Pedal Pushers and Flowers in Niagara Falls

More fun on Memory Monday.  Chuck, Mike, Mom, and Me.  Dad's behind the camera.  I remember thinking how cool it was the flowers could tell time!  This was The Canadian side of Niagara Falls.  Back in the day, we took a mini vacation.  Think maybe a 3 day.  We stayed on the American side, think the lodging was cheaper, but I remember Mom talking about how much prettier, cleaner the Canadian side was.  Not sure of the year but think I was in 2nd grade, while Chuck was in 4th and Mike in Kindergarden?

Pedal pushers, and kids today think Capri's are a new thing, lol; not so much.  Then later when they guys wore a version of them they were called clam diggers.

I can remember how carefully Mom packed.  She packed for all 5 of us, in just 2 suitcases.  Remember when you had to carry your luggage, before wheels and over sized bags to stuff?  I remember her having a folding little travel iron that she could touch things up on the bed in the hotel room.  Who out there is as old as me and remembers stuff like this?

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What Should Your Future Look Like

Another blog challenge, another blog prompt.  Todays prompt, How You Hope your future will be like.

Join us at Paula's for the challenge, click badge.  Today's prompt reminds me alot of Day 2 prompt, Where would you like to be in Ten Years.  Here's the post to give the feel of what the future would be like in my dream world.
In addition to that there should be ample time for pedicures during Girl Time with Darling Daughter.

Lots of good food and wine.

 Time for party dresses

 Oodles of yarn and craft time

 Memories from Long ago

 Pretty flowers

And above all Loving Families

**If you missed, scroll back and join the fun for Memory Monday.  Get some Linky Love**

Multiple Generations

Working on one's family tree is always interesting and fun.  You can find some members of your family easier then others, and it's not something you can do over night, even with the internet.  I started working on my family tree years ago.  It's been a long time since I've worked on it, and need to get back to it.  My Dad and older brother and I visited Chillicothe, Ohio the other day and visited the cemetery where many on my Dad's side of the family gravestones can be found.

I've had some trouble with updating of my genealogy software and may need to buy a new program and re-enter the data to fix the problem.

This is my Dad who served in WWII in his Navy uniform.  He was a fighting Seabee.  This picture used to always be on my Grandmother's dresser, back in the day.  My Dad's name is Charles Albert (he was Jr.).  He still has lots of hair, not as much as in this picture naturally, lol.

This is my Grandpa (my Dad's Dad), Charles Albert Mader, Sr.  He looks so young here in his Army Uniform.  He was born Sept. 6th, 1896, married Grandma (Artie Viola Roseboom...more on her later), on July 24th, 1918.  He died May 1, 1959, on my older brother's birthday.  He died young, at only 63 years old, which is only a year older then I am now.  WOW, how's that for some perspective?  I've made a memorial to him HERE with some cute stories.  He was quite a character.  Interesting to scroll back and forth and look at their eyes.

His father was, Charles Frederick Mader, who was quite musical.  I can't tell if we have the eye thing going on here or not.  I sorta think we do?  There are additional pictures here on his memorial that I think show the eye connection.  He was born Jan 29th 1860, and died Jan 6th 1933.  He was just an infant when Civil War broke out.  His primary claim to fame would be his friendship with President Warren G. Harding, and the fact that he taught Warren G. Harding how to play the horn!

Interesting note here is my older brothers name is Charles, and his oldest son was named Charles also; though he went by his middle name.  So you can see the name of Charles has a long standing and proud family history.

My Great-Great Grandfather, Wilhelm Heinrich Mader, far right, father of above Charles Frederick immigrated to the United States as a young man.  He left Germany after the death of his mother and traveled alone to this country. (click to enlarge the picture, I think the family resemblance is striking).

Here's a picture of William Henry (his Americanized name) later in life.   A memorial made in his honor is HERE

Have you traced your family tree?  You'll be amazed what you can learn about how things do travel down through the generations.

