A very Merry Christmas and Happy blessed New Year to all Sepian colleagues wherever you are in the world this season..finally a prompt that I just could not allow to go unanswered....
Every year with the postage increases, now at 46 cents, I consider "this year fewer Christmas cards to send out." All the old folks who most enjoyed them are all gone now and today the people who keep in contact with us do so by text, email, Facebook or by cell phone. Sure the total number is down, yet annually, there are some with whom I am compelled to exchange cards and this year a total 59 recipients indicates the number is growing again adding folks we meet on our travels and well, we live across the country from our many friends who have also moved around. We are mobile in retirement.
I have fully realized this year that our treasured friends are really our family. This year we had a photo card pulled together to commemorate our Alaska adventure and our 46th year of marriage; really could not have done it without the expertise and software of a local friend, Ann who was able to crop out, edit and fix our photos to display just the two of us. In every photo we took in Alaska, no matter how hard we tried to avoid it, someone would be there, I suppose that happens on tours. Fortunately, Ann has professional skills and software so she performed magic making our 2013 card just the two of us. Because we only bought 40 of these at 90 cents each, some received another annual greeting card. But here, Sepians is our 2013 greeting, which I share with you.
Left to right starting on top, first Jerry next to an Alaskan moose carved and assembled from trees, the two of us at the sign entering Alaska after a trip deep into the Yukon (Ann cropped 30+ others out of this), bottom it was raining in Anchorage when we arrived, middle is somewhere near Fairbanks (again Ann deleted all the extra people) and last is in Syracuse New York in May at the Good Sam Rally on our way to the rehitching ceremony where despite the thousands of couples renewing vows in a mass ceremony, we did not beat the Guinness records...ah well, this was 46 years for us and time to renew vows. Here's my little secret, at our 1967 ceremony I was so fraught that I never said "I do" and here in May, a potty call which was far from the seating was uppermost in my mind, so I did not say "I do" again..Jerry laughs and reminds me that the third time is the charm..
But there you have it a Very happy holiday season however and whatever you do or don't celebrate, warm wishes....until 2014 Sepians. The following is the link to our community of Sepians....warmest wishes, bloggers all. http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2013/12/sepia-saturday-208-christmas-new-year.html
I created this blog to record our RV trips and ;morphed into life in our retirement lane and telling my tales of life. Now my tales of life are on widowhood, my new and probably my last phase of l I have migrated to Facebook where I communicate daily, instantly with family/friends all over. I write here sometimes. COPYWRIGHT NOTICE: All photos, stories, writings on this blog are the property of myself, Patricia Morrison and may not be used, copied, without my permission most often freely given.
Other blog dominating
Blogger insists on showing my posts and comments to others as my Books Blog, You can click on it to get here and vice versa....the Book blog is just that while this one, my first, original has miscellany
Link to BookBlog https://patsbooksreadandreviewed.blogspot.com/
Friday, December 20, 2013
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
The secret to success: Never settle for being content
An all time favorite Christmas album |
The quote in the heading is attributable online to Ray Coniff on a webpage dedicated to his music,
http://www.rayconniff.info/about-Ray-Conniff
This Conniff Christmas music is possibly my all time favorite and I am enjoying it this afternoon as I hem jeans and do other sewing related chores inside avoiding more time out in today's 9 degrees. I own this as a 33 1/3 album (very vintage stuff) and on a cassette (which is nearly worn out) as well as the newest a CD which my late closest friend, Roberta found for me one Christmas because she knew of my fondness for Coniff music. Oh haw thrilled I was to get a CD of Conniff. But the record album is also very special to me, my Grandma Rose bought it for me when she came to CA to help me in 1965-66. She enjoyed the music too. She laughed that it was the first music she had bought since she did not remember when, maybe since their old record player became extinct. I remember it like yesterday and I believe she is still listening to it in the beyond as I am 48 years later. 1965 was in the time of the record stores where we could go in and pick up an album; there was one store near to where she grocery shopped with me in California; for an old Polish lady she was sneaky because I did not know what she was doing and later when we returned home she gave me the wonderful album with the biggest smile, so proud of herself for dodging and fooling me; it would be the last Christmas gift she'd ever buy for me. The music of our lives usually brings memories and I never listen to Conniff without remembering my Baba and this album.
