Picture collections

My cough and congestion, which I thought was finally at an end, seems to have returned for an encore.  I noticed it after I toiled outside for three hours yesterday, and then noticed it even more when I fixed myself a HUGE bowl of ice cream last night.  Will I never learn?!  Probably not.  I'm weak and I deserve whatever I get.

Fixed myself a cup of 'smooth move' tea last night 'cause I was feeling so poorly in the lower tract.  Not sure why I'm feeling the need to share this particular ailment but it's what I do.  Not much is private in my life, even when I should make an attempt to keep stuff to myself.  At any rate, that tea is pretty neat stuff for getting the canals running again.  'Course I'm having to stick close to home but that's alright.  I wish I'd known about this tea when my dad was alive and sometimes had constipation problems that plagued him.  He'd be amazed at my nursing ability to bring him back into focus. Ha ha

I soaked beans overnight and threw together a big pot of 15-bean soup today with a hambone in it. Yum!  Probably not the best thing I could eat with distress in the lower tract but I feel like living on the edge.  Beans are good for you anyhow.  And I won't have to cook supper for three nights.

I also had a couple of bananas turning brown so I fixed a banana bread with walnuts.  It's baking in the oven now and the house is starting to smell pretty nice.  I did have to make a couple of quick errands this morning, though. The printer called and said my three books were ready so I picked them up and mailed off one.  I had a couple of orders for 'Walkin' on Water' so I had three books printed in case I get another order.  (Pass the word if you hear of anyone who might want one)

Am still selling 'The Schools on the Hill' too.  I listed it on Ebay last week.  My nephew, Eddie Forcier, stopped in with his son, Bradley, this morning so I had them pose for a picture. They're on their way to Sol Duc to camp.

I was going to work on my family history today but I started looking for a certain picture I wanted and got distracted looking at various collections in the closet.  I finally found it but by then, I had wasted so much time looking at old pictures, I wasn't in the mood to write anymore.  I scanned them in for future use and will post some here today.

This picture is in my' Walkin' on Water' book. I think it was Barb McCleary who sent me a copy with people identified.  If you click to enlarge,you should be able to read some of the names.

This one in front of the Uptown Theatre was also IDd by someone. Not sure who. People I recognize include Arletta & Phyllis Johnson, Penny Short, Ruth Haynes, Mike Copps, Dick Sooy, Ann Hollingsworth, and Bill Houghton (all towards the back)

Denny and me in the kids' parade. 1951 I think.  Jim Wallace is standing beside me. My Aunt Velna made this paper mache alligator.

I've always liked this picture of my Uncle Lyall, and Aunts Velna and Elva.  Not sure where it was taken but by Velna's age, I'm guessing maybe her houseboat on Lake Union.

This is one of my favorite pictures taken in Sequim near Green Acres where I lived.

Another favorite (I think my granddaughter, Catie, took it) on the highway outside of Sequim.

Although this particular picture doesn't do a thing for me, most of my pictures don't.  Ha ha
This one was interesting to me because of the background.  It was taken in 1964 in the kitchen of the Kuhn St. house where I lived with dad and my brothers until John returned from the Navy. I remember that bread box behind the door, school pictures on top of the fridge, coats hung up under the breadbox, that wallpaper and clock and that curtain on the window going to the back porch.  Sure wish I had more pictures of the inside of that house.

This is the one picture I was looking for before I got sidetracked. It shows me and Janie in the backyard of the brown house on 22nd Street.  Probably 1950.  My dad and my Uncle Jim built that swing set and teeter totter.  Again, I sure wish I had pictures of the inside of this house--and the yard. There was a detached garage standing nearby but it has long since disappeared.

I remember taking this picture with an old box camera that my cousin Claude gave me. This is most likely 1954 or 1955.  Dad would have been about 32 years old, working at the mill, and raising four kids alone.  Well, sorta alone.  Grandpa was there and all his siblings contributed to our care as well.  Sure hard to believe that this picture was taken almost 60 years ago!

Well, it's almost time for the news to come on so guess I'll sit down and start cussing at the tv set.

