Memorial Day

With the Memorial Day holiday approaching I wanted to post something in memory of all the men and women who have lost their lives in war.  For kids in school and for people who work, a three day weekend is an awesome event.  For many,  the Memorial Day holiday represents the beginning of summer: camping trips, bar-b-ques, the beach, gathering with friends, etc.  Often we forget why we actually have this holiday.  Take a moment to honor those who fought and lost  their lives protecting our freedom.  CNN has a detailed list of all the men and women who have lost their lives in the Gulf.  You can read about our warriors and you can even post a message and/or comment. http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/war.casualties/index.html

Personally, my Uncle Henry a flight navigator, gave his life fighting during World War II when his B-29 bomber was shot down over the South Pacific.  Henry was my mom's baby brother.  My brother is named after the uncle we never met.

My Uncle Henry

2/21/1920-9/29/1942

Awards:  Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal & Purple Heart

Thank you Uncle Henry for your ultimate sacrifice.  My thoughts are also with my Grandma Tillie for all the pain and suffering she lived with for losing her only son. 

Take a moment to remember.  Have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends.  Our family has a lot of fun activities planned.  We are hoping for dry weather!

Enjoy the day.

mother hen

#39 - and more to come

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ROB AND ME!  It's #39 - I ask myself, "where has the time gone?"  It is hard believe it has been 39 years.  Here are some pictures for a quick glimpse of our  past.

  Rob in Vietnam 1968/69 - we met after he returned to the States.  What a cutie!   Air Force meets Navy.   He was stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Cailifornia and I was working for the Navy at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California. 

May 14, 1971  - We got married in a little chapel in Reno - easy, fast and ( most importantly in those days) cheap!  Our family and friends all joined us for the event.  Got married on a Friday - back to work on Monday.

The happy couple

Leaving the chapel with wedding certificate in hand.  Check out the outfit!!  See the man and his camara behind me?  When we filled out all the paperwork they asked if we wanted pictures, so we checked yes.  After the ceremony he handed us a roll of 35mm film to get developed.  We still laugh about it!!

That winter we took a trip to South Shore Lake Tahoe with friends.  Oh my gosh, we look like babies!

A day at the ocean

Rob holding Lance - 1972

Lance and me at the Oakland baby zoo.   I was pregnant with baby chick.

Our family before the kids left home

Rob, Sharon, Lance, and Shannon

My mom Helen, and me  Christmas 1995.  This was her last trip to Washington.

Helen:  6/6/1913-5/19/1996

This was quite a fast run down memory lane.  What beautiful, wonderful, funny pictures!  I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

Pictures are more precious years later.

Enjoy the day.

mother hen

It is official- a new kitchen floor!

We just finished hauling and racking the northern hickory hardwood for our kitchen floor.  We now have 300 square feet of wood stacked in our dining room.  It will be in the dining room  for a couple weeks to acclimate.  I am so excited.  The wood is absolutely beautiful.  It is very rustic - with knots, blemishes, and color variations throughout.  This picture doesn't do it justice.  When the floor is complete I will post some better pictures.   Our wood comes from a mill in Spartansburg, PA.  That is a long way  from the Pacific Northwest - if only the wood could talk and tell us about its journey.  It would be fun to hear about the tree's life and journey to our home.  I'm sure the tree would have many wonderful tales to tell!

If a tree could talk, what would it tell us?

Enjoy the day.

mother hen

honeybee fax 4

bee fax for you

Did you know?  Honey bees fly at 15 miles per hour.

                                        

honeybee fax 3

bee fax for you     

Did you know?  There are thousands of worker bees in each hive.  Nearly all the bees in a hive are worker bees.  All worker bees are female, but they do not lay eggs.  Worker bees live for 4-9 months during the winter season, but only 6 weeks during the busy summer months (they literally work themselves to death).

Collections - Glassware From the Past

Collection: A group of objects or works to be seen, studies or kept together.  An accumulation

COLLECTIONS:  Part IV - Glassware from the past

Chintz, green, pink, red, turquoise, clear - they are all here tucked away in their appropriate "home".  Their home could be my antique oak buffet or china cabinet, a kitchen shelf, a kitchen cupboard, or proudly sitting out elsewhere in the house for all to admire.   They are usually screaming to be dusted.  They prefer to be sparkly clean.  Of course, this is the wrong house for that!    I do not use them daily, but I do believe you should use them occasionally.

I think my love of glassware was inherited from my mom.  Many of my pieces belonged to my mom.  Baby chick has also inherited this admiration for pretty dishes.  I have passed on some of mine and my mom's pieces to her so she and her family can enjoy their beauty. 

These days my cupboards are pretty full so I have to contain myself from collecting too much more.  But again, there is always that "special" piece I just cannot resist bringing home.  But most of the time I just look and admire and leave the piece for someone else to purchase and enjoy.

What appreciation have you inherited?

Enjoy the day.

mother hen