41 Years today, and many more to come!

It sure is difficult for me to believe that 41 years ago this time, we were getting ready for our wedding ceremony! I remember that it was cold and blustery, and a few snow flurries. About 100 people, family and close friends gathered at the church, decorated with evergreen boughs and plain trees. Then everyone came to our house for the reception. With an 8 o'clock service (so all the farmers could milk), we expected few to attend, but I recall Mother being delighted that so many relatives braved the elements to be there. I made my gown and train from white velvet, and selected a mantilla secured with a pill-box crown, which I chose not to wear... did not want the additional height! The gal who did my hair used 100000000 bobbie pins to secure all these curls at the back of my head. What a pain that was to take out! So, my attendants made their own dresses: Marianne had a red velvet dress, and sister Carol and Nancy(Anthony) wore green velvet. Each carried a white muff with a matching pillbox hat. I carried a bouquet of carnations and white roses... there was not too much heat in the church, and the florist advised against using too many flowers for the ceremony. Heat was provided by the two pot-bellied stoves, so everyone in attendance needed to wear their coats the whole 15 minutes they were there! One vivid memory I have is of Uncle Chuck driving Dad and me to the church. When we approached, I noticed that Aunt Jean had a smallish Christmas tree lighted on the front steps to the church. Such an elegant yet simple touch... she always knew what it took to make something beautiful with the everyday decorations that we had on hand. She always brought Mom and Dad the most beautiful anniversary bouquet of tulips and other fresh spring blossoms for their anniversary in mid-May. We see in the pictures of that evening that my Grandfather James K. Howe (90+) and grandmother, Anna M. Hall were there. Additionally, Dennis' grandparents, Albert and Mabel Ware as well as Nat and Essie Rogers were also there at the church. Am not sure that any except my Gram went back for the reception. She was never one to miss a party! Memories.... that is what we live for, and love for, forever!

Christmas Celebration

Our families are celebrating today, but many miles apart! Here is a picture of Britt and Anna, ready to open presents in Hawaii. Beside them is Addie in Florida, placing Baby Jesus, as she gets ready also. My wish to everyone is for a Merry, Merry Christmas... Be thankful for family and friends , and secondly, for any material things you may receive!!! Most of all, remember the reason for the season, and have a wonderful celebration!!!

Years ago....

Back in 1976, Hannah Broughton Rogers was born in Rutland Hospital, Rutland, Vermont. We were living in Proctor at the time, just 25 minutes from the hospital! I remember so vividly when Andrew was born, but now I must really jog my memory bank to bring up details of this birth. I remember that starting in November, I was supposed to stay off my feet as much as possible, as I was starting to get puffy hands and feet. They never called it bed rest, but I needed to have Andrew and Dennis wait on me as much as possible. Of course, in those days, Dennis was really a foreigner in the kitchen... so we had lots of quick and easy meals. Andrew played with Jay, who lived down the street, so I never really worried about what he was doing, after all, he would be 5 that December, and was going to 1/2 day Kindergarten. So, my afternoons were free to rest... I wonder what else I did? Back to the birth day: I know that we went to the hospital about 11:30 PM, and were charged for that extra day, much to Dennis' chagrin. I tried to get the labor going all night, and finally early in the AM, they started a drip.... the baby seemed to be large enough for me to go into labor for real. Well, I would start labor, so they would stop the drip... then I would stop my labor. Well, this continued all morning, and finally by about 1PM, it was starting to really happen. The problem that arose was that there was football on TV, and the doctor was a big fan. He and Dennis would watch the plays while I was working on delivering this baby! Well, during the pregnancy, we had not taken the class for expectant parents, as Dennis had not planned to go into the delivery room. In that day, the only way to get into see the arrival of our second child, one had to take that class. Well, I guess Dennis had bonded with the doctor, for as the time for Hannah's arrival came, the doctor told Dennis to don a gown, and go with him! So he did! Dennis tells me that he was there... I had a spinal, and did what they told me! I remember vividly that I told the nurse I felt like I really had to go to the bathroom. She said, it must just be a "feeling", not to worry, just let it go! Well, I did! the entire bed was soaked! That's me!!!! Back to delivery... All I remember was the joy of Hannah Broughton arriving, and her being placed on my chest! That became a very comfortable place for her, as we started nursing in the hospital, and continued successfully for 18 months. "Mommypies" were always there!!! Well, that was the most wonderful and rewarding time that I ever spent! The bond between Hannah and I has been very strong over the years, although I do know that she and her Dad have a very special relationship... and that is wonderful! They show and know a bond of love and respect much different from our bond. The mother/daughter relationship is one of empathy, pleasure and pride. Getting ready for the birth of two babies at one time has strengthened and reinforced our bond, as so much of her preparation has been a shared effort, and I am so pleased to be able to be a part of all of this! Thank goodness I retired! All this is so much different than my life, but I was always away from where my mother was living when I was pregnant. She never really came to spend much time with us, but we always made the effort to get to Tunbridge to see and share our our time with our Moms and Dads. Giving them the time to be Grandparents was so important in the lives of our children, and for that I am very thankful. So, 32 years ago, I "birthed" a wonderful baby girl... a beautiful individual whom I love dearly, and am so thankful to be a part of her life.