Back of the CD shows Ray Conniff conducting. |
Just a bit about him for those who are unfamiliar with this great musician. The following is excerpted from Wikipedia and the Conniff webpage: Joseph Raymond "Ray" Conniff, also known as "Jay Raye," (November 6, 1916 – October 12, 2002) was an American bandleader and arranger best known for his Ray Conniff Singers Singers during the 1960s. After serving in the US Army in World War II, he joined the Artie Shaw big band and wrote many arrangements for him. Then Mitch Miller, Columbia Records, hired him as their home arranger, working with several artists like including Rosemary Clooney, Marty Robbins, Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis, Guy Mitchell and Johnnie Ray. He wrote a top 10 arrangement for Don Cherry's "Band of Gold" in 1955, a single that sold more than a million copies. Among the hit singles he backed with his orchestra (and eventually with a male chorus) were "Yes Tonight Josephine" and "Just Walkin' in the Rain" by Johnnie Ray; "Chances Are" and "It's Not for Me to Say" by Johnny Mathis; "A White Sport Coat" and "The Hanging Tree" by Marty Robbins; "Moonlight Gambler" by Frankie Laine; "Up Above My Head," a duet by Frankie Laine and Johnnie Ray; and "Pet Me, Poppa" by Rosemary Clooney. He also backed up the albums Tony by Tony Bennett, Blue Swing by Eileen Rodgers, Swingin' for Two by Don Cherry, and half the tracks of The Big Beat by Johnnie Ray. Now if those titles don't bring some memories to you, you must not be of my generation.
In these early years he also produced similar-sounding records for Columbia's Epic label under the name of Jay Raye amongst them a backing album and singles with Somethin' Smith and the Redheads, an American male vocal group.
Between 1957 and 1968, Conniff had 28 albums in the American Top 40, the most famous one being Somewhere My Love (1966). He topped the album list in Britain in 1969 with His Orchestra, His Chorus, His Singers, His Sound, an album which was originally published to promote his European tour to Germany, Austria, Switzerland in 1969. He was the first American popular artist to record in Russia in 1974 when he recorded Ray Conniff in Moscow with the help of a local choir. His later albums like Exclusivamente Latino, Amor Amor, and Latinisimo made him very popular in Latin-American countries. In Brazil and Chile he was treated like a young pop superstar in the 1980s and 1990s when he was in his 70s and 80s.
If you have never heard Ray Conniff or have become nostalgic for the music after reading this, you can go to his webpage and listen to selections.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Made in the USA
When I hear laments about how nothing is made here in this country anymore, or that all the jobs went overseas, etc. I often ask the people what brand of car they drive, or brand of TV or receiver, cell phone and how often they shop at Wal Mart, Dollar Stores, Target etc, because there is part of the reason. We have become a country of over consuming whining commentators about the circumstance to which we have all contributed. Consumer demands for more and more, bigger, better, newer and above all, Cheaper prices have led us just to where we are today. Then don't even get me started on unions and their greed, demanding ever higher wages for less skills and less production and well, it does not take a genius to see what has happened.
I try to buy Made in the USA (except for shoes made in Italy when I can find them) which means I buy fewer things and often pay more for an item, but really in our retirement life, I need less so have diminished what was a big past time for me years back, shopping and grazing the aisles. Of course online shopping can be done easily in the comfort of home and pj's but being an old school kind of gal, I like to see, feel, touch and observe what I might buy. I use to excel at browsing, one never knows what they need unless they look. I admit to purchasing frequently on Amazon, QVC and other online sites, but still get more satisfaction from the in person experience. I like thrift type stores and decent craft shows, gravitating to "vintage" goods and or something made by someone with whom one can speak about the merchandise. While not particularly wild about goods, made in China, I have purchased them and sometimes the quality is amazingly good.