My Sweet Grandson

I sure am blessed having a grandson like Hunter.  He's so helpful and kind, so smart, thrifty, handy, and patient.  He came over early this morning (Maddie opted to stay home and do housework for her mom--she's a sweetie too!)  Thankfully, Hunter enjoys yard work.  He's good at it too!  I wanted to get the curbside garden area weeded and I "thought" it might take us an hour.  Nope! Three hours and we were both mighty tired afterwards.

He mowed the front and back lawns for me and we went down to Swains to buy some spray weed killer. Well, clover killer, I should say.  Both lawns look dreadful.  One of the pretty sights out front is this blue flowered bush that seems to flourish.  Neighbors on both sides of me have them too and I've seen a large tree of them in a neighbor's yard in the alley.  Not sure what they are but the bees sure are fond of them.

The Swains guy sold me this spray cup to attach to my hose to spray mixture on the lawn after mowing.

I mixed the weed stuff in a bucket with the required water proportion and then  poured some into this cup. You hook it to the hose, turn on the spout, and spray.  What Hunter and I couldn't figure out, however, is how to determine it's time to refill the spray cup with more mixture.  The hose being turned on kept the cup full of water the whole time.  It's a story problem, I think.

Later I found this empty Roundup container with a hose attached in the garage and I think I'll use it tomorrow as I'm not sure what we did today did any good.  Won't be as easy as letting the hose spray it out as I'll have to use the pump but at least I'll know I'm getting some juice out there. Gardening is hard!

Yesterday I pretty much sat around the house cutting out quilt squares, writing, watching tv.  My only exercise was a quick bike ride around the block and a quick walk with Sammy up the alley and back.
Both outings about killed me but I'm going out again tomorrow and see if I can't convince my legs and knees that this is really what I want to do.

I'm on vacation until July 9th as Wayne is taking the week off and will take the kids and Sammy camping for a few days.  I don't have anything in particular planned--just the usual.  Sewing, writing, reading, gardening, biking, crossword puzzles, and maybe....a little cleaning here and there.  I'm overdue for going through the closet and donating clothes to Serenity or Goodwill.  I'm no fashion plate by any stretch of the word but somebody somewhere might find some of it worthwhile.  I refer to my wardrobe as 'outfits for fat chicks.'

Last night was the first night in weeks that I wasn't coughing and spitting throughout the night.  Figured I was finally over the bug but I guess I'm not quite there yet.  After my three hours of gardening, I started coughing again and almost lost my voice.  It returned but I was really hoarse and croaky there for an hour or so.  I've got more weeding that needs doing here and there in the front and back but I'm determined to keep my toiling at 40 or 50 minutes only.  Maybe less.  I sure am thankful for the shower stool I picked up at the thrift store. I couldn't make any progress out there if I couldn't sit down to work.

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER-IN-LAW, LILL!
Well, I've posted this video more than once but I like it so I'm gonna post it again.  It makes me laugh.

Looking back on old neighborhoods

I must be on the mend because this is the first morning in a while that I felt like getting back to my history project.  I'm writing about the different places I've lived from birth until now. An autobiography, of sorts; only this one will go into more detail than the short sketches I wrote five years ago in 'Alphabet of my Life.'

 One of the places I lived in 1945 was this house on Clay Street below the courthouse.  My Aunt Velna had custody of me for a time and while I'm not using all of these photos in my book, I still thought they were interesting to look at when viewed in a time sequence.

History of Neighborhoods changing........

2024 Clay St house in the 1930's

Clay St house in 2003

Clay St. house hidden in 2012

Notice the rock pile in the first and third pictures.

Many Port Townsend landscapes have changed over the years as more newer homes are built on sites that were previously empty.  Three of my aunts all lived within blocks of one another near the courthouse. Like most houses and neighborhoods everywhere, they've all changed in appearance.

Aunt Elva's house on Lawrence & Walker and how it changed

Probably one of the most remarkable changes is George and Lorraine's house on Franklin. This is how it looked in the 1940's, the 1960's, and later as a new home went up where their garden area used to be and the house was painted blue.

Well, back to work.  I'm so easily distracted once I start messing with pictures.