6 DAYS later...

One of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody, everything, every night before you go to bed. Bernard M. Baruch
Big Wisdom (Little Book), W Publishing Group, 2005


As I tried to decide what topic to write about, I remembered saving the above saying from a daily thought for the day that I receive, some time ago. Sounds like advice that most of us receive at some time in our lives, but do we really think about it, and act upon it? If you go to bed and toss and turn, perhaps you have some forgiving to do! Me... I seem to get plenty of zzzzzzzzzzz's most nights with no problem. Think I inherited that from my Dad.

Talked to my sister, Carol, in Albania today, via IM'ing on the computer. What a wonderful device that is to have available! Although she is 6 hours ahead of us, we are able to connect 3 or 4 times a week if we are lucky. All seems to be going well with them over there, and although the natives do not celebrate Thanksgiving in that country, they do observe other holidays about that time. I am thankful every day for their safety, as we all know that there is always the potential in that area of the world for "strange" and dangerous things to happen. They seem to have good friends there, a decent place to live, and the opportunity to get good food to eat.

Speaking of being thankful, it is getting near to Thanksgiving and everyone seems to be especially appreciative for the country in which we live, and all that we have been allowed to enjoy in our lives. I was particularly pleased when Addie (4 years old)asked, " Know what I am thankful for, Grammie?" and she started to list all her family members, her pets, her belongings. Her Pre-K is working on learning songs and a cute poem for their program next week. I am so pleased that they have the "time" to do these fun activities, and then share them with any family members who able to attend. Their Thanksgiving celebration is scheduled for lunch time, so any parent is able to attend, if they have a designated lunchtime, and they are able to leave! I am delighted to be able to attend, as I must admit that I was not always able to go to Hannah's performances, if they had them during the day. You see, that is one more thing to be thankful for ... employers who realize how important it is for parents to attend their child's school as is necessary. Our educational system would be so much stronger if a parent were free to go their child's school frequently. Teachers would have a direct line to the parents, and any educator knows how imortant that connection can be for success in our schools!

Celebrate good times, Come ON!

Many of you know that I have been working hard to lose some weight, and I am proud to announce that on Tuesday, I had made my first goal!!!Yahoooooooooo! so far, I have dropped 22 pounds, my new goal is 18 more. That will be enough. I started this phase on 14 August, so it has been almost 3 months, but a little at a time is supposed to be best! With that in mind, I look forward to dropping about 2 pounds per week. Even though the holidays are coming, I still will continue on my venture. Cannot let it all go, at this point!!! I am not doing it myself, but have a doctor's guidance. I weigh in once a week, have a Vitamin B shot, get some tablets, and pay my FEE! That keeps me on task $$$$. Do not want to waste too much! So, today I was able to wear some new pants that I had purchased a couple of years ago, and I just could not bear to wear them! Sure felt good........ no girlie photo... maybe later on!

An email that I received

I received this entire message in my email today. I felt like it was too good not to preserve, as well as share with my friends!

This is what John Wesley, of yesteryear said: "Do all the good you can; by all the means you can; in all the ways you can; in all the places you can; at all the times you can; to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." You can contribute to your own happiness and health; have a happy, healthy day, and life!




