Smoke gets in your eyes...

Yesterday I did an memorial post. I got all set to do a creative "layered collage" with the photo from the cemetery"which I don't like doing" and all and thought I'd practice what I learned at Art and Soul in Virginia.

Well the smoke got in my eyes, and I was useless. Yes for those of you who I neglected to tell, Andrzej was my dad. He died 32 years ago of lung cancer.

My sister Donna has been saying we need to put a picture in my mother's room of my dad, and as I was putting all this "layering materials together" I did get a copy of their wedding picture and frame it, only to be told by my mother, that she most definitely was not married, forget about the 9 kids. I guess Andrzej was a forgettable man, but I'm not sure who she thinks we all are?

Have a wonderful weekend all. I need to do some serious housework this weekend, pray I have some new found energy.

All about Dads...

As it is Father's Day I can only think that the joys of being a father must be much like that of being a mom. Perhaps a little different perspective but still joyful. I know for sure my husband, even though he doesn't make any outward sign of expectation, waited patiently for my son to call with his greetings. My young son, the one that still at home with us, got up early to pack things. I must say, I miss the decorated ties and fridge art at these occasions. But it's amazing how a grumpy old man's mood changes when his son, who thought forgot about him, calls. MAGIC. If kids only knew. It's most appropriate that I include this little ditty.

I will remember you...

This is a photo of my dad and me. It was my graduation from Secondary School. Yesterday would have been my dad's 95th birthday. Wow! My dad passed away 3oyears ago. My fondest memories of my dad are quite often in conjunction with his friend Stan. I can remember being at Sheridan College and wanting them to build me a sewing machine table with some stability. It seemed my purchased one just couldn't take the moves, the legs were always wobbly and the surface was too small for the things that I was sewing, so the two of them strolled into the sewing studio at the college and were going to check it out. Well security of course was called because two old guys were wondering through the classes. I finally caught up with them and explained things and they took their measurements and I still sew at the table they came up with. I think Barb got one too. We each got a great cutting table as well, but Stan refused to glue cork to the top. He just wouldn't taint the wood that way. As I've been cleaning my mothers home recently, I've come across a few projects they did together, you can tell in their work when they were getting tired of it or maybe just having a few too many tastes of their home made wine. Brings a smile to my face. My dad would have like to be a musician, he was a self made one so I think it's appropriate that I post this song in his memory. Why didn't I post yesterday. Just couldn't.

Where does time go indeed!

A Million years ago this was me, and my assigned partner was my now brother-in-law Rick. As I recall this was a performance of the Polonaise at some Mayor's gala, Mayor Victor Copps (father of Sheila Copps) at the Connaught Hotel in Hamilton. Well Victor Copps is now long dead, Sheila is a retired MP, and the Connaught is a dump. I'm 55 years old and my brother in law, although he still has brown hair (ha, ha )is also in his 50's. We are both much, much heavier, and I'm sure we wouldn't remember how to do the Polonaise if we tried. Yes it's my birthday today. If I could freeze time, I think this is the age I would like to freeze my appearance at, I would love to wear those gowns daily, and I most certainly would like to continue to dance the Polonaise, even if it were just occasionally. Those were good times. My dad would drive us around from practice to performance, my mom sewed all the costumes,my friend Mary did our hair. As I passed through the decades(don't I sound old) I'd have loved to freeze time when my boys were younger, my husband happier and me with more energy. Alas it is not my gift to freeze time. So I shall delight in the fact that I'm healthy enough to eat a lot of cake on my Birthday, even if I have to bake it myself, I'll play in my studio, while the wash is being done, and I'll eat out with my favorite men, even if I'm related to them. I'll go to bed when I feel like it, with an nice nightcap of course. Listen to my favorite music and reminisce. So happy birthday to me.

Let's go to the EX

Let's go to the Ex. When we were growing up in Hamilton, on the last day of school we would get these coupons for the Ex. We never went. My mother always thought that was silly and you would have to spend a lot more than that entry fee, which she was not willing to spend. So when I moved closer to Toronto, I went to the Ex. Andy use to be the Police on duty there some years. One year I went to the Ex and discovered these fabulous flowers (fake) and just needed them. So Alice and I went, with Andy, leaving my mother with Daniel. Well, Andy got distracted at the beer tent and left us, poured rain. We waited for him for what seemed a very long time. By the time we got back my poor baby was hysterically crying, never having been left without his mom. Well I proposed today to that same baby that we go to the EX on Monday, like we normally do, and got a very ugh answer. Well doesn't that just take the cake. I didn't get to "Bat Night" this year either. Another annual event. I'm starting to feel very left out. I must do something about that. We always judge the end of summer by the beginning of the Ex. Well it's almost gone and what have we enjoyed. Well I got to spend several days with a good friend in our favorite place. I've read many books, I've painted all summer, another first. I've hardly gotten a water bill this year. (not much watering happening). It's been a busy summer. Oh well we can start to shop for Christmas I suppose.

