In between

 Yesterday I picked up my Aunt Judy (she was married to Uncle Dennis who was my Mother's brother, he died a number of years ago) and she and I went to see my Uncle Al.  Uncle Al is 7 years older than me and loved the job of rocking babies instead of chopping wood.  I was born in September and my Grandmother had twins in November ( My Aunt Karen died a few years ago but Uncle Kenny is still alive and lives in Nebraska. )  So there were three babies to rock, Uncle Al says it was almost a full time job. 

So I am the in between kid...in between Al and Kenny.  They are the the last surviving members of that family.   Uncle Al was diagnosed with Leukemia 6 1/2 years ago, the Doctors bought him a few good years, recently the Doctors reported that the cancer is in his bones so there is nothing medically that can be done for him...enter Hospice to keep him comfortable. 

He is in good spirits, taking it one day at a time. His wife Donna is a marvelous caregiver, between her and hospice they hope to keep him at home for the duration of his life.  We had a nice visit and talked about many things.  We took chicken from KFC for lunch because it is one of Uncle Al's favorite lunches.

I also took him an old picture.  He looked at it and said "Is that me and you?"  Pretty sure it is!  The photo was taken at my Grandparents home and everyone else was way older than him.

Uncle Al and me June of 1952.

Aunt Judy and I had a good visit there and back, she has a really good sense of humor, so it was a giggly girls trip! 

It snowed on and off most of yesterday.

Far Side 

Little Things

I have been enjoying the little things in life.  Cool water on a hot evening.  A evening ride with the guys.  A Flea Market trip and the guys returning with the mail!

I resisted this purchase until I told Far Guy about it..immediately he saw why I was attracted to this little piece of art.  So he bought it for me!  I am not exactly sure what it is..a watercolor maybe it has a sealed back and I hate to disturb it.  It looks like a Collie to me..or a Sheltland Sheepdog watching over a flock of sheep in the evening light.

It isn’t very big and hardly takes up any space at all.  It came with the cute little stand.

We couldn’t resist this either.

The Gene Autry Collection grows..we aren’t actively looking for his “stuff” anymore. Isn’t that the way it goes..when you stop looking for something you find it all over.

I got a very nice surprise in the mail.  I won a drawing over at Punkin’s Patch.  Thanks Sara!

This is her collection of Christmas Cards.  She knows I love me a Border Collie!

They are wonderful and whimsical!

Here is the rest of the loot! What fun to get a package in the mail! :)

A Picture and A Jar

This is the picture that hangs next to the french doors.  I believe it is of Multnomah Falls in Oregon, the falls are along the Columbia River Gorge.   Far Guy and I have been there.  There is a beautiful stone bridge part way up and you used to be able to walk over it..not anymore.  Our daughter Jen got to walk up there one year before it was closed.  The stone bridge which was built in 1914 is not in this picture, nor is the log bridge that was there before the stone bridge.  I purchased this picture at a garage sale, my cousin from Washington was clearing out some of her "stuff"...it is slightly damaged..and I thought about repairing it.  I stopped myself..I decided I like it just the way it is.  Like I said..I believe it to be Multnomah..it might be someplace different.  Whatever.. I thought it was worth two dollars.  One day I had a hammer in my hand..and a nail and I hung it up.   It kinda sticks out like a sore thumb next to the door..until I find a better spot for it..I guess it will stay there.

This is an old cookie jar made by the Hocking Glass Company.  It was my maternal grandmothers and I am sure that it used to have a silver colored label that said "Cookies" ..my parents inherited it..and they gave it to me one year for Christmas.

I used to collect Depression Glass, one year when we were visiting Far Guys sister in Indiana..we drove over to Lexington,  Kentucky and visited Gene Florence's shop..he is like the premiere authority on depression glass in the United States.  We got to meet his Mother that day.. she was a doll!  I have some of his books.  I have been out of the depression glass loop for a long time.  I still pick up a piece from time to time..as both Far Guy and I have our favorite sets which we collect and they will someday go to our daughters..Mine to Trica and Far Guys to Jen.

What is in the jar?  I figured that someone would be curious..my Mother gave me these socks, they were knit by my paternal grandmother for me before I was born.  I put them in the jar along with a note.  One day I went wild with post it notes and wrote the who and what of some of my "stuff".  I should find a photo of me in these warm socks..and put that in the jar too.  So the old jar is kind of a double memory for me, a grandmother that loved me enough to knit me a pair of socks..but who died before I was old enough to remember her, and another grandmother who lived a long life who I visited with often:)