Treasures from our Ancestors

This is an old afghan, a family afghan made by Granny, my Great-Grandmother. She was born just 4 years before the start of The Civil War, on Oct, 7th, 1861 in Hopetown, Ohio. Hopetown is a small little down between Columbus and Chillicothe, closer to Chillicothe. It was a rural farming community in the day, and not much more today. Granny was the daughter of Adam and Melissa Gartner, whom we believed to have been Mennonites. More on that later. Granny lived to be 95 years old. I was just 6 when she died. I do remember her. Sadly, I was afraid of her. She had huge eyes, and very large veins that stuck up on her skin. I wasn't used to being around elderly. She lived in her own home on Mill Street in Chillicothe, the states first capital. She died 56 years ago tomorrow, on January 13th, 1956. She gave birth to 5 children, and 4 survived. Her only son, is my Grandfather....my Dad's Dad. Dad gaved me this afghan yesterday to ask if I might be able to repair it. It's really in pretty good shape considering how old it is. When you take care of things, it's pretty amazing how long things can last. The ghan like Granny has had a long life.

I need to see if I have some yarn to match and see what I can do in the way of repairs. This ghan was used alot through the years; though in recent years, it's been tucked away to preserve it. Mom and Dad had it on their sofa for years, before that my grandparents used it and before that my Great Aunts who lived at Granny's house. If only this ghan could talk, wonder what it might reveal.

Granny was married on Thanksgiving Day November 29th, 1888, at the age of 27. Getting married at the age of 27 was rather old for those times, generally speaking. But, Granny....wasn't ordinary. She was, I believe a woman before her time. She raced horses, and not against other women. She raced and often won against men. A strong willed and very capable woman indeed.

She was a beauty too, would imagine except for her wild spirit, she was probably sought after by a good many men before marrying my Great Grandfather. I don't know if this was the picture taken for her wedding photo or not, but I would imagine it was close to that time frame.

This is later is life, long after her horse racing days were over.

This photo was taken on her 90th birthday. An article appeared in The Chillicothe Gazette discussing how even as a Octogenarian she had a full head of black hair, and another article was written when she turned 90 (which is where this photo came from), discussing her racing horses, being a tomboy and how sharp she was with telling family stories and remember child hood friends names.

I don't know how old Granny was when she crocheted this afghan, but I'm thrilled to have something from her hands. I won't jump into repairing it, as I want to study it a bit to determine the best method, and find the best match in terms of colors....I know that won't be easy, certainly after the long life this afghan has had, it's faded.

Just for Fun

Long long ago, in a planet far far away. Me on the left with my dirty sandal shoes. You know I still love plaids. Butterball in the middle, is my younger brother Mike. Isn't he adorable. My older brother Chuck looking quite handsome and right at the camera like you're suppose to. He was always a good kid, almost....always did what he was told. lol

Just for fun....thought I'd share.

Heirlooms

Do you have family heirlooms? These hand painted dished are one of mine. This is a marvelous set for 12 with all the serving pieces. They were given to me years ago by my Great Aunt Irene. She was my Dad's Aunt. Click to see the dishes, they're sooooooo pretty. I always loved them. Very light mellon creamy background with colored flowers, and pretty gold and red boarder. I use to use them alot. My Aunt always said she liked to give things away when she was still living so she could see people enjoying things. Then a friend said it made him nervous when I used my good dishes and so they got put away. They weren't easy to get to-- to use; so it's been awhile since I've enjoyed them. A couple of years ago I got my first dining room set, which included a hutch. I'm thrilled to get to display my dishes. The last time Daddy came for Sunday dinner, I decided we use our nice china.

The cool Italian wine glasses I got Christmas before last from my Dear SIL, in our gift exchange. Look how beautifully they go with my dishes! We fixed a special meal, used our special china and had the special wine glasses. A good evening for sure.

Sunday........whew

I showed you the inside of one of these Iris a few posts back, but wanted to show you a large group of them in bloom. They're done now, and actually I just finished trimming them today. These line all 3 fence rows in the back, plus the 2 sides of the house. All are from starts from Mom and Dads yard years ago that I've continued to separate and plant and plant and plant. So...it seems those of you who voted on which badge to use for my blog....hit it right on the head.

