My Flowers Sunday January 11, 2009

My Flowers

Sunday January 11, 2009

Memories of a Beautiful Wedding Last September

In

Warrenton, Virginia

Krista Blakeslee

Wed

Josh Goff

The Bride's Family

on

Lawn of Plantation

The Bride's Fall Bouquet
More Bouquets By The Wedding Cake That Was
Topped With Bronze Roses

Now Go Visit Other My Flower Blog Sites
by
Clicking Here: http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/

Happy Belated Birthday To Greg

This is yours truly in January 1966 holding my Godchild and nephew, Gregory, on the Sunday afternoon that he was baptised at St. Remy Catholic Church in Russia, Ohio. Don't I look like I don't know how to really hold and handle a newborn baby! Greg was born on in early January. He just missed being a New Years Day baby.

From left to right are my Dad, the Godparents, baby Greg and Greg's maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Leugers. (Sidenote: Mr. Leugers fought in Germany in World War I)

This photo was taken in August of 1968 when Greg was two years old. He is with his father Carl in the potato patch. (Another sidenote: we used to grow lots and lots of potatoes and would sell them to the town folks in Russia, Ohio)

Here is my Godchild on his wedding day. Doesn't he look handsome standing beside his bride Connie.

Now here is a photo of Greg's children: older daughter Brooke, the twins Justin and Jordan, younger son Jake and younger daughter Eliza. What a handsome young family he has!

And here is my Godchild Greg standing by his father Carl and his three sons up in the cab of this big red combine. I've been told that this old combine has been replaced with a new one that is bigger and better. My family farmers around Russia are now heading into the fourth generation.

My father would be so proud of Greg's farming abilities.

So Happy Belated Birthday, Greg!

Hope It Was A Great One!

From

Aunt Joann and Uncle Jack in Virginia

Yogi: It's Not Over Till It Is Over!

Well, yesterday we celebrated the last day of Christmas all day and all night so this morning Jack and I both slept in till almost 9:00 A.M. (one of the bennies of retirement life) and so I am just getting my daily post up.

Jennifer Mary with Jack Aidan in tow and with her bright red Red Sox sweatshirt showed up on our doorstep very early in the morning. Jack Aidan starts his play day early. So we shelved our plans for the day and spent time visiting with Jenn and playing with grandson Jack. I fixed a nice lunch but before lunch we had coffee and warm freshly baked gingerbread. Well, just have to treat yourself on the very last day of Christmas!

Jack Aidan loves this little car. Under the hood he stashes all his Beatrix Potter little books and other things he finds as he roams my house like ornaments from the tree and table decor.

Jack, where's my ornament?

Grandma I say ball and you say ornament. Ornament is too hard for a 17 month old baby to pronounce.

Well, OK, now show off your flashing shoes.

(Grandma tried to get a shot of the shoes flashing while he danced but she missed big time.)

Late in the afternoon Jack and I drove 45 miles back to Alexandria in the pouring rain to watch a very important basketball game. The Hayfield Hawks hosted the Lake Braddock Bruins. What a game. Remember that old song of 1965 I Can't Get No Satisfaction?

Well that is how I felt throughout the game. I was seriously torn between rooting for the home team, the Hawks, since our two daughters graduated from Hayfield Secondary in the Alexandria part of Fairfax County and rooting for the away team, Lake Braddock Bruins, since their coach Brian Metress used to be such an outstanding coach at Hayfield and because we think he is still a great coach and great Latin teacher and all around nice guy.

One moment I was cheering Hawks and the next moment I was cheering the Bruins. Who won? The Hayfield Hawks. Who went home frustrated? Jack and Joann. Other than that I had a very, very good last day of Christmas.

My World Tuesday: Feast of the Three Kings

My World Tuesday Is Still In Christmas Mode

The Last Day of Christmas

January 6, 2009

Feast of the Three Kings

And Here Are The Three Wise Kings

Courtesy of Pinewood Estate at Lake Wales, Florida

They Are Bringing Gold

(Sign of King of Earth),

Frankincense

(Sign of King of Heaven),

Myrrh

(Sign of Christ's Suffering and Death to Come).

