Stories that Picture Can Tell

Sitting at a light the other day I looked and found myself sorta smiling and shaking my head at the same time.  Why?  Not a day goes that you don't hear on the news someone or some body of people complaining about privacy.   And yet, daily on social media and bumper stickers and license plates people freely give up information about themselves.  Have you ever wondered what your car says about you?  We hear people are living on hard times, and yet look at the 4 cars in this picture...everyone a large eat gas car/truck and everyone a new car.  You can't tell from the photo but my car is small 10 year old economy type car.

They say a picture's worth a thousand words...well, I'm not going to write 1,000 words; who'd read it if I did.  But, doesn't this picture have your mind thinking up a story?  Looking at the SUV in front of me.  You can tell they're a vegan or vegetarian...funny thing to tell stangers sitting behind your car.  There's only one with the American Flag, might mean they're patriotic and think only that flag should be displayed, not for instants The Confederate Flag?  Or perhaps they mean though they are 2 parties constantly waring with each other, there is only 1 country.  They're probably a boater and or a camper...large hitch under the bumper.

Anyone else ponder things about places or people when you're stopped in traffic?

Since it's Friday 5, I'm counting that as 2 above...1, the general picture and wondering about the economy...maybe if people drove smaller more gas friendly cars they'd have more money?  Or maybe people are doing better then the media has us believe?

2...The story of the blue SUV

3..We've had 3 seasons this week.  It's been hot enough all the windows have been opened and the ceiling fans on like it was the middle of summer, it's been cold enough all the windows have been closed and we've dressed in layers...thinking about turning on the heat again like it's late fall, AND it's been wet and foggy enough to be early spring.

4..I was hoping to be done with the feather and fan knitted afghan (Sand and Sea), by now; but am not...though I'm continuing to work on it.

 Working on the 2nd to last section, so maybe ...hopefully soon it will be finished.

5..I've had the best time this week connecting with friends from my childhood, thanks to Facebook.  There's a group page from my old hometown, and all of sudden I've connected with about half a dozen friends from my early grade school days.  We've been sharing stories, pictures and memories.  What great fun.

Speaking about memories.  Please pop in on Monday.  I'm going to try to get going with a meme, titled Memory Mondays.  Tried sometime back but got way laid.  Hopefully will have a linky up, provided I can figure it out.  Everyone moans about Monday, lets put some fun into it.

Friday 5 badge and link in meme tab top of the blog, join us.  Though...I'm late to the party today.
(BL5,F5 10)

Memory, A Simpler Time?

Haven't posted a Memory Monday in awhile.   Found this old picture and thought I'd post it.  I can't say I remember this, as Chuck the toddler in the picture is my older brother so I was either not yet born or very much an infant.  But, it bring back memories.

Memories of what a hard worker Mom was.  That roaster on the utility shelf I know she had for many years, because even as teenager it's the one she used every Thanksgiving to cook the turkey in.  She still used the shelf too.  Here though, I believe it was used to cook a good many things, as I don't think she had an oven.  From stories I remember her telling me, she cooked on a one burner hot plate and used the roaster in their first..maybe even the first couple of homes/apt's.  That wooden ironing board is still one in my parents house.  Mom's gone (4 years ago), and I don't think Dad has need of ironing; but it's still there and when she was living it was till in use.

Not sure what brother Chuck is playing with.  Apparently, something came out of the box?

I also remember my cousin, Nancy (older then Chuck) telling me Mom had lots of sweaters when she was young and she liked to get into her sweater draw.  Looks like she's wearing one in the picture.  Also get a kick out of noticing the rolled up jeans........kids today think they've started a new trend...not so much, What goes round comes round.

People have fond memories and often refer to that bygone time as a simpler time.  I don't think that's so, our lives today our more simple.  It's far easier/simpler to do laundry now then it was then, likewise cooking with all our computerized fancy stoves etc.  Simpler times?  Hum

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.

To do Lists

Happy Sunday one and all.  It's time for another year of projects update.  I've done a cut and paste here of the afghan section of my year of projects list.  As you can see one part of it is complete.  I've assembled 10 afghans from donated squares.  The latest, Blue Jay was posted for finished object Friday, please scroll back one post.  The 2nd portion of the afghan list was to complete the longest work in progress ever........EVER.  I have, as of today officially marked it off the list.  And will insert an 11th ghan made from donated squares in it's place.

