The Last Ferncol Fair :(

Today Paul, Marley and I went to the 50th, and last, Ferncol Fair. Big Baba's cousin, Robert, up until a year or so ago, lived on a big farm in Templeton, MA, called the Templeton Development Center. It is for the mentally handicapped. Each year, for 50 years, they have hosted a fair on the grounds of the Center. Robert has since moved to a brand new group home in Athol. The Center is trying to move all of the residents to different group homes and they are no longer going to have the fair at the farm. At least, that is the plan for now. We have brought Marley at least four times. It is always a fun day. Last year, and this year, one of the workers from the group home brought Robert to the fair. Today was not the best day weather wise and Robert didn't stay too long, but we still had a nice visit. Marley's favorite part this year was the Native American Pow Wow. She and I spent a lot of time looking around there.



We also took the tour of the cow barn, always a favorite of mine.

We will definitely miss this little town fair.

Throwback Thursday - Happy Birthday to Me

This past Sunday was my birthday, 62.  I can't hardly believe it.  It got me thinking about past birthdays and how fast time goes by.

I don't have too many old birthday pictures, but here are some of them:

"4"

"6"

"9th birthday on the Mohawk Trail"

"Sweet 16"

"21" (I think)

Happy Birthday to me!

Catching up on Post Office pictures

I recently realized that I have several post office pictures that I haven't blogged yet.  So......here they are:

West Springfield, MA



Bellows Falls, VT



Bart, PA



Craryville, NY

S. Egremont, MA

Salem, NJ



Schaefferstown, PA



West Brattleboro, VT

Throwback Thursday - Dot and Steph

Dot and Steph have been friends for about 70 years. This picture was taken in 1954; Dot was the Maid of Honor at Steph's wedding. My grandfather gave Steph away as her father was too ill to make the trip from New Jersey (where Steph was from).

Steph has been the one friend that has stuck by Dot during her years with Alzheimer's. She gave Paul and I so much moral support when we were in the middle of finding a place for Dot to live. She was the one who helped me get her to the Atrium on move in day. She faithfully stopped in on Sundays after church to visit Dot until she broke her ankle last February.

Since I knew that Steph could not come to any type of birthday party for Dot, we brought the party to Steph's. We sang Happy Birthday, blew out the candle, ate cake and had a wonderful visit.



They both seemed to enjoy the visit very much. I made a mental note to myself to bring Dot to visit Steph often. There's nothing like an old friend.

Happy birthday Dot!

New front planting

So...remember when I posted on August 19th that the front shrubs came out that day? Well, we asked Mark's landlord, who owns a landscaping business, if he would design the new front planting. He asked us what we were basically looking for and then designed it. He has been working on it since this past Wednesday. Yesterday, while we were at the zoo, he finished it. I took these pictures last night.







I just love it! He did an amazing job.

11th Annual Paul and Marley Zoo Picture

It all started back in 2002 when I took a picture of Paul and Marley walking at the Forest Park Zoo. My mother-in-law, Priscilla, loved the picture and a tradition was begun. Each year I have taken a new "zoo picture." Paul says the last one will be at Marley's wedding.

2012


2011


2010


2009


2008

2007

 

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

9/11 - We will remember

9/11/01 is a day that we will always remember. We will remember where we were and what we were doing when the World Trade Center was hit.

I remember the day; it was a clear, crisp, sunny September day, much like today. I was at work at Noble Hospital and I clearly remember one of my co-workers from another department coming into my office and saying that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. I remember the days, weeks, and months after, trying to sort out what had happened that day.

As I am writing this, I am listening to the TV and the victims' relatives are reading the names of those who died that day.

It is so emotional, even 11 years later.

Five birthdays

Another year, another 5 birthday party.

This year Janelle's parents, Stacia and Joe, and her sister Amy were able to join us.

We had dinner, and then we all went to look at the house that Mark and Janelle are in the process of buying. Janelle's family hadn't seen it yet. They loved it; I thought they would.

When we got back, Paul put up Janelle's swing and we all went outside to try it out. Pretty cool, huh?







After that, Mason put the candles on the cake, Marley lit the candles and carried it to the table, and we all sang Happy Birthday. I was so happy that Stacia, Joe and Amy could see how excited Mason gets at putting the candles on the cake, singing and blowing out the candles (he and Marley get to blow them out at every birthday, ha).



Happy birthday to Big Baba, Kristen, Mark, Janelle and me!

Janelle's birthday (tomorrow) present

Last Sunday while Mark, Janelle, Paul and I were in Brattleboro, VT, Janelle found a store that she really liked. It sells vintage decorations, furniture, etc. The boys had gone across the street to SAMS and while Janelle and I were looking through Distinctive Decor she spotted a chair/swing that she really liked. It was heavy macrame and really looked like something out of the '70s. She told Mark about it later, but I'm not really sure he digested it.

So...since Janelle's birthday is tomorrow, and we are having the "5 birthday party" Sunday, I told Paul I wanted to go back up to Brattleboro today to get the chair.

We brought it home and put it on the loveseat in my living room. I put an old quilt over it because I knew the cats would take it over and think it was for them!



Sure enough!

I wish I had taken a picture of Mark's face when he saw it tonight. The only thing he said was, "It's not going in the living room." I think it would go well with the multi-colored pole lamp that she brought home from Dot's house, LOL.

Kristen and I both think she was born in the wrong era. She is a mis-placed 70's girl!

Father and Son

This is my grandfather, Donald Wait, and my father David Waite. I know, why is the last name spelled differently? It goes back to when my Dad went into the Navy. He had to get a copy of his birth certificate and low and behold there was an "e" on the end of his name. The Navy made him spell it with the e on it, and instead of getting it changed later, he decided that he liked his name spelled that way. In his words, "It looks more like a real name."

I don't know when this picture was taken, but my Dad looks to be maybe in his late teens or early 20's. He was born in 1927, so the picture is probably some time in the mid to late 40's.

A couple of handsome dudes, right?

Sold!

Well....today is an end of an era. We signed papers on Dot's condo; it is sold.

Nan and Dot bought this condo on November 8, 1979, and it officially sold today, September 5, 2012.

It seems like it should be a relief; I know it is for Paul. For me, I have such mixed feelings. Logically I know it had to be, but emotionally...as I said, an end of an era.

At least I can rest assured that Dot is doing well in her new home, and for the most part very well adjusted. I can thank God for that.

Labor Day Picnic

Today we went to a picnic at our friends', the Hildebrandts. We have been telling the kids about their back yard for years. Carl has built a Western town back there. It is so cute!

Kris, Toby, and Marley were away for the weekend at the camper in New Hampshire, but Mark, Janelle and Mason came to the picnic. Mason was a little shy at first, but eventually opened up and had a fun time playing with the kids.

Here are a few pictures of Carl's Western town!













Thanks, Carl and Gladys, for such a fun day!