SACK LUNCHES



I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.' Great Lakes Air Base. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Iraq .After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago , and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.As I reached for my wallet, I overheard the soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago .His friend agreed.I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked,'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?''Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked.She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.'This is your thanks.'After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here,take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.'Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car,I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals.It seemed so little... "



"A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it."

Branching out!

I have been named as a host for the Better Homes and Gardens Cookie Swap House Party Event on 6 December 2008 at 4 P.M. Please go to the following web site to check it out. Invitations will be out shortly... so be watching, and if yours does not arrive, and you would like to be included, do not be afraid to let me know! According to the plans, goodies should be arriving shortly for all who are guests at the event.

http://houseparty.com/party/92791

I need a space

This is so that you are able to see my blog for today... I cannot move that heart!

This is my Mom with another view of the Viet Nam Memorial in Sharon, Vermont in September. A beautiful tribute!

Honor, respect, remembrance

Veteran's Day is a time for us to reflect on all who have served in the armed forces over the years. How proud I was on Sunday when the minister at church asked for all who had served to please stand! There Dennis was, among so very many other men who had been in the service of their country at some point in their lives. Following "All Saints" Sunday, it really was very easy to remember our Fathers, who both served during World War II. Even Grandma Marion Howe talked with me as a child about Great, Great (I honestly do not remember how many GREATS), Grandfather James L. Farnham and his service during the Civil War. I was writing a paper for a talk at my graduation from 8th grade at Tunbridge Central School. That was a big year of commemoration for the country, as the Civil War had begun 100 years ago. Well, Grandma was a member of the DAR ( Daughter of the American Revolution), and I remember that they met at what was the post office now... an old building there on that spot. Always wondered how I could join! Just to keep the bloodline of membership in order! Fox Channel is showing "tv gold" right now...kids singing Americana... how beautiful a tribute to our Veterans. Have you ever been to a parade, and watch the flag pass by, being carried by former service men? Well, look at the by-standers... they are all standing, and applauding these people (men and women), or have their hands over their heart. My Mother has a patriotic birthday (4th of July)... so I felt like we all were immersed in the proper respect of Veterans from an early age. So, I say a great big THANK YOU to anyone who has served, or is serving, in any capacity to protect America and all for which it stands ! (The photo is Dennis proudly standing in front of the Viet Nam Veteran's Memorial in Sharon, Vermont. September 2008)

Peacocks in my garden

Today, the three peacocks who roam the neighborhood returned to our garden area. I immediately noticed that the males are certainly maturing! Then all of a sudden, there the tail was fanned out, such a pretty sight to see. The thing that I noticed is that the head and neck is a vibrant hue of blues, but the tail feathers have not changed color. They are still a dull grey-brown, but oh so eye-catching when they were fanned. The part that I do not like is when the three-some comes to the front door...see picture! They drink from the water feature, then tend to poop whenever they feel like it. My, they certainly do leave nasty poop piles on the porch areas! Why there? Do they not know that we like clean feet when we come into the house? So, now I must weigh the situation out... beauty in the garden vs. poop on the porch. Time will tell!

I know God promises not to give me more than I can handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much. Mother Teresa

We all need to remember the saying above. Sometimes it seems as though there is too much on our plate, but we need to keep the faith, trust in god, and move on!

Today as I once again worked in my garden, watering and weeding, I marveled at the wonders and beauties all around us. The blossoms on my plants are what caught my eye today: the red climbing rose, having a final burst; the white Trumpet Lily; the purple Verbena; the salamander Impatiens; the blue Plumbago; the red Firecracker plant; the red Turk's Hat the purple and pink Mexican Petunias; the red Salvias; the orange/red Milkweed blossoms; and the orange Marigolds which I set out a couple of weeks ago. And this is early November! I do love having the time and energy to enjoy my garden space... and the beautiful blue skies and clear air that November brings in Florida!

