Sunday, October 30, 2011

Jam and Joy and Jack-o-lanterns

J stands for..................

                                                        JACK-0-LANTERNS
Metal Jack-O-Lanterns to stand in your yard. Such sweet faces!!

JAM
Fig Jam for Grandmother (that's me) to make fig cookies

JANUARY
A delightful birthday celebration. (grandson Chris is seated next to me)

JAUNTING CAR
One thing I really wanted to do when Marie and I went to Ireland was to ride in a jaunting car.  We did.

JIGSAW PUZZLE
It took all of us several days to finally get this puzzle put together. (Elbert, me, Brittany and John, shown and Shirley, not pictured)

JOY
Great-grandson Dylan brings such joy.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

FALL IN WAKEFIELD AND OTHER PLACES



Vermont


Wakefield, Va.


Rye, New York


Vermont


Rye, New York


Waverly, Virginia

Monday, October 24, 2011

'I' see today

                                                'I' stands for Imp
Our 'impish' little two year old, Shirley, in Honolulu. Loaded with personality then, and a joy still.

  'I' stands for Ireland                                                                                                                        

The AerLingus airplane that took me and daughter Marie to Ireland.

'I' stands for Ice Storm                                                                                                                      

Everything was coated with a magical sheet of ice.

'I' stands for Italy                                                                                                                              
Elbert walking down the steps in Portifino, Italy.

'I' stands for Icicle                                                                                                                             

Elbert showing our grandsons a huge icicle hanging off the bluff on our farm in Alabama.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

More Fun at the Beach

More pictures from our scrapbooking crop at the beach...

Since I don't make pictures of myself this is one Shirley took. I'm having fun. Finished up two albums that needed completing.


This was the first crop that Shirley scrapbooked at. She'd taken me twice before and finally took the plunge. Not the water.... scrapbooking.


Shirley and I got manicures, Kate (above) had the Mani-Pedi and some of the girls also had massages. We were really treating ourselves.


One day we saw this cute red plane flying overhead. Another day we saw a boat further down the shoreline but couldn't figure out what it was doing... dredging, fishing. It was big, almost like an tanker and it stuck around two days.


And, we saw the red dragon kite. Guess red was the color of the day!!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

A Week at the Beach

Beach, this time of year, you ask?


 hummmm.... Best time really. No kids running up and down the sand, the traffic is 'normal', the restaurants aren't crowded. And, the rent is cheaper!! Yippee.


However, I did not go to play in the sand, or drive up and down the strip, lay out for a last minute tan or eat out all the time. Shirley and I went to scrapbook!!


Yep, with a houseful of friends and aquaintances, tables set up everywhere, personal lighting on each table, all the papers, glue, stickers, albums right at hand. There were no phones, no meals to cook (except for one, your contribution for the week). You could stay up all night if you liked, sleep in, get up early, play in the pool or hot tub. You could see this beautiful sky after a rainstorm...


Watch a dragon kite over the ocean.                                                                         


Have fun with friends,                                                                                    


Watch the birds at water's edge.                                                                        


That is just the best of vacations, don't you agree?

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Another ABC.... This time it's the Hs.

I am posting this early as I will be away from my computer next week. Hope all of you have a wonderful week.

                                                                H stands for Hats

                                               Elbert and I in our funny Halloween hats.

                                                            H stands for Heavenly

The Heavenly scent of Southern Honeysuckle

H stands for Hydrangeas

Beautiful Hydrangeas from my garden

H stands for Hawaii

My little family outside our apartment in Honolulu

H stands for Hugs

A sweet hug from great-grandson C.


H stands for Help

Elbert helping our son trim the shrubbery.






Friday, October 14, 2011

A Day for Tea

A bit late but better late than never!!

I am having Earl Grey tea this morning. I decided to use a tea set I haven't used in ages. When we were stationed on Midway Island, (and there was nothing and I mean, nothing to do there) we played bingo a lot. The prizes were outstanding..... this tea set was one of the things I won.