When we are traveling we do a lot of shopping at Wal Marts which are handy with usually easy access off interstates and have ample parking for our big rig motor coach. But here at home, I avoid WalMart. However last Saturday, we were out and about and Jerry suggested we stop at Wal Mart because they carry the type of anti itch cream he uses at the cheapest price. While there I decided to browse for new cushion for the new kitchen chairs. I approached that aisle with my nose in the air, surely there is nothing, because I do not want "made in China." I was astonished to see exactly what I was looking for, cushions with rubber gripper bottoms that do not slide and in color tones I liked. Even more pleasantly astonished that the cushions were Made in the USA and of recycled materials. And being Wal Mart the price was certainly cheap enough. Victory, new cushions for the new chairs which are solid wood, that quickly tires the butt when sitting on them unless cushioned. To find Made in the USA in Wal Mart was quite the deal for me. Don't get me wrong, I am not anti Wal Mart by any means, they provide jobs and bargains but I just try to support Made in America as much as I can.
I am a fussy, very particular shopper, too which is why it took three years for me to find replacements for our kitchen table and chairs, but find it we did at a new local furniture store to this area, HOM furniture. HOM handles a great variety of goods and some is imported as well as Amish made, imported from Indiana and locally made. Criteria for replacement was fold down sides as it is in a small area and we liked that feature on the old set which we bought "cheap" for something temporary in 2004 when we were still not living here full time. Right, 6 years of "temporary." I also did not like the bistro styles with high chairs and tables; I am short and do not want to use a step stool to climb up to a chair in my kitchen and then have my feet dangling. When we bought the temporary set which has a mightily battle scarred top worn from Jerry there were many and plenty of these side fold down sets around. But today not so. We use this seating for the two of us and it is just right, ala Goldilocks. When we have others here we use the dining room table. Let me introduce here the 2013 replacement, which has grown on me.....I would have preferred plain wood, not the painted black but all in all it is a substantial set and the temporary is downstairs right outside the door from Jerry's gym room and work spot, where it replaced an old card table that has been there since we moved in 2005.
I try to buy Made in the USA (except for shoes made in Italy when I can find them) which means I buy fewer things and often pay more for an item, but really in our retirement life, I need less so have diminished what was a big past time for me years back, shopping and grazing the aisles. Of course online shopping can be done easily in the comfort of home and pj's but being an old school kind of gal, I like to see, feel, touch and observe what I might buy. I use to excel at browsing, one never knows what they need unless they look. I admit to purchasing frequently on Amazon, QVC and other online sites, but still get more satisfaction from the in person experience. I like thrift type stores and decent craft shows, gravitating to "vintage" goods and or something made by someone with whom one can speak about the merchandise. While not particularly wild about goods, made in China, I have purchased them and sometimes the quality is amazingly good.
Labels from new chair cushions |
The temporary kitchen table and chairs 2004--2013 |
2013 new kitchen set |
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Happy Thanksgiving Gratitude and feasting
Happy Thanksgiving to all my blog pals and FB where this link will appear. Mother nature may not cooperate with my plans to join the annual Lacrosse Turkey Trot tomorrow AM. Our weather has been frigid, too early this year to suit me and predictions for tomorrow 8:00AM appear to be 15 to 20 degrees. We had picked up our bibs with our participant numbers and t shirts today...but we shall see. I will be disappointed if not but at this stage, nothing to be proven only to challenge our boundaries.... There seems to be an abnormal amount, excessive clap trap, chattering going on against Thanksgiving day shopping, protests abound on Facebook from friends and acquaintances. Frankly, I don't understand why everyone has to object; I would not be interested in shopping tomorrow but to each his or her own. Some do not have big families around so they are not gathering with others; some workers relish the overtime; some people just like to shop and so be it. Why does everyone have to condemn others for their choices? It sure seems like we are more and more becoming too condemning of others and for something as minor as when they shop and spend money. Why don't people just chill out and mind their own business? Wouldn't we be better off instead of trying to impose our choices onto others?
