Saturday Snapshot... Momento?

A few years back, my boys brought home a movie, on one of our movie nights, called Momento.  It was one weird movie.  My mom had not yet been diagnosed with dementia/Alzheimer, so memory loss was not on my mind, at the time.  Since that time it has been in the forefront of my life. I hated that movie, I mean really hated it, but every time I take a picture at the shop, just so I could remember what I did (so I could do exactly the same thing on the next one) I think of it. Well in the above memory capture, I've deconstructed a pretty little chair, only my doll will be allowed to sit on, it's very fragile, but has some lovely detail (not shown) I've filled the dowel holes with new and improved dowels and filled in the gaps the dowels didn't fill with Epoxy wood filler, (smelly stuff) and now I'm going to drill out new holes to fit the sides of the chair into.  Did I tell you I love to drill, my arm pays for it that night but, what fun would that be if you didn't feel that shakiness forever. The deconstruction and filling and sawing and drilling has now taken me a couple of hours, while I wait for the glue to dry, I make tea.  Because I've been waiting for such a long time everyone thinks this is my job.  I want to put a sign up, your mother doesn't live here, clean up your cups, but... the worst group for this is the Wednesday afternoon group, I go in on Thursday morning, and start the clean up.( I know my sisters will not believe this, we each have different criteria for a clean counter)  Where am I going with this... O yeah... I'm going to take a picture of a clean counter and a not so clean counter with dates on the bottom, maybe a caption "did you do this?" The men are the worst, so I can only assume there a few more men in the Wednesday class than the Thursday.  The women bring a snack, like delicious cake or something, the men just don't take their turn.  Sounds like handy Andy doesn't it?  One of the ladies in the class told me to stop complaining, because I'm lucky to have him... I suppose? I thought maybe I'd send handy Andy over to her house to cut the grass, I think she'd have a different opinion then.

And yes, I shall post a photo of my finished chair, hopefully I'll be able to assemble the whole frame in the upcoming week, and then it'll head over to the upholstery room (with me) and I'll cover the seat.  I know most sites I visit seem to do a seat in the blink of an eye.  I don't.  I must wash the horse hair at home, which I brought home.  I want to put a totally impractical seat cover, like maybe raw silk, or a beaded cover, totally not suitable for a seat, but certainly lovely for a princess, or a doll.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce from at home with books.

Brenda's Photo Challenge, Memories...

Earlier this week I posted a photo of my 26year old son, on his birthday.  Well here are the memories that go along with that boy.  His first Easter.

nap time

Ninja Turtles on Easter morning.

yet another "rare" nap.

Who you gonna call?

Rocketry years

All the camp counselors colored their hair it was rainbow day, 

all grown up... 

Most memories just get stored in some vault, for me it's photos that bring them out to discuss and remember fondly or otherwise,  was not to keen on the rainbow hair.
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This post was created to submit as part of the Brenda's Photo Challenge, Memories .  thank you to Brenda for hosting.

It's almost Christmas

Well tomorrow will be the Night Before Christmas, and my house still looks like we just moved in. There are boxes and bags and stuff all over the place, and none of them presents. And while I've been doing stuff all week I know I just will not have it the way it should be, and to top it off today I had to do the grocery run, and since I don't drive that was TOO many hours. The upside of course is I didn't have to worry about parking, or traffic. I still didn't complete my list, but I couldn't buy a chicken if my life depended upon it. Just none left. I guess it will be vegetable stock. I really am trying this year to do the traditional Polish Wigilia, (Christmas Eve). I'm not sure why we don't eat meat on this night, but I've always told my children, " you don't eat the animals that gave Our Lord shelter." That seems reasonable, I'm sure there is more to it but I just don't know, if anyone does, let me know. We will have our red Barszcz, pierogi, a fish of some kind. We as children, didn't care what the dessert was because everyone was anxious to open presents. Yes we open on Christmas Eve. And I hope I'll be able to stay awake long enough to go to Midnight Mass. On my grocery adventure today I went into my favorite Polish store, ( I really need to practice my Polish, very few of these ladies speak English) and one of my favorite tunes were playing, I can see Bronia singing it, I immediately thought of Pan Karasek and Yes you guessed it I started to cry. It's so embarrassing. Fortunately everyone was so busy no one seemed to notice. You'd think I'd be out of tears by now. Pan and Pani Karasek were our Polish school teachers, and I think I hear his voice every time I write in Polish, spelling hints you know. I remember those feather wings he made for our Christmas pageant. The world is a better place because he was here. Enjoy.

