Pictures From Book

Here are a few pictures from Granny's Birds.
I really like the colors in these pictures.

There are more colored pictures in this book plus several black and white.

I like the red comb binding.

A New Old Book

Look what I found on eBay.

I use to have this book when I was a little girl. I can't wait for Sweet Man to get home and read it to me. It's the story of a Russian boy named Vanya who belongs to a group that wants to perform their native dances. They want to purchase an accordion for the music only he doesn't have his share of the funds needed. Occasionally he helps this old woman in his village everyone calls Granny. She takes in stray animals and birds. She feeds them and cares for them. Vanya tells her his story and she decides to give him the birds to sell in the market place. Their village is going to have a fair to celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation which is held in memory of the angel's visit to Mary to announce she would carry the Christ child. It was the custom of the village to buy birds in small wooden cages and set them free on that day.
Vanya and his father make small cages and he sets off to market, sells the birds and they're able to buy the accordion and dance their native dances. The End.

Ah so...

Mr. Ling has married. The bride, as you can see, is the lovely Shu Shen. She is very pleasant and mild mannered, quite the match for Mr. Ling. The other man in the center is her escort Mr. Hui Peng. Mrs. Ling's father hired Mr. Peng to escort and protect his daughter on her journey to America. The orange container Mr. Peng is holding was a gift for the married couple from Shu Shen's father and mother, it's an incense burner. (part of their religion or something like that)The Elder Shen's also sent a box each of nuts, pears, and sweetcakes. They were lovely and served at the wedding feast.

Mr. Ling closed his shop for the wedding and the couple took a short trip to visit with relatives and will be home this weekend. No photos were allowed at the wedding ceremony so these will have to do.

For those of you who have emailed me with offers to help find Mr. Ling a wife, we thank you. As you can see he's happy with his new bride and she is quite content with our Mr. Ling.

I'm hosting Mr. Peng until the newlyweds return. He's an interesting character, he's gone through four bags of rice and spits on the floor. (is spitting a custom in their country??)

He takes his job as escort and protector seriously. Yesterday at the market the produce man approached rather close to me and Mr. Peng went into warrior stance and gave the man the 'evil eye'. I felt quite safe. If I can just get him to stop spitting on the floor I might keep him around for trips to the big city.

Another interesting tidbit about Mr. Peng...he's as curious as a cat. Let me explain...He had never seen a gas stove before and and kept turning the burners on and off. He got so close to the flame the other day he burned off one side of his mustache. As you can see in the photo we had to shave the other half off as well. He was mortified to have his picture taken without his mustache. I really don't know why because it was a runty little thing.

Anyway, we're getting on famously (albeit, the spitting) and looking forward to the newlyweds arriving home.

Have a lovely evening wherever in the world you are.

Flowering Tulip Tree

Do any of you have a tulip tree on your property? They're very easy to identify, the have the most unusual leaves and flowers. Click on the photo and look at the leaves closely. The flowers are green on the outside and yellow starting at the tip inside flowing down into orange. They're not very attractive but they sure are prolific! From below the tree the flowers are nearly invisible. These trees can reach a height of 80-100', I hope this one doesn't but you know the luck of the Irish....

When I planted this tree it was the talk of the neighborhood I'm sure. I put it in, placed a small fence around it and covered it with cheesecloth (it was summertime and I didn't want it to burn in the full sun). Whenever I'd be in the front garden and someone would drive past they'd invariably gawk at my little white surprise. The woman who gave it to me was the d/o the old folks we bought our house from and she suggested where to plant it. I'm sorry I listened to her because this tree is already quite large. We all live and learn don't we?

