Thursday Tell All : Update, long time awaiting

Long time since I have given an update. Life has been so busy and a lot has been happening. The Holidays were rough last year.Sometimes things do not go as one wishes.

My Daughter Husband left her in October. It was hard on everyone. Seeing these thing happening and not being able to help your child is hard. Children  Grow up and have to  search their own  self to find out how they are to live. As a Parent letting Go is Hard. We have had to do that. It is a process, we are  learning as we go. Moved her out of the apartment this past week. Another Chapter is starting for her and us.

My Brother who had ALS was on Vacation in Virginia  in December. The Lord decided to take him home while they were there. It was  hard  on the family. We knew his Days were numbered.  Never thought he would leave us so fast. The family decided to  get through Christmas and then have the  final good bye. I had my Older brother come here for the funeral. He is  living in Ohio.  Of course it was during the snow season. So the trip was rough getting him here.  He stayed through the New Year due to the weather. We could not get him back. Airports where closed due to snow storms.

My Dad had a Doctors appointment in February. So we heading to Virginia for a few weeks. Yes we had snow storms even then. Once we got at the Virginia house  we learned that the Geothermal unit had caught fire. Causing it to not be working.  The house was 54 degrees. We had to use electric heater to stay warm. It took a few day to repair it. We were able to  get some more work done in the attic and some cleaning done.  My  other brother help repair a  roof that needed support. Dad got a  Good report from the Doctor. He is doing well  with the diabetes, numbers our looking good. His kidneys are showing improvement also.

I Got back to Maryland in March. Just in time for my daughter Birthday. We were able to celebrate the weekend of her birthday. Then we had to start cleaning and moving out the  apartment stuff in West Virginia.  Rented a storage facility and a truck to move her. Days of cleaning and fighting the weather. She was living  one and a half hours from us. Finally out of the place. Today I just  finished  having things  turned off. So much to do when moving out of a place.

 It is April now and we are getting ready for tax season for business  and home. Plus I do my Fathers. So I am still busy. We did get to spend Easter with the  Family. Went to the Fort for Easter Brunch and got to  attend church together. Was a nice time.

Like I said it has been a busy time  since I last wrote here. We are planning a trip in the Next  Few months to Virginia and North Carolina. So the summer traveling will be starting soon. Plus I will be doing some yard work preparing for the summer months.  I am looking forward to sitting out and enjoying the summer time.

Thursday News- Holiday Times

It has been an emotional few weeks for us. However we are doing better now. The election is over, decisions have been made in my family and I think I am doing better with the upcoming changes.

It is now time to get ready for the holidays. Decorating and cooking are on top of my list. I also have a few gifts to make. We have a new Baby in the family on the way and I am looking forward to Meeting him. Thanksgiving is the holiday I am preparing for now.

Going to get my Dad and looking forward to having him with us. I wish he would live closer. However I love the time I have with him. We will be having my daughter back from college for the holiday. Loving that! Then we are going to have Critter and his family with us. Oh I am so excited about all of this. Even though, I am cooking the time will be great with them.

 I will be sharing the recipes on my Kitchen Blog and family moments on this one. The Review blog will have some new additions. And I will be sharing the healthier side of things on the Living Healthy with Auntie E site. For those following my garden blog.. we will be sharing the yard decorations. I will still be blogging in my  Health Journal , although that one is like a diary of my weight journey. So I think the time is back to blogging. As the time becomes colder and the winter storms are great, Blogging will be my outlet.

So, Hope you will be able to stop by and sit awhile, Let's share  our Holiday and Winter times.

Tell MeThursday- The Antique

As many of you guessed, it was the Ice Tongs. My Mothers kitchen had all these thing up on the kitchen wall. I just love History and searching for the dates of things my Parents or an antique shop has. There is just somethings about the time before me. It's like a mystery just waiting to be retold. So many time we forget that there once was a time when electric was not available for everyone. Just to think that time was not all that long ago. Many of our Grandparents can tell you of that time. This is just one story of the time of Ice Boxes.

This is an Ice Tong
One that hangs in my fathers home now.