It's a bit of wistful time here with just the two of us on Thanksgiving day, thinking about those we have lost on this earth and past Thanksgivings. Life holds no promises of the future, but plenty of time to look back....we will miss Steve all the rest of our lives, sometimes we look at each other when the moment clouds with darkness, we know what the other is thinking and we hug. It was only five years ago that downward spiral started although it seems like another lifetime away. That's one reason and likely the major why today we are starting different traditions for us empty nesters. We thought we would already be snow birded south by now, but again those best laid plans go astray.... some final medical appointments in December have curtailed us until January departure, so here we are. Eating out does not appeal, no left overs, no wonderful smells of the roasting in the oven and just too crowded, so we will enjoy a turkey breast at home with plenty of accompaniments. Jerry does not eat stuffing nor cranberry sauce and I do; so I will have a small amount of stuffing that will last me for some time. As I was chopping the celery, onions, and carrot this week to mix with the bread that I have curing in a bowl, I thought, "why am I doing this for myself?" Well why not, who else will do it for me? The fixings are on a much diminished scale to accompany our feast tomorrow, but the preparation is the same and really compared to years back in California when I worked through the week and then still put on the family feasts, this is nothing. It really is a blessing to enjoy good health and be able to do it all.
Well while I have been assuring myself that winter came earlier this year, Jerry suggested not so. Found some photos from November 2006 that recall an early snow as this of the front roses, hmmmm. At least there is no white stuff here on the grounds, that is one more reason for thankfulness this Thanksgiving.
2008 November Jerry & Me in Colorado, visiting his sister. We had not a clue then how our trip would be diverted It was quite funny to find this old country store, with our name. |
Well while I have been assuring myself that winter came earlier this year, Jerry suggested not so. Found some photos from November 2006 that recall an early snow as this of the front roses, hmmmm. At least there is no white stuff here on the grounds, that is one more reason for thankfulness this Thanksgiving.
Roses in the snow, here November 2006 |
Friday, November 22, 2013
Sepia Saturday 204 Life changing times
The week's prompt brings many thoughts and having been around the planet for 68 years, I have experienced many life changing events, some heart warming, some tragic. Here in the States we are marking 50 years post John F Kennedy's assassination; he was the first president I ever paid attention to and my generation's most loved politician. Up until then it was innocence of beliefs, faith in all being right and no doubts about what might come next. JFK's murder, for that's what it was is an event that cut a wide swath through my beliefs as a Catholic and girl of the 60's. That particular day I was prone on a sofa in the apartment in Sacramento, CA, fighting the most horrid morning sickness ever suffered by a pregnant woman, and yet stirred with the TV reporting what could not be happening in front of me. As if it were not bad enough now that I knew I was in a big dilemma, across the country from all family and wondering WTH I could have been thinking to get myself into that pitiful, dreadful marriage anyway, my President was killed. Ahhhh life twisted along from there some uphills, some flat times and some joy, some scathing downhill jolts.
I did get out of that mess but found myself a young single Mom, determined to stay in CA and not to return to Pennsylvania and readily admit that my mother was right. Oh I was 20, didn't I know everything? Not so by a long way. To my rescue then by rail road, journeyed my maternal grandmother aka Baba Rose alone across the country from Pennsylvania, to stay with me, help me with the baby, get me on my feet and provide the love she had all my life. She did not scold nor say "we all told you so....." No none of that, she was absolute strength and support. I regret that perhaps I did not appreciate her as much as I should have although she knew I loved her very much.
Here she is in December 1965 with Steve who is 18 months old. We were all surviving on very tight finances; I was working two shifts at McClellan AFB and she was encouraging me to go back to school, to finish college because she knew I was too smart to stay below what I could achieve. Above all, she told me, "you will marry again, but next time be careful, don't jump into anything and choose a good man; you learned a lesson, don't ever forget it." Very prophetic as Jerry would come along shortly after she left. Wish she could have met him.
Rose was already only 70 years old here but looks much older. She was the grandmother who raised me; she and the family helped Mom, her daughter who was a WWII widow pregnant with me. Rose had experience in spades with us young Moms. She stayed less than a year before returning home to Pennsylvania. She helped me get my head on straight and never criticized my decision to stay there in California, on my own. She said, "You'll make it, you are smart and pretty and headstrong, don't look back, look ahead." Before she departed for home, she found another grandmotherly woman who would babysit Steve for pittances when I worked, and who would adopt us like family. I don't know what would have happened without her, my grandma Rose who helped me in the crisis of a lifetime. I did a lot of growing up then, fast, through a life changing time.