We've had a very busy couple of days. Many of you will remember my niece Janet, who had cancer and spent such a long time in the hospital etc. She and her mother came for a visit a few days ago. She looks great, feels great. Was wonderful to see her again. She's now on her way traveling to Switzerland! A summer study abroad type program. How awesome is that. One day a group of us went to The Arts Fest here in town...it was hot but we had a great time anyway. Walked alot and then collected up with the rest of the family that evening for a cook out after SIL picked up the ladies from the Spa. More fun. Then while the men went fishing, some of us spent the day at the zoo with my oldest nephews's son. Great fun...another hot day for sure; but hadn't been to the zoo in a long time so really enjoyed it.

Today..........spent time trying to finish up some stuff in the yard, while hubby played golf, and well thats about it. I'm tired.

Hope you all had a fabulous wkend and have a good week planned.

I've made several updates over on the Bridge, so please stop in to see the wonderful projects. Finally I was able to finish a project...really the first yarn since Mom's passing. I'm still having a hard time getting motivated to knit and crochet again. Though I did spend time the other day organizing my office and got yarn also organized. Perhaps that will help.

Take a virtual trip with me on my travel blog, I've updated there as well.

Thinking on Thursday

It's Thursday, and I was thinking; sure has been a long time since I've gotten to get out and tromp around a good cemetery, to see and feel the history, the beauty of the old stones; enjoy the nicer weather and wonder about the stories behind all the stones. Too long.

Anyone want to come with me?

Seriously, anyone enjoy the peacefulness in the cemetery? Share your thoughts on my picture.

2008 flows into 2009, looking back and thinking forward!

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As the close of 2008 is upon us, I thought it appropiate to do some reflection. Looking back, this is my dads side of the family. Can you see the German oozing out all over! lol. Goodness me. To the far right seated with his pocket watch chain showing, the head of the family (no question there...being the head, look at how even seated his authority shows!) is Wilhelm Heinrich Mader. He was born in Germany, immigrated as a single man alone to this country, at the age of 20. The year of his immigration was 1850. Six years later in 1856 he became a US Citizen. Physical descriptions of him indicate he had blue eyes, a large nose, oval face, and was 6 foot 1/2 inches tall. Looking at the picture, it's apparent he was indeed a big man; especially for those times. And thus my story starts to unfold. This picture is a treasure, one I feel lucky to have. One of Wilhelm's son's was a professional photographer and thus...we do have family pictures from that time sooooooooo long ago

As the days unfold in our new year of 2009, I'll tell more of the story...this is the beginning.

Further reflections of the year:
It's been a difficult one regarding my mom's health; both physically and emotionally. I hope the new year brings new hope in that direction

My daughter will start her last symester of grad school and we're planning for her graduation in May and what comes after. Presumably a move from Baltimore back to her beloved St. Louis and a job. Where or when that story can be told is unknown to us currently.

I have tremendous hope for the future of our country under new leadership and look forward to President Obama and his very capable team. I know much hard work is needed to make strides in any direction, and know the changes can't take place over night.

I hope the year 2009 brings us closer to solving some of the problems that face this country, high un-employment, health care for the masses, improved education, and a shot a peace in our life time. War is most certainly NOT the solution.

I hope and pray our men and women abroad come home soon, stay safe and return to their loved ones.

I did not make my charity goal, though I came very close. It's possible if I stay off the computer, and don't do my cleaning, or my laundry I could wip up some squares, or rectangles, or finish a couple of my works in progress; but...I don't think I can let that be my goal today. I've read with appreciation some words from Bunny, and Ghost and a few of you other special blogging friends and am not beating up myself over it. I will do what I can when I can and always strive for more; but not feel badly if I'm unable to do more.

2009's charity goal will probably remain the same number 200 items, it's nice to have a goal to work towards. I'm thrilled to have met so many new people this year here in the blogging world and love seeing how many people are willing and able to help each other. That gives me tremendous hope for our future.

Happy New Year one and all!
Please be safe

Please check out my 2nd blog, a local charity drive, The Bridge Project.