Dav 'n' Nan

Dave
Nan
I did this post on my private blog and have now decided to share it with others besides my family. Sometimes I wonder how two people who are as opposite in nearly every thing as we are have remained together. Form your own opinion.
He’s up, I’m down.
He’s red, I’m green.
He’s in, I’m out.
He’s patient, I’m a whirlwind.
He’s a free spender, I’m frugal.
He’s a left-side sleeper, I’m a right.
He likes fried foods, I love veggies.
He thinks right, I think left.
He’s brown-eyed, I’m blue.
He’s short, I’m tall.
He's left-handed, I'm right.
He’s phenomenal with numbers, I can barely remember my address.
He’s mechanical, I can hardly turn the key on.
He loves sci-fi, I love mystery.
He’s messy, I’m tidy.
He likes football, I like baseball.
He’s thunder, I’m lightning.
He drives me crazy, he thinks I'm 'blond'.
He wants me to come, just for a minute, to see something Don has sent him on the PC, which is on the third floor, I‘m in the basement.
He’ll be reading and thinks I have to have periodic updates on what he’s reading, regardless of what I’m doing, usually I‘m reading.
He drives way too close to the center of the road and takes too long to finish a job.
He puts his empty glass in the sink after I’ve just emptied the dish water.
He wants to work on a project in the house just after I’ve cleaned.
His car looks like a garbage can.
He constantly says huh but before I can repeat everything I’ve just asked he answers me.
If he does the dishes for me he leaves at least 2 items in the water and doesn’t wring out the sponge.
He leaves soda cans everywhere and his clothes on the hamper.
There’s more, much more but I think there's a word limit on this blog.
As you can tell, we are total opposites in a lot of things and he drives me absolutely crazy.

So…. what keeps us together? It might just be this . . . .
He reads to me in bed so I can get sleepy.
He never complains when I turn on my book-on-tape when I go to sleep.
He calls me several times a day when he’s on the road.
He gives me blessings on the phone when I need them.
He’ll go to the store when I don’t want to.
He reads the directions and then tells me in 3 E-Z steps how to do it.
He takes me out to breakfast the first morning after he comes in off the road.
He’s quiet and patient with me.
He puts the toilet seat down.
He likes to make me laugh.
He buys great gifts such as; emerald and diamond anniversary earrings.
He somehow manages an occasional surprise birthday party for me.
He brings me diet de-caf coke.
He allows me my independence without a fuss.
He spoons with me even if we’ve had a bad day.
He’ll give me the last of something.
In a room full of people he always looks for me.
He still wants to impress me.
He’s kind to me.
He runs his thoughts past me for my opinion.
He plays Titanic with me.
He pumps my gas.
He cuts the grass before he leaves for the week so I don‘t have to.
He reads to me over the phone.
He’s absolutely honest in his dealings.
He has the amazing ability to make happen the creative ideas I have in my head.
He reaches out for my hand when we’re riding in the car.
He attempts to help me make the bed.
He is most upright in his church callings and has the reputation of being trustworthy.
He has a soft and kind heart.
He loves the scriptures.
He reads the Ensign every month.
He honors his priesthood.
He loves my children.

This list doesn’t include all of the things Dave does for me but there’s not enough room on this blog to list them all.
I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you the one thing about Dave that truly touches my heart the most; that is his sweet sincere love for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Many times as we read together he is taken over by the spirit and can hardly speak. I’ve seen him reading scriptures on his own and the tears flowing down his cheeks. It melts me.
Dave has come a long way since his baptism and not all of it easy but he keeps plugging along, moving forward, I admire that.
At the end of the day after all is said and done the one thing I know for sure is Dave loves me and is in love with me.
Maybe, just maybe, that’s why we’re still together . . .
I love you Sweet Man

Austin & Mackenzie Grad 2009

Austin and Mackenzie

Grad 2009

They make a lovely couple, he's seriously handsome and she's amazingly pretty.

They are also very good human beings with kind hearts and level heads.

Austin is my second oldest grandson. He has amazing talent on the floor, field, and diamond, he's intelligent and has a bright future ahead of him. We love you Austin, you've done us proud.

Remember who you are and what you represent. Granma N

Destiny or Coincidence?

Destiny or coincidence?
KC caught that ball by the way.

My girl posted the infant photo of her oldest son (the same one in the 2nd photo) on her blog letting us know he wouldn't be coming home for summer break from university and how quickly time has passed since the infant photo was taken. KC is going to remain where he is and work for the summer. The next son in line, Austin, will be joining his brother for training camp in a few months. The next two boys will be in grade 11 & 12 come fall. These boys have had some kind of ball in their hands since they were wee lads. I think we can safely rule out coincidence, don't you?

My Other Addiction

I've been looking for a doll to put in my trunk for Morgan and here she is. The doll has porcelain hands and face. Her body is stuffed cloth. I washed her dress, stockings, and bloomers. I spiffed up her shoes and tidied up her hair. I just have to get some ribbon the color of her dress and she's done. Well, I did think about making a bonnet or fancing up a straw one. My partner in crime, Lanette, and I were at the junque store and there she was for, watch out don't faint, $1.00. I thought I read the tag wrong but no my eyes had not failed me. Sorry for the poor photo. I've been looking for an umbrella stand for some time and here it is. Got two for the price of one so I have one in the vestibule and one in the back hallway. I love umbrellas, or bumbershoots as my mother use to call them. My big spend of the week--$3.75.