I'm feeling energized this morning.

On my mind.... an upcoming trip to Nags Head and getting all my supplies ready for a week of scrapbooking with a bunch of friends.

My quote:

It is not the ship so much as the skillful sailing that assures the properous voyage.
                                                                                  George William Curtis 

I'm linked to http://createfriendship-ruth.blogspot.com/    Go over and take a look at her blog. You'll be glad you did.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

I'm Sorry, Sort of

One day when I was telling my youngest daughter about what I was reading on my Kindle she complained 'You are the reason the bookstores are all closing down'...

Excuse me!! Okay, I'll say I'm sorry, sort of.

I've been reading books since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. When I was in grammar school (yes, they called it grammar school back then, you know,  a hundred years ago or so) I had to walk one block to the library after school was out. Mom worked and it was my aunts job to pick me up and take me home. So, I read and read and read as I waited.

Before I was school age, Mom worked at the library during WPA days. Mom repaired much used books with torn pages, pencil marks etc. When the books could not be repaired she bought them home to me. There weren't many but I still have three or four.

My aunt was a school teacher and she encouraged my reading by buying me a book or two. Remember, this was during hard times the Great Depression and money was very tight. I still have this book that she gave me.

Look at the spine on that book.... much loved, that's for sure. I have read it to my children, grandchildren and great grands.  The pages are so adorable.




As my children were growing up I did not read quite as much for myself. I was busy reading to them... Then they were grown and I started going back to the library. There's something about a library that I haven't quite figured out. I love to go. I will pick out a book or two to read. But, I have the hardest time taking a book BACK to the library. It's always overdue!! And, I find that I did not read many in a years time. Perhaps, sub-consciously I wanted to keep them for my own.

So, last Christmas my son gave me a Kindle.


I'll have you know that I have read 49 books since the holidays and all types, all the way from  'Alice in Wonderland' to 'The Life and Letters of Robert Browning' to the latest 'Bonhoeffer, Patriot, Marytr, Spy'  (a pastor who was in on the conspiracy to kill Hilter). That's a pretty board range of subjects. I just started 'the Lemon Tree' last night about Israel, Palestine and the problems between Jews and Arabs.

Yeah, I know the bookstores are closing and I am sad about that. So many people depend on them for good reading (and some not so good reading) but for me, my horizons have broadened tremendously since last Christmas when I found a Kindle under the tree.  Another gift was a gold make-up bag (from Susan) and that Kindle fit right in. I'm sure Susan had no idea that is what I would use it for. hehe.


I can adjust the font size to whatever is easiest on my eyes.

And, I play word games on it, too.                   

 I've never paid over $5 for any book I've read. Most are free or just 99 cents. (From Amazon.com)  Cheap education, So, I'll say that I'm sorry, Susan, that the bookstores are going out of business but your Mom is having a blast with her Kindle. Thanks, Michael.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Gee Whiz.... it's 'G' day

There's been a lot of Gs in our life... A lot we exclaimed 'Gee' over and a lot we yelled 'Gee, NO' to. But, the best ones have involved family and fun. Here are a few 'G's.

                                G stands for 'Grab Hold'. and don't let go....

Our youngest grandson grabbing hold of his Grandpa's finger.

          G stands for Gull                                                                                                                
A gull soaring high over the ocean. With Elbert in the Navy we've seen a lot of gulls!!


    G stands for go-cart                                                                                                                   
Ken, one of our grandsons, riding in a go-cart.

G stands for Golden Anniversary                                                                                               
Pictures of our life together filled one side of the banquet hall where we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary.

G stands for graduate                                                                                                                     
Later in life.... a diploma from Beleview College, Neb. for our son

G stands for Grand                                                                                                                     
Canyon, that is.. a trip there in 1980. It's one heck of a big ditch!!!

G stands for Grouse                                                                                                                      
The family had gathered for our daughters wedding in Vermont and this grouse DID NOT want us there.