963 as he was loading a wagon to prepare to take his sons and my dad on a fishing trip.
My grandfather’s great-grandfather came to the United States from Ireland, but the family was originally from Scotland. They landed in new York in 1812 and in April they purchased a conestoga wagon and journeyed south to Hanover, Pennsylvania which took them a month or so. They spent the summer there and continued on to South Carolina in the fall. In the family history this is said of my grandfather: “The Lord must have looked upon the marriage of uncle Walter and Aunt Alder with favor, they were blessed with a large family. They always impressed me as being two happy people. Uncle Walter had the facility of making people happy. There was always laughter when he was present. To me that is a virtue within itself. He was such a warm and lovely man.”
This is one of my favorite pictures of my mother. She was chasing my father with a broom. Dad was a tease and I can just imagine her swinging that broom at him. The house behind was where my mother grew up in Eastern Georgia. Dad was a Yankee and he promised her that he would always take her home once a year when they married. And he stayed true to his word. Every year, during the first two weeks of July we traveled south. I remember playing in the sand under those black walnut trees in the picture.
I’m crazy about this picture of my mom checking her makeup in the side mirror of my dad’s first car.
I’ll bet mom was only sixteen when this picture was taken.
My mom was a wonderful lady and when I look at these photos I catch a glimpse of her youth.
Monday, March 21, 2011
A little bird told me
It’s time for spring the little bird said and she is right.
The snow is almost gone and winds are blowing wild.
Our cat sniffs the air when the door opens knowing that there is a change coming.
Bare branches are begging for the warmth of the sun to encourage the buds.
Inside the artificial flowers will have to do till the real thing comes along.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
The Roaring Twenties...Bradford style
After our business meeting Sally Costic, a local historian, gave a humorous and informative talk on speakeasies, murders, and the goings-on in our progressive town during that era. Did you know that The Jazz Singer, the first "talkie" premiered in Bradford on the same day it hit New York City? And that we had an active Klu Klux Klan group, which insisted at that time it was just a social club, (despite burning a cross on the top of the hill). There were many gangster killings during that time.
We had a wonderful afternoon of fun! Our club meets from October to March. As President this year I felt that we had many great programs and a lot of great times.
To gain access to the "speakeasy" you had to know the password. Those who didn't were penalized by performing the Charleston in front of the group.
Do you know the password?
If it looks like we're having fun, we are!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
SPRING, PLEASE ENTER THE ROOM
Even though the snow is still hiding in the woods, under the trees, and in the humps along the roadways Spring has come to my sunroom. I couldn’t resist setting a little light colored tablescape today.
I just used a mixture of things I found around the house.
These antique berry bowls fit in well with the pressed glass plates. I couldn't find a charger that I liked so I put the plate on a pretty blue dish that I picked up at a flea market.
I used my white flatware and cut glass goblets along with a pineapple pressed glass candle holder.
The little tulip was a find at Ashcombe's near my son's house in southern Pennsylvania.
I moved this centerpiece from the living room and added a paperwhite in the center. (don't mind the blue tarp outside..it's hiding my lion fountain for the winter)
I set the placemats at each side of the table. (now you know we really don't eat that far away from each other, don't you?)
The napkin is just a paper one that I ordered online. I love the colors.
I hope Spring has come to your house too.
THE SNOW IS MELTING, THE SNOW IS MELTING
Call out the trumpets! Bang the drums! Line up for a parade in the streets! All because the snow is melting. This should be a holiday in our town. Our temperatures got above freezing and most of the snow is gone.
Now it’s time for sugaring! Don has started boiling down maple sap to make that delicious, golden maple syrup!
His friends, Don and Charlie, are helping him collect the sap. This is just one day’s worth. There are two garbage cans full plus all of these jugs.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Where have I been?
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Show and tell
Sara was cutting teeth.
Scott playing Sean’s new guitar.
Chris brought Sean these lifesized Toy Story posters.
The birthday boy.
The Woody hat was great until he opened the Buzz costume. To infinity and beyond!
Sean with Don’s sister Ginny.