Some more of my addiction...a doll from Stone Mountain Georgia (according to a faint inscription on her apron), wrought iron cup holder, birdhouse, black candy can with roses and a 1cup measure with green handle, and the doily I put through the handle so you could see it. All for under $2.00. I don't know what I would do if I had an addiction for expensive items....Although diet-caffine-free coke is beginning to drain my pockets. Smile...

Thanks Jan

This is my granddaughter Morgan, the whizbang jewel finder, and me playing Hidden Expedition Everest. They got me hooked (and I do mean hooked as in addicted) on this pc game while I was home visiting.

I've been looking for it all over since I got back to the Heartland and no one had it. By chance I stopped into a way-out-game store and voila they had 1. The problem was I needed a small bank loan to purchase it. Finally I went on ebay and found all kinds of them but I had closed my pay pal account some time ago from lack of use. I knew my son-in-law had an account so I asked Jan to have him get me one and then I'd send them the $$. Look what came in the mail for Mother's Day. No check required. I called her last night and put the phone up to the speaker and asked her if she recognized the sound in the background. She laughed at me as if she has room to laugh cuz she's all excited and tells me, "Mom, I've got a new place for games and off we went....

THANK YOU JAN AND FAMILY!!
My itch has been scratched.

Dark Dreary Days and Pretty Lights

It's a day for pretty lights and lots of them. I have three Christmas trees in my house that are never put away. (One never knows when a twinkly light might be required) Today is another one of those days. We've had so much rain and dreary weather in the Heartland this year. It cheers me up to see the lights sparkle and shine. Below is reason for the lights today.I was listening to the AG report yesterday at noon and the announcer said only 10% of the corn has been planted so far. Many of the fields are still so mucky the farmers can't get into them to work. That probably means more soybean fields this year and HIGHER prices for any product relying upon corn for a source. Hang onto your pocketbooks and start using your coupons it's going to be a costly summer and fall.

Apothecary Jars

Here are the apothecary jars I got at Alco. They were on sale for $5.96 each. What a bargain!

I didn't know what to put behind them so you could see them, my creative juices weren't flowing yet. Haha. So a green dishtowel is what you get.

Revised Curtains

The revised edition...

I shortened them and added buttons.
This looks fuzzy to me.

What do you think?

Youngest and Oldest

Our youngest grandchildren
Our Oldest
I have to get current photos of my in between grandchildren.
Aren't they the cutest, well, I could be a tad bit partial.

Yard Sale Finds

A close up of some pretties found at a yard sale.
Less than $2.00 for the lot and all in fine condition.

Recipe box $.25.

A Tasha Tudor for $.25. Lovely art work.

And it was a sunny day to boot, does it get any better than that?

Wanted:

The Peddler of Colored Threads

Winifred Shattuck

Saalfield Publishers

1946

Girls, I'm looking for this book.

The front and back covers are cardboard with comb binding.

The 1962 version is paper with staples. I don't want this one but will settle if I can't find the other.

It's the story of a chinese peddler who sells colored threads but wants to sail a boat. There's also a delightful dragon in the story.

If you see it in your travels and it's not over $5.00 and in decent condition get it for me.

Dishtowel curtains

My daughter Cheyenne sent me a goodie box for my birthday and these dishtowels were part of that parcel. There is one more polka dot towel as well. As I look at this photo I see I need to adjust the center curtain.
Unfortunately my window looks south onto my neighbor's back porch and yard. I have a blind on the window but have never had curtains. I was looking out the window one day and thinking how I hate looking at their messy yard and porch so the idea came to me about those dishtowels and voila the width was perfect so I folded them over and stitched at the corners. They looked cute but something was missing so I folded a doily over each one and I liked it. I'm going to live with it for a while and see how I like them in a month or so. What do you think?
P. S. After I posted this I looked at the photos and in the bottom photo to the extreme left you can barely see two glass apothecary jars. There was a 40% off sale Mother's Day sale at Alco so I got them. Anyway I was trying to find a way to photograph them to show y'all, I thought I had them out of the way but apparently didn't. I'll do a better photo but I need to find something and someway to hang it behind them so they show up...anyway, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Happy Birthday Jan Ericka

Jan Ericka was born on a Tuesday the 9th of May at 8:47 a.m. My only baby to be born in broad daylight. Your dad took me to the hospital about 4 or 5 in the morning and I labored on a gurney till we headed for the delivery room. That gurney was horrible, I couldn't turn over without fear of falling off. Labor wasn't too difficult, it's the delivery I'm not good at. I sure was glad when it was over. You had to be turned as did all my babies except for Brandee, and extracted with forceps. (Sounds like pulling a tooth, doesn't it...) You had a few scratch marks on your head but otherwise you were beautiful!