Summer grass and Happy Bday Spike

Have been sitting here at my laptop watching the grass in the vacant lot across the street grow higher every week. The scotch broom is growing in the background. When the wind blows (like it's done a lot this week) that grass becomes even more noticable.

Hunter and I took a ride down to the beach yesterday just to get out of the house.  It's really hard to beachcomb at the spit because it's too rocky and difficult to navigate.

Mary and Andy just got back from a much nicer beach in Florida.  They fortunately flew out before Hurricane Debbie got worse.



I asked the twins yesterday what names they would pick if they had to change their first names.  I told them I'd pick Annie and Mickey for my girl and boy names.  They thought that was corny but I thought their picks were corny too.  Hunter said he'd be Hunter or Tiffany.  Maddie said she'd be Page or Paisley and Oscar.  She thinks Oscar is a really cool name.  She was also considering a girl name of Hunter Ann.  She's funny.

Happy Birthday today to my pal, Lewie Morello up at Diamond Point. Here he is playing piano in 1961 for Mary Gaboury, me, Karen Jovag, and Sharon Lindsey as we performed in a high school assembly.  Not sure why we wore long shirts hanging out and beanies on our head. Probably my idea. My taste in clothes has always been on the edge.  Ha ha

Joe returns---Dogs happy!

Joe arrived Saturday morning after being gone all week.  The dogs were EXTREMELY HAPPY!



He got my rugs shampooed before taking off so I spent the afternoon reading a book while waiting for them to dry.  Actually finished the book.  'The Walk' by Richard Paul Evans. Now I have to read the second one in the series.  Excellent read, by the way.

Rains came down heavily yesterday afternoon.  I decided to move some of my flower pots up to the porch because I wasn't able to enjoy them where I had them situated at the bottom of the back yard.  My lawns may be wall-to-wall white clover flowers but at least my flower pots are pretty.

Well, I managed to finish the laundry, the paperwork, the dishes, and tidying up all the bedrooms so I think I'll kick back the rest of the day and see if my left leg/hip will ease up on the aggravation it continues to throw my way.

Wayne's on vacation next week so that means I am too. No kids and no dog so perhaps I'll feel like getting back to writing.  Blasted cough continues but I think it's lessening a little every day.  Can't leave fast enough to suit me.

Is it summer yet?

I must admit I am getting a little weary of this rainy weather. Still.....if I have to have this or real high temps, I'll take the drizzle any day.

I got up at 4:30 a.m. to see if Birdy needed to go outside.  She did but for whatever reason, something spooked her and she started to bark.  I'm wondering if it was all the birds chirping.  She's a skitterish type and I was dismayed as she barked more and took off running down the side of the house.  I figured she was right under my neighbor's bedroom window.  I don't know why she kept barking...perhaps it was seeing me running in a nightgown.  I suppose that would scare anyone.  Anyhow, I got her back inside and returned to my bed for two more hours.

It took all week but Sammy and Miah finally started wrestling and playing with each other more.  I felt so bad for Birdy because she was on the outside looking in, and Sammy would chase her off if she acted like she wanted to join in the fun.  Sammy definitely ruled the roost while her company was here.  I think Birdy was probably happy to see her go home.  I also think Sammy is going to be relieved to come on Monday and find she has the place to herself.

I'm going to rent a rug shampooer tomorrow.  I haven't really given the place a good shampoo since I lived here but Miah made the job a must this time around.

The kids and I ran some errands this morning. I had about five or six stops and was really happy to get them done. I'd been wanting to get out all week but kept coughing and didn't want to have a choking episode in public.  I'm still using a spittoon but every night sees a little less use. Thank goodness!

I don't know if it's the wet damp weather or what but I suffered all day with left knee, leg, and hip pain.  Getting in and out of the car was pure torture. I even bought a big bottle of Advil while at Walmart instead of the off brand.  Probably didn't need to buy a name brand but when you're suffering that much, I think the name brands might help more, if even just psychologically.  The pain lasted the entire day but is gone now so that makes me think maybe it was triggered by the weather. I never know for sure if that's an old wives tale.  I do know I'm thankful the pills finally kicked in.