Hey, I paid attention at mass on Sunday and this is what the priest discussed. And did you ever wonder where the three kings got their frankincense and myrrh? And did you know that the United Nations has designated the old frankincense and myrrh site a World Heritage Historical site. This site is in the present day Middle East country of Oman. Click here if you want to learn more: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1010y

And here is more info on the gifts the kings brought to the Christ child. I bet you didn't know that today you can order on line frankincense and myrrh from the Sultanate of Oman. And just how appropriate were these gifts for a baby? Click here to learn more: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1300/why-did-the-magi-consider-frankincense-and-myrrh-such-valuable-gifts

Well, we have celebrated all 12 days plus one of Christmas at Pinewood Estate so we can head back down the ceramic tile stairs and out the door...... ........to the beautiful gardens that an interesting 25 year volunteer at this estate gave to us. He was chocked full of interesting knowledge about the house and garden that he was just bursting with enthusiasm to share with us. So off we went following this old gentleman with his sturdy walking cane to learn more and more and more......

Just once this January wouldn't you just love to step out of your house with your morning coffee or tea and view this sumptuous yard.Sumptuous. It rhymes with scrumptious and both are five steps above delicious.
This fountain right outside the front door reminded me of Ernest Hemingway's fountain at his home in Key West, Florida that we visited years ago. We came upon a fountain outside the fancy mansion and learned that Ernest took/stole this men's urinal from one of the famous watering holes on notorious Duvall St. that Hemingway liked to visit after a day spent writing a novel. After learning that the bar owner planned to renovate the bar with new urinals Hemingway declared that he had donated so much bar water to those old urinals that he deserved to take one home and set it up in his yard as a fountain for his six-toed cats that roamed freely about the estate. Hemingway's wife came up with a clever plan to disguise that awful lawn ornament. She imported some Italian ceramic tile and had the urinal placed on its side and turned it into a very sedate and lovely Italian style fountain. So there Ernest. You have your urinal and I have my style still in tact! (Bet you didn't know that you would learn about this in my Christmas story for today. Well, it fits once upon a time and its a true story!)
Now isn't this a lovely path to wander down looking and admiring both house and gardens. The volunteer guide was just beaming when he relayed information on the building of the walls of this home. There was no brick or wood used but instead 24 inch clay tiles made the walls so the walls are two feet thick. Not bad construction for potential hurricane winds.
This is a closeup of a neat and tidy vine that covers some of the walls. Anyone know what this is? I would love to grow it up my one basement wall.
Here is a sculpture of a young mother and young child. Today I will label it Mother Mary and Child Jesus.
Finally this is the fine three car garage Mr. Bethlehem had for his cars and his chauffeur. Every wonder what it would be like to be so rich that you have many fancy cars and a chauffeur to drive them for you.


Love and joy and peace to all of you wherever you are in the world this fresh new year. Now go visit some other My World Tuesday sites by clicking here:http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/

The Twelfth Day of Christmas

The Twelfth Day of Christmas

Almost the End of the Christmas Days

Tomorrow We Have The Feast of the Three Kings

That's The Baker's Dozen (13)

Here is the music room at Pinewood Estate at Lake Wales, Florida. I admit I like Christmas music so you may hear one or two Christmas songs after tomorrow on my playlist. Have a great almost last day of Christmas. And for all the kids and teachers heading back to school have a terrific day getting back in the saddle. Same goes for all you workers heading off to work today. Good luck and giddyup go!

