Grandma's Window

I was looking back at some pictures I have taken in the past, and there is always one the draws me back to it time and time again.

Is it beautiful, NO. Is it bursting with color, NO. Is it one that every one will love as soon as they see it, NO. I just call it
"grand-ma's window."

It is actually my GG-grandma's window. There were but three small windows in the old stone house in Ireland.

Yet, at the tender age of 12/13, I can not help but wonder how often my g-grandma would have gazed from this very window as a young girl, with dreams of young suitors, and far away ventures!! She left her small townland of Knockballenary in the County of Tipperary, Ireland to come to America when she was only 14/15.

After g-grandma left for America, (where the streets were said to be lined with gold) along with her two older sisters, and two older brothers I wonder how many times my gg-grandma looked out this very same window and wept for her children, never to see them again.

So you may think this is just a dark old, unclear, "so what" photo....but to me it is Grand-ma's Window, and I was lucky to have looked through this same pane of glass as they did many, many years ago.

You can click on the photo to enlarge, I actually took this though the window in
front of the house, looking out to the back window.

This is a picture of my g-grandmother(seated) along with her sister Johana taken in Portsmouth 1894.

A Weekend In North Wildwood!

North Wildwood (NWW) was great ... nice to hang out on a weekend when it is not so Irish crazy ... or I should say until the sun sets~then every college kid in the world came out, I guess Memorial Day weekend is college kids gone wild days!! (go figure!)

Friday afternoon we got into town and I was sick as a dog. Joe was very good, wanted to get me chicken soup. Have no clue what hit me, but I was down and out. Sunburn scale 0.

Our Hotel ....

So Sat. morning I woke up and felt OK (?), played it safe for breakfast, then we went to Wildwood to the northeast's largest kite competition on the beach, I know you are saying kites (???) ... yes, exactly what I thought, the ole paper jobs on a string, wrapped around a stick .... NOT at all!! It was amazing!!! Went down and talked to the "kiters" who travel all over the states to do this (Joe and I want to take up "kiteing"), what a great bunch of people! (click on pictures to enlarge) The colors were amazing!

See the roller coaster on the beach behind the wind socks ...
sooo many neat kites ...

Look at the size compared to the truck

this wind sock was about 50' x75'

Love the angel fish!! And bears!

There were tons of crafters on the boardwalk (Tracy and Elaine your place to shop).

After we stopped at the Beach House for late lunch and a margarita! I think this place is a bit over rated in both price and view! The crab patty was "OK", as was Joe's meal, BUT we were on the water. That evening we hit AngleSea Pub, one of my favorites in NWW places. Bartenders are always fun, food is good, and the crowd is not college kids!! We met some great folks, and had some good laughs! We ended up planning to meet our new friends on Sat. night at a pub a wee bit outside of NWW. Sunburn scale was 7.

Sunday we slept in!! Had to with all the college ruckus in our hotel the night before!! So finding breakfast after 11:00 was a treat. After multiple stops at packed diners, and bagel shops out of bagels, we opted for a hotdog at Maui's Dog House ...

What a find ... I never knew you could make a "dog" so many ways ... and you were served in dog bowls!!

We stopped at Casey's another NWW haunt and watched a bit of the NY Yankee/Philly game, but we did not breath a word we were from NY or we may have be hung from the rafters. YES, you say, this is a NJ pub, but I am telling you Philly folks own that town!! So when the Yanks were winning we slipped out the back door to a BBQ at my friends home. My friend C had chocolate dipped and white vanilla/honey dipped strawberries on the porch (this is a gorgeous home), then a full bbq spread! Then we sat in the "pub room" in the house and watched the end of the game .... yup in the 11th inning Philly won! OK ... YEA PHILLY!!

About 5:30 we headed over to the Lighthouse Pub ... it is like the old Moores Inlet Pub, out side on the water, two huge bars, huge deck, great food, and a stage ... on which Patty's Well played from 6-10:30!! Our new friends met us and we chatted, listen to music and had a great time!! Sunburn scale 3.


Here is a picture of Patty's Well, a great Irish group!


There is nothing like a beautiful sunrise over the ocean!






Monday morning we worried about beach traffic leaving so we were on the road by 9:15! A fun weekend!

Beautiful Seaside Church

While cruisin' the coast of Maine we came across this beautiful church built in 1887 in Kennebunkport, Maine. Little did I know at the time, this tiny church held so much history in the Bush family...as I have never been a "Bush" lover ... although Babs was pretty cool! Anyway...we were heading up the coast and came across this beautiful stone seaside chapel and we were just so taken by it beauty. So I thought I would share a few pcitures. (click on photo to enlarge)



Amazing structure




wonderful stained glass windows







OK and the photos you all have been waiting for(not)Walker Point ... summer home to GWB!

No Happy Pictures Today!

One moment I am cruising along in life and the next moment my peaceful existence is shattered - just like a car crash. It caught me off guard, just like a car wreck that would catch you off guard and violently shake you, leaving you disoriented, angry, hurt and asking questions like why me?? Why was I chosen to be laid off.

I will have nowhere to go now each day and that seems strange after 27 years. I thought I would be OK with that at this stage in my life, but I realize I am not ready to retire yet ... AND since I will not longer have a paycheck, or health insurance, my life will surly change.