Football season

Tonight, we went to the Wildwood High School football game (Go...Wildcats!). Now, if you live in this area, going to the game is the social highlight of the week, especially if the home team wins! Not having been raised on football, I seem to fail to get much enjoyment from watching those young men throw the ball around, then pounce on each other.... like patty-pile, when we were kids. And how do they figure out when it is ok? and when there is a penalty? The only thing I know about are goals. Addie was tickled when she heard the word "play" used, after everyone on the field had fallen down! She thought that a funny word to use! Now, my enjoyment at a football started at the gate, when I spied a former teacher-friend. Then two more.... the hugs were great and small talk blossomed. It seemed to take a long time to get to our seats, since along the way many students and adults came with wide open arms to greet me! How wonderful to see so many smiles and receive so many hugs and friendly words. This was the first time that I had returned to the school since graduation last spring... and before that, my January 31 retirement. So all in all, it has been a while since I had seen so many of those individuals. It certainly was wonderful to be greeted so wonderfully by so many! One stop along the way to our seat was made to purchase boiled peanuts, sold by the FFA members and alumni. Now, a boiled peanut is a strange piece of edible delight. I was quite surprised when I first tried a boiled peanut: many years ago, when a neighbor cooked some for us. These peanuts are soft, no longer crunchy, when one opens the shell. The ones we had were salted just right, and not too soggy. The fun is in the eating! Crack the shell, suck the peanut goodness out, and drop the shell on the ground (or wherever you are sitting). My hands became a sticky mess, and of course we had no napkins, so I wiped my hands on my jeans... but oh, those sure were a yummy treat! Now, that was a real southern experience! I am pleased to report that the hometown boys won their game, and now are proclaimed District Champs! Way to go Wildcats!!! That means we will attend at least one more game this season...sure hope the peanuts are still fresh!!! Fortunately, I am assured that the fans will be there with more hugs and great conversation!

A Child is born

Since I was on a roll about my starting labor to have Andrew, I thought that perhaps I should continue from there today. So, back to 11 December1972... We had a VW bug, a brand new forest green vehicle, which Dennis and I both loved. With the anticipation of a child arriving, we purchased a brand new VW station wagon, dark blue! So, that evening when we started our ride to Heidelberg, Dennis was driving the bug, and making me very worried, as he was going about 35 mph, on the Autobahn! For those of you who have been in Europe, you know that there generally is no speed limit, and everyone was whizzing by! His comment to me was that he was just being careful. Well, I know it was about 6:30 when we arrived at the hospital, they prepped me for delivery, and Andrew popped out about 9:30. Yes, I guess that was labor all day! There are things from the delivery that I remember: the nurse showed me the blood clot that had been getting the nourishment that should have been going to the baby! She said it was good thing I had delivered him so that he could get what he needed for food. I had planned to nurse my baby... I was all prepared, had a couple of training bras and had read a brochure! Well, they whisked the baby away as soon as they could, and told me that he was very small! he would probably be in the hospital as a premie for several weeks, and did I want to have the shot to stop production of milk. Of course, I said yes, as I understood that it meant several weeks of expressing milk to be fed from a bottle to him. That was a disappointment, as many Moms know. Well, the first thing the next day that I remember was walking down to the window to look at the babies. I had learned the lay of the place when I was in the hospital those days in November. When I arrived at the window to the nursery, there was the Rogers' box... a tiny baby inside with his eyes bandaged, his arms and legs secured with gauze bandages to keep him quiet. Someone discovered me, and took me back to the floor. Apparently, I was not supposed to be there to view him, as he was prepared for a time session in under the light for jaundice. I also found out that the box was called an "isolette", and since he weighed in at 4 pounds 4 1/2 ounces, he was getting some extra help breathing and living! WOW... no one had prepared me for all of this. This boy baby was our firstborn: Andrew Clay Rogers. He looked like a little old man, with the most beautiful blond hair, not only on his head, but all over his body... the "down" which I learned usually has disappeared from full-term babies. He had gorgeous blue eyes, and the nurses all took excellent care of him. They called him "Beach Boy" for he seemed ready to kick a beach ball or go out in the surf! He was an active baby, and became a favorite of those in the nursery. After a couple of days, I was sent home... 45 minutes driving time. There was no option for staying...this was an Army hospital... that was not an easy thing to do! We made the trip at least once a day, and you can be sure that we were tickled pink to be able to hold and rock him at 10 days! We had been able to touch him, but that day, we took the first pictures holding him, and started to really feel like he was truly ours. It became a daily ritual, to be there to feed him some meal, and when Andrew was 3 weeks old, weighing all of 5 pounds, we were allowed to take our baby home. One interesting thing: before we could leave the hospital, Dennis had to go to the stadthaus (city hall) to record Andrew's birth, our German baby had been born! Before we came home to the USA, Dennis traveled to Stuttgart and declared him a US citizen. As we made our visits to the doctors back at the hospital for our scheduled appintments, we were cautioned that "premature" babies often did not develop on schedule. They wanted us to be prepared for delayed behaviors... a scary thing to think about, when you are in a foreign country with no family around, and your best friends scattered around Germany or back stateside by this time. Andrew and I took many walks using our German carriage, and I loved that everyone living around us wanted to see the new American baby! He was ooogled over in German daily! Just to let you know, Andrew was never delayed developmentally, and has always been hyperactive, I thought! always looking for more to do and never sidestepping a challenge.When Andrew is around, I look up to him not only in height (not sure how tall he is, but he is taller than I am), but in awe and in wonder at the precious miracle that Dennis and I begot! I love you Andrew, and am so proud of you. Here we are on Maui, off jeeping, just the two of us! Andrew works as Hotel Manager for the Ritz Carlton Kapalua, and lives with wife, Sarah and daughters, Britt (9) and Anna (7) in Lahaina.