My Afghan Goals:
To complete 12 afghans:
10 from donated squares (10 down and 0 to go)
1.. Summers End
2.  Sandbox 
3. My Granny
4. Christmas Time 
5.  Buckeye Blitz
6.  Box of Crayons 
7.  Arapaho
8.  Desert Rose 
9.  Iris and Lillies 
10. Blue Jay

Complete Candy Corn Afghan (longest work in progress project EVER)
Finish the Feather and Fan Afghan (knitted), that finally has a name, Sea and Sand
  **Sea and Sand in the works
WILL BEGIN WORKING AGAIN ON SEA AND SAND, NEED TO FIND MY NOTE ABOUT WHERE I LEFT OFF

So will revise the list on YOP tab to read 11 from donated squares (10 down and 1 to go).
Considering which ghan to work on (have over 20 designed and waiting), between these 3.  Not sure which one I'm leaning on.  Need to check my yarn stash.  Feel free to state which one you think I should work on, why, which one you like best etc.

Pink Persuasion, might use pink or off white/beige to edge and join

Purple Iris, hoping I have purple to edge and join with; but will look at green stash, with fall back beige.

 

 Or maybe this one, called Wee Irish.  Checking to see what shades of green I have to pull this one together.

With summer vacations on folks minds, and school's closing approaching, wanted to take a minute to invite you all to my Flat Stanley blog.  The blog is geared towards things to do with kids to keep them learning, or start them learning for the younger ones.  There's a bit of history, geography, spelling, coloring, puzzles and more.  I give examples of things you can do to help the kids remember certain things.  Recently Flat Stanley completed a month long blogging challenge and traveled the US in the process.  Use the search portion of the blog to insert the states you'll be traveling to or through on your upcoming vacations to see ways to engage the kids.  AND, I invite you all to do a Flat Stanley project with your children, grandchildren, students, neices, nephews, or kids next door.  Sat and Sunday's are days when I share kids Flat Stanley Projects.

Let's Get Social Sunday Time Too, link in meme tab

Loving Friday

Purple Iris's about 1/3rd opened in my back yard.  I have them up and down 3 fence rows and in flower beds around the side of the house too.  I love this flowers.  So large, so pretty, so deep in color.  These are what my Mom used to say were double Iris's.

It's Friday folks, time for 5 on Friday, Random 5 and time for Finished object Friday!

1. As people wrap a busy week and look forward to the wkend I give you natures beauty, in the form of the beautiful Iris's.  Soon, the yard will be at what I call it's purple stage.  I also have wild Geraniums that are lavender blooming.  AND, see the wee tiny blue-ish purple, those are Forget Me Nots, so as soon as the Iris really take hold it's a purple person's fantasy.  I also love that these purple beauties came from my parents yard.
2. I have for the first time in awhile finished a project and therefore have a finished object to share with on Friday.  Yippee.  Must decide what to work on next.  Should I start something new....or try to finish Sea and Sand Afghan (a feather and fan pattern), or get brave and rip out the couple of rows I need to in order to get to knitting the green sweater for my Darling Daughter?  The finished ghan, Blue Jay is being blocked in the picture and will, like the others be donated to Homeless Families Foundation through my charity, Bridge and Beyond.
3. Friday night at our house is Pizza night, do you have a Friday night tradition?
4. Schools are on a delay here this am, due to some pretty substantial fog.  As of the writing of this post, 8:30 I can now see the end of my backyard, though it is still foggy.  No doubt closer to the river, and in out lying areas is still difficult to see, and therefore dangerous.
5. Managed to weed half of one fence row yesterday, and that almost filled 1 of those large paper yard trash bags.  Half of one bed, was enough bending and stooping for me.  Gotta pace myself

Not the best lighting, but it's a good non foot travel spot to do blog afghans.  Had to give some pretty good tugs here and there to get this even; thus the beauty and necessity to block afghans........even when made of acrylic yarn and even when crocheted and not knitted.  Yarn from different makers varies a bit, people use different size crochet hooks and have different tension as they work.  ANd even when the square measure close to the same size...you have variances that are helped when you block a ghan.  AND, yarn gets dusty on the shelves in the store, picks up odors in our homes, human and pet hair, and oils from our hands.......washing a ghan is necessary.

FOF and Friday 5 Badges and Links in meme tab, please join us.

Happy Friday all.
(BL5, FF5, CF5, FOF10)

Mothers Day

Happy Mother's Day all.  This is my Mother at 16 in a beautiful dress she made herself.  If I remember the story correctly this was her prom dress.

There are times when I think I'm a great deal like her, and times I think I'm not.  I do think I got my creative side from her.  And Dad says I got my strength from her.

She's been gone now just over 4 years; but she's always in my heart.

Happy Mothers Day Mom
(SS5, BL6)