I Went To A Garden Party

A potluck garden party in Nancy Kreile's beautiful garden.

The pretty table setting, with a gift of lavender for each of us.

Nancy Kreile, Jean Hester, Connie Forest.

Also attending, Peggy Kesterson, Nancy Javier and I.

After lunch, a tour of Nancy's very cute house. I was talking too much and didn't take enough photos.

This headboard was painted on the wall by Nancy's talented mother, Anne. 

One of Nancy's photographs. It's hard to tell from my photo but it's Nancy's cat's paw peeking out of the bedcovers.  Nancy is a wonderful photographer. 

I wish I had taken more pictures because Nancy's house was so pretty and she had so many interesting things.

 The beautiful garden.

Nancy J. and Connie in the back country.

Sepia Saturday- Sort of a love letter

Like most men of my father's generation, he didn't often express his feelings. I was surprised to find this "semi" love letter among my mother's keepsakes.  It was written in 1944.

Apparently my mother (and we three kids) were staying with relatives in her hometown of Dixon, Ill. while my father was in Watseka, Ill. where he worked.  He was looking for a house. These cities were quite far apart so they weren't seeing each other very often. He must have been very lonesome and he made reference to my mother being despondent.

Since this is a little hard to read I'll tell you a little of what it says:

He had written his last letter at work and everyone marveled that he would write such a long letter to a "mere" wife and that if it was a girlfriend it would be different. He replied that she WAS his girlfriend.

He goes on to say that my mother's card playing friends thought he looked lonely and he said he was lonely but none of them took the hint so he thought he was going to keep "baching".

I told you it was a "semi" love letter.


It goes on for 6 pages but mostly about work and house hunting. He mentioned that he looked at a house for $4000 that he thought could be had for $3500. Those were the days!!!

For some reason he enclosed the phone bill and there was a call to Dixon for $1.45 which must have been a fortune in those days. So apparently they were also talking on the phone a lot.

He always ended his letters with a drawing for the kids.

 

He wasn't much of an artist but I love these anyway.

 The happy couple before they were married.

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Art-filled Fall lunch at Connie's house

Connie invited us to her charming art-filled house for a pot-luck lunch.

 

The beauty started at the front door which was decorated with delicate glass beads.

A niche in the entryway.

The table was decorated with a Fall theme and a gift of home-made peach jam was at each plate.

 

Nancy sits below one of the paintings from Connie's wonderful art collection.

Jean didn't feel well after catching a cold from her grandchild. She was afraid she would infect us all so stood at the door with her salad and had to be persuaded to come in. As far as I know none of us caught the cold.  We were so glad she decided to stay.

In the background you can just barely see some of Connie's amazing Mexican folk art collection.

 I wish I had taken pictures of each and every piece but somehow got none of it. I'll have to go back for a photo session.

Nancy Kreile listens carefully. 

After lunch we toured the lovely garden.

A beautifully decorated wall in the garden.

A piece of Mexican wrought iron hangs on another wall.

 Back inside and a beautiful painting by a Mexican artist.

Even Connie's cat fit in with the decor.

The rest of the group consisted of Connie and I. I didn't get a good picture of either of us.

A wonderful time was had by all. 

But a mosque would be inappropriate!

Animal House

Here's what all the animals at Banar Designs are doing right now:

 Sassie naps in the "in" box on my messy desk.

 Baby Kitty rules the roost.

 Tootie looks cute.

 Artie blends in.

Chloe poses for a cat food ad.

Zoe stretches out on a long box of feathers next to a file of colored paper.

Abbie snores quietly in a basket on my desk.

Ebony quenches her thirst.

A meme ?- 7 things about me

I don't quite understand "memes" but Doug (http://crazyasacoolfox.blogspot.com/) tagged me to do one so here goes:

7 things about me-

1. Generally speaking, I like animals better than people.

2. I cook so seldom (read-never) that I have to dust my stove.

3. I love to read...books, newspapers, magazines, internet articles, anything.

4. I'm a zentangle addict ( a form of doodling that's supposed to put you in a zen-like state.) I also like other forms of art- collage, watercolor, pastels, drawing, etc.