I picked up a  book at the library mentioned as a comment on my Leader blog.  'The Walk' was suggested by Joy Bland, and I hope to start it tonight.  I haven't read all week long because I've been so under the weather and tired.

Hunter's been watching his ebay items for sale hoping he'll get more hits. 1967 Buick Skylark car handle and chrome moulding fender piece.  I did manage to sell one book so that was nice.

Here's a cute video I got in an email this afternoon....





And this commercial was from 1937. Double your money back if you aren't satisfied.

Slow Start this Morning

Hunter called me early this morning eager to get his two car parts posted on Ebay.  I've been holding off until I felt better as it usually takes me a while to navigate Ebay's directions on how to display items for sale.  I started with my book, The Schools on the Hill, as I wanted to make sure it would come up if people searched 'Port Townsend.'  I figure my only sales, if any, will come from that direction.  I haven't had too much luck with Ebay selling in the past but then I haven't really done that much either.

At any rate, I eventually got his items up along with my book. He found pieces to a 1967 Skylark when he was out bike riding with his dad.  The car parts had been thrown into a gully--just the perfect hunting spot for a boy with a mind to making a buck.  He researched the parts online to see what they were worth.  To me, they looked like junk but to Hunter and Wayne, they were treasures.  He listed both the car handle and the fender piece for $55 each!  That kid is going to make money someday.  Him and Maddie both made straight A's for the entire year.  So proud of them.

I wish I had had my movie camera running with Jenni arrived yesterday after work to pick up Sammy.  He was beside himself with happiness and his excitement rubbed off on Joe's dogs too.  Birdy, especially, was running back and forth trying to figure out who to go to and how many hugs she could get.  Cracks me up how Wayne can walk in the door and Birdy goes ballistic barking and carrying on (all while jumping in my lap for protection) but when Jenni walks in, all three dogs are all over her anxious for her attention.  They're fine with Wayne once he sits down but that first appearance at the door drives them bonkers.

I can tell I'm going to get little accomplished today.  Coughed a lot during the night and it wore me out.  Jenni called to say she was bringing the kids KFC this afternoon as she hopes to get off work at a decent hour. (She has to work Saturday)  Anyhow, she offered to bring me a dinner too and I thought that was terrific.  I had planned on leftover spaghetti just because I can't get in the mood to cook.

Kids left about an hour ago to go to a friend's house a few blocks down the street. A bunch of them are gathering to play "Hunger Games."  Not sure what it entails but Hunter took his sponge dart gun.

I can't remember if I cut this out of People Magazine or the AARP Magazine.  Thought it was a fun picture and I have it taped on my desk.

I read online that Ann Curry of the Today Show is having to sue to keep her job.  Apparently Good Morning America came in with higher ratings one day (the first time in years) so all of a sudden, some hoo haw from above has decided Ann's to blame for the drop in ratings.  What a cut throat business and whoever is behind such thinking needs to lose THEIR job.  I don't actually prefer one show over the other. I channel surf constantly and usually because they're featuring a story on yet another idiot I have no interest in. Both channels are guilty of highlighting sensational smut and crime.  I'd actually quit watching because of Matt Lauer before I would Ann Curry.  His habit of speed interviewing on subjects he's not keen on yet lingering with topics more to his liking leave me with the remote in hand and ready to strike.

Well, guess I'll try to get going on a Leader blog now.  Not sure what I'm going to write about yet.

Almost summer

It's 8:30 a.m. and I've been up for a little over two hours trying to shake off the morning bronchial gunk that settled in my chest during the night.  I'm thankful I'm able to sleep in my bed again but will be much happier once the final residue phglem is coughed up once and for all.  From past experiences, I know this next phase of healing could take weeks.

I still have to sit and rest often so household chores continue to go by the wayside.  I'm talking to myself more and that's usually an indication I've reached another plateau.  And isn't that a sad state of affairs?!  Knowing you're on the mend because you talk to yourself more.  Ha!  I sound awfully hoarse and croaky so I suppose some of this bug has settled in my vocal cords.

