* Happy Birthday to us *

Christmas, birthdays, and a new year all rolled up into one.

It was 22 years ago yesterday that our beautiful daughter was born. She was quite the birthday present for me!

And I was about 22 at the time.

Hahaha ... OK, I wasn't.

I'm just happy she didn't arrive on Dec. 25. That must be a tough day to have a birthday.

And today would have been my father's 100th birthday, so I, his only child, was his birthday present!

He was an "older dad," and when I was little some of my friends thought he was my grandfather.

Here's Allegra on her birthday modeling a Turbie Twist my mother got for her. It was a good gift, since she never quite got the hang of putting her wet hair in a towel.

Ralph devoted a post to us. Just click on his name to read.

Happy almost New Year to all.

~ Ruby Tuesday ~

"Look at all that snow! I hope it doesn't ruin my naturally curly hair."

You can see lots more photos featuring the color red at Mary T's Ruby Tuesday meme at her Work of the Poet blog.

Happy Ruby Tuesday and Happy New Year!

Yuletide re-post

Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Ho ho ho

Ralph took this photo last night after I was asleep. Santa was waving to him

through the front window!
Quite the capture, if I do say so myself.

A Yuletide re-post ~ Love these vintage cards

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Children make Christmas special

Vintage Christmas greetings ~
Isn't she sweet? Reminds me of myself when I was about 4 or 5. I loved dolls, and actually I still do.

Santa Claus takes the train and gives his eight reindeer a break. I'm guessing this card has a Christmas message. I must use online translator to figure out.

Santa never forgets the children.

This kiddo is sadly mistaken. No Santa?
I think he is a misguided lad.

And this last one I post in honor of Airhead 55 ~ Ralph just loves fixed-wing aircraft. That's why I named him Airhead 55, of course.

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ brrr...

I couldn't find a shadow shot to share today, until I braved the 19-degree cold to get the newspaper on the driveway and spied this shadow.

I missed posting a shadow last week but I'm happy to be back.

See lots more shadows from around the world at Hey Harriet, our awesome Aussie friend Tracy's blog.

And have a fun (almost Christmas) week shadow seeking!

It was a day to lend a hand to those who served

Last Friday Ralph and I attended a stand down for veterans at our city's Armory. It was the third such event sponsored by No Vet Left Behind, a non-profit organization founded by two Army veterans who just happen to be married.

Ralph remarked that what struck him was the dignity of the veterans, mostly all men, who arrived for free clothing, blankets, toiletries, food, hot coffee and camaraderie. Some of them were homeless, others just in need of some assistance to get them through the winter.

I wrote a story about the stand down. You can read about it here.

Still stuck in non-blogging mode...

So today I share something from the e-mail bag. I thought of Tesla, blogger Linda's cat, when I saw this comic! Linda was concerned the little guy would destroy her Christmas tree.

Happy Yuletide to all. I hope I can think up something to write about soon.

Christmas is coming

I had a day off yesterday. I accomplished a tiny bit. I bought one Christmas present and sent one card!

I'm getting organized. Really.

I started to arrange my winter village...Look who I found enjoying the snowy village when I got up this morning. Awww...

Guess that's all I got today. Have a great Thursday!

Remember Pearl Harbor

I did remember Pearl Harbor today...but not because I was alive when it happened.

I attended an annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremony. I've been to it many times, and it is always a moving tribute.

At the event I met a young man who had served in the Army National Guard in Afghanistan for 14 months. I thanked him for his service. He said it was the first time he had attended the event, and called it "amazing." He said he was happy to meet veterans from previous generations.

Sadly each year there are less World War II veterans in attendance than at the previous year's ceremony.

Many of the speakers talked about the debt of gratitude the American people owe to veterans for preserving the freedoms we all enjoy.

My mother has told me of her memories of that day in 1941...her family was having Sunday dinner when they heard the news that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

She had many friends and acquaintances who left their quiet New Jersey town to go to war, and never returned. I can't imagine what that would be like and I hope I never have to find out.

Ruby Tuesday

"Mommy what did you just bring into my house?" Linus might say if he could talk.

You can see how the Christmas geese look in our front yard here.

Visit Mary at Work of the Poet to see lots of photos featuring the color red.

Happy Ruby Tuesday to all!

Sending fond greetings

That's a new one.

I've never heard of anyone sending fond greetings for Christmas. Ah, those wacky Victorian-era people and their holiday sayings!

This is a "new" vintage Christmas card ~ not a repost from 2008 when I posted a bunch of them. Just to be clear here..

Happy Yuletide season to all!

Let the festivities begin!

Yesterday I bought these three tiny trees to put in the front yard. Today I splurged and got the goose family. It's a Christmas Goose and her goslings.

'Tis the season to get festive. The decorating has begun. Once I start there is no stopping me. I know, I'm a wild woman.

tee hee

Shadow Shot Sunday

Today's photo features another cameo appearance by my bloggy friend Linda, author of the always interesting Are We There Yet?

I took this as she was shooting photos at the covered bridge in West Cornwall, Ct. I didn't dare to go down the steps toward the river, even though they were concrete and looked sturdy enough. Linda is clearly more adventurous than I!

We had a fun foliage trip, full of laughs and leaves, but no lunch..We did stop for dinner at a diner. ;-)

See many more shadows from across the globe at our hostess Tracy's Hey Harriet blog.

A Yuletide re-post from 2008

I posted a series of vintage Christmas cards two years ago, and thought I would share one today. I have nothing about which to write..at least nothing fun!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Vintage Yuletide ~ Part 2

This would have been perfect for a Ruby Tuesday post, but I didn't take the photo, or illustrate the vintage Christmas card.
So maybe not.

I could make up a story about this character. Let's see...There once was an angel named Ruby, and one Tuesday she filled up her car with beautiful blue flowers to offer to anyone who needed some holiday cheer (of the floral variety).

Who knew angels drove?

Anyway, Ruby spent all day Tuesday driving her red car around the countryside, giving flowers and spreading Yuletide joy to all who she encountered along the dirt road.

The End.

~ Happy December ~

I do a lot of writing for my job, and I love to write, but apparently I've come down with writer's block as far as my blog is concerned.

So...I thought I would take the easy way out and offer up a riddle for the season:

Q: Why was Santa's little helper depressed?

A: He had low elf esteem

(Stay tuned for more...I can at least copy and paste!)