Today's Flowers at Mass

Today's Flowers

Sunday, January 4, 2009

The Eleventh Day of Christmas

Sunday Morning Mass

At

Holy Trinity Catholic Church

In

Gainesville, Virginia

This brand new Catholic Church in Arlington Diocese just opened this past fall. It is a very beautiful church. The design is a blend of 12'th century Gothic with 21'st century Pottery Barn. All the beautiful red and white poinsettias were donations of parish members for the Christmas display. Hundreds and hundreds of beautiful poinsettias create the background for the nativity scene at the front alter. More white poinsettias create a nice low sweep of color before the lighted Christmas trees. Please note that to really appreciate these floral displays you should click on each photo to enlarge image and get more detail. Below is the wave of poinsettias surrounding the nativity scene. The red cushioned kneeler is for little ones to come and see the Baby Jesus.

In the last photo that is exactly what is happening. After the mass children are coming up to see this beautiful Christmas display.
Hope you enjoyed the flowers at mass today. Now go visit more Today's Flowers by clicking here: http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/

The Eleventh Day of Christmas

The Eleventh Day of Christmas

January 4, 2009

Another Christmas Scene and Story From

Pinewood Estate at Lake Wales, Florida

Last night Jack and I took in the Festival of Lights at Bull Run Regional Park which is partly in Fairfax County and partly in Prince William County where we currently live. I always love the light display. Our kids had already done the festival so we thought we better do it quick before it disappears. Afterwards a stop at Starbucks for Jack----Jack, coffee; Joann, tea; please. But what we noticed on our evening outing was that a lot of Christmas displays have disappeared already. I guess Saturday was the deciding day to take down outdoor lights since the wind was not blowing and it was relatively warm outside. Either that or every homeowner got their January electric bill in the mail. Uh-ohhhhhhh.......honey, the lights are coming down, NOW! But since we don't do much in the way of outdoor lights ours are still up and getting lit each night. And the house still has a festive air with all our decorations. I don't take the decorations down till the twelve days of Christmas plus one are officially over.

So now take a look above. This was the main living room of Mr. Buck at Pinewood in the 1930's. See the massive fireplace and the Christmas story acted out by the nativity scene figures. Very nice. Another place to still see Christmas is at church this Sunday morning. I call this the real Christmas display instead of the commercial buy, buy, buy, Christmas. See you in church today. OK.

Where Jackie Kennedy Would Love To Eat

The name of the Red Fox Inn and fox hunt rides were synonymous with the name of Jackie Kennedy. I know that if Jackie were still alive and spending time in Middleburg,VA , she would stop to eat at this French bistro that is called The French Hound. The place has a great French bistro atmosphere and better yet the food is scrumptious! Scrumptious---that's five steps above delicious!

Last Saturday we treated The Dragon Quilter blog writer, Dickie, and her lawyer husband Scott to a leisurely lunch at The French Hound. We had such a good time there.

We enjoyed looking past the French doors to the winter gravel garden.

We admired the wine cellar and discovered a delicious new Malbec wine from Chile that is imported by a fellow who lives in Middleburg. The wine is called La Bruja Malbec and it is made by the Well Oiled Wine Company. The wine had a deep rich color and had notes of cherry and smoke to the finish. We sampled two bottles with our meal.

Here's a cozy seating booth for six.

Here our two appetizers: French radishes with Kosher salt and French salami with French cornichons.

Scott and Dickie and Joann had the beef burgundy. Yum, yum!

Jack had the strip steak with Cabernet butter on top and French fries on the side. The French do no how to do fries. McDonald's please take note.

Now for the happy ending: dessert! Joann had this fudge cake with raspberries and real whipped cream that had a touch of French vanilla.

Dickie had a pear poached in red wine with a vanilla cream sauce surrounding the pear.

Jack and Scott both had the apple tatin tart with a caramel sauce. Wow!

Was that ever good. We all had to take a bite of it.

So for all you folks who reside in Northern Virginia on your next outing to Middleburg give yourself a treat and head to The French Hound for either lunch or dinner. You won't be disappointed. Here's some info on The French Hound which is owned and operated by a young couple who are making their mark on the culinary front in Virginia.http://www.thefrenchhound.com/main.swf

Bon Appetite in 2009!

The Ins and The Outs For 2009

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98342373

Want to keep up with 2009 style? Then click on the National Public Radio site above and find out what is out and what is in for 2009. Pretty accurate list I think!