I feel ancient, not just old!

Today proved to me that I am old! Ancient is probably a better word! I went with Hannah for her 25 week sonogram to measure the growth of her babies. My reaction was embarrassing to her, I guess. I just could not believe that what I was seeing was real. My 90 year old grandfather in the late 60's could not believe that what he viewed on tv was real, and that is just the way that I felt today. To explain, let me tell you how it was for me when I was expecting Andrew. First of all, we had no clue as to the sex, until he was born. Fortunately we had a boy's name selected, but had he been a girl, Dennis was not too pleased with any of my suggestions. As you know, we did not have to go there! Well, in November, we finally went to see a movie, Love Story. It had finally been released to the European theaters... oh, by the way, we were living in Hofheim, Germany, as Dennis was assigned to TASCOM there in neighboring Worms. Well, a few days after seeing that wonderful love story, I started to hemorrhage. Remember: first pregnancy, 1971, living in Germany, just moved to a new city a few months before. Well, Dennis rushed me to the infirmary, where I had been seen on a regular basis since our move in April/May. Well, the doctor there checked me out, tried to find a heart beat, and had me loaded me into an ambulance. I was transported to the nearest hospital, in Heidelberg. Unbeknownst to me, Dennis had to drive himself, so it was me... traveling alone in that ambulance (a first), not knowing what in the world was happening. All I really remember is that I kept thinking about Love Story, and was sure that I was going to die. Did Army doctors know what they were doing? Well, they put me in a ward with other "problem" pregnant ladies, and I became a spectacle. They drew lines on my stomach in preparation for a C-section. The biggest event was when they brought in a dop-tone machine and FOUND a heart beat! wow... I finally knew all was going to be all right. But wait, multiples of doctors continued to come to look me over, guess they were trying to decide what to do! I remember being in the hospital through my birthday. Dennis was very good at coming to visit me. I had him bring me books to read and my needlepoint. Of course, at that point in time, there were no tv's to entertain us... all we were able to get at home were German speaking stations. So, I was released finally, and told to go home, take it easy, and to have two drinks a day to keep me relaxed...wine, bourbon and ginger, a couple of beers. Did not matter to me! It seems that I had experienced a Placenta Previa, and they really wanted me to extend my pregnancy as long as possible. My due date was then about 15 January... but since I did not have a regular cycle, no one knew for sure! So, home I went. Hanni, our hausfrau and the little old lady next door (with the wonderful cherry tree) were so worried about me, but they only spoke German. However, they kept good check on me, as of course, Dennis had to go to work! I must admit that I remember there being some very LONG days, phone calls were nearly non-existent, and I wondered how I was ever going to get through all of the remaining weeks. One day, a box came from the Rogers side of the family. It was a "shower in a box", filled with so very many wonderful items for our expected little one. What a thoughtful gesture by all of those families. It was truly wonderful. Well, I was able to get through 3 more weeks, but then Dennis and I decided to go to a party at his CO's home! I needed to go, as they were giving us their German baby carriage... a treasure that I used for both of our kids. It was the neatest European pram, and it is still up in the attic at my mother's home in Vermont. I just could never bear to junk it! Well, I had my toddies, but then after dinner, dessert was served. That was my downfall:Rumtopf on vanilla ice cream, It was composed of dried fruit (apricots, prunes, raisins, etc) and I guess I overindulged. The discomfort began that night, and the next day, I was running to the pot all day. I had some funny feelings, but well, your stomach aches when you have it all upset! Well, guess what??? about 5PM, I began to realize that maybe this was labor, as perhaps that was my water that broke! hmmmmmmmmmm how does one know? we were encouraged to get ourselves on the road to Heidelberg.... so another adventure began..... for Dennis and I. We had made it this far, we intended to get through it, even though we felt like the only two people on earth. No one came to visit, to help or to just be with me. (to be continued, someday) All this was to say how much a woman knows now as she goes through her pregnancy. I really was a very naive person in a world with little technology.... just 37 years ago... guess that is a lifetime! Knowing that everything is progressing well is so reassuring to an expectant mom, or even the grandmother! That little hand waving...wow! I know the next 10 weeks will fly by !