The temperature gauge with a suction cup that I stuck to the outside of the window in front of me is registering 101 degrees.  I'm thankful that's just the morning sun  heating that spot. If I was having to deal with high temps on top of this bronchitis, I'd be in a fix. I set all three dogs outside for the day. It's going to be nice and sunny and there's no reason for them to be in the house.  Birdy and Miah are used to being inside so they're not entirely thrilled witht his arrangement.  Anytime I go outside, they immediately run to the sliding glass door in anticipation of when I go back indoors.  I've set them up with toys, pillows, blankets, food, water and you'd think being able to run in a large yard would tickle them. Nope.

Before our stupid cable company took away Nat'l Geo channel, I used to watch the Dog Whisperer.  He was always lecturing people about treating dogs like dogs and not people.  That's a hard thing to do for some folks--like me.  I'm always trying to think for them.  I watched Miah as she followed Sammy's activities out on the lawn and I got it in my head that she wanted to be out there too so I lifted her up (not easy) and placed her down on the grass.  I didn't think she could get down the steps as she's so old and fat.  She immediately limped back up the steps.  I couldn't let it go at that, however. I figured she just didn't know what she really wanted so I took her large overside sleep cushion and laid it on the steps so she could get up and down throughout the day.

Birdy, meanwhile, has contented herself with going under the porch to lay instead of frolicing out on the sunny lawn.  I'm determined to keep them all outside today.  I need a break.  Even though I already know I have to shampoo the carpets once they're gone, I'm still fretting constantly to keep an eye on Miah and her bathroom ediquette--or lack of, I should say.

She's real slow moving but this morning I noticed she could run if she wanted to.  She was trying to outrun me as I attempted to get her outside as soon as she crawled out of bed.  I wanted her to pee on the potty pads I had placed on the porch.  She took off running around the kitchen island and would go in the opposite direction if I tried to head her off.  I finally got a leash on her and led her outside.
I watched her ignore the potty pads and go directly to a throw rug I had out there (drying out).

My goal for today is to quit trying to read their minds and remember that I'm the human here and I'm the boss.  Not sure how I'm going to spend the day.  I'm not really in the mood for cutting out quilt squares, reading, surfing the net, writing, watching tv, or even running errands.  A good day to just go with the flow, I suppose.  Definitely have to work on my levels of patience.  I only add to my stress when I expect my energy to return quickly. Could just be I only need a morning nap to snap out of this funky mood.  Lack of sleep can send your personality into the depths of despair.  Oh brother, talk about drama queen!  Ha ha

Guess I'll go look at the pictures I haven't posted yet...

Here's one of me and Shirley Thomas taken at the Elks Club Saturday before last.  Shirley lives in Silverdale and was Class of 1966.  She was always the younger kid sister hanging around when I visited Jean Tyler out on San Juan Avenue behind the Catholic Cemetary.

Here's all the tulip bulbs I dug up from the raised flower bed a couple weeks back.  They sure did multiply.  I'll replant at the end of fall.

This is a shirt I bought on Ebay but unfortunately, it's a little too small.  I wasn't totally surprised but kept hoping the XL listing would be extra large enough for my extra large stomach.  I figure I have two choices--lose the damn weight so I can wear the shirt or....make it into a pillow.

Not sure if you can see this flying pig that well but I'll post it anyhow. I stopped at Wild Birds in Discovery Bay and they had the neatest magnetic birds and such. I bought two even though they won't work on double paned glass.  I fixed up this one in a picture frame and taped a sign saying "WHEN".  That got me to wondering about that saying 'when pigs fly'. Found this on Wikipedia:
of Lewis Carroll:

"Thinking again?" the Duchess asked, with another dig of her sharp little chin.
"I've a right to think," said Alice sharply, for she was beginning to feel a little worried.
"Just about as much right," said the Duchess, "as pigs have to fly...." — Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter 9.

American literature author John Steinbeck was told by his professor that he would be an author when pigs flew. When he eventually became a novelist, he started to print every book he wrote with the insignia "Ad astra per alia porci" (to the stars on the wings of a pig).[3]

Here's a picture of the other magnetic bird I bought. This one I attached to a fish bowl.  The little red bird sitting inside was another purchase. I'm a sucker for red birds.