Advent Wreath

Awhile back I wrote about not being able to find my Advent Wreath. Well it seems it doesn't live here anymore. I never found it, only the candles survived. So I'm making one tonight. Now if you could see my house you'd laugh. Over the past week, we closed up my mothers home and I was not able to part with many of the old pieces of furniture. So they are all here piled up with not a square inch to move. I'm so grateful for my kids and my husband not minding the mess, (I've trained them well). So in amongst these OLD things we will have a great Christmas, and I can tell them stories about everything, They think I'm exaggerating. I'm not. For example the kitchen cupboards downstairs have no handles (now this is easily 30yrs., in my mothers house) because my parents couldn't agree on what kind. I'm thinking I must be my mother's daughter, since there is still about 3 feet of baseboard missing in my kitchen, because I want it a certain way and my husband doesn't "feel" like doing it. So I'll have to lasso my son. He loves to bang things around. So that's today's adventure. I've done almost NO Christmas shopping and I don't plan on doing any. Imagine that.

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.

I can't believe it....

I can't believe I've published over 100 posts. I know I always have too much to say, but I've actually taken the time to say it in writing. Today is no exception. My sisters and I did a scrapping session at my mother seniors residence, she was terribly uninterested. All she wanted to do is complain about the very small desserts she was getting. She told me that she told them they could keep their little cookies, she has boxes in her room. But, I got some serious sorting done. I should be working a little harder at that and today seem like it got me on track again. I have this fear of not living long enough to finish scrapping my photos. I'm off again on a cleaning and sorting binge tomorrow. How sad. Hope I find some treasures to tell you about.

I never went to kindergarten...

I never went to kindergarten. In Canada, Hamilton, Ontario to be exact the kindergarten program did not become part of the educational system until after I was four by December 31st. So consequently I did miss out on a lot of things my nieces baby will soon enjoy. But that doesn't stop me from spreading a few words of wisdom that I read about in Annette's blog this morning.

1. You don't need a financial planner to help manage your milk money.

2. Napping isn't a luxury... It was mandatory!

3. Forget working out... you had recess.

4. Two words: SNOW DAYS!

5. Coming out top meant getting picked first for kickball.

6. You knew your work was a hit when it made the refrigerator.

And every bodies favorite...

7. Even the toughest day ended with milk and cookies.

And now in English...

I know for me regular readers you know I'm a research junky, and family history is something I've been trying to gather for years. Unfortunately neither of my parents ever wanted to talk about details. So it's been a long and winding road, not many records available after the war. But I'm still trying. So a salute to my mother country today in Rememberence. When I was in grade two in Polish school our wonderful teacher told us this legend of why this melody us unfinished, it intrigued me so much that when I went to Poland I'm sure my cousins were not too happy with me as I insisted we go to Krakow and listen, they were wanting to shop. I did hear it for my own ears. Apparently legend has it that the bugler was shot with an arrow in the throat and was therefore unable to finish his tune.

Lest we forget...

It's a particularly emotional day for me today. I'm not sure why? You know all those soldier marching past. I think there was even a fly by in Hamilton today. I just happened to be there in time for the parade and placement of the wreath. It makes me think of my dad and my uncle, and how they must have looked in their uniforms. Just thought I would give you all a glimpse. In Polish.

Getting sorted

When my husband retired he brought home 30 odd years of stuff. I set him up in the garage with folders and filing cabinets and lockers. And what did he do? He just threw a bunch of stuff into the drawers and locker, boxes and all. Well when we needed to get to something or when we needed to find space for car parts, I sat in the garage, with my boys and sorted and made my husband discard things. Well we were down to just a few drawers in a filing cabinet and the rest was SORTED. Imagine putting your whole career into a few drawers. Well that's what I'm doing to my mom's career, and mine too. We worked together for a few years. I can remember most times when she would talk about her fabric as if it were an extension of her family. I think my sister and I did the right thing with the things that were left. Some young lady will be learning to sew with the tools provided from this retiree. I wish I could be in the classroom with her. I could tell her some of those scary stories my mother use to tell us to keep us awake, when working to a deadline. So my advice to all of you, don't pack up too much, leave something for your kids to pack, just to remind them what you use to do. My kids didn't know their father played volleyball and water polo and was at the Olympics with the water polo team in 1972 when terrorism happened in Germany, he was in the army at the time, but I'm sure he would have preferred to be playing in the water with the team if only... They only know about him now, in his large form, displacing water in the pool. I can tell you we are discovering a secret life my mother had too. I have plans for my kids already, I'm sure they will be shocked. So get sorted but not too much.

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.

Who's the Boss?