Nancy's Notes

Children

Anna, Addie and Britt enjoying chocolate milk at Grandma Howe's home in Tunbridge

I first read the following before we had children of our own. I had worked in schools and helped our friends with their children. I always believed in this statement, and have continued to try to live by it with our own children. The writer is unknown, but the author definitely knew about children... how they act, respond and absorb all that is about them in their world. We all should wish that every parent would follow this... think what a wonderful world we would have!

If a child lives with criticism,
He learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility,
He learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule,
He learns to be shy.
If a child lives with tolerance,
He learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement,
He learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise,
He learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness,
He learns justice.
If a child lives with security,
He learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval,
He learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
He learns to find love in the world !
anonymous

Our Family and Friends

Treasure your relationships, not your possessions.
— Anthony J. D'Angelo

Today, I wanted to take a few minutes to reflect on this quote. In this day and time, we need to be most appreciative of those who are near and dear to us, our friends. Sometimes we forget to let them know how dear they are to us, and how we feel about the slightest endearment they show towards us. Days may pass when we do not communicate on an individual basis, but that does not change our relationships. Those folks are the ones who are treasured for being there when we need them. Money has no effect on how we feel about those people, their value cannot have a dollar put on it. Our possessions, in turn, do cost money and are not of importance to our mental health and well-being... those are material things, and they have no real effect on our lives. Yes, some of our possessions are necessary for healthy living, but there comes a time when one learns that money does not buy everything .... that mental relationships with other humans are brought to the fore, and one recognizes that those encounters are what really make our lives viable. It is not easy to find a balance in our lives, but family and friends make or break our day to day attitude about life in general.

So, friends and family, know that I treasure you for all that you add to my life, and to the rest of our family's lives. Over the last 6-8 months, we have encountered many health issues in our family. Many individuals have expressed concerns to us, and we really are indebted to those folks. Those are the relationships that are prime examples to which I refer. Thank you for being a part of that group, from the bottom of my heart

Three girls

Here are my girls again...just being themselves! Anna, Britt, Addie... Enjoy!

The orchid plant

Just wanted to share... pictures of the orchid that is blooming. As it started to open, I moved it to the front porch so that we could see the progress every day. The roots are long, stringy and really quite ugly, but the blossoms are the same beautiful shade of blue that were present when we purchased this beauty at least 5 years ago. When this plant is not showing off, it is hung out back in the tree, needing to be moved inside only when it might freeze.