Today is the last day of school for the twins. Not sure how well this will post but here's a clipping Linda sent me from the PA paper of Maddie's softball team. She's kneeling third from the right.

One reason I decided to take Joe's dogs for the week was because I JUST KNEW Sammy would be thrilled to have playmates.  Sigh...... they've been penned up outside for over two hours now and Sammy is asleep in one spot, Birdy under the porch, and Miah, standing at the sliding glass door whimpering to be let in.  I can't stand it!  I'm letting her in.  She's old.

The dogs get acquainted

It was kind of a hard day.  My cough continues to wear me down so sleeping at night is minimal.  I've got two more pills to take of that antibiotic I was prescribed.  I can't help but wonder if maybe it didn't help at all.  From past experiences, I always dread getting a sinus infection that turns into a cough as it usually means I'll be hacking for weeks, no matter what steps I take to try and get rid of it.  I wonder if that's an aging thing.  Perhaps it's my 3 decades of smoking.  Perhaps it's just part of the process and I have to learn to deal with it.  I do think, however, that fits of severe coughing are harder on you in your later years.

Always interesting  to see what kinds of things I notice when I'm laid up to the point where basic house chores are left undone.  I notice cobwebs, carpet stains, dust everywhere, walls that need paint, cupboards that need wiping down, drawers that need to be cleaned, furniture that is overdue for cleaning, clothes closets that are overrun with outfits I need to give away...the list is endless.  If I look around this office and the closet where I keep craft supplies, pictures, and any number of odds and ends, I get a feeling of hopelessness that I'll never get it how I want it.  But I know this is just part of being sick.  I recognize it for what it is.  When I'm well, I won't notice (at least not in such detail) of just how much of a pig sty I'm living in.  Ha!

The dogs got acquainted today.  It did help take my mind off my own woes.  Sometimes Sammy would rule the roost and other times, Birdy felt she was the one in charge.  Not too often, though. She's the youngest, I think, and easily spooked if someone tries to bully her.  When Jenni arrived this morning with Sammy, Birdy was beside herself with happiness and greeted her with affection. This didn't sit especially well with Jen as she was in her work clothes and Birdy wanted to jump up and give her a hug.

When Wayne came after work, Birdy was spooked and barked to high heaven.  Maybe it was his blue outfit.  Sammy was all over Wayne looking for the cookies he hides in his pockets, but Birdy jumped up on my lap for protection.  He made friends once Wayne sat down, however, and realized everyone else in the room thought it was fine he was there.

Was odd (and funny) to watch Sammy's personality change once "his dad" arrived.  Sammy always acts like a naughty kid when his mom arrives at daycare to pick him up.  Today, he kept maneuvering himself --I should say his butt...into Maih's face.  If Maih turned away, Sammy would move again and put his butt where she could smell it.  Maih's the female and Sammy's the boy...doesn't he have that backwards?  It cracked us up because he was definitely moving backwards and sideways to get is butt exactly where he wanted it.

Maih is such a sweetie.  The twins are especially taken with her.  I think Birdy is Hunter's favorite overall,though. Here's some pictures we took today. (these are mainly for Joe who I know will sign on to my blog to see how his kids are doing.)  He's in St. Louis this week.

                                  save me Gramma

 Jen & Maddie taking Sammy & Birdy for a walk yesterday

 Birdy watched the door for over an hour after Joe left yesterday

I made a step stool out of cushions so Maih could get up on the hassock and watch the view on the street.

Hunter told me last Friday that they're all done "learning stuff for this year".  The three days this week are devoted to packing up and having parties and preparing to leave elementary school for the last time.  Tomorrow the crossing guards get a pizza party and rootbeer floats.  Time definitely passes quickly.  I remember when they were starting preschool.

Here's Maddie in a shirt she made for the dance skit she was in for a school assembly and a second picture I took the morning of "bad hair day."

I've got a few other pictures to share  but am too tired tonight so I'll end with this one I took Friday when Hunter came over to cut my clover.

I'd like to go to bed but I'm not sure I'm going to even attempt it tonight. I may grab a comforter and just settle into the recliner from the get go.  Trying to lay in bed with even four pillows just wasn't doing the trick.