At this time of year I like to cut back my Hydrangea plants and bring them in to dry. They look particularly nice in this swan basket I've had for years. Well Keehan had other ideas. It seems the minute I pull the basket out he finds it and off he goes to sleep in it, hydrangeas or not. I read Leslie's blog about the article in the paper she read about a cat depriving it's mistress of sleep. Nothing new, us cat owners are quite used to that one. At present Keehan is not adjusting well to Daniel moved out, Sasha having longer classes and me away at my mom's most days. We each get quite a scolding if not a beating. I think Andy probably gets abused first thing in the morning. I've had a bruise or two from him, and Daniel gets a proper 15min. scolding each time he comes home. Who' the Boss?

Tuesday's is scrapping day

On the third Tuesday of each month the seniors residence where my mom has recently moved has a scrapping club. Think I'll check it out, they may have a tabletop that doesn't have a bunch of other stuff on it. Maybe I'll get something done. I've gotten so behind in my photos that once a month is not enough but it will have to do for now. I'll be doing some research re: family tree hope it's a success.

A Turkey for Thanksgiving

A number of years ago when I read books for the library, I read a book to my young sons about a turkey coming to dinner as a guest. So the phrase, "a turkey for thanksgiving has always stuck" (the title of the book) for you grandmothers out there a good bed time read. I'm out to shop for a turkey. I'd love to make him look as good as my photo, but my boys are grossed out. If anyone does this take a real picture and send it to me so I can include it in my cookbook, you will get honorable mention. I would also love a great stuffing recipe that is not gizzards included and no cranberries, chocolate would be great, but that's highly unlikely. I don't know if anyone watched that British comedy, The Vicar of Brimley, one of the characters there, an elderly lady use to come up with the most unlikely combination for her dinner parties, and on her death bed she asked the vicar what she thought of her creations, I'll be doing the same, and if you lie I will save you a seat by the fire in you know where. Happy Thanksgiving All.

Please don't shut your pie hole.

Most of you know that I've been compiling a favorite's cookbook and hand binding it. Not sure why? I've had to put my romance novel on hold for a short time, just not feeling very romantic these days. On Wednesday evenings I watch a show called Pushing up Daisies. It is centralized in a Pie Shop. Well that is a good thing. I've been toying with the idea of baking a pie, someday soon. I was telling Sasha, my viewing partner, that I haven't baked a pie since he was born, actually since I went into labour while taking out a peach and apricot pie out of the oven. My goofy husband startled me and I dropped that delicious pie and went to the hospital. I can tell you that all I thought about was having a slice of it when I got home. Alas, there was none left. And since I decided I was no longer eating for two I stopped baking pies. Well, as I come to that part in my cookbook, I think of what pies would I like to include in this chapter. Lemon, peach & apricot are a for sure. My sister Donna makes pumpkin and apple at this time of year, but I'm not a pumpkin kind of cook. So I'll have to do some serious contemplating on this since I limit myself to just 3 favorites. (My book is getting too thick to stitch together).
What are your favorites? Don't count the calories or the cholesterol contribution in these recipes. I feel a song coming on... photo of ghost over pie, a painting I did for my cookbook.

Antiques Road Show

Often when I'm in control of the T.V. remote, I get to watch the Antiques Road Show. Usually I have Sasha's laptop with me and am eager to look up things. One of the things I looked up was an artist that I could swear my mother had hidden in her moldy basement. The excitement mounted as I took my bus to her house to pull it down from the wall and out of the frame anxiously looking for the # I had researched to see if it was a treasure. Alas it was a five and dime copy. I am so amazed that people don't know what valuables they have in their basements. I'm sure there are couple of other goodies down there. Not sure if I'll benefit from the hunt, but it can be exciting. And what would I do with such treasures. I like treasures with history, I don't think that's what the experts call it. Like the clock that my mother use to have in her living room, it belonged to a lady named Zofia Jendreczyk, she wanted my mother to make her more than one dress and this was the payment. I don't think it ever chimed, (my father being on night shift too often). One day when Zofia's husband got wind that she was trading off his antiquities for designer garments(my mother's designs)he dropped in and paid the bill and asked for his clock back. What a shame, I wonder where it is now, since they have both died, no kids. Probably at some Goodwill. I'm always looking there too. I have a couple of vases that Pani Kowalski talked me into buying when I was a starving student, she was working at Mills ( the china store) and I kept looking at them when I waited for the bus to go back to my dorm room, she convinced me that they would be worth something someday. It was a consignment. I loved them, and she let me put them on layaway. Imagine that, the bill totaled $30 and I put them on layaway. I still have them, Daniel plans on buying himself a Lamborghini when "I no longer need them" not a bad investment. Anyway I hope everyone looks at their treasures a little closer before you get ready for the garage sale. Like my crochet/embroidery treasures, I can picture Pani Dubiel crocheting, my sister Donna sleeping by the heat knitting, such memories you can't buy those. You could however, scrap them.