Sunny Sunday

Today has been the most beautiful sunny day, with nice crisp air. The humidity has dried up, and fall is here for a few days. This picture is a branch of the raintree that I planted about three years ago. We have been waiting patiently for blossoms to pop out, and finally this year we have a few! There were a few shoots of yellow, so we have a nice addition to our shrub line this time of year. This next picture is of the remnants of a passion vine. It was a bushy specimen when I planted it last spring, and it fortunately has grown well during the summer. If you look closely in the next picture, you will see the caterpillars that are munching on this plant. That is the purpose of the host plant: to provide the needed food for those ugly creatures. They will eventually evolve into Buckeye butterflies, and a few (6-8, I could not count accurately!) have already hatched and were flitting about today on the Lantana planted nearby. Glancing down the pathway towards the entrance to the garden is a Firebush. I brought a small piece of that bush from Jupiter, when Sarah was purging some of the many plants from her garden down there....some time ago! I have found that I must keep it trimmed to keep it under controll. There is a great growth of Plumbago to the left and to the right. Many species of butterflies flit from plant to plant, dancing to their own songs! I must list all the kinds of butterflies that I have seen out back: Swallowtail, Zebra Longwing, Cabbage, Sulphur, Monarch, Buckeye, plus an assortment of moths about which I intend to learn . I must also find out about those tiny white butterflies(moths) and those ugly beetle-type bugs.

More about my girls

These girls have so many things that they love to do! As you can see, Addie loves to go Dove Hunting with her Dad. This picture (her Dad took it at the field) captures her at her best, as she loves to play while waiting for the birds to arrive.

The picture of Britt and Anna shows them doing their specialty: swimming at the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua on Maui. I cannot take credit for this picture either, but I love it so! They amaze me at how they go so fast and so easily through the water!

So, Addie lives in Wildwood, Britt and Anna are in Lahaina, on the island of Maui, Hawaii.

Addie loves to run and play, the older girls run and play soccer.

All three ride a bike or a scooter like the wind.

Addie loves to dress up, just like the Britt and Anna did and still do!

All three are beautiful princesses, and love to have their nails done!

The three are very special to me, and I love to take pictures of them,

Then let them take the pictures that they want!

It is always amazing to see what pictures we have when an event is over!

We remember Disney and the merry-go-round,

the farm and all the newborn animals,

ice cream and all the wonderful toppings,

barbeque chicken and decorating cupcakes,

going up to the pond and catching yummy trout!

Memories... we plan to make many more as the years go on!

Our three granddaughters

Here are our three granddaughters: (from top to bottom) Britt Elizabeth, Anna LeGrand, and Addie Grace. All three love to be out side, and as you can see, love to swing! They surely would have loved the swing at the farm where we grew up in Tunbridge. We kids spent lots of time under the huge maple trees, swinging on the rope swing, and playing on the sewsaw that was there at one time. These three young ladies are who I fondly refer to as my "giggle girls"...that stems from when Britt and Anna first moved to Jupiter, and we three were to sleep on the bunk beds and trundle. They were so silly, and we all were laughing so hard that we were crying! We had so much fun, and now it seems that when we get together, we get the giggles more and more. I know that Addie will be a great part of any sleepover or gathering and giggling. What wonderful memories we make together! Thanks, my three girlygirls. Hopefully our next time together will be very soon!

Harvest time

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant. Robert Louis Stevenson ... When we were in Vermont in September, we went to a wonderful vegetable/plant stand with beautiful local produce. As you can see in the pictures, there were some yummy items. The Plainfield, N.H. stand belongs to cousins, Anne (McNamara) and Pooh Sprague, who do a wonderful job of displaying their wares. I have some wonderful shots of their items, and encourage readers to stop there if ever you are in the area. Having been up in New Enlgand last April, I knew that all the farmers were getting their land ready for planting, as soon as the snow had melted. As one thinks about the seeds that are then planted when the soil warms up, it is a wonder to see the harvest in the fall. Seeds are tiny, shriveled pieces in the spring which explode magically to become bountiful produce. Think of how many seeds must be planted to ensure that bounty! Friendships are much like those seeds. Some blossom into wonderful experiences, others never mature. Some weather the storms of time, others die from lack of communication. When we develop friendships, we never know where they are headed. Just like the seeds, one must plant friendships deeply, and sow many, so that you will have "plenty " in your life. So look at your day, see how many lives you have touched, and be certain that you have made connections that will survive and blossom!