When you thought I wasn't looking!


A message every adult should read because children
are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.


When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a
prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always
talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each
other.


When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of
your time and money to help people who had nothing,
and I learned that those who have something should
give to those who don't.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.


When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, you fixed my pond so it would be great!

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and
wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking!

Just when you think you know everything...

Just when you think you're old enough to know everything, you learn something new. Today is the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Mount Carmel is somewhere in Israel. My dad loved the Middle East, he often talked about the fabulous oranges, and olive groves there. This was a big deal to a man who had spent two years in the ice and snow regions of Siberia starving. What's the connection you ask. Well yesterday was also the 30th anniversary of my dads death. There are a great many beliefs and legends related to death and the Carmelites. Today we celebrated mass in his honour. I never connected the two until tonight, when my friends said I picked a special day to celebrate the anniversary of his death. I confess I didn't pick it. They say that those who honour Our Lady of Mount Carmel are blessed in death. I don't remember weather he did or not, but I think he must have been to the blessed site, during his stay in Israel. I know, I feel great about this coincidence. I thought I would be crying throughout the mass, but I felt very peaceful. My family will tell you I cry a lot at these things. Death is something none of us escape, and I hope that a peaceful one is something both my parents enjoy, after their very difficult lives. After all, if we are the Catholics we profess to be ,death should be a blessing. I've subscribed to a e newsletter for a number of years, "Saint of the Day" is always an interesting read, and I love the history of all these things. For those of you who do not believe, look at it as a lesson in History. I'm loving learning something new even at my age.

I've been reading one of Leslie's picks, "the many lives and secret sorrows of Josephine B." by Sandra Gulland, and I am just amazed at the historical research this author has done, and the faith connections often mentioned in the book. I like that. So when a connection is a personal one I find it even more fascinating. I know it sounds like you could find a connection in everything if you looked hard enough, and I do look. So do take a moment to reflect on my muse as far out as it may seem.

It's in the genes

As this blog was intended to be research for my novel, I'm finding it hard to not look around at the characters in my life. One such character is my brother-in-law. He is a most reliable guy. I could easily drop the in-law part. But , only if brothers could be fictitious. I don't know of anyone who has a brother that they get along with as well. Actually maybe I'll keep the in-law, it might keep the relationship where it's been. Well because of the relationship with my brother-in-law, we have sort of also adopted his mom. Well Babcia Annie has a birthday today. She's an unusually quiet lady, in some of her old pictures she was quite a looker, always in style. She's had quite a life, WWII was the reason she too came to Canada, but by a different route than my parents. I find that quite interesting. (I'm still thinking historical fiction here). And because I'd like to think mothers have something to do with the way their son's turn out, as I have two, I'd like to say Happy Birthday and Thank You to a lovely lady.

Saturday Morning Rush

A number of years ago we were told that in the computer age things would be so fast that we would only need to work four days a week. Well for most of the work force that has not happened. We seem to do more and more all the time. We keep ourselves busy, we keep our kids busy and then when they grow up they keep us busy. Saturday morning use to be clean the house for moms and dad would cut grass, or do household repairs, kids would watch cartoons. Well I don't know about anyone else's house but that does not happen in my house, anymore. For years now my eldest son has had a job, and when he didn't he always had somewhere he needed to be. Now my youngest is off to work on Sat. morning, yes it's just a part time job but, my nest is getting emptier and emptier. My husband and I hustle around me making lunches, Andy driving them to jobs, or trains or something. But there is no such thing as a relaxing Saturday morning, or any morning anymore. We all sort of crash on Friday night from the school week, and then it's Saturday already. Where is our four day work week. I could go for a Ninja Turtle or Ghostbuster cartoon right about now. And a few little toy cars around the house, instead I have rearend coil sitting in my kitchen, for a full size vehicle. I've just finished empting the bumpers in my backyard of rain water, and I guess I'll have to drop a mosquito puck in so I don't get West Nile Virus. Yes Saturday Morning is a Rush, and so is every other day of the week. We could sure use an eighth day couldn't we. I think I might start a campaign. I shall be accepting suggestions for a name. How about Sloday? No stores would be open, no schools, and no one would be able to leave their homes. They would be forced to watch cartoons.