5. I identify with hoarders-but I don't think I'm there, yet. I hate to throw anything away... I might need it tomorrow. Some people think I'm a cat hoarder but I don't think 6 qualifies.

6. I spent the first half of my adult life living a life just like the T.V. show "Mad Men" in L.A. advertising agencies and design studios.  The second half in the publishing and craft kit business with my sister.

7. I'm a bleeding heart liberal and proud of it.

Now I'm supposed to get 7 more people to do this-

I've sent emails to the following people asking them to write seven facts we don't know about them on their blog, then tag seven others. (and I hope they'll forgive me)


Nancy Javier
Helen McHargue http://guacamolegulch.blogspot.com/
Larry http://ldburgus.blogspot.com/
Penny Smith
California Girl http://emptynestevolution.blogspot.com/
Ticklebear http://www.ticklebear4u.com/
Jane LaFazio http://janeville.blogspot.com/

Ground Zero Mosque

Sepia Saturday- Clang, clang, clang went the house!

This is my Uncle Glenn's house in Chicago.
The copy says : Commuters waiting for a streetcar at 104th and State wonder if they are "off their trolley" when a two story frame house comes rollin' down the track. But it's only moving day for the Glenn Finwall family. Last April, Finwall purchased building for $500 after it was marked for razing. Today, movers  start nudging house to 98th and Eggleston from original site at 104th and Michigan.

I remember this house well. My sister and brother and I had many good times there. In the upstairs there was a large playroom between the bedrooms at either end of the house. My cousin, Carol Ann, and I spent many hours playing with paper dolls, many of which we made ourselves. She was a wonderful artist and I think this is where I got my love of art. This may have been the start of my whole career in the art field. I wish I could thank her but unfortunately she died when she was in her early 20's.

Jackie, Danny, Carol Ann and ? on their front porch.

Uncle Glenn and Aunt Phyllis enjoying their back yard.

Her brothers, Danny and Jackie (now known as Glenn Jr. and Jack) were also fun playmates for my younger sister and brother. Their mother, my Aunt Phyllis was a wonderful aunt. She had a freezer in the basement which she kept stocked with popsicles. She loved to go to auctions and find bargains. I think I was also influenced by this because I love garage sales and thrift stores.

If you follow my blog you'll have met my Uncle Glenn. He was the one who, as an eleven year old, saved his family in a car wreck.  He also became a wonderful artist in his later years.
You can see his art here

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SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY- Dog shadows

Scout and the photographer.

Ruby stalks a plant

Tootie- "Can Scout come out and play?"

To see more shadow shots click here. 

New Zentangles

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY- See Sepia Saturday for shadows

I just noticed that on my Sepia Saturday post there were some pretty neat horse shadows.

So see Saturday's post below.

For more great shadows click here. 

Sepia Saturday- The Horsewoman

Me and my horse, Becky.

My mother had written on the back of this picture; "The Horsewoman" with an exclamation point.

When we moved to California from Chicago my mother immediately signed us up for horseback riding lessons. I guess she figured that's what you were supposed to do when you got to the West. We were, of course, thrilled. We lived in San Diego at the time (about 1950). For some reason we were taught "English" style.  However, when we moved to Pomona I got a horse and it came with a western saddle. I don't remember if this caused any problems. I often rode bareback.

There was a pasture near our house where you could pay to keep your horse.  My girlfriend, Linda, also had a horse and we usually rode together.  We learned to do tricks and had a lot of fun. The rest of the family hardly ever rode. When I got to high school, unfortunately, I lost interest. This seems to be common with young girls and horses. Linda never lost interest, though and still has a horse.

After a while the horse was sold. I still feel guilty about this. I love animals so much that I can't imagine letting this happen. I think I got more interested in boys than horses.

My father and Becky.

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