From my readings

Today's Quote ... I am a great believer in luck. The harder I work, the more of it I seem to have. Coleman Cox

In an inspirational that I read yesterday, this was the quote of the day. Several years ago, I used a quote every day as my "starter" in my reading class... I depended upon several sources, and always searched for something the kids (9th graders) would be able to think about and respond. Sometimes we would get into quite a discussion about how to apply that day's delight into their personal lives. I think this quote would have been an excellent selection! It seems that some people seem to think that luck just happens, but I have become a firm believer that we make our own luck. Those who try hard and work diligently appear to be the ones who are successful. They make their life choices based on their hard work, never giving up. They keep a focus on where they want to be and persevere. Kind of keeping in mind the old saying, when the going gets tough, the tough get going! Well, over the years, we certainly have seen many successful and industrious people, who seem to just be lucky. Deep down, we know that there was plenty of hard work and stick-to-it-ive-ness to "get 'er done " and achieve the final goal or product. As you can see in the above picture, Dennis reached his goal of making over the bedroom that once belonged to daughter, Hannah. He repainted the entire room, de-cluttered the shelves, and voila! The office space is now his!!!! He says it was luck that it all turned out just as he wanted... I know it was his hard work and planning/plotting the entire project that made this great space, just for him! If I could only get "my room" organized now!

Fall Gardening in Florida

Today was a day to get out in my garden, rake a few leaves and cut back some overgrown branches. I found that my "Secret Garden" was in need of some TLC.... When Ellen and Ted visited a couple of years ago, she aptly named it for me. I had to trim back some of the growth on the jasmine at the entrances so that I could get in there easily and not have to bend down too far! In the photo, you see an adiition to the garden this summer, a Passion Flower. Today, there were blossoms, as well as caterpillars present. The leaves provide a great banquet for the life cycle of butterflies. One of the purposes of my garden to present plenty of food for all the stages of their life cycle. As I worked on the pathway and the garden, several winged species flittered around me. I received an early birthday gift a couple of days ago, two wonderful amaryllis bulbs... one called Dancing Queen, a red/white hue( a red pot) ; the second named Hercules, the color violet( a green pot). These are authentic Dutch bulbs, straight from the Kukenhof gardens in Holland, a grand gift indeed! I planted those babies this morning, watered them nicely, then left them in partial shade to start their growth!!! If you have never watched this kind of bulb, you need to. Growth happens almost right in front of your eyes. One bulb already had a tip started, so it will be great fun to watch the daily progress. The beauty it will show, from that ugly ball with dried up roots is miraculous indeed. Just as babies grow in the womb, "my" flowers are growing, ready to spring forth beautiful blossoms! oh, the wonder of gardening!!!!! I am delighted that I will not have long to wait...just a few short weeks. I shall keep you updated on the progress of the blooms when they appear.

16 October 2008

As I reflect upon my day so far, I think about how lucky I am to be here and not at school... I loved being a teacher, but now I am really appreciating life. This morning, I took a nice bike ride, on my way over to Hannah's. I rode around by the lake, and down our old street. What I observed was that the more time that goes by, the more things stay the same. Some of the homes have been painted, and some new flower beds have been created....while others have been overgrown with grass.......... yes, the more things change, the more they stay the same! When I arrived at Hannah's home, Dennis was there! He had been out doing errands...and dropped in just to check on things. We three visited about the Tunbridge Fair book...we all have read it through in last few weeks. We each remarked at how wonderful to have those memories all recorded. .. and to be able to see those old photos. Even Dennis and I can see major changes in the Tunbridge Valley, due to the growth of trees, not buildings, thank goodness. It impressed upon me that we need to write down feelings, reactions, observations. Our parents have told us stories in the past, but will we remember them? The people we remember, but the stories, the memories , are what we want to capture. As you, the reader, read this... be prepared to react...and to please add your thoughts/remembrances/reactions in the comments. That is going to be a vital part of this (or any) blog. I will treasure any responses! So let us start now! Have any of you read teh Fair Book? What do you think about it? Euclid did a great job, and it seems to be quite inclusive. I was so pleased to get to the Fair this year, the first time since we moved to Florida almost 30 years ago. There were wonderful displays, both antique and modern; lots of great food, both sweet and spicy; interesting contests, both animal and machine; surprising weather, both sunshine and rain; and lastly, MANY people, both Tunbridge residents and neighboring villagers... young and old, and many in between! Everyone enjoying his own special part of the fair.

Let's get started!

I have decided that I needed to get some of my own feelings and reactions to life recorded. So, here we go! No promises, just good intentions to add to this on a regular basis. This will be a wonderful way to continue our line of communication in our family.