Fireworks lamp

I don't know what the real name of this lamp is, but I call it the fireworks lamp.

Grandpa Frank and his Model-T Ford

Grandparents Day

Today is Grandparent's Day. Here is a picture of my grandparents. I love this picture because all of them are together in one picture. That is Frank and Mary, Pearl and Steve. Frank is my step-grandfather. My real grandfather, Wasil, died in the 1919 flu epidemic. My grandmother, Pearl, died when my mother was expecting me. Mom said they weren't sure exactly why she died, but she thought it was a result of a fall down stairs. Grandpa Steve was in the Austro-Hungarian Army. He spoke several languages so he was an interpreter. I heard that he decided to marry my grandmother when he saw her in the next door back yard, drying her hair after washing it. I think it is so amazing that when you look on the map my grandfathers lived about 100 miles apart, with mountains between them. Grandpa Steve came from Uscie Gorlickie in an area called Lemko in southern Poland, and Grandpa Vassil came from Packanovo in western Ukraine. The mountains are the Carpathian Mts. We are Carpatho-Russyn. Not Polish, not Ukrainian, not Russian. There are similarities, of course, but the mountains made them different and separate. Grandpa Steve became a citizen of the U.S. in 1928.

Purple Pierogi

Did you ever have a purple pierogi? I had this at The Great Lakes Brewing Co. They used purple potatoes.

Champ

This is the only picture I can find of our dog Champ. I remember the kids found this dog wandering around with no home. He was old and had a bad smell, but they loved him. He sang (howled) when Shari played her flute. He was smart as well as talented. When he laid on the couch, he made the couch smell bad. One day I caught him on the couch and I chased him off of it and told him to never get up on the couch again and he never did.

A Hundred Years Hence

I am reading a book "The Rockefeller Women". John D. Rockefeller Jr. was born in 1874. When he was 11, on Feb. 13, 1885 he wrote this essay. He got a couple of things wrong, didn't he?

"I think that, in a hundred years, balloons will be made so large and strong, that people will travel in them instead of in cars and steamboats; and that they will go twice as fast. Women will have a right to vote, and may be presidents. There will be no manufacture of liquors as a drink, throughout the United States, and consequently fewer jails and policemen.
Earthquakes will be frequent and destructive. The western part of the United States will be as densely populated as the eastern. Wars will be no more. Foreigners will be educated before they can vote. Indians will become civilized and intelligent. The center of the earth will be explored, also the North and South poles. Engines will be driven by electricity.
It is to be hoped and expected that the people of our country will be wiser and better and therefore happier than now."

Are we wiser and better and happier?

Beautiful Boy

This song is for my boys. Bob my son, Jeff my son-in-law, Andrew, Gabey, Giddy my grandsons, and Mike my nephew. I think it's ok to say little boys are beautiful.

Close your eyes
Have no fear
The monster's gone
He's on the run and your daddy's here

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Everyday in every way
It's getting better and better

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Out on the ocean sailing away
I can hardly wait
To see you come of age
But I guess we'll both just have to be patient
'Cause it's a long way to go
A hard row to hoe
Yes it's a long way to go
But in the meantime

Before you cross tht street
Take my hand
Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It' getting better and better

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Darling, darling, darling
Darling ________
John Lennon

GREEN
Fall is coming, and the trees are starting to turn. As pretty as the colors are, I sure am going to miss the GREEN.
GREEN trees, GREEN grass. sigh. About half the year the trees are bare. Not pretty. I really love to see the GREEN trees with a background of blue sky.

Goosey, Goosey, Gander

When my children were little we would play a game. I would recite this nursery rhyme.

"Goosey, Goosey, Gander,
whither shall I wander.
Upstairs, downstairs,
and in my ladies chamber."

Then I would change the last line.

"and in my ladies kitchen. "
or
"and in my ladies living room."

You can take turns, each coming up with a different place for the goose to wander. Try it with a child you know.

New book

How silly of me. I forgot to include the new book.