2009 Style.

It's here now.

So get with it.

I love #1.

Out with winter pedicures.

In with winter thermal socks.

They go well with my cuddle duds long underwear.

I'm a very stylish woman in this get up.

The Tenth Day of Christmas Janury 3, 2009

The Tenth Day of Christmas

Saturday

January 3, 2009

Chistmas Stories at Lake Wales, Florida

This was a forest scene in the upstairs hall at Pinewood Estate.

All the forest animals await Santa's arrival in quiet anticipation listening to the tick tock of the grandfather's clock.

Today I will tell you two brief stories that I played a part in long ago in school. Be fair warned that the stories are now inappropriate. Why? Because I would never in a million years do today in a public school what I did back in the sixties and early seventies in school. You ask what I did that was inappropriate? Well, I celebrated the story of Jesus as if every child in my class was a Christian. In today's diverse world that is not the case.

Story Number One

The Setting: Huffman Elementary School on Huffman Avenue

In Dayton, Ohio

Fresh out of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio I landed my first teaching assignment on the east side of Dayton which was all white at the time. (You would go across a bridge to the west side of Dayton and you would be in Dayton's version of Harlem which was all black.) Anyway Huffman Elementary School was at that time in the fall of 1966 the oldest school building still in use in Dayton, Ohio. By the year 1973 I believe Huffman School would be 100 years old and Miss Tetslaff, the sweet little spinster who taught right next door to me would have taught at that very school for 50 years and of those 50 years 49 would be in the very same classroom! Totally amazing. The first time I walked into her classroom I saw these very faded nursery rhyme pictures nailed to the blackboard bulletin board.The little kids in the illustrations looked like wholesome little kids from Campbell soup ads from the thirties. If you got near these pictures and blew on them, they would disintegrate into small particles and land on the floor. How old was Miss Tetslaff? I don't know but I reckon she was fast approaching seventy five. In fact one of the eighth grade teachers at this K-8 school who was in his mid thirties had her at Huffman as his first grade teacher.

Does Miss Tetslaff figure in the story? No, but she was such a character that I just had to put her into the intro to this story. But this side of Dayton had a sizable Polish population and another teacher at my school was Linda Sobieski who lived right in the neighborhood and went to the Catholic University of Dayton before landing a first grade classroom down in the basement of this school. She liked it down there because the principal seldom made it to the classroom by the boiler room so she and her students could be very noisy at times. Meanwhile, I was next door to Miss Tetslaff and just down the way from the Principal's office, so I had to keep a lid on the noise in my classroom. Oh-ooh, here comes the principal now thru the back entrance to the classroom which was the old, old cloakroom! I swear that many times I felt like I was reliving Laura Ingalls in her teaching days because the school was truly an architectural antique.

So in the fall of my first year of teaching Linda Sobieski approached me and asked if I would like to go in with her class to recreate the Christmas story for the December meeting of the Huffman PTA. I said OK and so we selected students to play all the parts from singing angels and talking shepherds to the three wise men. The leads of course went to Mary and Joseph. Jesus was played by some little girl's doll baby wrapped in a blanket and set in a mock manger filled with straw. Everyone learned their part for the play. It was now very close to Christmas and the last day of school before the Christmas Holiday (that's what the vacation was called in 1966) but the big play production for the PTA was on the agenda for that very day when Linda ran into my classroom and announced that she and I had a major play fiasco on our hands. I remember that I asked her what the problem was and I'll never forget her answer: Joseph, Mary's husband had run off to Kentucky with his parents!

Joseph's in Kentucky! Oh, my gosh, how will the play go on I asked Linda. She replied that quick, we must get a brand new Joseph and he better be smart and learn his part and lines in a flash! We found a new Joseph and he did a fine job in our little play and all was well once more. Linda's parting thought after the play was this. Don't ever Joann choose a child whose parents just came up to Dayton, Ohio to work in the '60's very robust GM auto parts factory in Moraine because those Kentucky folks are only here for the money and they miss their families in the hills and hollows of Kentucky and you just know that they will skip school and head down interstate #75 before school vacation actually starts. Ahhhhhh.....those were the good old days in Dayton, Ohio. The auto parts industry was going strong and it was not inappropriate to stage a Christmas play in a public school or to wish folks a Merry Christmas and a happy Christmas vacation.

