Flashback Friday - That Old Kitchen

Ever since we've remodeled, I've said I'll take the old shots and take new ones in the same directions. Maybe it will finally get done? But here are two shots from Christmas 2002.

kitchen help is hard to get so I kept him

There is now a bathroom where that window is. Where the old range peeps out is now a wall of cabinets.  I am standing at an adhoc island which is gone to be replaced by a 7'x4' island going in the other direction. Those windows at the back are now a sliding door!  Many changes, much improvement.

AAM Monday - Memories, Memories

Going back over the Christmas photos from my past, a lot of memories come back. Some good memories, but mostly feeling the sadness of some of those years. Years where my parents' marriage was not living up to the hopes and dreams they both had had. I never heard from my father about his side of marriage but I often heard my mother's side. I can understand my natural inclination to side with my mother, the only parent I had known during those war years. But today, I look back and feel the sadness and wish it could have been different, not just for me, but for them. 

My father died in 1973 and my mother died in 1981. That's a lot of years to be without parents. I do, however, feel that they are both at peace now and once again sharing the love the brought them together. Today, thinking of them brings me as much joy as it once brought sadness. Feeling those feelings was worth it.

December Daily December 12

My days get simpler.

Other than a plethora of movies, I managed to get the lights up around the front door. The staples could have been longer but godwilling, the garland will stay up for the holidays.  An evening of magazines to round out the day.

(Picture on left is from Crate and Barrel catalog, holly strip is Christmas packing tape from  $store or Michaels/Target $bin. Letters on the right are from Pattie Knox's FancifulFeltRibbons_Alphabetized-Deep)

December Daily December 8 UhOh

Getting ready to finalize page 8 and what do I see? I made page 8 with a 9 on it.

Fortunately, I found that glue stick is not as permanent as one would normally like, so back to the printer and make an 8. I found that two of these numbers fit quite well on a 4x6 photo page so I made a 15 also by merging the 1 and 5 a bit and got that on with the 8. It might be a bit more fiddling in the cutting but I'll do my best. I am not the greatest with scissors but it's safer than the exacto for me!

I decided to watch a movie instead of finishing this last night. "Miss Potter". Ah such a sweet one and I remember the Lake District as it is now, or was in the 70s. She did a marvelous job in saving so much of the natural beauty. Well done Beatrix! Now I must mush on and get that 8 page finished. Sometime. Today.

December Daily December 7

Today was another quiet day at home. Nothing much happening, nothing getting cooked and no tree decorating yet. Somehow the catchup from trips seems to take so long especially when there is a change of season when we get back. I did have a nice email midday.

The paper on the left was printed from a digital element. When I find that I will post a link if possible.. DHD Merry and Bright which I recolored.

My son will be home for two+ weeks, and this was a good time to use that technique of hidden journaling with his email under the flap. I am so grateful for the teachers on line who share such great idea with us.

Now I have to go out to a meeting in the cold, cold night. I've avoided going out all day but now must bite the bullet. Brrrrr.

Goodbye Snow, goodbye Maryland

Strange but Family