Comic books

I collect vintage comic books. I just got another Little Lulu comic book on e-bay. When I was a little girl, I loved reading comic books. I read all kinds but especially I loved Little Lulu. She and her friends were my friends. I also liked Archie comics. I would draw Betty or Veronica and design new clothes for them. And of course I love Blondie and Dagwood. Their comics are just as good now as they ever were. Just go to www.blondie.com

Primal Scream

I had an unusual elementary school. It was shaped in a square with two floors. The gym area was in the middle of the first floor with classrooms all around it. The second floor had classrooms all around with a walkway and railing so that you could look down and see the gym. The school isn't there anymore. They tore it down to build a freeway. I remember one day in the first or second grade I had this urge to scream. I can't remember why I did it, but I screamed and you know what the teacher did? She put me outside the classroom to sit on the floor. I have had dreams where I wanted to scream about something but it wouldn't come out. I think that's why roller coasters are so much fun, you can scream all you want to!

Birdbath

When I was in New York City a few years ago, while in the Trump tower, one of the shops had an adorable birdbath. It cost more than I wanted to spend. Oh, I really wanted it. A little while later, I was shopping in a gift store here and found this one. It was much more reasonable. I don't even remember what the first one looked like.

Let's give a cheer for

Since we are still in the third week of August, let's celebrate National Air Conditioning Appreciation Week. How did our ancestors survive as long as they did without air conditioning? Are we spoiled, or what?

Find It

That's the name of this game I got for my birthday. It has lots of little objects in it and you spin it, twist it, and shake it to find all the items in it. The list is on the top. You can't read it, but it has things like a safety pin, button, spool, marble, etc. There is supposed to be a penny in it, but we can't find it. This will keep you occupied for a while!

Are you going to heaven when you die?

Acts 16: 30 ... Sirs, what must I do be be saved?

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Rom5: 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us,

Ephesians 3:8,9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

2 Corinthians 6:2 ... Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Hebrews 3:7,8 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, ...

Rom10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Just ask Jesus to save you, and He will.

Are you saved?

I used to wonder why something like drunkenness is a sin when people have chemical imbalances. If you are born with a chemical imbalance it's not your fault. How can something that is not your fault be a sin? Well, when people gave their animal offerings they had to be perfect animals with no imperfections. And, when a Levite was born with a defect he could not be a priest. It sounds unfair, doesn't it? And, we can't go to heaven with even one sin or mistake. It's not fair. No one can go to heaven, because everyone has sinned at least once or behaved in a bad way at least once, or said or thought a bad thought at least once. That means no one is perfect. No one can get to heaven, even if it is not your fault. God cannot let any imperfect person into heaven. You cannot erase your own sin. That's why you must trust Jesus. He is the only way you can get to heaven. Jesus will take you there, but you must confess your sinfulness and ask Him to erase your sin and trust Him to take you to heaven. That's why He came here and died on the cross. He did it to pay for your sin, to erase your sin. Nobody is good enough to erase their own sin. I hope if you haven't asked Jesus to save you, that you do it now. Don't wait. The Bible says you must be born again. The Holy Spirit cannot come into your heart until Jesus cleanses it from all your sin. And, when you are saved, washed clean, you know it because the Holy Spirit comes in and you are born again, you just know you are saved.

Every Now and Then

Shari, do you remember this song? It's from the 1929 movie "The Great Gabbo".

She:
Something's wrong with your
sunny disposition.
He:
Tried to take a pill.
But it made me ill.
Don't know what to do. Do you?
She:
Well, doctor's know
just the cause of your condition.
You better get a nurse
cause your're getting worse.
He:
Ready for the hearse
If you won't listen to me.
She:
Every now and then,
When you go away,
I want you back again.
Every now and then.
He:
Get's so lonesome, too.
Just because of you.
Every now and then.
She:
Oh, Gee,
If you would only spend,
Time enough to tele-
phone a lonely friend.
Then you wouldn't be
just a memory
like you are to me.
Every now and then.
He:
And when the birdies in the spring
Start to chirp and sing
She:
It doesn't mean a thing.
He:
You know the song I want to sing
Is a sweeter thing
'bout a wedding ring.
She:
And you always
Ask me all the time.
All about a lot of
Wedding bells that chime.
He:
I will make you mine.
Then you can't pretend
That I'm just a friend.
Every now and then.

