Archive for the ‘Family and Friends’ Category

Flower Mart Day?

May 7, 2008

PeonyPeoniesNasturismI’m not sure.  It’s always on Wednesday in May.  It’s around the Washington Monument in downtown Baltimore.  I went a few times when I was little with Nanny.  She was so much fun.  We were always taking buses and streetcars.  I had no idea where I was going most of the time.  Sometimes we went shopping, but often we looked at houses.  My mother said they moved a lot when she was growing up.  Nanny made me feel special.  She taught me how to embroider and how to sew.  She often cut things out for me because she said I always looked like I was in pain.  Actually, this was true because I am left-handed and I never had a pair of right-handed scissors until I was an adult.  She also tried to teach me how to crochet right-handed, but she gave up.  I finally learned left-handed when I was in my late twenties.  Nanny loved flowers.  These pictures are for her.  I felt loved and I loved her.

Girls Day Out

May 3, 2008

There was only three of us this time–Diana, Carolyn and me.  Suzette was supposed to come, but she didn’t show up.  I wanted to give her the baby sweater for Colette’s grandson.

Maybe I’ll call her tomorrow.  There won’t be any pictures for the next few days until I get back.

I’m hoping my battery lasts through Sheep & Wool.

Broken Battery Charger

May 1, 2008
I ordered another one, but it won’t be here in time. I’m leaving tomorrow morning. I have other batteries, but I don’t know if they are fully charged. I want to take it with to Sheep & Wool. Now I have to remember to not take so many pictures. I usually take a bunch and delete a good half of them. I also want to take pictures of the “girls” tomorrow. Poo!

I liked the band at the bottom, so I decided to separate the colors with bands. I know that I should have knitted the first band row, but it’s going to felted anyway, so just shut up. Excuse me. I’m in a mood.

Elvis sleeping in the sun.

 

Purse Update

May 1, 2008

This is how my purse looked last night.

This afternoon, I unravelled the yellow and blue. Do not worry. The blue and yellow are coming back along with red. I decided that I liked that fuzzy band at the bottom and I am going to put it between each color change.

Look what Doug did.

A faucet for the deck. Now we can water the plants there without having to lug water containers through the house. Isn’t it wonderful?

I decided to make a pineapple upside down cake. It scared me when I looked in the oven after half an hour. I was certain it was going to spill over, but it held. A couple of little pieces fell over when I flipped it over and they were really good. It slipped out of the pan easily and some topping dripped down the side.

Isn’t it pretty?

That’s enough dumb stuff for one day.

 

Strawberry Banana Muffins

April 27, 2008

I had this banana that was a lot more ripe than I would even consider eating and some strawberries that I was getting really sick of. Et Viola! Strawberry Banana Muffins. And they are really good, too.

I actually worked on my blog a little today. It’s rainy. At least it isn’t snow! Doug has been painting and I have been ignoring him. I think I am going to have to paint around the windows, but I woke up with my knees aching so I have been trying to maintain a low profile.

The cats are not happy about the rain. They have been going in and out all day.

I took this through the window that I am probably going to have to paint around. Later, she decided to help with the painting.

 

Clue #2 Finished

April 27, 2008

I finally finished them around 8PM. I did a few at a time. It’s not that I am losing interest, it’s more like there is so much that I want to do.

And now, Doug wants me to help paint. Ugh. I know that it has to be done, but I am always stuck with the detailing. Standing in one spot is so boring. I am glad he took all the wallpaper trim down. It was so ugly and she hadn’t even cleaned the wall before hand. You could see where she had something diferent before. Now the walls are completely smooth and what has been done so far looks good. It’s a happy color. When we are done, our neighbor Frank is going to install a simple crown molding. We don’t want to detract from the view out the windows. Not that much of anything would.

We are still waiting for goose babies. There has also been a fair number of shore birds at low tide lately. They like those baby fishies. I like watching them dash about on their long skinny yellow legs.

I also got the ribbing done on the second sleeve of my sweater.