Grandma French came for your birth, she was the first to bathe you. You liked to suck on her chin when you were fussy and it was too soon to nurse you.

You were named Jan Ericka after your dad James Eric because you were suppose to be my last baby. (Little did we know, eh?)

The photo above was taken the day you were blessed. I don't remember the date but you have your blessing certificate so you can check. Grandpa Tieman stood in the circle with your dad and other priesthood holders for your blessing. You were blessed at the Crismon Road chapel. I made your dress, slip and bonnet.

You were a pretty baby with red hair. You've grown up to be a beautiful woman who always wants to change that beautiful red hair and that's ok cuz it makes life interesting.

A little tidbit about your dad...as soon as he got home he would pick you up from your crib, carrier or wherever you were, even if you were asleep, and go about with you.

You didn't get to be a baby very long because 15 months later Brandee arrived. You were already potty trained and weened. You were such an easy baby to take care of. You even got your nights down pat pretty quick.

You've turned out to be a good woman and a fine daughter Jan, I'm proud of you. You take your job as a wife & mother seriously and I'm grateful for that. It's one less thing I have to worry about. I know you will always be okay.

I'm so thankful Heavenly Father has allowed me to be your earthly mother. I've learned a lot from you over the years. I admire you for all that you are and will yet become.

I wouldn't have missed being your mom for all the pretties in the world.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAN
I LOVE YOU, Mom

He's Gone Again

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I'm standing here outside the door
I hated to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn
The blue taxis waiting, it's blowin' it's horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could cry

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that youll wait for me
Hold me like youll never let me go
I'm leavin in a big blue truck
I dont know when Ill be back again
Oh, girl, I hate to go

Coming home is always a treat
Our time together has been so sweet
Don't want to go but bills are comin' due
I'm a truck drivin' gent, that's what I do
See ya babe . . .

Right back atcha Sweet Man!

Pixies

Jan, here are the pixies I told you about, what do you think? The darkest one in front is plum, I don't know if you can make that out. I should have taken a photo of the back so you could see the color of their hats better. Aren't they cute?

A Prairie Churchyard

This little prairie churchyard contains many of our ancestors from my maternal side. The monument on the left is my great great grandparents. It was a gray heartland day when I went out to visit and take some photos. My mother use to say happy is the bride that the sun shines on, happy is the corpse that the rain falls on. If that is true these bodies will be exuberant! We've had record breaking rain this spring. The photos in this group were all taken at the same place. The photos for the cemetery art post were taken at another cemetery that my Uncle Roy use to be the caretaker for. (That's another story for another day.)
Henry is John Vicary's father which is a little further down.
My great great grandmother, Eliza Ford Stear My great great grandfather, Richard Stear.

John is the s/o Henry and Elizabeth Lonsdale Vicary he married Alice Wolstenholme d/o Jacob and Sarah Diggle Wolstenholme which is the photo below.

These are my great grandparents, Jacob and Sarah Diggle Wolstenholme.

Another relative. John Pillman is the b/o Joanna Pillman Stear my great great great grandmother, w/o Richard Strear whose son is Richard and Eliza Ford Stear, my great great grandparents, in the photos near the top. Nearly everyone in this little cemetery is related to me in one way or another. It's a lovely little spot and I love to go there and contemplate what life must have been like way back when. I can't wait to meet these people whose names I've gathered for so many years. One of these days I would like to photograph every tombstone that is related in this churchyard. There has been a lot of vandalism over the years and you never know when something may disappear completely. Many of the old flat limestone markers have been knocked over and laid flat on the ground and eventually the earth takes over and they disappear. Isn't that a shame!

Cemetery Art

I love to visit cemeteries. . .not just for genealogy but for the art as well.

These tombstones are definitely works of art. I love the shape, the color, the skill it took to accomplish the finished product. There are lots of OLD cemeteries in our neck of the woods and I wanted to share a few photos of some of the stones.

Imagine the work that went into the stone just behind the forefront one. Isn't that amazing work I hope you're able to click on these and enlarge them to see the detail.

This last one happens to be a relative by marriage.