Darlene

I was overjoyed on February 25, 1956 when my baby sister was born and I finally had a sibling.  I immediately became the "little mother" and helped with her care warming bottles, changing diapers, and getting things for my mother who was bedridden for a time after Darlene's birth.

 

Here we are at an outing in a park.  She was like my little doll.

 

 

This is one of my favorite pictures of Darlene as a little girl.  Always loved sailor collars.

 

 

She was very angelic at her First Communion.

 

 

Christmas was always special----guess we must have gotten a TV that year.

 

 

After I got married Darlene moved with our parents to a farm in Koleen, Indiana.

 

 

Here I am with Heather and Darlene's daughter Chantelle at the farm.  The girls are only a few days apart in age.  Here they are about 18 months old.

 

 

As the years went on, Darlene went on a fitness kick and entered many triathlons. 

 

 

She's always been an animal lover---here with our dog, Mugs.

 

 

We were both so lucky in the year 2000 to meet two wonderful guys and get married only 4 months apart.  Here she is with her husband, Robert or 'Ole Boy as we call him.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLENE!  YOU ARE LOVED!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easters Past

Easter has always had special memories for me.  It is one of my favorite holidays, for many reasons.

 

It was very important when I was a girl to dress up for church in your new Easter outfit.  Hats were a must, also new shoes---white or black patent leather----and a matching purse.  I can't tell if I have gloves on in this photo, but if not, I'm sure they were in my purse.  By the way, my Mom made my coat and my dress.

 

 

I'm about 5 years old in this picture.  A big part of Easter always involved getting live ducks or chicks.  Strange pets for a Chicago girl.

 

 

This is a photo of an unknown relative who was undoubtedly getting ready to stroll in the Easter Parade.  The more ornate the hat, the better, and a parasol was so chic.

 

 

A beautiful Easter day in McHenry with Mom and sister Darlene.

 

 

Although this photo was not taken at Easter, it shows the fashion of the day when my Paternal Grandparents---Anton and Pearl----left my parent's wedding.  Straw hats were immensely popular with the men, white shoes for both men and women.

 

 

Little girls still dress in their Easter best, but the Easter Egg Hunt is the highlight of the day.

 

 

And every child should get an Easter Bunny!

 

 

But, it's amazing that Straw hats are still the thing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bridges of Madison County

One of my favorite movies of all time is The Bridges of Madison County.  We watched it again last night and each time we both enjoy it so much.  It's not surprising then that  we actually visited a covered bridge once in Indiana near the town where my sister Darlene lives.

Here I am in front of the plaque that says the bridge was constructed in 1877, and is 181 feet long.

 

Darlene and I are in front of the Cumberland Bridge which was restored in 1999.

 

 

Obviously, I loved the bridge, probably as much as Meryl and Clint.

 

Here we are at the side next to a railing that had stairs down to the water.  I don't think one car or truck went across while we were there (except ours).

 

Duane and I got caught up in the whole atmosphere and pretended we were Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep.

 

 

WOW! IT'S 2013!

Personally, I think this year is going to be great.  I have a few resolutions, not the least of which are:

                                                             Stronger Faith in God
                                                             Losing Weight
                                                             Eating the Right Foods
                                                             And Exercising More

                                  If I can accomplish those things, anything is possible!

                                 Ideal weight in 1969.  A little unrealistic?  The sky's the limit!

 

Got Pool?  USE IT!!!

 

 

Keep dancing!

 

 

 

Grow more fresh veggies/ harvest more fruits.

 

 

My parents had the right idea.  Photo from McHenry, Illinois 1959.

 

 

 

 

 

Always thank God for my wonderful family.

 

 

 

And, our wonderful friends.  May God bless them all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

                          
                                     We are looking forward to another wonderful year.                                        

 

 

 

Love when he dresses up! 

 

If you look above the fireplace there is a painting.  Hopefully, this year it will be exchanged for a flat screen TV.

 

 

I was inspired by the reindeer antlers that Melissa bought this year when she and Adam had a holiday party for us all.  Those are what we will be wearing for our group photo in 2013!

 

Hopefully, this year, Reese will join us for a grandchildren picture.  Right now, when we ask him if he wants to get his picture taken, he says, "I don't want to."

 

However, if you catch him off guard, you can usually get a cute picture.  Here he made a hat in preschool at Thanksgiving.  It is either an Indian headress or a turkey hat---hard to tell.

 

 

 

I truly hope Maddie will perform again in the Nutcracker Ballet.  She made a beautiful angel.

 

                                       So let's make a toast to the Happiest New Year ever!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season

I have always been fascinated with Nativity sets.  For many years I have collected them, and bring them out each Christmas. 

My latest addition is a metal board background, and is also an Advent Calendar.  Each little drawer has an item that you add to the scene each day.

BELIEVE is another set that I purchased this year.  Each letter has a character from the manger.

This is a set I purchased for Heather a couple of years ago.  She has since become interested in collecting nativity sets too.

I had had this little set of Precious Moments for many years, and when Heather got married I gave it to her.  As a little girl, it was always a favorite of hers.

When Maddie came along she just loved the Little People sets from Fisher Price, so of course I got her this set which children can also play with.

When Heather was little, she loved painting ceramics.  Here is a set that she painted for me.

One of my favorites has always been this glass set that is very tiny, but exquisitely painted.

Here we have 2 sets.  In the background is one I got from Hallmark many years ago, and in the front is a sweet set of the Peanuts characters.

When I was a little girl, my mother had a set similar to this one, so I tried to find one like it.  She always put cotton snow underneath, and it was usually under the tree along side the train set.

But we must always remember----  "Jesus Is The Reason For The Season"

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas has become the most fun since we've had grandchildren.  Maddie has always been a ham, and Grandma has probably had too much wine.

One year, Scott finally got his Red Rider BB Gun, and Grandpa got his Benelli.

In 1956, I got a baby sister---Darlene!  I got to play Mommy with a REAL DOLL!

It was a real blessing to me when Duane and I got married and these very special people were added to my family, his son Scott, wife Kim and their two darling daughters Valerie and Amanda.

                                  What more can you say about Heather's reaction, but WOW?

Poor Adam, however, is overwhelmed.  Gee, and he got the very same present Reese got last Christmas.  Some things never change.

                      This year a very special angel arrived, and performed a ballet for us.

                                               And, the littlest angel is saved for last.......