Living the life

My friend's husband just had knee replacement surgery, and Molly, their dog is helping him recover.

I enjoyed watching Sally Field and others in "Remarkably Bright Creatures" the other night. Which reminded me of the following trip to the Georgia Aquarium.

These children are all grown up, with the littlest a sophomore in college this year. And one of my sons in this picture has divorced from the wife he's with and remarried in 2019. Definitely a portrait of the family from the past.

Myself (left to right,) son Russ holding his littlest, Kate, while his other 2 daughters (Caroline and Audrey) are front row center and right. Oldest son, Marty with dark hair and beard, and his (then) wife with his son, William on far right. Their daughter, Cayenne, is holding Kate's hand over next to me.

OK, a family update...

Missing are my other son, Tai and his wife Kendra; Russ' wife, Michelle; Marty's current wife, Barbara; Marty's oldest son, Michael and his wife Amanda. Of course some of these people weren't part of the family yet in 2008, but I'm updating all of them as of 2026.

Tai

Kendra on r.

Michelle

Barbara

Michael and Amanda

Russ in his 20s in college.

While I'm mentioning family, I send happy birthday wishes to my son Russ, who turns 59 today! He doesn't read blogs (of course, he's busy with other things!) so I'll call him!

Here's a post wishing him a happy birthday, including earlier photos taken when the whole family got together for my 80th.

While unpacking, I found this pin from when Russ played soccer for Temple Terrace (FL) including a couple of soccer exchanges with families in England.

 My Sepia Saturday contribution for this week: No bar games photographs - just family, friends, sharks, pithy sayings and a dog!

Family at a World Cup Game

 

Family of 5 in Red White and Blue. Ms. Green shirt is just passing by.

I watched the highlights of this game. When we stay at home we can avoid the heat, the loud and crazy crowds. But the excitement too! It didn't look as if there were the ever disturbing air horns which had been allowed at the game I went to in the 90s.

This is the first game they attended, in Atlanta on July 1. England won!

Same evening USA won its game!

There might be more photos from their July 4 visit in Philadelphia! Yes, they were in the cradle of liberty for another World Cup game. They put in for lottery tickets quite early apparently, and got 5!

A bit small and blurry first photo of the family in Philly. They went to the game in 101 degree F heat. When they got home the next evening all they said was "it wasn't a good game." France won, but Paraguay played dirty.

Don't miss my post later this morning about the Suspension Suspension from Heather Cox Richardson.

Duplicate posting of the header photo, for phone readers' benefit.

Continuing family updates

After the event...some more photos from Caroline's graduation last Sunday.

Her mom, Michelle, posted these on FB. I wouldn't see, experience many events were it not for FB. I am always checking and scrolling past the ads to see what's new with friends and relatives. My grandchildren say FB is for old people. OK, that's me!

"Congratulations Caroline for graduating with a double major in International Relations and Public Health with a minor in German from 3 colleges at George Washington University. It has been an honor and privilege to watch you grow over the past four years driven by your passion for international cultures and your desire to help others, particularly those disenfranchised. You challenged yourself in multiple ways we are so proud of and are delighted at the friends and relationships you’ve made. We could not be more thrilled for your future and the impact you will undoubtedly make in the world."

- Mom, Michelle.

Those who attended: my son Marty, GDaughter Kate, son Russ, GDaughter Caroline, D inL Michelle, GDaughter Audrey, Michelle's mom Joanne, and behind is her hubby, Gerry.

Mom Michelle, Kate and Audrey sisters of the grad

Caroline with her parents, Russ and Michelle

The celebration with a toast to Caroline. from front l. Marty (my son) Russ (son) Michelle (DIL) Audrey (my GDtr) Caroline (GDtr) Joanne (other grandmom) Gerry (Joanne's husband) and Kate (GDtr.)

I may not have been there in body, but I was in spirit. So sorry to have missed all the fun!

Birthdays from yore.

 Birthday celebrations from my past.