About dolls

My mom told me a story about when I was little. When ever she took me anywhere I had to take my favorite doll with me. Unfortunately, the doll had lost her head. Mom, was a little embarrassed because I had a perfectly good doll which I left at home. I couldn't stop loving her just because she had no head, could I?

Sally

I just realized I never showed you my favorite doll when I was growing up. I named her Sally. My mom gave me a ninth birthday party and this doll. She said she liked it because it wasn't like all the others she saw. (My mom never had a doll growing up) .She asked our neighbor, who sews, to make the doll some clothes. I loved this doll. She was a real baby to me. I made diapers for her and fed her softened cookies. I saved Sally and all of her clothes. I gave her to my daughter Shari because she loved her, too. This dress is not one of her originals, but the shoes are. She has the best hair, which I had to comb out very well when I put her away when I was about 12 or 13. I would like to take her someplace where they could fix her coloring and tell me what to do about the surface of her body which gets a little sticky, slimy. We've washed her but it still comes back. Maybe it's just her age. But, look carefully and you won't find any gray hair or wrinkles on her.

Thomas Jefferson's Rules of Conduct

Never put off 'till tomorrow what you can do today.

Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.

Never spend money before you have it.

Never buy anything you do not want, because it is cheap.

Pride costs us more than thirst, hunger and cold.

We seldom repent for having eaten too little.

Nothing is troublesome that one does of his own volition.

How much pain never occurred evils costs us.

Take things all the time by their smooth handle.

Think as you please, and let others as well, to prevent any disputes.

When annoyed count 10 before you speak; if very annoyed, count 100.

Brother Jim

That sure was a big pumpkin. And look at that curly hair!

That's me having my picture taken. Can you see me?
Happy birthday, Jim! Even though you are younger than me, I always looked up to you. You are my favorite brother. (even if you are my only brother) I love you.

Think Green

I told you in a previous post that my girls gave me a build-a-bear for mother's day. I really didn't want one until I saw the pink poodle. Then when I saw the lamb, I wanted it, too. The poodle and the lamb, which I named Rosie and Daisy, represented my two daughters, Chris and Shari. So, I needed a bear to represent my son, Bob, and this is Cubby. My son is a landscaper and is presently working for a recycling company. When I saw this outfit, it so went with my son. The shirt says, "think GREEN".

Betty Davis

Victorian paperdoll house

I bought myself a birthday present, this Victorian paperdoll house. I bought it from www.paperdollreview.com It has four more rooms on the other side. It is actually a book that pops up into this house. Amazing.

Changed my mind

This house is going for $75 million. It's in Palm Beach, FL. I hope someone else doesn't beat me to it.

I'm moving!

I'm just kidding. I'm not really moving. But, this is the house I want. Now, how to raise the $45 million?

Some Day My Prince Will Come

from Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"



Some day my prince will come
Some day I'll find my love
And how thrilling that moment will be
When the prince of my dreams comes to me
He'll whisper "I love you"
And steal a kiss or two.

Though he's far away
I'll find my love some day
Some day when my dreams come true.

Some day I'll find my love
Some one to call my own
And I'll know her the moment we meet
For my heart will start, start skipping a beat
Some day we'll say and do
Things we've been longing to.

Though she's far away
I'll find my love some day
Some day when my dreams come true.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

If you like gardens and garden pictures check out this site.
www.bbg.org

Quote from J.F.K.

"You mustn't say you dislike him, Jackie. If you say it, you'll begin to think it, and it will prejudice how you act toward him the next day."

I found this quote when I was reading books about Jackie Kennedy. It just jumped out at me. I had to save it.

About me

Some bloggers are posting 7 unusual/weird facts about themselves. Here's my list.
1. I don't like to go barefooted.
2. I like the smell of incense.
3. I don't drive on freeways.
4. I've been exposed to chicken pox at least 3 times but never got it.
5. I have trouble staying awake through an entire movie.
6. I love to swing on swings.
7. My best job skill is filing.

My young dad

Happy Father's Day, Dad. You've been gone a long time, since 1988. One of the stories I remember you telling me, was about how you went to an employment office dressed in good clothes. All the other guys were dressed up in working clothes. Someone asked the crowd if anyone knew how to type and you said you could. You got the job. You were born poor but you worked hard to provide for your family. Your little Dolly misses you and loves you.