The Letters

April 17, 2008

When my mother went into a nursing home, we started to clear out her house. I found several letters and post cards from Daddy and a few others. I thought that they should read by everyone and my blog seems as good a place as any. Many are hard to read. I typed them exactly the way they were written. I kept wanting to correct spelling and grammar, but I made it through them.

The first was written by Daddy when he was eleven. The second was probably one or two years later. The writing is more fluid and he signed it Bill rather than Little Billy. In the summer, he went to live with his Mother’s friend, Mrs. Schiebel, on a farm near Hanover, PA. I think they had four sons and I believe that some or all were adopted. Daddy took us up there several times when we were kids. As an adult, I have gone past the road leading down to the farm, but I have never turned down to look for the little house and barns. I am afraid that it is all gone and I don’t want to ruin that happy memory.

The last two letters were written by my Grandparents to Daddy. He was stationed in Georgia at the time. It would be several months before he went over seas. Except for a few pictures, this is all I have from them. Every time I read them, I feel like   to know them a little better. My Grandmother died before I was born and I was only three when my Grandfather died. I was told that my Grandmother had a German accent even though she was born here. Her father sent her and her sister back to Germany for their education.

I am not sure who Ed is. He may be one of Mrs. Schiebel’s sons or he may be the uncle that was killed in the war. Dorothy was my mother. Ruth was Daddy’s sister and Gus was her husband. Some day, I will have to tell you about Aunt Ruth and Uncle Gus. They were fun.

Other Side

April 16, 2008

Hello Bill,

How are you hoping feeling fine and contented try hard and do the best you can to get some where.

Have often thought of you with the best of thoughts am feeling better again and back to work Uncle Bill said hello also and wants your address so I am going to give it to him and he is going to write also.

Now Bill if there is something you want and long for just write and we will try to get it to you don’t be afraid to ask us we want to do everything we can for you you aught to know that by now.

Saw Ed last night and he sends his best regards to you. Tante Amiala Ervin and Uncle Harry also said hello and is going to write to you every body asks for you so see every body think of you.

so take care Bill and write soon.

With lots &lots of love and kisses

Yours true

Mother

Baltimore Dec 26 1943

April 15, 2008

Dear Bill,

Well Christmas is over and all missed you, but remember you are in the service of which you can feel proud of, as any and all effort by you and your fellow companions will bring again the day when we will be free to do the things our minds dictate.

Billy was very happy, loved his stocking with candy and cookies most. His intrist in the present for others, were, very enthsiastic to him, helping to unwrap the packages. He is spending a few days with his grandmother, but will be home tomorrow night.

Dorothy also had a nice Christmas as well as Ruth, your Mother and myself. Yet would have been better with you and Gus here also.

Tomorrow I shall go into town again and have some more interviews, it is a good feeling when you has your friends pulling for you and helping to make it possible to work in best possible conditions.

Well, these few lines are just an introduction to my letter writing to you, Tell me how you feel, what are your problems, and anything that may be on your mind, tell me. Always remember that while in the army your superiors are allways right no matter what you think.

Well, make good and with best luck and wishes, I am, Your Father Wm. H. Beck

Two Letters

April 13, 2008

                                                                                                                                          Hanover, PA

                                                                                                                                          August 22, 1929

Dear Ma,

       I haven’t got sick yet. For I am busy all day bringing the cows in, packing hay, pumping water and other things. We almost caught a mice packing the hay. Last night we slept out in the tent, it was allright because the stars were shining. Ted was sleeping on our feet. We’re going to the State and see Abie’s Irish Rose. Tell Pa to save the baseball section of the paper.

                                                                                      Goodby

                                                                                          Little Billy

 

 

                                                                                                                                        Hanover, PA

Dear Ma,

        I am feeling fine, only something bit me on the ear. I slept out every night except Sunday night. Ed and me are going to the ball game this afternoon. Yesterday we had some company. We play a game with them and defeated them 40 to 15. A little chick drowned in a bucket of water. Haven’t been in swimming yet. Hope everything is alright.

                                                                                                          Bill