(I hope this posts, but recognize that blogger has somehow pin-pointed myself as interested in photos of myself and family when we were younger...at least that's my guess as to why I suddenly have been dropped from comments and posts of my favorite blogs in a timely manner.)

After I took Home Ec classes, I started baking the birthday cakes for the family. Using mixes of course. Here I am also wearing a skirt I made, which was bright red. This might have been my 14th birthday. Living in St. Ann MO.

After our trip to Mexico to visit my great aunt, I posed with my pretty necklace, blouse and skirt - and my 16th birthday cake.

My little sister's 4th birthday in Houston TX. We both had Toni home perms. 

My sister on her February 3, 1958 birthday. She carried on the family tradition. But taking outdoor photos in Missouri meant different attire than my August birthdays!

For her 16th sister Mary also sat outside in St  Louis weather, then marked the photo with the wrong year, since it was 1960.

Fast forward to sharing a birthday in my mobile home in Tampa with my niece, Lisa and her father, Eric. Perhaps it was her birthday in April, 1973 or 74. Don't know where my sister was when this was taken.

Sharing with my Sepia Saturday friends who live all over the place and celebrate birthdays with cake!

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It seems suddenly I'm not receiving many comments, nor posts of my favorite blogs updated on the list in the right column. Is this happening to anyone else in blogger? Maybe whatever I'm writing is offensive to the great Blogger algorithm, if there is one. But I miss the social contacts. 

The joyful season

 Some happy memories...

Me as a Mud Buddy in 2011/ (My pottery life was from 2008-2020)

Selling pottery at the tailgate market with friends Cathy Babula, Bette Potter Jones and Marsha  Cozart. 2011

And more recently...

Barbara Baker bakes Macarons (not macaroons!) and sells them at lots of St. Petersburg and Tampa outdoor festivals. (And a few indoor ones as well!) moonlitmacaraons.com

Barb and her hubby, my son Marty, a few years ago.

My son, Russ and his wife Michelle, hosted my trip to visit them and their daughters for Christmas!

 

Tai and his wife Kendra. I had to search to find photos of these outdoor people not wearing sunglasses!

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Byron Ballard gave an uplifting talk at UUCSV in Black Mountain a few weeks back. (Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Swannanoa Valley) Poor quality of photo taken from my monitor where I watched the YouTube of the service (https://www.youtube.com/@uucsvproductions).

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First time back at the original Ole's Guacamole Restaurant in Black Mountain.

 They've completely renovated following the flood with Hurricane Helene in Sept. 2024.

The lunch prices are still reasonable (my Enchiladas Suisa were $8.99 and I had enough to take home for another meal!) There are many new items on the menu also...like the one my friend had across the table from me.

All the furniture is new, with each chair and table and booth backing having different Mexican paintings.

I had to get a photo of the parrot! I know that guy sitting below it I think, and I didn't even notice him till later. I hope he didn't think I was taking his photo!

I missed taking a photo of their tree in the lobby, so will have to return sometime before Christmas!

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Another dearly loved restaurant also reopened that week, but I won't have a chance to go there till maybe this week. I'll try to remember to take photos before eating my bar-b-que!!

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Today's goddess: Vinča,  Neolithic Period

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Winter Solstice is 4 days away

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Today's quote:

'Pagan’ is a term that includes a diverse spiritual paths and communities who believe in a wide range of deities and ethical codes. Yet there are some things we hold in common: that the sacred is manifest in nature and in human beings, that we strive to live lives of honor and integrity, that we value human life and the lives of other living creatures, and cherish the beauty and diversity that makes up this living world. Pagans believe that we must each be our own spiritual authority and follow our conscience. The vast majority of us hold to those traditional American values of freedom of belief, freedom of speech, of liberty and justice for all. Many branches and organizations within the Pagan community have struggled for years to win the rights of Pagans in the military to freely practice their faith in life and in death to be buried with a pentacle, a Pagan symbol to mark their grave.

Source: Starhawk

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Christmas Decorations

I was told this was originally a firetruck.

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Spiraling dance...

 Tartu town square, Estonia 2016