In the 1800's through the Mid 1900's Ice boxes were use to keep food cold. The ice trucks would come to the streets and people would purchase their ice blocks for the Day. Ice tongs were used to carry the ice block to the house. During the later days, some companies would give out these tong to their customers, just for being loyal. The one Pictured above was one of those kind.
The closes Patent I found was this one(below). As you can see it dates back to 1899. even though these were used earlier the patent would be issued later. Patent could take up to a couple of years to be given. Must patent are listed by issue date and not submitted date. Therefore other companies could copy the product until the patent is issued.

Patent 621,356 Issued Mar. 21, 1899 to Albert D. Marsh of Ovid, New York. Tongs The objective of the patent is to have tongs with two movable jaws and provided with means whereby the distance the jaws can be opened, can be adjusted and open the a fixed distance and their closing also regulated.
L – 26-1/2”, Spread – 21”, PAT MAR 21, 99 BY A D MARSH, on one side of the lower portion of the handle, double action pivot. This item is the configuration of the upper right patent drawing.		Patent drawing

Not sure what time frame my families ice tong was made. I found a couple of similar photos. Both have dates of around the end of the 1800's and beginning of 1900's

This one is from a Patent site.

Antique Abbey had these.
Said to have been found close to The Old Ice House after hurricane Katrina.

I believe ours would be before 1899 since it so closely resembles Albert Marsh's patented Ice Tongs. Patents were usually for long periods of time. My Logic is the companies copy his until the patent was issued or they got their patent request in later.after the patent was issued you will only see Albert's. Another reason is because, there seems to be a patent pending on ours and that usually means the request came in after Albert Marsh's but before Albert's was issued. So I would give it a date of around the mid 1890's.

Tell MeThursday- The Answer

Well I am sure most of you knew that was a male/drake Mallard duck. His color is more vivid during the months September through June. This is the mate searching season. They can fly during this time as well as the males get these bright feathers. After the breeding season the Drakes looses their feather, this makes it impossible for them to fly until August. That is why June and July you will see them at the same spot. Mallard drakes also loose their bright color heads, their green color becomes a dull shade.
They are found in the Northern Hemisphere as well as throughout Europe and Asia. Love the calm serene areas. In the winter they migrate to the south where there is no ice or snow. Kind of like the folks who weather out the winter in southern Florida.
An interesting fact for you is;
Although Mallards can dive under water they seldom do. So next time you see one diving in the water know you are viewing a rare event.

To view some baby mallards take a trip over to Auntie E's Yard& Garden, they are being featured today as part of a week long Water fowl Series.

Wednesday's Photo Anwser.

So here it is....... While in Las Vegas, Nevada we went to the Bellagio . Inside was the first fountain(#1). I loved all the color changes and the way the water shot up and over. There is a Ferris wheel loaded with plant turning over the fountain.
As for number 2, that one I thought someone whould get. Located on the Avenue of flags in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There are many fountains in Philadelphia all just as beautiful. This one I loved because the children and some older children were cooling off in it. Isn't that what fountains are for. It reminded me of Europe and the many fountains there.
Now for the 3rd photo, If you look closely you will see upside down Kisses around the heart fountain. The ones that everyone loves, Hershey of course. this heart shape fountain is located at Hershey Gardens in Hershey Pennsylvania. We all love that park, there are so many thing to see and play with. There was even music making stepping stones. My daughter loved making a song on them. I am sure we will be going there again this spring. After all what is spring without visiting a few Gardens.
Hope these photo will inspire you to visit some fountains and Gardens this spring and summer and have fun.

Tell Me Thursday-So Tiny So Big!