Let's Go Fly a Kite

from Walt Disney's "Mary Poppins"

With tuppence for paper and strings
You can have your own set of wings;
With your feet on the ground,
You're a bird in flight
With your fist holding tight
To the string of your kite.

When you send it flying up there,
All at once you're lighter than air;
You can dance on the breeze
Over houses and trees
With your fist holding tight
To the string of your kite.

Oh! Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height!
Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere,
Up where the air is clear.
Oh, let's go fly a kite!

Chipmunks

I think chipmunks are so cute. We used to see them outside our window a lot. But, I think the cat has chased them away, or worse. I saw this one today outside my kitchen window.

Savory Burger Stew

Here is a recipe for a tasty, easy stew.

1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
Put the beef in a 1 1/2 qt. casserole dish
Add salt and pepper to taste
Add 1 T. instant onion
Add a 16 oz. can Veg-All, drained
Add a 10 1/2 oz. can tomato soup
(1/2 tomato soup can water can be added, if desired)

Stir together

Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 30 minutes.

Serve over mashed potatoes, biscuits, or noodles.

Butterfly jewelery

My daughter gave me a new pin for my collection, so I thought I'd share them with you. I don't know why they are so fuzzy.

Fallen Hero

This monument is the war memorial in downtown Cleveland.


This is my cousin Chucky, Charles A. Varkett. I didn't know him, but he is my hero.

On Dec. 1, 1950 he was reported missing.


He died on April 18, 1951 in a Communist prison camp in Korea. He is a hero. He wasn't drafted, he enlisted. He was under age and his mother had to give her permission. Click on the newspaper articles to read them.

40,000,000 children killed.
Think about it.
Forty million children killed since 1973.
Abortion kills children.

Second ebay purchase

My set of china was missing cups, so I found
these on ebay. This is fun!

Bambi

I took this picture from my living room window three years ago. Have you ever seen anything so sweet? That baby is grown up now. Click on it to see it closer.

More Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty mug

This is my first ebay purchase. I collect Sleeping Beauty items. So, when I saw this on ebay I had to have it. This win was my 3rd try.

Mom with Jim and me

Happy Mother's day Mom. I have a baby brother in heaven that I will see some day. After Mom had the miscarriage, the doctor said "You're not a mother anymore." Mom said to him "What do you mean. I have 2 children at home." Mom passed away in 2001. I miss you and love you, Mom.

Texas scarf

I don't remember how I got this silk scarf. Maybe my brother knows. Unfortunately there is a slight stain on it like mildew. I tried to clean it, but it is still there.

Here is another of my favorite mugs.

This is one of my favorite mugs. It says"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

Gabey's Leukemia

Last year May 1, 2007 we found out that my grandson, Gabey (he was 3), was diagnosed with Leukemia. The next few months were very difficult for all of us. I just couldn't talk about it. He has been through intensive treatment and is cancer free. He still has to have maintenance treatment for two and a half more years to be sure it doesn't come back. I want to thank God for graciously curing Gabey and being with us through it all. I want to thank all the people at the Cleveland Clinic for their care. They are wonderful. I want to thank all of the friends who prayed and gave gifts. I want to thank the Make a Wish Foundation for giving Gabey and his family their wish of a trip to Disneyworld. They will go in September. This is still very difficult to talk about, I'm getting teary-eyed. It reminds me to be thankful for this day, for we don't know what tomorrow will bring.

Romeo and Juliet Ballet

I was right about the 1966 version. It was excellent. The music and dancing were wonderful. The story was romantic. The acting was believable. Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn were great. Why did he do that awful remake?

Happy Birthday, Chris

Today is my daughter Christine's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEETY! She is my first born. She is my Chrissy. My happiness didn't start until the day she was born. I couldn't believe that she was really mine. I wouldn't let anyone hold her for months because I was afraid they wouldn't give her back. She was so precious (all my children were precious). She was special because she was the first. I knew I was going to have a girl, I couldn't think of any boys names. She is grown up now but here are some cute pictures of her when she was little.