Pretty things from Mom's

I always loved the salt cellars and the toothpick holder. Here they are, joining the collection of wonderful beautiful art pieces in my overcrowded china cabinet. Behind the Jewel T dish, there is the blue art glass vase from Rosie's.


Lovely pieces.

Photos to share

I love this photo. It was one of the ones Patsy found for the photo board display at Mom's funeral. I took it home so I could scan it. I don't remember ever seeing it before. This was on our back porch prior to Pat and Stan's wedding. Really neat photo, one of my new favorites.

Remembering some oldies but goodies.

Thought of these handwritten recipes I had posted a while ago from Mom's.

http://pazzofamiglia.blogspot.com/2008/12/moms-recipes.html

Delia descends from a long line of strong women

Patsy at Sun Valley November 1976

Tracy enjoying the autumn sun at Sun Valley, Nov. 1976

1989 was a good year

This was the first Thanksgiving Ed & I had to miss with our family. Mom made me feel included by sending me lots of photos --- seems funny now. It was so "pre-Internet!" The handwriting on the back is Mom's, of course. This was taken at Park Blvd. That's Rosie with Stan, and Beatrice in the background of this one.

I'm trying to clean house in my little overcrowded condo, but I'm really enjoying going through these things. Here is Mom & Dad on the San Francisco BART train in 1989, just after we moved to California.


Amanda Nicholson, the 1988-89 Bridgeport Jerry West cheerleading squad.

Great Strong Family Times

April 1994

Well, the Gold Gate Bridge was the view from Ed's first office in San Francisco twenty years ago. No wonder he had a good work ethic, right?

It didn't take Dad and Mom long to fly west. This photo is not from their first trip, but about 5 years into our life in California. This time Mom and Dad had brought Trisha too. I have pictures of everyone in California! Dad really enjoyed these trips, and I like to think Mom did as well, after the plane ride was over. 8-)


This one is Mom's 72nd Birthday, on May 9th, 1994. I couldn't be there, but Mom sent me this photo. It shows Dad, Stan, Trish and Tracy and Mom. Patsy took the photo.

Celebrating the Work Ethic

Ed doing what he would rather do than work.



This June 2009 was the 20th anniversary of Ed's beginning of work for the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. They recognized his dedication to service by sending him a nice pin in the mail that has the "20" on it. It was June 1989 when we drove across country in our red Chrysler Town and Country station wagon with the Sears Roebuck egg on top of the car. And, of course, our two energetic and squirrely kids inside.

T W E N T Y years. We should have some cake!

Our visit in Biloxi

This is the beachfront right across from the old VA Med Center in Gulfport.

Light fixture in Treasure Bay Casino, note the view of the ocean, these places are right on the water.
Man, it is hot and very muggy though......

Joey's Marathon in Seattle

Brookside Gardens ~ My personal Sanity Spot

Can you spot the turtles? My favorites!



This fountain makes the most lovely sounds, there is a neat bench nearby where I like to meditate if it is a quiet day there.





Just wanted to take a minute to share with you some images of Brookside Gardens. This is where I go for peaceful walks and exercise - sanity savers. There are not many places as nice as this one is.

My friend and peer of nearly 18 years, Ginny DuPont died on Thursday. She had fought ovarian cancer for about 2 years. Ginny, single most of her life, had found the love of her life and just married him right before they found the cancer. He was at her side when she died at home. She did manage to retire, although she certainly wasn't ready to. She had been the mainstay of the VA Library network for many years. Her husband was her rock during the rounds of chemo and treatments.

ch-ch-ch-changes

I woke up this morning:
I go to bed tonight:
10" of hair will be mailed to locks of love tomorrow.

Mom's 87th Birthday

Mom on her 87th Birthday at Sun Valley




Saturday was Mom's 87th birthday. Ed came in from California and we were able to drive home for Saturday. We got the cake at Bonnie Belle's, which is a real family tradition. I think she enjoyed it. I ordered the lemon filling, which I think she likes. She seemed to enjoy it. I was glad to spend that day with her.

Mother's Day we drove back to DC and I got Ed to the airport in time for his flight. We got to have dinner together in the airport before he left. Heard from both my offspring! All in all, a very nice Mom's Day.

Spring has arrived at Sun Valley

It is a fabulous day here in the valley. Ed and I are visiting Mom and Stan. Patsy is here by herself. Seems to be a staffing problem with the hired help.
We were able to provide enough time for Patsy to make a necessary trip into town. Ed cooked Mom's breakfast, Patsy had already fed Stan his breakfast.

It is 60 degrees and beautiful and sunny.

Mom is in a pretty good mood, sitting up for a little while.

I am wholly inadequate to the job of caregiver. Remind me to make my long term care insurance payments. ;-)
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Hey, Ed and I just moved Mom from her chair into her bed using the Hoyer Lift. I may qualify for the CNA certification after all.

We gathered together all the receipts Pat had and created the package for the accountant to do Mom's taxes. Ed and I managed to get that to Bridgeport so they can begin working on the taxes. Hope she doesn't have to pay too much.

This one is destined to be an X-mas card...

Sometimes a picture says it all

Chrysler 200 Concept Car

I think Daddy would have enjoyed walking around here with us last weekend. It was the Auto Show for 2009 in Washington DC. Very fun, look for the Chrysler 200 concept car, which I think was at least part electric, but you'll have to ask Ed, he paid attention.

Then & Now

Sometime in 1969:












Last Saturday night:









This morning:

Pita Piata

Last Christmas Joey & I attempted to make Pita Piata's. He had something like a recipe from grandma, and something off the internet that was pretty close....
While I moving, I found I HAVE AN ACTUAL RECIPE right in the drawer next to my oven. Oh well, next year.These pages are scanned from "Arrivederci: Recipes and Customs Every Italian Girl Takes from Home". I could have swore we went through this book, but maybe we were partaking of the Jack Daniel's that Grandma's recipe called for.

What kind of Car did you learn to drive in?

We were thinking the other day about how much fun our cars have been over the years. We've always had eyes for nice automobiles, even if our pocketbook didn't match our admiration.

I remember Dad taking me to the parking lot of the Armory and leaving me in his Dodge truck (which had a clutch) while he walked around and sat on the nearby knoll. I didn't learn how to use the clutch until a year later, when Ed showed me on his 71 Camaro.

I did drive the 1967 Chrysler New Yorker, something like this one.



I think Patsy got to learn to drive on the 1962 (or was it a '63?) Chrysler 300, in Red with black leather seats!