Our daughter had just begin Public school, when she was entering third grade. The private school could no long meet her needs. She was testing on a sixth grade level on some subjects but needed to stay in the third grade. Our public school system was able to put her in some advance classes, which continued her academic growth. The elementary school had an Orchestra. it started in the third grade,so the Strings teacher was promoting the instruments. Our daughter came home and said "I want to play the Cello". I heard Cello, thought big instrument, tiny child. How in the world could she play cello!
We took her to the Music store and reluctantly told the clerk she wanted to play cello. We voiced our concern because she was only 3'9" and a cello would be taller than her. I did not know they had sizes from 1/8 to 4/4 sizes. It depends on the age and size of the child. He tried a 3/4 size but it was too much for her. She could not get her arms around it! So that meant the 1/2 size. Still it was about as tall as her.She has had three sizes since elementary school. Now with a full (4/4) size.


Sometimes your child will surprise you. She is a good Cello player in my mind. Still lots of work to do. Taking private lesson with a local well known Orchestra conductor. Maybe someday I will get to hear her playing in the BSO or a Philharmonic orchestra .

Tell Me Thursday-And The Winner Is......

Wednesday post was photos from this years "Festival of Trees" in Baltimore. There were hundreds of trees to view. All the trees were Designed by groups , each one with a theme. Some depicted Places, some fantasy and some items. We really enjoyed the trees.
So, here is the winner(s) of the vote on this blog. It was a tie! Charlie Brown and Cactus Tree. Let it snow took second place by one vote. Here are some close up views of the winners.
Oh and Yes Mary the Teacher would love the Lighthouse ones, I thought of her when I took them. So I will post them on my Garden site Just for her and my lighthouse friends.

My "Charlie Brown" trees' real name is:

"Snoopy and Friends Christmas"

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the ornaments

The bottom view.

TreeTop

The Cactus Tree

The Top

this is the must interesting tree at the Festival. Shaped like a cactus and decorated with Hot spices. Whomever bought this one will have a...

Hot New Years Eve party

The bottom of the tree.
The tree was in a planter filled with brush looking material

I hope you enjoyed the trees I have brought to you these two days. Next weeks WW will be the Gingerbread houses.

Tell Me Thursday-Masquerade

While at the Renaissance Fare in Maryland I eyed these Mask. Thinking of all those masquerade balls in that era. Wouldn't it be grand to have a Masquerade Ball in one of the historical building of today? The women and men usually dressed in fancy ball gowns and suits some time with cloaks. Each one wearing a mask like these below. Nothing scary just something to hide their face until the time to reveal, usually as the clock strokes 12 o'clock Midnight.

Which mask who I choose? I like the Hawk, it looks so graceful in the air. Remember the movie Lady Hawke? Based on a 13th century European legend, "Ladyhawke". A Lady and her Knight received a curse from the jealous Bishop of Aquila. He vows the two would never be together. The Lady cursed to be a hawk by day and her Knight a wolf by night. Only in the time between day and night can they get a glimpse of what they once had. They find out The Mouse, once cursed, was able to remove it. The journey begins to find a way to turn back the curse and be together again. It's an old movie but quite good.

Yes, I would be wearing the Hawk mask at my masquerade.

Venice Italy & The Venetian in Vegas

We went to Las Vegas this summer. In planning the trip Hubby was trying to find a place to stay. Knowing that I loved Venice he found the Venetian. I was so excited about staying there. The first photos were of the inside area of the Venetian.

We did take a gondola ride.

Here are some photos of the real Venice in Italy. We went there twice while living in Europe. I really loved it. These photo where taken in 1984.

This was our first Gondola ride

This is Piazza San Marco.
Known in English as Saint Marks Square.

I just love this Photo!
The little old lady( in the green sweater)seems so mad, but in an Italian Mom Way.
I can just hear her" Come on take the picture already"
Yes that's me in the pink! Love the hair?

The Canals of Venice Italy

Here I thought I would show you how big the island of Venice really is. These were taken in the boat(water taxi) on the way to the island. There are no cars on the Island of Venice.

You can enlarge the photos by Clicking on them

The last photo in WW, is of the fountains display looking out from the Bellagio.
I liked that shot because it show the Eiffel Tower of the Paris Hotel. Oh yes we went to Paris also. That's for another day.

Tell Me Thursday-Mystery Photo Answer.

Wednesday photo contains communications towers located at Greenbury Point, Annaplois Maryland. they are part of the Annapolis Sky line. I took the photo while on the Annapolis Harbor Cruise.