This has been just one life changing event for me. To see what others in the Sepia community have to say this Saturday, click here to the site http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2013/11/sepia-saturday-204-23-november-2013.html
I did get out of that mess but found myself a young single Mom, determined to stay in CA and not to return to Pennsylvania and readily admit that my mother was right. Oh I was 20, didn't I know everything? Not so by a long way. To my rescue then by rail road, journeyed my maternal grandmother aka Baba Rose alone across the country from Pennsylvania, to stay with me, help me with the baby, get me on my feet and provide the love she had all my life. She did not scold nor say "we all told you so....." No none of that, she was absolute strength and support. I regret that perhaps I did not appreciate her as much as I should have although she knew I loved her very much.
Here she is in December 1965 with Steve who is 18 months old. We were all surviving on very tight finances; I was working two shifts at McClellan AFB and she was encouraging me to go back to school, to finish college because she knew I was too smart to stay below what I could achieve. Above all, she told me, "you will marry again, but next time be careful, don't jump into anything and choose a good man; you learned a lesson, don't ever forget it." Very prophetic as Jerry would come along shortly after she left. Wish she could have met him.
Rose was already only 70 years old here but looks much older. She was the grandmother who raised me; she and the family helped Mom, her daughter who was a WWII widow pregnant with me. Rose had experience in spades with us young Moms. She stayed less than a year before returning home to Pennsylvania. She helped me get my head on straight and never criticized my decision to stay there in California, on my own. She said, "You'll make it, you are smart and pretty and headstrong, don't look back, look ahead." Before she departed for home, she found another grandmotherly woman who would babysit Steve for pittances when I worked, and who would adopt us like family. I don't know what would have happened without her, my grandma Rose who helped me in the crisis of a lifetime. I did a lot of growing up then, fast, through a life changing time.
1965 Steve at 18 months with his great grandmother, my grandma Baba, Rose Ostrowski Kochanowski |
Labels:
Baba,
grandmother's love,
Rose Ostroski,
Sepia Saturday Post,
Steve
Friday, November 15, 2013
Sepia Saturday 203 Doorways and beyond
While looking for doorway photos for this week's prompt, I found two in my file of mystery people ... Their identities were likely well known to my relatives who kept the photos, but here in 2013 as the surviving person, I have not a clue. This first iconic photo taken as so many with someone out the door and very close to the step of the porch. But another person is standing in the doorway. This was with photos from my late Aunt Marge and among hers from 1941-42 in Cleveland, Ohio. She was better than most at identifying the people in her photos but not here. It might be in early fall or spring, the woman has a coat over her shoulders and open toe shoes, purse along side, ready to come or just returning. A story waiting to be told. Aunt Marge lived in Cleveland when she was a young single hair dresser before marrying Uncle Carl and some of the time when he was away in the Army during World War II.
The second photo is from Pennsylvania and while not in the doorway, behind her ,the lady is on the porch. This was in my late Aunt Virginia's collections..It could be my grandmother's sister, Mary who lived across the river from us in a house with a big porch. I've written before about Sunday's with my Great Aunt Mary and the Janosky clan. The back of the photo has labeling which identifies it as a "Kodacolor Print, Week Ending May 26, 1956." Whoever she is, she means business and might be just leaving for church; my grandmother and her sisters usually display that down to business look in their photos. She has likely just come out the door, dressed in hat and coat, while the photo is fading the hat and coat were a pink shade. While Aunt Mary might have splurged on a new spring coat, I cannot imagine it would have been any color but a basic serviceable dark, color, navy perhaps, but pink?
Finally another photo that is more meaningful to me today with both Mom and our son, Steve gone. Not a doorway, which they have passed through but still posed in front. Taken in July, 1972 in Pennsylvania at my old home; Steve and I were there for a visit from California, it was for my 10th high school reunion. Steve is on the front steps and Mom, grandma, is behind on the edge of the porch. Her hands are on her hips while Steve has hung his thumbs inside his pockets. It is pre-digital photo ability and not close enough for good detail, that we could get today. I am also surprised that this was developed in black and white, but it was with Mom's things and likely taken by Barney, her 3rd husband. They have both just come out the door; we hardly ever used the front door to that house where I grew up, we came in from the side or back doors only. The front door opened into the living room and we would not have thought of entering there, that was for company. By the way, relatives also came to the side or back doors, so it had to be someone special to come to the front door. But after I left home, and would return to visit, Mom allowed use of the front door. Still, I would revert to the side door mostly, it's what I was used to, an old habit. This is one of the few photos I have of the old home which is still standing but is owned by a nephew with whom I have no contact. He has changed the house color and I know not what else, because after Mom passed in 2004 and Jerry and I stayed there for the funeral, I have never again been inside the house.