What kind of a sandwich are you?

In one of the e newsletters I receive the editor/creator of the newsletter also sends out journal prompts. I found this one particularly interesting. We were discussing being a member of the sandwich generation. You know those of us who are still parenting children at home and increasingly parenting our parents. It worries us, it is constantly on our minds. I'm sure we were not anticipating making the sacrifices we are now making. We rely on our siblings and anyone who is willing for support, but even that becomes not enough. Some days I would like to have a crystal ball just to know how it will all play out. Perhaps I can find a gypsy with a spare. GUILT is a huge issue. You feel bad sitting down to talk with someone or have a evening out, because you should be checking on your parent. And if you don't feel guilty someone will point out that you should. By the time things get settled will we feel like living ourselves, will we have the energy or health? As I write this I feel selfish. What the answer is I don't know. There just seems to be an overwhelming amount of questions.

Sunday Morning Thoughts

I've just finished reading my favorite blogs, and can't help feeling like I need to crochet something. Where would I get the time? I guess I'll have to make it. Years ago, I use to knit on a machine, but since I didn't have girls and my boys were big, I gave my machine away always knowing my mother had a better one that I could borrow and use. I think I might. My sister Donna is a beautiful knitter and even though my boys have long outgrown her designs I still have them, I might hang them up in "the home" just so I could see them and remember how Daniel was always so cold until he put on one of those sweaters. He still wraps himself up in the sitchi when he is sick. It's still absolutely perfect. Leslie knits beautifully, and Mrs. Wilson too. I've always needed to know how to do that. I think I embroider o.k. and I'll always be grateful to one of my mothers clients for teaching me to cross stitch it was a little Uki but I can adapt. I still have a breakfast cloth that Hanika Banika embroidered it's in Slovak but that's o.k. too. I've actually framed the crocheting Pani Dubiel, and Kim Coculuzzi did, makes it quite contemporary. I would still love one of those flowery crochet pieces that Pani Dubiel did, so I could have a beautiful tree ornament. I'll have to keep my eyes open at my mom's since I think she's chucked just about everything. I hope someday someone else will appreciate these things when my boys are selling them at a garage sale.

Saturday Morning

I forget what the job of Saturday mornings use to be, I suppose I could look at those lovely buttons Carmi made and Leslie sent me. But I'm just too tired. Saturday morning at my house usually is my lunatic husband setting the alarm to listen for the song of the hour at 6:10 a.m. No nobody has to get up, and he goes right back to sleep, but I'm up. It brings to mind the War of the Roses, that movie with Michael Douglas,and Kathleen Turner, yes I want to whip that alarm out the window, Except I would have to then clean up the glass, because he is not only a lunatic, he's horribley inept at clean up. So I'm up. I'd make him get up as well except that then I have to listen to him. So he gets to sleep in until I'm ready to leave for work and then all HELL is going to break loose. There must be something Ms. Manners has to say about alarm clock etiquette. Oh' well I'm sure it's too late to teach the OLD DOG new tricks. Watch out for flying alarms if your walking past my house, don't trip on the shoes I whipped out when I came down the stairs. I then nearly rolled away on a shell casing from a shooting tournament, (yes the kind CSI find after someone is killed. My mother use to say "szkoda kuli" (a waste of a bullet) and yes it would be, and too much effort. But sometimes...
Have a good one.

The joys of being Canadian

I did go to the CNE on Labour Day. In spite of my family not wanting to go, I ventured out alone. I had put a couple of things to do on my bucket list and The Musical Ride was one of them. I thoroughly enjoyed singing O Canada with these very talented equestrians. The other thing I had wanted to do was go to a Rodeo. I would have like to have seen it in Calgary, when my sisters and I visited but there was just no opportunity, so the Rodeo at the CNE would have to do. So there are a couple of things checked off my list. I think I should have made the list of things to do as a Canadian and filed these in that category. However, the list keeps getting longer. I will soon be emersed in yet another Canadian privledge, voting. Over the years I have gotten quite involved in the process, and enjoyed every minute of it. I've learned a great deal and hope to learn even more of the process this time around. I know my mother -in-law jokes about me being Prime Minister, but let's face it I would not be a bad choice. I'm not sure I would want to but... Enjoy your weekend, I plan to.

Photo of a brochure I own.