Before and during the Cold war the towers were used for the communication of our submarine fleet. There were seven towers at one point, now these three are all that is left. The towers used very low Frequency signals allowing us to communicate with our submerged submarines. With the advancement of satellite communication, these towers are obsolete. They are marked to be destroyed in the next year. Changing the Annapolis skyline as we know it.

Interesting thing about these towers is, under them is an environmental treasure. It is the largest grassland habitat in Annapolis. Located at the month of the Severn River, it is a peninsula with 231 acres of Grassland. Greenbury Point has wooded coves, shallow wetlands ponds, forests and shrub areas.

BobWhite Quail

Wild life have made this area their home. It is the only place that the bobwhite quail lives in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.








Pair of Osprey
Right now nineteen Osprey pairs (also known as Sea Hawks) nest on the towers, Platforms will be made and they will be move before the towers are taken down.





Info provided by US fish and wild service
Photo courtesy of animal pictures archive

Tell Me Thursday

So Here It Is.

While At the Mall of America we ate at Bubba Gump's. The signs are on the table. The waiter told us he would come to the table often if we wanted to be left alone flip the sign to Run Forest Run. If we wanted service flip it to Stop Forest Stop. Crazy huh? I want one of those sign for my house! So the Family will know when to Run! Great Mood sign.

If I Could blog Back Time-Date Character

So here it is: while in Las Vegas we were walking to the Mirage, when behold there he was Jack Sparrow or was it John Depp? Anyway he was standing right out side Treasure Island, and why wouldn't he be, he's always looking for the treasure. I quickly got out my camera, it was around my neck, and snapped the shot. As I posted in a "GoWestMyFriend" Post I wanted to see Him on this trip. However I thought it would be at Universal Studios. Who knew he would be waiting for me in Vegas. Well that's the story. Now it is time for:



Today's Topic is: Worst Dating Disasters
I have always been attracted to characters like Jack Sparrow. I do not know why, must be some gene/hormone in me. So as a teen I dated many Characters. Back then (1960's) we had The Hells Angels and the Hackers, they were rivals. They seems to always hang out at my high school. There was one hacker named Pilgrim, I know a popular name in the biker world. He seem to like me, so his group followed me home. I guess he called this a Date, I called it a Nightmare!
My Parents were not home, My girlfriend and I were hanging out of my room window. Oh yes that's right out of the window. Isn't that what girls did? So, Pilgrim and his Boys were on their bikes and stopped at the house. Asked if we could come with them. I wasn't really keen to the idea, but thought if I ask my older brother, He would differently said NO, once he saw his looks! Somewhat like Jack Sparrow. But to my surprise my Brother said that would be okay!! So off we went.
Once at their House the drinks came out and guys started saying things like...No going back now, come on you belong to us now, we'll have a great time.. and so on. I really wanted to, at the point, go home, just a few block away was my home. They all had Guns and riffles, so the plan to walk out was out the window. isn't that what got me into this mess?
Unbeknown to me my middle brother, the one with the sense, had followed on his bike and left to call my Mom. So not too long there was my Mom banging at the Front door. Telling the guys to open it up. She knew Pilgrims name and call it out. The other guys where concerned about that fact. So, my girlfriend and I left with my Mother. Walked Home and never was approached by Pilgrim and his group again. I believe my Mom threatened them.
Yes is was embarrassing to be rescued by Mom. The Neighbors were shock that she would do that. However we all survived and I was grounded for a long time, along with my girlfriend. We never talked about it again for some years. I think it came up sometime in 1990 and we all laughed about it.
My dating Days are over, married now. Not to a Jack Sparrow, boy My Mom was glad about that! My advice to other girls today JUST SAY NO! Stand up for yourself, and don't hang out windows.

Over at Lola's Diner Every Thursday there is a topic spoke of in the Diner, Grab a cup of Joe and a Seat and come on in..Join the conversation. Link up at Lola's Diner. This is a fun Meme I enjoy remembering the past and it keeps my mind Young!!