From doorways and unknowns to dear departed loved ones, this has been a Sepia Saturday post. To see what others in our international community are sharing this week, use this link
Labels:
doorways,
Mom,
mystery people,
Pennsylvania,
Sepia Saturday Post,
Steve,
unknown
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Pumpkin time
My healthy carrot pumpkin muffins |
In my search for more pumpkin to fill the void, I remembered a healthy, low fat muffin recipe from several years back that used a can of pumpkin in a chocolate cake mix...but I did not want chocolate, I wanted pumpkin. Why not a healthy muffin, cakelike and moist, carrot pumpkin. I seldom post recipes on this blog, but have been so happy about this modification that satisfied my pumpkin seasonal craving that I share it today. It is a very easy thing to put together. These are good for a breakfast treat as well as a desert or snack. The fat grams are minimal and since that is what I watch, it's a winner....
Here's my adapted recipe:
- 1 box butter pecan cake mix Do not use a brand with pudding in the mix as it adds to the fat.. This is what I had in the cupboard but you could use spice, carrot or plain yellow cake. The entire box of mix had only 3 grams fat and 170 calories.
- 2 eggs The original recipe calls for 3 egg whites, lower fat content, but I do not like to throw away the yolks, so I use the entire egg. That adds 9 grams fat and 150 calories.
- 1 16 oz can of pumpkin Not pumpkin pie mix, just plain pumpkin. This adds only 2 grams fat and 160 calories.
- 1/2+cup very finely diced carrot bits No fat appx 25 calories
- 1 teaspoon each all spice, nutmeg, ginger, mace, pumpkin pie spice, sugar No fat 15 calories from the sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon No fat
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup rum Can use brandy instead or omit liquor if you prefer and use 1/4 cup more water. No fat in rum but one ounce has 65 calories, so 2 oz is about right for 1/4 cup adding 130 calories.
Set carrots aside and beat everything else together with mixer until completely smooth. Add diced carrot bits at last...and blend or stir well. Fill 2/3 into paper lined cupcake tins. Makes 20 cupcakes/muffins. Sprinkle each on top with a dash of sugar, less than 1/8 teaspoon of sugar for each.
Bake 350 degrees for 32-38 minutes. My oven took only 32 minutes, but some take longer. Test with toothpick in center to ensure done, when toothpick comes out clean muffins are ready. Cool a bit and serve...enjoy.
Each muffin has about 33 calories and 1.5 grams fat. My daily fat gram allowance is 33. Jerry is not a pumpkin fan so I had plenty muffins to share and have frozen others. I can take out one, thaw and or nuke it in the microwave and good to go.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Sepia Saturday 202 Cloche hats and the same couple or?
Oh what a treat, I offer this week a couple unknown to me who posed sans camera and whose photo was amongst those of my late Uncle John Irwin, grandson of the very late JR Irwin last week's post. I have suspected that this small photo might be of Uncle John's parents, Ned and Jessie Irwin....but since it was not labeled, I am unsure. If it is it is only one of two photos I know of Ned, his father. The cloche hat and the auto in the background make me think of the early 30's. I cannot identify what she is holding in her hand, a treat? He appears to have a cigarette hanging from his mouth and his left arm has moved blurring the photo...And what's up with the man behind them?. Ned and Jessie traveled extensively, Europe and especially England, are they off to parts unknown or just returning? Why is he bare headed when all other photos of this era have men in hats? She appears bundled up in trench coat and hat and he is sans overcoat too? So many questions and suppositions, for this photo of mystery to me today a couple out and about, no beach no camera..
To see what others have shared this week, click here to the International Sepia site....
http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2013/11/sepia-saturday-202-9-november-2013.html
To see what others have shared this week, click here to the International Sepia site....
http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2013/11/sepia-saturday-202-9-november-2013.html
Labels:
cloche hat,
Irwin family,
Sepia Saturday Post,
unknown couple
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