My dear friend Sue, passed away on Thursday after a long battle with cancer.  She will be missed by many friends, and her family.  I will write a little more about this remarkable woman at a later time, when I am more at peace with her being gone. 

Sue,  like these pansies, refused to quit shining brightly. 

Chickens in the Road is one of my most favorite blogs….about life on a farm in West Virginia. Her photos, recipes and stories just make me happy. Well, the author, Suzanne, is trying to win a contest that would give her employment as a writer. Visit her blog, and live the simple, country life vicariously.

But as a favor for me, won’t you vote for her everyday until December 7. Thank you! I want her to win, and she can with our help.

Jeff’s paternal grandparents.  I gleaned some facts from EEEK, who had never met them as they were gone by the time she met Jeff’s dad. 

-Edward was a sales rep for Nesco, selling enamelware at the time.  His main account was the SS Kresge Co.

-Cecelia was an artist, she painted and made pottery.  I will have to show you my treasures from her someday.

-They were probably married about 1910

-She died in her early 30’s, of the flu…..and was pregnant at the time.  So that was probably in the 1920’s.  

Thanks for going Way Back with me today!

Colt came over today and was idly playing with the CD’s under the computer desk, climbing up and down the porch step, just exploring, nothing too exciting…same ol’, same ol’.

Then he caught a glimpse of my laptop setting on the coffee table……

What a reaction!  He immediately started pushing keys, flipping the top open and closed, and squealing with delight. 

He’s 11 months old, for goodness sakes,  what  an unexpected attraction.    He had us all in stitches, he was silly and giddy with delight.  

My laptop did survive his escapades, but I think I will keep it out of reach from now on. 

And that first photo had my feet in it, so this counts as a “where I stand”…..

More baby pictures posted in the “family photo album page”

Jackie….happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…..

I know you always hated being the youngest in the family, but maybe now you appreciate being younger than your brother and sister.    As the youngest, you were cherished not only by your mom and dad, grandparents and aunts and uncles……

But your brother and sister were so happy to have you….your arrival was a much anticipated event by all of us!

You are the darling of our family, and always will be! 

Jackie and I were buddies during her preschool years, with her siblings already in school.  We went everywhere together…..school events,  Taco Bell (two soft tacos),  to grandma’s and to friends houses.      I remember those days fondly.  

Jackie is fun loving and outgoing, really pretty fearless!

But if there is one character trait that jumped out as I looked through photos, is her love of animals, and their attraction to her. 

She was a favorite of Toad, and now of Marlo. 

That’s her favorite boy, Tiger…not looking too happy, but cooperating with his bath.  He adored Jackie. 

And her second favorite boy was her Aunt Patrice’s horse, Mel.  

Know that your mama loves you Jack! 

Have a wonderful birthday!!!

Leaves floating in the pond.  One of the few places you will find any stray leaves on our property right now.  Jeff has the rest tamed and under control, and lined up single file at the street’s edge.  He said,  “Leaves, one of the best and worst things about fall.”

We made a quick trip to da UP last weekend.  The weather was appropriately gray and rainy, with most of the leaves down on the ground all soggy, no crunch crunch under foot.   

But something about the looks of the beach and lake in November is awesome, powerful and a little spooky.

The stinging wind and rain, hitting me as I walked out made for some quick shots, and then a dash back inside. 

On the way home, we stopped at the Cut River Bridge, which is now open after being  closed (off and on, mysteriously) for almost 2 years. 

It does appears that work was done on the support structure. 

So the cabins are safely tucked in, and ready for a long winter. 

Jeff’s greatgrandparents Gustav and Augusta and their family…with Jeff’’s grandfather being the youngest boy, sitting in the front.  Gus and Gus lived in Detroit, we think this photo was taken at their home on 25th Street about 1910.  EEEK ( Jeff’s mom) lived her childhood right down the street from her grandparents.  She especially loved Augusta, her “big grandma”…not that she was so big, but just bigger and softer than her tiny maternal grandmother.  

If you followed my “Tailor quilt project” here and here,  Gus was the tailor, and Augusta was the seamstress who patched the wool samples together to make the quilt.  EEEK says that this grandmother also made all her winter coats until she was about 16 years old.  Taking a guess, Gustav probably made the suits he and his sons are wearing.  The tailor shop was in the back of their home, and EEEK would clean the shop for her grandfather for 25 cents.  

My big question is, why the serious expressions?  The children have slightly pleasant looks on their face, but the two Guses…serious.   Was this the fashion???  EEEK says they were stoic Germans.  I had to look up stoic because I wanted to be perfectly clear on the meaning:

Stoic or stoical:   Not affected by or showing passion or feeling. being indifferent to pleasure or pain. 

Yes, that explains their attitude and expressions quite well.  

I had this photo set aside to ask EEEK  some questions,  and she had answers!    Digging out more mysterious old photos and hearing their story will be a good Sunday afternoon pasttime this winter with the EEEK.

Marlo is wondering why I’m not feeding her  at 6 o’clock today, why I am paying no attention.  She’s whining in the kitchen right at this moment.  Below she’s caught in a  full fledged bark, insistent that I’m late with her evening meal. 

We gradually adjust her feeding to the time change.  Gradually change her inner clock.  Takes about a week.  I will never need an alarm clock for 6AM or 6 PM, as long as Marlo is around.     And I wish my sense of time was as well developed.