Story Number Two

Setting: My first year of teaching first grade to the DOD dependent children and the state department children in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Here's another inappropriate school incident in my classroom. At Frankfurt Elementary School #1 which has since reverted back to being a German school since there are no U.S. military now stationed in the city of Frankfurt which Gen. Eisenhower selected as his Army headquarters in Europe at the famous I.G. Farben Chemical Complex. Now the I.G. Farben Building with its oh, so famous pater noster elevator is a part of Goethe University. My, how the world changes if you live long enough to witness it!

So it is Christmas once again in Germany in 1970 and I have decided to have the students help me decorate my main bulletin board which was located by the door to my classroom so everyone coming down the hall could see this display. I loved having the students create the art work for this bulletin board and we would always come up with something that was both interesting and very attractive. I would line the background of the board with appropriate scenery, create the word heading and assign students to create the figures in front by drawing and cutting out their artistic creations.

Ok, so you guys will create the shepherds, OK, you folks can make the angels, who wants to do one of the three kings?, who wants to draw some cute baby sheep?, we need some shepherds too. So as each child finished his morning seatwork while I conducted three old fashioned reading groups that morning they would place their drawing on my desk for me to later staple on the board. As I was taking the drawings to the board and stapling them into the scene there was one little drawing that I just couldn't quite figure out. Was it a donkey? Was it a sheep? What was it? So I called the child up and asked what his assignment had been. He told me he was supposed to draw a shepherd. But this looks like an animal not a shepherd. Oh, no, Miss Gariety, this does look like a shepherd. A German shepherd!

I learned to my surprise that this little boy had a German shepherd as a pet and yes, he had drawn for me a shepherd. So that is how in 1970 a drawing of a German shepherd was the hit of my Christmas bulletin board display. Word spread quickly thru the teacher grapevine and everyone stopped in to see my German shepherd at the nativity scene. Even the Principal, Mr. Mebane came by to take a look and shake his head, have a little laugh and give me a sly wink.

The twelve days of Christmas plus one are fast coming to a close for yet another year. But remember, it is not over, till is over in the wisdom of Yogi Berra so get out this weekend and do something special for the Christmas holidays.

What Did You Put On The Table?

What did you put on the table New Years Day to eat for good luck in the coming year? A lot of people do pork and or ham with saurkraut for good luck. We did something similar. I made a big batch of German red cabbage which I like a whole lot better than saurkraut and Jack bundled up in a jacket to fight off the blowing winds while he grilled our pork chops ala Emiril Legasse on our grill. In addition I made a batch of Texas caviar with blackeye peas and black beans plus celery, green onions, red and green peppers, and chili spice. After I made it I looked at the Pioneer Woman Cooks on my blog roll and discovered her tasty recipe for Blackeyed Pea Salsa. Take a look. It looks like a great recipe to try. Also, scroll way down once more to my blogroll and find The Whistle Stop Cafe. She has posted a great looking recipe for Black Eyed Pea Soup.

Viola Luthman In Memoriam

Viola Luthman was my father's baby sister. Aunt Viola Luthman died this past Saturday, December 27'th and was laid to rest this past Wednesday, December 31'st after a mass of Christian burial at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Fort Laromie, Ohio. She lived to be 103 years old. The only other person to live to be older in our family of relatives was my aunt by marriage, Ruth Dapore, who lived to be 105. Aunt Viola and Aunt Ruth knew each other from parties at our house.

Aunt Viola Gariety was a young flapper girl in this 1920's photo. Viola Gariety was born on November 2, 1902 in Newport, Ohio. On May 4, 1927 at the age of 25 she married Wilbur Luthman. She would be a farm wife and mother of 12 children and grandmother of many, many more children.