I think I am still reeling in a state of shock, kinda feeling numb and just trying to make it through today.

I would not sign any papers today, and they want me to continue to work another 90 days. Now I have to follow the rules and be a good girl for 90 days to get a severance check.

Right now my life is feeling very traumatic.

Lord know I have been through the worst day of my life when my daughter died, and I have learned to grieve and give myself time, so today, as Day 1, I guess I will need start working on my grieving process once again, to mourn the loss of my job.

I know that setbacks and disappointments are just a part of life, and one needs to move on to bigger and better challenges, but come on ... cut me a break!

Here is what was just posted in our local Paper:
Lockheed Martin issues memo on copter project:
Lockheed Martin said it remains unable to provide more details concerning its 225- employee job-cut plan and other possible work-force reductions at its plant in response to cuts in the proposed federal defense budget for fiscal 2010.

In an internal memo issued to employees Friday and obtained by the Press & Sun-Bulletin, President Marillyn Hewson said company officials are "carefully working through our final critical skills assessment ... and are nearing notification of affected employees."
Lockheed in Owego employs about 4,000 people, including roughly 800 who work on the presidential helicopter program. The Pentagon issued a stop-work order on that program Friday.

THEN I found this and it made me laugh ........ at least for now!!
http://www.oddtodd.com/index2.html

Portsmouth, N.H. Area

Well I was suppose to post some pictures from my New Hampshire trip but never did soooooo folks here we go!!

We arrived to find some great waves and good surfers ...


Can you beleive I did this in 1965!!!!


I found my grandfather's name on a memorial!



I found my GG-Grandfathers barn in Stratham, NH ... the house burned down a little after 1910, but the barn still stands, they entered the US from Nova Scotia in about 1893 and settle in Stratham.


The Portsmouth Lighthouse ... was a stop at Fort Constitution .. sure my dad was here at some time during WWII.



BUT then this is what we were there for ... I am meeting 42 cousins I never knew I had!! Here is a picture of all my Mom's first cousins!


Now look at all the second cousins I have ...


And Yet the next generation!


Soooooooo it was not all about lobster .... but meeting 42 cousins I never knew I had!!!!!!

THANKS PATSY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOVE YOU GUYS!

My Grandson!

Alright I may be bias but isn't this the cutest little boy!!
He is just growing toooo fast!!







and the latest ......
I think the caption should read ....
"Hey mom, do you think the chicks will like me with a white goatee?"

Mother's Day

Each Mother's Day greets me with “Bitter-Sweet” memories. I am so lucky to have been given the chance to have three wonderful, talented, poised, young women in my life, that I call my daughters. The bitterness comes from the death of one of them.



At times I think I want to by pass this holiday, but how can you with the bombardment of ads on the radio, newspapers and TV, which seem to start about a month before. Suggestions of flowers, cards, dinner reservation, etc. Mother’s Day is the only holiday that specifically uses the word mother, so there is no real way of avoiding this day.

But for those who have lost a child Mother’s Day seems to once again open a wound in our hearts for the child no longer here. The absence of one of my children is a void I try to fill with memories – or a handmade card from long ago, a special photograph from happy times, but the memories can never replace the presence Jodi.


So I plan to do something that is right for me this day. In honor of Mother’s Day I will visit my daughter’s grave and plant some flowers, then take a quiet walk. Tonight I will talk with my two other daughters, who both live far from home, then await the day to end, until I have to do it all over again next year.

I know Mother’s Day is only one day, and with each passing new day, month, year, my heart is once again filled with the good memories of all three of my beautiful daughters! And my handsome grandson.

P.S.
Mom, I miss you too this Mother’s Day and hope what ever plane you roam on that your day will be filled with lots of yellow roses!!



I send warm Mother’s Day greetings to all of you this day. Here are a few favorite Mother’s Day quotes:

"Youth fades; love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; A mother's secret hope outlives them all." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

"Making the decision to have a child-it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." -Elizabeth Stone

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life." -Abraham Lincoln

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo” means “fifth of May” in Spanish. On May 5th each year, Mexicans as well as many people in the United States, celebrate a holiday to remember an important battle for independence in Mexico. The battle, known as the Battle of Puebla, took place on May 5, 1862. At the time, French troops occupied Mexico. They had been sent there by Napoleon five months earlier, supposedly to collect money that Mexico owed to France. However, it seemed that the real reason France had invaded Mexico was to take over the territory.

Many people mistakenly believe that Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day. However, that is not the case. Independence Day is celebrated on September 16 to commemorate Mexican Independence from Spain. Mexico became independent decades before the Battle of Puebla. By Cinco de Mayo, 1862, Mexico was already an independent country, now facing occupation by another enemy.

This modern holiday began when a group of California State University students decided to hold the first Cinco de Mayo commemoration in the United States. This was around 1967. The students felt that there was no Chicano holidays and needed to do something about it. They wanted something to recapture their history and identity and decided that the Battle of Puebla was symbolic and they could connect it to their struggle for the formation of a Chicano Studies program at the university.

This 5th of May, join in the celebration with a fiesta of your own or join in on one in your local community!