Mom always had a lot of books, everywhere. They were kept downstairs, in the living room, in her room, and even the extra guest room we had in the house. She also brought home two armloads of books from the library every three weeks. I remember as a little girl...
The Christmas village in our household took on a few forms but nothing like this year…with Yowies??? Forgetting the yowies for a second, I should tell the history of our Christmas Village. As far back as I can remember, my dad was the main person behind the village, putting the...
In my organizing of the kitchen, I have come across an old toothpick holder. If I am guessing right, my mom would like me to take her kitchen and make it my own. Her system wouldn’t be my system, but it worked for her, and that was always fine with...
Mom was clearly ahead of her time. I was going through old photos again… From what I can make out, this is Mom, around 1940’s, taking a selfie! This looks to be at Grandmom’s house, I recognize the picket fence. So, before Facebook, social media, and cell phones, mom was...
The more I dig into the family history of the Buckwalters, the more it points to origins of Switzerland. Today I found this old photo. It’s marked on the back as Mary Buckwalter. This lady married a Buckwalter. Mary would have been my mother’s father’s mother, Mary Buzzard. (The Buzzard...
Right after Mom’s funeral, Miquel announced to us all that CVS would be honoring Mom with their contribution to Relay for Life. I was impressed and honored that they would do that. Thank you CVS for this opportunity.
And no mom. All those years I stressed what to get her for mother’s day, and this year there was no flower shop or nursery to go to hoping to find something to light up her face. All those years the yellow cake and vanilla icing in three tiers cake...
If flowers grow in heaven, Lord, then pick a bunch for me. Then place them in my mother’s arms and tell her they’re from me. Tell her that I love and miss her and when she turns to smile, place a kiss upon her cheek and hold her for awhile....
Me: Do you want to go outside with me? Rubí: Let me get my camera, it just got batteries put in. Where did that come from? Since when does she want to take pictures? Then my proud heart melted. Does she want to take photos like her Nana does? She...
I woke up to a rather grey and dismal morning to find out that there were snow flurries about the state of Maryland, an earthquake in Nepal, causing an avalanche on Mount Everest. It reminded me, this day of Mom’s birthday, that she told me more than once that...
Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. ~Genesis 2:15 Keep (Hebrew shamar) means “to exercise great care over.” In the context of Genesis 2:15, it expresses God’s wish that mankind, in the person of Adam, “take...
The significance of the cherry blossom tree in Japanese culture goes back hundreds of years. In their country, the cherry blossom represents the fragility and the beauty of life. It’s a reminder that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful but that it is also tragically short. ~Homaro Cantu Every time I...
We knew it was going to be a different kind of Easter. With Mom gone, the center of all holidays, we would have to cope with missing her and making new memories. Even though in some past Easters I have been in Australia, the internet and phone calls didn’t make...
Once again, the holiday air had a difference about it. I think mostly because Mom wasn’t able to handle the whole dinner like in years past. But everyone brought something and contributed.
We had a different Thanksgiving this year. Enric and family were away. Petra was here. Mom wasn’t feeling well enough to travel. Poor Linda and George had to take their usual lovely and warm Thanksgiving and become severely and instantly MOBILE. Here at home, we had to quickly switch gears...
Not long recovered from travel, I was back at the airport, thanks to our dear friend Chrissy driving me, this time picking up Petra at Dulles!
Took Mom out to a local park to watch Miquel give the children a tennis lesson. They are precious to watch … They have a sweet uncle.
My mom had a terrible falling accident and it sent her to Shock Trauma in University of Maryland Medical Center. I spent a lot of time there visiting and staying with her. On one occasion Laura took me in and we parked near a spot we had been wanting to...
Things you remember as a child… My mom turned on the movie Born Free one evening, she made a big deal out of it, and I was instantly in love with lions and of all things, the Indian Ocean. There was one part of the movie where the lion cubs...
What could scones and a 3D printer have in common? John likes scones. They resemble what my mother always made and called biscuits. Biscuits here in Australia are cookies. The whole thing can get kind of complicated. I’ve been making scones for him for awhile now, cutting them out of...
The children already having opened their presents, now it was our turn. It was another Christmas to treasure with my children and grandchildren. Even though we changed the day, it didn’t matter, it was as wonderful as always.
Thanksgiving as usual was at Linda and George’s house. This year was a little different, Enric and family were not in Wisconsin and could be with us, and George had commitments in Florida, so he and Linda were getting a little taste of what John and I suffer through too...
John and I decided each time I am in Perth that we should take on a project, like the last time it was the kitchen floor. We were online when we discussed the next project. Since airplane tickets are so much money, getting new furniture all the time is out...
After many days of preparations, early celebrations, Christmas Day with the family was finally here.
After going to church and tucking Rubi to bed, it was time for the “Grown Ups” to open their presents.
Saturday we had as much of the family as we could assemble for a swim/picnic day. Not everyone is shown here, for some reason. I know Jenny and Miquel arrived late, when I had baby Harley, I was holding her in the pool and not a time to grab...
Flavio is in town for the Fancy Food Show in Washington D.C. to promote his fine cheeses from his Tumalo Farms. We were so glad he decided to stop in to see us! Wonderful cheeses at Tumalo Farms, we know first hand!
A month after my birthday, we are finally winding this up. 🙂 Mom got me a bag for my laptop that opens to reveal a handle and wheels! It’s been so heavy carrying my laptop the normal way, and I desired something smallish that would do the job! Carry on...
…or as Rubi says, Miss Sipsipee This past Saturday, we were invited to Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis to say good-bye to Elisabeth, who is off to work and study in Wisconsin. She has been wonderful to have in our home. She will be missed. People come and people go...
Dina called me some time back, “I know you can’t have the traditional bridal shower, but when you go to Australia, you’re going to need things, and we can buy you pretty lingerie, make up, a wedding dress….What do you think Barb?” I nearly cried I was so touched at...
Sunday brought Christmas! We went to church and family came soon after. I didn’t get many photos, perhaps after a few rounds of presents, I was tuckered out. 🙂
Laura decided on a small get together at home for her 18th birthday. Of course this was her third such get together, this one was just on her actual birthday. So Laura had a nice birthday month, and we had a very sweet Thanksgiving, and the Ravens won! 🙂...
Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future. ~Gail Lumet Buckley Yesterday, Laura, Mom, and I, went near Winchester, Virginia for the Fletcher family reunion. It wasn’t easy to convince Mom to go, but I thought it would be...
I had a ball at the reception getting to talk and be with friends and family and capturing some candid and posed shots of everyone. (Click on photo for larger image) Rubà was a bit of a show stealer. Mom joins the family table. Mom with Uncle Arthur Jim,...