She survived a bout of tuberculosis in the 1950's that put her in a TB saniterium and she outlived many of her children and grandchildren as well as nieces and nephews. Aunt Viola was 103 years old when she died last Saturday at her home near St. Patricks, Ohio. She lived a very full life. Thanks for the memories and rest in peace.

Skywatch Friday On Ninth Day of Christmas

Skywatch Friday

on

The Ninth Day of Christmas

January 2, 2009

Photos of Bok Tower Sanctuary

in

Lake Wales, Florida

Where

The Bok Carillon

and

The Buck Pinewood Estate Home

Reside Next Door to Each Other

Another sky view of the Bok Tower Carrilon


Bok Tower Grove of Live Oaks With Spanish Moss. This is the highest point in the state of Florida .From here you can see the greater Orlando metro area.You need to walk to the edge of this plateau of live oaks to get a view of Orlando.This is quiet and serene place.
A lake reflecting the sky and the Bok Tower Carrilon

White swans are in the water and the palm trees and sky are in reflection.

The very top of the Bok Tower Carrilon that was designed in art deco style by Mr. Bok who wanted to create this massive carrilon that gets played every day of the year. Jack and I got to listen to Christmas carols being played by the carrilon. Magical and magnificent moment!

Little sky in this photo but I wanted you to see the beautiful gold doors that lead to the inside of the carrilon. Only volunteers get to go inside. Some volunteers do work just to get a glimps of the inside and the view of Orlando from the very top of the tower.

Hope you enjoyed my Bok Tower Tour. If you want more info on the Bok Tower, you can go here with a click: http://boksanctuary.org/

Now go visit other Skywatch Friday blogs: http://skyley.blogspot.com/

I Have A Mardi Gras or Carnival Tree

I took all the Christmas ornaments off the tree in my living room and replaced them with decorations for carnival time leading up to mardi gras. I got the idea several years ago when on a cross country trip we stopped at the visitors center at Louisiana state line.

We saw the most beautiful tree decorated with the carnival/mardi gras colors of purple, green and gold. Almost this whole month of February will be carnival/mardi gras time.

Go to this link to learn about mardi gras and the symbolism of the purple, green and gold colors. http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/mgcolors.html

If you clicked on the link you learned that my carnival tree stands for justice, faith and power. By the way those krewe silver cups and all those beads on the tree I caught while attending the Iris Krewe Parade in New Orleans. And no, I didn't do anything naughty to get them.

The Eighth Day of Christmas January 1, 2009

The Eighth Day of Christmas

and

New Year's Day

January 1, 2009

Look at the picture above. This was a sideboard in the Pinewood Estate at Lake Wales, Florida. The dining room was decorated to convey the feel of visions of sugar plums dancing in your head while viewing the faux cakes, pies and desserts that were displayed on Depression glass plates with faux carnival glass lights to denote the era of the 1930's. What can I say but what is old is new again. 2009 the new era of Depression glass plates and carnival glass lights.

I also thought this display looked a little bit like a Rose Bowl Parade Float.

Will you watch the parade later this morning? Or is your mind focused on visions of New Year's football bowl games? I must admit that I watch the Rose Bowl Parade every year because it brings back memories of doing so in Ohio in the '50s and '60s. But when the football games take over all the networks I sit down and make my New Years Resolutions List.

Happy New Year!

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

So I raise my cup and salute my special blogging buddies blog sites:

Jenn and Terry

Brookeville Daily Photo

Old Lady Lincoln

Dear Noah

My Life

This Is My Blog

Dragon Quilter

Twobytwobytwo

Brush Strokes From The Heart

Poetry and Photography: The Memory Thread

These Days in French Life

Memories Are Made Of This

Groggyland

The Traveler

Pappy's Balderdash

Wings n Things

Pioneer Woman Cooks

Whistlestop Cafe

Heirloom Gardner

Linda Letters Greetings From Seattle

Wiregrass Musings