Happy Birthday Party

Wow, hard to believe. You would be over a century today.! There was always as cake and party for her birthday. For several years I make her celebration treats from scratch. Even the year the three layers for the black forrest cake had other ideas - not staying stacked. She shared her birthday joy and was grateful for the cake. My grandma was always happy to have time with family. 

Much oder me wonders how much the diverse experiences in her & Grandpas lives effected their perspectives and general demeanor.  He was an immigrant with his family. Was her lifestyle formed by living through the great depression, 1929 or it was because of her amazing close relationships with their large families? She will always be one of my Sheros. 

We are enjoying home made treats in her honor today.  Happy Birthday Grandma Clara. Buckets full of fond memories of your home and gardens both here and the summer place Grandpa built. May you celebration with Dad, Grandpa, and you parents be as amazing as you were to all of us. 

Dragonfly, like the ones that used to land on us and the poles while fishing/.My favorite bug which always reminds me of Dad & Grandma in the summer place. This picture is from our garden. 

I am working hard to have positive outlook this week as I am missing my Grandmother very much. How I wish I could hug her today. 

This Amanda Gorman quote spoke to me this week as we are near the end of Black History month. We should celebrate Black history all year long. 

Happy Birthday

 February is the Birthday month for two very important people in my life my Father & his Mother, my grandmother.  I think of my family and the fantastic gardens at Grandma & Grandpa's house when I was a child.. The cottage, their summer place my Grandfather built is where the fishing happened.  A good day is shown on the table below where many fishes were prepared for family meals over the years. The sound of the water takes me back to the cottage in the 1000 islands and long summer weekends with my father when I was a child.

This is a great photo I have of my grandmother, Clara from when my father was a child.  I always remember her with white hair.  Seeing younger grandma is inspiring to me.  I appreciate her enthusiasm for gardening even more with these younger pics of her.  Seeing the joy she has with her children show below,. 

Happy Birthday Dad. We miss you and know you are with us in spirit. You taught us by your example every day.
 He spent many hours with me showing and teaching me how to change the oil in the car or replace the brake pads.  I cherish those memories and getting dirty for hours with him.  As the kids from my neighborhood can tell you my father was the first to lend a hand when one of the bicycles needed to be repaired. He had a big heart and was always the one to step up and offer assistance.  It is one of the core values I have that he taught me. 

Older pic of my Dad,  his senior year I believe. #happybirthday #father #grandma #lovewins
#memories #young #bicycle #neighborhood

The results from a good day on the boat at the cottage.  This table has been part of preparation of many family meals for many children whom have enjoy their time at the cottage in the 1000 Islands. 

Grandma with two of her sons, My uncle Russell and my father.  The same day as seen in the above pic with the happy fishermen in the pic.  I am certain my grandfather caught a few of these also. as a rule all fishing people were taught how to bait their own hook.  We had help if needed in reeling in our catch.  

 Black Lives Matter

We are in this together. Wear a Mask, Stay home, Stay safe, Flatten the curve, Facts Matter.

We need to listen and be ready to stand with them.We have a local Black Lives Matter group in our city.  Free the People ROC.

 FB page  Free the People ROC

 

 

I invite everyone to stand up, listen to others, be kind and speak up. 

#blacklivesmatter

#standup

#speakup

#listen 

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 My Mother's Day brooch from a few years ago in copper to show the beauty of this material.

 

Summer Arrival in Rochester

Summer Arrival Weekend

Father's Day, Juneteenth and the Arrival of summer....3 important days in the year in one weekend.  I attended a fabulous Juneteenth celebration Friday night online.  It was amazing and inspirational. I Learned so much & enjoyed the celebration of this freedom day with the group. 

This organization hosted Welcome  

What is this you ask?  Juneteenth defined

This is something I know my father would support

BLACK LIVE MATTER always!

Garden

Spent my time watering the garden due to the semi-drought we are in.  I do not remember another June recently seeing the neighborhood lawns look so dry. We are having some extremes of weather in my city that challenge the garden.  Thankfully we have soaker hoses to keep the plants doing well.  These are a new surprise tomato, Indigo Blue Beauty from Harris seeds.Supporting local business is vital right now.  I have used primarily Harris seeds for over a decade. so my garden is celebrating this heat with some stunning yields. 

These are my greens  Kale,  collards& my brussels sprouts.  The lettuce is ding fantastic and my greens are growing quickly

. I kept my focus on forward because memories of Father's Day in my teens were hard.  I lost my Father to Cancer when I was 14.  This event forever changed my life and shaped me. At that time I was not ana adult so I recanted as one would expert in a teenage without an adult role model in my home.  Now as an adult, I understand much of what my Dad taught me and honored hm  by doing things I know he would be proud of.  Father's Day is always hard for me because I do not have him to spend it with. Oh  what I would give to be able to go on a hike with him again.  "Have you had your hug today?" he would often ask. For my dad, please hug those you love today and tell them how much they mean to you. 

 

 

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As a human I need to speak up.  Please join me.

February Family Memories

I welcome the end of this month because spring is in March.  As many of you know, I am an avid gardener.  Another annual event is remembering my Father & his Mother both of whom have birthdays the end of the month.  They both showed me strong family, love & tolerance for all. This year the month adds another family memory, the passing of my father's middle brother, Russell.  My Uncle Russell passed away & his service was Saturday, 2/22.

My Grandmother loved gardening and her flowers were a show of her dedication to nature.  This was obvious at her home in the NE area is the city of Rochester & the summer home her husband build in the 1000 Islands in St Lawrence county. One of my favorite flowers in her garden was the Peonies.  She had both the pink & the white flowering plants.This is the pink flowering type in my backyard garden.  When they first bloomed here my only thought when I inhaled the intoxicating aroma was of Grandma.



As I enjoy the sprouts of my tomatoes & bell peppers, I think of my family and the fantastic gardens at Grandma & Grandpa's house when I was a child. The Blackberries & Red Raspberries were always harvested by my sister & I.  Amazing that any of the fruits made it into the house by the color of our hands from the harvest of the super juicy berries.This is the view from the dock at the summer place several years ago.  The water lilies are wild there and helped me to have my own backyard pond.  the sound of the water takes me back to the cottage in the 1000 islands and many summer weekends with my father when I was a child.

Habitat for Humanity Women Build 2013

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